“He was ready to take his throne, anyway. You guys were coming back here to do just that. I’m blonde, Ristan, not an idiot.”
“You’re smart, Flower. Never said you weren’t. Ryder’s been putting off claiming that throne for more than twenty years. No, once he knew where you were, he called the full assembly of the Horde and marched right up to the throne. He manifested the crown of the Horde King and announced that Alazander was dead. We plan on something more formal down the road, but he was in too much of a hurry to do more than an announcement right then. Alazander was a bastard. This isn’t something he wanted to do, ever. Keep that in mind for the next few weeks. He has a hard road to walk right now. Everyone will be challenging his right to take the throne, even with him being the Heir of the Horde. It is one of the reasons for the “shock and awe” display yesterday. We couldn’t give them any time to think for one moment that he wasn’t Alazander. As it was, your brother was figuring it out when Ryder decided it was time to leave the party. If for one moment your father thought that the Horde King wasn’t Alazander. It would have been all over, and our departure would have been far bloodier.”
“Does Ryder look that much like Alazander?”
“In Fae form, not really, but in the Horde King form they look very similar to one another. Over the last few centuries, Alazander was rarely not in the form of the Horde King. Those that had been up close and personal with him would be able to see the differences, but not many lived to tell of it.”
“Seriously, you think they would have challenged him?” I asked, unsure how I would have felt about it since I’d thought he was Alazander at the time, too.
“Absolutely. Alazander terrified this world, but one of his sons would be another matter entirely. Any Fae Lord worth his salt would be compelled to test him, much less your father who had been battling Alazander for centuries.”
“Ryder would kick ass while chewing bubblegum, Ristan. I’ve never met anyone with a head made of rocks like his. Shit, he could probably just head-butt them with that box of rocks he has and be just fine.”
“Oh he would, but some things are worth a good ass kicking,” Ristan said with an evil smirk on his face.
“He’d kick your ass, Demon.”
“But it would be so worth it,” Ristan smiled and winked at me.
Ristan wiggled his finger, and the entire room grew thick with magic as he turned it from blue, to more appealing shades. Turquoise sheets now matched the beds canopy, and a white couch with matching turquoise pillows lined the far wall. There was a huge claw footed tub that dominated one corner of the room. No dressers here, not when you could glamour on clothing…not that I could do it well yet.
“That’s better; the other was too depressing. Come with me, there’s someone I want you to meet. She was much like you when she came here,” he said, getting up and pulling me out from under the warm covers. He stopped and looked at my silk robe for a moment. He smiled slyly, and pantomimed his fingers into a finger gun, took aim, and as he said “Pow,” the robe changed to a red silky top and pant set with soft leather slippers that matched in color. He blew on his fingers as I laughed at him and his crazy antics.
“Thanks.” I grinned at him.
“Don’t thank me. I wanted the naughty little school girl outfit, but this is more appropriate.” He smirked and held out his hand. I took it, and we sifted into the pavilion.
We walked through the pavilion and Ristan pointed out anything he thought I might like to explore, like gardens and pools. There was a bustle of activity here and so many creatures that I had never seen before. Dryads, sprites—all female, and the Demon seemed to know every one of them as he had to keep stopping to give a little kiss or some sort of affection to the giggling women as we walked. At one point, a faun with dainty hooved feet and fur up to her small waist and nothing covering her chest, kept pace with us. She batted big brown eyes at Ristan invitingly, before running her finger over her lips seductively. Her breasts were lush and hardened as she made an inhuman noise at him before she turned and scampered away.
I turned my eyes to Ristan and shook my head. “Is there anything you won’t do, Demon? She has freaking hooves!”
“Hey, a Demon has to catch his dinner somehow, and don’t let her fur deter you. She’s a wild cat in the sack,” he teased good naturedly.
I held up my hands and shook my head. “Oh please, no details! Keep it to yourself,” I joked.
“Hey, I get it where the getting is good.” He wiggled his brows as he laughed. “Dacey and I were just playing with you; however you can’t judge anything around here. Most of the ladies have other shapes that they take.” His face saddened for a moment. “This is such a different place than what it used to be.” He sighed.