Deceptive Lord (Lords of Bondage) (11 page)

“Right.
It is nice to have something that belongs only to me.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Weeks passed, and
Drest
was very attentive to her
.
They shared meals and she start
ed
to acquire a taste for the foreign foods
.
They shared their bodies with each other, frequently and at long length.
He was gone much of the day, as he was heavily involved in training at the
College of
Bards, a training program that could take twenty years to complete.
She learned that he was studying the history of ancient cultures and she was glad to know they had some interests in common.
She was excited to teach him about Flourda’s history and culture, and he seemed to enjoy discussing such topics with her.
Things went smoothly until
his
home was invaded by
an A
sstrumnian
female
.

Her name was Boadacea Donovan, daughter of the
King
, which basically made her a princess.
She acted in a very forward manner toward Drest, placing kisses on his cheek and making suggestive comments.
Eden could tell that
he
was in no way encouraging her, as he appeared uncomfortable whenever she approached.

Boadacea was obviously displeased to find a woman living in
his abode.
“What is that?
Some kind of pet?
I did not realize you were fond of animals.”

He looked at her sharply.
“Her name is Eden.
Treat her with respect
.”

“She wears your mark.
Why would you do that?
You’ll waste time breeding with that human and you will be unable to find a proper mate.”

“What are you doing here, Boadacea?
You should be at
Donovan,
the
King
’s stronghold, where you will be safe and protected.”

“I had to come here because you have been gone for too long.
I missed you.
My brother misses you and worries that you have become too fond of the human.
I see that he was right.
You have lost your head.
Or perhaps it is only the effect of the mating bond.
I will offer myself to you, to cure you of your addiction.
Mark
me,
and the bond with the human will fade and be replaced with something more appropriate to our stations.
The
King
would like to see a union between us.
My brother, who is your greatest friend, would like to see us become one family.
You must do this.”

Drest shook his head.
“I care for you, Boadacea, but we would not suit.
The
King
knows this,
Brennus
knows this, and I know this.
It is time for you to accept it.
Choose one of your many suitors.”

“Is it this human?” Boadacea cried.
“I can love you like only an Asstrumnian can.
She is weak and cannot even survive on her own.”

“This has nothing to do with her,”
he
stated.
“I cannot love you, Boadacea.”

“You already love me.
You’ll come to your senses soon enough.”
Boadacea tried to kiss him on the lips, but when
he
turned away from her, she had to settle for his cheek.
She then vanished, transporting herself
from the lodge in an instant
.

Eden felt vulnerable, as the princess was beautiful and a member of his own species.
Surely, he would prefer to be with one of his own.
Why would he not want an alliance with royalty?
“Are you promised to her?”

“No.
She’s had a girlish crush on me since she was a child.
It’s past time that she outgrew it; it’s getting
annoying.
I’ll speak with
Brennus
and see if he can talk some sense into her.”

“So you
aren’t fond of her, don’t want to be with her?”

“No, I’m not fond of her, not in that way.”

Eden felt
somewhat
reassured.
She did not want to lose him to another.
“Are you fond of me, then?”

“I want to be with you all of the time, but it’s because you’re marked.
The mating bond is artificial; it exists solely for procreation.
It makes us both feel things, but it’s a physiological response.
It’s a physical need, like breathing and eating.
We cannot function without each other because our needs are too strong, but
if it wasn’t for the mating bond, we wouldn’t be so desperate for each other.
Don’t get emotional feelings mixed up with physical ones.
”

“I think you’re wrong.
I feel more.” Eden could tell by the look on his face that he pitied her.
He had already decided that the foolish human didn’t understand; she could tell there would be no convincing him otherwise, so she let the matter drop.
“Is she right, that the bond could be broken?”

“Bonds do not break that easily.
Even if I marked another, the bond I have with you wouldn’t necessarily break.
It would only break if the other one marked was more genetically
compatible and would produce stronger offspring.”

“She is one of your
kind
.”

“
That would not mean that we would be a good genetic match,”
he
said.
“Do you know about inbreeding, about what happens when people too closely related try to breed?
The offspring tends to be susceptible to disease and other types of genetic problems.
I’ve seen evidence of it with my people, and the outcome can be pretty horrific.”

“Do you need humans for breeding?
That is the rumor I had heard about the Asstrum.”

“The reports of humans being abducted for breeding purposes are largely exaggerated
.
Those are just
scary stories spread around to keep the humans in line and to stop them from venturing into our territories.
However, our females have been experiencing fertility problems of late, so that could change.
Especially since we have a declining number of females already.”

She wondered how he would feel when she reached her fertile period.
Would he actually try to impregnate her, or would he
use preventive measures and happily return her to her country when their bond dissolved?
“The entire world has been experiencing those problems.
I had heard that only twenty percent of the world’s population is female and many of those females are infertile.”

“That is also what our scientists have been telling us.
If things do not change, both of our species could become extinct.”
He embraced her and held her closely.
“We may not be soul mates, but I am fond of you.
I need you now, in fact.
I need you naked on the bed.”

She
took him by the arm and led him to the bed.
The need was strong in her as well, but she felt that it was more than mere attraction.
She was already emotionally attached, and regardless of what he claimed, she knew that he was hers
, at least physically
.
Even if she did not hold his heart, she knew that no other female did either.
Perhaps it would be enough.

***

“I see you finally made an appearance at Donovan,” Brennus stated.
“I was beginning to wonder whether you were still alive.
You’ve been absent of late.
Haven’t you had your fill of the female by now?
The
King
’s
starting to
question me about your absence and I’m running out of excuses.”

“I hadn’t realized I was away that long,” Drest said.
“I’ve been through some particularly rigorous training sessions lately at the college.”

Brennus smiled and shook his head.
“Let me guess, these rigorous training sessions were conducted under your bedcovers, am I right?”

“No.
That’s not it
.
I am to start my druidry training soon, and as you know, it is very difficult.”

“You’re not yet an Ollam
h
.
”
An Ollam
h
was the highest ranking of the Bard class.
“Tear yourself away from that female for a time.
Others will wonder why she’s so irresistible to you, so much so that you cannot bear to be away from her bed.”

“She’s not irresistible.
It’s just the mating bond in action.
Who knows about her besides you and your brothers?”

“I’ve told no one, but Brett and Brendan are starting to ask too many questions.
Ever since you showed up with her, they’ve been obsessed with human females.
”

Concern was evident in Drest’s eyes.
“Why?
They have females aplenty, the pick of our race.”

“They have several that serve the fine, but fifty or more years of the same three have gotten rather stale.
Even I rarely partake of their offerings any longer.”

“Perhaps they should take mates
.
Being
royal
, they shouldn’t have a problem finding good
matches.”

“Actually, matches were arranged dozens of times, but none of us were able to mark any of the females chosen.
All were females of good birth, young and healthy, and from various regions in Asstrumnia.
None could be marked.
We don’t yet know the reason.
Our laws forbid
unions between couples who cannot form a mating bond, as those couples would be infertile.
Our population is decreasing and we need numbers to survive the coming wars.
I was glad you were able to mark your human.
She
would have been wasted on the fine; we need females for breeding.
I don’t think Brett and Brendan understand that.
Those Romans and Flourdans can breed like rabbits, and if they continue to do so, they’ll grow strong enough to overtake us in a few hundred years.
We’ll shrink in numbers till we are extinct.”

Drest didn’t trust Brennus’
s
brothers, especially Brett and Brendan.
“Could they mark human females if they tried, or would that fail as well?”

“I’m not sure
.
The
King
wants his sons to make good matches with Asstrumnians.
He’ll keep arranging more potential matches, and perhaps in time, some will be found.”

“And you?”

Brennus emitted a strangled sound and his eyes widened.
“I’m content to let others do the breeding.
Eventually, someone from the Donovan line will produce an heir.
Boadacea needs to be introduced to some more eligible males.
I intend to try to broker an alliance with one of the Northern Asstrumnian kings.
The North and the South have not been friendly in the past, but an alliance would be beneficial now.”

Drest
noticed Brett and Brendan heading toward them, which could only mean trouble.
He
knew that Brennus
did not get along with those particular brothers.
Unfortunately, Brett and Brendan were
the
King
’s
favorite sons.
The fighting between the brothers had caused his father
to threaten banishment, but not for Brett and Brendan.
The
King
had made it clear that if one had to leave to keep the peace, it would be the son that was not favored.
He had a feeling that diplomatic missions to North Asstrumnia were in
Brennus’s
future
.
He may one day even find himself
in
the New World,
which was as far from Ravenwood as one could get.
When people went through that
ancient
portal, they came back with
the strangest objects, and none of those things could be found in their world.

“Brennus, the
King
would like a word,” Brett said.
Brennus had no choice but to answer the summons.
After he was gone, he sidled closer to the bard.
“I hear you keep a human female in your house.
I didn’t take you for a pelt
connoisseur
.
Brendan and I are collectors; we’ve sampled quite a few pelts already.
I didn’t know we had anything in common with you; I thought you were a blockhead like Brennus.
When I heard that you took a thrall, we decided we liked you a little better.
”