She was afraid.  He could hear her heart hammering and feel the blood pulsing in her little hands.  They were soft just like he guessed.  Motto felt sorry for her.  If anything he wanted to do well for her sake alone. Motto would do his very best not to eat her.  With that happy vow in his simple heart, Motto unfettered his wings and lifted their dance ten meters up into the air.  One council member was about to speak when another touched their arm and shook their head.  Motto watched his bride-to-be carefully as he led her around in graceful circles.<br/><br/>He wanted to smile at her and comfort her, but he wasn’t very good at conversation.  The best he could do was to keep his touch gentle while remaining very strong and alert.  Her scent was very delicate and it had spice!  A hint of heat within the sugary red life food.  He imagined there were probably three parts to her taste; an initial sweetness both overly so yet lacking in one area to hold his attentions longer..into the second part where the spice probably made itself known.  Probably a deficiency or small irregularity in her body caused this unique trait, but there would be a faint moment when both honey and savory warmth blended together to create a new part.  Sometimes...there were those with a fourth taste.  Was she one?  Motto’s eyes were already half-lidded and fangs descending at the thought.  He was dipping his head.  It was all automatic..he had never had to deny himself like this before.  Somehow he caught himself and pulled his head back.  Wide-eyed and trembling, he felt immensely sorry and embarrassed.  Had anyone noticed?  He needed to do better!  For the sake of his kind.   For the sake of the poor girl.   Slowly he lowered himself and the small woman down to where they could touch the floor and resume dancing on their feet.<br/><br/>He softened his hold even more and would look into her eyes with hopes that she might look at him.  She might see that he was just as scared.  That he wanted to not mess up and stuff.  She had a small body.  He would protect it!<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“If I’m your slave guardian, would you be less afraid?” </span>He asked, clearly unaware that this was his first spoken word to her.  Motto was simply caught up in his thoughts and eager to put them to use.<span style="color: #00BF40"> “Of course we must marry as the Council decreed, but yeah.  If you are my Queen then you wouldn’t have to worry about …...things.”  </span>Motto smiled nervously.  He waited to hear her answer.<span style="color: #00BF40"> “I vow to protect you forever.”</span><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://i.imgur.com/ujvs32A.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>******************<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Have you ever danced a formal dance my dear?"</span><br/><br/>Alice moved smoothly along with each step of Gregory’s.<span style="color: #0080FF"> “I am not your dear, Hell spawn.” </span>She tired to sound airy, but it came out as forced and edgy instead.  Hearing herself, she opted to shift to her normal tone.<span style="color: #0080FF"> “I have danced many traditional styles in my single lifetime.”</span>Her icy blue eyes bore into his.<span style="color: #0080FF">  “There’s something rather authentic about that, wouldn’t you agree?  Because in all honesty what <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">haven’t </span></span>your kind done?”  </span>She restrained her rage but barely.  Alice wanted to belittle the monster.  She wanted to insult him and mock him.  She also privately wondered what his abs looked like as well as his back.