His face was striking with his golden monolided eyes expressing faraway origins, his white hair cut haphazardly short and a long, arched nose that suited his diamond-shaped face and high cheekbones.
But none of that held Vadim’s interest so much as the markings that masked over sunkissed skin. They were everywhere, spiraling designs in black ink climbing up his arms, down a narrow chest and legs, covering most every visible space available.
That answered one question of Vadim’s at least. Shion was an indentured servant—to a fucking dark mage.
That certainly complicated matters and explained a bit of Edric’s peculiarities.
But still, a shapeshifter—a proven shapeshifter—like Shion might even be worth the trouble.
“Good evening,” Vadim said calmly, mildly amused by the sight of Edric choking, and Shion seemed to share in the humor of it, his grin widening to showcase straight, pearl white teeth.
Vadim raised his brows.
Surprisingly good dental hygiene.
“Evenin’, your greatness,” Shion drawled, gaze flickering surreptitiously from Edric to Vadim. “Forgive my state of undress, clothes don’t exactly shift with me—you understand that though, don’tcha?”
“No, I don’t imagine they do,” Vadim murmured, and then glanced at his own state of dress; the black midriff top that bared his muscled stomach, the gold accents woven into the hem and ornamental gold chains hanging from brass loops sewn into the fabric of his high, erect collar.
That didn’t even take into account the silver hoops dangling from his ears, or the belt made entirely of gold, intricately molded into the symbol of his house and patron god, Yther.
One could say Vadim had long grown used to everyone being underdressed when in his presence.
“Are you cold?” he asked out of decorum and habit, unlatching his cloak to sweep it off his shoulders and hand it to the mysterious man. Almost instantly, Shion had himself wrapped up snugly, his marked skin subsequently covered as he gave off a soft, content sigh.
It was almost a shame. Despite hating the magic behind it, the actual art of his markings were something of a marvel to study, especially given its rarity.
Emboldened now, Shion strutted towards where Edric still sat, dumbfounded. “Move.”
That lackadaisical almost meek expression vanished instantly, his tone sharp as he turned to the shapeshifter, “Shion.”
Undeterred, Shion added, “You heard the man, scram. He wants to talk to me alone.”
Edric glanced at Vadim then, who slowly sauntered back towards the seat he vacated, feigning a blasé countenance as he carefully watched their interaction unfold.
Seeing that he’d been dismissed, as Vadim made no move to correct Shion, Edric stood with a reddening face, clearing his throat roughly, before he inclined his head and bowed. “Your lordship.”
Shion plopped down onto the chair, watching with an almost pleased expression as Edric stalked out of the room.
“A boring, strange man,” Vadim commented idly, for lack of anything better to say as he worked through the disarray the wine had left his mind in.
“You really want ta’ use me as a spy?”
Vadim turned to look at him for a moment, observing him with a critical eye. “As you can imagine, being the legion commander to the glory that is the Fairel Empire, I don’t find myself lacking in enemies. Having someone with your particular talents who can check up on them from time to time to keep me safe in these coming months would be a great advantage.”
Shion chewed on that for a moment. “Comin’ months? What? Is somethin’ big happenin’?”
“I suppose I’ll let you know, given the news will be breaking soon anyway,” Vadim murmured, barely swallowing his laugh. “The emperor is abdicating.”
“Right,” Shion deadpanned, furrowing his brows. “And that means somethin' for you?”
"I protect and support the crown prince's claim," Vadim explained, not unsurprised that Shion wasn't too aware of the strained political tension currently taking place with the news of the emperor retiring. "There are those, however, that would see fit to install their own... puppets. I can't let them do that now, can I?"
"Why not?"
Vadim blinked, mouth opening to answer.
"Is it bad if you answer?" Shion asked, a smirk playing at his lips, teeth flashing.
There was something dangerous in that but Vadim couldn't put a finger on it.
Distracted, he murmured, "No. It's just... the empire's situation is too precarious to allow an outsider in, especially as it'd only be to serve special interests."
"Special interests?"
Vadim sighed. "There are those with interests in revitalizing the slave trade, those that wish to cut taxes to the rich, those that wish to cut support to welfare, those that want to buy off land from the farmers, those that wish to control the banks... It's all very much a headache, but I trust the prince to set things in order before it gets too quickly out of hand."
Shion snickers at this. "I heard the prince is a no-good two-bit fool."
"Propaganda. He's a good man."
"Hmm." He didn't look too readily convinced, but he was smiling still. "Isn't he, what, fifteen?"
"Sixteen."
Shion wrinkled his nose. "What could a boy like that do as an emperor?"
Vadim felt his expression soften. "I trust him."
He scoffed, lips turning up into a pout. "Vague much?"
"Regardless," Vadim said, straightening, "would you be willing to lend me your skills in the coming months?"
Shion slowly slid a glance over Vadim, gaze lingering on his bared stomach. "Spying? You want me to play you're little bird in the ear? Only that?"
"I don't mix business with pleasure," he murmured to that, wondering if it was the wine or not making his face suddenly feel so hot.
Shion took a moment to think. "Sounds..." He pursed his lips. "Sounds..."
Getting impatient, Vadim sat further up in his seat. “Name your price.”
To that, he arched a brow. “Just jumping into it then, eh? Least you could do is oil me up a bit more,” Shion muttered before glancing down at the cloak covering his body. “First, I want this. It’s comfy.”
“Might as well keep it,” he murmured, crossing his fingers over his stomach. “And what else? Gold, I presume.”
“Oh, no, any money you give me will just end up lining Edric’s pockets,” Shion said with traces of bitterness before brightening considerably as he continued, “I want something else though, something much better and way pricier.”
“Whatever it is, it’s yours if it’s within my power.”
Shion grinned, and for the first time Vadim noticed another peculiarity of his. He had incisors longer than he’d seen anyone have. He frowned at this. He should have definitely noticed this before.
“Oh, it is.”
Vadim narrowed his eyes slightly. “What is it exactly?”
“Why, of course it’s your blood.”
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