Chapter 26. One More Downed Hound
While Ingram was up in the living quarters cooking; clink's, clang's and the bubbling of water in pots could be heard somewhere in the floor above her.
Sephora had built up the courage, eventually, to go over an investigate the body of the werewolf she had saved from… whatever had happened in the Ancient Forest.
Sephora sauntered up to the unconscious werewolf, strapped down onto the table. It was only now, that she could really see the definition in the muscles of this males abdomen with matching arms bulking with their power, even in human form, As the younger twins eyes surveyed top to bottom she noticed that he had and quite the defined V-line. The Doctor had placed a sheet over the males lower half, in a bid to keep him from neither loosing nor accumulating too much heat.
She could not resist the temptation to reach out and run two of her black nails down his torso gently, so as not to wake him. He hadn't woken yet despite the talking, but physical touch could be different; and Sephora knew this well. It could trigger an adrenaline response and jolt the body awake in order to save yourself from whatever harm was about to befall you. For this reason, she assured her dragging touch was as light as one of the feathers on her wings. The contrast between the pale skin on her fingertips, decorated with her midnight black talons, and this male's bronzed skin.
Without being covered in blood… despite his injuries. This male was the most exotic and enticing creature that Sephora had ever seen. Realising that it may be difficult to get another chance like this, where the werewolf was truly out, Sephora gently cupped the males bicep that was closest to her. She had to close her eyes and take a breath as she felt warm all over and knew that just this male's physique was awakening her more basic instincts. At that, she withdrew her hand and remained like that. Taking two breaths before re-opening her eyes.
Now is NOT the time to be curious of such things! She chastised herself. It was not in her voice, but in her mothers voice that these thoughts rang out clearly and severely.
With that she shook of the impulse to remove the sheet all together. It was gone as quickly as it appeared – like a large wave crashing onto the shores of a beach. Refusing the will to check the power in this male creatures legs and the power of whatever lay in between those. That is if werewolves even have one of THOSE.
She giggled at her own thought, as for all she knew about that… they may do something different.
Besides, where the Doctor had buckled up was just below the top of the V-lines and the sheet was snuggly hugged between the stiff leather and his abdomen. In the back of her mind she worried that such an action like unbuckling or simply yanking the thin blanket off of him may wake him up. That in itself wasn't worth it.
Sephora thought to herself, it would be safer to have him in the old dungeon before investigating this werewolf more… personally. The images which sprung to her mind were lascivious and she purred internally at some of them.
With thinking, I have to get a hold of myself, this creature was bloody and on deaths door not so long ago. There will be plenty of time later.
At that she turned and walked to the cabinet, with the drawer the Doctor had pointed towards. Opening out, she found needles wrapped but filled and ready to go for sedation, it was a concoction from a group of herbs found around the mountain. She grabbed one. Unwrapped it and jabbed it into the bicep of the sleeping male.
While the werewolf had not so much as twitched, Sephora wanted to take precautions that he would be out for the count. Ensuring that the plan to sneak him in, through the castle and in, to the dungeons below.
Walking to the window she looked up and the moon would be rising. Somewhere above the trees. The Doctor had said the full moon was some nights ago, so this wolf wouldn't be at his complete strength, but he would be at strength if he were to wake up. The younger princess felt calm and sure that she had made the correct decision to inject him with the sedative now.
She partly wondered, while glancing back at him on the table, if he would change into his wolf form right then and there. Unconscious on the table. As all the stories had said they are unable to control their form and their minds return to that of a rogue beast all together. Even Ingram had been told those stories – hence why the werewolf was now strapped onto the table in his surgery. Unconscious or otherwise and even then, he was not sure it would hold.
"Sephora!" Ingram called quietly, appearing back at the top of the stairs, "Could you assist me in the kitchen to set up for dinner? I know you sometimes help the chef at yours with pastries."
With a lingering glance at the werewolf she just injected with a medical sedative – that wolf wasn't going anywhere, anytime soon. He was one downed hound. The princess looked back at him and nodded. Instantaneously presenting a wide and sweet grin on her face, "But of course, Ingram. You have already done so much to help me." She motioned at the dress.
The Doctor motioned for her to follow him up to the living quarters, and the scent of devilled eggs and cooked venison (a fancy name the nobles used for deer) meat lingered in the air. Its scent grew stronger and stronger as she climbed the squeaky wooden stairs; the food was cooked well and Sephora's mouth began to water as her stomach growled. At the sound, she clutched her abdomen; she hadn't realised how hungry she was at all. She had missed the late lunch and went to the forest, so hadn't eaten anything since breakfast this morning.
Ingram laughed at Sephora's honest expression, "She won't be long now, there's only a few more thing's to do. Can you put the plates out." He pointed to the cupboard.
"Of course," Sephora repeated happily. The faster she laid out the plates the faster she could eat, "Umm… Ingram, who is your mate? What is it like to be finally, truly be mated and how did you come to be mated with your mate? Is she the one you decided on?"
The Doctor busied himself with finishing the cooking and plating up the food as he spoke, while Sephora laid the cutlery on the table, "Ah… you're nervous about being mated to whoever is decided for you based on the politics of the day, I guess?"
Saying nothing in response to him, Ingram chuckled without humour before responding, "I am married and mated happily to Maven's younger sister."
This caught Sephora off guard and she stopped momentarily to listen, after laying down the second fork in the set of cutlery. "I did not know Maven had a younger sister." The Princess was now beginning to draw parallels between the old servant woman she knew well from the castle, herself, and Seraphina.
"That's right!" Chimed the Doctor, "Morgan is my mate's name. She is a nurse for both the Royal & Noble guards and spends most of the days at the barracks, tending to injuries from friendly, or aggravated sparring. It's not a surprise you haven't met Morgan." As he turned to hand Sephora two plates of food to set down, he caught her eye, "Also like you, she forgets to eat when she's too busy. My silly Morgan, so I've to take care of her that way... you also need to clean yourself."
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Her hair now dry, after the shower to clean the blood and ichor off herself, from the cosy heat in Doctor Flitting's modest house in the noble quarters, Sephora's hair once again hung straight with those black bangs on either side. The loose-fitting dark green dress of some noble draped around her, embossed with a coppery-toned wire around the breast area. Attempting to emphasize shape.
With Ingram mentioning and talking about his mate who would be returning home soon, Sephora wondered if this dress was one of hers. It would never be something the Queen would allow her daughter to wear. Too colourful and colour was common.
As the King passed shortly before their hatching, the Princesses had never gotten to see how their mother and father interacted as mates. More so, it was a point of curiosity for them, as their mother barely talked about their father at all and altogether did her best to avoid the subject.
"Alas," The Doctor continued, " I didn't choose her as my mate. My father did. He believed it was best to have his only son marry into another medical family… which made sense at the time. As you know, most mates are political for Harpies. Especially for one like yourself - royalty. I'm sure your mother will choose wisely and have her reasons."
Sephora's next words shocked the Doctor, "Since you did not choose her as your mate, do you like her?" It had been on her mind, what if her mother chose a mate she didn't like or even get on with? She would still be expected to do a duty and produce heirs... she had her favorites that didn't mean she wanted a mate she would hate.
"We had to get to know one another, but yes, over time, we have grown extremely fond of each other. That's what it means to be mated. You work as a team." The Doctor glanced at the table, "Sephora… set another seat. Maven will be around and I have enough food for 4 of us. You will want to persuade her by getting her in a good mood, having eaten, to try to help you with that problem of werewolf logistics."
Just as he said that, the sound of the door downstairs opened, "Ingram! You will NOT believe the day I've had with two new members of the guard." There was a lilt to this woman's voice.
From the look in Ingram's eyes, Sephora knew without a doubt, his mate had come home. It was then that she decided that she wanted someone, her mate, to one day look at her like that. Even if it was none of her favorites. She would do everything it took to make that happen.