A Lady of the Realm (22 page)

An evil grin spread on Marcia’s face as she grabbed her goblet. Taking a deep swallow, she placed the goblet back down gingerly and wiped her mouth on the back of her sleeve.

“Something to hide? My House knows all eventually, Sigmund. Maybe it’s time I visited that infernal city.”

Sig’s hand became warmer against my arm when he realized I was about to say something.

“Don’t show up without a proper explanation,” I said.

I was tempted to call her all sorts of names, but I didn’t feel like dealing with Sig.

“Is that a threat?” Marcia had the audacity to ask with a grin.

“I don’t threaten. I find it’s a waste of time.”

“Bless your DeDe heart. They always were territorial. I don’t know what it is about that piece of swamp they love so much,” Maria said.

“Should I let you know now I’ll be in for Essence Fest?” Benji asked.

I turned my head to look at Sasha. He had a sinful smile on his lips, and he raised his glass to me in a salute. Lady Gail, who was sitting two chairs from him, signaled for a footman. A bottle of wine was brought to her. A round of drinks appeared at the same time she took her first sip. The tables magically cleared instantly. I was surprised I had a Kamikaze and Sig, a Fiji, in front of him. These guys knew all our drinking habits.

The true purpose of the get—together commenced when Gail stood and positioned herself between the two main tables. She wasn’t a tall woman, but she was imposing. As she stood, a slippery pink gown draping down her slim figure, no one breathed a word.

“Welcome to the annual American Court convention. I’d like to take the next few moments to introduce the heads of the high Houses to everyone once again, and to say what a pleasure it’s been to work with all of you this past year,” she said. Her eyes roved around the dining area as she sipped from her glass of wine. She placed the cup down and swept her hands out. People stood up as she named the sitting chairs for the races.

“Representing the fairies is Lord Frank, House of Sky. For the elves is Lord Rowland, House of Losalfar. Lord James, House of Siege, represents all specialty shifters. Lord Jack, House of Soeil, represents general shifters. Lord Gaelen, House of Cosmer, represents the demons. Lady Maria, House of Sangria, represents the entire vampire sector. Lord Benji, House of Drail, is representative for gargoyles and Lord Jon, House of Merle, represents witches.”

These introductions took but a minute to do. The guests assembled fidgeted in their seats to get a better look at those mentioned. I saw several people raise their glasses in a toast when their delegate’s name was called. I didn’t miss the slight of not introducing the mafia bankers, who were all in black suits looking churlish. A subtle change in Lady Gail’s tone made me pause the sorting out of names, titles, and species.

“I’d also like to introduce everyone to Lady Bethany escorted by Sir Sigmund. She’s our newest allodial. Her sector, House DeDe in Region Two,” she finished and gave me a blinding smile.

There were many grumbles after this announcement, and a few not so friendly smiles thrown my way.

“Thank you all for coming. Please mingle and renew friendships. Tomorrow is soon enough to begin work. Agendas have been left at your corresponding rooms so everyone will be on the same page.”

She refilled her glass gathering her slippery pink dress about herself and headed into an adjacent room, where music was softly playing. The strains of a haunting melody that escaped from the room made me groan. It was a damn ball. I hadn’t learned any formal dances. Sig pulled my chair out as I was formulating my escape.

“Stay away from Jack. Keep your temper under control, even if you have to bite your tongue off. I can fix it later. Dance with whoever asks for your hand except Sasha.”

“Sig?” I said under my breath pretending to search for a mint in the tiny clutch bag he had given me. He stopped running down the list of instructions as I whispered. “I don’t know how to dance.”

“Weren’t you taught?” he asked carefully as he brushed the sleeves of suit down.

“Are you serious?” Ballroom dancing wasn’t something my generation did.

“Your lack of education confounds me. Stick to drinking. You’re exceptionally talented in that area.”

He walked away after handing me a flute of champagne. I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out in his direction. Maria, leaving her escort behind to find his own way, walked beside me.

“I heard you had a run—in with Jack. I was thrilled to learn what you did to him,” she purred.

Instructions: Stay away from Jack and I assumed the subject. I sipped my champagne as Maria sipped from her glass.

“You’re a true vampire aren’t you? You weren’t made,” I asked. A true vampire was born, not made. They lived exceptionally long lives. My recent study into the vampire Houses had revealed not many vamps were made anymore. It was frowned upon, and those made were treated as inferior.

“No made vampires can ascend to the head of a House. Unheard of … like so many other traditions that are disappearing,” she said as she sipped from her glass and eyed me sideways. I scanned over the growing crowd on the dance floor and ignored the insinuation.

“What are they dancing to?” I asked, gesturing towards the twirling couples on the floor.

The doors had been open to the public, and it had suddenly become stifling. The ridiculously small fan Sig had provided was ineffective in stirring any air. In the middle of the swaying mass of bodies, I spotted Jack. His companion, a willing female by the look of adoration beaming from her eyes, was hard to miss. She wore something like genie clothes. Everything was sheer and translucent under the chandeliers. I sipped the champagne and stared unabashedly. Maria caught the direction of my gaze and chuckled.

“What was it about Jack that made you strike him? His charm perhaps?”

I sighed internally. I hoped Maria would’ve dropped the subject. Sig told me never to say what was on my mind. The truth was dangerous in the wrong hands. I took care on how I phrased my dislike.

“He caught me by surprise. It’s my first time meeting many of the Lords and Ladies,” I said.

Maria smiled knowingly. “My House is better behaved, especially with humans. We take a little here and a little there, and we always leave them with a lot of frivolous gifts they seem to adore,” she trilled softly. Maria tilted her glass towards Jack’s back as he twirled his partner. “His medieval ways need to be reformed,” she said with a strong lisp.

I turned to see what the problem was. Her fangs continued to elongate as she stared at Jack on the dance floor. I’d seen the fangs come out before, in some of my customers back home. Vamps couldn’t control the reaction during certain emotions. I was betting Maria didn’t want to jump his bones so she must not like him either.

“Can we?” I asked, forgetting to pretend I didn’t know what we were talking about.

Maria’s fangs disappeared back into her mouth. “Nothing lives forever,” she said.

Maria talked softly in the background as I studied the room. The room was like any other ballroom I’d ever visited. Of course, I’d always been serving drinks or waiting on tables at those other functions in the Quarter. Yet the walls here had the same tired cherub motif; and the moulding was an atrocious gaudy gold color.

There were no seats inside, I assumed, so that people could mingle. When I saw Katie come in, my mood soured. The werewolves headed straight for Sasha and his father, who were firmly entrenched by the liquor table, like any good elf, with the faeries.

I watched stoically as Katie latched on to Sasha’s arm and moved in closer to him. She slithered her thigh up his leg, pressing into him suggestively as she whispered in his ear.

“That wolf has no limits,” Maria said when she noticed where my attention was focused.

“You’ve got to strike while it’s hot,” I said under my breath.

“She’s been striking for four hundred years,” she said.

Maria continued to prattle about the gardens, the entertainment, her many lovers, and whatever else came to her mind. I made a note to send an invitation to my next party her way. I liked people who could ignore the obvious in an attempt to make you feel comfortable.

Sig had walked over to the demon fellow, whatever his name was. How was I supposed to keep up with all these names? They were talking in the corner of a room by themselves. No one approached the demons as they did the other heads of the Houses. It was odd. They had at least five feet of people—free space in every direction.

I saw Malachi in the other end of the room. He smiled when our eyes met and began walking my way. I was afraid to attempt polite conversation with him when he stood next to me. I tended to say exactly what was on my mind with him around, and I wasn’t at liberty to do so now.

“Having fun?” Malachi asked skeptically.

My facial features were frozen in a perpetual half-smile. Between ignoring the tramp on Sasha, Maria’s endless chatter, and my own speculations, I was nearing the quota of my allotted patience for the day.

“I’m peachy,” I replied.

Malachi looked about the room. “Would you care to dance?” he asked extending his hand out.

“I thought you liked me,” I hissed.

He arched his eyebrows at my answer. Placing his empty glass on a tray, he swung his arm around my shoulders. He massaged them gently as he bent down to meet my eyes.

“Let’s get out of here. We can find a better way to finish the evening in your rooms.”

I swatted at him because his words and actions had so much sexual innuendo. What those who heard the word play didn’t know was that Malachi had the unfinished game of chess on his mind. So far, I was up seven games to one, and he was less than thrilled. He’d popped out in frustration, not bothering to say goodbye, when I won the last game.

“Perfect idea,” I purred. I clasped his arm as we started for the door.

“See you around, Lady Beth,” Maria said with a wink.

I turned around to kiss the space just off her cheek. From my peripheral vision, I caught sight of Sasha, Katie on his hip. I swung my eyes in his direction and waved my fingers. He tilted his glass towards me and drank, his eyes never wavering.

Chapter Twenty-Seven
:
The Agenda

With Malachi staying the night, I got a good night’s rest after the insufferable dinner. Sig had to wake me up, pushing and prodding me like a parent with a sloth for a child. Sig . H yleueynpblfliqupisawaselfkbetweheatening to enter at any moment. Tendrils of energy slithered quietly down my ribs.

His breathing was nonexistent as he whispered against the nape of my neck.

“I believe the condition in the contract said you wanted to know when and why I would lay with another woman. When, will be in a few minutes. Why, many reasons. But the deciding factor shall be your reply to my next query.”

I stilled under him. He placed himself in such a position that struggling would be counterproductive. If I moved an inch in any direction, his cock would slip into my slippery cleft. I could feel the way my body responded to his touch. I was swollen and itchy, a thin sheen of sweat upon my naked body. I gulped and slammed my head into the pillow.

“I thought we agreed not to lose our tempers in bed?” I asked.

“I’m not angry, merely frustrated.”

“This position doesn’t give me a warm fuzzy feeling much less make me want to discuss anything with you.”

“Stop playing games with me. I didn’t bring any tolerance tonight.”

He didn’t budge. His lips, inches from my ear, caressed my earlobe. If it wasn’t for the leak in his mind, I might’ve believed his words about not being angry. He was angry enough to strike someone, and I was the only one in the room. He held a tight, coiled control over his feelings of which I was envious.

“I did make that stipulation. Thanks for sharing,” I finally said.

He chuckled darkly and let me go.

“I do enjoying keeping you happy,” he said, his lips caressing my neck.

My anger melted just as quickly as it had formed. It’d been an insufferably long time since his body pressed into mine. Why should I worry over the attraction, the power he had over me? I should be worried about what he planned to do with the power not that he had the power.

“I don’t like it when you play by your own rules,” I said. “We need conflict resolution classes.”

“Nothing’s changed, pet. I simply needed your complete attention on the conversation. Please answer the following question: Would you rather I conduct business or stay with you for the rest of the evening?”

He flipped me back over, and I curled my arms around his neck bringing him closer to me.

“You work too much…” I whispered huskily.

His naked body crushed mine, tendrils of electricity sparked where our skin touched. His hands, moving freely up and down my body, teased my thighs and hips with savage kneads. I whimpered, and the heat intensified between us. I wanted to feel him, to feel him inside of me. I opened my legs without hesitation when he nudged them apart with his knee. I groaned in pleasure as he filled me in one quick brutal thrust.

I grabbed his hair and pulled down, bringing his head closer to me. Blood flavored our kiss. My hands came free, raking his back savagely. He pulled away, and I looked into his eyes. The face should’ve frightened me. His features contorted in pain and pleasure. Two dark orbs, violet sparks on the edges, stared into my eyes. I wasn’t afraid of him. I was enthralled.

“Damn me, pet,” he said gruffly.

We flipped over, and I landed on top of him. His hands clenched my hips, rocking me up and down. He took a nipple into his mouth and rolled it between his teeth, the pain in harmony with the rocking motion of our bodies. My nails raked his chest leaving bloody trails that immediately began healing as soon as I finished gouging them. He moaned softly and bit harder as I clenched onto his shoulder.

“Sasha?” I moaned knowing he could interpret all my questions from the single word.

“I know,” he murmured as he brought me closer to him. He began to buck up furiously in the primal need to finish.