Jace grunted in annoyance as he adjusted his collar. This regal outfit was not his style. He was wearing a black and red outfit that had an open collar instead of a tie or bowtie. The edges of the outfit had a gold trim. The only item on him that was actually his was the watch and undergarments.

    He glanced over at his quietly sleeping companion. Nina was dressed in an evening gown that was in a similar color scheme of red and black with her gloves and purse matching it. With gold lining the edges as well. As far as he was aware the watch on her wrist was the only thing that seemed out of place on her outfit.

    The vehicle slowly came to a stop and Nina''s eyes shot open. While the driver in the front seat looked back at them. He was dressed up in a basic uniform used for Chauffeurs. But his distinct anthro features gave away his race as an Uris while the metal shackle barely visible around his neck indicated he is a slave. "We are here."

    Then the doors by both Jace and Nina were opened by butlers. Jace stepped out and was bowed to by an anthro-tiger in a butler uniform. He glanced over at Nina and saw that she moved over to the end of a carpet that was rolled out of an extravagant castle.

    Jace walked up and joined Nina at the edge of the carpet and offered his arm. She locked arms with him and they began walking up the carpet to the massive castle that was lined with gold with statues of Leonair people and lions around. Along the sides of the carpet were various Leonair guards and attendants.

    They walked up to the door and it was opened up by two guards. They entered into a massive lobby where more attendants and slaves were moving around. A human butler with graying hair bowed to them.

    "Umm… Spectres Jace and Nina. I apologize that is all I was told for your names and titles. Please follow me to the ballroom. We will be entering through one of the upper floor entrances since the King wishes to speak with such unique individuals such as yourself." The butler told them.

    Jace and Nina quickly exchanged a look between them. Jace then looked back at the butler. "Lead the way. I am curious about something as well." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The butler nodded and then led the way up an extravagant wooden staircase. It was carpeted with purple and yellow materials. Around the lobby were various tapestries, paintings and statues. Most of the statues were depictions of lions in different poses. While the tapestries were of lions tearing another creature apart or of anthro-lions leading armies into battle. The paintings were images of families, likely the various generations of the ruling Leonair family.

    They arrived at a pair of wooden doors that had lions resting on their haunches engraved on them. They had gold door knobs and some gold in certain spots on the engravings to enhance the image of the lion.

    As the butler opened the door a cacophony of noise hit them. They walked into the second floor balcony of a ballroom. Hanging from the roof were yellow currents pulled to the side. While lining the floor is a purple and yellow carpet.

    Loosely spread around were small groups of people talking with drinks in hand and servants bringing them food. Most of them had extravagant rings and clothes on which indicated their nobility. Down on the lower floor was where an orchestra was playing music and people were dancing. It was also where the lounges and some more public rest areas were located.

    Meanwhile up on the third floor were much more loosely populated groups. They were having much more secretive conversations. Then there was the fourth floor which had several private rooms for different purposes. Even from down here he could hear the moans and groans of pleasure coming from those rooms with his super hearing.

    The butler led them over toward the top area of a set of extravagant stairs that came up from the ballroom floor. Sitting in thrones at the top of those stairs were three people in expensive clothing. Around these thrones of gold and purple cushions were several guards who were standing at attention. While there were a few people nearby, either approaching and talking to the man on the biggest of the three thrones or just waiting nearby by a guard who had slightly different markings on his uniform.

    The largest of the three thrones had an anthro-lion man and was made gold with purple and yellow cushions. The top of the chair had a roaring lion''s head made of gold. The man was an old man with yellow hair and fur that had stripes of white. Sat atop his head was a gold jeweled crown. His skin was wrinkled but under his cape and outfit, Jace could tell the man had muscles. Even while the old man looked on with boredom at the man in front of him.

    In the second largest throne was another anthro-lion, this one was an old woman. The cushions were the same but it was made of silver instead of gold. While the top of the chair had the image of a resting female lion. The woman had much more white hair to the point that her dark yellow hair was almost nonexistent. She was dressed in a white, purple, and yellow dress with a silver crown on her head. Unlike the man she seemed to be much more fragile. The woman was looking past the guest and instead was looking down at the first floor.

    Then the smallest of the three thrones had an anthro-lion with much less lion features. His chair was made of copper and had the same type of cushions. On the top of the chair had a smaller lion cub on it made of copper. He was much younger, somewhere between fifteen and eighteen. It is difficult to tell with all the genetic modifications people can sometimes undergo. He was dressed in uniform similar to the man but without the extra regal pieces of clothing.

    The butler held out his hand, stopping Jace and Nina. Then he walked forward to the man in gold and whispered in his ear. The older man looked over at Jace and Nina then he smiled a toothy grin that was filled with excitement. The older man then whispered back to the butler.

    Nina made a discrete motion asking him what they were talking about. Jace quietly answered. "The butler told them we were the people from the Vexical Empire chasing their mad scientist. The king then told the butler to go retrieve his special guest."

    The old man, or rather the king, then dismissed the noble who was talking about a marriage alliance. He then looked over to Jace and Nina while motioning to his head guard to hold back the other that wanted to talk with him. "Spectres Jace and Nina of the Vexical Empire. Step forward. I have heard so much about you from an acquaintance."

    Jace stepped forward up to in front of the thrones but refrained from bowing. He also stopped his expression from changing. Because there was no way he should have known who he was through normal means. "I hope it was all good things, your highness."

    The king''s eye twitched at Jace''s clear disrespect. Then he stood up causing the guards to slightly move in surprise while the king approached Jace while both his queen and the crown prince both looked on in surprise. "I was also told that you are also probably the most dangerous person that would be here."

    Now the guards were really reacting as a few of them tensed up. "Well that is flattering. But I doubt I am, especially with your highness being here." Jace slightly bowed his head. He could feel Nina slightly shake for a moment as she chuckled.

    "Ha…" The king now looked far more annoyed. "You are intentionally trying to provoke me. Does the Vexical Empire not care about how offended I might feel? I may even declare war." The king told him while Jace could feel a pressure from the killing intent that the king began exuding.

    Jace happily grinned, "we would be delighted if you did that. It would give us an excuse to invade if you did."

    After a moment the king began bellowing out laughter and then spun around and walked back to the throne. "I am not a fool, Spectre. But I would like to make formal introductions first." He sat on the throne and unlike before he was exuding a presence and pressure instead of just looking bored. "My name is King Vinnie Leos, I am the twelfth king of the Leonair kingdom. The second king to rise to the throne since the fall of the Grand Hexarian Empire. To my right is my Queen, Ella Leos. While to my left is my young son and the Crown Prince of my kingdom, Etros Leos."

    Jace smiled after a moment and then introduced themselves. "I am Spectre Jace of the Vexical Military. My companion is Spectre Nina of the Vexical Military. Unfortunately the nature of our position means we are not able to share anything else regarding our identity."