A Griffin's Voice

Chapter 2: A Whipping and A Dinner

Fox’s P.o.V.

A guard quickly showed us to the room that Fawn and I would be sharing, before leading us to the room that our parents would be in down the hall. We entered the room behind our mother and in front of our father. As soon as the door shut, he began to yell at us. “How dare either of you think such things? How dare you insolent cubs say such things in front of other royals?!? You both humiliated me! A hundred lashes each for such behavior. Max and Evan will be waiting on the boat for you both. Go put your bags in your room and grab jeans and T-shirts for afterwards. Also, no medical attention afterwards. Now, get lost!”

We quietly exit the room as fast as we can to go put our bags away and to grab our clothes. Then we quickly made our way to the boat to endure our punishment for speaking up. My sister looks at me while we walk down. “So, Foxie Boy, what are your thoughts about the princes? First impression and everything.”

I look at my sister briefly before glancing out across the water that we are nearing. I quickly thought over her question. Personally, I wasn’t really certain what to think yet. On the one hand, three were completely silent and had been leering at my sister with obvious lust. On the other hand, two seemed relatively okay. I mean, Prince Dean did call her ‘Beautiful’. I love that he seemed to want to compliment her, but he just seemed to think that he outright deserves her. Then there was the final prince. He hadn’t introduced himself, but he did seem to hear the veiled threat in my father’s unconcealed rage. He seemed to care enough to want to protect her and to want answers. In my opinion, he is the only one that is worthy of her at this point, but it could all be an act as well.

I sigh and look back at my sister. “It is hard to say yet, but my first impression……isn’t the greatest. I don’t know entirely what to think yet though. Prince Dean I am not a fan of. He complimented you but seemed to think he deserves you. That they all deserve you. Then three of the others just leered outright at you with lust filled eyes. All four of them seemed to mentally undress you, which is absolutely disgusting and unbefitting of a prince! Then we come to the final prince……he didn’t introduce himself, but he seemed to prioritize what is most important. He heard the veiled threat from father, I think. He seemed to care and want to protect you. I think it would be better to rediscuss after dinner, though. Let me get a second impression of these princes.”

“If we even make it to dinner at all. A hundred lashes and dinner is in less than an hour. If we are late, father will be even angrier with us,” she huffed out. I quietly chuckle at her obvious annoyance before flinging an arm around her shoulders. I pull my sister close to my side and give her a side hug. Goddess, I love my sister and am lucky to have her at my side always.

Fawn’s P.o.V.

Thankfully we were heading back to the castle now. If we hurry, we will make it to the diningroom before our parents. We race into the castle and slow to a respected, dignified walk before entering the diningroom. Immediately, all five princes and their parents looked at us. I could see the concern in the princes’ eyes as they stared at me directly. Before any of them could speak though, my parents walked into the room. Thankfully, Fox and I are already in place. Standing stoically behind our chairs with our heads down. My back was screeching in retaliation and pain, but I have to remain still and silent. I hear my parents sit down and then my father’s commanding voice rings through the air. “You may now sit.” Immediately, we both sit down with straight backs and keep our eyes downcast. Just like we are trained to do.

Across the table, a throat is cleared. “We would like to properly introduce ourselves to you tonight, Princess Fawn. Perhaps after dinner would be a good time to do so,” a quiet, deep voice said.

“I think that sounds wonderful! It will be a good time for you six to get to know each other. Fox, stay out of the way,” my father growled harshly.

I stiffen as I realize I would have to deal with the princes on my own, but that fear is short lived. “We want to meet him as well,” another prince rushed to say as if he sensed my fear. This voice is dark and commanding. I can tell that he expects to be obeyed the first time he says something. Well, I got news for you, Prince. That is never going to happen! Nope!

My father growls aggressively but keeps his thoughts to himself. He surprisingly doesn’t argue with this prince. I glance over at my brother with a smug smirk on my face and notice he is trying his best not to burst out laughing at this. No one, and I mean no one, ever argues with our father. Fox and I will, but only because we have each other’s backs. And here is a puny prince arguing with him. Somehow, he wasn’t dead yet or even punished yet. A small miracle. It made me like him a little bit more.

Finally, I look up at the princes for the first time since entering the Castle of the Kings. I won’t lie, they are all very handsome and cleanly dressed from what I can see. I would happily give up my virginity to them, but that doesn’t mean that they are mate material. And I don’t think they are mate material personally. I mean they aren’t even pure like I am! I can smell that they have all been with females. But that didn’t mean that they were handsome, and I do like what I see.

The prince in the middle is in the middle for heights. He has super pale skin. Pale red eyes. Black hair that is shaved on the sides and longer on the top. He is wearing a red button up shirt. His eyes and skin mark him as a vampire. The vampire prince of Despye. Prince Avalon.

On his direct left sat the tallest male. He has deep chocolate brown skin. Longer black hair that has been styled into corn rows. Rich and warm golden-brown eyes. He is wearing a deep, rich green dress like I wore earlier. (Which is now completely shredded! Ugh! I loved that dress. Guess Fox will just have to take me shopping to buy a new one. Which means shopping!) Earlier this prince had introduced himself as Prince Dean of Clastan. Which means he is the dragon prince.

The male sitting on the left of Prince Dean, was easily the second shortest male. He has white skin, so in between my skin tone and Prince Avalon’s skin tone. Bright and kind royal blue eyes. He has blonde hair that looks so soft and fluffy even from here. He has it shaggy and yet styled at the same time. A perfect contradiction that just seemed to fit him. His button up is royal blue, and it makes his eyes pop even more. He has the top three buttons undone to reveal a tattoo peeking through. I honestly wanted to get up close and personally with him to see this tattoo. I can’t get a sense of what kind of shifter he is, but there was something almost……feline about him. He quite possibly could be the heartbreaking panthera prince of Escana. Prince Seth.

The male sitting to the right of Prince Avalon was the shortest prince. He has light brown skin. Calm, quiet, and friendly gray eyes. Auburn hair with red shining in it. His hair was a short, styled cut with shaved sides. A royal purple button up. He was easily the easiest prince to get a read on, but at the same time there was such a mysterious air to him. I just can’t tell what he is, but at the same time I can tell exactly what he is thinking. This made of think of Vucron. Prince Carter of the vulpines.

The prince sitting next to him was easily the second tallest prince. Like the panthera prince, he has white skin. Forest green eyes. Brown hair that looks fluffy and soft, just like the panthera princes. His hair is styled into a quiff mohawk. The sides are shaved exactly how Prince’s Avalon and Carter are. He has on a forest green button up that matches his eyes. I can sense a clear loyalty in the air around him. The loyalty of the canis’. This must be the canis prince of Asmurg. Prince Archer.

If I am honest with myself, they are even more handsome than I originally thought. They might even be my type if they don’t prove to be assholes. I will just have to wait and see, I guess. Honestly, I am excited to get to know them tonight. Suddenly, I am jarred from my thoughts by my father’s thundering voice. s**t! He is angry! What did we do? I immediately look down as I start to tremble slightly. “Sit up straight, you insolent cubs! You were both raised better than to slouch at the table! You both are bringing shame to your family and the griffin kingdom!”

“But, Father, our backs are in agony,” Fox began only to be cut off with a sharp slap to the face and a snarl.

“SILENCE! You were not given permission to speak! Cubs are to be seen, not heard. And rarely ever even seen is much more preferred. Now, get lost both of you. No dinner. Remember, no medical attention either. You may see to each other’s wounds though. Now, get out of my sight at once!”

We immediately both quickly left the diningroom with terrified eyes and heads down. As soon as we turned the corner, my brother started to have a panic attack, so I gripped his hand tightly as we made our way to our room. Once we got there, Fox collapsed onto the floor near the bed and drew his knees to his chest. I quietly closed the door, before making my way over to him. I sit down next to him and wrap an arm around his shoulders and rock us side to side, hoping to calm him down and comfort him. “Calm down, Foxie Boy. Put your head between your knees like we learned to do over the years.”

Fox follows my directions and for the next forty minutes neither of us move beyond rocking side to side. After forty minutes though, there was a knock on the door. We both shot straight up and shook in fear as we feared that it is our father. After a minute, a friendly and light voice speaks. “Prince Fox. Princess Fawn. Can the five of us come in? We want to make sure you both are okay. We also want to talk for a few before our parents come up.”

We both let out a sigh as the fear dies down. Fox looks at me in silent question, so I nod at him letting him know that it is okay if they come in. So, he walked over and opened the door for them before walking back over and sitting down. I sat down next to him as the princes start coming into the room. The last prince to enter, the one with auburn hair, closed the door behind him. They all hovered near the door as if uncertain if they could come in further. So, we both offered them a small smile. “Come on in, Princes. Make yourselves comfortable.”

They all grinned at my words before coming further into the room. After they settle down in various locations, they start to talk. The blonde male spoke up first from where he leaned against a dresser. “We wanted to introduce ourselves and get to know you both a little before our parents come up here to talk to you both. My name is Seth Holt. I am the panthera prince of Escana. Pantheras can be a range of different felines. I have a lion spirit. My lion spirit is called Major, and he can’t wait to officially meet you, Princess Fawn. I am seventeen. Turned seventeen in April and am the second youngest out of the five of us. I enjoy gaming with my friends, playing my guitar, and reading.”

I nodded at him before turning towards the dark skinned male and raising my eyebrows in silent question. He smirked at me from the loveseat he was sitting on before he started to speak. “Hello, Beautiful. I am Dean Willis of Clastan. I am the dragon prince. My dragon spirit is called Thorn. Thorn honestly hated the idea of you at first, but he has already fallen in love with you. We can’t wait to get to know you. We are all seventeen. I am the second oldest and will turn eighteen in September. My favorite things to do include gaming and flying.”

I smile softly at him. A throat is cleared, and I turn to look into the gray eyes that are maybe five feet in front of me. “I am Carter Holland. The vulpine prince of Vucron. My fox spirit is called Atlas. Like Thorn, Atlas wanted nothing to do with you, but now he wants to get to know you and is honestly excited about it. I turned seventeen in June. I think you are really beautiful and perfect for us. I look forward to getting to know you better, Princess Fawn. I enjoy drawing and gaming, but I also like to go for a run with Atlas in the sand dunes of Vucron.”

He winked at me, and I blushed before turning towards the brown-haired male that is patiently waiting as he sits on the window sill. “Angel, my name is Archer. Archer Dawson. I am the canis prince of Asmurg. I just turned seventeen about two weeks ago. My wolf spirit is called Orion. I promise that we will be good and loyal mates to you, or at least I will be. I honestly don’t think Seth or Carter could be anything different though. I also know for a fact that Avalon and Dean will be loyal and treat you like the princess that you are. We will make sure you are spoiled and never go a day without knowing how much we love you, because we already do. I enjoy everything that has already been mentioned for the most part, but I also love to let Orion out to run.”

I giggle as he finishes. He is charming in a wolfie way. I look towards the last one. Prince Avalon is leaning casually against the wall near me. He stares coolly at me not letting me see what he really thinks about any of this. “My name is Avalon Kensington. I turn eighteen next month in August. My vampire spirit is called Jackal. I don’t have anything else to add at this moment. Thank you for giving us a chance.”

I look at my brother and see him staring at me. I nod my head at him wanting him to talk for us. “Fox and Fawn Khan are our names. We turned seventeen four days ago. My griffin spirit is called Maximus. My sister’s griffin spirit is called Mystery. We don’t have much for hobbies since we spend all of our time training. That is honestly all that we really know. Our lives have been consumed with training since we were three. But the last day since we entered your land, we got to experience music for the first time ever. I mean this to no offense to any of you, but my sister doesn’t want you five. You are definitely gaining her attention, but none of you are worthy of being mated to a griffin. Especially my sister.”

“We understand, Prince Fox. We know we aren’t pure like either of you. We know that she is being forced into this. But we will always make sure she is happy and safe. We would do our best to be perfect mates and make her happy with this arrangement,” Prince Seth began. “We want to change things though. We want to win her over instead of her just being handed to us. If she still isn’t happy with us, then we will back off. We will spoil her. We will give her anything and everything she ever wants. No matter the price. We are just asking for a chance. Don’t dismiss us just because we aren’t fated mates.”

But they still rejected their fated mates. I forge the link between my brother and I before speaking.

I know. What are your thoughts on what he said, though? On what they all said.

I think they are pretty words. Arrogant, but pretty. I think they are all hoping that words alone will win me over. I think that it is a pretty pathetic attempt, honestly.

Those are my thoughts exactly. I felt Fox close the link before replying to Seth. “My sister and I have spoken and agree. You are saying pretty words, Seth. Honestly, all of you did. But that is all they are. They are empty words without any sort of proof. You all rejected your mates. That doesn’t speak well for any of you. Your words are pretty, but nothing more. And honestly, it is a pretty pathetic attempt to win her over.”

Prince Carter raised his hand to stop my brother from continuing. “I understand where you both are coming from, but I promise you they aren’t empty words, and we will prove it. We are speaking the truth to you both. It is a fact that none of our beasts wanted you until they first saw you. It is a fact that we rejected our mates for this alliance. For you. We won’t deny any of it. We think you are beautiful though, Princess Fawn, and we want to spend every day of our lives making you feel loved. There is more to you than looks though as well. What can we do to win you over?”

I looked at him and saw honesty blazing in his eyes. I smile at him. “I don’t want empty words. I want proof of those words. Mystery and I will give this a chance, but we want things from this. Freedom. Respect. Loyalty. Honesty. Kindness. Acceptance. Love. Validation. Equality. Those are what we value as ourselves and as griffins.”

“We can and will give you all of those things, Beautiful,” Dean says in his deep, dark voice. His voice almost sounds flirty, and it sends shivers down my spine. He smirks when he notices that. He goes to continue to speak when suddenly there is knocking at the door again. The door swings slowly open to reveal their parents standing there.