Eromaug stalked through the corridors with a barely conscious Lexi held in his arms, kicking the irritating imps out of the way that scurried under his feet like the rats they were.
He really should have gotten the population under control centuries ago, but usually they were harmless enough. Irritating for sure, but nothing that he couldn't blast into eternity if he so chose. But now Lexi was here, he couldn't help but wonder if they would be a risk to her.
She was as fragile as her mortal mother and he couldn't decide if these imps posed a threat to her weak little body. They were great for swarming any would be intruders, and they loved the scent, and taste, of human flesh but Lexi was not just any human…she was his mate and the potential for injury that may occur from any of those nippy little ankle biters could leave her with life changing injuries.
He frowned to himself as he kicked another imp out of the way, hissing at its squeak of outrage and turning to the two great sentinels that had stood outside of his throne room earlier and were now following behind him at a leisurely pace.
"I want all of these imps cleared out of the vicinity." He grunted as their eyes flashed in acknowledgement, "If they get so much as ten feet near her, kill them. I won't risk her injury."
He kicked the door open to his quarters and headed straight past the seating area and into his bedroom, laying Lexi onto the colossal mattress and marveling at just how tiny she appeared as she seemed to sink into the plush textiles on his bed.
Carefully, Eromaug removed what little was left of her clothes and unwrapped her from his cloak, peeling back the covers of the bed to lay her on the mattress.
He frowned down at the angry red web-like tracks that were progressing rapidly across her skin and as he readjusted the lightweight sheet over her, she moaned at the contact.
"Fucking Narcissa," He muttered under his breath as he stared down at the pained expression on her face as sweat beaded at her brow, "If it weren't for her brazen behaviour I could have killed the fuckers that have claimed what is rightfully mine."
He sighed heavily and with a final glance at his sleeping mate, he turned and called to the sentinels that were waiting patiently outside of his doorway.
"I want one of you in here to keep an eye on her, and one outside to keep those fucking scavengers at bay."
"It will be done, my lord." One of the sentinels answered, "I will leave him to watch over our new Queen as her verbal exchange with the leech seemed to amuse him greatly." he continued indicating his colleague, who now had an almost comical look of guilt to his stonelike expression.
Eromaug raised an eyebrow as he regarded the sentinel curiously. They were a curious creation and not often prone to indulging in emotional displays, so to hear that one had been "amused" by her smart mouth interested him.
"Very well, but remember, if any harm comes to her then it's the end to both of you."
The sentinel grunted in response and turned his back on Eromaug, lumbering across to the arched doorway, ducking his head to avoid the chandelier, and stationing himself with his back against the inside of the archway, allowing him to see both the bedroom and the lounge area with ease.
Eromaug snorted softly to himself and left them to it, confident that she was in safe hands. It never ceased to amaze him that despite her prickly nature, she often had the easiest time befriending some of the most dangerous beings known to existence.
She had held his heart since she first batted her pretty little lashes at him and he had known then he was a doomed DAemon. Hecate had a lot to answer for and perhaps she was the one that would be needed to fix this mess that Narcissa had created.
"My lord!" Narcissa's voice called to him hesitantly and instantly, the soft smile that had appeared on his face as his mind filled with thoughts of Lexi, disappeared.
"You do not come closer to my quarters again, do you understand?" He hissed, "I will have you permanently killed on the spot if you even attempt it."
Narcissa visibly blanched and nodded her head.
"I understand, my lord, I was simply escorting Orynn to his new mistress." She stammered quickly as she stepped to the side, revealing the strange looking dragonling.
Eromaug's eyes swept over Orynn in mistrust as Orynn regarded him with the same suspicion. After they had stood in an uncomfortable silence in the corridor with neither Orynn or Narcissa daring to make a sound, finally, Eromaug spoke.
"You will take me to the dungeon that you hold your toys in, Narcissa." He commanded as Narcissa blinked in surprise.
"Of course, my lord!" she stammered, "Is there something that you need from them?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"That is not your concern." Eromaug hissed as he gestured for her to move.
"Apologies," She murmured quickly with a nod of her head as she turned to Orynn and her tone changed to one of disdain, "Don't just stand there, go to your new mistress you fucking cretin."
"No." Eromaug's voice boomed suddenly, making her flinch as Orynn chirruped questioningly, "He comes with us."
"My lord…I don't think it is wise to.." Narcissa began and then silently kicked herself as she found herself pinned against the wall again as the mocking, wheezing laughter of the sentinels traveled down the corridor in her direction.
"You will not question me, wraith. You forget your place, again." Eromaug snarled darkly as he released her and shoved her roughly to the side.
"Apologies." Narcissa mumbled again, wondering why she continuously let her mouth engage before her brain and debated if this was a side effect of dying and being brought back so many times.
"You will come with us, Urann," Eromaug commanded imperiously as Orynn shirrupped unhappily at the butchering of his name, "And you will learn from either Lexi's mother or her little irish friend on how best to treat and heal the affliction that plagues her daughter. Her bloodline has an affinity for healing and she is best placed to know how to heal these wounds."
"I do not think that the Irish witchling will be of much use, " Narcissa said hesitantly, "Her mind is somewhat..broken from what I can make out."
Eromaug snorted as he cast Narcissa a withering look.
"Then I suppose I should fix what you and your little minions have broken then." He snapped impatiently, "Now get a move on, the longer that we stay here having this pointless conversation, the further the infection travels and if she is beyond saving Narcissa, you will know only torment for all of eternity. There will be no second chances."