“Well yeah…you eat pussy like a champ, congrats,” I tried to brave out the words but turned crimson when my own ears heard them. He spared me the humiliation and returned his attention to the abandoned half-pancake.
“So…” I scratched the back of my head, suddenly uncomfortable to start interrogating him, “How old are you?”
Galenor paused, the half-chewed pancake once more forgotten in his mouth. He frowned, gaze slithering to find my meaning.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because…” I folded my arms across my chest, “before that thing of yours reaches anywhere near my mouth, I would like to know you better,” I pointed a finger to his midsection.
“You mean my cock?” he chuckled and swallowed the extra syrup and the pancake, his throat making a choking sound, as if announcing my fate should I dare to go anywhere near him.
“Yeah…” I mustered the confirmation. If I got myself into that mess, I might as well get myself out of it. “If that’s something you would like…”
Oh, my gods, Ellyana, did you actually just ask someone if he’d like to slide down your throat? Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Planning to show me your skill, muffin?” he smiled, fire lighting his gaze which burnt through the deepest of my defences. Making me confess everything to him.
“Don’t get too excited, I’m not expert level as you are…more like…your average encounter. Probably not as good as the many women you’ve been with…” I grimaced at my own stupidity and decided to shut my mouth for the rest of my life.
I looked down at the two remaining pancakes on my plate, wishing I would take their place. Nothing sounded better right about now than being swallowed alive and forgotten forever. Along with all the stupid shit I ever said.
“Thirty-two,” Galenor replied with an overly amused tone.
“What?” I instantly forgot my wish and lifted my eyes to his.
“I am thirty-two…I think,” he frowned and blinked a few times as if wanting to make sure. “I was captured right after I turned thirty and it’s been about two years.”
My eyes bulged out. He’d been a captive for two years? How did this man survive for so long? The longest captivity I ever heard of was seven and a half months, an ogre from the Water Realm. Instead of dwelling on the information, I decided to ask another question and pull at the string he had just offered me.
“Why were you captured?” I dared ask. Then, not wanting to force the answer out of him, I turned back to my plate and took another bite.
“Because humans are idiots…” Galenor sighed. “No offence.”
“None taken,” I replied and grabbed some more chocolate syrup. If he liked to drown his pancake in that much chocolate, I was clearly missing out. Silence filled the room and both of us continued to eat and watch each other, smiling from time to time when one of our chins or shirts became a battlefield for the chocolate to flow onto.
“I was travelling to Bentlas for a conference my father forced me to attend. I took his vehicle as it was an official visit and I had to represent our side of the realm. It was close to the Human Realm border, but I’d travelled that route so many times I considered it safe. It wasn’t…” he replied with a sigh.
My mind swam with all the information that single phrase brought me. Official business, vehicle, conference.
“Are you someone important?” I swallowed and reached out for the glass of juice he poured for me.
“There’s no need for flattery, Ellyana, I haven’t been treated properly since my capture,” he pouted, as if he missed people fussing over him. Which also told me that yes, he must be someone important. I felt stupid and decided to tell him how little information I actually had on my subject.
“They just shoved me in here and told me to wait for a faerie. I didn’t even know you were fae or a male until you healed. Hence, the door,” I pointed at the closed bedroom door, the only barrier that separated us from the outside world.
“Told you humans were stupid,” he chuckled but then continued speaking. “I’m an Earl of the Wind Realm.” Then he furrowed his brows, as if the information he’d provided wasn’t at all accurate. “Of the Northern Region,” he corrected.
“And earl? What exactly is that?” It had been a long time since we studied realm ranks, so my history knowledge needed a little refresher.
Taking no offence in my need to enquire, Galenor explained. “I am the son of someone important, someone who owns the Northern Region, amongst other territories, and when he meets the goddess, I will inherit the lands. If I’m still alive by then…” he corrected, twisting a dagger in my chest.
Trying my best to shift his thoughts, I chuckled, nodding with the realisation. “I knew you must be someone entitled,” I grinned. “You are such a smug prick.”
Galenor started laughing, his joy filling the room. “I am,” he admitted. “Blame it on my upbringing.” He turned his attention back to the pancakes to fold two of them, dipped them in the chocolate syrup until they were drenched and shoved them in his mouth.
Why was the unit holding an earl captive? Surely, he must have had enough diplomatic connections to help them in some way, but judging by the way they treated him, something deeper rooted their interest. Something no alliance could offer.
“Galenor…” I pressed my lips together, shoving the words back for a moment. Doubting that I even had the right to ask these questions.
