Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 282 - 281 - Expected Troubles

"Are you still focusing on that?"  Lysanna was lounging after her cultivation session.  She had been too distracted to focus safely.  Her brother was no longer in robes of the sect but the silks and leather pants of his role as Prince of Tur.

"I am focused on many things but I am beginning to believe Master Frey was right.  The timing of the proposal to you was too coincidental.  They wanted to rope us in as fuel for the fire to pull out the Cygnus clan."  Wyndam had done nothing but expound on the conclusions Master Frey had come to.  Further, he was spending a great deal of time with the 2 demons, mostly the young boy.

Lysanna frowned as she thought of the older sister.  Lind already had a demon bride, so it was clear he had no prejudice regarding demons.

"Do you think–"  She was about to ask a question when a pale orange flame snapped at her.

"No, again no, and no.  Please, you know our guests have arrived."  Wyndam had no time for useless questions.  His sister's worries were for naught as Lind clearly was disinclined to increase his harem at all.

It was odd.

Wyndam's own father had a small set of concubines in case of the death of his mother.  It had not happened but cultivation was not a safe path to walk.  Further, the machinations of nobles could become very vicious if they thought they had the upper hand.

"How many more arrived?"  Her quiet voice made him glance and saw the prim and proper princess of the kingdom.  He almost pitied his master.  His sister may be losing to her emotions at the moment, but if she rallied and focused, he was doomed.

"The Demon Empire sent official envoys fairly slowly to allow some time to pass due to those troubling incidents when Cygnus Clan arrived.  The Heavenly Maidens and Divine Sword Sect are already here but sent some Sky Realms."  Wyndam rattled it all off without a jade slip or scroll to consult.  His mind was impressive even among cultivators who improved mentally as they advanced.

"Darkmoor Kingdom sent, ahem, a troublesome envoy."  Lysanna's eyes narrowed at her brother's sudden reluctance to speak.  He never did that before.  Why was he doing it now?

"Who did they send?"  Lysanna was not messing around or moping now.  Her mind was working and she wanted to head off trouble if she could.  Wyndam looked up at her and sheepishly summoned a slip he gave her.

Why was he not talking?

She sunk her senses into it and nearly fell over.  By the spirits, why?!  What were they thinking?!  A few structures over, and in the central tower of the sect, Lind Frey was having the same thought.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

"You cannot have Serena.  She is happily romping about in the Floating Isles as we speak with Annabelle."  Lind felt a vein ticking in his forehead while Ethry hid behind him.  She was not nervous in front of most people, but their current guest was a tad terrifying in some aspects.

"You cured her then?!"  Lind wanted to throttle Ryu.  In fact he would throttle him.  Diamond Tier be damned, he would throttle him as much as he wanted.

"Your Majesty Callisto, while I appreciate Darkmoor has chosen you to make the seriousness clear, my companions are not objects to be sold!  If they choose to stay, I will support them in any way I can!"  Lind was shouting at the end and took a breath to calm himself.

The silver eyes looked hardly bothered by his voice but an aura of danger filled the room.  Ethry actually whimpered until another aura filled the room.  Emerald light began to burn in Lind's eyes.

"Interesting, your cultivation is only at the peak of Iron Tier but the strength of this aura...I want to fight you."  The demoness had an unremarkable sword leaning on the couch but before she could draw it, there was a change.

The pressure in the room changed nature entirely.  Callisto suddenly felt sweat breakout on her skin as her limbs would not move.  The being in front of her glowed with emerald light.  It was not Qi, it was some kind of change in his flesh.

Thrill rose up in her heart but her body still would not obey.  Her full peak Diamond Tier power seemed like nothing to the new sensation.  It was not cultivation, what was it?

"I am not going to tolerate games.  You and Ryu are meant for each other, it seems, but my friends are involved in this mess you allowed to happen.  Or did I miss something?"  The stern tone sent chills down her spine.  If her husband was there, he would have pulled out his spear or sword in joy.

"How long can you maintain this?  Will you not hurt yourself?"  Her breathy voice did not seem to affect the current Lind Frey.  He was cold, unbending, and power incarnate!

"Majesty, it would be wise to not antagonize my love.  He has become very protective of the sect and his friends.  Due to his convalescence, it has become a frustration he would be happy to vent."  Cyntilla's voice broke the moment.

The dangerous feeling faded as Lind exhaled.  He was very pale but he did not seem weak at all.  The silver orbs narrowed looking at him critically.

"You are healthier than you let on, but still weakened by flexing your, whatever that was."  Lind shrugged at her words but nodded.  He had kept the aura inside his quarters but Cyntilla and his other wives always seemed to know when that dangerous sensation was unleashed.

They said they felt a stir in their souls.

"I am sorry Ethry."  The young girl had reverted to her dragon form and was wrapped around him as he soothed her.

"Cyntilla, I believe I told you long ago to never call me by my office."  Callisto did not stand on ceremony with her friends and expected the same in return.

"Calli, I needed to remind my husband who he was facing.  The current issue is as sect Master, not Lind Frey."  The admonition made both of them suddenly reset.  They had many interactions, despite Lind wanting to be left to rest at times, so they had naturally fallen into old habits.

"My apologies, you are quite right.  Master Frey, I am here to both represent Darkmoor Kingdom and protect our citizens."  Lind nodded and held out his hand.  They walked over to another set of quarters but there was a strong formation active.

"Due to the likelihood of unwelcome eyes, I had them take up residence near me where our best defenses are."  A sharp glare at Cyntilla only got her to smile and Callisto smirked as well.  Clearly, the wives had heavily guarded their weakened husband.

Rather than dispel the formation, Callisto was shocked when only the doorway glowed to allow them in but maintained the protections!  How was that done?!

Lind moved through and the others followed.  Inside there was Tessa in the lotus position but Callisto stumbled on the other figure.

A male demon with small horns, wings, tail, and hooves barely formed sat in a similar position.  His aura was chaotic and terrifying but only the level of Sand Tier came from him.

"He broke through?!"  She was shocked.  She had been debriefed on the special situation of the boy but it was supposed to be next year!  Lind nodded but then touched a dark bell on the right.

The tone sent out seemed to bring the 2 demons out of their cultivations.  Tessa saw Callisto and instantly knelt down in subservience but Kalen only looked on indifferently.  Cyntilla suddenly vanished and slammed the boy to the stones instantly.

"You are in the presence of the Consort Queen, boy.  Show your respect!"  Her cold voice seemed to make rage rise in the boy but then it happened again.

The room filled with the terrifying sensation Callisto felt in the office.

"Kneel."  A word was spoken coldly but Kalen instantly obeyed.  The sensation was retracted and that time, Lind did stumble.

Anger was now in Cyntilla's eyes but Lind held up his hand.

"We spoke about your condition.  You are the master, not the other way around.  If you give in, you will kill everyone around you whether friend or foe."  Trembling came from the boy as he looked up apologetically.

"Sorry.  I did not expect a stranger and I felt indignant when Big Sis knelt like that."  Lind sighed but nodded.

"Still, we will have Cyntilla address that later.  You would be wise to absorb the lesson quickly."  A look of pity flashed on Lind's face but Callisto felt insulted.  She was not in need of protection from a pup!

As if reading her mind, Cyntilla shook her head at her.

"Now, I will leave you all to catch up.  However, they are under my protection, Callisto.  I will not surrender them to anyone, not even you."  The firm look on Lind's face made Callisto smile.  She wanted this man to heal up soon!  She wanted to fight!

Lind left with Ethry but Cyntilla stayed behind.  She was the current master of the 2 demons.  Tessa had learned quickly how terrifying Cyntilla's training could be too!

He had only just sat down at his desk when Wyndam came running in.

"Master Frey, the Demon Empire's envoy arrived.  There is only 1 person!"  Lind was surprised.  Callisto may be the representative of Darkmoor, but she was also a peak Diamond Tier on the cusp of facing her ascension.  A single demon would be very little to her from them.

"Not as bad as expected.  Did you get their identity?"  Lind was sinking his senses into a jade slip when the silence from Wyndam made him look up.  The boy had been with them the better part of 80 years.  He had shown frustration, single minded concentration, and sometimes a little anger here or there, but reluctance was not something Lind had ever seen before.

"Um, I was not sure so I had to double check but the description matched.  Afterall, he was one of the lucky people that won an Inheritance."  Wyndam's words made Lind drop the slip on his desk with a shockingly loud sound of impact and bouncing but no one tried to save it.

"You have got to be kidding."  There was only 1 demon from the Empire that qualified for an Inheritance and returned.  It was someone Lind was familiar with but would not exactly call a friend.

"Rathi, brother to the current royal consort, is their envoy."  Lind sighed and wished he could wash his hands of the whole issue.  Just getting all the members in the room would cause a war.

He was about to pick up the slip when he noticed Wyndam was still fidgeting.

"What else?"  The boy jumped and then sighed before closing the doors.

"The twins are here.  The Calim Empire sent the twins."  Lind wanted to dig a hole and dive into it.  He did not want to deal with them at all!  Bring on war!  What had he been thinking?!

"Sigh, set up appropriate quarters and make sure they do not meet until I am ready."  Lind sounded very tired but Wyndam smirked as he bowed and left.

"Lind, I love you!"  He looked over to see Ethry with her arms open and he smiled warmly.  He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly.  She was frustrated with him at times but she also was uncomplicated at the moment.

It would change, but that was the future.  For now, he had to deal with the troubles of his present.