Page 76 of Valpar

King Osirus raised his hand. His gaze swept over Calliope and the fairy an unreadable expression.

The unruly fairy continued to speak, throwing her hand toward my miresa. I felt my anger growing, but my miresa sat in my arms with reverence as she waited for the king.

“Enough,” King Osirus commanded in a voice that held the weight of authority. “Calliope, Simon, step forward.”

Reluctantly, I put Calliope down. She patted my arm and stood in front of me, so I put my hand on her shoulder, ready to pull her away from the evil fairy. Queen Melina’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and pride.

“Explain the encounter that sparked this remarkable display in my throne room,” King Osirus commanded, his voice firm but not unkind. A smile tugged at his lips.

Calliope took a deep breath, her voice steady as she recounted the events that led to the confrontation with the fairy. She spoke of the taunts, the insults and, finally, the physical altercation that had ensued. She was unusually calm as she spoke, more than I would have been if I was forced to explain. I wanted to ring the little fairy’s neck.

The fairy tried to interject, but a sharp look from the king silenced her.

When Calliope finished her tale, there was a moment of tense silence in the room. The king steepled his fingers thoughtfully before finally speaking.

“Violence is never the answer,” he began, his gaze sweeping over to Calliope. “But in this case, it seems there was provocation. Ivy, you are aware that any two souls claiming to be mates is considered serious. Valpar claimed Calliope at the ball, and it was downright savage. You are lucky that Valpar, a decorated warrior from the war, has not asked me to punish you.”

I wanted to smile at that, I didn’t think that this would go in my favor. I kept my face plain of all emotion, but my miresa did not know how to hide her emotions.

“Ha!” Calliope pointed. “Told you we are mates. You can’t lie about it! He’s my big orcy-poo and you are just jealous you can’t get his wiener schnitzel.”

I groaned and wiped my hand down my face. “Miresa.”

“Sorry, I mean his big club.” My little fairy snickered.

“Miresa!”

“Okay fine, his lumpy third leg.”

I covered my female’s mouth and took a deep breath.

King Osirus ignored Calliope completely and turned his attention to the fairy with a look of disdain.

“You have overstepped your bounds, Ivy.” King Osirus stated firmly. “You will apologize to Calliope and to Valpar for your blatant lack of disrespect and not following the laws this land has set for mate claiming. Mates can take their time and claim each other when they see fit, do you understand?”

The Ivy bristled but ultimately bowed her head in begrudging submission. “I am sorry for my behavior. Truly. It won’t happen again, Your Majesty.” She turned to the both of us and apologized again. I did not feel she was sorry, but to move this along, I nodded.

King Osirus nodded in acceptance. “And you, Calliope? Do you have anything to say?”

Calliope twisted her lips. “Sorry for attacking you. I have powerful feelings toward my mate. I have this urge to claim him, but we have decided to take things slow. I can’t help it, I just saw his giant dilly yesterday, and I’m ready for him to impale me with it, and the urge is just so strong. I’m just so lucky to have a big, strong, handsome orc to be my mate—”

“There is no way in the ever-loving Underworld that he is your mate! You’re a human!” Ivy screamed back with a reddened face as she landed on the floor.

My miresa snickered. “I think someone is jealous I have a big, handsome orc, you know, for amate.” Calliope rubbed her hand all over my chest again, her hand drifting toward my shaft.

I leaned over and whispered in her ear. “You are being very, very naughty little fairy.”

“Good naughty, or bad naughty?” She giggled.

My shaft twitched against my thigh.

“Good. I like it when you think so highly of me.” And I did. My chest filled with pride that she was taunting this other female and staking claim on me that I was hers. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it would happen the other way around.

She pinched her thumb and finger together and ran them across her lips.

“Leave, Ivy, before I have Valpar choose your punishment.” Osirus snapped.

Ivy faltered for a moment, she opened and closed her mouth wanting to say something. She lifted her finger and narrowed her eyes at Calliope to speak but before she could say another word, Simon lifted his leg and urinated on her.

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