Page 34

THIRTY-FOUR

Ashley

“Ahh, look what we have here,” the man said, getting up from his throne and clasping his hands together. A beatific smile graced his face as he stepped down the short stairs and came to a stop in front of me. “Aren’t you lovely.”

Uncertain what to say, or who this man even was, I simply said, “Thank you.”

“Ashley, this is High Lord Diego, one of our esteemed board members of the Collective.”

I twisted my head closer to Samuel, “Are you one of them, too?” I’d heard him referred to as Lord several times now.

“I am not,” he replied, with irritation. I’d forgotten he didn’t want me to talk.

Diego tilted his head at an angle. “You never know, maybe someday if you continue on this path and the opportunity arises. With this turn of events your position will be elevated.”

“Ashley, will you do this court the honor of joining us for this evening’s meal?”

I glanced at Samuel, and he nodded, indicating I could answer. “Thank you, I’d be happy to.”

“You may speak if one of your superiors asks you a question,” Samuel said to me.

How I was supposed to understand the foreign hierarchy and know who was who was beyond me, but I nodded anyway and shut them out, taking a moment to peer around the large room we were in.

Nearly the entire space was encased in ebony marble, with a dining table to one side, surrounded by chairs. The faint orange fog I’d seen above the woods was drifting around the tall ceiling, curling around wooden beams and metal arches. It was concentrated above a smooth, stone throne set on a short dais with what would’ve been a water feature back home. Instead, it was a waterfall of blood. If I listened closely enough, I could hear the soft trickling sound it made as it gathered in a shallow pool.

To the right and the left, were clusters of seats bearing what I guessed were luxury fabrics. Some appeared to be leather, and others, thick upholstery. I wasn’t closest enough to make out the fine details, but it was the obvious the place was lavishly appointed.

“Did I ever tell you your boyfriend used to work here?” Samuel didn’t wait for an answer. “Josiah was the court’s enforcer and Micha worked by his side as his second in command.”

The mention of Micha’s name sent my heart rate soaring. I’d been so angry with him; I’d stabbed him straight through his heart. Had I been a bit hasty? Perhaps.

The blade in my fist had sunk into his chest before I had time to fully consider what I was doing. I didn’t doubt he deserved it, though maybe not from me. He hadn’t truly had a chance to explain himself, explain his actions toward me. I’d been judge, jury, and executioner. With one rash act, I’d sealed my fate and cut myself off from him forever.

I took a moment to consider Samuel’s words. I knew what an enforcer did, I’d seen enough throughout my younger years and watched enough television to understand the ramifications of the title. I’d heard the rumors about Josiah and Micha and even witnessed a death. For the two of them to work here, in that capacity, among demons and other, presumably supernatural creatures, how was I able to stab Micha?

A hand was placed on my shoulder. “Relax, you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.” I glanced up at my companion. “Your panic is delicious, of course, but I want you to be comfortable. We’ll get you a drink in a moment.”

The thought rolled over and over in my head. Micha let me stab him. He let me kill him. There was no way it was anything other than that. He’d been sincere and let his guard down, and I’d done the worst possible thing with his vulnerability.

Oh my God what have I done .

“What are we doing?” I turned back to Samuel after frantically searching for an exit.

My mind kept clouding, my senses overloaded with the sights, smells, and alien energy of the foreign environment. The scent of rich flowers and succulent meats were all-consuming. The gleam of marble dazzled my eyes, and the vision of the different textures messed with my brain to the point I thought I was touching them. It was almost as if I’d ingested multiple ecstasy pills and the music in the background felt as if I’d mainlined it directly into my bloodstream.

It’d been years since I experimented with any drugs, and I’d never really gotten into them in the first place, but I remembered that alcohol helped temper the effects.

“May I please have that drink? I feel weird.”

“Of course, love, come,” Samuel said, taking my hand. “I think you’ll enjoy the evening. This is typical of life here and I want you to get used to it.”

I’d already forgotten I'd asked him what we were doing. “Okay,” I said, letting him lead me to the table. “Why do you keep calling me love? You already told me you don’t have that emotion.”

He pulled out a chair. “Why does it matter? Your heart is with someone else.” I lowered myself to the seat. “I’ll be right back.”

Samuel left and I sat stiffly in my chair, unsure what to do until I spotted a carafe of water and poured myself a drink. Several people began to gather around, choosing a spot to settle in, talking among themselves. It was like I was at a fashion show, all the women looked like models, their features perfect, and their bodies flawless. I’d already known the men were highly attractive, but these women were a far cry from what I’d seen in the street and the bar.

My hair had been nicely styled by Mandy, but I smoothed my hand over it, arranging my curls as one guest planted herself on a man’s lap, her curtain of golden tresses spilling over her shoulder in a sheet of gold.

Her arm wrapped around the man's neck as she glanced at me. “You’re Lord Samuel’s woman?” she asked.

Nodding, I lifted my drink and took a sip. The cool water was the most refreshing thing I’d ever drunk, and I gulped the contents greedily. “I suppose I am,” I replied, giving her a small smile.

The man tucked a hand down the front of her dress and pulled the fabric away revealing two perfectly formed globes before he tweaked her nipple. She gasped and leaned into his touch just as Samuel returned.

“Here you go,” he said, placing a full glass of white wine in front of me.

He sat down while I stared at the couple beside us. The woman began grinding against the man and his arm ducked under her dress. “Thank you," I said, and moved to take a sip.

Samuel tapped the edge of my beverage lightly. “Take it slow, it's not like the alcohol you’re used to,” he warned.

The woman was moaning as the man brought his hand back and unbuckled his belt. He unfastened the button of his pants and lowered his zipper before taking out his cock and rubbing the long length. Quickly, the girl pushed his hands down and replaced them with her own.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Would Micha have done this with me, here? Taken me in front of everybody, in a room full of people? The idea wasn’t nearly as abhorrent as it should’ve been. Instead, a small thrill climbed up my spine.

A palm met my thigh before Samuel leaned in. “You like that,” he purred in my ear. “I can smell your panties getting wet and I can see the lust floating around you.”

I heard his sharp intake of breath before he inhaled deeply. His warm chest was pressed to my shoulder, and tempting me to slide closer, removing the gap of space between us.

What harm would it have done, to come to terms with what he offered? Did I really need love, when it’d gotten me nothing but heartache in the past?

“Ethan,” Samuel backed off when the man strolled up to the table. “There you are.”

Ethan sat beside him and the two began talking.

“Are you sure about her?” Ethan asked, as if I weren’t sitting right there. “These human women; she doesn’t have an ounce of magic. That I can detect.”

“I like her,” Samuel said.

Ethan scrunched his nose at me. “Why?” He rested his arms on the table and sat back, the sight of me seemingly too much for his distinguished tastes. “These women are causing all kinds of trouble. You have heard, haven’t you? Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

Samuel glanced at me. “You hungry?” I shook my head, and he went back to his conversation. “Of course. I don’t care if she has magic in her blood or not. As it stands now, she’ll be easier to control. Look at her.”

He held his hand toward me and Ethan followed his gaze while I took another sip of my wine. My body sagged in my seat a little, my muscles relaxing and a pleasant buzz accompanying all the other physical sensations. It was like I was floating on the gentle waves of a pond.

My lips curve into a small smile. I think they drugged me .

I couldn’t bring myself to care though I knew I should’ve. Had they slipped me something, or was it because I was in some type of alternate universe? There was no way to know unless I asked.

I wasn’t going to ask.

Ethan snickered. “Okay, maybe.”

My stomach growled and I reached for the cluster of deep purple grapes, their vines tangling as they draped over the edge of a gilded platter and tore a stem from the bunch. Biting into one of the velvety orbs, the juices burst in my mouth, stimulating my taste buds that then rapidly cried out for more. I moaned out loud over the heavenly flavor. Hell had the best buffet I ever tasted.

Something caught the corner of my eye, and I twisted in my seat to see the woman beside me bouncing on the man’s dick. Her head was tossed backward and the man had her by the waist, helping her. His mouth was firmly fixed to her neck, and I spied a hint of red around his mouth.

“Do you like what you see?” Samuel’s nose nudged the side of my own neck, and I felt his hand smoothing down my arm before coming to a rest on my thigh.

I did like what I was watching. Very much. The heavy atmosphere weighed on me, urging me to spread my legs and allow access to the man beside me. But I clamped my legs together and reached for more fruit.

“I do,” I admitted. “But I don’t think I’m ready for that.” Would I ever be? I didn’t know.

“No magic but she knows how to protect her aura,” Ethan stated, grabbing a grape and tossing it in the air. He opened his mouth and captured it, staring at me while he chewed. “Some humans are smart like that.”

“I’m gonna go get Elijah. Diego should be back in here soon,” Ethan said after several seconds, pushing his chair back.

I ignored him, the words about my aura snagging in my mind. “How do you... What did he mean about auras?”

Samuel answered, “We can see your aura. It's like a fingerprint in many ways, helps us read you. You hide yours sometimes. You reign it in so its nearly invisible and I have to work harder to see it.”

“I didn’t know I could do that.”

He eyed me. “You have good instincts.”

I let out a short laugh. “That’s debatable. What am I doing here?”

He grinned. “How could you resist?”

“I can’t tell if I should be afraid of you or not,” I stated. “Why did you bring me here?”

“I want you to be mine. You have nowhere else to go. Why wouldn’t I bring you here?” His eyes gleamed. “By bringing you here, you’re luring in two men that have been sentenced to death. No one has to go get them, it’ll be nice and clean. Easy.” He thought for a second. “Not clean. You’re in for a treat.”

My hands trembled and I placed them in my lap. “What men?”

“Haven’t you been paying attention?” His brow furrowed and his lip curled. My thoughts were clouded, under the spell of this place. Time felt unreal, both suspended and rushing over me at the same time and assaulting me with the palace’s luxurious environment.

“Micha and Josiah. They killed one of our leaders in cold blood,” Samuel said, his voice low and menacing.

I shrank back as he pushed toward me and grabbed the sides of my seat. He snarled, “His scent is all over you. His flesh. His blood. His cum. He’s infected you with the very fiber of his being. He will come for you, and we will cut him down.”

My pulse raced, and I could’ve sworn I felt the blood rushing through my veins, coursing past the fabric of my soul, nicking and scratching the very fiber that encased it. “But... but I killed him myself.”

Samuel laughed, his mouth opening wide as he threw his head back. “Silly girl. You wounded him; that is all. You got closer to him than anyone else ever has. Not even Anna.” I had to assume the woman was an ex-girlfriend; I’d never heard of her before.

“He trusts you and clearly, he wants you. He’s coming; there’s not a doubt in my mind. What will you do when he does?”

I couldn’t help it, I peered around the room, looking past the woman in the throes of an orgasm that had her crying out and convulsing before my gaze snagged on her lover. The man’s eyes glowed, burning into mine and causing me to falter.

Samuel wrapped a steadying arm around my back. “We can have that, you know. You can be by my side; you’d want for nothing. You’d be a princess, my queen. You could do whatever you wanted; I’d fuck you whenever and wherever you wanted.”

I didn’t know what I wanted, and my thoughts raced through my mind. Lights and sounds started spinning and I gripped the edge of the table. After a moment, he tugged me onto his lap. “Put your head back,” he instructed me.

I did so and felt mildly better. It wasn’t that I felt bad—I felt really damn good, I was just overwhelmed and unable to hold a thought for more than a second. Micha’s face swam before my eyes, and I could’ve sworn he was here. When I reached out to touch him, there was nothing there.

There was a rustling, and the sound of marching feet before I heard Diego, call out, “We have a sentencing—and then we shall feast.”