Soft glows

The smell of a woman was the first thing Alex noticed in the morning. It was a smell that rarely greeted him in the morning anymore. But all the same it was a good smell and Alex took a long slow inhale to enjoy it as the vital systems in his brain took turns booting up.

There were no windows in the room, but a single mage lamp in the corner responded to his awareness by bringing itself up to a soft blue-green glow, enough to illuminate the room, but not enough to disturb the other occupants. Alex hadn't paid it much mind before, but mage lamps that responded to mental presence were hard to come by. Spike mentioned the guild had mages, and that had been news to Alex, but if this lamp was made in house then the mages were definitely high-caliber and Alex would be interested in their findings on his condition too.

Alex took his time to enjoy the sensation of a warm bedfellow sleeping beside him rather than somewhere on his head, as Demon tended to do. But eventually he carefully detangled himself from the close comforts of a temptation and proceeded with his morning rituals.

He was careful not to make a racket while tending his gear. Most of his weapons were still intact and serviceable, he hadn't damaged his spear in the fight with the chimera, but the wood in his shield would need replaced. There were bound to be armories in the city so that wouldn't be impossible to replace, but hopefully there would be a decent selection of wood to chose from, something sturdy and light, Ash would be preferred, but it would have had to be imported as it didn't grow this close to the Endless Desert.

When the mage lamp grew brighter Alex knew that Marium was awake. Alex worked for a bit longer until determining that she wasn't going to speak first he greeted her, "Good morning." He said softly, "Did you sleep well?"

"Mmmm, yes very."

Alex heard her bare feet touch the floor as she approach him.

"What time do you think it is?" She asked resting her head atop his.

"When Demon wakes up you know breakfast is being served. Until then I'm not sure, this room lacks windows after all."

She yawned, making a happy little sigh along with it. "The mage lamp in my room turns on an hour before the servants breakfast. I'm not sure how the lamps in the guest rooms work."

"This one didn't turn on until my eyes opened," Alex commented, now beginning to put his gear back away. "But it stayed dim until you woke up. So I assume it's tied to the awareness of the guests themselves."

"I should get dressed and head downstairs. I wouldn't want to risk being late."

"I thought your job was tending to the guests."

"That's only one of my daily tasks." Marium stood up strait and stretched.

"Isn't that what you're doing?" Alex rose from the chair pulling her into an embrace, "Seeing to my needs?"

He kissed her as a voice cut into his mind, (Can I puke now?)

Without breaking his kiss from the pretty and eager young woman Alex chirped back, (Wrong kind of hunger for you?)

(When I want sap I'll chew on a tree. Can we eat now?) Demon let out a low meow in feline annoyance.

Alex chuckled breaking the kiss. "Looks like Demon is awake. We should get something to eat before I devour a young lady."

"Why sir," Marium teased, "You're an absolute scoundrel. To seduce a lady and then hold her against her will in your bedchamber. Surely you wouldn't want to hold such purity hostage."

"But I like the taste of purity in in morning." He kissed her again, but let her go when he was done.

Marium backed up to the bed with a saunter before sitting seductively, "You plan to spoil me then?"

"Utterly."

She laughed, but collected herself. "I look forward to that. But I really must go to the mistress before I land m'self in trouble."

"Is the house mistress still Spike's wife?"

"Mistress Vickary? Yes."

"Give her love from her white knight and you'll not be in trouble even if you are late."

"Her 'white knight'?" Marium asked in confusion as she pulled her dress over her head.

"An old nickname she gave me." Alex was following suit pulled fresh clothing from his pack. "She hasn't called by my real name in decades now. Unless she's angry."

Marium was gazing at him critically as she finished dressing. Alex wasn't sure what she was thinking, but her eyes lacked the illusions and fantasies that were common in the eyes of most girls, no matter the differences in their age Alex knew he wouldn't find a child anywhere inside that woman.

She pulled him down for one more kiss before she left, "I'll have to see if I can bring a servant's light into the room. If we're going to make this a habit I should also remain a responsible member of the guild. Until tonight, sweet Alex." And off she went.

Demon hopped off the desk where she had been all night and walked over to Alex before pulling on his leg. "You're going to pet me so much...as payment for the shit I'll be putting up with between you two."

Now dressed with gloves and a mask for his eyes Alex scooped up Demon and cradled her on one arm, "As the dark lady commands." He teased while scratching her behind her ears.

"Yeessss," Demon purred, "Love meeeee."

Alex laughed again, "Lets go get something to eat."