Incessant whining of his fox spirit made Faris give into temptation of cuddling with his mate.
This time she had given in rather easily as if starved for his affection. Even licking him from time to time.
Faris finally willed his fox to move, giving Aiko privacy so she could shift and change. He sniffed her one last time, savouring her scent and pointed with his head towards the flowers he had bought for her.
The black and blue fox lifted her head and glanced in the direction of the flowers before nodding at her mate with sparkling eyes.
"Mhhhh!"
She loved his gesture.
Faris finally left her room, trotting away on his four legs and closing the door behind him so she could have her privacy.
Reaching his room, he shifted back to his human self and dropped himself on his bedding.
Lust was not the primary emotion she invoked inside of him. There were so many others. Like the ingredients of a stew they stirred inside of him as if he was a giant cauldron placed on the flaming logs to be cooked.
His cheeks warmed and a smile was quick to flourish.
As he lived and relieved their interaction.
’Don’t tell me you didn’t want to lick her skin. It seemed so smooth, her fur coat definitely was,’ his fox spirit chimed in, giddy with the knowledge that he was finally able to touch and cuddle with their mate.
’Yeah!’
His thoughts were interrupted by Ranon’s mindlink.
’Get your ass down to the main area, we are waiting for you.’
In the flurry of moments he had completely forgotten that he was supposed to go for evening meal.
Scurrying to his feet, Faris ran downstairs.
The hall-like area where the whole pack always had their dinner together was almost empty to this point and he headed towards their table.
To his suprise Aiko was seated there as well alongside Princess Lotus. They were deep in talks.
The images of her unclothed body flashed in his brain making his cock hard under his chiton.
He pushed them away and willed himself to move.
’Damn! Body, I can’t have a hard on at the dinner table. Control yourself,’ he cursed himself and moved rather slowly taking his time.
"Where have you been?" Ranon grabbed his shoulder from behind.
"Ah! I was just coming..." he trailed off making Ranon narrow his eyes at him.
"Spill everything later, go eat your mate is waiting." He patted his chest and let him go, knowing his friend was hiding something.
Quietly Faris slipped into his designated seat between his mother and Razial. Aiko was seated directly opposite him, somehow they had made her sit between Cassandra and Lotus so she would be there right in front of him.
He couldn’t help but lift his eyes and watch her, her face was turned towards Lotus who was intently speaking to her. But her left eye wavered to him and her cheek hued pink. The bond became alive between them, not humming but thumping this time.
"You are late," Haylia quietly said pushing the vegetable stew towards him, disrupting his staring.
"I lost track of time..." his words put a cunning smile on Aiko’s face.
Siroos and Cassandra were lost in eachother. Quietly whispering while Razial was as usual busy throwing glances at Lotus but made no effort to speak to her. He was content with just watching her jabber away with Aiko.
The table had been laid out with all sorts of food and the hall had already more than half-emptied because everyone had finished eating and were getting ready to sleep.
Siroos cleared his throat and grabbed everyone’s attention as Faris helped himself to the stew.
Siroos narrated what he and Razial had learnt about the Grimhollow and lands that lay beyond. It was a wilderness none of them had visited.
"I think we should set out in two days. The faster we do this, the better. But before that I need to know if everyone is willing for this journey. It won’t be easy and you might have to put your life on the line more than once. So I need verbal agreement from all of you on this." Siroos made the big announcement placing his hands palms down on the table.
"I will follow my sister to the end of the world. Prophecy or not," Lotus announced with a small shrug.
"And I will follow Princess Lotus wherever she will go," Razial added his part, carefully taking a sip from the metallic tankard in his hand.
Lotus had to fight back an awkward smile.
Why did she occasionally feel her cheeks heat up when he spoke of such things and cast her those intense glances.
Thankfully the conversation moved on.
"I am in, whatever to get rid of this damn curse. I want to spoil your kids and be the charming uncle. They can brag about me to others..."
"Faris, we get the point," Haylia scolded him, making him give his mother an incredulous look as if he didn’t understand what was wrong.
Aiko was pressing her lips hard to not laugh.
All eyes turned to her though.
"That’s the least I can do to redeem myself." Aiko confidently answered.
A relief Cassandra and Siroos felt settling into their hearts.
"Thank you! We appreciate all of you going to these lengths for the both of us," Cassandra addressed them with a warm smile.
"Brilliant, then we should make a list of everything we will need and set out within the next two days," Siroos answered, placing a reassuring hand on his mate’s.
"I can always return and grab stuff in case we forget anything," Aiko added.
"Yes! About that. In some places, or it’s possible entirety of Grimhollow our magic might not even work. At least that’s what the mage we met said. So we have to be prepared for the worst."
"I will still make protective charmed objects for Faris and Aiko. Both of you have your protective magic and Razial can form shields," Lotus added.
"Here, use this one too." Siroos took off the pendant which Lotus had previously made for Cassandra, the one that had protected him on so many occasions and handed it over.