by Sarah Hawke
Still, that didn’t stop him from making me an active participant in every exercise. He would often bind us together so that I could feel her body’s undulations as he ravaged her. Before she swallowed his cock, he would place us back-to-back and tie our arms together; before he took her ass, he would restrain me beneath her so I could watch him vanish into her folds. Once he even had her recline in my arms while he hoisted her ankles atop his shoulders and pounded into her.
He kept her with him each night after he dismissed me. I was always tempted to sneak away and visit Larric while the rest of the mansion slept, but I didn’t take the risk until the third night. When I arrived, we avoided having another argument about my plans to meet with Lucian, though I see the lingering worry in his eyes. He promised to continue trying to contact the Faedari, though so far he hadn’t been successful. I prayed he would get lucky by the time I returned.
On the fourth day, Master Kristoff made final preparations for us to attend the annual Green Gala marking the start of spring. I spent most of the morning and afternoon with Sharela as she fit me into several potential new gowns, but by evening I was escorted back to his room so he could select his favorite.
“The party won’t be anywhere as large as the Winter Gala,” Kristoff said as he circled around me and evaluated the first outfit. “All the noble families from Sanctum will attend, of course, but I’m not sure about anyone else. The death of Duchess Farrow will keep most nobles from the Wreath away, and obviously Darkstone and Zarene will stay home. I’m not even sure they’ll send any proxies.”
I lifted my arms to the side as Sharela tightened my corset. Evidently Lucian was fond of this particular design. “You don’t think they’ll send spies?” I asked.
“Everyone in attendance will be a spy in one form or another,” he said with a grunt. “You know that by now.”
I nodded but remained silent. I was tempted to complain that I could hardly breathe, but of course that was the whole point of the outfit. The only real question was whether I’d be wearing cuffs and/or a gag.
Once Master Kristoff was satisfied, he shooed Sharela away and closed the door behind her. “Emperor Lucian rarely socializes with anyone in a public setting, as I’m sure you noticed at the Winter Gala,” he said. “But I plan to confront him on his throne just before dinner. I will offer you as a gift without pretense and make certain that all nearby parties—including the spies of our rivals—overhear my offer.”
“You’re already worried that they’re suspicious of me,” I pointed out. “Won’t they react if they believe you’re trying to manipulate the Emperor?”
Kristoff grinned. “I’m counting on it. At the very least, Darkstone and Zarene will be confused, and with luck I’ll be able to use that against them at some point. It’s vital to keep your enemies off-balance at all times.”
I nodded absently. “What if the Emperor refuses your gift? You said he has no use for avenari.”
“He might at first, but I’ll insist. It’s possible that he’ll dismiss you to the kitchen or the like as a sign that he’s not interested, so you’ll just need to play along until you have the opportunity to speak with him. Whenever that happens, you must be ready to pounce.”
“I will,” I promised.
“I know,” Kristoff said, placing his hand on my cheek. “Now return to your room and get some rest.”
“Of course, Master.”
I was halfway to the door before he spoke up. “Oh, and tell Astanya that I’m ready for her again. Make certain she’s wearing her sapphire gown.”
The words were meant to be a final dagger in my back, but I merely turned and smiled pleasantly. “Yes, my lord. Good night.”
I spent the rest of the evening alone in my chambers. With Astanya gone, I took the opportunity to practice some channeling techniques, including conjuring small bursts of fire. Thus far, all my experience with overtly dangerous magic had been reflexive rather than trained. Outside the Infintium and then again at Lakewatch, the flames had simply materialized in my in hands. I couldn’t consciously explain how I’d done it; the techniques seemed almost innate. Master Kristoff had always focused his lessons on subtler spells, for obvious reasons, but I started to wonder if he’d been holding me back. What if my powers could evolve beyond telepathy? What if I could harness the destructive forces of magic like the Legion’s Tel Bator channelers?
I wasn’t convinced I actually wanted to know the answer, but for tonight I was content to let my imagination bloom. The Aether had a way of soothing my mind that nothing else could hope to match, and I allowed its warmth to course through me for hours until the clocks struck midnight. At that point I knew I should have tried to get some sleep in preparation for the gala, but instead I decided to make one last trip to see Larric.
Despite the late hour, he was standing in the estate courtyard practicing with a sword when I arrived. He didn’t notice me as I slipped through the shadows, and I actually paused to watch him for a few minutes before I announced my presence. He darted back and forth across the stone, blade in hand, almost like he was dancing rather than fencing. His movements were shockingly graceful and oddly mesmerizing. I probably shouldn’t have been so surprised, considering how I’d seen him scythe through other warriors twice his size. But he’d projected such an imperious personality for so long that I sometimes forgot he was a completely different person…
He eventually stopped and returned his sword to the weapon rack. He retrieved his crumpled-up tunic and wiped off his face, and once he moved beneath one of the hanging lanterns I noticed that his skin had returned to its normal color. A few days of food and rest had obviously done wonders for him.
I managed to catch his attention just before he reentered his quarters in the guardhouse. He glanced about to make certain no was watching, then quickly gestured inside.
“I was hoping you’d come by again,” he said, shutting and locking the door behind him. “I wanted one last chance to convince you that this is a mistake.”
“You won’t,” I said. “Not unless you have an escape plan ready.”
Larric sighed and tossed his tunic across the room. The lights in here were dim, but I could still see the beads of sweat glistening on his bare shoulders and back. If his muscles had atrophied at all during his injury-induced slumber, they certainly didn’t show it. The view reminded me of Skyfall where I’d watched him take Duke Darkstone’s young wife on the floor right in front of me…
“I haven’t heard from the rebels yet,” he said. “And I haven’t come up with any other way to get out of here. Kristoff’s men keep a close eye on me—it’s even riskier for you to visit than before.”
“If they spot me, they won’t remember it a few seconds later,” I told him. “Has he given you any new orders? Did he say whether or not you were going to accompany us to the gala?”
“He’s barely spoken to me at all. And when he did, he made sure to express his disappointment. He doesn’t just blame me for our failure to recruit Darkstone. Now that he knows about Karethys…well, he sees me differently. He may never trust me as his bodyguard again.”
I crossed my arms and bit down on my bottom lip. The only reason I’d slipped that information was because I didn’t believe it would be harmful. Evidently I’d been mistaken.
“He has no proof of anything.”
“That hardly matters,” Larric murmured. “I went from being his infallible Guard-Captain to an unknown variable practically overnight. I wouldn’t be surprised if he releases me altogether.”
“Then what would we do?”
“Not much would change, honestly. I can find us a way out of here regardless.” He shook his head. “I always knew this would happen eventually. If anything, I’ve kept this position longer than I expected. The rebels figured I’d last a few months at most.”
I watched him pensively as he applied a poultice to his left arm. Healing magic had long since closed his flesh, but some of his muscles must have still ached. Swinging a
sword around probably hadn’t helped.
“I never asked, but…did someone assign you as Master Kristoff’s bodyguard or was this all your idea?”
“Information is the most valuable currency,” Larric said. “That’s true everywhere, as far as I can tell, and I knew that having access to a Grand Duke would be a huge boon for the rebels. Kristoff was the most accessible, and I was confident get in close.”
I nodded pensively. The Faedari rebels had been little more than specters haunting the Empire for most of my life. Most people considered them thieves at best and mass murderers at worst. Imperial and Covenant officials demonized them at every opportunity, and I’d grown up assuming they killed slaves as often as soldiers.
I knew differently now, but I still had very little concept of what the rebels actually did on a daily basis. And I had absolutely no idea how they were organized or who was in charge…
“Do the Faedari have a leader?” I whispered. “Someone you report to?”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Larric said, wincing when he removed the poultice. “The group operates in small, scattered cells so no one individual can compromise everything. Otherwise a Tel Bator channeler could read a prisoner’s mind and learn everything in a heartbeat. Several early cells were snuffed out just like that.”
“If they don’t communicate, then how can they organize?”
“They communicate, just not directly. Those rebels we met outside Lakewatch wouldn’t have known anything about what was going on in Sanctum, but they would have been able to put us on the right trail. It’s…well, it’s a little hard to explain, and you shouldn’t stay here long.”
“You’re right,” I whispered, glancing over to the window. “I just wanted to check in before I left. I don’t know what to expect or what might happen.”
Larric turned back around to face me. “You really don’t have to go through with this,” he reminded me. “I can figure something else out.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him, smiling.
As usual, his expression was difficult to read. I desperately wanted to peek into his thoughts, even for just a second.
“I’ve passed a lot of information to the rebels over the years,” Larric said. “But getting you to them is the only thing that really matters.”
I frowned. “I’m not that important. Just because I’m Unbound doesn’t mean—”
“Being Unbound has nothing to do with it,” he interrupted. “You’re just…” He trailed off and sighed. “You don’t deserve this life. You never did.”
“Does anyone?”
“No. I guess that’s the point, isn’t it?”
On impulse, I reached out and touched his cheek. A year ago, I would have been terrified that he’d break my arm. Even a few months ago, I would have been scared that he’d strike me or otherwise humiliate me. But today I knew I was safe. Today I could appreciate the sensation of his stubble against my palm. Today I could enjoy the warmth of the smile peeking through his stoic façade.
Today I could summon the courage to lean forward and kiss him.
I couldn’t explain why I did it. One moment we were looking at one another, and in the next I was standing on my tiptoes and pressing my lips against his. For a few awkward heartbeats I thought he might push me away as his hands curled around my waist, but then his fingers squeezed and his mouth parted…
I couldn’t tell if we embraced for five seconds or five hours. The world faded into the Void like a forgotten dream. My rage at the treatment of my people, my concern about meeting the Emperor, even my anxiety about an unknown future—they all melted away. All I cared about was our kiss and the inexplicable electricity coursing through me.
Eventually Larric did push me away, but his hands were so soft and his movements were so gentle he almost seemed like a different person. We stared at each other for a long, breathless moment before he abruptly turned away.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That was…you should get back before someone notices you’re gone.”
“I know,” I murmured. He was right, of course…but I didn’t care. I still wasn’t sure what had just happened. All I knew was that I would have given almost anything for it to happen again.
I slipped out the door without saying another word. My thoughts were still a scattered haze by the time I reached my bedchambers; I couldn’t even remember the details of the journey when I tried. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, but it didn’t help. I put some water on the fire and made some tea, but that didn’t help either. I hadn’t been this addled since the night Stormcrest had fallen.
When I finally slid into bed and closed my eyes, all I could see was Larric’s face. Yet again my memories flashed back to Skyfall and the night I’d caught him with Karethys. I could perfectly visualize their taught bodies wrapping around each other. At the time, I’d been so confused and awe-stricken that I’d barely noticed the strange feeling in my gut. But when I’d seen and overheard them a second time, the feeling had returned.
For a while I thought it was simple envy. A part of me had wanted to be her, and not just because she was so strong and confident and darkly beautiful. The way Larric had brought her such obvious pleasure, the way his movements had been as much about her as him…I had never seen anything like it before. They had been more than just partners—they had been equals. And I desperately wanted to experience that for myself.
But then I’d watched him with Duchess Cassandra at the party, and I’d realized my feelings went beyond mere envy. I didn’t just resent the way he took her—I rested the fact he was in a position to take her at all. For the first time in my life, I had actually been jealous of another woman. I had wanted Larric Aresi for myself.
None of it made any sense, of course. Even at this very moment I barely knew anything about him. He had transitioned from monster to savior in the span of a few hours, and I still wasn’t completely sure if I should trust him or the Faedari. But this had nothing to do with logic or sensibility.
It had everything to do with the bizarre and inexplicable realization that I might have been in love with him.
The thought crashed back and forth through my mind like an emotional battering ram. I tried to control my breathing and focus, but my body refused to cooperate. My heartbeat thundered in my ears and my skin tingled like I’d just conjured a current of electricity. Even channeling the Aether didn’t help. If anything, it made the problem worse. My mind stretched out across the estate all the way to the barracks, and if I concentrated I could actually feel him at the fringes of my consciousness…
And then the bedroom door abruptly opened. I hopped at least a foot off the sheets and had to stifle a scream with my hand. Astanya popped into the room, her hand over her chest as she looked at my apologetically.
“Merciful Triad,” she breathed. “I’m sorry—I didn’t meant to wake you.”
“You didn’t,” I managed, forcing a smile. “I just…I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
She smiled back as she shut the door. Even in the dim candlelight, I could see how disheveled she looked. Her dress was practically in tatters, and several patches of her skin were red from bindings. I hadn’t expected her back tonight, but Master Kristoff had obviously returned her as one final reminder that this mission was my only chance to claw back into his good graces.
“You must be nervous,” Astanya whispered as she tiptoed over to her bed. “I would be. I can’t even imaging walking into the palace, let alone looking upon the Emperor…”
“I’m trying not to think about it,” I lied.
“Master wouldn’t be taking you with him if he didn’t believe in you. He knows how skilled you are.”
I frowned as I slumped backwards, hoping the shadows would conceal my expression. How much had Kristoff actually shared with Astanya? There was no way he would have told her that I was Unbound.
“I, uh…I haven’t had the chance to apologize,” she went on before I could put my confusion into words. “I know it’s
been strange having me here, and I hoped you weren’t upset that Master has been spending so much time with me.”
“You don’t need to be sorry,” I told her, and meant it. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”
Astanya sat down on the edge of her bed. I couldn’t quite make out her face, but I could see the silhouette of her long blond hair spilling across her shoulders. “I just…I know he hasn’t been treating you well the past few days.”
“He just wants me to be focused so I can impress the Imperial Court.” I snorted softly. “If anything, I was worried about you. You don’t seem like you’ve gotten much sleep.”
“Almost none,” she said, chuckling coyly. “I’m so grateful he purchased me. It’s so much nicer here than in Rivani…”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” I soothed. “Master had always been loyal to those who serve him well.”
The candlelight glinted off her smile as she removed her jewelry and curled under the sheets. She seemed genuinely happy, but more than ever I found myself wanting to try and smuggle her out of here once Larric contacted the Faedari. There were thousands of other faeyn in the city and I knew we couldn’t free them all…but the thought of leaving her behind with Master Kristoff made my stomach turn. He was already different than the man who’d purchased me, and each failure was nudging him farther and farther over the edge. How would he treat her once he realized I’d betrayed him? After his reaction to the news in Korvale, I could easily envision him taking his rage out on his servants…
I closed my eyes again and let out a long, slow breath. I couldn’t afford to worry about Astanya right now, and I definitely couldn’t afford to think about Larric. My date with Emperor Lucian was only a few hours away, and I had a feeling it was going to change everything.
One way or another.
Chapter Seven: The Green Gala
While the Imperial Court hosted innumerable smaller gatherings and parties throughout the year, there were only four official seasonal galas the nobility was expected to attend. Having experienced the Winter Gala for the first time myself just a few months ago, I assumed I had a vague idea of what to expect when we arrived at the palace this time. I was wrong.