Still planted, I pulled his coat in tighter. “Would they attack?”
He roared with laughter. Turning around slowly this time, he smirked. “I am a king, Auri.”
“Auriena,” I corrected him again.
“Auri,” he chuckled. “They know who and what I am. And they respect both my race and my status.”
“Then why should it not be said?” I asked pointedly.
He came back to stand in front of me once more. “Because. Beyond respect, they fear what I am. And I would rather have them compliant and casual rather than full of fear. I choose not to exist with them fearing me with the constant reminder. Subjects with fear on their minds plan revolts. And I would have to slaughter an entire city again and rebuild. I do not want that at this time. Things are better when we all just go about our lives and I feed quietly.”
His words sank into my mind like a heavy, wet blanket, covering my thoughts completely. Suddenly, I had flashes of the city before me, under attack as he raged through the streets, killing being after being while buildings burned, and women and children screamed. There was something different about the people, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Everything was so frantic. Then, I saw him sitting on a mountainside throne, flanked by others of his kind and two majestic dragons. My heart stammered. He was just as majestic as the dragons by his side.
“Auri?” He touched my arm. “Is something wrong?”
I stood as the visions pulled me in, not hearing him calling my name.
He gripped my shoulders tightly. “Auriena?”
“Yes?” My voice was steady even if my nerves were shaken. I rarely had visions like that. At least, not while awake and not to that intensity.
“Are you alright? Are you suffering from the cold? We should get you to the tailor and get you suitably dressed.” He started walking again but with his arm around me this time, tugging me along with him.
I complied, nodding, avoiding talking about what I had just experienced. “Yes. Warmer clothes.” While I knew I should fear him, there was something about what I just saw made me feel more than fear. Something other. Something I liked very much.
Kane walked me across to a large hunting lodge with what appeared to be a claw buried inside the side wall of the building, near the roof’s edge. I pointed up. “Is that what I think it is?”
He followed my stare then looked back at me with a smirk. “A dragon’s claw? Yes.”
We entered the build, but I was unable to keep my eyes from following the claw until it was out of sight, thinking about the vision I’d just had. My mind was trying to piece it all together. The fires. The screaming. The throne. The flanking dragons. My gaze went to him once again, and I smiled.
He led us to a vendor that sold tailor made clothes, seemingly unaware of my awe of him and what I was starting to believe had transpired there in the past. "If you see anything you like, just point it out."
The tall Doshanesh woman grinned. Her size almost made Kane look small with his head only coming up to her shoulders. “What an adorable little thing.” She looks to Kane. “Wherever did you find such a creature? She’s not like the other humans here. Did you bring her as a treat from the Berolilith Forest?”
“She is my guest, Ida. If you could provide her with whatever she chooses and be quick, I will pay generously as always.” Kane’s reply is flat.
She chuckles. “Ever the serious one.” Ida turned to me. “What can I get you?” Her tone toward me was far less playful than it had been with Kane.
I did my best not to stare at the giant woman. It was then that the final piece slid into place, and I realized what had been off in my vision. While I had thought they were humans, they were all tall… very tall. They were all this woman’s race. If my vision was real, I had just caught a glimpse of either something that was in their past or something yet to come. I just didn’t know which.
Setting that aside, figuring it was something to investigate later, I leaned toward Kane and whispered, "Are they going to have anything that'll fit me? Or should we look for a store that caters to her kind’s children? Wait... don't tell me... the children are taller than me, too?" I smirked. "I honestly don't know what fashion is here. Or even what I will need. I mean, I like..." I pointed at a few items, all in a variety of earth colors. "Maybe you should choose? Unless you're a typical male that doesn't know what's in style. Or should I be less concerned with fashion and more with utility?" I knew I was overthinking it, but that seemed better than focusing on the vision of him destroying an entire city with a vampire legion and dragons by his side.
"If it were my choice, I would rather you wear nothing under my coat. However, I would get you home and you would be frozen." He quirked an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting.
The slow burn was now a flame. A raging flame. Clearly thrown by his obvious flirting, I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The only thing that surfaced was a blush that radiated across my cheeks.
"They make sizes for humans and all other races. Just say you want something in your size to Ida. Beyond that, just make sure you get stuff that is warm. Even my castle is not setup well to accommodate humans. At least not in the portion I inhabit. As you know, the cold does not bother
