Juniper the Tiefling (special preview)

I had grown up in a city that was devoid of most color. All the buildings were made of the same gray stone that was chiseled from the nearby mountains. And since it was mostly occupied by military personnel, there wasn’t much plant life around. I’m not sure why that is, maybe there weren’t enough people to take care of it. Maybe the stone made things inhabitable. That’s how it was for me anyways. That’s why I vowed to travel and see as much of the world as possible.

I’ve been lucky enough to do that. I got in well with a friend from the academy I was forced into. Juniper was one of those spoiled little mama’s boys who drew in people like flies to honey. You could call me one of those flies, but I had plans for cultivating a friendship with Juniper. I worked as his guard these days, and Juniper enjoyed his travels. It was two birds with one stone.

“Remus?”

I looked back from the window to see Juniper rising from bed. He was a late sleeper, and the unfortunate training my father put me under made me an early riser.

Juniper yawned, stretching out his long, thin arms then pushing back his dark hair from his face. “Oh goodness, I slept in again,” he yawned cheerily. How he even yawned with pep to his voice, I’m not sure.

I stood up from my seat near the window. “You always sleep in.”

Juniper looked up at me with a smile, his golden eyes shimmering as he gazed at me. It turned my stomach into knots.

“I suppose I do,” he laughed “You must have been up with the cock this morning?”

I arched a disapproving brow at him, especially when he gave me that certain kind of smirk. “That’s one way to put it,” I grumped.

Juniper patted the bed beside him, pushing back the blanket. “Come back and join me for a spell.”

I sighed and rubbed the side of my neck. Those knots in my stomach tightened and twisted. “You should be getting up. We have a long journey ahead of us today.”

Juniper giggled. “I was thinking we would stay here for a few more days.”

I arched both brows this time. I shouldn’t have been surprised. When Juniper likes a place he tends to stay as long as possible, maybe buying a house or business during his time there. But usually, it was never a thought to him again once we left. Not that he was careless or anything, he just had a way of being happy anywhere he was. Weird, but okay.

“Jun,” I began to huff.

“Oh don’t Jun me!” He whipped back the blanket and stood up naked from bed. “That silly tone of yours. You really think you’d have learned to relax by now, Remus.” He waved his hand out then wiggled his elegant fingers. “My robe, silly boy.”

I sighed and fetched his robe, draping it over his defined shoulders. His blue skin looked exceptionally silky today, something that caught my eye as soon as he woke up.

“There now.” Juniper untucked his hair from the robe and looked back at me. “And what have you been up to while I slept?” He captured my chin in his hand. “Not shaving I see.” He leaned in, pressing a kiss upon my eyes that was warm and a little wet.

“I finished that task you gave me,” I grumped.

Juniper gasped in elation and  cupped my face between both hands. He kissed me again, more exuberantly than before. The knots in my belly slowly released, and I leaned in a little to this kiss. Juniper did smell really nice.

“Bravo!” Juniper cheered. He swept aside. “Took you a few days.”

“It needed a few days, Jun.” I followed him as he walked out into the hallway. “But it’s done, just as you asked for.”

“Wonderful!” Juniper sang.

Ever since school, Juniper has had a bucket list of sorts. Bit by bit he’s been taking care of that list, usually having me take care of the more unsavory details.

“I suppose we’ll be hearing word of it today,” Juniper sighed as we walked into the dining hall.

I pulled out his chair for him and guided his tail through the back of the chair as he sat down. “I wouldn’t doubt it.”

As Juniper sat down, some of the staff came out, bringing him his tea and placing fresh flowers on the center of the table. He paid the staff handsomely as it was, but everytime he saw them he offered them tips for a job well done, even when the job wasn’t done well.