Caius happily flipped the little snack for two hours before he started to stir, the smell of cooking meat may have roused him. When the golden locks lifted enough to be seen over his red tails, he deliberately used his paw to push the head back down.
Zane had noticed Caius's attention shift, just as Young Song was sitting up… a paw the size of his chest pushed the head back down. Soon two hands lifted the paw as Young Song sat back up, but Caius rested his head on his paw and completely covered the youth.
Suddenly the fox yelped as he raised his head. A giant red chick was chirping angrily as it hopped out of the tails. The chick hopped on the tails, following the retreating face while flaring its wings… if the fox wasn't over twelve yards long, or the chick not over 3 yards tall the scene would have been almost adorable. But from where he was standing… the sight sent goosebumps down his spine.
As Ashton was leaping off the tails the fox caught him in its mouth, then gently lowered him between his paws. Ashton rolled his eyes but sat back down on the soft tail, while another covered his lap.
"Aiya Little Snack, so fierce." Caius whined laying his head down. Caius shifted so the little one was in the crook of his paw.
Ashton stretched as he side eyed the giant fox eye blinking at him, "Now that we've met, and it's a more reasonable hour, why are you in the empire Fox?"
Caius huffed despondently, "Are you chasing me away Little Snack? Did I not keep you warm?" he asked pleadingly while he blinked at the bite sized human youth.
Ashton tilted his head as he leaned back, then started petting the tail in his lap. "You are wonderfully warm, I admit I am fond of these tails. But, that doesn't explain why you've come to the empire, why the challenge, or why you are now laying in the territory I claimed."
Caius blinked his watery eyes, "They lied!" Caius accused using his free paw to point at the Adarian prince, "Otherwise I'd never challenge you like that Little Snack!"
Ashton's face was clearly disbelieving but he continued to pet the tail, "Did they lie? Or did you believe what they believed?"
Caius curled up as he flattened his ears, "I was tricked, bad humans." Caius wheedled huddling around the tiny human.
Ashton smiled as he shook his head, "They told you I was young, and that I was strong. I'm sure they also mentioned I wasn't looking for a mate since I hadn't matured yet."
Caius was practically a fox pancake, "Bad humans." He persisted as a tail covered his face.
Ashton sighed, "Okay, bad humans. So why are you here Fox?" Clearly this capricious fox wasn't going to answer seriously.
Caius raised his tail to blink at the little bird, "To offer myself to you Little Snack."
Ashton blinked back then tilted his head, "What would I do with you?"
Caius blinked twice, "You would take me as your mate." Caius made the statement as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Then he preened as he flared five of his tails, "Am I not beautiful?"
Ashton glanced over the fox, fur shimmered in the morning light. While he was mostly a fiery red, his tails tips and underside were gold. His legs were shades fiery red to a dark mahogany, they could be mistaken for black. His golden iris rivaled the sun with mahogany red pupils. He was also pulsing with power, no doubt he was a second or third-tier legendary beast.
"You are beautiful… but I am not one to share Fox." Ashton reminded with a tad of confusion… surely any beast would recognize him… even in his human form.
Caius slumped so his head rested in the little one's lap, "Aiya… I would not be shared. Besides, I'm sure I can… persuade you to see things my way. I am very convincing." Caius teased snuggling into the small lap.
Neolani was staring from off to the side, the meat was being stacked on platters along with pastries made the night before. The sheer size difference should have made the two look a spectacle to laugh at for ages to come… but the giant fox squinting its eyes the size of Ashton's head looked… seductive…
Ashton released the tail and started scratching the fox's nose, "I see… and your best chance of convincing me to take a mate… is before I finish my ascension." Ashton agreed as he leaned back.
Caius looked affronted by the accusation, "Aiya, of course not! Mating with a baby? I do have standards." Caius swore as his tails danced in agitation. Then he raised his head to sneer at the observers. "Then again… it's an understandable assumption given the humans you're surrounded by."
Ashton tilted his head as the golden fur brushed against him, "I see…" While Ashton had thought about taking even a temporary mate… the idea didn't seem very appealing. Phoenixes burned away every 500 years or so, then would start over. He could take a mate, then let his memories burn away as he started anew… but if he took a soul mate… no matter how many incarnations they went through he would find them. He had not tried, but from what he'd seen no human soul had been able to endure such a burden for more than a few cycles of reincarnation.
That was partially why his Beloved was so special… still they were not mates. Ashton eyed the large fox contemplatively, a life companion… was not unwelcome. In fact, his longing for a companion was why he'd left Ru's nest… A fox who could live thousands of years… even if they didn't become mates, the possibility was… enticing.
Ashton also didn't have the ability to give a human eternal life… he could put their soul in a golem… but most sin beasts died when their mates couldn't endure life any longer. Ashton examined the fox… if they mated… they would be the first pair of sins to forge such a union. But… the fox might not intend for a soul mating. Not to mention, Ashton wasn't a true beast of sin.
Caius grimaced as he lowered his head to eye the youth, "Aiya, you are thinking so hard my head hurts Little Snack. Let us set aside the talk of mates until you've at least grown your feathers out."
Ashton glanced up, "Then what should we talk about?" he asked curiously. The fox snuggled his lap again as he half rolled so Ashton fell onto his furry cheek.
"Needless to say! We should speak of how brilliant my offerings are." Caius teased as he rolled onto his back shifting the small human between his paws to hug.
Ashton pushed up so he didn't breathe in fur, "You did mention there was more than one." Suddenly he fell into the lap of the fox's human form. Ashton raised a brow as he tilted his head way back as arms wrapped around his waist. The two arms weren't muscular like the warrior Alexei… rather they were sinewy like a dancer or swimmers. Though the sheer size difference meant one of the fox's arms was as thick as Alexei's thigh.
Caius gave a toothy smile, "Yes, and one of them just in time for breakfast, for me at least." Caius raised his head giving two quick barks. A moment later more than a dozen foxes came from the northeast section of the forest.
Each fox had a leather lead in its mouth that was attached to a chain. Each chain was connected a dozen bruised and battered naked men in chained collars. The only modesty afforded to them were loincloths that were little better than rags. To add to their indignity, each man's wrists and ankles were chained together, forcing them to shuffle along.
The foxes all trotted in neatly then sat in front of Caius with barks of accomplishment. The largest white fox only had two men attached to its lead, but the fox had three swaying white tails.
Emmett almost lunged forward, uncle David! But his grandfather grabbed his arm before he could move, Emmett stared at his grandfather with disbelief…
Charles had also noticed David, but… if he had to sacrifice his children or grandchildren… David had already lost favor with his Majesty. Charles saw Bianca almost rush forward but Lyon held her and Emma back.
Ashton perked up seeing the 170 men, "Ahh, I was wondering what happened to them." He barely glanced over the gagged, bruised, bleeding, nearly naked David. Without warning a spark of lightning forced them to their knees. Apparently, those collars were enchanted as well.
Caius gave dramatic sigh as he settled the youth in his lap and covered him with a tail, "Yes, annoying little fleas dared to challenge me! Threatening me with all sorts of punishments if I didn't leave. There I was, just casually traveling around when I just happened to pass by some tribal warriors. Before I even noticed, these wretches accused me of stealing!" Caius complained deeply aggrieved.
Ashton couldn't stop the slight smile, "What bad humans, do tell, what did accuse you of stealing?" Ashton leaned back as he started to pet the tail soothingly, what warm fur.
Caius placed a clenched fist over his chest, "They accused me of stealing a horse. How was I to know the horse had an owner? It came up to me all on its own." Caius complained pointing dramatically at the two singled out men.
"What bad humans, they accuse without even listening to us poor beasts." Ashton soothed as David started struggling, obviously trying to spit out his gag.
"I was so hurt by the accusation, I demanded they provide evidence or apologize." Caius stated loosing his theatrical tone as he glared down at the duo. "They attacked. So I decided… anyone who attacked would pay with their lives. Now I have treats to snack on."
Ashton shrugged, "I see, but… how is that an offering to me?"
Caius gave a toothy smile, "A little bird told me… that these wretched snacks wanted to kidnap the humans who hatched your most recent egg. Not only that… one wretched little liar admitted to bullying a baby bird I covet. So, I decided instead of just eating them all, I'd let you choose how they died."
Ashton tilted his head back so he could look at the fox, the fox accommodated his silent request by looking down. "Why should I care how they die?"
Caius stiffened with the toothy smile still in place, "Eh…?" Caius then glanced at the snacks who were all sending silent pleas to the humans. "Oh… they didn't have a chance to hurt your humans… so they don't rate your punishments…" Caius murmured resting his chin on the golden locks.
Ashton glanced over the humans, "I mean… I could punish them for trying… but you were watching the whole time… and they attacked you after the Inago took my parents away. I could punish the nobles who sent them… but the political ramifications would be annoying if I didn't go after everyone involved…" Ashton added as he pondered what to do with this offering.
Caius sighed as he leaned forward wrapping his arms around the smaller body, "Hmm, then I'll just eat them and be done with it." He felt the slight bobbing of the head under his chin.
"Wait! We can pay recompense! We will buy them from you!" Bianca screamed desperately, while her father was only a count, he was wealthy from the tax on the salt trade. David was her youngest brother, even if they couldn't buy everyone… her husband, heir to the Luthiger Marquis, wouldn't just ignore his brother in law.
Lyon was sweating from the effort of holding his near crazed wife back, luckily his daughter had seen sense and was just staring instead of rushing forward.
Lucian glared at Charmaine, Charles, then glared between David and the beasts. "What was David Karbonovich doing with 170 armed men so far from the count's lands?" Lucian demanded furiously. Lucian had specifically dismissed David to his father's lands after his attempts to turn the guards against Ashton months ago.
The only reason David wasn't punished more severely than a yearlong grounding to his father's estate was because Charmaine had stepped in on her in-law's behalf. David was also recommended as one of his four elites not just for his skill, but because of his family ties and the oath he'd sworn to Charmaine. Palmer town was in the southwest, while the counts land almost on the southeastern borders of the empire.
Charmaine stared at Lucian with disbelief, was this really the time? They could question David and Gaston after they saved them. Or was only Monroe worthy of being spared the fate of being eaten? Lucian had already publicly humiliated David when he was dismissed without a reason, many had been trying to learn how David upset Lucian but not once had David disparaged his situation…
Caius looked at the humans unamused, "I don't care," then without a change of expression both heads flew in an arch, the blue eyes of the younger human still wide as if he couldn't understand what was happening. Caius flicked the tail that had just beheaded the two humans, even if there was no blood on it.