Devlin had known that his words would inspire anger -- though he had not expected such a sudden and intense display of displeasure. The slender beast whirled, pulling his flanks from those snapping teeth with only a heartbeat to spare -- next time, he would likely not be so lucky. His paws dug into the soft earth, and as he came around his teeth snapped harmlessly in the wake of Tobias' sudden warning, drawing an invisible line between them. The hairs along his spine rose with indignation, but his posture remained relaxed and passive. He kept his two-colored gaze on the stranger, not trusting to turn his eyes away for even a moment.

It was clear that this was no ordinary imbecile; though his words were few and his voice rough with the edge of a primitive ancestor, there was a darkness in those dead eyes which Devlin could not ignore.

There were few, rare and precious as blood-black stones, who held the singular ability to incite respect from the dark beast.. Though for now he remained skeptical, his interest had been piqued.

A dark, deep-chested chuckle rose to his lips and slithered between his teeth; but not a trace of defiance could be seen in Devlin's posture, aside from the dark line of thick fur which rose above his spine and spread over his hackles. Though he took no pleasure in submission, the dark beast held no qualms with setting another male's insecurity at ease with a moment of agreeability.

He had no taste for meaningless violence, and so he would not stubbornly refuse what this creature so obviously desired: obeisance.

If it meant one more chance to slither inside the ear of this strange beast, he would give the greatest show of submission Tobias had ever seen. He cared little for physical displays of prowess, when the true mark of a master manifested itself purely in the realm of psychological suffering. Any brute could force a man to his knees with razor-teeth and dripping saliva; few could manage the same feat with only slippery words for weapons.

Perhaps this difference between the two dark princes would prove to drive them apart; or perhaps it would be just the thing to make fertile a kinship which otherwise might have shriveled up into nothing.

Devlin lowered his head, twisting his body in subservient appeal; but his sinister grin never left his dark lips. He flicked his slithering tongue through his bared teeth, tilting his lowered head sideways in a display of obedient deference. A low growl rose from his throat, a warning that though he bent before this dark creature, he was no fear-pissing pup.

Gazing up at the larger male, Devlin spoke slowly the words he hoped this creature would understand. "Lead the way," he hummed, eyes bright with excitement.

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D E V L ! N

MALE - 38" - 120 LBS - LONER