Zevulun chuckled as Persephone mentioned her other daughter, Eadaz, and apologized ahead of time for any trouble the girl might cause. “Ah, no need to worry. I enjoy a good troublemaker. I was once one myself; it always takes me back..” He grinned, only half-joking.
His pink-lined ears twitched as she asked after life in the Prairie. What would she say if he told her the complicated situation he’d found himself in? Would she offer him advice, or would she shame him as he felt he should be shamed? He’d been quiet for a moment too long and knew that, plus the troubled expression that’d briefly crossed his face had given away that something was amiss.
He inhaled and smiled, shaking his head. “The Prairie is fantastic. I’ve… gotten myself in a bit of a personal… complication this last autumn…” He swore he felt his cheeks color. They were at least warm. His blue eyes met hers and he sighed. “Balor was away for a few months shortly after I first arrived and I…” His gaze slid away. “Well, I had some feelings for one of his mares that I shouldn’t have and… now she’s in foal.” It was the most polite way he could put it. “She looks at me like she hates me. She must have felt like I took advantage of her loneliness when Balor was away or… something.” That was the conclusion Zevulun had drawn, but he said it with a shaky tone as though he knew that wasn’t quite it, either. “I’d ask her so I can clear the air, but she definitely does not want my company and stays far, far away from me at all times. I don’t think Balor knows yet so…” he trailed off, his eyes widening before he blew out a sigh and shook his head.
“Basically, if I turn up on your doorstep with my ass beat at some point this spring, please take pity on me and let me crash here while I figure out my next move.” He said it as a joke but, was it really? Where the hell else was he going to go if Balor tried to chase him out of the Prairie? Was he going to fight back? Push Balor and his family out instead? Did he have it in him to actually do that?
No, he didn’t. He’d let Balor drive him out if that’s what the dark paint stallion wanted. He’d deserve it, too.
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