"Yes, Your Majesty." Toka bowed before turning and leaving him alone to his thoughts, the room blissfully silent.
How could one human cause so much discourse? So much noise? With a sigh he dropped down into the chair Riley had vacated, curling his lip with a snarl. Now his chair smelled of the human. Something flowery. Lavender? Sandalwood? What the hell did it matter? He'd just closed his eyes when he heard Rayner's footsteps.
"Can I not have a moment's peace in my own chamber?" Khalon grumbled. "What do you want?" He opened his eyes and peered at his friend, who boldly took a seat on the footstool before Khalon without invitation.
Rayner's eyes filled with concern. "Do you truly believe the priestess has made a mistake?"
Khalon leaned forward, his hands clasped between his knees. "You saw him. I was to be mated to a fierce warrior. Not that." He sat back and ran a hand through his hair. "He's frail. I have swords taller than him."
"Strength does not lie with size alone."
Khalon narrowed his eyes, aware of Rayner's amused expression. "Remind me why I have yet to imprison you for your insolence?"
"Because the last time you imprisoned someone, humans were still defecating in holes inside those ridiculous little wooden sheds. Also because you love me."
Khalon scoffed. "You overestimate my attachment to your miserable carcass."
"I love you too," Rayner replied with a chuckle.
"Are you saying I'm growing soft?" Was it possible?
"I'm saying perhaps you're growing into your own skin." Rayner patted Khalon's knee, his eyes still alight with amusement.
Khalon would not dignify that with a response. He was not going soft. "The answer to your previous question is yes: I believe the priestess has made a mistake. How could it not be? A human? You know very well there's more at risk here than my reputation."
Rayner nodded. "Then there is only one thing to do. We take Riley Murrough to the great priestess. Request she remove the mark along with his memories of us."
Khalon considered this. "It means a new mate will be revealed to me."
"Isn't that your wish?" Rayner asked as he stood. His expression turned guarded, and for once, Khalon could not decipher his thoughts.
Did Rayner not wish him to get rid of Riley? As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he quickly dismissed it. Ridiculous. Rayner was a Soldati, the most powerful next to Khalon himself. He understood the desire to have a warrior as great as him at his side, to share his life, his heart, and his bed. Rayner might be taken with the foxling servant, but it was merely another passing fancy of his. The idea a Soldati would take a servant as his mate was laughable, not to mention prohibited.
Khalon stood. "Inform Adira and Ezra. We leave for the temple of the great priestess in the morning."
Rayner bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
With that he turned and left the room. No jovial ribbing, no innuendos, or playful insults. Did Rayner not agree with his decision? Riley was a human. He was neither strong nor honorable enough to be a Soldati, much less a Soldati prince. As soon as they reached the temple of the great priestess, everything would be set to rights.
Chapter Three
"SO, UH, you guys just sit around waiting to bathe people?"
Riley felt a little self-conscious undressing in front of a bunch of strangers, but then again, it wasn't anything he hadn't done countless times in the locker room at the gym. Of course, the locker room hadn't resembled a palatial Turkish bath. He had to admit it was pretty impressive. The brown-and-gold tiles shaped into intricate designs and the mosaic tigers along the walls of the circular room were gorgeous. The glowing wall sconces gave the place a warm, cozy feel.
"We have served the Soldati for centuries. It's our honor," one of the servants stated gently as he led a stark naked Riley to the expansive bath. He entered the steaming water and sighed. It felt damned good, and he did kind of stink. He would have preferred to be alone in the bath, but that was looking less likely with every servant that joined him. He'd had a dream like this once after watching a few too many episodes of Spartacus. Of course his dream had less to do with bathing, and more with enjoying a different type of steam.
One of the servants poured a nice-smelling substance on his hands before moving on to wash Riley's hair. A second servant lathered up Riley's right arm, another his left, while a third massaged Riley's shoulders.
"Do you... turn into things?" Riley asked a red-haired servant. He seemed to be the only one who talked, and when he spoke, the others jumped to it.
"I am a foxling, as are the rest of the servants. My animal form is a red fox. Foxlings vary in species."
Cute. He kind of looked like a fox with his heart-shaped face and bright amber eyes. His eyes were outlined in dark kohl and his hands, wrists, and forearms were a dark smoky color that faded into his bronzed skin.
"Is that makeup on your hands?" Riley asked.
"No. That is my skin," he replied with a smile. "As I said. I am a foxling."