Hisgrin broadened a little.
Istared at him blankly until realization reared its ugly little head. "Youwant me to have a baby?"
"Aww,hell no. Come on, Master." Yuki stood and started tugging my arm from therest on my chair.
"Thatwas your whole plan? Get me pregnant and piss off the higher planes enough thatthey tossed my ass into Tartarus?"
"Canyou think of a simpler solution?"
"There'sgotta be a bus or something. Taxi? Charon? Anything but producing an offspring?Plus, what makes you think it would even work? I'm not a god, I'm just a Dot."
Hescoffed. "Your father used his jewel to pass his mantle onto you. You givebirth, put his godhead back into the gem, and pass it back to him upon yourarrival. Do you not see the beauty of this plan?"
"Idon't want to have a child! Not now, probably not ever! And if I do, it's goingto be with a mate of my choosing, not yours!" I glanced over at a verymeek looking Ellis. "No offence."
"Nonetaken, Lady." He scowled at Delron, too. "This is what you discussedwith mother?"
Delronnodded, not sorry in the least.
"Yourmother was in on this, too? Why am I not shocked by this revelation?" Iscoffed.
"Iam truly sorry. Had I known, I never would have agreed."
Inarrowed my eyes at him. "Agreed to what?"
"Becomingyour Aiqua."
"Herwhat?" Yuki pulled me and my chair away from Ellis.
"Aiqua.I do not know the word in the common tongue?" He looked at Delron for atranslation.
"Theclosest word you would have in the mortal realm would be…everything?"
"Youwant to be my everything?" I blinked at the absurdity.
Ellislooked thoughtful and said something to Delron in elvish.
Delronlooked at me and nodded. "Everything or anything. It is a position ofhonor among us. He would be whatever you need. Friend, guard, servant.Confidant, counsel, kin. Lover… Or perhaps even husband. His role is determinedby your need."
"Pardon?"
"Idevoted my life to you, Lady. In whatever capacity you would have me." Helifted himself from his seat and prostrated himself on the floor beside me.
Yukilost it and started giggling.
Delronbeamed.
Iwanted to run. "Ellis, stand up. Delron, you're insane. Yuki, let's go."I stood up and walked between her chair and mine, not wanting to step on Ellisin my haste to retreat.
Theguards didn't know what to do as I practically ran for the exit. They keptwaiting for Delron to say something. "Lady Dorothea," hecalled softly.
Islowed but didn't stop. "What?"
"Thinkabout it. You know my plan is the only way."
"Bullshit.It's the only way you can think of. I'll find a way to free my father, with orwithout your help."
"Byyour leave, my lord," Ellis said to Delron with a small bow as he hurriedtoward Yuki and me. When we were out of the room, I stopped and turned towardhim.
"Gohome, Ellis."
Hesighed and shook his head. "I cannot. Upon my oath I am now bound to youheart and soul."
"ButI don't want you."
Itwas one of those moments when I realized I said something hurtful and stupid assoon as the words flew out of my mouth unfiltered. His face fell and turned toshock as the tears flowed from his eyes. "If that is your wish."
"Iwant you to go home, find a nice spidery princess, get married and have lots ofdark elf spider thingies." I shuddered at the thought.
"HadI known before I made the pledge, I would have been happy with that. But, alas,that is not what the stars have written for me now."
"Whatchutalkin bout, Ellis?" I squinted in confusion.
"AnAiqua without a Varni has no purpose. My life is forfeit."
"Saythat again? Slowly."
"Ifyou will not have me, I have no purpose. I shall go. I am sorry for thesubterfuge on part of my mother. Lord Delron is his own creature and I make noapologies for him. As for me, I am sorry to have troubled you, Lady. I shalltake my leave." He turned and headed back toward Delron's study.
"Master?"Yuki hissed.
"Don'tlook at me. I didn't fucking know." I turned and looked at the broadshoulders slumped in defeat as he trudged away. "Ellis, come on. We'llfigure it out. Later. Away from here."
Hestopped walking but didn't turn back toward us. "You will have me?"
"Justcome on. Let's go. This place gives me the willies."
Henodded and turned back toward us. His expression unchanging. "There is nolater, Lady. Either you will have me or not. Do you accept my oath?"
"We'lldiscuss it back at my house."
"Lady…"
"Master."Yuki actually sounded worried.
"What?"I glanced down at her.
"Sayyes. Or he's going to off himself."
"What?How do you know?"
"BecauseI can feel it coming off of him. He's already resigned himself to his fate. It'slike a vampire swearing fealty to a lord. Fuck, it's like being a familiar. Ifthe master doesn't want you, you die. Say yes!"
Ilooked up at Ellis who seemed a little shocked to have an ally in my court.Shocked but hopeful. He tore his eyes from Yuki and slowly lifted them up untilhis met mine.
Youalready have a Jaeren. He's in the same boat as Ellesyn. What's one more? Yuki's pleading argument in myhead was worse than her words.
Ifound myself nodding at Ellis. "Fine. I accept your oath. Now can we gohome?"
"Yes,my Varni." He practically skipped in excitement to me and got downon one knee, bowing his head.
"Oh,get the fuck up. Come on. I need a drink."
Turning,I strode back the way we came and didn't stop until we exited the temple andfound Delanir milling about the entrance majestically, as only a unicorn could.Even an evil one.
Youseem distraught.His mindspeech made me wince. Out of all of the ones who could talk to me in myhead, he was by far the loudest. Kind of like a deaf uncle who spoke atthirty-times the normal volume because he spent too much time around explodingordinance in the military. Only it wasn't because Delanir wasn't deaf, it wasbecause he was a friggin' unicorn. It was like asking a dragon to whisper.
Iam distraught. Could you take us home, please?
Asyou wish, Master. Though, I do not think I can carry three.
Takethem, then. I can find my own way home.
Throughthe shadows?
Inodded. I might aswell. Please take them home. I think I need a
