Males are stronger and should beat his female into submission. That is the way it has always been in most clans, as it should be.”
Ferrus stepped up to his second-in-command, noses almost touching. “Let me get this right. Because your bicep is stronger than a female’s, you have the right to make her do what you want.”
“Yes,” Silvo growled.
“Then, by default, since I am stronger than you, I can make you do what I want. And if you do not, I can beat you for it.”
Silvo’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. His face flooded redder, and he shook with his anger. Ferrus should laugh in his face, but this was a serious matter to him. His mate made him see why he should care.
“And what if one night,” Ferrus continued, “while you are sleeping, she decides she’s had enough of you. How easy would it be for her to take a prep knife and do a little slice, slice?” With his hands, he made a small slashing gesture. “Bye-bye balls.” Ferrus turned his back to him to see where his father had gone to.
Before he made it a few steps away, his animal cried danger, and instincts had him spinning on his foot to catch a flying food prep knife that would have pierced his heart through the back.
“Ah, thank you for the weapon, Silvo,” Ferrus said. “Now go before I slice, slice.” Silvo left the room as slowly as he could to prove to Ferrus he was not afraid. Nice try. Ferrus saw the fear in the male’s eye.
The entrance to the king’s rooms slid open. “Silvo, stay,” the King commanded as he stepped out. “Ferrus, I have changed my mind. Bring the females back, and I will be pleased to talk. Tell them to bring food so we can eat.”
An empty stomach was a good negotiator. “Yes, sire. We will return around the midday meal with food.”
Ferrus hurried out the front entrance, eager to see his mate again. There was hope for a happy, peaceful resolution that would advance his people.
He wondered why his father had Silvo stay. Probably to admonish the ass for throwing a knife toward Ferrus.
Chapter Twenty-Three
After breakfast was finished and everything was cleaned, both brown and red fae mixed throughout the village, talking and learning new ways from each other.
Lilah sat with her cousins, the alphas, and the elders in the middle of the village. After warning them about the monster snake, she outlined her ideas from talking with Ferrus yesterday. She asked for input from those who had been alive much longer than she had.
The older woman Lilah knew as the Storyteller from their time with the Gnoleon, shook her head. “In the past, those who have wandered far and returned to us have told us about the red fae. They are a warrior species. Fighting is ingrained in their blood, no compromise. I would be cautious, young one.”
“But you met Ferrus,” Lilah said in reply. “Don’t you think he’s not that way? That he sees both sides?”
Daphne added, “He’s definitely not like the rest of the men. Especially one in particular who likes to slap women around.”
Lilah thought back to the time in the dining room where the asshole hit the lady pouring his water. That shit would absolutely be coming to a stop. “He’s got the personality of the king. Arrogant and a prick.”
The elders glanced at each other. One asked, “We are unfamiliar with the word prick.”
Lilah’s face flooded hot, and her cousins laughed. She didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t about to talk about cocks in front of what amounted to be grandparents. Daph came to her rescue. “In this case, it means he’s not a good person.”
Zee jumped to his feet, staring into the forest. “Someone approaches.” After a few moments, one of the village guards came into sight with Ferrus beside him.
Lilah hopped up, excited that he was back. She was waiting for him and the guard to reach them, but she found herself walking, then running toward him. She was too damn happy to be patient. Hell, she was almost giggling. When was the last time she’d done that? Like when she was twelve?
The smile on his gorgeous face told her he was just as happy to see her. Was this real? After having sex so soon, she was sure he’d never come back. That he’d leave because he couldn’t stand the sight of her. But he was here. Her heart exploded with emotions