Bright Eyes

He had been fully prepared to launch himself at Azazel and make good on his threat when Malleus stepped in, eyeing the soldier contemptuously as he moved toward his bulking frame. Rain could barely hear anything over the pounding of his heart. All Rain could think of was how much Azazel’s red eyes reminded him of his grandfather’s and how much he wanted to gouge them out of his boar-like skull.

Distantly he became aware that Malleus’s eyes were on him, although the seconds seemed to move at a sluggish crawl. He unclenched his jaw, but a low growl remained on his voice as he said; “Just hollow threats. I expected as much from him.” He had meant the words to emasculate the soldier, but hadn't considered that they might save the larger male from whatever fate the black king chose for him.

Slowly tension began to leave his body although his head remained leveled with his spine and his tail raised in a warrior’s banner. He refused to show the other male that he was afraid, and refused to let him think for an instant that he’d had any kind of advantage over him. A thought occurred to him then, something he had suggested to Malleus long ago; Giving prisoners to him for his own purposes. His ears swirled forward and for a brief instant he glanced at Malleus to see if he had any recollection of that day.  then returned his attention to the chastened soldier.

Speech