As Devi spoke, Vadim felt dislike rising like bile up his throat, and he had to swallow down the sharp reply that tried to leap free of his mouth. It seemed he wasn’t the only one who did not like it, as the filly went skittering back to her mother’s side while Devi stomped her hoof in protest. As if she were no older than her daughter. Vadim didn’t know how he was supposed to react in this sort of situation. He knew how he wanted to, but was chasing her with pinned ears and snapping teeth to assert his role over her truly the thing to do? She was a prisoner, a hostage here in his home, and she spoke as if she ruled it. A tone her mother used in the Inlet, Vadim could only assume.


“You’ve had plenty to keep you occupied.” the stallion said casually, deciding it was best to play along with how he had first greeted her. Unruffled and uncaring. His green eyes looked unamused, drifting from the demanding mother to the filly at her side. Vadim could see the clear relation between them, and it was no doubt that the girl was his. For a brief time, he had thought Devi to be like her mother. The rumors spread far and wide about how she took to stallions. Maybe he had been wrong in that aspect, although it seemed Devi carried Parvati’s attitude.


“Besides…” Vadim went on to say. “You seemed perfectly capable of looking after yourself. Unless you are saying your unfit, and weak?” he asked, perking his ears and looking at her as if to ask if he had been wrong in thinking she was strong.