Slave

by Candace Blevins

  However, I’d only been taught the basics of how to read, and it was determined I needed to learn reading and math skills, as well as history. I actually didn’t mind the history lessons so much, though it bothered me someone had to read the book to me, since I struggled to do so at first.

  This only propelled me to learn to read faster, and before long I’d graduated from children’s books to the kind without pictures. I tried to focus my sexual energy into learning, but I snuck a cucumber from our kitchen gardens into my bedroom when I was desperate for relief. Unfortunately, nothing worked, and I eventually stopped trying because it only left me more frustrated.

  The guard my Queen had sent to watch over me left after the first month, and made my bank account available to me before he took his leave. My Grandfather hadn’t known about it, and seemed dismayed at first, but didn’t explain why.

  The loss of the guard hit me hard. I thought it meant my Queen had forsaken me, and my tears started again. In my mind, the guard had represented her, as if she were watching over me. His presence was proof she still cared for me, and his leaving made me think she was gone from my life for good.

  It also meant my Grandfather started teaching me more about money, and about how to shop, bargain, and make sure no one took advantage of me. He continued to pay my expenses, but he let me see how he did it, so I could one day do so myself, should I choose to move out.

  With the loss of my ever-present guard, I awoke earlier and ran longer, until my body hurt and I could fly with the pain. I took cold baths instead of warm, to prolong the feeling, but then I had to don a fancy dress and shoes so I could look the part of an Amethyst.

  Eventually, I began to understand what Her Majesty had wanted me to know. I gradually became my own person, not owned by anyone, but with a family who accepted and cared for me simply because I was related to them. The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months, my cousins and I grew close, and it changed everything. Her Majesty had wanted me to feel the cocoon of a family, and I finally did. We had things in common because we were related — not just our hair and nails, but the shape of our toes, the angle of our chin, and our extra-thick eyelashes. Even my male cousins, who were larger, had our hair and nails, and enjoyed similar food.

  My cousins took me shopping, took me out to eat, and taught me to ride a horse. My days were full, and I was often so tired at night I fell straight asleep — but I always awakened a slave and had to remember I wasn’t.

  Even when merely walking down the road, my instinct was to avoid eye contact because to do so had literally been beaten into me as a child. Slaves don’t look free people in the eye. Slaves aren’t really human. They’re less than. Something between an animal and a person, though many animals have more rights than slaves, so perhaps slaves are even lower than some of the beasts of Faerie. I remembered wanting apples when they were fed to the horses during the trip from my former owner to Her Majesty’s castle. I’d been lower than even the beasts of burden.

  In my mind, I wasn’t a human, I was only pretending. However, it was important to keep up the façade, because my cousins and Grandfather were terribly uncomfortable when I reminded them of my former slave status. They were never upset with me, but I hated making them feel bad, so I avoided it at all costs.

  Also, the trick with the hat and sunglasses at the carnival had shown me the wonders of sunglasses. When wearing them, no one knew if I was looking at them or the ground, and I didn’t have to be so conscious about eye contact as long as I held my head straight. Grandfather didn’t fully approve of me wearing them, but he only occasionally told me to remove them before I went out. I purchased them in a variety of colors, so they’d match most of my outfits. When combined with a matching hat, I felt hidden, and it was easier to greet people I met on the road or the woodland trails. I tried to plan my outings on sunny days, and stay home on cloudy ones, so I’d have the protection of my sunglasses.

  My Grandfather took such good care of me, I felt I should contribute to the household in some way, but all I knew how to do — besides sex — was laundry, and my Grandfather insisted he paid people to do the menial work. When I tried to do it anyway, he told me his employees depended on their pay, and if I took their job from them, they might not be able to feed their families.

  So, I concentrated on my studies and eventually began showing my cousins how to do yoga.

  My Great-Grandfather lived in the biggest house on our lands — a castle, though not even a tenth the size of Her Majesty’s castle. My Grandfather, numerous great uncles, and a myriad of aunts and uncles lived in less substantial manor houses — though even the smallest was gargantuan compared to the homes in the nearby village. I had too many cousins to count, many of whom lived close, but some who’d moved to their spouse’s family estate. Still, I got to know all of them — some I liked more than others, but I was told this was normal. A core group of eight of us spent time together at least once a week, and I grew to love them as I imagined one feels about siblings.

  My family didn’t seem to care that I was mostly human and had no magic of my own. I made an offhand remark to one of my cousin’s about it one day when I asked her to please light a candle for me, and the next day my Great-Grandfather arrived as Grandfather and I finished breakfast. He sat with me in the garden and showed me how to access my magic. I’d been told all my life I didn’t have it, but he coaxed my power from a part of me I hadn’t known existed. I didn’t have much, but I could turn the pages of my book, produce a small flame on the tip of my finger, and charm small woodland creatures into coming to me.

  This, once again, changed everything. My entire self-identity flipped during the three hours my distinguished, ultra-proper Great-Grandfather sat with me and introduced me to a part of myself I hadn’t known about. I went from being a slave pretending to be a human with a little pixie blood, to being a pixie with some human characteristics. Somehow, it made me less slave and more freeperson, in my head. I still avoided eye contact on the street, and I still had to remember I wasn’t a slave every morning when I awakened, but there were times during the day I felt like an actual person. It was no longer a pretense twenty-four hours a day.

  My cousins set me up with men, but they were so nice and courteous, it was a nightmare. I faked my orgasms to keep from making them feel bad, and I never went out with anyone more than once. Finally, I told my cousins I didn’t think I was ready to date, and they stopped setting me up with men.

  Her Majesty had ripped out a piece of my heart by sending me away. I eventually became convinced nothing would repair the damage. It would always be an open wound, but I found ways to fill my days so I didn’t focus on my pain.

  However, I spent the entire Summer Solstice in the woods, far from anyone who’d see me crying. I’d been given to her Majesty on this day the year before, and my heart broke all over again, wishing I still belonged to her.

  The following day, I remembered the books she’d packed in my trunk. I could make my way through grown-up books by then, so I looked in my closet and found them on a shelf near the back.

  One of the books was on magical theory. I was determined to get through it without help, but eventually asked my Grandfather to help me with some of the concepts. I read a chapter a week for twelve weeks, because reading it from beginning to end non-stop would’ve been too much, and I wouldn’t have grasped each theory as I’m sure Her Majesty wished. I wasn’t sure why she’d wanted me to learn about it when — as far as she knew — I didn’t have my own magic, but I was still following her wishes.

  One of the books was a fiction book, contrasting a brother who made good decisions with one who didn’t, and a sister who refused to decide anything and let fate decide her lot in life. Her Majesty had known this would be a challenge for me, and I supposed this was her way of helping me through it. The moral of the story, it seemed, was the fates are fickle bitches, so you should carefully think through the outcome of all choices before picking one over the others.

>   There was also a book on gaming strategy, and she’d put a note into the front of the book with a list of games she thought I should play with my family. I loved her for gifting me this book, because the games provided hours of fun with my Grandfather in the evenings, and with my cousins when we had nothing else to occupy our time — but they also taught me so much about life that I’d never considered. Playing cards, and little marbles on a board. Who knew these things could provide so much fun, but also illustrate concepts and strategies I’d never needed to know while a slave.

  And finally, she sent a children’s tale of a boy who was sold into slavery by a jealous uncle, but who one day became King as an old man. It was long and wonderfully sordid in places, but I wasn’t sure why she sent it. I’d never be Queen. I didn’t want to be Queen — I wanted to belong to Her Majesty.

  Little did I know, my biggest lessons and challenges were yet to come, and I wouldn’t be able to hide behind my sunglasses when I faced them.

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  THANK YOU FOR READING Slave. If you have the time and inclination, please consider leaving a short review wherever you can. It really makes a difference

  Keep reading for a sneak peek of Lady, the second book in the Dark(ish) Faerie Tale quadrilogy.

  Bibliography

  If you enjoyed Slave, you may also like other books set in the same universe, though in different series.

  Chattanooga Supernaturals series, paranormal romance:

  The Dragon King (Aaron Drake’s story, and the first time we meet Duke and Brain)

  Riding the Storm (Kendra and Eric’s story)

  Acceptable Risk (Bethany, Ranger, Mac, and Jonathan’s story)

  Careful What You Ask For (Britches story)

  Hallowed Destiny – Forged by Darkness

  Uncaged (Ghost’s mother’s story)

  Only Human series, urban fantasy

  Only Human

  An Unhuman Journey

  Of Humans and Monsters

  Defining Human

  Edge of Humanity (June 2018)

  Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club Series

  Duke

  Brain

  Bash Volume I

  Bash Volume II

  Bash Volume III

  Horse

  Nix

  Gonzo (where we first meet Britches/Briana)

  Ghost

  Bud

  Razor

  The Dark Underbelly of The Chattanooga Supernaturals

  Pride (A short story featuring The Lion King)

  Indentured Freedom: Owned by the Vampire (Gavin)

  Leashed (Abbott)

  An Elegant Weapon (Bran)

  A Dark(ish) Faerie Tale

  Slave

  Lady

  Consort

  Queen

  The Safeword series, intense BDSM contemporary romance

  Safeword Rainbow

  Safeword: Davenport

  Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon

  Safeword: Quinacridone

  Safeword: Matte (Sam and Ethan Levi’s story, we first meet Frisco and Cassie)

  Safeword: Matte – In Training

  No Safeword: Matte – The Honeymoon

  No Safeword: Matte – Happily Ever After

  Safeword: Arabesque (Frisco, Cassie, Isaac, and Cam’s story)

  Safeword: Mayday (TBA)

  Check out other books by Candace Blevins at candaceblevins.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Lady.

  A Dark(ish) Faerie Tale, Book Two

  Chapter One

  Tabby

  The Amethyst family hosted a huge ball at my Great-Grandfather’s castle for the Fall Equinox. I had great fun shopping with my cousins — gowns, shoes, corsets, makeup, jewelry. There was so much to consider, and then the day of the ball, my female cousins gathered together to help each other get ready. It was almost like a party-before-the-party.

  In the days leading up to the ball, I learned my Great-Grandfather was a Duke, and I was a titled Lady. Along with my cousins, I’d be introduced as noble, and everyone would have to address me as My Lady or Lady Tabitha. My Great-Grandfather brought someone in to teach me the rules, but it turned out I already knew most of them — just from the other side. Still, I needed lessons in curtsying, in how to address nobility higher than me as well as lower than me, and how to interact with those without a title. Also, how to speak to employees and slaves, because both would be distributing drinks and food during the ball.

  Hardest of all was how to accept the respect owed my position, because it involved the expression I held on my face and the way I held my body when I stood. I’m certain they should’ve given me a few weeks to prepare, instead of days, but my cousins felt I’d get too nervous if I had so much time, and were sure I’d be fine. They thought it was simple because they grew up titled. They had no idea how I’d grown up, and no way was I ever going to tell them.

  I also learned, I’d had this time to get used to being free without knowing I was titled because — by order of Her Majesty — no one was to address me as nobility until the equinox. Likewise, no one could address my family as nobility when I was around. The shopkeepers, the villagers, our maids and gardeners — everyone had been spelled so they wouldn’t address my family as nobility in my presence until I got used to the idea of being a freeperson. The Dark Queen wanted me to gradually learn who I was.

  I wondered what else was being kept from me, but Grandfather assured me there were no more big secrets, and I now knew everything.

  Once again, my heart yearned for my beautiful Dark Queen, but she was out of my reach.

  I had fun getting ready for the ball, even with my nerves nearly making me sick at times. However, waiting in line to be introduced was terrifying. My cousins were right about my handling it okay though, and despite my fears, I had great fun. I’d been taught all the dances during my pleasure-slave training, so at least this part of the ball came easy for me. I danced with so many men, I’d lost track in the first ten or fifteen minutes, but as I swapped from one man to another an hour into the dancing, my steps faltered when I recognized someone from Her Majesty’s castle.

  Devin.

  Suddenly, I was the slave again. I lowered my gaze, and my body morphed back into the kind of grace a slave uses instead of a freeperson, but I kept dancing.

  “You aren’t her anymore, My Lady. I was looking forward to getting to know the new Lady Tabitha.”

  I took a breath and met his gaze. I didn’t know anything about him, just that he’d been one of the many men Her Majesty had let spank me, fuck me, and use me while I ate her out.

  “I’m afraid I’m at a disadvantage. You know more about me than I do you.”

  “I am Devin, My Lady. I’m a poet, and I have no fancy titles. Your Great-Grandfather has hired me to write a poem for one of your cousins, to be read during the celebration following her wedding next year. I’m here tonight to learn more about her.”

  “Do you have what you need from her yet, or do you still need to spend time with her?”

  He lifted his brows. “What are you asking, Lady Tabitha?”

  I danced him to the edge of the dance floor and off it before pulling his head down so I could whisper into his ear. “You know what I need, Devin. I’ve gone on dates my cousins set up, but...” I shrugged and pulled back to meet his gaze again. “They were nice. Attentive. Sweet. I didn’t know what to do with them.”

  “Would it be too forward of me to ask if we can go for a walk, Lady Tabitha?”

  My clit throbbed with hope, but I kept my demeanor so no one around would notice. “A lovely idea, Devin. A walk would be nice.”

  Devin walked me to a courtyard with a couple kissing in a dark corner, and he took me to the opposite corner, his arms around me as if we were lovers.

  “I understand what you’re asking, My Lady, but I’m a mere employee of your Great-Grandfather, it’s impossible for me to...” H
e kissed my forehead and pulled me into a hug. “You’ll need to find someone equal-to or above your station before you can even ask this of them. I’m certain you’ll find what you’re looking for, but you’ve been away from The Winter Queen’s castle less than a year. Give it some time, yes?”

  “I’m pretty sure a few of my cousins would likely just order someone to do as they want, but I can’t pull it off.” It’d been hard enough to ask for it from someone who already knew what I needed — no way could I order it. Besides, it wouldn’t be the same if I had to demand someone whip me. I didn’t want to be in control where sex was concerned.

  “Give it time, My Lady.”

  “I appreciate the explanation, and your thoughtfulness to get me away from the crowd for our conversation.”

  “I can give you the kind of kiss you’re looking for, but the rest...” He shrugged. “It wouldn’t be appropriate, and I value the trust the Duke has given me by hiring me, and by allowing me into his home.”

  We walked back to the ballroom arm-in-arm. “Do you write poems for the Winter Queen? Is that why you were at Her Majesty’s castle?”

  “I write and perform them, and she often provides extra rewards for a job well-done, My Lady.”

  So, he’d been allowed to use me as an extra reward. I sighed with the realization the Queen could give me to this man, but I couldn’t give myself to him.

  I danced perhaps another thirty minutes before taking my leave to the guest bedroom I’d been assigned at my Great-Grandfather’s house, where I cried myself to sleep. My Queen’s reign began on this night, and all I could think of was what she was doing at that moment. I craved the whip, the belt, the cane. My skin itched and crawled with need, but I had to accept I’d never feel any of them again.