The Private Meeting

Kairo and Genie were called into Lyon's private chambers, which was similar to the wizard's villa bedroom. They waited before the bedroom door for Lyon to reappear from his walk-in-wardrobe room in a fresh outfit of lavish white and gold trimmed robes.

Lyon's mouth lifted with a victory smile. They did well—more than what he had initially expected from them. He gestured for them to step further inside.

Both stood a few paces nearer.

"Impressive." Lyon gave Genie's head a brotherly pat, which had the man's cheeks burn red.

Kairo could tell this moment meant a lot to Genie and wondered what he saw in his brother to idolize him. But then chalked it down to a show of strength.

"When you came to me with the suggestion of the homage battle, I must admit, I had my worries."

Lyon stepped away to ease into an armchair and relax.

Genie was still gushing from the head pat, which made Kairo's eyebrows twitch with a frown. His expression reset when Lyon personally addressed him.

"But the surprise is you, Kairo-wizard. Genie's plan was bold and risky, because it all hinged on you."

Kairo gave him a formal bow.

"Tell me, how did you pull off the draw? It wouldn't have been easy. At any time one of you could have fallen first," he asked and gestured for Genie to remain silent, as he wanted to hear Kairo's explanation.

"We practiced the entire night to become familiar with each other's fighting styles: our tells, threshold levels, weaknesses and strengths," Kairo phlegmatically answered.

Lyon quietly observed Kairo's steady stance and impassive expression. The man's aura had developed into a quiet and subtle power with an unnerving edge. It was no wonder he was attracting enemies and threats. But while he continued to pull favorable results, he was a man worthy to keep on his side.

"Both of you should be proud. Your actions delayed a re-entry into a full scale war: we still have time to regather our forces. Take some time to celebrate at the feast before returning to your duties." Lyon's eyes narrowed. "We still have a lot more work ahead."

Kairo heaved a sigh of relief when they entered the small garden outside Lyon's private quarters.

Genie laughed and slung his arm over his shoulder in his usual fashion. "We're goddamn heroes right now. Let's get some dicks and drinks."

Kairo flinched at the mention of dicks. "Um, let's just do the drinks, okay?"

He yelped when he was dragged into another one of Genie's teleports. They had spent the night getting merry at a feast with their friends and a few others at Lucky Dorks. Eventually, crashing back at the villa.

Night was high when Genie was in a deep sleep on his bed in the ground floor bedroom suite. But Kairo's mind was too restless to sleep. Even though the villa no longer felt empty with Genie sharing it with him, he still felt the place was too big for him to be at ease. He thought it would be cool if he had a cat or dog running about.

As he headed upstairs to his room, he yelped when he saw an adult orange calico cat sitting on his bed. It looked like it had been waiting for him for some time.

"Kairo-wizard. Great, you're back." The cat rose and leapt off the bed to sit on the ottoman. "I can't stay long. The other malkin sekkat's will be suspicious."

"Suspicious?"

The malkin nodded. "I'm Eldor-sekkat, and I'm not out to betray you or our prince like some of my kind. We were welcomed in by him when he saved us. I have no idea why the others are going against him now. It's dishonorable."

Eldor-sekkat hissed with anger on the matter and relaxed when he remembered why he was there. "I'm here to warn you. You made a powerful enemy in Manfred-nun, who's wasting no time in gathering supporters to work against you. Their focus is no longer on our prince."

"Who's it on?" Genie soberly asked when he appeared at the stair's landing.

The malkin gave him a respectful bow. "Genie-bey, greetings. Yes, as I was saying, their focus is on Kairo-wizard. Don't worry a few of us sekkats are on your side. We've called in support to help you and Our Demon Prince."

Shrieks and sounds of a cat fight in the distance drew the malkin's attention to the bedroom window. His ears and whiskers twitched nervously.

"I have to go. Please remember what I've said and be careful. May the goddess guide your light." Eldor-sekkat raced down the stairs and disappeared through a downstairs window it had opened.

Genie sighed, he had slipped up. The sekkat no doubt had waited for them to come home and slipped in when the door was opened. Fortunately, it was only there to convey a message.

"What'd we do now?" Kairo didn't hide his worry.

Genie grabbed him by the shoulders and led him to his bed, pushing him down with orders to sleep.

"But I can't sleep."

"Yes you can, because I'll be next to you reminding you to sleep in your ear." Genie chuckled with a smug grin.

Kairo gulped and felt a blush burning his cheeks. There was no way he could sleep with Genie next to him in bed.

"No, no. Go back to your bed. I'll sleep!" He instantly scrambled beneath his blankets: tucked himself in so tight he looked like a burrito. His eyes closed as he willed himself to sleep and was soon snoring.

Genie stifled his laugh as he sat down on the edge to make sure his friend was sleeping. The disturbance in his heart was growing rapidly. Was Kairo truly his friend or was he proving to be something else?

He rose and decided it was best to return to his bed and get whatever sleep he could get. His brother was right. They had a lot more work ahead and the trouble was only beginning.