The Lion And I

(26) Part 1: The Lion - Tiger

Celeste

When we got back, Obsidian and Constance were still half a world away.

I paced in the common area alone for a while. Gabriel had long since disappeared back into his room where I presumed he was feeding and tending to the babies. I was almost tempted to go and help him, but I wasn’t sure if I was welcome.

Constance and Gabriel had always told me I was welcome, and I wanted to believe them, but it was hard.

And not only that, I didn’t want to disturb Gabriel if he was having some bonding time with his children.

Well, I would more than likely have to bother them soon, I thought. Obsidian was supposed to take me to the mess hall and be my chaperon for the first meeting with Mikhail.

I sighed heavily, knowing he wasn't going to make it back in time for that.

I turned towards my door and stared at it blankly. I really didn’t want to go in there and wait, but I didn’t know what else to do. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed out of Obsidian’s wing, especially with the Ivanov's staying here. On top of that, I wasn’t familiar with the stronghold and was sure I would get lost.

“You look like a caged tiger.”

I whipped around at the amused voice and saw Uriel leaning against the hallway entrance leading into Obsidian’s wing. My heart was racing because I hadn’t heard him come in.

Damn! Everyone was so silent!

I raised my head in greeting, still a little wary of the Dragon.

“Are Obsidian and the princess still gone?” He asked, nonchalantly extracting a small dagger and picking at the dirt under his nails. I assumed he was trying to put me at some ease, but it wasn’t working.

“Why do you call her princess?” I blurted before I had the chance to filter myself. Instantly my cheeks were on fire and I dropped my gaze.

Uriel chuckled and shrugged. “Are you jealous?” He answered with a question, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

“No!” I responded back a little too quickly and his smile grew.

“She’s regal. She’s valiant. And while she has the backs of the immortal worlds, they all have her back as well, even if they don’t want to admit it. She can do what so many others have failed to do. Plus, in our pitiful world, she hails from a very reputable and famous bloodline.” He returned to picking at his nails. “Princess suits her. Do you want a nickname too, pumpkin?”

Did I?

Obsidian called me bunty.

Gabriel had always called me darlin'.

However, those seemed more intimate and I didn’t want just anyone calling me those.

“C’mon tiger,” he called out to me in amusement. “Lets work on those knife throwing skills some more while we wait for your knight in shining armor to return.”

Why did I suddenly get the feeling he was up to no good? Not that he would harm me. I very highly doubted Obsidian would consort with anyone with those kind of tendencies or allow them to be alone with me in the first place. He just seemed like trouble with a capital T. Especially when that smirk crossed his face.

Did I dare go with him?

What was he up to?

Did I trust Uriel?

Kind of. I trusted him more than a lot of others. Plus, he was the mate to Odette, the fairy I had helped save in Balthazar’s hellish kingdom.

“I trust you.” I started a little hesitantly, taking a few steps in his direction.

“A terrible decision, really.” His smirk deepened and for some reason I was intrigued.

“You’re going to get us into trouble, aren’t you?”

He shrugged, an innocent look crossing his face. It looked a little odd on such a large, daunting figure like his. “Perhaps.”

I paused. “Is there a possibility we will die?”

He laughed. “There’s always that possibility, tiger. We aren’t promised the future. We are only promised the present. Which is why it is called that. It is a gift. Something to be cherished and not taken for granted.”

An interesting take on life.

Hmm.

I would have to remember that little piece of wisdom and write it down in my diary.

“Will Obsidian get upset?” I stopped just feet from the big Dragon, suddenly nervous. I wrung my hands and was about to take a step back. I didn’t want to upset him. This might be like another Nikolai situation, right?

“There’s always that possibility, since I can’t speak for him.” He said seriously. “Though, I doubt he’ll be too upset.”

I glanced around Obsidian’s wing, thinking. I was highly tempted to go with Uriel—

“Do you really want to be stuck here for however long he’ll be gone for?” He asked.

“No.”

"And don't you have a hot date with that Ivanov wolf?" he teased. A chuckle escaped him when he saw my pinched expression.

"It's not a date," I snapped a little too defensively.

"Sure it's not, tiger. C'mon. Let's go to the training arena for a bit before breakfast starts. Then I'll escort you over to the mess hall if your boo hasn't come back by then."

***

The little training session went well. I was happily surprised I hit the target everytime.

Then again, I was sure without Uriel's tips and tricks, I wouldn't have hit the target at all.

Now we were just outside of the mess hall. Inside, I could hear the low rumble as the people of the stronghold spoke while enjoying their meal. I paused, staring unseeing into the large, domed area.

I wasn't ready for this.

"It's going to be okay." Uriel encouraged, squeezing my shoulder briefly before dropping his hand.

I wished Obsidian was here, but he was still off helping Constance.

Well, better get this done and over with sooner rather than later.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside and had to wonder how I would find Mikhail in this large, crowded area? Looking up, there were levels to the domed mess hall and my stomach dropped. Would we have to go search for him? I wasn't necessarily looking forward to that.

"Good morning." A familiar voice said to my left. I shifted and saw Mikhail standing just inside of the mess hall. He must have been waiting for me.

"Hi." I replied quickly, spinning to face him. I didn't like the idea of him being at my back. Behind me, I felt Uriel's dominering presence looming.

The wolf nervously shifted his gaze to the menacing dragon behind me before returning to me. Forcing a smile, he held out his arm. Taking it awkwardly, I allowed him to lead us through the crowded space to the large tables in the center of the hall where meats, breads, cheeses and glasses of blood were set out nicely.

"I hope your stay so far has been nice?" I was on edge and so awkward I wasn't sure what to say. Acting as if I was the stronghold's lady--because if I had it my way I would be mated to their Lord--I tried making small talk that way.

"It has been quite comfortable and accommodating," he agreed softly, dropping his arm when we reached the table so we could gather what we wanted to eat.

Thankfully, I was spared having to continue with the small talk since there were a lot of bodies and commotion going on at the feast table. Glancing behind me, Uriel's amused look had me glaring at him. He was enjoying this just a little too much. I took my time gathering what I wanted, trying to delay the inevitable unpleasantness to come.

Mikhail waited patiently for me to be done, then led me to a small table, tucked along the wall of the mess hall. Uriel placed himself behind the wolf, leaning against the wall so he could easily see me and get to the wolf if a problem arose. We started eating in silence before Mikhail spoke. "I'm sorry about my mother and father," he started. "Masuka's loss hit them the hardest."

"I understand. He was their son." I wasn't sure where he was going with this, so I tried to keep it short and sweet. I tried to be cautious of what I said and how I said it, knowing not everyone was as understanding as Obsidian when it came to my outbursts. "What about you? Don't you miss your brother?"

"I do. It was a tragic thing that happened, but in my opinion, my parents made a gamble when they took the oath with your uncle."

"Ulysses wasn't my uncle." I snarled softly, my gaze hard on my plate, bile rising in my throat.

"Oh?"

"He was my father."

It took a moment for the significance of that to sink in.

Behind him, I saw Uriel shift. My gaze met his and I saw the wariness in his there as he shook his head once as if in warning to for me not to say more.

Had said something I shouldn't have?