The maid shot her a curt glare, “Are you sure?”
“Yes! Must I forever be surrounded by you people, am I not entitled to some privacy?” The queen returned her glare and the woman picked up her laundry basket and left. Genie looked down at the tiny package in her hand and untied the string allowing the bundle to fall open. She sucked in her breath and nearly collapsed where she stood, she fumbled around behind herself looking for her chair without taking her eyes off the gift. Tears fell freely and she closed her palm around the single lock of Jocelyn’s hair.
Of course he would come for her, nothing could stop Mâvis from what he wanted, even if it meant putting their daughter in danger. She let out a sob and clutched the lock to her chest. A few hours later Genie found her composure and snuck down to the kitchen. She cloaked herself and scurried in after a chambermaid left, grabbing Lúta by the hand and dragging her back out.
Lúta’s face was covered in worry, “What are you doing? You will get us caught.”
Genevieve covered her friend’s mouth with one finger, “I will not, I promise, I must see her, Lúta. I must see my daughter.” She searched her friend’s face for an answer. “Please can you bring her?”
“I cannot bring that cub here, she would be in danger.”
Genie pressed her lips together as she heard footsteps coming. The two of them ducked into a dark hall and Genie covered herself with the cloak. They heard the outside door opened and close. The two women peered out from behind the shadows to see if whoever was in the hall had left. Genie turned to Lúta, “Go, see if it is safe to leave, I will follow you.”
Shock washed over Lúta’s face, “I am on shift, my absence will be noticed.”
“I swear I will be quick. If I know Mâvis he will be working, I must be out of there before he returns.” Genie’s pleas were desperate.
“What if you are noticed, the king will come for you Genie.” Lúta took both Genevieve’s hands, they were trembling as much as her own. “Okay, come take my clothes, your clothes are too fine to walk the street even with your cloak you will be noticed quickly. You go to my house and you come back before dinner. I swear if you fail the guards will kill us both.”
The women quickly swapped clothing and Genevieve put back on the cloak. She covered her face and Lúta plucked a market basket from the kitchen to ensure she looked like she was running errands. The two women kissed each other and wiped each other’s cheeks of tears before Genie dashed out the door. She quickly made her way up towards the street Lúta’s house was on, keeping her hood pulled down tight and her face lowered.
The minute she made it to the alley she dashed as fast as her feet could carry her and opened the door closing it quickly behind herself. She was completely out of breath as Ben peered out from the kitchen to see who was there. His jaw dropped open out of complete shock as Genevieve pulled back her hood, “Where is she?” Tears streamed down her face already.
Jocelyn appeared at his feet after hearing that voice. She immediately let out a cry and dashed across the floor to her mother’s open arms. Genie snatched her up and twirled into a chair sobbing and stroking the child’s hair. She kissed her daughter and sucked in the smell of her before letting out long breath and sobbing again.
Ben was moved to tears himself as he ducked back into the kitchen to give the woman some privacy.
She quietly kissed and rocked Jocelyn until the little girl was asleep in her arms. The door opened again this time Mâvis came in. Genevieve stood to leave as Mâvis laid his axe on the table and pulled off his armor. “Hello, love. It is good to see you, although you look somewhat surprised to see me.”
She shielded Jocelyn with her coat and backed away from him to leave, “Why did you bring her here, Mâvis? She is in danger. You all are in danger.”
“Sit down, woman!” He rumbled as he spoke and Jocelyn snapped awake and clung to her mother crying. Mâvis peeled the jacket back and reached for Jocelyn to caress her hair. His eyes softened and this time he was far more humble when he spoke, “Soothe her, she needs you.” He swallowed back his own pain and reached up to caress Genie’s cheek.
She obeyed his order and sat down again, Mâvis took a seat next to her, watching her with his daughter. Genevieve looked longingly at the little girl as she started to doze off again. Her lips trembled as she spoke, “I have missed her so much.” She kissed the little girl and then looked back at Mâvis.
He ran his hand through Genevieve’s hair before caressing her cheek. How he missed her, even in these servants’ rags she was stunning. “Take her upstairs, she has a beautiful room.”
Genie’s face melted into tears again, “Lúta, is in danger I have to return to the palace.” Again she stood to leave.
Mâvis stood as she did and inflated his chest with air before letting out a growl, “You are going nowhere. Human, take my daughter upstairs!” Ben immediately emerged from the kitchen and took Jocelyn.
“But, Mâvis, my husband will come for me.”
He snatched his axe off the table and backed her up into a wall before cramming the blade into the door jamb above her head “I am your HUSBAND! And I am betting on Vidar coming for you. If you love him you can watch as I rip his heart from his chest!”
“I hate that man.” Her breasts heaved with anger and she bit back her own rage, “I would gladly watch but I will not put my daughter in danger to do it!”
Mâvis reached for her face as his voice softened again, “My head is not clear without you. You and she both will always be safe with me, you know this.” His eyes searched her face for whatever emotion she could possibly be hiding from him. The moment he heard Ben close the door to Jocelyn’s room he snatched her mouth up with his in a long drawn out kiss.
He released her to see her reaction as she spoke, “Lúta is still at the palace, she waits for me.” Her lips trembled.
Mâvis growled again, “Damn it, woman, I will bind you if I must! You are NOT returning to that palace!” He kissed her again quieting her protest as he ripped the front of her blouse off her shoulder. He silently cursed his lost claws, as he would have shredded this garment by now. He lifted one of her legs and threw her skirts backwards to feel her thighs, so firm and warm. “Oh, how I have missed you, woman.” He found his way inside her quickly and now both her legs were off the ground as he drove her up into the wall stopping only to devour more of her mouth.
He grunted as the sensation of her claws ran across his back feeding his appetite for her even more. He felt her release for him and found himself doing the same after a few feverish thrusts. He kissed her more now, and refused to let her go as he sunk to his knees with her still wrapped around him. She squirmed to escape him as she realized he wasn’t about to stop anytime soon. It was useless to struggle as his kissing was relentless again and he soon had her back in the same feverish frenzy he was in.
When he finally collapsed with his head against the wall, he was completely breathless. She drew her claws through his mane of hair until he finally looked into her eyes. “I swear I will never lose you again, Genevieve. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mâvis, but I am so scared.” She swallowed back her fears and scrambled to put herself into a decent state before anyone else walked in.
Lúta made it home late in the evening to find Ben sitting on the front steps drinking from his flask. The crossbow sat on his lap. He took immediate note of her fancy attire, “You look amazing.” He scooted aside to make room for her as she sat, she looked away from him trying to fight back tears and he drew her face back around, “Hey, it’s okay dear. Everything will be fine.”
“No, Ben it will not. I fear what they will do to you.” She brushed his hand off her face, “They will torture you Ben. She was supposed to come back before Vidar returned, it is nightfall and she still has not returned. I risked my life, hiding in a closet all day so I would not be seen in her gown. They are going to come for her and they will be sure to punish every one of us.” The fear in her eyes nearly scared
him. “This is treason.”
He was apologetic, “It’s not her fault. Mâvis won’t let her leave.” He reached through her rejection and touched her face again.
She closed her eyes and leaned into him as he put his arm around her and drew her close. They sat together for about an hour until Beatrice and Avarr came up the walkway. Avarr laid his axe by the door and stood pouring some vodka for Ben. “You look chilled, human.”
Ben flashed his flask, “Thanks, but I already have some.”
Avarr leaned next to them on the stoop and took a swig off the mug himself, “Beatrice, bring us out some food, love.”
Lúta stood and brushed off her dress before preceding Bea into the house. The two of them entered the kitchen to find Genevieve in there still teary-eyed from her continued discussion with Mâvis.
Mâvis rolled his eyes as the two women walked in, seeing he had no privacy he ducked out of the kitchen passing between the two of them. He paused for a second to gloat at Lúta, “You did well, woman.” She responded with vicious slap across the face, and the rage in her eyes burned. Mâvis rubbed his cheek and laughed as he went outside to join the men.
Lúta noticed Genevieve’s sleeve was torn, “Are you alright?”
The question pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked down as if she had forgotten about the sleeve, “Goodness, yes. You know he would never hurt a woman. He was a little too eager is all.” Her expression turned desperate, “I need to escape. If I do not return Vidar will come looking for me.”
Lúta looked away and bit her lip to keep it from trembling, then brought her eyes back to Genie, “If you leave, Mâvis will kill Ben.”
Genie rolled her eyes in frustration, “Ben saved our daughter. Why is he bringing this on us?”
Beatrice pulled the queen into her arms as the woman let out a sob. Bea stroked her hair, “Everything will right itself, you have to have faith.”
Lúta reached for Genie’s torn sleeve and pulled a sewing kit from her pocket to close the tear. After a few minutes of fumbling with the thread in frustration, Beatrice grabbed it from her hands and turned Genie into the light, “Pin it for me, please.” Lúta held the garment together as Bea sewed it, “There, that ought to hold you for a bit.”
Chapter 25
The house remained pretty full for the next few days as the three families swapped off watching for Vidar to come for his bride. Mâvis and Avarr would take turns with work duties as well, to keep the home stocked and fed.
Ben had just finished a few repairs when he came into the kitchen for lunch finding Mâvis and Genie locked in a kiss by the sink. Mâvis shoved off her grunting at the interruption and went into the parlor to sit for lunch. Ben poured some tea and followed him to the table offering him one of the mugs, “You’re back for lunch early today.”
Mâvis didn’t respond as he sat chewing at his newly growing claws. Ben reached down and grabbed one of Mâvis’s hands to inspect them. He released the hand quickly seeing the deadly scowl this drew and asked, “Is biting them a good idea?”
Mâvis reached for the tea Ben had put on the table, “I sharpen them with my teeth. Perhaps you should try it. Your claws are like paper.”
“A symbiotic relationship, that is fascinating. If I tried that I would be at a loss for both my claws and my teeth.” Ben replied as he sat sipping on his own tea. Genevieve and Lúta brought food in for both of the men and joined them to eat it.
“I have no patience for your riddles, human.” Mâvis grumbled.
Ben toyed with his food for a moment before turning back to Mâvis, “I have a question,” He thought carefully on it for second but realized that he now had to commit to it as Mâvis was staring at him, waiting to hear. “When you and Avarr go to work, where do you go?”
Mâvis brushed the question off as insignificant and returned to his food, “That is not your concern.”
Genevieve immediately snapped at him, “Mâvis!”
He sat up and let off a low growl before turning back to Ben, “Why do you need to know? Would you like to do it?” The reply started in a sneer but ended in a hearty grin most likely at the thought of Ben completing the task in his mind.
“I’m just curious, I mean I can’t imagine Avarr is still at the palace as a guard. I’m more than sure you’re not. With every creature here appearing to be on edge at your presence I just wonder where is there left to find employment?” Ben now chewed himself out for being so stupid as to inquire.
Mâvis shot a look to Genevieve to show his reluctant, obedience and then back down to his food as he spoke, “There is always work for a thug as you like to say. I am called upon to enforce contracts. There is never a shortage of this work for me, even when I am hired as guard.”
Genevieve butted in, “He is not just sought out for his skill however. Mâvis is fair no matter who employs him. He can see through lies quickly and will not take kindly to deception for his skills.”
Mâvis was now eyeing Ben for signs of his reaction as Genevieve spoke, he watched as Ben bit at his inner lip quietly, never looking up. He stopped looking when she finished speaking and took another bite of his food before issuing an order, “Share your thoughts, Abbott.”
Ben stopped chewing and looked back at Mâvis in shear shock of the fact that he heard his own name, “I just find what Genie said fascinating. At times I am not sure who I serve is all. You’re always full of surprises. One day I’m in the service of the ruthless and unforgiving Mâvis and the next it is the fair man she describes. The one that saved my wife and avenged my death. The part I find difficult is that I never know which one I’m in the presence of.”
Ben stood and picked up his plate to leave as Mâvis sat dwelling on Ben’s words. He picked at his teeth for a moment as if deep in thought then he turned to his wife as if to say something only to find her eyes burning into him. He kissed her on the forehead and flashed a toothy grin as he stood to leave, “What? I must keep him on his toes, woman. He will not last long here if he is too comfortable.”
Chapter 26
Beatrice and Ben went a few times to get supplies from her home for the new place and on one of the trips back they were stopped by a guard from King William’s army. “Is your husband home?” Bea stopped dead in her tracks and watched him approach, she was immediately suspicious of the heavily scarred warrior, “I am sorry, woman. My name is Reagan and I am looking for Avarr…Or even better Mâvis.”
“I am sorry I do not know who you speak of, good evening.” She turned to go back into her house and lock the door. Ben followed her a bit confused as he looked back over his shoulder at the heavy scarred warrior.
The guard cleared his throat, “Forgive me, but I know the human you are with to be his slave and the tavern owner said I would find him in this cottage.”
She tugged Ben inside and went to shut the door, “Well you are wrong, now go before I summon our guards.”
Reagan stomped up to the door and shoved his foot into it, “Would you not find that risky seeing that you harbor your king’s fugitive bride? I am here to lend my assistance and Mâvis sent for me.”
She opened the door back up and peered up at him apologetically, “I was being cautious. If you will wait at the tavern I will fetch him.”
“That is much better. Just to be sure he is prompt I will hold his human till he comes. Should Mâvis stand me up he will make nice gift for King William.” Reagan shot Ben a glare and nodded in the direction of the tavern.
Ben followed reluctantly, “I really should make sure she gets back safely.”
Reagan laughed, “You are nothing if not funny, human, what would you protect her from? She would fare better protecting you.” Reagan held the tavern door open and shoved Ben in.
There was a lot of King William’s men already in the tavern, drinking heavily and laughing. Reagan walked up to the bar and threw a bag of trinkets down for the barkeep to go through. “Feed my friend whatever he likes.”
“Thank you,” Ben repl
ied before turning to the barkeep, “Do you have any more of that deer meat? I swear if I eat anymore wolf I will become one.” Reagan went to talk to some of the other warriors as Ben was served a heaping plate of meat and vegetables.
It took all of a few minutes for Reagan to get lost in discussion with a few other warriors. The moment he turned his back Kevin and Mark stepped up to the bar looking to take advantage of an opportunity, both to get paid and to get rid of the man-killer, Mâvis. “These warriors are looking for your master.” Kevin slapped Ben on the back, “They are looking to pay well for his whereabouts.”
Ben rolled his eyes, fearing that if he did not get rid of these two before Mâvis showed up this would turn into a bloodbath. He casually went to reach for his ale, “I’m sorry I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mark leaned on the bar eyeing Ben now, trying to intimidate him into answering, “You should give him up, he will kill you when he is through with you. How do you think he ended up with that little girl?”
Ben put the mug down and glared hard back into Mark’s eyes, “First off you don’t know what you’re talking about. Second off you need to go.”
Kevin whirled Ben’s chair back around to his direction, “Look, I know you can’t talk freely in front of him but he isn’t here. Come up with some excuse to drag him down here and let these guys handle him.”
Ben finished chewing and rolled his eyes, “Damn it, what is wrong with you? Take a fucking hint!” He cocked his fist and swung hard at Kevin.
The man fell back and Mark grabbed Ben pinning him for Kevin to retaliate. Ben leaned into the man that was pinning him and kicked Kevin in the chest before heaving forward and pulling Mark over his body and sending him to the floor. Reagan grinned and accepted a wager on the slave to win as bets started flying around the room
As Mark made it to his feet he pulled a long hunting knife from his boot and readied it to continue the fight, “Why are you protecting him? He is a killer and a fugitive!”
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