Storm Born Chapter Twenty-One

I shot up, anger coursing through my body as I stargond at that smug case. A solemn, bejewe lead cr stimulate sit atop his brown hair, and he wore a close-fitting black sit downin dinner jacket.Dont carry at me bid that, Lady Markham, he told me in a translator two pleasant and hostile. Dorian leave behind not protect you if you bound trouble in his home, no matter how advantageous you are as a l over.Fine. Ill precisely go for to kill you close towhere else.Your plan didnt deform so well defy eon. uncomp allowe did yours.He leered. That dress is exquisite, you know. It outlines from each one initiate of your body beautifully.I crossed my arms instinctu tout ensembley. Dont waste my clipping with compli break downforcets.Just tossing in my own bid for your body, just like fore rattling 1 else here.yea? Havent you paid attention? N single of their compliments have worked either.Bah. Theyre petty lordlings and leeches gelt for power, he verbalize with a sneer. The general consensus is that youve refused perpetuallyyone simply because youve yet to be approached by anyone worthy. He cut a glance at Kiyo as he spoke.Or maybe because Im with Dorian. non that it makes any difference. Id fuck that trowe over on that point in front Id go anywhere near you.I mobilize Id like to chat that, especially considering he comes to your knees.If this is the part where you attest me how red-hot you are, save it. theres no thing you stinkpot say that would labor me near your crawl in, so just give it up and leave.His features grievousened, a cold and sardonic smirk turning up his lips. I suppose I cant argue with that. Not that it matters. I wont be alone tonight.He stepped aside, just barely, and inclined his division. I followed the motion across the room. Jasmine Delaney stood among a group of gentry nobles. She was watching us, an unclear bearing on her face. A commodious dress, heavy with brocade and jewels, clad her slight form, and her gray look whole toneed even so to a greater extent enormous than last time.I clenched my fists, remembering the look on my moms face when she set forth her captivity. Wils picture of a lonely girl, lost in her fantasy world, circled intimately my intellect. I will kill you, you bastard. unless first Ill make accredited you beg me for it. I sounded like Volusian.Eugenie, murmured Kiyo, casting a hand on my wrist. His voice was firm and cautionary. He apparently feared Id do something stupid. It was a ripe(p) fear.Aeson gibemed unconcerned. Those are kind of extreme measures, dont you see? Especially when there are much simpler ones.Such as?He shrugged. Ill turn her over to you tonight. permit me guess. If I go live with you instead?No such commitments. infer with me just for Beltane. One night, and both you and she walk free. Not a faulty byer, especially since there are however a number of men out there p dance bandting to carry you off for an extended period. Considering the other drop thats approached you, you could do a lot worse. Im powerful. Rich. Influential. A worthy con word form.I looked Aeson up from head to toe, glanced at the still-watching Jasmine, and therefore cancelled rump to him. I think Id rather just kill you.He gave me a mocking bow, face still hard. I look forward to the attempt. He started to walk aside, thusly gave Kiyo a considering look. I suppose you could pick worse men to let your child. This ones already proven he can do it.Aeson swept extraneous from us and headed thorn to his group. Sliding a possessive arm slightly Jasmine, he leaned over and kissed her hard, pressing her body up against his. With the difference in their heights, he looked like he was molesting a small child which, I supposed, he actually was. Puberty be damned.The anger that sight excite in me solidified into ice as I false merelytocks nearly to face Kiyo. The look on his face do something interior of me curl up into a ball.Whats he lecture some?He started to open his mouth and past paused, apparently reconsidering what he valued to say. My scruple exploded.Kiyo This is where you tell me hes full of shit and you have no thinker what hes talking about.Eugenie he began slowly.Oh, my God. I turned around. The ice inside of me melted and do me queasy. You have a gull you never told me about. You have a kid somewhere.No. Not yet.I spun around. What the hell is that supposed to I stopped. Maiwenn. Maiwenn is pregnant. silly Maiwenn. Poor sick and weak Maiwenn. Id chance upond a number of comments made about her condition and never questioned it. It was a sign of my distraction in the last month. Gentry didnt really shoot sick. They could get killed in battle, draw from an infected wound, or die of old age. That was about it.Even now, face across the room, I saw her sitting and talking with a a some(prenominal) others. She was smiling muchover looked pale under her tan. The dress she wo re was loose and voluminous. The one shed worn at my house had been similar, albeit not made of silk. She wasnt currently exhibit off her body.You shouldve told me, I verbalize.Yes, he express simply. I should have.You should have told me I repeated, my voice loud and strained. Most of the rooms noise muffled my cry, but a few people nearby gave us curious looks.Shh. Kiyo took my arm and steered us back toward the wall. I was waiting. Things were so un authoritative between us. I demanded to have a steady foundation before I told you.Did you ever consider that telling me now business leader help that steady foundation? What happened to all the honesty rhetoric?And how would you have taken it? he asked quietly. Youve had a hard plentiful time kno superchargeg she and I were together at all.No, I havent.Eugenie, I see it in your face whenever her names mentioned.It doesnt matter. This is big.He shook his head. It happened in the past. She and I arent together. Were friends now. Y ou and I are together.So what? Youre not qualifying to do anything with this baby because you guys arent together any more than than?No Of course not. Ill be there for the baby, and Ill support Maiwenn as much as that requires. so thats not the past, I snapped. Thats your future. My future too if you were planning on organism with me.His face turned even more sober than it had been. Youre estimable, he said by and by several(prenominal) drawn-out moments. It was wrong of me. Im sorry. I horizon I was protecting you.I gave a harsh laugh that bordered dangerously on being a sob. Yeah. Everyone involves to protect me lately. My parents did too. You guys think if I dont hear bad things, then they wont exist anymore. But you know what? They do still exist, and I do end up hearing them. And I wish to God that I could have hear them from the people I love first.I turned and started walking away. Kiyo grabbed my shoulder. I well-tried to tug out of his grasp.Dont touch me, I warned. Were done here.What are you saying?What do you think? You think Im going to smile and liberate all this? I can barely forgive my parents, and Ive known them my whole life. Ive barely known you for a month. That doesnt really counting for much.He flinched. The hand on my shoulder dropped.I see, he said stiffly, face darkening. Then I guess we are done here.Yeah.We stood utter(a) at each other, and where genus Oestrus once had smoldered between us, totally a lonely chasm remained. I turned on my heels and stormed across the room without even knowing where I went. Eager men approached me, but I brushed past them all, apparently showing the arrogance Shaya had said was expected of me. I just couldnt face them proper now.It was too much. All of it. The crazy propositions. My supposed legacy. Aeson and Jasmine. Maiwenn and Kiyo.Oh, God, Kiyo. Why had he done this to me? Id tried to write him off after our first night together, and hed made me care about him again. Now it sole(pre nominal) hurt twice as much. The words from last night came back to me.Youre mine.Apparently not.I stopped in the meat of the crowded dance hall floor with no clue where I was going. Id gotten disoriented somehow and forgotten where the exit was. The throne was over there, so that meant Yo, Odile. Some party, huh?My navigation attempts were off-and-on(a) by Finns approach. I still hadnt adjusted to seeing him in his more humanlike Otherworldly form.Finn I need you to get me out of here.He frowned. You cant leave yet. Etiquette says Fuck etiquette, I snarled. Get me out. I want to be alone.His standard cheery expression faded. Sure thing. Come on.He led me not toward the main penetrations but rather to a small inlet tucked near a corner. Delicious smells wafted out from inside. This was some sort of back way to the kitchen. A number of scurrying servants gave us shock looks as we passed through twisting corridors and banks of ovens, but Finn executed with purpose, never shift stride. People tend not to question if they think you know where youre going.With a flourish, he gestured me to a small alcove far from the bustle of the cooks. meat hooks with cloaks and coats covered the walls, and I realized this must be where the staff had stashed their private things. A small bench sat below the hooks.Good enough? Finn asked.Yes. Thank you. Now go away. I sat down and wrap up my arms around myself.But shouldnt I Just go, Finn. I could hear the tears in my voice. Please.He gave me a mournful, al about hurt look and then walked away.The tears took a long time to come, and even then, they did so reluctantly. Only a couple streaked down my cheeks. I had matte helpless with the mud elemental, but this was a different kind of helplessness, one with mental, not physical, consequences.My stock ticker ached inside for Kiyo, and my stomach burned with fury against Aeson. Neither ailment looked to have a remedy anytime soon.I dont know how long I sat there before Dorian came. I could only make out his shape in my periphery, but the scent of cinnamon gave him away. He sat down beside me for a long time, saying nothing. eventually, I felt his fingertip gently run along my cheek and wipe away one of the tears.What can I do? he asked.Nothing. Not unless youll let me break hospitality and go do some damage.Ah, sweet one, if that were possible, I would have long since strangled several of my nobles, lest I be constrained to listen to more of their idiotic blather.Whats the point of being a king, then?Not sure that there is one. The food maybe.You make a facetiousness out of everything.Lifes too painful not to.Yeah. I guess.We lapsed into shut away until Dorian called someones name. A moment later, a small, harried servant appeared. realize us some of that chocolate cake Bertha made. Two slices. The man hurry off.Im not hungry, I mumbled.You will be.The cake arrived. It was one of those flourless kinds, so it was more like cake chocolate tha n chocolate cake. Raspberry sauce pooled around it. I found myself eating every bite.Better? Dorian asked.Yeah.You see? I told you it was the food.I set the plate on the floor and tried to give voice to an subject that had slowly been percolating in the back of my head. An idea that probably would never have dared surface had I not been so furious at Aeson and Kiyo tonight. Indeed, it was Aesons preposterous proposal that had reminded me of it.Dorian?Yes?When we first metyou told me that if I slept with you, youd go with me to get Jasmine. Does that offer still stand?The first surprise look Id ever seen on him crossed his face. I took a certain amount of pride in realizing Id ultimately caught him off-guard.My, my, he said softly. This is unexpected. So. despondency and fury achieve what all my charms could not, hmm?A flush spilled over my cheeks. Well, noits not like No, he said abruptly. The offer does not still stand. But I thought I saw you fight with Aeson and the kitsune. I wont have you come to my bed out of some misguided instinct of revenge on the devil of them.He was right in a way, I realized. This was my means of getting back at both them. Aeson for flaunting Jasmine. Kiyo for recess my heart.Please, I said. Ill do it. I-I dont mind. And anywayI have to get Jasmine back. I cant handle her being with him anymore.Dorian was quiet for a long time. Finally he said, All right.I snapped my head toward him. You mean it?Certainly. Well go back to my room and see how you do.See how ? Whats that supposed to mean? Was the deal detail on how smashing I was in bed?He smiled. Ill get Nia to take you back. I have to mingle a bit more and will join you soon.Nia arrived as if by magic and did exactly as hed said. Once alone in his massive chamber, I paced easementlessly, reconciling myself to charge up with a full gentry. It would be easy. Nothing to it. I just had to lay there. Gentry didnt carry diseases like humans. I couldnt get pregnant. One night, and I could finally get revenge on that bastard Aeson and the smug look on his face. And yes, Dorian had been right Id be getting revenge on Kiyo too. Who knew? Maybe quietnessing with Dorian would fill the terrible, aching hole Kiyos treason had left in me.Admiring the view? asked Dorian when he finally entered. I stood by the huge picture window, staring at my own mirror image in the dark glass.Im never here in daylight. Ive never seen what it looks like.Its lovely. Youll see it in the morning.I supposed I would. He took off the heavy robe, poured a glass of wine, and sprawled back on the pile of pillows on his bed. The move seemed less an initiation into rouse and more of an expression of fatigue. He looked very ordinary. Very human.You look tired. I leaned against the bedpost, watching him.He exhaled heavily. Its hard work amusing ones admirers as you can no doubt attest to. Howd you like your first royal party? Tell me who you spoke to. Your night must have been more tediou s than mine.Gingerly, I sat on the beds spring and recounted the night for him. I gave my opinions and offered up as many details as I could on my many solicitations. Names eluded me, but Dorian could let out the culprits pretty easily based on other identifying assureation. He laughed so hard at my accounts and opinions, I thought hed start crying.Swinging himself up gracefully, he slid over on the satin coverlet to sit beside me. You poor, poor thing. No applaud you like hunting us down. Although, I confess after my own equally inane experiences tonight, I might have a few names to give you.You shouldnt say things like that.He shook his head and laughed. Stay here long enough, and youll say them too.Those gold and green eyes watched me, glimmering with both affection and desire. For a moment, I could almost commit Dorian wanted me for me and not for my human fertility or connecter to a prophecy.Resting his hand on the back of my neck, he kissed me, and I had no more time for questions. Wed kissed a lot by now, and his lips still held that alike silky softness, that careful precision and control. I was used to this, and it warmed up every part of me, but tonights inevitable conclusion loomed before me. My lips almost faltered but still managed to kiss him back. I could do this. It was easyright?He gently lay me back on the bed, still cuddling me as he rested his body partially across my own. The heat and weight of him triggered something pleasurable within me, even as some part of my brain all at once started pining for Kiyo and recalling every bad thing Id ever been taught about gentry. My breath quickened but not from passion. No, no, I chastised myself, forcing my body to not go rigid. This is Dorian. Theres nothing to be afraid of. But I was afraid. This didnt notice right. I couldnt let myself do it, even though I knew there was no reason not to. I hung out with gentry now. I had titles. I wanted to learn their magic. I wanted to kill Aeson. An d yet, somehow, some part of me refused to give into this final Dorian broke away from me and sat up. Its as I thought. You dont want to really do this. Youre afraid of me.I half sat up, propping on my cubital joint. Swallowing, I tried to breathe more steadily. Didnt you say once that you wanted me to be afraid?Not this afraid. Besides, your heart is a bit muddled tonight.He rose from the bed and casually poured another goblet of wine. Sipping from it, he walked over to the window and stared at the nothingness, just as I had earlier.W-what are you doing?I told you before. I dont take women who dont want me. He kept his back to me, but his voice held that usual freewheeling tone. Like everything was still just one big joke. I wondered if he was upset. I couldnt read him at all.Er, wait I scrambled off the bed and grabbed his arm, nearly spilling the wine. What are you saying? We have to do this. I swear, it doesnt matter. I want to do this. Really.Maybe. You dont look at me like you do the kitsune, but Ive felt your desire before. Its a fleeting thing, though, and it cant quite win against that part of you that says not to submit to one of the shining ones.Maybe we can ignore that part.He laughed and touched my cheek. I adore you, you know that? Im so happy I met you.I swallowed, anxious and desperate. Please, Dorian. I want to get Jasmine. We have to do this.We arent doing anything like that. Not tonight, Im afraid. He walked away and sat back on the bed near the headboard, just as he had earlier. I will, however, make you a deal. We will postpone our arrangement until youre ready. In exchange for this grace period, I add the further caveat that we wont go to Aeson until youve made some suitable progress with your magic.I thought about our last couple of dismal lessons. That might take awhile.Then it takes awhile. Really, if you want every edge you can get to defeat him, youll be better off knowing something about your power, even if its small. Your weapon s are weapons-grade, but if theyre gonethen theyre gone.I wanted to fight him on this, to tell him I couldnt wait that long. Fuck the magic. Fuck my prudish resistance. We should get the sex over with and just grab Jasmine.But I knew he was right. On all levels. He didnt deserve my body without my mind being into it, and I did need every advantage I could get.Well, thencan we confide tonight? Seeing as how nothing else is going on? If I distracted myself, maybe Id stop hurting for Kiyo.No point in bothering with tact, eh? Very well, then, lets see what we can accomplish.I dragged a chair into the middle of the room while Dorian produced some more cords from his un fractureing supply.Beige and violet, he said, holding them up. To match your dress.Its champagne.He didnt tie my reach this time, but he did completely bind my torso. Again, he used abstruse patterns as he worked, integrating unique braids and weaves. The purple silk crisscrossed around my breasts, and each time his h and brushed some sensitive part, a secret thrill would run through my body. What was the matter with me? If I could have these physical reactions, then why couldnt I have sex with him?The dressing took forever, just like always. It made me so impatient, but Dorian intelligibly enjoyed it. He worked with infinite patience, careful of every weave and knot. When he finally finished, he stood back and surveyed me, just as he had the last two times.Very nice, he observed, eyes taking me in.A strange thought occurred to me as I sat there. I willingly let him do this to me, but really, it was a leap of faith. My arms might be free, but as he stood over me, I realized how helpless I was. How totally in his power I was if he wanted to pace it.But he didnt. He never did. After blindfolding me, I heard him fetch the peeing baton twirler from the other room. Once it was apparently hidden, he returned to the bed. I heard the bed shift under his weight, the sound of more wine pouring out.Hav e at it, he said.I focused just like Id done in our last two lessons. My mind expanded, reaching out into the room, trying to find the water I supposedly had an affinity for. I repeated the same exercises, visualizing moisture and wetness. The way it felt and tasted.Yet, when I pointed to where I thought the water jug sat, he told me I was wrong.So I tried again. Three more times, to be precise. Failures each time.I heard him yawn. Would you like to call it a night? I dare say this bed is big enough for us to sleep chastely in. Or, if you wish, I have no qualms about sleeping on the sofa in the other room.No, I said stubbornly. I want to try again.As you like.Again, I went through the motions, hating them yet burning with need. I wanted to do this. I wanted to control the power. I might have failed at sex tonight, but I would not fail at Its there, I said suddenly.Where?I pointed, and in my outstretched hand, I could almost feel something wet. It was so easy. How had I not noticed this before?Its right beside you. Really close. If youre still lying on the bed, Id sayelbow level. Maybe on the table.He stayed quiet.Well? Im right, arent I?Check the rest of the room.My hopes crumbled. I was wrong again.Just check. See if the water is somewhere else.I didnt get his game. Why the vagueness? Had I found it or not?But I tried again, reaching out into the room. That spot near him pulsed to my senses. The water was there, I knew it. So what was this all about?Another spot suddenly called out to me. I reached for it without using my hands this time, and that same strong caprice reached back. And with that sensation came a slight tingle, only a spark, but it whispered of the power Id felt in the dream-memory.Okay. Right by the admission. On the floor, I think.Yes. The response was surprisingly simple and clear. No jokes or games.Right? Im right? Really? Youre not just messing with me so we can go to bed?I heard his soft laugher as he walked to the door and then approa ched me. Taking my hand, he dipped it down into a ceramic pitcher, and I felt cool water slide over my hand. I laughed, ecstatic and empowered. I felt like splashing it on both of us.So whatd I find the first time then? By the bed? It must have been something, judging from your reaction.Indeed it was.He took the pitcher away, walked toward the bed, and returned to me. I felt his arm move toward me, and then the scent of something strong and fruity touched my nose.The wine, I realized. I found the wine.Yes. Quite queer too, considering Id almost drank it all. He set the decanter down and untied my blindfold. Now, my dear, its time to go to sleep.He knelt before me and started the tedious process of undoing all those ties and knots. I waved my free hands.You want help?He shook his head. I could smell the wine on him. No. Leave me my simple pastimes, please.argon you drunk?Probably.He worked steadily on freeing me from the cords, his fingers a slim less precise than theyd been earlie r. I again felt that strange coldness over being so ensnared.Released at last, I stood up and stretched. canister I have some of that?I wanted to celebrate, and after weeks of good behavior, I realized I could safely drink here. Funny that the safest spatial relation for me now would be in a gentrys keep.He held up the decanter. There was probably only one glass left. He eyed it squint-eyed for a moment and then took off his shirt. Perplexed, I watched him walk over to the door and stick his head out.Yes, sire? I heard a voice say.We need more wine declared Dorian in a booming voice. Lady Markham and I have a lot more to do tonight.Right away, your majestyHurry, man. You have no idea how demanding she is. I can barely keep her satisfied as it is.I heard boots running on the stone floor. Dorian shut the door and turned to me.Your wine will be here shortly, and my prowess will no doubt be proclaimed throughout the castle.I trilled my eyes at his show. So did I pass the test?Hmm?Y ou said I had to make progress in magic before we could go get Jasmine.Oh. That. Well, this wasnt exactly progress.The hell it wasnt.He sat side by side(p) to me on the bed. You found the water. Now you have to do something with it. Your enemies wont be impressed when you inform them theres a lake just over the next hill.I sighed. Great. So whats the next step?Next you make the water come to you.Huh. Well. That at least sounds more exciting.Not really. Mostly we do exactly the same thing except you just sit around and try to make it move.Youre the most boring teacher ever.He grinned and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, just as a knock sounded at the door. It all depends on what you want me to teach you.