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Fantasy Draconic Disagreements

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Dahlia kept her eyes trained on Thane when he answered her question, clearly a bit uncomfortable as he shifted. She didn't comment on his lack of thought towards such a thing. There was nothing wrong with his answer, she just wanted him to think about the question, ask himself, and she wanted to see if he would just brush it off as something unnecessary or troublesome. If he had a clear disinterest in such things then it would have her direct the conversation in a different direction.

Before she could give him space, having using proximity to as a means to really see his expression and eyes clearly when he answered her, Thane's hand lifted and warm fingers glided across one of her cheeks. Dahlia was not expecting this type of thing from Thane and she cursed herself as her traitorous heart fluttered and her cheeks blushed. It was just a simple touch and here her stupid, foolish heart was trying to twist it into something that wasn't!

All she could do was try and laugh at his comment regarding her not being able to keep her thoughts to herself. If she took a small step back now she'd be showing Thane how much a small thing had affected her and so she remained where she was as he continued to speak.

"You think the people who write those romance novels know love? It's all so completely unrealistic," she laughed out. "There aren't any princesses or damsels in distress like that in reality, nor knights in shining armor to save them. I'll tell you what my grandmother told me when she started reading those types of stories to me. 'Love isn't the same for everyone. If it was then wouldn't everyone just love the same person.'"

Dahlia grinned at Thane and raised her hand to flick his forehead playfully, "Don't overthink."

She quickly retreated since she wasn't sure how Thane would react to being flicked like that. "And don't learn for my sake, learn for your self. I'm not asking you to change to someone you're not because everything would just be a lie then, wouldn't it? Oh and I will find something else to tease you about though I'm certain the book is still able to fluster you. I also don't mind if you want to borrow some of my books."

Dahlia was teasing him now with her offer of her romance novels for him to read, "I have to wonder if you're able to recite the book from memory, it appears to have been read frequently." Hopefully this didn't piss him off. She was trying to be playful, but Thane was so unpredictable.
 
Fable Fable

Thane hadn’t expected his touching of Dahlia’s cheek to elicit any sort of response (having hardly been aware he was doing it in the first place) so he was surprised when she blushed. Granted, she didn’t react beyond that apart from laughing at his observation that she was bad at keeping her thoughts to herself. Perhaps she was simply of the type to blush when anyone touched her—Thane knew a few other Warlords with mates like that. He’d do nothing more than politely take their hands and press a kiss to the tops of them and they’d turn scarlet.

The Warlord chuckled, “Another point in your grandmother’s favour. Saving you from a terrible name and giving sage counsel,” she was one he’d be interested in meeting. There was something in the spirit of that expression that reminded him of something his mother would have said. It brought up a vaguely queasy feeling of homesickness—although Thane knew that he’d never have an opportunity to alleviate that feeling, not when his family was dead. He’d simply need to carry on alone in the same manner he had been doing ever since. Only… he looked at Dahlia thoughtfully. He had never thought of mateship in terms beyond the pursuit of heirs. With that off the table for the time being and with her asking him questions he had not asked himself since he was a child, Thane found himself wondering what he did want… or if he even wanted something with her beyond heirs. Playing along had been the resolution he had come to yesterday, a decision to act the way he expected she would like in order to woo her into bed. A superficial thing. Evidently, that was not what Dahlia had in mind… but whether he was interested in aiming for something as vague as ‘love’ with her for himself? He didn’t know. It would require solitude and time for him to puzzle his way through that question.

She suddenly flicked him on the forehead, startling Thane out of his thoughts. He hadn’t expected something like that out of Dahlia and stared at her wide-eyed for a moment as she quickly retreated from him, perhaps fearing retribution. As though a little flick to the forehead was enough to set him off… he’d have to make a point of not letting her see his training sessions. Broken bones were not uncommon, and it frequently ended in wounds that required medical attention.

The ridiculous female then went on to tease him, seeming to take courage from the increased distance she enforced between them. Thane growled low in his throat at her, though it was a playful sound, “Not all of us are capable of not thinking before we act, overthinking is as much an art form for me as you acting on your whims is for you,” he grinned toothily at her, eyes twinkling for a brief moment at her comment about lending him her books, “By all means, reading your favourites would be most illuminating… I imagine it would give me plenty of ideas. You can leave them in the nightstand you like to dig through,” he said, hoping the reference back to her disobedience might throw her off a little.

“As to ‘The Bonds of a Heart’… ‘Beneath the stars of a cold winter’s night, Laleia wrapped a shawl tightly around her thin shoulders and slipped through the towering pines,’” he intoned in a deep voice, arching an eyebrow at Dahlia, not about to be cowed now that she knew both the type of book it was and that he was well acquainted with it. Sometimes the most effective move in a fight was to double-down even if the enemy expected you to avoid that specific move. Never mind the fact that he felt the tips of his ears heating up as he recited it… Dahlia didn’t need to know that.

“Now,” Thane cleared his throat and turned to give his mare a pat—more to steady himself than for her benefit— “You really should try hopping onto Levent’s back. We only have a few more days before I’ll be occupied for most of the day with my duties during the course of the week, so the better a foundation you have now… the better things will go once Maddock takes over.”
 

Thane playful growl caused her to snicker a bit and she didn't take offense to calling her out on being more inclined to follow her whims than to overthink. "Overthinking can become another form of doubt you know, to constantly leave yourself second guessing, rethinking, and stalling a decision. I don't always act on my whims, I'm not that mad. I just figure that if even when something is thought on for a long time which can still lead to regrets, I'd rather regret trying rather than going through all the what ifs."

"I'm not sure what exactly you think you're going to learn from reading the book I've brought, but fine I'll place one in your nightstand since you've given me permission to snoop in there now. They might be too emotional for you though, you might have to go punch some trees after reading them." Dahlia was actually enjoying being playful and teasing Thane with him even joining in the fun as well. So he wasn't an entire stick in the mud, or rather... didn't have a stick shoved so far up his arse since he was being flexible.

Dahlia hadn't actually thought Thane would recite from the book and his deep voice sent a strange sensation down her spine. She covered up her confusion at the oddity with a clap for Thane's performance. He quickly changed the topic back to what they had original come here to do; riding lessons. Dahlia perked up and then deflated when she realized something very important; she was in a dress.

"A-About that," she motioned to the long skirt. In order to ride she'd have to hike the skirt up her legs which was very improper and very unladylike, not to mention it risked having her skin rubbed raw from any friction while riding. "How about just going over how to saddle a horse? I do know how to do this, but maybe the technique is different for this breed and the saddles you use."
 
Fable Fable

The Warlord snorted and waved a hand dismissively at her statement. “Even if I’m overthinking… it’s led to me winning every battle I’ve been a part of, and I don’t think you can argue with those kinds of results,” a note of pride suffused his voice, a self-satisfied smirk crossing his lips. His strategies were often unorthodox and unconventional, some bordering on inhumane, but they were effective and their unpredictability lent his army an edge. Enemies trembled to hear they’d be facing him in the field, his reputation being fearsome and their ability to produce an effective counterattack reduced to a mere gamble. It was easy to forget that he was a ruthless Warlord, here in the warm light of the barn. “I may dedicate a great deal of time to analyzing the choices I intend to make, but that doesn’t prevent me from acting in the end,” he said, hoping the added explanation might help her understand him a bit better.

“One’s choice of book reveals a great deal about where their interests lie and what appeals to them,” he said, looking her up and down to emphasize his point. “And by all means, snoop away in my nightstand. From now on I’ll simply put the things I don’t want you to see in a high spot that you can’t reach,” he said, raising his hand only to his eye level, obviously mocking her smaller size—though the good natured glint in his eyes as he said it betrayed his lack of intent to truly be cutting with the comment. Dahlia didn’t seem like the sort to be fussed about her stature anyways.

“If I feel the urge to bawl as I’m reading, I’ll be sure to take Roarke behind the barn for a beating to cure myself,” he agreed cheerfully. The banter was enjoyable, something he had experienced less and less as his reputation among his men had grown more and more infamous. At one time he had joked with them in a similar manner, but with prestige and status came isolation. He was out of practice as a result, but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment he was presently experiencing.

At first, with his suggestion of the ride, Dahlia had perked up… but just as quickly she deflated. It was almost remarkable how expressive she was, how easy to read. Before he could ask what was wrong, she answered it for him. “Ah,” he muttered, frowning down at the offending garment. He was not at all used to accommodating a female in skirts, the thought hadn’t even remotely crossed his mind. This did present a problem, because spending time showing her how to saddle them when she was already familiar with the practice was a colossal waste of time—and Thane did not enjoy wasting time.

“Saddling one horse is much like saddling any other, all the same principles apply,” he looked down the hall of the barn, eyes unfocused and brows furrowed as he worked to think of some kind of solution. “The real difference comes down to how riding a horse this large compares to standard pleasure horses… that is the element that would be best for you to accustom yourself to,” he said, more to himself than to her, clicking his tongue in vexation. But, suddenly, an idea occurred to him and he visibly brightened. “Ah, it’s simple! You can ride with me on Laleia for today. That’ll give you a feel for the difference in size, and then we can have you fitted for a proper pair of breeches and you can ride Levent tomorrow,” a thought occurred to him and he narrowed his eyes fractionally at her, “Unless you’re too afraid to ride with me.”

There was an added benefit to this arrangement—it was like a scene directly out of some romance novel, AND it was practical. Besides, useful as it would be in beginning to seduce her, Thane also anticipated that he would find it enjoyable as well. Having Dahlia pressed against him would be no hardship at all.
 

The books that Dahlia would leave Thane now would be shocking to him because now she was certainly going to give him the sappiest she had in her possession, just to see his reaction when reading them and what ideas he would try and pull from them. She couldn't help but laugh when Thane told her he'd hide things from her out of her reach. "Dear mighty Warlord. I was raised with not one, but three older brothers. Where there is a will there is a way... and also stools. And should you try and hide those I'll just find very creative ways to reach what I want."

She could have said a great many things about Roarke beating Thane, but she could only laugh harder as silly images of such an event crossed her mind. There was no way Thane could cry, did he even have any working tear ducts? Maybe one day he'd laugh so hard he;d, but Dahlia wasn't exactly that comedic to achieve such a feat Perhaps onions, onions made everyone cry.

Her thought were brought back to the present discussion when Thane mentioned that she should learn to ride a large horse. She had thought he would have been fine postponing this riding lesson until she had the proper riding clothes. Instead Thane suggested she ride Laleia with him. She should have just turned him down and not risen to his taunt of her possibly being to afraid to ride with him. Of course she was! Riding with him meant being in physical contact with him! Her brothers had always used this tactic to on her and as much as she knew better she firmly put her hands on her hips and replied, "If you want to ride with me you could just ask instead of taunting me."

Fine, she'd play this little game of his. If he thought he was going to be smooth make her swoon she was going to teach him a lesson. "I'll indulge you though today." Dahlia waited for Thane to get Laleia saddled so that they could ride the mare. Dahlia wasn't sure how exactly she was going to make Thane think twice about trying such obvious tactics. It was such a common theme in romance novels! The girl rides with man, the girl's heart gets all fluttery and swoons

Not this girl!

Internally she was deviously grinning up until she actually had to get into Thane's lap and all her courage to follow through on her little planned revenge poofed. She needed to get herself together. Now it was not only her stupid heart betraying her as it thudded so hard in her chest she was certain Thane would detect it Now her brain chose this moment to remind her she had seen him in
only a towel and her cheeks reacted with the sudden increase in blood coursing through her body.

Dahlia cleared her throat and tried to act casual. This was no big deal. Just the two of them going for a riding lesson. She could do this! It was too late to back out now. If she did the Thane would know he had some affect on her based on proximity and try and use it to his advantage. She just needed to fluster him first and he wouldn't notice that she herself was flustered. Good plan! Dahlia leaned back into Thane's chest and internally gave herself a congratulatory victory in doing so. Never mind that it felt nice, firm, and warm. No, focus. Dahlia was the one who was going to make Thane regret this arrangement.

Problem was she couldn't just turn to look at his reaction otherwise he'd know she was up to something. This meant she'd be left just hoping her plan worked. There had to be a way to tell he was bothered by her being pressed up against him like this. Maybe his body would be tense. Dahlia stared at Thane's hands, if he grew tense perhaps his hands would and then she'd be able to tell.
 
Fable Fable

“Hmm, I suppose I’ll have to be more inventive then,” he said dryly. Thane wondered what it would have been like to have a sister. He knew his mother had been bitterly disappointed to not have a daughter—not that it took away from her love for her sons, but it had never occurred to him to feel as though he were missing out. He imagined that if he had had a sister it would have necessitated a great deal of teasing… and probably bloodshed the instant anyone tried to claim her. How Dahlia’s brothers had been able to let her go was interesting to Thane. It almost made him want to bring up her suggestion of them going on a hunt together, even if only to satisfy his own curiosity.

His comment about him beating up Roarke seemed to amuse her and his own smile broadened as she laughed, the gesture infectious. Thane wasn’t sure when the last time he had made someone laugh was. Probably back when his brothers had still lived. Kharon especially had been perpetually cheerful and prone to laughter. Thane used to get into competitions with Jorgen to see who could make him laugh the hardest—their marker of true success being if they could make him laugh hard enough to pee himself. The smile faded though, as Thane thought of Jorgen. If only… but no, it was better not to think about it. Instead, the Warlord turned his full attention back to Dahlia.

She reacted exactly as he had hoped she would. Hands on her hips like she was scolding him, though her declaration that he could have just asked her if he wanted her to ride with him made him smirk. Thane would tuck that one away for future use, and if she asked him the next time why on earth he thought she would wish to ride with him he would simply tell her that she had been the one to say he ought to ask her directly. The Warlord was still silently congratulating himself when Dahlia actually pulled herself up into the saddle.

The sudden nearness of her made him feel a startling flutter in his chest. What, exactly, the emotion that prompted it was, he couldn’t say. Alarm? That didn’t seem quite right. Pleasure? Not exactly. Nerves? He frowned at that one, it felt closer to the mark, but he didn’t understand why. There was nothing here to be nervous about, she was doing exactly what he wanted. Elation he could have understood, or satisfaction, but the brief flutter in his chest was both distracting and unwanted.

Hoping to steady himself, Thane took a deep inhale through his nose and immediately regretted it. Her close proximity made it so that he got nothing but a heady inhale of her scent—clean, fresh, and touched with the earthiness of the garden she had been working in that morning. Another brief flutter flicked through his chest and the Warlord frowned, dropping the reins with one hand to rub absently at his chest as though that might smooth out whatever was causing the feeling.

He had only just returned his hand to the reins when Dahlia leaned back against him. For a moment, Thane froze, mind going blank as he tried to reconcile what had just happened with her insistence that she wouldn’t be won over so easily. Thane felt entirely unbalanced and unsure what to do, his breathing uneven as he fought to rediscover his own equilibrium.

She felt soft. Her smaller body tucked against his in a way that drummed up an instant feeling he did recognize; protectiveness. Flustered, he may have been, but even as one hand tightened against the reins and his body tensed, the other hand released the reins to wrap around her waist.

Thane had done it instinctively, the motion feeling right rather than for any particular purpose, but the instant he did it he felt a conniving little part of him cackle with glee. Perhaps Dahlia’s leaning against him had been meant to unsettle him—he wouldn’t put it past her and now that he was beginning to get past the initial shock it seemed the most plausible cause. Which meant his arm around her waist was a suitable counter and would perhaps unbalance her as she had initially unbalanced him.

Slowly, he leaned down so that his mouth was beside her ear, “Not to worry, I won’t let you fall,” he murmured. Two could play at this game and he fully intended to win. Never mind the fact that she felt good and that he was enjoying himself and her nearness, that didn’t bear thinking about right now. It would come back to plague him later in the evening when his insomnia prevented him from sleeping, but for now Thane forced himself to focus on making his presence unsettle her in turn.
 

Dahlia paused when she felt Thane shift, an arm releasing a rein for a brief moment right before she had leaned into him. Maybe he had just been adjusting his shirt, she mentally shrugged off. The moment she had acted Thane went stiff and in Dahlia's mind she was cackling proudly. So she could have a small affect on him. This was interesting. The problem was that he had moved one hand so he cold wrap a muscular arm around her waist and inside Dahlia was squealing about what just happened and what she was supposed to do. That had no been part of her plan!

What had been a tipping point was when he leaned down and spoke beside her ear with his deep voice which sent a tingle down her back causing her to close her eyes tightly and her breath to hitch. She had enjoyed that and it scared her. Dahlia had put forth a challenge for him and she was betraying herself with these types of feelings and sensations. How foolish she was if she was affected by such things by just being touched or given this kind of attention.

She swallowed and re-centered herself. This was just the result of physical attraction and nothing more. She wasn't going to let her heart be hurt by some one-sided love and so she beat down those rising feelings back. After firmly reminding herself that it was highly unlikely Thane had any feelings towards her and that he was doing this to try and gain her favor though physical seduction she managed to suppress those feelings. She put her own arm over his and waited to see if his arm would tense or not in reaction.

"I trust that you won't," she replied. "So, are we going?" she inquired. It was a combination of wanting the ride to take the focus of her attention. Hopefully he wouldn't push Laleia to go to hard too fast because she might have to end up latching onto him which... might just be in her favor to make him swoon. However, the very idea of hugging onto Thane put herself as risk as well, so she reminded herself once again that this was being done not so she could enjoy being close to Thane but to teach Thane a lesson that she wasn't going to be won over by such methods by using them against him.

When they would finally begin to move, Dahlia's hand would clutch around Thane's since it would take a moment to adjust to the movement. Since Dahlia wasn't riding alone, wasn't riding side saddle really, she was having to learn to position herself so that she wouldn't slide off the horse. As much as Thane had an arm around her, sitting in this way and double riding had its risk. If Thane had to grab the reigns with both hands for control she could fall off before she had a change to grab onto him.

"Go easy on me, it's odd riding like this," she told him. As long as Thane didn't have Laleia jumping over anything Dahlia should be fine. With it being highly likely Thane hadn't ever ridden with someone like this either a small reminder to be mindful couldn't hurt.

As the riding lesson would progress Dahlia would be less and less mindful of her being so close to Thane and instead simply enjoyed the riding experience. Laleia was larger and heavier so the steps had more impact and she was much higher off the ground. She would do her best to listen to Thane's advice on riding as she really did want to ride Levent on her own sooner rather than later. For the rest of their time on Laleia Dahlia didn't continue to try and fluster him, she could always do that later. When the lesson came to and end and Dahlia went to dismount she paused and smirked at Thane.

It would have been easy to kiss his cheek and brush it off as a 'thank you' for the lesson. The more she thought about it though the more she realized she wasn't bold enough to go that far. So all she ended up doing was smiling brightly up at him after she dismounted and directly thanked him. "I-It's probably lunch time," she brought up. It was likely Thane would be eager to go devour more food since he always ate like he was starving.
 
Fable Fable

Had Dahlia’s breath hitched? Thane wasn’t entirely sure, it had sounded like it, but that didn’t necessarily mean it had. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on his part… though, regardless, he had made the move and that was what mattered. Of course, just after he had spoken into Dahlia’s ear, she put her own arm over his and Thane felt the traitorous muscles of his arm jump beneath her touch. It had been a reflexive reaction of surprise, but it betrayed that she had startled him, nonetheless.

Inwardly, Thane cursed himself for this. It put them back on equal footing when it came to trying to unbalance each other, when what he really wanted was to gain the advantage now and build upon it over time. “Yes. We’ll ride to the treeline of the estate and then back through the meadow,” he said in answer to her question, hoping that speaking would distract from the way his arm had twitched. “With a little luck perhaps we’ll see a herd of elk or some deer,” though the morning was slipping away towards noon, the small herds still sometimes could be found grazing at this time.

Without waiting for a further answer, Thane nudged Laleia to move and the large mare began to walk out of the barn and into the crisp morning air. The instant she took her first plodding hoofstep, Dahlia’s hand immediately latched onto his and another of those curious fluttery feelings bubbled up in his chest. Her quiet request that he go easy explained why she had done this, but even so it didn’t fully mitigate the uncomfortable feeling. “Of course,” was all he murmured to her, but his arm tightened ever so slightly around her and he was extra cognizant of the ground he chose to direct Laleia over—making sure to pick areas that were flat and made for smooth riding.

From that point it seemed as though they had agreed to some sort of unspoken truce, Thane using the rest of the time to properly instruct her. He pointed out the differences between pleasure horses and the towering destriers, noting how the size difference influenced gait among other things. Somewhere in the course of things he had relaxed, growing strangely used to her nearness and scent as he went through the lesson. By the time they returned to the barn he had to admit to himself that he had enjoyed it… not that he’d ever say such a thing out loud.

Dahlia dismounted first and for a brief moment Thane felt a strange flicker of certainty that she was going to do something troublesome. But he must have been wrong because the female simply shot him a beaming smile and a simple word of thanks before mentioning lunchtime.

Laleia knew that word as well as Thane did, and had he possessed a pair of horse ears they would have pricked up at the mention of food in the exact way that the mare’s did. “Ah! I suppose it is!” he said, a sudden cheerfulness in his voice at the thought of enjoying another meal.

Maddock appeared from wherever he had skulked off to and took Laleia’s reins when Thane dismounted and handed them to him, “Yes, yes… you’ll get your lunch too,” the stablemaster crooned to the mare who seemed happy as could be to follow him back to her stall after that.

For his part, Thane started to sweep past Dahlia and back towards the castle. But, after a few long strides, he faltered with the sudden realization that perhaps he moved too quickly for her. It hadn’t occurred to him before to care about such a thing but abruptly he shortened his stride, clearing his throat softly to himself and hoping she wouldn’t think anything of the sudden change in gait. He told himself that this, too, was just a part of strategy and nothing more than that. Even if deep down he wasn’t sure he believed himself on that point.

Either way they made it back to the kitchen where Greta was hard at work as usual. Two plates heaped with a variety of leaves from the garden and generously mixed with cucumbers, peppers, bits of green onion and shaved carrots greeted them. One had chunks of chicken seemingly mixed in and the other had a bowl with the chicken on the side.

“You two have good timing,” Greta said without turning to him, grabbing a nondescript bottle and drizzling dressing over both the salads, “I just finished preparing your lunch!”

“A salad?” Thane said, sounding at once both mildly disappointed and a bit confused. He was used to meat-heavy meals, hearty food that he fancied suited a dragon perfectly.

“I thought this might be more to the Mistress’s liking,” Greta said cheerfully, handily ignoring the slight disappointed curling of Thane’s lip as he reluctantly took the plate the cook shoved into his hands. “I put the chicken in a bowl on the side for you, milady,” Greta said, offering Dahlia a warm smile, “I wasn’t entirely sure if you’d want it on your salad—if not, feel free to give it to Lord Thane, I think he’d be happy to take it.”

In truth, Thane felt a little miffed, glancing between the two of them as though some sort of conspiracy was unraveling below his nose. Never, in all his days since becoming the head of this household, had Greta served him a salad as the meal itself. As a side? Yes, it was healthy, and he ate it grudgingly, but as the main part of a meal? Ridiculous.
 

Dahlia wasn't sure who had exactly won this round in whatever this game was exactly. She wasn't trying to seduce him though he was probably trying to seduce her. She was honestly just trying to give him a taste of his own methods. She had expected him to be less reactive and guarded, but he wasn't and it confused her slightly. There was a doubt and she wondered if he was pretending as a way to have her be close to him physically, only time would tell on this or she could always end up being completely fooled.

The ride had been pleasant and she had eagerly listened to his instructions and knowledge so when it came time for her to ride Levent she wasn't at a total loss and fell off or became injured due to a mistake. She felt a small pang of regret that she wouldn't ride with him again because she had enjoyed it. The moment the though passed through her mind she internally growled at foolish self. Then of course came a thought of asking herself why she was trying so hard to keep him at a distance if she wanted him to earn her.

Dahlia knew the answer, she was scared that if she was swayed and fell for him that there was a high chance he wouldn't actually feel the same towards her. That kind of love seemed painful and she'd had a crush in the past and it hurt because she knew that in the end she, as much as she would have fought against it, she wouldn't have a choice of who she wanted to be the mate of. She was with Thane after all so while it wouldn't be terrible if she did fall for him, she imagined it would hurt.

Thane was distracted by the mention of food and was more than eager to return to the castle. He went with his usual long stride leaving Dahlia behind with her thoughts, or so she had thought until oddly he shortened his stride and she caught up to him with ease. He cleared his throat and they returned to the kitchen together where lunch was already prepared. Dahlia titled her head to the side seeing the less meat laden plates and at Thane's upset at it being a salad she laughed lightly.

"You must have hated your vegetables as a child," she commented in reference to his disappointment. "I'm fine with the meat in the salad Greta, I appreciate the thought." And the entertainment of a sulking Thane.

Dahlia sat down where her plate had been set and smirked at Thane as she took her fork and picked up a healthy sized chunk of chicken. She moved it in such as way it might have been seen as offering to feed it to him before she quickly popped it into her mouth and chewed the tender meat happily, waggling her eyebrows at him teasingly. She didn't dare repeated this move as Thane was likely to snatch her food and fork from her in retaliation.

Thane most likely would finish he food before her, which was fine as Dahlia didn't nearly have as large as an appetite as Thane did so the serving size was more than she could eat. So Dahlia hummed to herself as she wondered how she could use her left over check to tease Thane. "I'll give you my chicken if you can make me laugh." Oh this was going to be interesting.
 
Fable Fable

“I did hate them,” he grumbled, only half paying attention to Dahlia as he glared at the plate. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t eat vegetables, he just didn’t like them all that much. They were something to be gotten through before you could eat the actual good food. Having an entire meal that subsisted of purely the worst part of a meal was just… cruel.

He sat down at the table with a sigh, eyes flicking up to Dahlia when she waved a chunk of chicken temptingly in his direction. For a moment he thought she was giving it to him and leaned forward gratefully to accept it, but then the damn female plopped it into her own mouth instead, wiggling her eyebrows teasingly in his direction. Thane growled unhappily at her and scowled down at his own plate, poking his fork at the meager pieces of chicken scattered throughout the dish. It was wise that Dahlia didn’t try that move again because he was primed to snatch it away from her and teach her what teasing a Warlord would get her if she did.

The way he saw it, the only two options were to either not eat lunch at all… or to simply eat in spite of his dislike. Going without eating did not sound enjoyable, and with the way Greta was leaned against the stove—arms crossed over her chest and watching him with a look that hovered between amused and threatening—he had an inkling that dinner would be much worse if he didn’t eat what she’d made now.

So, with a world-weary sigh, Thane quickly began to shove the food into his mouth. In this case, manners be damned. It was always better to pull a bandaid off quickly so that the pain could be had in one quick second rather than dragged out. He finished in record time, cheeks puffed out with the volume of food that he’d shoved in his mouth as he quickly chewed and swallowed it down.

Greta looked like she was struggling not to laugh, and Thane shot her a withering look, tipping the plate in her direction to show that is was empty. “Do you need to check to make sure I’ve swallowed it down too?” this was said darkly, but Greta only burst out into laughter at it, knowing full well that the menacing tone Thane used on her was perfectly harmless.

He looked over towards Dahlia’s plate and saw it still contained a healthy portion of chicken. Unbelievable. If she’d picked out the chicken and left more of the salad he could have understood, but the reverse made no sense. He’d mated with a rabbit instead of a dragon, evidently. Thane was just about to ask her if he could eat the chicken she had left behind when Dahlia beat him to the punch—only she was requiring that he make her laugh in exchange for it.

The Warlord turned to look at Greta, a look that clearly said, ‘can you believe the sheer gall of this female?!’ written on his face. The cook only grinned, her cheeks still rosy from laughing at him previously. “Shouldn’t be too hard, M’lord, you already made me laugh.”

This only made his scowl deepen further and he turned an intense look onto Dahlia. Telling jokes was not his strong suit. Nor was humour in general, really. Thus far he had mostly made her laugh at him… or incidentally through their banter. Doing it intentionally when she was acting as an audience rather than a participant was a different beast entirely. Thane sighed noisily, “You do know that I could just take it, right?” he muttered, but rolled his powerful shoulders and cracked his neck all the same as though he were preparing for a fight rather than to tell a joke.

You couldn’t ask someone what they found funny beforehand, that wouldn’t be fair, so Thane would have to shoot in the dark. This necessitated mulling over what he found funny…. which was an incredibly short list. As a general rule he was not given to laughing or hilarity in general but in the end, he settled on something. “This ought to make you laugh, an excerpt from The Bonds of a Heart,” the Warlord cleared his throat and shifted into his storytelling voice—deeper and smoother than his normal speaking voice. “‘The pair gave Jason Whittaker’s property a wide berth, knowing full well that if they strayed too near the borders, his large Tibetan Mastiffs would come charging out at full throttle. Keeping their tryst secret was paramount if they both wished to keep their heads, so it was not a risk they intended to take. Laleia and Theo had not gotten far, however, when the ridgeline they had been following narrowed, and the fading light of day turned the path treacherous. For a few tense minutes they picked their way along it in single file, Theo tightly clasping Laleia’s hand in his,’” Thane’s eyes fluttered closed in concentration as he continued to recite the story.

“‘Laleia was the one who recognized first that they had come out of danger, the ridge still being narrow but smoothing out down below to a gentle hill with thick grass at its base. Theo, however, did not have vision as keen as hers and continued to cautiously make his way along. A mischievous notion came to Laleia’s mind just then, and hiding her smirk from the other dragon she gave a yip of alarm, pulled her hand from his, and let herself fall off the ridge, harmlessly landing on her side and rolling down the incline, coming to a rest in the soft grass at the bottom. Above her she could hear Theo’s shout of alarm and it took everything in her not to laugh,’” at this point a grin began to stretch Thane’s lips in turn though he did not slow in the telling of the story, “ ‘While she had been curious about what he would do, a wave of guilt swept over her at scaring him and she was about to call to him that she was fine when she made out a large shape barreling towards her. Theo slammed into her and they were both knocked breathless on the grass,’” Thane laughed now, picturing the scene with no small amount of amusement in his mind. He couldn’t imagine the kind of foolishness that would prompt Theo to throw himself blindly down a ridge after her, but it was one of the few things that made him laugh.

Whether Dahlia would be similarly affected, was up for debate. The silliest part of it all was perhaps the Warlord reciting a romance novel by heart, rather than the actual content of the story that he was reciting.
 

Dahlia was fairly amused by Thane's expression seeking help from Greta when Dahlia had required him to make her laugh in exchange for food. Greta was equally amused and even poked fun at Thane's expense making her like the woman even more if possible. Thane pointed out he could just take the chicken from her, but she knew he wouldn't because it was hers. If he had truly wanted to snatch her food he would have done so already.

Her head tilted slightly as she stared at Thane waiting to see what he would do to try and make her laugh. He seemed stuck and she slightly smiled that she could challenge him on something so small. He was tough if the rumors were true, and ruthless, but based on her limited time he seemed to struggle socially and that was something she wasn't adverse to taking advantage of in getting to know him. He could have outright denied her request to make her laugh, but here he was trying and that gave him points in his favor.

When Thane said he was going to recite from the romance novel she glanced over at Greta with some mild worry, but perhaps Greta had been with him so long she knew about the book and thought nothing of it. They seemed to have a very close relationship which meant Greta could be a good source to get information about Thane. Dahlia didn't want to learn about him in this manner if she could help it though. She wanted Thane to willingly tell her things not ask others.

She listened with interest, wondering how this was supposed to make her laugh. Thane's smooth voice while he spoke was entrancing to say the least and Dahlia was more focused on that than what he was actually saying. So when he got to the point where it was supposed to be funny - where Theo throws himself down the ridge and collides with Laleia - she smiled, but did not laugh. Thane did laugh however and it was pleasant and honest.

"I said make me laugh, not yourself," she joked, but slid the leftover chicken to him despite not winning her challenge. "Honestly, you could have probably just make a funny face and it would have worked out of shock alone."

It wouldn't take long for Thane to devour Dahlia's food. "Has he always eaten like this?" she asked Greta as she motioned towards Thane and his lacking manners before turning to him, looking him over intently. "I think I know just the book I want to lend you first," she commented. He might have already read it for all she knew since Dahlia hadn't a clue what his mother had read to him or what he himself had read personally. If he said he had already read it she'd have to think of a different book to suggest for him.

She wanted to hand him the book sooner rather than later so after lunch Dahlia suggested they go back to his quarters. That earned a chuckle from Greta who probably assumed they were doing other things. Dahlia went to her room and let her fingers glide over the leather bound books until it landed on the one she was searching for. She slid it from its place on the shelf and the small gap left in its place caused a neighboring book to shift and angle to take up the open space.

Dahlia held out the book to Thane. Beauty and the Beast. It was an older book, something her grandmother had long before Dahlia was even born so it was well worn and carried the comforting scent from its aged pages. "You can read this one first if you want. It's not a favorite exactly, but I think it's interesting in relation to our situation. If you're familiar with it I have another book in mind that I can let you borrow."
 
Fable Fable

Much to Thane’s disappointment, though not surprise, Dahlia did not laugh when he reached the ‘punchline.’ She did smile, which was something, but a smile was not what she had asked for and he sighed a little moodily afterwards, “Well, humour has never been my strong point, if you’re interested in hilarity I suggest you invite Oleander to tell you jokes.” He was almost pouting, almost, but he supposed that there wasn’t really anything inherently funny about one lover carelessly throwing himself from a cliff. In fact, it was highly likely that Dahlia would have found it romantic rather than ridiculous.

He blinked in surprise when the female pushed her chicken over to him anyways, and he glanced at her with a faint frown, “But I didn’t make you laugh…” he murmured, slowly pulling the plate towards himself all the same. Thane wasn’t one to necessarily look a gift horse in the mouth, but he didn’t really want Dahlia taking pity on him either.

A snort accompanied her statement that he could have just made a funny face at her, “I don’t know how I would do that,” he took an absent bite of chicken anyways, eyes fluttering shut in relief at the familiar taste of meat.

As he ravenously ate, Dahlia asked Greta about his eating habits and Thane scowled through a mouthful of food, Greta grinning and ignoring his expression answered, “Oh yes, ever since he was a boy. The Mistress read a story to him once where the little male dragon had all his food stolen away from his brothers until he grew paper thin and no one could see him any longer. After that, Master Thane always gobbled up his food like a starving creature and the habit stuck, no matter how hard the Mistress tried to cure him of it,” the cook chuckled, her eyes softening as she went over the memories. Thane, who had flushed a little with embarrassment initially as she told Dahlia the story, grew quiet and sobered by the end of it, his mind travelling over his own memories with no small amount of melancholy.

Dahlia shifted to look at him then, an intent expression in her eyes that distracted him from his morose thoughts, “Excellent,” he managed around a mouthful of chicken when she said that she knew exactly what book to lend him, a small smile making its way back onto his face, “I’m eager to see what you’ve decided to have me read first.”

Naturally, he didn’t correct Greta when she cackled at Dahlia’s declaration that they return to their rooms, but he made a mental note to take some time later to explain the situation to Greta fully. He had a feeling she would wholeheartedly approve—not least because she had a penchant for enjoying drama and clearly liked Dahlia. He followed dutifully after his mate as she led them back to the rooms, thinking to himself how odd it was for him to have a mate leading him to their bedchambers in the first place and yet there be no real intimacy between them. Perhaps Dahlia had the right of it in saying it was odd… Thane had been willing to accept that this was simply the lot of the dragons now that females were growing scarce, but perhaps that was an excuse. His parents certainly hadn’t had that same struggle. Not that it mattered, he had already agreed to the new terms to win her over, all that remained was for him to succeed at it. Motivations behind it were not so important…although Dahlia’s insistence that he pursue her sincerely and genuinely contradicted that… it was all rather confusing.

Once they arrived in the rooms Dahlia wasted no time in ducking into her own room to go fetch whatever book she intended to give him. Thane waited silently in the other room, feeling the warmth of the meal in his stomach and still feeling a quiver of displeasure at the fact that she had given it to him without him fulfilling the condition she had asked for in exchange. It wasn’t fair, and he disliked unfairness.

She re-emerged with a leather-bound book, handing it to him firmly. Thane took it from her and curiously looked at the title, “Beauty and the Beast?” he read aloud, hearing her rationale for giving it to him and snorting. “I suppose this would make me the Beast, then?” he muttered, more to himself than to her but then slowly nodded, “Well, I haven’t read it so we’ll start here,” he had a slight inkling that he might find himself mildly offended by her choosing to give him this one, but perhaps not. Time would tell.

Besides the book, Thane was still mulling over the concept of ‘making a funny face’ and what that would have entailed. Jorgen had been fond of making faces when they were children, and he’d seen some of the males in his army occasionally shoot odd expressions at each other. Sticking ones tongue out was apparently a common part of this ritual. Humming thoughtfully to himself, Thane decided to give it a try. It still didn’t sit right with him that she had given him the chicken without him having been successful. Holding the book gingerly in one hand, he cleared his throat and said, “I still need to make you laugh, it wouldn’t do for me to have eaten your chicken without fulfilling my part of the deal,” and then he caught Dahlia’s gaze in his own.

Concentrating far too much for what he was actually doing, Thane poked his tongue out of his mouth as far as it would go. His expression was inherently serious even with his tongue sticking out in her direction, eyebrows pulled together in concentration. After a few seconds he pulled his tongue back in and then cocked his head to the side as he continued to look at her, “Was that done correctly?”
 

Thane's disappointment at failing to make Dahlia laugh could be considered cute. Her brows furrowed slightly as he focused on the food and she was left wondering where the brute from the carriage ride days go went. The one that had terrified her utterly and had easily spoke about harming her family. When he said he didn't know how to make a funny face Dahlia could only look at him in mild concern. She wanted to say that you just made a face that you thought was amusing.

He didn't seem to care for the book's title, guessing correctly that in this story he would be the beast. She wasn't sure if that bothered him or not since he didn't comment more on the matter. Just as she was about to inquire how fast of a reader he was he looked at her with a very serious expression. She nervously stood there blinking wonder what he wanted when his tongue extended fully out of his mouth and he seemed entirely focused on this simple act.

Dahlia covered her mouth with a hand as she burst out laughing. It was both adorable and hilarious! Her fit of laughter increased as he innocently asked her if he had done it correctly and all she could do was nod emphatically since she could speak. It didn't bring tears to her eyes but it was close and she calmed down soon after. "That was a very good first try," she congratulated him. "You have to understand that just you making such a face when you're supposed to be scary is what makes it so funny. At least to me. I think you might terrify someone else if you did that in front of them." She imagined him suddenly giving a solider that look and the solider running away in terror wondering what Thane was going to do to them.

"I was going to ask how fast you read before you did that," she informed him. "I know you already mentioned you would be busy so I wonder how long it would take for you to finish the book because I have three in mind for you to read."

She could read fairly quickly, but then again she had the time to waste, especially here when she had no flower shop to help run, nor help tend to the nursery or gardens, or her mother's lessons. Dahlia was tempted to try her hand at arts but then quickly stomped that idea into dust because she knew it would end up in failure. She could do gardening here, but there was only so much to be done and she'd end up making Arthur useless.

When she was more comfortable riding Levent she could do that as well as tend to him with brushing and other things. But that still left so much empty time. An idea popped into her head; writing. She could write her own novel. It would probably take up much of her time and she could send it to her grandmother for a professional opinion. Dahlia didn't mention this to Thane nor her intention to base it off their reality, maybe if it went anywhere and if they got along when it was finished she would let him read it.

"So, besides riding, hunting, reading, and gardening is there anything else you do for fun? I'd wager stabbing things," she joked.
 
Fable Fable

A self-satisfied grin stretched across Thane’s face when Dahlia burst into laughter at his attempt to make a funny face. At first, she could only nod in answer to his question, which was satisfying in and of itself, but eventually she calmed enough to actually offer him proper critique. Thane listened to it seriously, nodding slowly though he frowned when she said he would terrify someone else if he did it to them. “Well, it didn’t terrify you,” he said with vague amusement in his tone. “And I am scary, I simply have no reason to be that way in front of you,” he said it in a matter-of-fact way. He’d been willing to use his ability to intimidate and the sheer danger that was also an integral part of him on her when they’d first met, but now it didn’t hold the same appeal. It was an effective tool, but not one he wished to use on her if he could help her.

“I doubt it will take me long to finish,” he said, glancing down at the leather-bound book in his hands, “Perhaps the only benefit of insomnia is that it gives me many long hours free of distraction with which to read.” In all honesty, he doubted it would take him more than a week to read through it—if that. The books he ordinarily chose to keep him company on his long sleepless nights were dry tomes that were meant to induce sleep. Something like a novel was a rare addition to his menu, and this one would be particularly interesting considering that she had recommended it… which would lend it extra careful consideration.

Thane nodded seriously when she listed the things he enjoyed doing, “Yes, stabbing things can be enjoyable. Granted, there’s little enough opportunity to really indulge myself in that… it isn’t particularly acceptable to kill my own men,” it was only half a joke and he stepped away from her to gently place Beauty and the Beast on his nightstand before turning back towards her. “I suppose battle training would qualify as something else I enjoy,” he said tilting his head thoughtfully as he thought about it, “It’s rather satisfying to put the men in their place, I’ve yet to be bested in a one-on-one fight by any living dragon,” he said, his chest puffing a little in pride as he said it. “That said, it’s considered a duty rather than a hobby, so perhaps it doesn’t count.” And technically, he had been bested… but Thane didn’t think he needed to mention it considering it was his own deceased brother who had managed it.

For a few moments he fell silent, trying to think of anything else he did that he took some enjoyment from, “I suppose chess,” he said, but it came out reluctantly. This, too, was something that Jorgen had tainted. It had been the game they had played together frequently as grown men, each trying to outdo the other in strategy and wits. Here, more than anywhere else, Thane had outshone his elder brother. He’d always had a solid mind for strategy and chess had enabled him to showcase it. It had become a point of pride—he could never really beat Jorgen in a straight fight, but Jorgen could never beat him at chess. Thane hadn’t played a game since everything that had happened between them. He sighed, “I am out of practice with the game though,” and turned away from her.

At that moment, a reluctant knock came at the door, “Enter,” Thane intoned, and the handle of the door turned, Roarke peeking his head in.

“My deepest apologies for disturbing you M’lord, M’lady, but a letter arrived for you from Prince Liordan and I thought I had best deliver it immediately.”

Thane frowned and stepped up to the manservant, plucking up the letter from where it lay on a doily covered silver tray. The letter opener lay on the tray as well and he took this, flicking it across the seam of the envelope deftly—anything blade-like was well within his skill range—and pulled out the folded paper.

Roarke dipped his head to both of them in turn once Thane put the discarded envelope and letter opener back on the tray, slipping back out quietly and closing the door behind him.

The Warlord’s eyes skimmed over the page and he clicked his tongue in aggravation, eyes turning cold as he read it. Thane was about to crumple it, muscles of his hands tensed around it, when he paused and handed it to Dahlia instead with a sigh.

“It seems we will be graced by the presence of Prince Raskar and Prince Liordan come Monday,” he said sourly. He would need to delay his return to his duties by a day… and while that would not put anyone out (many had said they could run things for upwards of three weeks if he preferred to attend to his new mate), the visit in and of itself did not sit well with him.

The contents of the letter were boring, the usual business of formal greetings and a few meagre lines about Raskar’s desire to visit them and Liordan’s decision to join him to greet the couple as well. Thane could read between the lines… Liordan would use this as an opportunity to size him up and to keep Raskar in line—if he could.

They would need to be careful. If Liordan discovered the mateship had not been consummated he would look to use the knowledge to his advantage. And that was to say nothing of the rumours which he could spread to destroy Thane’s reputation if he felt he could get away with it. Not to mention the fact that he wanted Dahlia for himself—a thought that now made Thane's blood boil to think of.
 

"I'm not saying you aren't scary," Dahlia said with a shrug. "You have your scary moments." She wasn't exactly walking on egg shells with him currently, but there was this worry she could do something to really anger him and that was scary in itself. Usually she didn't care if she pissed someone off. It was usually her family, but this was Thane and he seemed the type to - when angry - doing hurtful or say hurtful things. He probably wouldn't physically hurt her himself, her body had a specific use to him. That didn't mean he couldn't or wouldn't hurt other people or things.

When Thane said his insomnia would keep him up that he would read books to fill the time she pondered silently. He had fallen asleep when she had played the piano. He had even snored! "D-Don't snap at this suggestion," she began. "I could play the piano for you if it helps you sleep. I don't mind." It was a simple offer and held no cost to him in exchange. She'd never had trouble sleeping save for a few exceptions and it always left her feeling miserable and shorter tempered than normal. Thane probably would feel vulnerable allowing himself to relax around her and so she wouldn't push him if he declined.

Roarke's announcement there was a letter from Prince Liordan resulted in her making a concerned expression. She'd done her best to avoid him at the mateship ceremony, even just trying to not look at him. But she had glanced at him here and there and he had bee staring either at her or at Thane. Something had felt off and with her mother's upset over Dahlia not being Liordan's mate she wondered if it bothered the prince himself as well she'd been mated to Thane instead.

Dahlia tried to brush it off as perhaps something to do with Thane's work, but instead he informed her that Prince Raskar and Prince Liordan were coming to visit. Prince Raskar had angered her with his 'jus primae noctis' comment. Liordan just seemed angry with Thane. Thane himself seemed displeased at the coming visit based on his expression and tensed hands before he had handed it to her with a resigning sigh.

"I guess you can't make up an excuse to decline them," she commented as she read over the dull letter herself. She had no idea what was required for such a visit or what would be talked about. She probably had to make an appearance, but with that came the requirement for acting like normal mates did. It also meant she as going to have to act like the Lady her mother tried to train her to be. "Maybe you can keep them busy in the men's lounge so I can make myself scarce," she suggested with a laugh, not expecting Thane to agree to that at all.

"I feel like this visit is going to be a nightmare," she sighed to herself.
 
Fable Fable

“If I could decline I would,” he growled irritably, “But to refuse not one, but two princes is not something even a Warlord can do.” He shook his head slightly to himself and paced to the window, looking out over the meadow and trying to calm his temper, “At least Liordan sent word… elsewise I would have been gone and you’d be entertaining them yourself,” the thought made him set his jaw angrily—both because it meant he owed Liordan thanks for the notice and at Raskar’s own impoliteness. He couldn’t imagine how that would have gone… a pair of princes, or even just Raskar, alone in his estate with Dahlia and his servants. It reminded Thane that he’d need to set up guards for her when he was gone, just as a precautionary measure in case unwanted guests ever arrived while he was away. Should things go badly he didn’t believe that Dahlia would be able to protect herself.

“If I have to suffer those fools, so do you,” he said grimly in answer to her comment about him entertaining them in the men’s lounge. Although… considering Raskar’s conduct and Liordan’s own jealousy, perhaps having Dahlia there as briefly as possible would be the better option. “I may be able to limit your contact with them to a mere greeting,” he amended after a moment, “At which time you could scurry off to do as you pleased while I endured the torment alone,” he blew out a noisy and aggravated sigh, turning back from the window and approaching her again. “I certainly hope it is not a nightmare…for both our sakes,” having a prince as an enemy was a dangerous game and Liordan already was one. Adding Raskar to the mix would be doubly dangerous, though Thane wasn’t entirely sure how much damage a buffoon could cause. Plenty, if he thought about it, especially if his buffoonery were harnessed by someone more adept—like Liordan.

Thane shook his head to himself and raked a hand through his long, dark, hair with a softer sigh. There was no point getting overly worked up about it. That would not be productive for either of them and it wouldn’t forestall the visit. At least they now had a few days to prepare and decide how they wanted to present themselves before the two princes. Any opportunity to strategize was welcome.

The arrival of Roarke with the royal letter had interrupted the flow of conversation, but with it addressed, Thane now returned his attention to the suggestion she had made—that she play piano for him to help him fall asleep. Frankly, Thane wasn’t sure whether it would work. Yes, he had fallen asleep the first time he had heard her play, but that might have been a strange one-off. It had happened after a very trying mateship ceremony, after all. There were also logistical challenges. He did not particularly wish to fall asleep in one of the chairs in the parlor and he certainly didn’t expect Dahlia, or any of his staff, to drag him back to his chambers. The only way for it to really work would be for him to have a piano installed in their suite of rooms… this was doable, but Thane felt a touch reluctant. Dahlia said that she didn’t mind doing it, but there was something mildly off-putting about the thought of her dancing her fingers along the ivory keys and drawing him inexorably to sleep. Not only because of the vulnerability it required him to show her, but also because he hadn’t taken her as his mate to be some trained monkey on a piano. That thought made him snort internally, as though taking her for the purpose of heirs is any better, whether that thought existed in his mind in Dahlia’s voice or his mother’s, he wasn’t sure. Either one would be fitting.

Another thought gleamed above the doubts: the thought of a full night’s sleep. He hadn’t had that since well before the death of his family. Insomnia had been a constant companion to him for half his life and the thought of prying it off of him—even for a night—was tantalizing. “We’d need to bring a piano in,” he found himself saying before he could stop himself, “Ah, if you were to… play for me,” he amended a little lamely, realizing that Dahlia might be jarred by the sudden change in conversation. “Though I’m not convinced it wouldn’t negatively impact your ability to sleep. Besides, whether you mind or not it would be unfair of me to ask such a thing from you…” Thane trailed off, the two halves of himself at war: one part longing deeply for the chance at proper sleep, the other balking at the thought of allowing all his defenses to be lowered in her presence, even if he didn’t believe her to be a threat to him. It was just a little bit too… intimate.
 

Dahlia didn't argue that decline two princes was mad for anyone. She knew that which is why she hadn't been very serious in her comment about making excuses to not entertain them like good and proper hosts. When he brought up she might have been stuck entertaining the princes herself had Liordan not sent word she paled slightly at the near danger. As much as it would make her uncomfortable she'd have to make it a point to thank him for sending the letter rather than just popping up unannounced and expecting her to tend to them while Thane was away.

"If you want me to stay nearby during their visit I will, I just really... I mean Raskar's comment at the ceremony would have gotten him slapped if he wasn't a prince and then Liordan just makes me uneasy. But I'll deal with it as needed, can't leave you to suffer alone can I." she added the last sentence with a shrug of her shoulders, raising her hands a bit with the motion. "Raskar better keep his perverse comments to himself."

She watched Thane with interest as he ran his finger through his long dark hair. Dahlia was curious about its texture and she wondered if he'd ever let her braid it. Not a feminine type of braid. Her eldest brother Gideon had long hair as well, not as long as Thane's but long enough. He'd let her style it for him every now and then using braids. Perhaps one day she might be brave enough to ask him, but she was still unsure when in close physical proximity. Not to mention he had to go and strut around almost nude and now that image was burned into her memory now and now she was thinking about it again.

Dahlia quickly pushed the unruly thought back into the abyss to be ignored when he turned his attention to her. The topic switched back to what she had mentioned earlier when Thane said they would have to bring a piano into the room. "It's not unfair if I'm freely offering it," she countered. "And you don't have to bring that large piano in here, surely you could obtain a smaller one which is less invasive of the space."

She paused for a moment before continuing to speak on the matter, "You can tell me if it make you uncomfortable. We don't really know each other and it would require trust from you to allow yourself to fall asleep with me in the same room. It won't negatively impact my sleep, at least I don't think it will. I just thought it was worth a shot even if it doesn't work out, which is also why you really shouldn't trouble someone to bring the full piano up here if things don't work out."

There were other things she could try, but it would still require trust from Thane. She could make him a calming tea to help him sleep, but he might think she was trying to poison him. That should be easy enough to prove otherwise by drinking it herself, but if he was still uncomfortable sleeping with someone nearby like she was the tea would do little to help. "I-I could also try and make you a herbal tea. I don't know if it would help, we could always try something like that first."

Dahlia fidgeted not because she was worried she would get caught with some ulterior motive, but more worried Thane would just outright reject her help because he didn't trust her and that with his distrust there could be suspicion and anger towards her when she was trying to get along with him as best as she could. "One second," she said as she went to her room and then came back with a thin, small book. She flipped through the pages and then handed the open book to him showing the tea she had in mind to make for him. It was a simple chamomile lavender tea. "I don't have to be the one to make it for you, Greta can. There are other types too."

She turned the page to show a lemongrass tea and a lemon balm tea, "So if there is a flavor you dislike there are others."
 
Fable Fable

As Dahlia brought up Raskar’s inappropriate comment during the ceremony, Thane snarled irritably, hands curling into fists at the memory. “I so badly wanted to strangle him. If not for the fact that he is one of the only prince’s I can consider an ally…” Thane shook his head, leaving the rest unsaid. Had it been any other dragon to make the comment there would have been every chance that they wouldn’t have left the ceremony alive and if Thane had permitted them to go, he might very well have gelded them first. Raskar would never know how close to the edge he had pushed Thane with that comment, or what would have happened to him if Thane had truly lost his temper.

“They will be meeting us in private. If Raskar makes an inappropriate comment or Liordan makes you uneasy I’ll have them thrown out,” the Warlord snorted derisively and smirked a little, “No one could fault us for it considering the fact that they are intruding into a honeymoon period, whether it’s real or not,” he had said it as a means to calm any worries Dahlia might have had about the visit, but that didn’t mean Thane wasn’t also a touch uneasy about it. “At least we’ll be allies against them,” he said with a sigh as a sort of afterthought, “We can think them boorish and rude together,” it was certainly better than entertaining those thoughts alone… that was one benefit of mateship, at least.

As to the business with the piano, Thane hummed thoughtfully to himself, brows pinching as he mulled it over. “I suppose I could have a smaller piano purchased and brought here,” he mused, “As far as trusting you goes…” he hesitated for a moment and then sighed, glancing at her from the corners of his eyes, “You sleep in the room next to mine. You’ve fallen asleep without trouble even though I could technically burst in at any time and harm you if I wished, so I suppose its illogical for me to lack the same trust in you.” On a surface level it made sense—and he had already fallen asleep in front of her that one time he had walked in while she’d been playing in the parlor. This was a bit different from that, but… Dahlia was his mate, and from everything he’d learned of her she did not seem the type to murder him while he slept. Besides, he was a light sleeper by nature and would probably be able to defend himself fairly easily even if she did decide to try attacking him.

“Very well, I’ll have a smaller piano brought here,” he said, making a definitive decision before she could change her mind. “If it causes any trouble whatsoever for either one of us then we simply get rid of it,” Thane nodded to himself at this decision. It would be curious to see if it truly did make a difference… at present he wasn’t sure if it would.

It seemed Dahlia was not finished with the suggestions because her next one was to make an herbal tea for him to try. Before Thane could really think how to respond she excused herself for a moment and then returned with a book, flipping through the pages and then handing it to him. It detailed a recipe for chamomile lavender tea, and Thane fought to hide a smile as his eyes skimmed over the ingredients.

“No need to involve Greta, you don’t seem the type to be a poisoner,” he murmured, still fighting to keep his face composed as she flipped to the last page which boasted lemongrass tea and lemon balm tea, “I think perhaps you’ll have to make me a few different varieties and we can see if any of them help… assuming you’re still willing?” he said at last, quirking an eyebrow up and searching her amber eyes with his hazel ones. Thane had no intention of telling her that Greta had tried serving him various herbal teas over the years meant to aid in sleep with no success. He had a particular fondness for lavender chamomile but while it relaxed him it did not help the insomnia. Still, perhaps it would be different when Dahlia made it. Logic dictated that it shouldn’t be different, but there was something delightful in the thought of having her make tea for him that warmed Thane’s heart. Not that he intended to tell her as much, he’d get more enjoyment out of watching her try her recipes on him.
 

Thane's reaction was stronger than Dahlia expected. She didn't think such a comment would bother him so much, especially since at the time it was made they may have been mates but they were complete strangers. Dahlia's body had tensed in reaction to thane's snarling anger because it had seemingly come from nowhere. She knew he wasn't angry at her, but he anger set her a bit on edge.

Her body eased as Thane said he would throw them out if they made her uneasy or made inappropriate comments towards her. Hadn't he just said otherwise? That he basically wanted to keep Raskar as an ally. She smirked when Thane said they'd at least be allies against the princes and Dahlia didn't deny this. Neither had left a good impression on her with the minimal interaction and presence at the ceremony. At least Thane wasn't actually fawning over them princes despite the faults Dahlia believed the princes to have. It would have been a struggle having a mate like that.

He made a point that she slept in a room next to him and how her own trust to sleep close by when he could harm her had him want to reciprocate that trust. It was more a trust in his honor and logic. Thane could have many times harmed her, but hadn't. He had accepted her deal. If he also truly wanted to harm her she couldn't do anything to stop him, and so losing sleep over something out of her control just only wore on her and no one else.

It was still strange to sleep in a strange room connected to the bedroom of someone who was her mate. It was really that strangeness and her own thoughts that prevented her from falling asleep easily. She'd not tell Thane this though. It was something she had to deal with and telling him would only widen the gap that Dahlia was trying to close between them; to find some common ground and get along.

He conceded to purchasing a smaller piano which relieved Dahlia slightly. She had some additional worry that moving such a large piano could damage it or hurt someone. She did frown slightly when he said they could always get rid of it should it cause trouble for either of them. Like Dahlia would allow that, she'd argue it would be more trouble to just remove the piano rather than leave it be if it became bothersome to Thane.

When he said Greta didn't need to make the tea since Dahlia didn't seem to be a poisoner she smiled softly. "I-I don't mind making the tea," she said as she pulled the book back and gently closed it. "They might not help you sleep, but maybe if you are relaxed when you do sleep you won't have nightmares. Silly thought, I know."

Dahlia cleared her throat and couldn't resist saying the next thing even if Thane might find it annoying, "Or you just hug on some stuffed doll." She looked away from him and tried her best to stifle her laughter as she imagined the fearsome Warlord hugging on a large stuffed bear. For some reason this snapped her to another thought and she asked out loud before she could stop herself. "When is your birthday?"

Her joke had led her to think of another one in which she made him a stuff doll for him to cuddle with at night. That then led her to wondering when his birthday was since that was a normal time to gift someone something. Dahlia had no skill to sew such a thing and if she dared to try it'd end up just being a large stuffed thing resembling nothing. That didn't mean she couldn't find someone else to make such a thing or to help Dahlia make it as a joke gift. Oh to see Thane's expression should that ever happen.
 
Fable Fable

The Warlord permitted himself to smile at Dahlia’s suggestion that the tea might chase his nightmares away, even if it didn’t help him fall asleep. “I suppose anything is possible,” he said, though Thane didn’t hold out much hope for that. Seeing the things he had seen over the years as a Warlord made nightmares more an occupational hazard than anything else. Still, it was a nice thought all the same. If nothing else he’d be able to muse pleasantly over the fact that she was trying to help him during the long hours where sleep was elusive, that was worth a great deal in and of itself.

Her next suggestion, though, followed quickly by a question on when his birthday was, made Thane’s eyebrows shoot up. For a moment he was tempted to scowl, but a thought occurred suddenly to him and made his frown shift into a wicked grin instead. Dahlia was struggling not to grin herself, and he took the opportunity while she was distracted to playfully catch her chin in his hand and tilt her head up, so she was looking at him. “I don’t have any particular interest in a doll, but you’re more than welcome to curl up in my arms and chase the nightmares away,” he said it in a low purr, releasing her chin as he finished saying it and cackling to himself.

To be honest, Thane wasn’t actually opposed to that idea at all, though he knew Dahlia would be. But she had left the opening there, ripe for the taking, and it had seemed exactly the sort of corny line one might expect from a romance novel. He was a more than a little pleased with himself for that bit of wit and crossed his arms over his chest with a small smirk in her direction.

“As for my birthday, it’s October—” he paused for a moment, blinking as it took him a second to remember the exact date. He hadn’t celebrated a birthday in ages and the day had passed unnoted for many years now, “—October 17,” he said at last, relaxing. He was pretty sure that was the correct date, and even if it wasn’t… the whole thing was rather arbitrary in his opinion. What did it matter what day you were born? If you lived, then you lived. Paying special attention to whatever day a baby first blinked their eyes open to the world seemed unnecessary. The date itself didn’t impact anything, so why care? But he’d indulge Dahlia in telling it to her, and even if he was incorrect about the exact date… well, they could simply say it was the 17th, that didn’t change anything.
 

As Thane smiled Dahlia felt a flicker in her pulse which she just dismissed as nervousness since she had been expecting him to decline all her offers to help him sleep. He was mercurial and so his mood could have swayed towards being annoyed with her.

Dahlia's eye widened as Thane gave her a wicked grin before catching her chin with his hand which forced her to look up at him directly, telling her he had no interest in a doll but that she could sleep with him. Her face went hot as the blood from her pounding heart caused her cheeks to blush furiously at this action and words. What was she supposed to do?! She needed to calm down, not let him see he got a rise out of her. She could brush off the blush as something minor rather than him actually affecting her. The gesture wasn't something she was used to so it was completely understandable to be flustered by it. Just because she was flustered didn't mean anything deeper, just that she was nervous around him.

Had she been daring she might have kissed him to out of revenge, but that would lead to a misunderstanding and it wasn't in her character to do something so bold even out of spite. Dahlia cleared her throat when Thane went to cross his arms. Honestly, how could be let herself be affected by his insincere actions! She needed to remember that everything he did was to make her swoon to get her into his bed, his motive wasn't to win her heart and now she regretted her wording for her challenge.

Dahlia noted his pause when he answered her question about his birthday, but he did eventually answer. "I guess you don't normally celebrate it if you had to think about it," she commented. "I-I won't throw you some surprise part or anything like that since it would probably annoy you and honestly... do you even have any friends for that kind of thing? A-Ah that came out sounding mean! I meant that you don't seem the type to throw parties or like them and probably find them troublesome so I wouldn't force something like the onto you. I just wanted to know."

She sighed at herself as she rambled, still clearly flustered by his previous actions. Get it together! Dahlia didn't tell him her own birthday, if he wanted to know it he could just ask, though she doubted he ever would. That would mean he would have to have some sort of interest to get to know about her.

A topic change was needed; desperately. "Uhm, back to the visit. They aren't going to stay overnight are they? It didn't say in the letter." It was a concern since it could turn out that they would have overnight guests should the visit go on for a long while. It was one things to relax a bit in front of the servants and not act like a couple, but to maintain that farce in front of scrutinizing princes made her anxious. She couldn't feign being ill as an excuse. Maybe she could just do what they expect and sit around and look 'pretty'. Oh... wait...

There was a devious gleam in Dahlia's eyes. It was tempting, to act like a vapid ditz in front of the princes which would probably embarrass Thane. No, no, bad Dahlia! Pissing Thane off was not a good idea and that would surely piss him off, but it was so tempting. "You're lucky I don't always give into my impulses," she muttered under her breath. "You have no idea how alluring it is to act like an airhead, but I don't want you angry at me so I won't."
 
Fable Fable

Just as he had hoped, Dahlia flushed a delightful shade of pink, her cheeks turning a vibrant red. There was something intensely gratifying about getting that reaction out of her, and for a brief moment Thane found himself simply enjoying the momentary victory for itself, not with any of his ulterior moments in mind. But they crept back in soon enough. He wasn’t under any illusions; Dahlia wasn’t stupid, and he didn’t expect this to make much of a difference in her feelings towards him. In fact, if there was one thing he had learned today… it was that she was going to make winning her over extremely difficult.

Any grandiose gesture would be suspected, she had said she wanted something more subtle, something genuine. The trouble, of course, was that Thane still had no idea how to go about that. He could ask her questions, pry into her life and who she was, but that was not the type of male he was… which would render such actions disingenuous by definition. It meant that this would likely be a slow process, at least until he came up with a better strategy. Courtship without overly sappy overtures, something genuine. He had never given thought to what it would mean for him to intentionally court a female beyond a simple mateship arrangement, to want her for her own sake and vice versa. It was a strange concept and he knew it would take a long time for him to decide how to go about it or what that even meant. Thane just had to remind himself that dragons lived a long time… this was the honourable way to take things and he didn’t really regret rendering their previous deal null. He simply hoped he continued to not regret his decision several years down the line when Dahlia still hadn’t shared his bed. Thane sighed.

It took him a moment to pull himself out of his own thoughts and pay attention to what she was saying. Some sort of rambling about parties and him lacking friends. All in all, Dahlia seemed to have said a great deal of nothing using a whole slew of words. No question, no statement… she had asked for his birthday without having a reason apparently. Odd. It was interesting; she didn’t really seem the type to ramble on. Perhaps he’d affected her more than he’d thought! But nice as that thought was, Thane didn’t think it likely. More probable was that she had some tangential question she wished to ask but was skirting it for fear of him reacting poorly. That seemed to be a common thread with her. As though he was some tempestuous force and not a cold and logical Warlord. He’d done a good job with frightening her initially in the carriage.

Dahlia steered away from that subject and Thane let it go with a slight shrug. She wasn’t wrong, he found parties pointless at the best of times… let alone when the cause for celebration was something as inane as the day of one’s birth. A change in topic was more than welcome, and the one she brought up made him snort and shake his head. “No, they are absolutely not welcome here past nightfall,” he said curtly. Barring some act of God that legitimately prevented them from leaving, Thane didn’t wish to pollute the air of his estate with their presence for longer than was necessary. Raskar was aggravating and with Liordan he wouldn’t be able to close his eyes the whole night for fear of some scheme—and that was nothing to say of any strange ideas they might get about Dahlia. Jus primae noctis indeed…

Dahlia’s expression abruptly changed to something bright and alive, a gleam of wickedness in her eyes that made Thane again feel that odd clenching in his chest. He tilted his head at her, eyebrows pinching. He didn’t have to ask what had caused the mood shift. Between Dahlia’s muttering that he was lucky she didn’t always give in to her impulses—which he supposed was true though she certainly seemed to give in to most of them—and her acknowledgement that play-acting the part of a fool in front of the princes was entirely tempting, Thane could only snort in amusement and shake his head.

He was about to tell her how foolish that would be when he paused, a considering look crossing his face instead. “Perhaps… that is not the worst idea,” he murmured at last after a pause. “Liordan might be less jealous and dangerous if he thinks I’ve gotten a bad bargain in my mate—he’d know that an airhead would not be my type at all,” Thane cast her a rueful glance and sighed loudly, “It would also make it easy enough to manufacture an excuse for you to leave and not be forced to host them the entire time with me, AND you wouldn’t need to pretend any affection for me,” the Warlord scratched his cheek and grinned, “Or no… perhaps an airhead would show excessive affection… Either way it would not be a surprise that I kept you at arms length. The only trouble is that it would necessitate you always acting that way around them in the future to keep the ruse alive,” he shrugged and caught Dahlia’s eyes again, “I can leave that choice to you I suppose.”
 

There was a sense of relief when Thane assured that the princes would not be welcome outside of extenuating circumstances. That didn't mean they might try and invite themselves to stay over, but hopefully without a valid reason they'd just be turned away. What was unexpected was that her idea about acting like a ditz might not be a bad idea which earned a quirked brow as if asking 'are you serious?'

Thane had some point that her acting such would make her less appealing, but would it really? As she was thinking through a slew of hypotheticals on this thought Thane grinned as he suggested such an act would include excessive affection on her part towards him and Dahlia openly scoffed. "You are really..." she began, but didn't finish. She was going to say he was being vexatious with his forwardness and these kind of jokes, but a joke was all it was.

"As much as being stuck having to act dimwitted is appealing," she said sarcastically. "It wouldn't work. While a dimwitted mate can be bothersome to a degree it also offers disadvantages, such as being oblivious to situations that can put them at risk of being in a very bad position. I'd have to act ignorant to any flirtatious advances, which while I have to endure them from you, I am not required to idly stand by and allow others to do so nor do I want to."

Dahlia mentally slapped herself as she realized how that last sentence came out. "N-Not like I want to have your false advances either! It's just acting in such a manner can create more problems by pretending I was clueless. Honestly, women who sit silently are more terrifying. You don't know what would be going through their minds. My grandmother could just give a look and crush your ego. I'm probably too temperamental to try that tactic though and my expression would probably just make them laugh."

"I'll just be myself. After all, I'm sure you're feeling a twinge of regret in just taking any female as a mate now that you're stuck with me. I'll just use my irritating charm and make them want to leave." That was meant as a joke, but unfortunately Dahlia had used a self-depreciating type and internally cringed at herself because it exposed that she felt her presence to Thane was like a thorn in his side.

"The visit will probably be fine. Worst case I can have Ilia ready for a signal with some excuse. So, sorry but I won't be throwing myself at you for the sake of appearances in front of the princes." As she said this she crossed her arms over her chest signalling that she was firm in her decision to not use such a method.

"W-Well, I've given you the book so... I am going to go look into... making some tea bags for you..." Dahlia said as a means to excuse herself. It would take up a large chunk of time to gather the various ingredients for the different types of teas. It would also have her mind focused on that task rather than worrying about the royal visit or Thane's flirtations.

She quickly vacated the room and to the garden, telling off Arthur for good measure when he complained about her picking his plants and nearly making a joke about her and Thane. She actually got some shears this time and open and closed them which caused the man to scitter off and leave her to her work. The gardens didn't have everything she needed, but whatever items she lacked Greta had in dried storage. When the woman has asked Dahlia about the teas she nearly told Dahlia that Thane hadn't much found them useful, but seeking Dahlia determine she left the dragoness to her own devices.

She made a large variety, making small tea bags for testing the teas themselves to see which helped the most and adjusting as needed; basically samples to find the best one for Thane. She needed to dry the jasmine she had picked before she could use it for tea. It wasn't exactly a tea to help one sleep but rather to improve health. So even if the teas couldn't help him sleep perhaps a tea to reinvigorate him might be more beneficial.

Dahlia wrapped the jasmine into tight tea balls. It would take some time for them to dry properly and she'd surprise Thane with the tea later. Even if that didn't help him he'd at least get to experience a flowering tea. This task consumed Dahlia's time as preparing these special tea balls wasn't the easiest task. Greta had to point out that it was dinner time and that she had already sent the food to Thane's room. Dahlia stuffed the tea bags into a small pouch Greta provided, each one with a paper label with what the tea was.

She cautiously poked her head into the room before fully stepping in, "After your bath you should try this tea." She tugged out the chamomile lavender tea bag carefully from the pouch. "And I swear if you come out in a towel again..."

Dahlia's threat was left open because what the hell could she actually threaten him with.
 
Fable Fable

“Those all sound like disadvantages to you. But what I’m hearing is that you’ll mind your tongue and keep your manners in the process of acting ‘dimwitted,’ I fail to see the downside for me,” Thane chuckled, not entirely serious as he said it and offered her a shrug, “It was your idea, no need to act as though I suggested you play the part of a perfectly subservient mate,” he smirked, enjoying needling her now that her own suggestion seemed to have backfired on her. Dahlia had clearly not been expecting Thane to agree that the idea had merit.

His eyebrows shot up at what she was implying with her statement about flirtatious advances, and though she quickly stammered out a correction, the words could not be taken back. Still, for the time being he let it go, tucking the knowledge away to be examined at some later time. “Indeed, the thought of you being silent is terrifying,” he acknowledged instead, his tone dry, “Though I agree it makes more sense for you to be yourself if you’ve changed your mind about the plan to be dimwitted.”

Thane might have left it there, but Dahlia’s offhand comment about him regretting taking her as his mate gave him pause. Was that truly what she thought? He opened his mouth to speak but she was carrying on, outlining a plan to have Ilia rescue her if need be and not throwing herself at him to keep up appearances. She quickly followed that up with an excuse to escape—going off to make tea for him—but just before Dahlia swept out the room, Thane managed to call after her.

“I expected a vapid, dimwitted mate, I have no regrets about who I was bound to instead.”



With Dahlia gone, Thane stretched and yawned, feeling as though he’d been in battle practice after all. He supposed, in a way, he had been. A different type of battle, but one nonetheless—with all the soreness that came with exercising different muscle groups… even if this time the main muscle-like structure was his brain. There were things to do now that Dahlia was busying herself with the tea project, and Thane left their rooms as well to go hunt down Roarke.

He found his manservant chatting away with Ilia and cleared his throat loudly, the two dragons startling in front of him. Ilia blushed and fled, while Roarke turned with a hand clapped to the back of his neck apologetically. “Sorry, M’lord, I fear we didn’t hear you.”

“Mmmhmm, I gathered as much,” Thane said dryly, flicking a glance in the direction Ilia had gone and then back at Roarke. He almost warned him against being distracted from his work but, after a brief pause, sighed and let it go. Perhaps Dahlia was rubbing off on him, but he supposed there was no harm done if the two servants decided to begin some torrid love affair. At least it would mean that someone was having their bed warmed at night. That thought made him snort.

“Did…you need something from me, M’lord?” Roarke asked after a brief hesitation. He was normally fairly straightforward and blunt with Thane, but he’d been expecting a reproach for his flirtation with Ilia and was not quite sure how to react now that it hadn’t come.

“Yes, there are some things you need to be made aware of and preparations I need you to begin.”

“Of course,” Roarke released his one hand from the back of his neck and joined it to his other one behind his back.

“Firstly… Dahlia and I have not consummated the mateship.”

Roarke choked, eyes growing wide as he stared Thane up and down in shock. “Why on earth not? She’s a lovely enough dragoness… is it--?”

“I suggest you leave it there, Roarke, before I cut off your tongue,” the Warlord grumbled, scowling a little as he practically saw the march of theories begin in the back of his servant’s mind. “She asked me initially for six months before I bed her, but then…” Thane trailed off, not sure how to summarize it all and also feeling rankled by the fact that he felt he needed to explain it to Roarke at all. “She wants me to win her heart, not simply force her into my bed—six months or no. I believe it’s what my parents would have wanted as well, so I agreed to court her properly instead.”

A bubble of laughter burst out of Roarke before he could contain it, the servant immediately paling and flinching back as though he expected a blow. He wasn’t far off; Thane was glaring murderously at him. “N-no offense intended, M’lord, don’t get me wrong… it’s just… you? Courting a female? I suddenly have grave concerns about the likelihood of an heir ever being produced.”

There was a long silence, a tic starting in Thane’s jaw. When he spoke again, every word was said with a harsh bite to it, “Have everything cleaned and prepared for the arrival of the princes on Monday. And if I see your face again today I’ll kill you, Roarke,” he snapped, turning on his heel and striding back to their rooms where he slammed the door behind him. It was mostly an empty threat… but only mostly.

The Warlord grabbed Beauty and the Beast off of his nightstand and threw himself into the armchair, hazel eyes storming angrily as he tried to shove down the anger and unwelcome flicker of fear that Roarke’s comment had made him feel. Perhaps beginning to read the first book that Dahlia had recommended to him would take his mind off of it. One could only hope.

True to his secret passion for novels, Thane quickly lost himself in the tale. He was a fast reader as a general rule and that was doubly true when he was absorbed in a good story. As a result, he’d made an impressive dent in the book by the time the door opened and Dahlia poked her head in. He’d hardly heard Greta earlier, waving her in to put the food down on the table where, for once, he allowed it to grow cool without drooling over it or griping over Dahlia’s tardiness to the dinner table. But somehow, for some reason, with Dahlia he immediately looked up from where he had been reading, a finger reflexively resting on the last line he had read.

He blinked at the little tea bag she pulled from a pouch, taking a few seconds to re-orient himself from the world of Beast’s castle to the one in which he lived. “Ah, yes, I look forward to trying it,” he said, offering her a distracted but friendly smile. It faded though, the instant she mentioned the towel, a scowl taking precedence instead. The book had successfully distracted him from his doubts and Roarke’s comment, but with the reminder of his idiotic attempt to impress her they all came rushing back. “Never fear, I won’t plague you with the sight of me in a towel again,” Thane muttered, waving a hand to the meal and turning back to the book… needing to take comfort where he could get it, “Feel free to eat, I’ll start once I finish this chapter… and my plate will probably still be cleaned off before yours, even with the head start.”

He leaned an elbow on the armrest of the chair and couched his head in the upturned palm of that hand, holding the book with the other as he read. Somewhere along the way he had raked his hand through his hair, the strands a mess on his head instead of the normal well-maintained black locks. He didn’t much feel like talking beyond what he’d already said. He had a nigh impossible task on his hands, with no real understanding of how to proceed. Much as it rankled, he did identify a great deal with the Beast, and was thoroughly hoping his literary counterpart might come up with a solution that Thane would find useful too.
 

Dahlia didn't question Thane if he had meant what he said before she had left the room; that he didn't regret being bound to her as a mate. She hadn't meant to make a self-depreciating joke, but it had come out that way. Thane had no reason to lie to her... well no he did. He wanted her in his bed so he had a reason to, but rather his honor perhaps wouldn't let him do so. It didn't matter - if he regretted it or not - because what was done was done. Dahlia wasn't going to spend her time bemoaning her situation. No, she would seek to keep living her life despite it and find some tiny fraction of happiness she could grasp onto.

Thane seemed bothered since she had expected him to taunt her about what exactly she would do to prevent him from wandering out in just a towel again. Had he been in a playful mood he might have enjoyed the faux bickering on the matter. Even Dahlia wouldn't lie that she found these little tiffs a bit amusing when she thought back on them. She knew something was off with Thane when he told her she could eat first while he finished the chapter he was on. He hadn't touched his food yet nor was he eagerly ready to devour it?

She stood there for a moment before she walked over to where Thane was sitting to peek over the top of the book to try and see where he was at. He had read so much in such a short time and with him pushing aside dinner to read it could possibly mean he enjoyed the book. Her gaze followed the movement of his hand then as it combed through his long dark hair and she wondered what such a movement could mean. Not to mention the burning curiosity of what he hair felt like had flared back to life once more.

Dahlia licked her lips nervously knowing what she did next would perhaps be like poking a sleeping bear. She placed her hand over the book to block his view of the text. "You're the one who set up the rule we have to eat together," she pressed, hoping his own words would make him take a break from the book. "I'm glad you're so engrossed, but I also don't want to hear you complain about your food being cold because you decided to actually not eat it like a feral wildman. Besides, it will give you more to read if you find you can't sleep."

There was not tugging on the book to try and get it out of his grasp. He could always scoff and turn down her suggestion and pulling on the book while he pulled it back could damage it. She smirked at him in a challenging way, "I won't eat unless you eat with me." Take that! Though honestly he probably would just brush her off even then. "Think of it as a chance for us to talk about what you've read so far, if you wanted to. I'm curious about your thoughts on it."
 
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Lumpkinz11
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