“You are suggesting complete surrender to her,” he grumbled.
“She’s not your enemy,” Diana laughed. “And I’m thinking more of a compromise. You keep the staircase going down to the cave, and we can partially block it in with garden hedges to give her some privacy. Should there be any danger she can drop back down into her cave easily from the fountain.”
“I suppose this compromise can work,” he said sourly. “I still dislike that she gets exactly what she wants when she has been nothing but a thorn in my side.”
“Technically, what she wants is for part of Arx to be moved, so you can rest assured that she’s not getting exactly what she wants.” Diana’s eyes sparkled with laughter as she hugged his arm against her, her tail coiling comfortably with his. “Consider it a peace offering. Wouldn’t it be better to have the vegoia on your side rather than tormenting you at every given opportunity?”
“I could just hang her by the tail until she decides to behave,” he suggested. He was only half-joking. Perhaps less than half.
Her refusal to speak to him and her endless grudges didn’t exactly make him inclined toward acts of goodwill. However, he had to admit that his uxorem had a point. If the changes could improve her disposition, he would follow Diana’s lead.
Their footsteps sounded loudly on the stairs as they descended. The only other sound was the whining of the crocottas from the top of the staircase. They wouldn’t come down. Dorinda didn’t allow animals into her domain and had an unknown way of encouraging them to remain out of her cavern. In all the time he had known his sister, he had never known her to make an exception to that rule until Keena hauled Diana to safety.
As they walked toward the pool and the spraying fount of the spring, Selvans looked for any sign of the vegoia. As usual, Dorinda was characteristically absent. He frowned, wondering if his sister would once again ignore his summons. She had done a fine job of ignoring him so far, so he didn’t really expect it to change.
He scowled at the water and opened his mouth to demand her presence when a soft chuckle filled the air.
“Finally, you stubborn ass. I’m pleased to see that you finally listened.” With a twist of the waters, she slipped out of the deep fissure in which she had been hidden. Her crimson eyes settled on him as a smile pulled at her lips. “Or did you figure out the meaning of your own personal prophecy?” She touched a finger to her lips, amusement bright in her red eyes as she tilted her head to the side. “No, I am pretty sure that mother tracked you down.”
“All of the above,” he growled impatiently.
Her eyebrows raised, impressed. “I confess that I didn’t expect that. In fact, I had a private wager going that Cacus would waken long before you returned with your uxorem.” She turned a smile on Diana. “I am so pleased to see you again, quite healthy and furry. I highly approve of the tail, everyone should have one,” she said cheerfully as she lifted the tip of her own tail out of the water.
The change in his sister’s attitude with Diana’s presence was nothing short of astounding. She was cooperative and pleasant.
“Why aren’t you being your usual foul-tempered self?” he demanded.
His sister pinned him with an impatient look. “Because Diana is kind and considerate toward me. Something you are not,” she said.
He tossed a bewildered look to his mate. “For this you want me to compromise with her? She is impossible! A scheming, manipulative…”
Diana rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest as she turned her attention to Dorinda. “We are going to provide you with access above ground and reduce the protective barrier so that you can enjoy some measure of freedom while still being able to get safely within the ground if you are threatened.”
The vegoia blinked at her. “I did not foresee this happening,” she mused. She turned to him, eyes narrowing. “Is it because you are just telling your mate what she wants to hear to gain my cooperation? I recall that you are a tricky one when it suits your mood.”
He gave her a disgusted look but grunted. “No, it is the truth, as much as it pains me after all the trouble you have caused over the years. But you are my sister, and you did help