We had traveled a few meters forward when Dean broke the silence. With all due respect which is more than most of my kind would give, I am turning back to leave for the surface. I am under no obligation to stay, especially for that pompous spider.
"Dean you aren't leaving anywhere, now get back here before I tie you up in a web roll and carry you on my Thorax ."
"Now Callux Do you really need to be that forceful, you could just let him go. You've already had one mate before, and we both know how horrifying that went." Damn, I just knew he would pull something like this. Dean is Valacorum's best friend, I would have looked more like the current vision of me that he has.
I asked "What do you mean horrifying, what happened?"
"Earlier when I deflected your question and just said that he was more possessive than me, this is what I was talking about. In the caverns Arachne shifters are the most Possessive and less but still arguably aggressive. It is in fact quite the opposite of the surface, where Arachne are the most docile and reclusive, while Werewolves are the most aggressive and Possessive. Callux's mate ran away, so he killed her."
"Well that sounds reassuring!?" Dean and I said sarcastically and simultaneously. Dean turns to Nicodemus with a quizzical look on his face. "Aren't there laws here in regards to murder here, he killed her so is he even allowed to have another mate?"
"There are laws prohibiting both, unfortunately however with the elders currently missing the other Duad council is currently picking and choosing which laws are being enforced. Many of us are continuously trying to counter them on this. Also regrettably not all of us are on the same page. "
Callux upon seeing my harsh glare at him at the end of my explanation, decided to counter a bit. "Many of our parents are corrupt. I will not negate that. Nobody actually saw me kill her, so can we stop with the "over" scaring of my mate! I am well aware of my reputation among other shifters, and I generally refuse to engage with people who have those conversations. Most of those shifters already made up their minds about me before.
Regardless, and nonetheless you are coming with me Dean. I shot out a web extremely fast to bind his arms to his torso, pulled him in and set him in between my back and thorax. Now we ought to get you two moving, who knows how long this will hold him."
Nicodemus was nervously biting his lip, Dean's mouth was bound with web and he looked conflicted to say the least, and I really wanted to help him but very much felt out of my element and sort of powerless here. At this point I don't think we are going to get anywhere arguing with Callux, I think that I might need to give a little nudge to Nicodemus. "Nicodemus why don't you ride behind my back going forward, maybe you can think of a way to help Dean out while you're there please?" I asked while whispering in his ear at a level that Callux wouldn't hear with his heightened senses.
"Yeah I can go ahead and attempt that pumpkin... He slowly went and climbed up wrapping his arms around my lean and muscular torso. Alright the quicker we travel to the inner caverns the sooner we can leverage more or all of your freedom back. Not all of the Duad council approve of his kind of approach here. Either way once we reach a more populated cavern he can't force bind you like that there."
Dean's face lit up like a light, and I tried to give him the best smile I could. The light in his eyes turned to shock, He has never seen me smile before. My kindness has never really been shown in an obvious way before so I can't really say I'm surprised to see his reaction, just pleased!
With those conditions set and in the open now, I personally took the first steps forward again.