Page 23

I was still highly aroused after returning home and bathing.

It was very strange all things considered.

Desire isn't something I waste my time with, and yet one kiss from the wolf king and my body prepares itself for pleasure.

And in a baser sense for breeding.

His very presence like an aphrodisiac to me.

It was fascinating yet highly annoying. Inconvenient when I have to focus on my craft.

Still, when my fingers first touched my crystal ball, it was not images I would need for work I pulled from the smoke and stars, it was that of Sebastian.

He was in a room I have yet to see, on a large bed of iron and wood.

He was seated looking down at his hands before flopping back on the bed staring up.

I shifted the views angle, curious as to where he was. It certainly wasn't the palace. While obviously expensive, this room was far less outlandish.

He was looking up at a section if the ceiling made of glass.

My lips parted slightly, how interesting. A beautiful idea.

The stars always in view.

A chime rang through my house as the alpha king rose from the bed to begin undressing.

I frowned slightly waving the image away and snapping my fingers, a deep blue door appearing across from me.

Blue means an elven client.

The man who stepped through was every bit as expected, tall, sharp features not quite human, pointed ears and long chestnut hair brushing his back. His alarming green eyes set upon me, "Lady Nivara it has been a while has it not?"

"Fifty years." I noted, "Finaérata you seem well."

"And you, have not aged a day." His velvety voice soothed, "beautiful enough to pass as an Elven maiden."

"My kind live long lives." I eyed him carefully, "you know this."

"Witches are mortal."

"Most." I chimed, "some manage immortality. Others extended lives. But you are not here to ask a lady of age I presume."

"No." He smiled a bit, "but I heard you have wolf parts."

"I do." I murmured watching him. He was quite a lovely looking man, "you interrupted my scrying."

"Apologies."

He was not sorry, although that was irrelevant, "Finaérata, would you like to have sex with me?"

He blinked at me, bright eyes scanning my body barely hide beneath the silk robe I wore, "I could see that being very pleasurable."

"Good. After we shall discuss the werewolf parts you desire." I stood from my seat, walking down the hall to my bedroom, removing my robe as I went.

I could feel the presence of the Elven man behind me.

When my bedroom door closed behind us and the candles flared to life, Finaérata's fingers skimmed my waistline. I ignored the contact as his lips pressed against my neck, his chest against my back. "Disrobe."

If the man was offended by my command he did not show it. Elves were not known to be sentimental beings.

He was smart enough not to ask questions although it was well known amongst my clientele that I do not mix business and carnal pleasure. Not for lack of trying on their part.

I watched him remove his tunic, skimming my fingers down his newly bared chest.

He was leaner than Sebastian is, his muscular system less prominent.

Whereas the wolf looked like he could rip a person to shreds with his bare hands, his beauty savage from his sharp features and physique, the elven man before me was...prettier in a more practical sense of the word. He didn't radiate the same power.

I frowned slightly, suddenly rather irate as he kissed my skin again, hands moving over my body.

My arousal quickly began to fade.

I was about to inform him that I no longer desired physical contact and we should move onto the business of our transaction when a soft thump rang through the house three times.

He pulled back, looking at the bedroom door, "May I ask what that is?"

I cocked my head to the side, "my knocker."

Only people who have found my home use the knocker and unless I desire them to or they are in possession of something I own, the firefly lamps show themselves to only those who have taken the path before.

The Elf was clearly curious but again did not ask.

My reputation held little tolerance for questions. "I shall be back. Return to the scrying room."

Without waiting for a reply, I snapped my fingers, returning his clothes to him and my robe to my body.

Padding to my front door and opening it slowly I was mildly surprised to see Sebastians beta, Mason standing there, scowl in his face, "Noviana, we need to talk."

"If this is about my using your child for parts, your alpha had agreed to the other blood bargain. I shall find the infant parts in another's womb. You may let yourself off the property."

I had started to close the door when he reached out and grabbed it, other palm against the frame, "thats not why I am here."

"You have no appointment nor an order for pick up. My time is valuable and very expensive."

He took a deep breath, then suddenly grew stiff, "why the fuck do you smell like another man."

I stared at him blankly, irritated with his clear outrage, "I presume you are angry on behalf of your alpha.

I do not see why, he has made it clear that I am not what he desires so I see no point in preserving myself solely to him.

I had left the choice of our sexual relations up to him, his choice was celibacy, mine quite clearly is not. Two roads and such."

"He is your mate." The tawny haired man insisted, shocked.

"And that means little to me. I coupled with him as mates do, and didn't even get a drop of fluids for spells. The intercourse was excellent but the pleasure has also stopped. I am no longer benefiting in any way so the relationship as minuscule as it was has been terminated."

He gaped at me, "you cannot just terminate a mated pairing."

"He is dying beta wolf, you know this as do I.

As does all your kind. That man is prideful and every bit the perfect soldier your goddess Luna had intended for your race.

He will die for his mission, he intends to.

I am one of the beings you lot were created to kill and he being the last true blooded alpha is deeply connected with his mission. Why is it his beta is not?"

He grit his teeth, "I am Noviana, but Bash is also my family. I will not see him dead without doing everything in my power to stop it."

"I could be his ruin." I mused simply, "you would risk that?"

"You could also be his saving grace." He pointed out.

"I assure you I am not. As you can see I have already decided that I can get my pleasure elsewhere and thats all the alpha has to offer. Goodbye Mason, I shall not repeat my farewell again."

I started to close the door once more.

"Wait!" He exclaimed, "what is I have something to offer you?"

I paused, looking him over, "you? You would bargain with a witch?"

"For Bash?" He nodded, "I would bargain with you miss Nivara."

I opened the door wider, "very well. You may enter my abode beta wolf. Allow me to just be rid of my company."

I snapped my fingers as we walked to the scrying room, the elven man was gone as we entered.

Mason took a cautionary look around before sitting on the other side of the crystal ball.

I gazed at him over the sphere for a moment, "not a soul knows you are here do they Mason Tyran?"

His jaw tightened.

How foolish of him.

What a very desperate man the alpha has turned his beta into.

"So." I hummed, "what is it you wish to bargain?"