Noxton
So while I didn't want Raine Xi intimately, I did respect and trust him like a close brother. We shared the goal of dismantling our families to protect our loved ones. Him, so he could rebuild it. Me, I felt the whole Dillard Enclave, its kin-branches, and assorted allies should be wiped out of existence. There are some people who are just evil because they can be. That is the Dillard Enclave and their close allies.
Skye pretended he didn't preen under my stare so I didn't call him out, but I did have a tired grin from his adorableness. I had finished my repast when River, who I thought was still asleep, suddenly spoke up. "Did you meet any demons? That would be really good if we could get five of them to help us. We would be able to go through with the revolution tomorrow." Skye had been mid-sentence when River interrupted him with this question and rambling train of thought. I glanced down to see his bright and curious gaze on me.
"I don't believe so," I answered after a moment. My exhaustion was catching up to me. I didn't have long before I collapsed. "You know how they are. Indistinguishable unless they want to be." He hummed softly; his chin perched on my shoulder, his surprisingly minty breath invading my senses.
If there was ever a person I believed was a mythological incubus, it would be this man. But then again, according to history, it was obsidian-tier vampires that the myth is based on. The higher their cultivation, the stronger their allure and sex drive. If we lived in one of the earlier eras, River would possibly be considered an incubus.
It was a struggle, but I pulled my wandering mind back to the present conversation. It helped that I pushed River back into his own seat now that he was awake. "I left word with a contact who has a demon connection," I added. "We may hear back anytime between now and next year. For now, we treat them as a last resort."
River nodded slowly, and by the look on his face, his mind was already on a different topic. When he didn't have to, he didn't make himself stay completely present mentally and, I suspect, metaphysically either, but I had no proof of my suspicions. River was very good at making sure any suspicions someone had about him; were suspicions he wanted that person to have.
Thinking that, I became very curious about what River was thinking so hard about that he was focused and present right now. "Skye," he said, turning slightly. "Do you remember the scent that was on Raine's clothes when he got home last week?" Skye looked thoughtful now too. River continued, "Tea and something else." River's expression sharpened. "Now that I'm clearer of mind, I remember that scenting that fragrance helped me last until today; otherwise, I would have needed to be sent to Nox or away to the cottage to be locked up till Nox returned."
That made me sit up straighter. That was not… normal. Not much beyond the intervention healing I and Skye do with River can affect River once he has reached a certain level of destabilization. Mine, Skye, Raine, Second Crown Consort, and Mínghǎi are the only known scents before this moment I would have said would have any effect on him, whether he was unstable or stable. Now, what or whose scent did Raine come into contact with that could soothe River?
Skye adjusted his glasses, not fully engaging in River's side quest yet. "If I remember correctly, he had just come back from representing the clan at the Ajei twins' birthday celebration," he pondered as he turned to a clean sheet of paper and began writing down what he knew. This was important. If there is something we can use to help keep him stable outside of me and Skye, that is one more anchor for him. "Raine could have come into contact with any number of people because the party was also a matchmaking event for the Ajei twins, so people from outside the capital district and region were in attendance."
His gaze flicked toward River. "Do you want to call him? He should be just relaxing in bed with a goblet of wine and business reports." I couldn't help the chuckle that came out. That was definitely a facade that Raine portrayed, but Raine was more likely to be reading some kind of smut this late at night than business reports.
River grinned, "Great idea. Let me do that." River called, and the call connected quickly. Raine appeared on the screen—already frowning. Then River plugged his phone in, and now we could all see Raine's annoyed expression on the holo-screens. "I thought you'd be occupied getting your back blown out," Raine said dryly. "Not calling me. Are you taking a break from fucking or are you bored of listening to Skye and Noxton being adults and going over his mission results?" River clutched his chest dramatically. "You wound me, dìdi (little brother)."
River paused dramatically, and when he was met with silence, he carried on with his reason for calling. "I called to ask a question, but now I have two." Raine sighed and rubbed his head. "Of course you do." I personally was becoming very interested in where exactly Raine was right now. He wasn't home from what I could see. Raine Xi was not a man to let his guard down just anywhere. He wasn't completely unguarded; he never was to my knowledge, but wherever he was, he trusted the people he was with. I noticed beside Raine was someone I was professionally familiar with but never had the pleasure of personally meeting.
He does and doesn't look like his twin brother. They are identical, but the Sentinel initiate twin looks like he is trying to win Red Hulk fan contests."First," River continued brightly, "what was that tea and something scent that was on you last week?" Then he leaned close to the camera with a conspiratorial expression as he whispered, "Second… are you suddenly into men? I see a very attractive bespectacled man next to you, and I approve." I leaned back slightly, wishing I still had chips to watch this sudden reality tv-like moment.
Skye held out a bag of chips. I grabbed a handful, then fist-bumped him in thanks. He gave a nod of understanding. I sipped my energy drink as the man beside Raine shifted into frame. Ah, I suddenly remembered his name and other facts about him. Interesting. Säntiägo Ivy: twin to Byron Ivy, son of one of the top families in the Korr'Vellyn region northeast of Solhara. He was on track to graduate top of his diplomat class but then suddenly decided to transfer from his regional branch of Kaethryn to the main branch here.
No one knows why he did this, but he is on quite a few watch lists, so he isn't someone to ignore when you see him. "Thank you for the compliment, Scion Xi," Ivy said smoothly, adjusting his glasses with a faint smile. There was a level of natural charisma and confidence in that smile that put him on near-equal standing with Raine. Before Ivy could say more, Raine shoved him out of frame. Before Raine himself could say anything, an unexpected familiar voice spoke first. "I see you two started without me."
Lux Ajei. Oh ho. What do we have here? The plot thickens. Why is Raine hanging out with Säntiägo Ivy and Lux Ajei? Those two are political figures that have to be handled with care. This could complicate matters.