by Ramona Gray
Alarm threaded through her. She had known Silas for less than three weeks. There was no way he should be able to read her emotions that well.
“Tell me why it embarrasses you to give up control in bed,” he said.
She sighed. “I’m not embarrassed by it. More worried I guess.”
“Why?”
“I command the queen’s army, danen. The women look to me when there is danger and when they’re uncertain. If they knew that I enjoy letting you take control they would lose their confidence in me.”
He considered her words for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t think so, Quinn. I know I haven’t been here very long but it’s more than obvious that the women here respect you. Just because you’re submissive in bed doesn’t say anything about your ability to lead them.”
She didn’t reply and he pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Is this why you haven’t slept with any of the breeders? You don’t want them knowing you’re submissive?”
“No. I wouldn’t have shown them my – my submissive side if I had slept with them.”
He stroked her arm. “Why did you let me see it?”
She didn’t know how to answer that, mostly because she didn’t really know why. After a moment he squeezed her arm. “I’m not the kind of guy who kisses and tells, Quinn. Okay?”
She made a low laugh. “I know you’re not, danen, but thank you for saying it.”
“So is the queen the main reason you haven’t slept with any breeders?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like being massina?”
“Yes.”
“So you like protecting a woman that you hate?”
She hesitated. “It is my duty to protect the queen.”
“You didn’t have a choice in becoming massina, did you?”
“The former massina failed and the queen appointed me as the new one. It was an honour to be chosen,” Quinn replied.
She decided it wouldn’t be wise to tell Silas that she didn’t give a rat’s fuck about the honour. Becoming massina had been an integral part of her plan for revenge.
“So for the last decade you’ve been saving the queen’s ass?”
“Yes.”
“Is the queen batshit crazy?”
“Yes.”
“Is Naveen gay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you from my world?”
“No.”
He paused and Quinn poked him lightly in the chest. “I am from this world, Silas.”
“You don’t glow.”
She sighed loudly. “Who cares whether I glow or not? You turn me on and we both know it. Not every woman from this world glows. All right?”
“How many times have you nearly died?” He asked suddenly.
“Many,” she replied shortly. “I’m tired and my back is hurting. Are you finished with your questioning, danen?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, Quinn.”
She turned away from him and gingerly wiggled back until her back was resting against his chest. He put his arm around her and cupped her breast. “Does it hurt your back to lie this way?”
“No,” she said. “Your body heat feels good on it.”
She wasn’t lying. The stone houses were sturdy but cold and it felt good to have Silas’ warmth in her bed. She waited for the guilt about having another man in her bed and was a little surprised when there wasn’t any.
It’s been over ten years. There’s nothing to feel guilty about. Kevin is dead and he’s never coming back.
She shuddered all over and Silas pulled her closer before kissing the back of her neck. “Good night, Quinn.”
“Good night, Silas.”
Chapter 17
“How is the danen in bed?”
Quinn set down her spoon and smiled politely at the queen. “He is adequate, my Queen.”
“Adequate?” The queen raised her eyebrow. “Does he have a large cock?”
“Large enough, my Queen.”
The queen scowled at her. “I would think after all these years alone, massina, you would have more to say about a breeder in your bed.”
Quinn didn’t reply and the queen gave her an irritated look. “Perhaps I will take the breeder back if you do not find him pleasing.”
“Your gift of the breeder was very kind, my Queen, and I am grateful,” Quinn replied. “However, I am more than happy to return him to you if that is what you wish.”
The queen studied her for a moment before smiling bitterly. “Aye, I’m sure you would, massina.”
Quinn returned the queen’s gaze unblinkingly as she clenched her hands into fists beneath the table. She willed herself not to look away or show any emotion on her face. After a long tense moment, the queen turned to Kila.
“Are you enjoying your time with your breeder?”
“Yes, mother,” Kila replied.
“Does he please you in bed?”
“Yes, mother.”
The queen waited and when Kila didn’t elaborate, she snorted angrily. “Akia, since neither the massina nor my daughter are in a talkative mood today perhaps you will keep me company after lunch.”
“It would be an honour, my Queen,” Akia said before smiling smugly at Quinn.
Quinn could barely stop from rolling her eyes. The queen had summoned the three of them to join her for lunch and Akia was the only one genuinely happy to be in the queen’s presence. As Akia smiled at the queen, Quinn forced herself to eat another spoonful of soup. Akia wanted to be massina and had been trying for years to win the queen’s favour. No doubt she considered the invitation to keep the queen’s company this afternoon as a sign that she was making progress. She had yet to learn that the queen would use her in whatever way she wanted.
“Come, Akia. I have lost my appetite,” the queen said abruptly.
She stood and left the room with Akia at her heels. Quinn set down her spoon and rubbed at her forehead as Kila let her breath out in a shuddering sigh.
“Are you okay, massina?” She asked anxiously.
“Yes, sandora,” Quinn replied.
Kila glanced at the open doorway. “Mother keeps hounding me for details of sleeping with Gage. I refuse to share them and she’s growing angrier each time.”
She stared into the half-eaten bowl of soup in front of her. “She’s already made a few comments about sleeping with Gage once she is finished with the danen.”
Quinn groaned inwardly as Kila said, “What is wrong with her, Quinn? What kind of mother would even want to fuck the man that her daughter has fucked?”
“Sandora, your mother is…complicated,” Quinn replied.
“She’s crazy,” Kila said. “Most of my life I have tried to convince myself that she was normal but she isn’t.”
She glanced at the doorway again before lowering her voice. “She hardly sleeps anymore, Quinn. Last night she was lurking outside of my bedroom door while I was with Gage.”
“Are you certain of that?” Quinn asked with a frown.
“Aye,” Kila replied. “I went to get us some wine after we finished fucking and I startled her in the hallway. It isn’t the first time I’ve found her wandering the halls of the castle in the middle of the night.”
Kila pushed away her bowl of soup. “I will not allow her to fuck Gage, Quinn. He is mine.”
“Kila,” Quinn said in alarm, “the breeders are shared. You know that.”
The young woman stood and shook her head. “I don’t care. I’m not sharing Gage. If she wishes to challenge me at the next claiming ceremony for him, she can. But if she tries to just take him for her own she’ll be sorry.”
“Sandora, do not - ”
“I have to go,” Kila interrupted. “Mina had her baby last night and it was a boy. I haven’t seen him yet.”
She left the room and Quinn, anxiety growing in her belly, followed her.
* * *
“Move it a little to the left,” Silas said. “Perfect. Hold it steady, Belthor.”
He
leaned over the shelving unit and pounded three nails into the wood before straightening. “Okay, that should do it. Let’s pick it up.”
Belthor nodded and the two men lifted the shelving unit. They pushed it up against the wall as Zeeda gave Silas an admiring look.
“You are very good at this, danen.”
Silas just shrugged as Belthor scratched absentmindedly at his ass. He and Belthor were brought to the large stone building just after breakfast. Belthor told him it was a store of sorts. The traders brought their goods here and haggled with Zeeda over the grinding of their grain. He studied the large room they were standing in. It was filled with bolts of fabric and piles of fur. They had passed two other rooms on their way to this one and he had taken a quick peek into them. One had large barrels lined up in neat rows on the floor. Belthor had told him they were filled with salted fish the women caught in the river. The second had rows of shelving with hundreds of jars filled with strange coloured salves and liquids. When he had questioned Belthor about that room, the man shrugged and told him they were medicines.
“It’s so straight,” Zeeda said as she ran her hand over the shelves.
The other shelves in the room were all poorly built and Silas eyed them thoughtfully. “We could probably fix these other shelves. Straighten them out so it’s easier to put your fabric and furs on them.”
“Aye, I imagine you could. You’re very good with your hands,” Zeeda said before running her hands over his broad chest. A soft glow emanated from her and Silas hid his grin. Zeeda had to be pushing seventy and she was maybe four feet tall.
“Zeeda.” Quinn’s low voice made Zeeda snatch her hands away from his chest and she turned and gave Quinn a guilty look.
“Hello, massina. I was just speaking with the breeders. What can I do for you?”
“I’m in need of a small, soft fur. Mina’s baby was born last night and he is on the small side. He requires extra warmth.”
“Of course,” Zeeda said hurriedly. “Let me find the perfect one.”
She moved deeper into the room, searching the shelves as Silas smiled at Quinn. “Good afternoon, massina.”
She gave him a cool look of disdain before studying Belthor. “Barkha tells me she caught you trying to escape by climbing the wall the day before yesterday.”
Belthor paled and took a step back, bumping up against the newly-built shelving unit. “I, no, massina.”
Quinn stepped closer. “You call Barkha a liar, Belthor?”
“No, no, of course not,” Belthor stammered. “I meant that I was not trying to escape.”
Silas watched in utter fascination as Quinn drifted closer and the blood drained from Belthor’s face. He was a few inches shorter than Quinn but he was solidly built and heavily muscled. It didn’t seem to matter. He was obviously afraid of the woman standing in front of him and he cleared his throat nervously when Quinn studied him coldly.
“Do I need to remind you what happens to the breeders who try to escape, Belthor?”
“N-no, massina,” Belthor said. “I wasn’t trying to escape, I swear it.”
“Breeders are forbidden to go beyond the wall. You have been here long enough to know that,” Quinn said as she glanced behind her at the doorway.
“Aye, I know. I was only planning on going to the river, massina.”
“For what, Belthor?”
He swallowed heavily. “There is a plant that grows at the water’s edge. The muskina plant. It’s used for - ”
“I know of it,” Quinn said. “What I don’t know is why you are in need of a plant that is used to smooth a woman’s skin.”
“It has other uses, massina,” Belthor said hurriedly. “It heals other, uh, ailments.”
“What ailment do you have?” Quinn asked.
“I,” Belthor glanced at Silas before mumbling, “I have a rash, massina.”
“From what?”
“I accidentally, um, brushed up against some pinacker plants.”
“Why did you not go to Naveen?” Quinn asked before glancing at the doorway again. To Silas it appeared like she was biding her time, waiting for something or someone to walk through the door.
“I was embarrassed,” Belthor admitted.
“Show me the rash,” Quinn said.
“I’d rather not, massina.”
Quinn folded her arms across her chest and stared at Belthor. He flushed and cleared his throat again. “It is, uh, in an embarrassing spot.”
“Show me, Belthor.” Quinn said.
He sighed and turned around. He dropped his pants and Silas was unable to stop himself from saying, “Holy mother of God.”
Belthor’s ass and the back of his thighs were covered in large red bumps. His skin was bright red and irritated looking and a few of the bumps were bleeding.
“How long have you had the rash?” Quinn asked.
“Over a week, massina,” Belthor said as he pulled up his pants and buttoned them.
“When you’re finished here you are to go directly to Naveen. He will give you some muskina salve. Do you understand?”
“Yes, massina,” Belthor said.
“In the future, Belthor, I would advise that you watch where you’re sitting and do not wait such a foolishly long time when you require medical treatment.”
“Yes, massina.”
Quinn’s gaze flickered to Silas and he gave her a flirty little grin. “You look lovely today, massina.”
“Hold your tongue, danen,” she said icily. Belthor was watching them and she raised her eyebrow at him. “Is there something else you wish to say, Belthor?”
“No, massina,” he said.
“Good. Both of you get back to work,” Quinn replied.
She walked away and Belthor said in a low voice, “I know you’re sharing the massina’s bed but you should not speak to her unless she speaks to you first.”
“Why?” Silas asked.
“You just shouldn’t,” Belthor said. “Trust me.”
“Why are you afraid of her?”
“I’m not afraid of her,” Belthor said.
“Could have fooled me,” Silas said as Zeeda returned and hurried to Quinn with several furs in hand.
“I’m not,” Belthor repeated.
“Is she cruel to the breeders?” Silas asked.
“Of course not,” Belthor replied. “But angering her wouldn’t be wise. You might be big but she’s strong and quick for a woman. You have only seen her fight in the claiming ceremony and that’s nothing compared to when she’s actually fighting. She - ”
“I’ve seen her fight,” Silas said absently. A man had entered the room. He was short with a big belly and he was dressed entirely in furs. Silas could smell him from where he was standing across the room. “Who’s that?”
Belthor shrugged. “One of the traders. Help me put the fabric on the shelf.”
Silas bent and picked up a pile of fabric from the floor as he continued to watch Quinn. She had chosen a small fur and she smiled her thanks at Zeeda before moving toward the door. She nodded cordially to the trader. Silas frowned when the man slipped her a piece of paper as she passed him. She hid it beneath the fur she was holding and left the room without speaking to the trader or Zeeda.
* * *
“I am troubled as of late, Akia.”
“What troubles you, my Queen?” Akia leaned forward in the chair and stared intently at the queen.
They were sitting in the common room next to the fireplace and the queen stared at the flickering flames for a moment. “The massina hides something from me.”
Akia didn’t reply but a flickering flame of excitement lit in her belly. The queen studied her. “Can I trust you, Akia?”
“Aye, my Queen. With your life.”
“There is no need to put my life in your hands, Akia. Although I know how capable you are. You crave the position of massina, do you not?”
“I want to protect my Queen in whatever way I can,” Akia replied.
The queen
laughed. “Quinn is my fiercest warrior. She can best you even when she is injured and tired.”
Akia flushed. “Being the best warrior does not mean she is the best massina, my Queen.”
“Does it not? You think you would be better?”
“I do,” Akia said.
“Why?”
“Quinn is too soft-hearted.”
“Some would call it being fair,” the queen replied.
Akia snorted with derision. “A soft-hearted massina is a massina who cannot do her job. You need a warrior who keeps her people in line.”
“Your sisters respect Quinn,” the queen said. “They have no quarrel with her.”
“Aye, they do respect her,” Akia said. “There are some who say she is more respected than even you.”
“Is that what they say?” The queen snarled at her. She withdrew a dagger from the folds of her skirt and examined it in the light of the fire. “They respect the massina more than their queen?”
Akia chewed at her bottom lip nervously. “I do not respect her, my Queen.”
“That is obvious,” the queen snapped. “But you sit here and tell me that my people show the massina more respect than they do me. Did you expect that to please me?”
“No, my Queen,” Akia said. “But my respect for you demands me to be truthful. Quinn has wormed her way into the hearts of your people and I do not believe that is a good thing.”
“Nor do I,” the queen replied. “I need a favour of you, Akia.”
“Anything, my Queen,” Akia said eagerly.
“I want you to watch the massina carefully over the next few weeks. You will report to me on a daily basis of her activities.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Akia said.
The queen turned to stare at her and Akia’s blood ran cold at the look in her eyes. “If she discovers you are watching her, Akia, I will cut your eyes from your head and feed them to the pigs.”
“She won’t.”
“Make sure she does not,” the queen said. “I grow tired. Leave me.”
She turned her gaze back to the fire as Akia stood and bowed. “Thank you, my Queen.”
* * *