Meadow

He was pleased to see Khar’pern’s icy manner melt when she registered his presence, and returned her coy grin with one of his own. In the presence of a third, unknowing party, their shared knowledge of their tryst felt like a secret, and for a moment Gent felt almost giddy and child-like. His words, however, were anything but; he replied to Khar’pern in a voice as smooth as butter. “You left more than your name upon my tongue, my dear,” he teased her, and took a moment to side-eye his Lagoon brother to see if he had picked up on the meaning of their exchange.

It was just as well Gent had approached following the stallion’s comment about Khar’pern’s possible pregnancy, for if he had caught it, he might have approached the situation very differently, if at all, for Gent had no interest in playing a fatherhood role. As it was, he remained blissfully unaware; the heavy shadows of the night hid any gentle swelling there might have been to Khar’pern’s belly, and the stench of his Lagoon brother’s musk distracted him from the fact that Khar’pern’s heat had already dissipated.

Gent’s ears pricked with interest when Khar’pern revealed she was of the Peak, but before he could respond, his Lagoon brother cut in with some rather unsavory remarks. Gent side-eyed the stallion blankly, doing his best to hide his disdain. “Enemy? That’s rather a strong word, don’t you think, dear brother?” he replied, deliberately dodging the stallion’s question.

Gent’s eyes flicked to Khar’pern and he offered her a knowing glance, the ghost of a smirk tugging at the corner of his freckled pink lips. “Khar’pern here is perfectly lovely, and I can personally vouch for her strength.” Gent’s pale eyes flashed with humor, and he turned to regard the roan stallion with obviously feigned interest. “I’m terribly sorry, but I can’t seem to remember your name. Raymond, was it?”