To Collar and Keep

by Stella Price

  “The floor acknowledges Boris Donahue, Royal Head of Rummer.”

  “I ask for satisfaction. Tempest was not given leave to steal our prince or his newly acquired female.”

  Harley frowned. Not Beloved, but female. He was even now going back on his word and publicly.

  Boris shot daggers at Ben. “The cheek this child has to even consider taking another prince into his rag tag house…”

  Harley stepped forward. “Lord Milton, I would like to offer that I wasn’t coerced into joining Tempest. I did it on my own recognisance, because there was nothing left for me at my own clan.”

  Milton watched him curiously. “And how do you mean, Prince Harlequin. You are the reigning prince of the Rummer clan with a bright future ahead of you, especially with the knowledge that you will run Rummer soon.”

  “That is not true, Lord Milton. My father wishes me to take another two females from Rummer itself and refuses to name me his successor until I have done so. I will not. Unlike my father, I do not go back on my word. Arabella was to be and will be my only female, a Beloved in all ways. My father wished me to go back on that arrangement, an arrangement he made for me, in order to further his own ambitions in his own clan and abroad.”

  Milton looked at Boris. “It is true that you didn’t name your son your heir when he was gifted the lovely and responsive Arabella. On those grounds alone, Harlequin is within his rights to defect should he choose to do so. On the other charge, that you wanted him to take another two females, what say you?”

  “That is no one’s business but the Rummer prince and his clan head.”

  “Seeing as Harlequin, by his own admission is not the clan prince any longer, it becomes a congregational issue. Now answer the question, Lord Rummer, did you decree that Harlequin be forced to take another two females, forsaking his word to his Beloved?”

  Boris kept quiet. Milton took this as acknowledgement of the truth because he turned to Harley and Arabella. “One of our most stringent laws is not going back on our word. Harlequin is within his rights to deny your wishes.” He looked to Ben. “The year before you were born, your father made it a law that a courted and acknowledged Beloved had the love and honour of serving her Satyr alone. Will you honour your father’s wishes in this matter and allow Harlequin his rights as a Satyr to be served by the best of the best, a princess of worth and standing, capable of sustaining him till the end of the earth?”

  Boris started making noises about Ben being a child still and not having a say when Milton silenced him with a pointed glare.

  Ben grinned, amusement twinkling in his eyes, although Harley could see something much darker in them as well. Boris might not know it, but he’d just made it onto Ben’s shit list by insulting his house.

  “Of course. I believe my father had the right idea, and I’ll always honour my word and respect every member of my,” he smirked, “rag tag upstart clan.” His tone darkened as he turned to Boris and said, “I don’t have to lie to my people, or indeed string them along with promises and half truths.”

  “Idealistic bullshit!” Boris scoffed and turned back to Milton, waiting on his next words, but it was Harley that spoke, and the words that came from his mouth were anything but kind.

  “I have to agree with my father. What Ben is touting is idealistic, but times do always change, and the powerful don’t always have a thumb on the young. I’m sorry, Father, and those of Rummer whom I respect, but you will have to carry on without your prince. It’s not like you weren’t going to anyway. Boris was seeing to that.” He turned to Milton. “Lord Arcane, if you will make the formal recognising of myself and the rest of the new members of Tempest, we can move on with this evening.”

  Boris, truly unnerved at being dismissed by his own son, turned purple as Milton stood, intent on defusing the situation. “Boris, this brings to light another issue. It seems Rummer doesn’t have a prince now. You know the law, if you and your Beloved do not produce an heir in the next three years, your house head spot is forfeit to your brother, Reginald.”

  “Hey, a little brother.” Ben smiled cheerfully at Harley. “That’ll be nice.”

  “Considering Stephanya is barren, that’s not going to happen,” he said quietly to Ben. “Boris should just grab his ankles and take it like a champ. Uncle Reggie has wanted this for ages.”

  “Sucks for him.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  Boris grumbled and looked towards Stephanya, who had her head down.

  Harley’s heart ached for his mother. She didn’t deserve this drama, or the reminder that she couldn’t produce for her Satyr. He knew his father and his ambition, and feared that his mother would be cast aside to cement his place as clan head. He turned to Corbin who now stood just behind him and Ben, and murmured. “If he casts my mother aside…” He left the threat open.

  “He won’t,” Corbin said firmly.

  “It’s unlikely he’ll be able to, but we’ll keep an eye on him.” Ben agreed.

  Harley nodded, thankful for the friends and clan he now had, and waited for Milton to continue.

  “If there are no more interruptions?” Milton asked and the room quieted to dead silence. He nodded his acceptance. “Very well. The confederation of Satyr recognises its wayward clan Tempest, headed by Royal Satyr Esben Chambers of the Chambers line, and all its new members. A noble and exclusive house of Satyr returns. Prince Esben, let us hope you can bring this house back to its former and much coveted glory.”

  The room erupted into a gale of applause.

  Harley looked around at several of the elders who were commenting to each other, ones that Harley knew had daughters they had been keeping cloistered. With Tempest being a recognised clan again, they had a very good choice as to where to gift their daughters. Tempest ruled once, and they would rule again. Ben would see to that.

  Milton lifted his hand and silenced the crowd. “Also, after a meeting with the eight Royal houses from America and abroad, we have come to a consensus on the motion on the floor involving the European houses of Satyr; Linoge and Estales, in joining the confederacy as esteemed, recognised houses.”

  The entire room was so quiet all you could hear was the rain outside. Milton looked to Toloose. “Darwin Novak, Royal Head of Toloose, what say you?”

  Darwin bowed to Milton and spoke, his voice clear as a bell. “A hearty welcome to Linoge and Estales from Toloose. May your fortunes prosper.”

  “Boris Donohue, Royal Head of Rummer, what say you?” Milton said and Boris, through clenched teeth, gave the same answer and sat. On Milton went, to Stereopes, Harmin, Bourchest, LaFleur, and his own house, Arcane, with none of them rejecting the motion. Milton went at last to Tempest. As the newest, they had final say.

  Ben repeated the welcome, and bowed to both Linoge and Estales’ heads of house, and the entire ballroom celebrated. Two new clans accepted, and an old clan repopulated.

  Olanis this year was one of boisterous gaiety. Music started, dinner was served and the entire congregation was merry.

  Harley sat at the head portion of Tempest with both Ben and Corbin, Arabella on his right side. He watched everyone. Toloose, usually the most reserved of the clans, was beaten out for that coveted title this night by Rummer. His former house was quiet while they ate, his mother only eating when his father nudged her to. Harley’s heart hurt, but there was nothing he could do now, he would have to figure it out for later. Corbin wasn’t going to let her suffer, of that he was sure.

  Arabella squeezed his leg, and he looked down to her. “I told you it would all be okay,” he said.

  “Do you think your father is going to let this go?” she asked.

  He leant towards her. “He has to, it was a public acceptance that we are now part of Tempest. I don’t think we have much to worry about. Your father looks pleased about where we are.”

  Arabella nodded. “I think he’s more pleased to get rid of Bastian. My father never really cared for any of us past our worth to the clan.”
<
br />   “Sounds like Boris and me, though at least you knew where you stood with him.”

  She smiled, nodded and leaned in. “May I kiss you, Master?” she said with a cheeky twinkle in her eye.

  Harley growled and nodded. “I shall never deny you something that will bring us mutual pleasure.”

  She kissed him softly. “Such a perfect Satyr.”

  Harley chuckled and went back to his meal. Things were looking up. Tempest was now their world, and the world was theirs.

  Epilogue

  The nights in Missouri were a lot different than in Massachusetts, where he had lived almost all his life. They were less cold and more sultry, the heat creeping up from the lower states well into moonrise. Harley liked the change. Arabella was adjusting from the sweet sea air still, but it wasn’t affecting her in any visible way.

  Things had been quiet for them since leaving New York, and they had settled into a nice routine at the Tempest compound despite all the craziness that had transpired before. Arabella was enjoying herself and had become even closer with Minerva, if that were possible, and Harley was looking forward to the future with her by his side. He had promised Arabella the world, and while he was still in a position to give it to her, he wasn’t going to be the one calling the shots and that was a load off his mind.

  Harley looked up from his desk to see Bella walk in, wrapped in a towel from the bathroom. Seeing him, she smiled and dropped the towel, then sauntered over to him nude, except for her collar. With a change in clans, Harley needed to change her jewels to reflect that, and he had received her new keystone just hours before. It was part of the surprises he would give her tonight.

  Now she was just wearing the leather collar, but soon she would be gifted with a piece to attach to it that would represent both Tempest and their bond. The piece had the fire opals that Tempest considered one of their stones, as well as quartz, to balance. The third stone was the largest and the centre stone, and it was the one Harley had chosen to represent his claim on her. The milky, creamy jade enhanced the sparkle in the fire opals and the glitter in the quartz, and he knew she would be beautiful with it gracing her perfect neck.

  He pushed away from his desk and let her get between him and the furniture. Sitting on the flat top, she crossed her legs and propped her foot on his thigh. With a grin, he scooted forward, and her foot went from his thigh to his groin.

  “Good day today, pet? I like the way you decorated the living room. You sure you’re a geneticist? I mean, you’ve got an eye for colour,” he teased.

  “It’s not hard.” She smiled, squeezing him with her foot. “Unlike other things I could mention.”

  “It’s always hard for you, love…” He opened his pants quickly and pulled her down into his lap, so that her sweet heat hugged his shaft. Her legs draped over the arms of his chair, giving her a very delicious angle.

  “Oh, this should be interesting.”

  “When isn’t it? So,” he said and tipped the chair forward, allowing him to change his angle and with a quick thrust slipped into her. Gods, did she always have to feel like heaven? “Umm, that’s better. So we should talk.”

  She gasped, her back arching. “Ummm…much better…” She let out a soft moan. “But this position isn’t very conductive to talking.” She shifted her hips, taking him deeper.

  “Not for you,” he groaned and leant down to nuzzle her nipple. “I like this though…and I know you can feel every inch of me.”

  “Oh, yes… I sure can.” She tightened on him.

  He groaned and chuckled. The woman knew him so well already. She was the perfect woman for him. “So I was thinking… You should consider going back to school.”

  She blinked at him, pausing her body’s movements, clearly she’d not been expecting this conversation. “So soon?” she asked.

  “Why not? I mean you wanted to go, and I promised you, you could. You don’t have to go to school just yet, maybe take some classes over the ’net, some distance learning. Bastian told me you had qualified for a fellowship, and I looked into it. If you want to, it is still open to you, and you can work from here.”

  “I’d love that.” She grinned madly at him, “I would, really… How did you manage it?”

  “The Donahue name goes a long way in the scientific community, even if I’m not associated with Rummer anymore. I was even offered a spot with a competitor that I plan to take once Tempest is all squared away. That will teach that bastard.” He leant down and licked a slow line down her chest.

  “Ummm, my hero,” she gasped, wriggling under his tongue.

  Harley chuckled and nipped her smooth belly. “Ben even set aside some space for a lab here in one of the buildings, though I’m sure it’s not altruistic. You do work in genetics… But that’s not the only surprise I have for you, my love.”

  “Oh?” she gasped, her body tightening on him.

  He nodded and worked her body hard without another word. She shuddered under his touch, his lips and his sure, deep strokes. Making his way back up her body, Harley triggered her collar and lapped at the blood that trickled from it. He could feel her getting closer and wanted nothing more than to feel her little tremors around his shaft.

  She screamed, giving him just that as she came, her body exploding around him.

  He grinned at her. “Fantastic Bella…so fucking good,” he said as he followed her over the brink and panted into the soft skin of her stomach. “Ummm, we will have to save this position for when we only have a few minutes. Fuck, that was good.”

  “Ummm, very good.” She stroked over his chest, smiling. “I love you, Harley.”

  “I know, pet, I love only you.” He nuzzled her again then sat up and smiled. “And that collar has been naked too long.” Slipping his hand under her leg, he came up with a small pouch from his pocket and placed it on her still quivering belly.

  She lounged back on the desk, her elbows holding her partially up as she quirked an eyebrow. “What?” she asked, puzzled.

  “Open it. As I said, it’s been too long that you haven’t had your jewelled collar, but I’m remedying that now.”

  He watched as she gingerly shook the piece out of the bag. It glittered on her pale skin. “See? It’s Tempest, but it’s also me. That’s the jade in it.”

  “It’s always you.” She grinned, reaching up and hugging him. “Thank you. Add them…please.”

  Harley quickly attached the jewel cluster and clicked it into place, then smiled. It looked so beautiful on her, and he told her so.

  She beamed, her fingers moving up to fondle the jewels. “You think?”

  He nodded. “Oddly it suits better than the old ones did. Just proves this was meant to happen.” He winked. “So tell me, love, are you happy?”

  “Very.” She grinned at him.

  “That’s all I need to know.” He kissed her soundly and held her close, pulling her up to a sitting position on his lap. She cuddled to him, and he sighed, smiling. Things couldn’t get much better than this.

  Corbin walked in and smiled at them.

  Harley shook his head and nuzzled Bella’s throat. “Something up, Corbin?”

  “Yeah, Ben wants to see us, he’s got the info on the next clan meeting. He’s taking back Tempest’s job of arranging it.”

  Well, that was interesting. He slipped Bella off his lap and kissed her softly as he tucked himself away and stood. “You wanna dress first or just show off the sexy new jewels?”

  “I could slip on a robe.”

  “Up to you,” he said as he turned to Corbin. “So what’s the big deal?”

  He shrugged. “No clue, but I’ve been translating the old diaries, and I think Ben’s spotted something that didn’t add up.”

  “Well then, let’s see what he’s figured out.”

  Bella walked in from their bedroom with her black silk robe on, and the three of them made their way to Ben’s study, which was already full of the new Tempest Satyrs and their women. Mina was sitting on a divan on the
side of the room. Bella kissed Harley and went to sit with her friend.

  Harley looked at Ben, who was smiling. “So? What’s the good word?”

  “That’s for me to know.” He grinned. “In the meantime, we have a meeting to arrange.”

  “Fair enough. Where? Just for Tempest?”

  “Just for us.” Ben smiled. “A sort of get to know each other. But of course, we will have to work out this winter gathering for the other clans.”

  “You’re the boss. So where are we going?”

  “Well, that is your job. I’m delegating.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Harley grinned. “Well then, we have something to plan, don’t we? Some place hot? Or cold?”

  “Cold, may as well.”

  Harley smirked. He knew of just the place. The Hall of the Twelve Moons was open to all the Satyr Clans, and it would be the right place to have the winter celebrations. Tempest being there after so long away, well, it would be extremely satisfying. “I’ve got it all taken care of then. So what is it that Corbin said you found that doesn’t add up?”

  “Probably nothing.” Ben shook his head. “Just a mention of some names that I recognise. I’m going to have to talk to my cousin to firm things up. Murphy’s already pledged his help.”

  That was a damn good thing. Harley nodded and smiled at Ben. “So why the meeting? You could have just told me to find a place for a party.”

  “And miss seeing your Beloved’s new jewels?”

  Harley grinned and puffed up just a bit with pride. He looked over to Bella where Mina was admiring her new jewels. “Always thinking, cousin.” He chuckled as Mina looked over and nodded at his cousin, then snuggled with Bella.

  Life was good. They were free and embarking on a completely new life for both of them. His expectations of the past would not colour their future, and he and his Beloved were where they needed to be. They were young, and they wouldn’t have to conform to what the elders wanted. He would have her and keep her for all time.