He said, “Furielle, do as I ordered.”
Starling’s mouth worked but she seemed too upset to voice any of her words.
Her reaction made him grin. He may not like arguing with her but teasing her had fast become a favored pastime. “Redo the braids so they are more ornate. These plain rows are not befitting her station.”
Furielle said quickly, “As you wish, Your Majesty. Right away.”
Starling deflated, her anger dissipating, and stared at him with a look of disbelief.
“I conceded your point, pretty pet. Thank you for educating me.”
She dropped her head against the tabletop. “You make my head hurt.”
“And you are very excitable. It would have been easier to tell me these things from the beginning rather than assume I would give in to your demands. I am not in the habit of denying my own wishes unless there is a valid cause to do so.”
She sat up and stuck her tongue out at him. The hairdresser chose that moment to step forward. The woman touched Starling’s head hesitantly. Starling straightened then tilted her head down. A position for having her hair done. At least she seemed used to such a practice. Bekion could forget that worry. Her dislike must be people touching her head for no reason. He would remember that.
Starling said, “Bekion, let’s meet in the middle and make a deal that will save a lot of trouble in the future.”
He sat back and tented his fingers, with his elbows resting on the chair armrests. “By all means. I would prefer that.”
“I’ll try to remember I’m a pet, specifically your pet, if you remember that I’m not one. I’m sentient, cognizant and I was completely independent until those pirates kidnapped me and brought me here. Can we do that?”
“I’m sure it will be an effort for both of us, though I am willing to try.”
“Me too.”
“Done.” He held out his hand to her. Normally he wouldn’t think to make a deal with a pet and then seal that deal in this manner but this was the first concession to her words.
She shook his hand. Her smile at the gesture was well worth accepting her terms. She looked much better when she smiled. He would remember that as well.
They ate the rest of the meal in silence. Starling didn’t even seem bothered at having to move her head to accommodate the hairdresser. Bekion also noted she had a healthy appetite.
Bekion said, “I’m glad the rest of Panagiota’s food is agreeable to you.”
She nodded. “I really like this juice. It’s good.” She raised her glass so the maid could refill it for the fifth time.
“It’s wine, not juice.”
Starling froze with the cup at her lips. “What?” she said in the barest whisper.
“Wine, an alcohol derived from juice. Do your people not have it?” He frowned as she set the cup away. Her scared expression surprised him. “You act as though you have never had alcohol before.”
She touched her mouth.
“Starling?” Bekion thought she would be sick again. He didn’t like the idea of his pet having such a weak stomach. The nanites should be able to alleviate such an inconvenience.
She whispered, “That was alcohol?”
“Yes. You didn’t know?”
“No. I never… I don’t…” She looked down at her hands. Fear seemed to radiate from her entire being.
Bekion rose and walked to her side of the table. “What has you so afraid, Starling?”
“I can’t have alcohol. The last time I did, it almost killed me.”
All movement in the room stopped as everyone stared at Starling and Bekion.
He laid a hand on her shoulder.
She said, “I have a very low tolerance for things like alcohol and medicine. Deathly low. The poachers who took me almost killed me with whatever they used to knock me out.”
“How do you feel now?”
“Fine. I guess.”
Some of the tension within Bekion eased. He rubbed her shoulder and smiled when she looked up at him. “That means the nanites are performing their task as they should. Pretty pet, you could ingest poison and it would not affect you so long as your nanites are present.”
“You’re sure?”
“I have seen proof of it firsthand.” He nodded at the shock reflected in her eyes. “I am a monarch after all. Not all those who would do me harm are willing to brave confronting my guards to attack me in an overt manner.”
She looked at the glass. “So I can drink this and it won’t do anything to me?”
“The nanites can be reprogrammed to allow you to feel the effects of inebriation on a tolerable level, if you so choose.”
“No thank you.”
Bekion patted her shoulder and then returned to his seat. He smiled as Starling picked up the glass once more and sipped at it. She seemed to be testing his statement. That amused him. She already had proof of his words after drinking four cups of the wine but shock seemed to make her forget that fact.
Yes, he didn’t ever see himself growing bored with Starling as a pet.
* * * * *
Starling flopped onto the floor of the bedroom with a tired noise. Behind her, Bekion laughed. She glanced back at him, not knowing what he found funny since he had to be tired too.
He said, “You will grow used to my schedule in due time, pretty pet.”
“You’re only one person. How can they expect you to stay healthy with such a hellish schedule?”
She thought back on all the meetings and negotiations. Even dinner, which they ate in the main dining hall, had been rife with political talk and posturing. It seemed the only time Bekion could be alone was breakfast and lunch. Or had he done that for her sake?
Whatever the case may be, she appreciated when everyone finally left them alone. Furielle, the last person to go, delivered a new nightgown the seamstresses had made for Starling and then made sure it fit before she left.
Bekion said, “I was groomed from a young age to handle this schedule. It is my duty as the king of Panagiota.” He bent, lifted Starling, carried her to the couch and placed her on the cushions. “Lie here so no one tramples you if they rush in without looking where they are walking.”
She grunted as she flipped over. She remembered her arm cuffs a second before they almost struck each other and kept them apart. “How am I supposed to sleep without setting these things off? Are you going to take them off?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Someone had tied cloth around her wrists the night before. Fatigue had kept her from noticing until that morning when she took them off. She wouldn’t be able to ignore something like that again.
She started to tell Bekion as much when he took her hand in his and touched his cuff to hers. A short, sharp beep sounded and the indicator light on Starling’s cuffs de-illuminated.
He straightened. “There. The chime is inactive.”
“It is?” She eyed the cuffs skeptically.
“Test it if you doubt me.”
She held her hands out as far as she could and, wincing back, she tapped the cuffs against each other. Nothing happened. She pulled her arms close to her body and knocked the cuffs together with more force.
Again, nothing.
Bekion said, “The cuffs are in sleep mode. If you tap them while sleeping, they will not chime.”
“What happens if you forget to turn them back on?”
“There is a failsafe.”
“And that’s what exactly?”
“A failsafe is a program written into the cuffs that—”
“I know the definition of failsafe! What is the failsafe that will kick in when you forget to reactivate my cuffs, like I know you will?”
“Know they will work when you need them, and they won’t when you don’t. You won’t be awakened by chiming bells, so sleep easy.”
“Fine. Next question. Where do I sleep?”
Bekion gestured to the couch. “I’d planned to have you use my couch. I’ve commissione
d a bed for your use but it won’t be done until tomorrow night.”
“What type of bed did you ask for? I’m not that big, you know.”
“A bed fit for the pet of a king.”
The way he smiled gave her a sense of foreboding. If the bed showed up decked out in pink and ruffles, she might have to hurt him.
He said, “You don’t mind using the couch. The other option is my bed.”
“I love couches,” she said quickly.
She had no intention of sleeping with Bekion. That might give the man ideas along the lines of those Furielle had mentioned the day before.
Starling patted the cushions. It hadn’t been uncomfortable. She didn’t mind making it her permanent bed. Without suggesting it, she knew Bekion’s answer—a resounding no.
Besides, a few more pieces of furniture would make the room look as though someone lived there. The inner chamber only had Bekion’s bed, the couch, a nightstand and a single, seven-shelf bookshelf stuffed with books. The outer chamber housed his personal dining table and chairs, a desk, cabinets with unknown contents, a few plants and a wing chair that resembled his throne.
She planned to add more life-giving aspects to the bedroom, like a plant or a painting or something. She needed this place to feel like home.
Sleep claimed her while she thought of all the things she could do to make Bekion’s room feel more lived in.
She woke later with a scared gasp. For the second time, a nightmare she couldn’t remember woke her from a sound sleep. She looked toward the bed. The lump that was Bekion beneath the blankets didn’t move.
She sighed.
She needed time to get used to her new life and hoped the nightmares would go away soon. Actually, she wanted to remember them and then maybe she could get over it and forget.
Nothing came to mind.
Casting a quick glance at Bekion, she got off the couch and headed for the outer chamber. Her nightmares made sleep an exercise in futility. Not that she was tired in the first place. She’d only gone to sleep because Bekion had.
She no longer had a set sleep schedule. There was nothing she had to wake up on time for or go to bed early for. And a pet slept when it felt like it.
Starling eased the bedroom door open—mostly because it was too heavy for her to open normally—and left. She pulled the door closed then faced the outer chamber. She could probably wander the halls for a little bit to tire herself out.
She looked down at her arm cuffs. They were inactive. She shouldn’t leave the safety of Bekion’s rooms without some way of calling for help if she needed it.
“Not tired?” Bekion whispered behind her.
Starling startled then whirled and faced Bekion. She hadn’t heard him open the door. He gave her a sleepy smile.
She whispered, “Why are you awake?”
“I’m a light sleeper.” He raised his gaze to the outer chamber door as though expecting someone to enter. “I’m not sure how to entertain a pet.”
“I don’t need entertainment. I’m not sleepy.”
Bekion placed his hand on her shoulder and gave her a sympathetic look. “You had another nightmare, didn’t you?”
She sighed and let her gaze fall to the floor.
They stood like that—Starling with her head bowed and Bekion with his hand on her shoulder—in silence. She greatly needed that small measure of comfort.
“You should go back to bed, Bekion. I’m fine.”
His hand left her shoulder and she felt an instant loss. Why should a man she just met be such a comfort to her? Maybe it wasn’t him but the act itself.
“Let’s go back.” Bekion stepped out of the doorway so she could pass him.
“I’m going to sit in the outer chamber so I don’t bother you.”
“Not obeying bothers me.”
She entered the room and went back to the couch. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
Bekion closed the door. “You didn’t. Your adornments reactivating did.” He went to his bedside table and picked up one of his cuffs. After punching a few keys, he reached out to her. “Your arm.”
She went to him and put her hand in his. He touched his cuff to hers. There was a soft beep.
With a sigh, he released her and tossed the cuff aside.
“But I thought you already deactivated it.”
Lying on the bed, he said, “I did. It would have remained that way except you opened the inner chamber door.”
“Sorry. You should have told me.”
Bekion wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her onto the bed. He situated her with her back pressed against his stomach and her head tucked under his chin. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“We better.”
She heaved a sigh and decided to relax. Bored in bed or bored in the outer chamber was still bored. But bored in bed meant she wasn’t alone. She closed her eyes. Sleep would come eventually.
Her eyes snapped open again when she felt Bekion’s hand roaming over her breasts. He cupped one, gave it a squeeze and then held it. She pulled at his wrist but he didn’t release her. She turned as much as she could with him holding her to tell him off. He was sleeping.
Her anger at his actions waned. Bekion probably slept with women he could grope. So long as he didn’t get any friskier, there was no point getting pissed about it. She settled down again.
The groping aside, Bekion hadn’t turned evil. But they’d only known each other for days. Time would tell if his good-guy routine was an act or real.
Despite not being tired, she slept thanks to Bekion’s warmth. No nightmares plagued her while wrapped in his arms.
The sound of someone knocking startled Starling awake. She blinked, a little disoriented.
Bekion sighed softly then called, “Yes?”
A maid said, “Breakfast is ready, Your Majesty.”
He released Starling and rolled to a sitting position. “Come.”
The maid opened the door. She had her head bowed and stared at the floor as she said, “Good morning, Your Majesty. I hope you slept well.”
“Very.” Bekion glanced back at Starling and gave her a soft smile. “It seems owning a pet agrees with me.” He left the bed and headed for the bathroom.
Starling didn’t know what to make of his comment and decided not to give it further thought as she headed for the outer chamber. Fifteen people milled around doing one thing or another. She stared in amazement at the many people who must have been there for a while but hadn’t made enough noise to wake either her or Bekion.
Impressive.
All the servants stopped their movements and bowed in Starling’s direction. She looked over her shoulder, expecting to see Bekion standing behind her. He wasn’t there.
The people said in a chorus, “Good morning, Lady Starling.”
“Morning,” she said with a half-wave.
The people resumed their work.
Furielle entered the room, followed by several women carrying boxes. She said, “Your wardrobe is ready, Lady Starling. Including the items you requested.”
“Wow. That was fast. I didn’t think it would be done so soon.”
“You insult our staff by implying they could not meet your expectations.”
Starling waved her hands quickly. “That’s not what I meant. I didn’t think they would rush since I’m a pet.”
“You are the pet of King Bekion. As such, everything you request is to be treated as though King Bekion himself requested it. Thus the articles you ordered were given the highest priority.” Furielle set out the boxes. “The shoemaker found the design and your specifications very interesting. He said he would like to market the design to other customers.” The woman looked over Starling’s head then curtsied. “With Your Majesty’s permission, of course.”
Starling looked over her shoulder again. This time Bekion stood there. That was the second time he’d sneaked up on her. The man moved too quietly for someone his size.
The servants all stopped, bowed
and greeted Bekion in unison. They resumed their work when Bekion nodded.
He placed a hand on Starling’s shoulder. “What is this about marketing a new design?”
Starling said, “It’s probably the shoes I ordered.” She went to the boxes and looked through each one until she found what she wanted. She held up the sneakers for Bekion to see. “These are athletic shoes called sneakers. They cushion and support for prolonged, strenuous activity.”
Bekion took one of the shoes from her and examined it. “What do you plan to do with this?”
“Exercise. Running and the like.”
“Exercise? You are tiny and barely weigh enough as it is. What need have you for such activity?”
“Do the nanites keep me from getting fat if I continue with my current sedentary lifestyle?”
“No.”
“Then I need to exercise. You may think I’m light but that’s because you and the other jattikans are naturally bigger than me. Besides, exercise is essential to keeping a pet healthy.” She dug out the exercise clothes she’d ordered. While Bekion was doing his morning meeting, she planned to do some running. “You don’t have to worry, Nausic is taking me out.”
Bekion looked at Nausic, who was dressed in his training uniform and standing next to the other guards. “When did you two decide this?”
Starling said, “After lunch while you were busy. I told Rois and he told Nausic.” Belatedly, she wondered if she should have mentioned having to ask Rois since Nausic had made a point of ignoring her.
“And where are you taking my pet, Nausic?”
From the emphasis Bekion put on Nausic’s name, Starling decided to stop answering for the man and concerned herself with changing her clothes. Furielle and two others helped her. Rather than argue about it, she let them.
“To the throne room.” Nausic glanced at Starling when she cleared her throat then added, “The long way. Lady Starling wishes to run a varied course so as to work multiple muscles of her lower body but stay to a somewhat familiar locale.”
She said, “I only know your rooms and the throne room.” She did a few in-place stretches, testing the feel of her new clothes. “So we’ll stick to that route to be safe. I’m running to the throne room and then back. Afterward, I’ll take a shower, gather my stuff and return to the throne room when I’m done.” She met his gaze. “Or will you be in your audience chamber again?”
Pet's Pleasure Page 11