Wings of the Blackest Night

****** Part 6
The next morning after ordering new clothes for Ami and David, Jade made his way back to the market and the booth with the treasure he'd ordered for his bond mate. While breaking his fast that morning, Jade had come to the conclusion that he should just make the best of a bad situation. He didn't hate David. The prince had truly done nothing. But, Jade thought, he would be able to help him track down the men who killed his father twenty years ago.
"Back already, princeling." the man with the belt asked as he smiled at Jade.
"Yes. Is the belt ready?" Jade held out the bag of money.
The man accepted it and nodded holding out the velvet bag Jade had seen the day before. Taking the bag Jade pouring the belt into his palm and studied it. It was truly a work of art. "Very nice. Thank you."
The merchant lowered his head in thanks for the kind words.
Just as Jade was about to leave he noticed a small necklace. It was a simple piece with a small ruby in the center.
The man must have noticed because he picked up the necklace and held it out to Jade. "Here you are, princeling. For the little girl you saved... She needs something pretty in her life."
Speechless Jade accepted the ring and put it into the pouch with the belt and nodded a thanks before hurrying out of the market, wanting to get back to the palace and present David and Ami with their gifts.

******
Davey laughed as Ami splashed in the fountain in the private gardens of the palace. The little girl had woke up missing her parents, but she was still little enough that Davey was certain she would recover quickly.
"Dav." her mangled version of his name made him laugh and lean closer.
"What?"
"Fiss." she said pointing to the dozen gold fish swimming in the fountain.
"Yes, fish." Davey agreed as he pushed her bright blond curls out of her face and then glanced at the sun to judge the time. "Come on cherub. We should go for lunch. Are you hungry?"
"Hungy..." she agreed and held out her arms, allowing him to pick her up and carry her into the palace.
On the way to the kitchens Davey and Ami were stopped by a set of unfamiliar Black Wing men. "What's this? The prince's bed warmer and the brat he saved yesterday."
Davey drew back and wrapped his wings around himself and Ami.
"Oh, look... the little White Wing's getting defensive. Maybe we should give him something to be defensive about." the other man said as they started toward Davey.
Cursing in his mind for havinft hft his knives in the bed room Davey pulled himself into a fighting se, re, ready to defend himself and Ami if necessary.
"What is this?" a booming voice demanded as the Black Wings were about to move on Davey and Ami.
The men turned and immediately fell to their knees as King Obsidian came out of a door way on their right.
"Prince David are you okay?" Obsidian asked as he noticed the fighting stance and the protective circle of the White Wing prince's wings.
Davey nodded and then frowned at the men who had tried to attack him.
"We were just offering to show him back to Prince Jade's quarters, majesty." the first man said as he kept his head down.
"That's quite alright. I will see that he makes it back to the rooms. You may leave." the king waved his hand and the two men hurried away.
Davey sighed in relief and pulled his wings back behind him. "Thanks you, sir."
"It's not a problem. Why don't you step into my library? I'll have a servant bring some dinner. I've been meaning to talk with you and to meet the little girl my son has taken in." the King smiled down at Ami who smiled back and held out her arms.
Davey was about to hold her back only to have Obsidian laugh and reach out to take her. The White Wing had no choice but to follow as the King carried the little girl back into the room he had just left.
Obsidian sat and settled Ami on his lap before gesturing to the chair across from him. "Please take a seat, Prince David."
"Call me Davey, sir." Davey invited instinctively that he could trust the man that Ami was laughing at and pulling at some of his hair.
"Of course, Davey. I need to talk to you about my son." Obsidian started out and laughed as Ami fluttered her little wings up into his face. "Goosey-girl, keep those things to yourself." he told her good-natur as as he stroked them down out of his face.
"About Jade... My son is a good man. A little angry and a lot bitter, but a good man on the inside."
Davey nodded. "I've seen him with Ami... Why does he hate my kind so much?"
"His birth father was killed by a White Wing when Jade was very little. Probably not much older than this little girl right here. We've never figured out why they didn't kill Jade, but I was never so relieved or heartbroken when I found my only son beside my beloved's body." Obsidian tickled Ami to cheer himself up with her laughter.
"Oh... that would explain thing, wouldn't it." Davey murmured to himself. It wasn't him that Jade hated it was the color of his wings.
"Please, give my son a chance. I've spoken with the queen, she says that you are a good hearted person... maybe you can help Jade to understand that not all White Wings are like those who killed his father." Obsidian pulled playfully at one of Ami's wings making her laugh and lung for his leathery wing. When she got her hands on it she stopped and frowned at the different texture. Then she shrugged it off and went on to run her fingers over it in a tickling motion.
Obsidian snorted as he tried not to accidently knock her off of his lap when she hit a ticklish spot.
Davey laughed as she went on, now having found a good spot.

******
Jade was walking by his father's library when the sound of laughter made him stop and walk in. It had been a long time since he had seen his father laugh. He couldn't help but wonder what had caused it.
The Black Wing prince stopped at the sight of his noble father rolling around in the floor as Ami crawled all over him, tickling any part she could reach. Even more amazing to Jade, was his bond mate who was sitting in one of the large chairs, laughing at the sight of the king and the little girl playing in the floor.
"Father?"
At Jade's voice Obsidian looked up and smiled at his son, for the first tin a n a long time when he looked at his son his heart didn't hurt. "Jade... this is one wild little girl you've taken in. Have a seat."
Jade made his way to the chair by Prince David's sat watching his father. He hadn't seen his father like this since he had been a child himself.
David's laughter made him look over to his bond-mate and he couldn't help but smile at the picture David presented. He was so beautiful, Jade hadn't really noticed before. Though his brightly colored wings looked a little silly, they seemed as happy as he was.
Reaching into his purse Jade pulled out the bag with the belt and after taking the necklace out, he handed it to David.
Davey felt something solid land on his lap and glanced down at the green velvet bag before looking to Jade, who was watching his father and Ami.
Opening it, Davey pulled out the long belt and stared at it in wonder. It was the finest thing he'd ever seen. Tiny square cut pieces of jade were set every few lengths and the entire belt was beautiful.
Davey looked at Jade again who gave him a shy smile and then went back to watching Ami, who had decided to play climb the mountain known as the King.
Tucking away the belt Davey put it into his pocket, wondering if Obsidian had been right. And Jade wasn't as bad as Davey had tho.
.


tbc...
Please review! I gives me a cozy warm feeling.