Some art of my xeno gal Tala Arcadio-Yutani I made for my new art book, VILE OFFERINGS. She seems happy to see you :)
If you like my art, consider picking up the digital art book here! It has loads of smutty fanart and some cool bonus content 👀 monstrifex.itch.io/vile-offerings
I take pride in my work, I don’t think that’s anything to scoff at. I don’t understand why people think I’m too into it and why I’m so protective over the garden. I’d like to see them work day in and day out on something and not be a bit territorial over it. My gardens mean the world to me, and I want to make them the most beautiful in the world.
My employers certainly think so. I’ve been working for them the past few years now, tending to the grounds of the palatial estate Goulrich while they’re here, away, and in between. They tend to travel a lot. In fact, I think I’ve seen their carriage more than I have actually seen them. Even when they are away, they invite guests into their home. It’s a strange sort of arrangement to me, I’d certainly be leery of having people in my home while I was away. But that’s not my fire to worry about I suppose.
“Your gardens almost feel spiritual, Merehi.” Asta was another part of Goulrich. She mostly tended to the animals. She sat posed amongst the moss slope where small starry flowers bloomed amongst the green.
“It’s my life’s work,” I puffed, pulling up another large clod of snatchweed. “I suppose there is a bit of spirit to it.”
Asta breathed in deep, pointing chin towards the sky. “You can feel a presence here. A strong one. It’s so loving.”
“That’s just me standing here,” I replied.
Asta smiled and opened her eyes again. “That’s not what I meant.” She stood up from the ground, dusting her knees off. “I mean I can feel a new presence entering the garden soon.”
Asta took herself as some sort of fortune teller. She claimed it was a gift from the animals. Specifically a giant bison that the Lady of the estate brought home she said she had a connection with.
“There are always people in the garden. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is another new face amongst them.” I leaned back over the earth, scouring through the ground to find any hint of weed I could pluck.
Asta scoffed. “Not just new to the garden. New for you. A new romance.” She clutched her hand over her heart. “I can feel it right here. It’s warm and soft, like a fluffy blanket or the Lady’s giant boa!” She turned to me again with a great big smile. “Your true love!”
“Is this it?” I held up a fluffy caterpillar I had plucked from a patch of flowering parsley. “This one is very fluffy.”
This time she pouted. “Trust me, you’ll find love here. Soon! I feel it.”
I took the caterpillar and set it in the tree. “That’s because I love this garden.”
“You’re not getting what I’m saying and I am saying it very clearly,” she sighed. “Merehi, you’ll fall in love in this garden, I guarantee it.” She stepped down from the large roots of the tree. “I’ll see you at dinner.” She strode away, heading back towards the zoo on the premises.
“I don’t need to fall,” I chuckled to myself. “I have it all here!” I then noticed a carriage fast approaching the estate. It was the Lady’s private carriage, I wondered what she was doing back so soon.
The carriage came to the front of the house, that’s when I knew it was a guest. Had the Lady been inside, it would have gone around back so she could enter through the kitchen and have a quick meal before she went to bed.
A cloaked figure stepped out of the carriage. As they stepped down onto the stone path, I saw how tall they were. I had a fascination for the guests who came to stay at Glourich. They ranged from royals to celebrity, even sometimes esteemed business colleagues. I wasn’t sure what this guest was yet, but judging by their height I assumed they captivated the Lady in some way.
They went inside and the carriage left to return to the Lady immediately after. I never got to see who was staying, but I’m sure I would hear the gossip around the dinner table that evening.
“They’re from the east,” Asta was quick to tell me as soon as the dinner rolls were passed out.
“Obviously,” someone from the table scoffed. “That’s where Lord and Lady are right now.”
Asta rolled her eyes, buttering her roll. “I could feel it.”
“Feel it,” someone else snickered.
“What else do you feel?” I asked, taking a bite of bread, followed by a small pad of butter to mix while I chewed.
Asta closed her eyes and sat still for a moment, pursing her lips and humming. She opened her eyes back up and gasped. “A performer. No! An artist.”
There were more snickers from around the table. “So the Lady invited an artist to stay,” I murmured to myself.
“But not any sort of normal artist I think,” Asta continued. “Not a painter or a poet exactly. But someone very talented.”
“He’s a glass blower,” a voice from somewhere at the staff table replied.
Asta grinned with pride. “See? I knew it! Lady has a thing for fire right? It’s no wonder she’d invite him.”
Everyone else was murmuring about the new guest, fading off into normal conversation. Meanwhile I was thinking about the glassblower I knew growing up. Her name was Aka, and she was one of the moth fae. She lived on the outskirts near my family. She would trade glass bowls for items from the garden to feed her three children. She lived alone, selling glass to make ends meet. Her eldest son was my age. Oku and I were never long without one another. I even considered them my first love. But the glass blower married and the whole family moved away when we were sixteen.
I can still see Oku’s wings, not yet fully matured, they were the most beautiful shades of bright, rolling hills green, and deep amethyst purple. They felt like velvet to the touch, even Oku’s gentle hands were that luxurious. But it was his eyes I would get lost in. They were large and round and a dark color that appeared black until light shone on them and then they shone the most brilliant purple.
I hadn’t thought about them in so long, and now I was melancholy. I missed that bond, that closeness.
After dinner I went through the garden to my little shack. I noticed lights under the amber tree. I approached it, finally seeing someone was sitting under the heavy branches.
“Oh, I'm sorry,” I gasped. “I just saw the lights, I didn’t see anyone. I mean, you.” I cleared my throat out of embarrassment.
“No need to apologize,” his voice was smooth and melodic. There was a deepness to it as well that was soothing. “I’ve been enjoying the garden since I arrived.”
I puffed my chest out with pride. “Well thank you! I’m the groundskeeper here.”
“Then you’re the perfect person to speak to.” A hand came up around one of the lights. It was a glass ball that shifted from pink to yellow. “I brought these out here so I could enjoy the garden in the dark. I hope you don’t mind if I leave them here.”
There was no fire inside the glass, so I was baffled as to how they shed such light.
“It’s a special filament I use in the glass,” he said, reading my mind. “I got it from the Dark Mountains where the sun doesn’t rise during winter. I studied how they used it and-” he stopped and laughed nervously. “Sorry, I haven’t even introduced myself and I am babbling about glass and filaments and-” He chuckled again. “Sorry, again. My name is Oku.” He held his hand out towards me.
I gasped. “Oh wow.” I took their hand which was as silky and soft as velvet. “I had a best friend named Oku growing up! I was just thinking about them today. It’s a pleasure to meet another Oku in the world.”
Oku was quiet for a moment. “Really?”
“Yes, they’re mother was a glass blower too. What a coincidence huh?”
“Merehi?” Oku asked.
“How’d you know?” I laughed.
Oku gasped, unsure whether to laugh or something else. “Merehi, it’s me! Oku!”
“Yes you told me you were-” It finally hit me. I felt like such an idiot. I wanted to curl up into a ball and roll down the hill. “Oku!”
Oku’s arms were wrapped around me tight, hugging me close into their soft, warm body. I don’t remember Oku being this tall though! We were the same height once.
“I can’t believe it!” Oku spun me around. “All this time and here you are!” He set me back down, clutching my face between his velvety palms. “Everytime I see a massive garden I think of you and your family. The kindness you gave my family never left me after all this time. I still make Mama’s glass bowls to give to people.”
I was in a stunned silence. Unable to process the pure joy rushing through my veins. It was Oku! My first best friend, my first love, my first kiss, my first-
I cleared my throat. “I still have one myself. Father gave it to me when I left home.” My mouth and throat were so dry. “Sorry. I don’t know how to react! This is…I never thought…”
Oku chuckled. “I know what you mean. All these years, yet here we are, in another garden again.”
“What are you doing here?” I gasped.
Oku sighed, taking a seat. “Lady invited me after I met them. I’ve been traveling, teaching glass blowing where I can. I gave Lady a lesson and she insisted I come here and well…you know what I’m not sure. But I’ve heard so many stories of Glourich from fellow creators.”
“Wow,” I was still breathless.
Oku’s wings fluttered. “I’m not keeping you from anything am I?”
I shook my head. “No. I uh…I was just heading home.” I pointed to my shack. “Nothing fancy like the estate, but it’s mine.”
“The estate is beautiful,” Oku murmured. “But I’m not used to such…let’s just say luxury. It’s a little excessive for me, you could say.”
“I was going to make tea,” I murmured, my nerves were exploding. “Would you like to join me?”
Oku’s wings fluffed out more. “Yes! If you’re not too tired, I would love to catch up!”
It was an absolute rush to see him again. I had so many memories come rushing back it was overwhelming. I took him to my shack, intending to rehash those good times and what has happened since. But I ended up sitting in silence, watching him, unable to draw forth anything.
“This is the same tea your mother used to make, right?” Oku asked, not seeming to be bothered by my inability to speak.
“Yeah.”
Oku’s antenna dipped down. “It’s good. I always liked it.” He looked around the room, eyes focusing on small trinkets I had shoved into every nook and cranny. “I always liked your house. Then again, before Henri married Mama, we didn’t really have much back home.”
“Yeah.”
“You must be tired. I invited myself when you’ve probably been hard at work all day.” Oku sighed. “I suppose we have time to talk and all.”
“It’s not that,” I muttered. “I’m just…in shock.”
Oku sighed, as if relieved. “I know. All these years and our stars cross again. So suddenly at that.” He continued inspecting my little shack. His eyes went towards the curtains that separated my bedroom from the rest of the place.
I stood up, fumbling with the chair as I rose so quickly. “Would you like a tour?”
Oku gazed back at me. “If you’d like.” He stood as well, following me with his eyes as I walked around the table.
“I like to collect things I find in the garden,” I replied. “Like these.” I motioned to a small curio shelf filled with shiny stones and the like. “I’ve found a few arrow tips, some precious stones uh-” I took a marble out. “Like this. I kept it because uh-” The marble was swirled green and purple. Like him. “It was one of the first things I found after I left home.” I offered it to him. “It reminded me of you.”
Oku gently pinched the marble between his fingers. “I see the resemblance,” he murmured. He turned the marble this way and that. “This is Faraday Glass. Yes. This is actually quite an expensive marble! Usually made for queens and other royals to suit their delicate hands.”
I was in awe. “Really?”
Oku grinned and laughed. “No. I can’t believe you still fall so easily.”
Warmth spread over my face. “So, it’s not some fancy marble?”
“It is a very nice glass. But no.” He placed the marble back in my palm. “Nothing that would be given to a queen.”
I huffed, setting the marble back upon the shelf. After that, it was easy to speak again. I hated that I lost my voice around him. I had so much to say! I wanted to tell him everything about me. But looking at him I got so nervous and excited all at once I wasn’t sure how to move. We reminisced about the old days, about our adventures as children, our affections as youths. It was such a surprise when I woke up. It was so sudden I thought my visitation with Oku was nothing but a dream.
I was heavy hearted until I went out into the garden and noticed the special glass globes hanging from the tree. Oku was real, no dream at all. I was so excited, I would be able to see him again!
But while the day went by and I saw no sign of him, I heard much about him from everyone else. Apparently he had ventured into the nearby village for some shopping, buying supplies for his stay. I knew the staff would be enamored with him, just like me.
That evening, I found Oku in my shack again. He was sipping tea, looking content as could be. “I let myself in, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Yeah.”
Oku chuckled. “I’ll take it you don’t.” He motioned to a small pile of glittering wrappers. “I found some candy tucked away in your tea box. I hope you don’t mind.”
I cleared my throat. “Not at all!”
“You’re still hiding sweets?” He asked.
“Well, I’m so used to it from back home. I’m not really sure how one does store candy. Besides, it’s like a little surprise every time I come across it unintentionally.” I started pouring myself a cup of tea to join him.
“Oh, by the way, I found something today that reminded me of you.” He reached into his pocket, then produced a small, shimmering red ornament. It was shaped like a small mouse on its hind legs wearing a straw hat that was glued to the head.
“I think it’s some sort of jasper. Not sure. But the color reminded me of your hair! I knew I had to get it for you.” His face held a pleasantly pleased expression.
“It’s really cute! Thank you.” I smiled as I looked it over. “I thought you’d say I was as small as a hamster.”
Oku coughed into his cup. “No! I would never say such a thing.”
I went to find a place to put the figure. “It’s okay. I know I’m short.” I found the perfect place beside the marble. I liked the positioning and how the colors went together. They were perfect together.
“You make up for it in other ways, I’m sure,” Oku responded shyly. His chin dipped into the fluff around his neck and I could see a glimmer in his eyes.
“I use ladders a lot,” I replied.
I’m not sure why Oku started laughing, but I joined in with him. Somehow, this made us go back and forth, laughing, making the other laugh. It went on until we couldn’t breathe and my sides got a little sore.
We went and sat out under the amber tree, watching the night sky.
Oku stretched out his hand towards the stars, spreading out his long fingers. “One day, I want to create a piece like this.” His fingers flexed as they passed by the moon. “Mama always wanted to capture a sunrise. We’re moth fae, so it makes sense we want to capture the light. But this-” He moved his hand in a way that made a pinched funnel, as if trying to drag down the moon, or at least hold the light.
“Moonlight is a different sort of beauty,” I responded.
“Exactly!” Oku sighed with relief. “The night sky is filled with so many lights, not just one.” His wings fluttered, unfurling and stretching out. “I wish I could fly up there.”
“Have you tried?”
Oku snickered. “When I was younger.” He sighed, closing his wings again. “Besides, I couldn’t carry you with me, so what would be the point?”
I turned to look at him, surprised by his words. “Me? Why me?”
Oku smiled. “Because, silly, I want you there with me.”
There was a wild pulsing to my heart that only grew as Oku laid his hand upon my thigh. I focused on his eyes, my palms going damp, my face boiling. Oku’s lips were soft, so very soft. The fluff around his neck fluttered around my chin and chest. I was breathless.
His hand smoothed up my cheek. “You’re warm.”
“Yeah,” my voice cracked.
Oku chuckled. “We should go back to your shack then.”
“What for?” My voice quivered.
Oku stood, holding my hand. “You’ll see.” He led the way back to my place, taking the lead in many ways that night.
I was in a blissful haze all the next day as I worked. Unable to stop smiling even if I tried to.
“You seem like you’re in a good mood.” Asta had her goats with her, clearing up the brush and excess grass around what would become the winter garden.
“I am!” I exclaimed cheerfully.
Asta eyes were wide on me. “Okay.” She watched me carefully before leaning back against the fence. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Oku.”
“I am!”
She gave me a look then clicked her tongue. “Ah ha. I knew it.” She smiled smugly. “I told you that you would find love.”
“But I knew Oku before.”
“You still found him there in your garden,” Asta chuckled. “Oh man, I am too good to be working with animals.”
At that same moment the goats all seemed to stop and stare at her.
“Not you,” she quickly cleared up before they all started eating again. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Phew. You know what prima donnas goats can be.”
I didn’t.
“Anyways, I wish you and Oku a long and happy life!” Asta said dreamily. “Maybe you’ll name me at your wedding.”
“Don’t get my hopes up. Who knows how long Oku will be staying here,” I said with a pout.
“Didn’t you know? Lord and Lady sent word to construct a studio for Oku. Lady seems to have really taken a liking to Oku’s work and wants to be his patron.”
My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it hitting the back of my teeth. “You’re pulling my leg aren’t you?”
Asta cocked her brow at me. “No. Why would I? The goats are though. Haven’t you seen them teasing eating outside the bounds?”
Maybe Asta was right in her prediction about me and Oku. But I still didn’t believe she could understand animal language. “Listen, do you mind keeping track of them by yourself for a while? I want to go find Oku.”
Asta jumped up from the ground and followed me as I started running off. “You don’t trust me to know the gossip?” She scoffed.
“I trust you to watch the garden! I’ll kill and eat any goat that goes outside the line!” I hollered back.
Rolling her eyes, Asta went back towards the goats. “You hear that? He means it too! I’ve seen him beat off wild boars for getting into his rhododendrons! Rhododendrons are awful and he fought off boars for them!”
I raced down Glourich, rushing in through the kitchen entrance where I caught some of the staff gambling over cookies and crackers.
“Merehi! Come join us!”
“Maybe later. Do any of you know where Oku is?” I asked.
There was a low murmur of discussion as they all argued where they had seen him last. It went on a little longer than I cared for.
“Ever since Lord and Lady sent word, we think he’s been somewhere between the hall of mirrors or the figurine room.” The chef responded. “We think he’s scoping out a place to turn into a studio.”
“Like hell Lord is going to let the figurine room become a studio.”
“Did I say it was?” The chef snapped.
“That room is my main job!”
“Well I polish the mirrors every day-”
I left the arguing to go find Oku. I had rarely come into Glourich. The times I did come in, I was asked by Lady to present my flowers and various plants to her weird friends. I wandered the halls for a while before realizing I was lost.
I stopped, sitting down on a bench across from a massive painting of Lord and Lady. I took a deep breath and tried to trace my steps. But what was the use? I knew the grounds so much better than the halls.
“Merehi? What are you doing here?”
I looked up, seeing Oku now standing before the painting. There was a door open where Lord’s breast pocket was.
I jumped up. “I was trying to find you!”
Oku beamed. “You aren’t exhausted of me?”
What a silly question? How would I ever grow sick of him? The fact he was getting to stay was all I wanted. Ever since we parted as children I had dreamed of seeing him again one day. I had wanted to tell him how much he meant to me, little did I know how much more he would become.
I threw my arms around him, hugging him tight. “I heard the good news! You get to stay! Lady wants to be your patron.”
Oku hugged me back. “I did want that to be a surprise. But this place sure does love their gossip,” he scoffed.
I was so elated I couldn’t think straight. I had to clap my hands a few times before my senses returned. “So it is true!”
He nodded, holding a book tucked under his arm. “I do still have some things I want to discuss with Lady, but I suppose it will have to wait. I still want to travel and do my studies, but it will be nice to have somewhere to come home to.” He touched my cheek, moving his fingers up to smooth my hair back. “For one, I want to improve your living conditions.”
My mouth hung open. “What for? Worry about your own!”
“I am,” Oku said with a smile. “I figured if we added on two extra rooms, we could still have our own spaces. Maybe fix up the walls, add in a book shelf.” His fingertips brushed along the edge of my ear, something he discovered last night made me weak to his already welcomed advances.
“Is that okay?” Oku asked.
“Yeah.”
Oku laughed, cupping his hand delicately around his mouth. He leaned down, kissing me softly on the lips. “I’m sure you’ll get used to me. I won’t take up too much space, I promise. And I will make you all sorts of things for your beautiful garden.”
“Don’t worry about it, or me!” I gasped. “Work towards making your night sky!”
Oku’s smile softened and his wings fluttered out. “I am.”
When your brother married Tashka, the whole kingdom thought he was insane. What was the future king doing marrying an orc woman? But you knew exactly why he did, because Tashka was exactly what your brother always wanted. Sure, she wasn’t the frail princess everyone imagines for someone like your brother, but he never wanted frail.
“Hurry, the baby!” Your brother was fretting while you were doing the best you could to hobble down the hallway. Since you were little you needed leg braces, now you hold a cane to keep steady.
“Pasha! I am doing the best I can!” You tried to comfort him, after all his first baby was just born a few short days ago. The birth had been hard, but you had studied and trained for all that, helping Tashka through the difficult birth. Now, Pasha was worried about the state of his daughter and wife.
“Is he fussing at you?” Tashka asked softly as you went into the room. “I told him not to worry! I just had a simple question.” She tsked while gazing back down at the baby.
“You said-” Before Pasha could finish, both Tashka and you quietly shushed him.
“What’s the matter Tashka?” You set your cane aside and took your bag from Pasha. “Is she feeding okay?”
“Oh yes,” she said proudly, if not a bit sleepily. “But she’s getting these little bumps around her mouth.” She showed off the baby, pale soft green and already plump. Around her mouth was a bit of small red bumps and dried skin.
You smiled, gently brushing the soft, fawny hair on her head. “Nothing to worry about. Just a bit of drool rash.” You reached back for your bag. “Nothing a little ointment won’t fix.”
Paha had tears in his eyes already.
“I knew it wasn’t anything too bad.” Tashka’s gentle smile was so beautiful, you could tell why Pasha fell for her. “But Pasha and my brother,” she scoffed.
Ah yes! Tashka’s brother, Kirilka. You had run afoul of him since coming home. He didn’t seem quite trusting of your medical background, despite the years of training you had taken. He seemed assured only orc knowledge would be good enough for his sister and brand new niece.
“Firstborns have the ability to make panic occur with the slightest sound,” you say while applying some of the specialty made ointment to the baby’s mouth, making sure to wipe away excess.
“I’ll say,” Tashka chuckled, glancing towards her husband.
Pasha pouted but then broke into a smile as he took his wife into his arms, hugging her while gazing lovingly at their child.
“I’ll go make you a little kit.” You take your cane back in hand. “So you can be better prepared for rashes and the like.”
Tashka sighed, exhausted and relaxed in the same breath. “Thank you. I’m very relieved knowing this little one is getting the best care..”
You puffed up with pride.
“This little one also still needs a name,” Pasha remarked.
“It’ll come to us,” Tashka mused. “I didn’t get my name until I was a month old.”
You rather liked the orc tradition of letting the baby’s name come naturally. You found it much more personable. “Well, I’ll come back later. You three should rest.”
“Thank you again,” Pasha sighed.
You nodded, leaving the royal bedchamber and heading back out into the hall. Pasha had made you private work quarters down the hall, but it was still quite the long hall. You were nearly down it when Kirilka started walking up it.
“Dammit,” you grumbled to yourself.
“And what were you called for?” Kirilka grumbled. This beast of a man towered over you, casting a dark shadow wherever he went. Growing up on one of the largest farms in the kingdom, probably on this side of the Cobra Strait, he’d grown up a farm boy, rearing animals, tending to fields and working day in and day out. He was built for it, built for a lot of things probably. His long hair was always tied up into a thick, ropelike braid that he kept coiled up into a bun.
“The baby had a little drool rash, nothing awful, nothing even too concerning. I'm going to make a kit of ointments and the like for them now.” You said sternly, if not a little brusk.
His amber eyes looked you over, taking in the cane then focusing on your own eyes. You knew you weren’t his version of a healer. You dressed prettily, wearing fancy but comfortable dresses you had collected from your travels for education. Compared to him you were a dumpling beside a steak, that probably also irked him.
“What sort of ointments?” He sounded like he was ready to discourage all your ideas.
You sighed. “Look, Kirilka, I know I’m not the healer you want for your sister. But I’m using my education for what it is for and it is taking care of her and that baby. And you, if you should walk into a doorway.”
He sneered, his upper lip curling ever so slightly. “All I asked was what ointments you were planning on using. Orc skin isn’t like human skin.”
“Oh?” you feigned ignorance. “Is it not?”
He scowled.
You stomped your cane in lieu of your foot. “I’ve been trained in such things, you know! And if you must be so nosy, I am making a comfrey mixture.”
His brow raised slightly. “Comfrey?”
“I did train with orcs at the university,” you scoffed. “We shared our knowledge, rather than test one another.” You continued to try and walk ahead, but to your dismay, Kirilka kept following.
“Kirilka, please,” you huffed. “I’m just doing my job.”
“No,” he snarled, stopping you from continuing forward.
Dammit, you thought. This wasn’t what you wanted today. You knew the tension between you and Kirilka had been building, but you didn’t realize he was willing to throw down over it. Maybe you could get in a few good jabs with your cane. You knew you should have accepted your uncle’s offer of a sword cane.
“I know how people look at my sister here! I know how we are treated amongst your circle. I also know how I look, and if I can use it to protect my sister and niece I-”
Your mouth hung open. “Protect them? From me?” You slapped your hand against your chest. “I adore Tashka! I brought that baby into the world with my own hands, I would die for that child!” Your voice was raising, your blood was boiling. “Even if I didn't, I took an oath to care for people and see after their health. How dare you?” You stomped towards him, clomping down your cane like you were going to take one of his toes. “I love my family, which now includes you unfortunately! I helped convince my father to accept Tashka! Did you know that? I was almost thrown out of the castle! Protect them?”
Kirilka was backing down now, looking frightened.
“Let me work, farm boy!” You snapped and stormed past him, getting to your office and slamming the door shut. You huffed, glaring into the room. “Who does he think he is?”
After working for a few hours to distract yourself, you came out of your office, a new baby kit prepared and placed into a beautiful tin. You knew how Tashka liked roses, so you had painted the tin with them just for her.
You knocked on the bedroom door and waited, admiring your handy work on the tin when the door opened. You smiled to greet your brother, but it was Kirilka. Your smile vanished.
“Quiet,” he whispered. “They’re finally asleep.”
“I’ll just leave this with you then,” you grumbled, offering out the tin.
Kirilka took it. “Wait,” he set the tin inside the door then stepped out himself. “I want to apologize.”
You furrowed your brow. “Really?”
He returned the frown as he gently closed the door behind him. “I didn’t realize all you had done for Tashka.”
“You’ve treated me like scum since I got here. Don’t mind me saying I feel the apology comes a little late.” You then rolled your hand in the air. “But go on.”
Kirilka walked you a little further down the hall, away from the bedchamber. “Ever since Tashka became queen, I have heard the most vile things spoken about her. The past two years my head has been full of them, and being in this castle makes them sound like cannons in my head.”
You sighed. “The moment I met Tashka I liked her. Pasha doesn’t fall in love easily, you know. Surrounded by dancers all his life, I never saw his eyes turn once. Not until Tashka.”
Kirilka looked away, pouting.
You moved to stand in his line of sight. “I stood up for your Tashka against my father. I stood beside her when she was crowned. And I am going to fight for that little girl to be heir. She’ll be queen one day.” You watched him, waiting. “Now what do you say?”
“I’m sorry,” he growled under his breath.
You cupped your hand around your ear. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”
“I. Am. Sorry,” he said through gritted teeth. He turned those amber eyes back upon you and huffed. “I misjudged you.”
You nodded in agreement. “That’s right, you did!” A smirk crossed your face. “I’ll forgive you. But that may take time.”
His lip curled and he clicked his teeth. “I get it.”
This was such a good feeling! All this time you wanted to smack him around, now it felt like you’d gotten in the first whack. “But maybe now we can be friends! After all, we’re both the eldest sibling, we should have a lot in common.”
He looked distrustful, eyeing you up and down wondering where the rest of you was.
“That’s right! I came out of the womb first,” you announced proudly, puffing out your chest. “But for health reasons I abdicated my spot to my brother.”
Kirilka’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t even know you were twins.”
“Yes , well, Pasha went on to train in ballet while I read in bed with several illnesses. That can change figures.” You patted your belly. “And hobbling around isn’t the exercise I make it look to be.”
You saw it! He was suppressing a smile!
“I blame it on Pasha sitting on my head in the womb.” You peeked at him again, seeing the corner of his lip curl ever so slightly upwards. “I’ve delivered orc twins, you know?”
“Those are quite rare for us,” he muttered, wiping away any semblance of his previous smile. “How did that go?”
“Very well, my teacher and I together came up with a new method that made the birth easy for the mother and safer for the babies.” You then offered your hand to him. “Since our siblings are asleep, why don’t you and I have tea together?”
He looked unsure, eyes darting away. “I don’t like tea.”
“Then you can eat scones the entire time. Come now, we have a lifetime to deal with one another. The first foot was awful, like mine, but the second foot can be a strong one, like mine.”
He was forcing that smile down hard again, but he took your offered hand, shaking it heartily rather than be delicate. His fingers flexed after touching you. Perhaps he was more used to rougher palms?
He was silent for most of tea, taking sweets and cookies eagerly while you went on and on about your schooling. Afterwards, he made an excuse to leave while you finished the teapot by yourself.
Over the next few days you passed him in the hall, attempting to make small talk. It took a while, but after a while he began offering more than monosyllabic responses. He was also joining you for tea more often, actually offering you bits and pieces of his life. He had prize cows he loved, bison he raised from birth, and sheep he spent summer nights sleeping beside.
“Where do you harvest your comfrey?” He asked one day, having come into your office with a rather large cut on his palm.
You were cleaning it, using a cloth and a strong alcohol, watching to make sure there was no debris in the cut itself. “I was gifted a plant by a friend of mine at university. I came home and planted it in the garden a few years ago. It’s spread out quite a bit, I have decades worth now.” You were even surprised he came to you with such a wound, but you were glad he did.
“We have large patches of it all around the farm. Our mother loved it,” he murmured.
“Tashka told me she was quite the gardener,” you murmured. You dabbed away some blood and remarked on an old fairytale from your youth. Something about a field mouse and a lion.
“She loved flowers. Her roses were used during your parents’ wedding. So it’s funny how this all worked out.”
You stilled and looked into his face. The way the light from your small lantern hit his face made him look much handsomer than you were used to seeing. “I didn’t know that.”
He nodded, long lashes falling to his cheek. “They bought every single one she had. I had never seen the farm look so…empty I guess is the word. She worked hard all year to make sure there was enough.”
“Wow.” You were more remarking on how differently he looked, how long his lashes were, how full his lips appeared. You swallowed, trying to hide your blush. “I’ll just put some of said comfrey on here,” you laughed nervously.
“Thanks,” He muttered.
You bandaged him up, flexing his fingers to make sure nothing was wrong. “There. Should be good as new eventually.” His hand then captured yours, locking his fingers around your own. You looked unsure up at him. “Arm wrestle?” You chuckled.
“Let me thank you.” He pulled you close, closing the gap between you and placing a soft kiss on your lips. Oh, it was heaven! You leaned in, closing your eyes and melting. You then came to your senses and hurriedly pulled back.
“What was that?” You snapped.
Kirilka chuckled. “What do you think?” He focused upon your eyes, freezing you in place with how intense his gaze was. “You impress me. I like a woman who frightens me a little.”
Your stomach flopped. “Oh.”
“You remind me of the ram who guards my sheep. Small, soft, but very ferocious. I’ve seen him take down a mountain lion. I want you to do that to me.”
What was this? Your mind was racing, your heart was trying to keep up with it. Your mouth hung open but you closed it back quickly. “Th-that’s enough out of you!” You stood up quickly. “You should go check on your sister.” Turning around, you tried to ignore him while cleaning up your desk.
“If you’re at all curious, meet me in the garden tonight. Right near your comfrey.” Kirilka got up and left.
You huffed, clutching your chest as the door shut. “Fucking hells! I’ve not been turned on like that before,” you whispered to yourself. You glanced back at the door. “Who the hell does he think he is?”
Rating: Teen
Relationships: Female Human x Male Demon/Elf
Additional Tags: Arranged Marriage, Marriage, Demons, Elves, Princes, Princesses, Monster Boyfriend, Monster Husband
Content Warnings: Blood Mention, Pregnancy, Babies
Words: 5193
Based on “The Princes” series of shorts written by tumblr user @your-monster-romance, with her permission.
Read the Original Shorts Here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
The Following Chapters: Pallidus, Viribus, Genus, Gale (NSFW), Fawn (NSFW), Tyria (NSFW), Epilogue
Of the mistakes King Rodai had made during his reign, getting involved in another country’s war had proven to be the worst.
He had done it with noble intentions; he sought only to aid the neighboring king, who had been his close friend since childhood. He thought that his assistance would be limited to offering shelter to the refugees and sending weapons and food to the soldiers, but in time, more was asked of him. More food, more weapons. Soon it was money and resources. And then soldiers. By the end of the first year of his involvement, he had sent half of his wealth and most of his army, none of which had returned.
Five years on, and he had gone from a man rich in sons, power, and the love of his people, to a broken, despised widower king with only a small boy, Coll, to inherit a country crumbling beneath his feet. Rodai’s wife, after having lost four of her five sons to war, died herself of grief, and it was this loss that had finally pushed Rodai to act.
His childhood friend, the king he had sought to help, had been deposed and sent into exile mere weeks ago, and the conqueror who now sat in his throne had his sights set on Rodai’s kingdom, Suida. And it would fall. Gods knew, it would fall.
The only hope Rodai now had was to make a deal with the devil.
A TikTok video made by @shinanova shows a woman in a black sleeveless shirt, dangling white (feather? fur?) earrings, and a gray fur cuff on her wrist pointing to captions between still photos illustrating the issue. Soft electronic music plays on the background.
Captions read : "Did you know how insanely expensive food costs in indigenous communities?"
Cartons of strawberries are shown on grocery shelves for 14.39. Kraft smooth peanut butter jars for 11.19. Bottles of Heinz ketchup for 16.79. Bags of green grapes for 28.19. Photos of protestors follow : Two tall men in ball caps and a third, shorter person in a fur lined hood. The man in the middle holds two signs on pieces of cardboard that read "Stop the crazy prices!" and "I have to feed my family!" The third person also holds a sign on a large yellow piece of posterboard, but the text is cut off by the framing. Two more people holding signs on orange and yellow posterboards, respectively. Posters read "High cost food in Nunavut" and "Food is expensive in Nunavut". Returning to the woman making the video, she points to more captions : "What can you do? Spread awareness about the issue. Support Indigenous People's and donate. Share the causes you find most important at Www.UnwreckTheFuture.Com to fight food insecurity" followed by an emoji of a solidarity/fight the power fist (hand closed into a fist, viewed from the thumb curled in front of the knuckles)
Yo this was a good ass app and anyone who plays it or have played it, please sign this. It will send them on the road to getting this app back and running. Anyone who wants to help but never played this wonderful app are always welcome too. 😭😭😭 ✨✨✨
ATTENTION ALL GIRLS AND LADIES: if you walk from home, school, office or anywhere and you are alone and you come across a little boy crying holding a piece of paper with an address on it, DO NOT TAKE HIM THERE! take him straight to the police station for this is the new 'gang' way of rape. The incident is getting worse. Warn your families. Reblog this so this message can get accross to everyone.
This isn’t a big thing in England (that I’m aware of) but I’m still reblogging this because I have American mutuals and followers! Please please stay safe guys
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