Chapter 46 - Forty-Four

I woke up with the sun shining on my face, the light passing through the cracks on the window. Yawing I stretch, feeling good for finally having slept in a bed.

Then I froze mid-movement as I blink awake and look beside me.

Why-Was-I-Sleeping-Beside-Leonel?!

I looked over my shoulder again, feeling the weight of his loose arm over my waist in a casual manner, his face so close that I could feel his breath tickling the back of my neck.

Shit.

Damn, I…

Brain, start working will ya? Nothing wrong here, just, I must have fallen asleep and he thought better to keep me here, really, nothing much.

Sensing my movement his hand hardens his grip, bringing my back closer to him, my body been cupped by his.

…

Ok…

Don't panic…

He must think I'm a pillow or something, yeah…

Just take deep breaths…

His lips brush the tip of my ears on top of my head, as his sleepy husky voice resonates very close:

"Good morning my little hound."

At that I shiver. Ohh shit, mayday, mayday, exerting escape plan, escape plan at hand!

I jump up, standing quickly as lighting, babbling :

"G-good morning! Why was I sleeping with you?"

With a smirk he rested his head on his hand, very casually and comfortable, his golden eyes turned in a crescent moon shape.

"We got the last three rooms from this place yesterday, so we need to share some of it."

Oh, I see, a reasonable explanation. What was I thinking? Ha, ha-ha…

"Came back… is cold here…" Leo says, patting the side of the bed.

Back? Cold?

"Hell no you lazy elf! Get your noble ass up right now!" To make my point known I kick the side of the bed, moving it a little.

He sits up, a smug smirk in his face, and I quickly learn why. Shit, he had taken his shirt off. I blink in surprise, as if taking a photograph in my mind for posterity, and turn away in the most awkward way possible; even if I wanted to lie to myself and say I looked casual and normal avoiding the sight.

Sigh.

But those ripped abs… damn, they look like they could take a sword slice and break the metal. Damn.

And worst, that did not have an understandable explanation.

"Why the hell you don't have your shirt on?!"

"Be thankful, I usually sleep n.a.k.e.d."

N-n-n-n-n-n.a.k.e.d?

"If you want to use the bathroom first I already left a water crystal there." He says, avoiding the long silence I would give to recover and say anything.

I just go for the knob and once I find it I lock myself inside the bathroom.

And sigh.

Bloody hell, I shouldn't let him have this effect on me, even more with all his teasing. Hell, I was a creature to be feared, The Terror! Not some damsel in distress!

I just take my clothes off and have a quick shower, pouring mana inside the crystal that stood on top of a metal structure as water started dripping from it. That's the way rich people take their baths, most ask for water downstairs and pay for the extra service.

I change to another outfit, puffy pants with straps in the end and an opening following the side and showing my legs underneath, as well as a half shirt that showed my belly and arms, only covering my n.i.p.p.l.es, going high in the neck.

Once I get out, however, I immediately feel Leo's eyes piercing me, especially the parts were the skin was showing, such as my bellybutton and legs.

"Are you trying to say something?" He says, his voice getting deeper as I still avoided looking at his abs- at him, at him.

"Like what?"

He stares in silence for a moment, his gaze intense without blinking. "Forget about it, but you don't intend to get out of here looking like that do you?"

Raising an eyebrow I answer: "If I do or don't is none of your businesses, I can wear whatever I want."

Is his time to raise both eyebrows, a smirk curving his lips. "Oh really? Then I should stay like this a little longer."

I snort at that, flapping my ears to make the water dry, going to the bed were some extra towels stood, bringing it straight for my hair.

I stop, however, when I listen from behind the sound of clothes hitting the floor and leather slithering away.

I shouldn't have looked back, I had a bad premonition, but of course I couldn't hold myself back as I look, only to find Leo with his wide back turned to me, looking back as he deliberately walks slowly to the bathroom, his pants gone, only a towel in place.

My eyes widen as a mischievous smile curves his lips as he lets the towel fall, staying totally-completely-entirely n.a.k.e.d, his torn thighs and butt coming to view and blanking my mind.

He stops at the door and looks sideways towards me, a wicked glint on his eyes, saying before closing the door behind him: "I really missed you little hound."

…

…

Aghhrrgfdgfhdd! My poor heart! My brain broke! Is that even possible?! Ugh!

~~~~

I went down to the lower floor automatically, my mind in a state of frenzy that made me think a billion things at the same time and, yet, no real thought was formed.

And I did put my cape over my body before going out, just for the record.

And to help my situation my brother had woke up full of energy, talking about how we should sleep more in beds, that the food was tasty, that the smells here intrigue him, and so on and on.

At least it was only the two of us now, Ragnur surviving from a hangover and Leo still bathing, even better was that in the morning this place looked much more cleaner and quiet.

We sat down and ate some salted eggs with cheese and fresh bread, passing the soft loaf over the plate when we were done with to which had granted us with Leo's company.

Unfortunately, with that, the girl and the knight came down as well, her small, petite figure been shadowed by the moving silver figure.

She looked at me and snickered. Geez, what a great mood to start your day with, though I have a feeling that she is like that all the time.

"Good morning to you too."

She didn't say anything, looking with an annoyed expression to everything and anyone until her food arrived, together with some coffee.

"So… you two are part of Leo's "master plan?" I make quotation marks with my fingers, sipping my drink. She takes a napkin and cleans her lips first before answering.

"Yes, we are. I'm specialized in healing magic, my name is Isa Outlawe, and this is Nacon Ceinogoc, my Templar."

"Nice to meet you." Not really. "My name is Palarran Thilgon Mìnaothon, and this is my younger brother Palarran Hunthor Mìnaothon , but just call us Thilgon and Hunthor if you will."

"Say…" She asks, leaning forward over the table, whispering some as Leo was away close to the bartender, asking for something. "How did you meet Prince Leonel? I mean, I've never seen him so carefree before, hell, I haven't seen him smile before yesterday!"

"Well, I don't…" The answer was cut short once Leo comes back. I was about to say that I didn't know that she was talking about, like, different how? He had his mood swings, sure, and was really annoying sometimes, sure, but nothing out of the ordinary.

"So…" I say, trying to change the subject. "Isa, right? Are you part of Leo's crazy plan?"

She scowls. "Is not crazy, difficult, yes, but not totally impossible. What about you? What are you doing here?"

I shrug. "That doesn't matter." Didn't feel like giving he personal answers. I was just professionally enduring her presence. "But do you guys even have a plan? A country is not build up with only good intentions you know? And what part you take in this little miss? Why do you even care?"

That seemed to piss her off, not sure exactly which part though. "Well, at least I believe and I am committed to the cause." I snort at that.

"Cause? What cause? This is no charity, this must but seem like a project, planned and elaborated, not some little girls dream."

She stands, slamming her hands on the table, pointing at my face. I look her straight in the eyes, and say:

"If you are trying to look scary, you will need far more than a little tantrum show to even faze me little-girl."

"You freaking shitting eating monster who do you think-!"

"Yeah, yeah, kids, time to stop your little fight for Papa Ragnur is here." The dwarf voice from the stairs cut the fight short as he comes closer and hammers his body down the chair, a groggy look on his face.

"You are hardly old enough to be my father dwarf." She says.

"Yeah yeah, but thankfully I look older than I'm, so no harm done."

"That hardly something to be proud of either."

I roll my eyes at that. Geez, she cannot let it go, always having to have the last word. Humf, why this pampered little girl is in this group to start with?

"No but, seriously, do you guys have a plan, like, any plan at all?"

This time everybody stays quieted, my gaze ending on Leonel, who simply stares back.

"Humf, what would be of you guys without me, you would never even come close to making it."

"I would never even dream of it." Says Leo, narrowing his eyes slightly as he gaze goes a little down to the visible skin in the curves of the cape.

"Pampering me will not help you."

"Not even a little bit?" His eyes go up again, a little smirk on his lips, making Isa look shocked for some reason.

And… it did help, a little bit.

Not that I would admit it to him, like, ever.

~~~~~

Oh ho hoh, things are heating up!!

Btw, I feel like it has been a long time since you guys participated on something here, so how about this:

I need 3 male names for three demons, though I won't give more details about them heuheuheu.

See ya!