A Lady of the Realm (2 page)

“Can I have my hand back?” I asked. He released me, and I sat back down. I fished in my bag for a bandana to wrap my hand in.

“Bloody hell,
prater
,” Alek said.

I glanced up as I finished tying a knot in the bandana. He wasn’t looking at me. He was speaking with the half-blood fairy. Malachi nodded once, his eyes swirling frantically. Alek sipped from his bottle and rotated his neck carefully before turning to look at me once more. He wasn’t in a jovial mood anymore.

“Give me some time with the minx. I’ll see you at home,” he said.

Malachi exhaled loudly, turned towards me, and disappeared. I was used to faeries and demons doing that. They rarely walked more than ten feet. Why would they if they could pop in and out of their destinations instantly?

Once alone, the elf simply stared at me. He didn’t say anything for a very long time, and I didn’t think it prudent to begin the conversation. I sipped from my bottle of vodka as Sasha played with a bottle cap. His long, pale fingers twirled the top expertly, effortlessly. He finally leaned forward and asked in a stony voice. “Where’ve you been hiding?”

I was prepared for the question. I wasn’t supposed to exist. But, I had no good answers. Only the truth and the truth was simply inadequate.

“I haven’t been hiding. My mom renounced her House and moved to an Old World community before I was born,” I explained.

“Of course,” he said softly. He sat back and laced his fingers.

“Were you aware that the DeDe House met their end at my hands?”

“Yes,” I said. “My mom told me about the allodials being eliminated, but I wasn’t around then. Surely you can’t hold a grudge for so long?”

He didn’t move as he continued to stare, his violet eyes glowing softly in the dim lighting. “I suppose to you a century is a trifle long. You mentioned you wanted to claim the title?” he asked.

“Yes. I want to be a Lady,” I said.

A Lady of the Realm to be exact. Powerful families ruled America. Race didn’t have as much to do with power as money, but it played a role. The longer you live, the more time you have to make money. I was a full-blooded witch with impeccable lines to a very rich House. I was titled. I was powerful. I had privileges. I was born a Lady. I just needed a little help making it all official. Paperwork and bureaucracy could be a bitch.

“Why?”

“I want what’s mine.”

He finally smiled. “Don’t we all,” he said. He leaned forward again, taking my hand into his. “If I help you, what do I receive in return?” he asked.

“Isn’t it enough that I’ll tithe you and be yours to command?” I asked.

The House of DeDe was smack in the middle of his region, in New Orleans. I would be his allodial, a fancy term for his bitch. Yeah I’d have privileges and money and status and power, but he’d be my Lord. I couldn’t just pick up and leave like peasants or commoners. But it was an upgrade in class. I would be one rank lower than the rulers of the various Regions in America. To me, it was worth the trade for the time being.

“Money? I’m due that regardless. As to you being my allodial, you either obey or die,” he said flatly.

“Thanks for being straight up. There’s nothing more annoying than trying to figure out what’s going on. What do you want so that I may have the privilege of serving you properly?” I asked acerbically.

My research proved accurate. Elves didn’t do anything remotely altruistic. He would want payment, in one form or another.

His lips twitched slightly. “We’ll start with your company,” he said.

I looked at him once more, noting his features, and smiled. Apart from the one scar running down his left cheek, he was a good-looking man. It didn’t matter to me that he was an elf or that his eyes were an odd solid violet color. It wouldn’t be much of a chore hanging out with him. He smirked and settled back into the cushions, a finger tapped his jaw lightly.

“You could be very useful in the next few years,” he said.

I nodded my head excitedly.

“Agree to certain conditions and I’ll help you claim everything that is rightfully yours. First condition is admitting you know nothing,” he said.

“That’s bullshit; I know plenty.”

I knew what I’d learned as a child. It wasn’t all bigotry and propaganda. The Lords and Ladies were ruthless politicians. They were vain, narcissistic and out of touch with the world. The concerns of their constituents rarely registered the psyche of the council; they did what they pleased and damn be all.

“Admit it, or I’m leaving,” he said coldly.

I wanted to slap him is what I wanted to do. It went against every fiber of my body admitting such a thing. However, I did need his help. I bit my lip in frustration. I could concede I didn’t know everything.

“Fine, I don’t know everything,” I grumbled.

“There is a difference between everything and nothing,” he said.

“Glad you speak English,” I said.

“You must admit you know nothing for you know nothing. I cannot help you if you insist on clinging to ideals taught by outsiders,” he said.

I rubbed my eyes, the smell of blood tickling my nose. What did I know? Next to nothing most likely. I took a deep breath. “For the moment, I know nothing,” I said.

“Splendid, since we’ve established you know nothing, my second condition is you’ll trust me implicitly,” he said.

It was my turn to settle back into my seat. I stared at him, bringing the bottle of vodka to my lips and swallowing a considerable amount before answering. “That’s just crazy.”

“Nice to know you’re not stupid,” he said with a grin. “But if you want my help, you must trust
me
.”

You couldn’t lie to an elf as you could to yourself. If I said it, agreed to it, I would have to mean it. This was a test, my first test. Trusting an elf was ludicrous. I had a better chance dealing with a demon. At least they were upfront with their agendas. But, I wasn’t lucky enough to live in a region ruled by demons.

“Will you trust me?” I asked.

“I trust few,” he said.

I swallowed a bit more of vodka realizing that in this moment, honesty was the only course. “I’ve excellent instincts. I’ll trust you, but I’m not thrilled about it.”

He smiled, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. “Good. Third condition …”

“How many freaking conditions do you have?”

“This is the final one. Since we’ve established you know nothing and trust me completely, you’ll do everything I say without hesitation.”

“Bullshit.”

He pursed his lips. “Are you always this difficult?”

I thought about it for a minute. “I need a semblance of control over my life. How about I’ll do what you ask after you give me a valid reason?” I asked. I could do anything given a valid reason. It was following instructions blindly which I abhorred. I’d been there and done that, and it hadn’t gone well.

“Fair enough, I myself like control. I’ll grant you one reason for every order,” he said tilting the bottle into his mouth.

“Right. Now for my terms.”

He spewed liquid out, wiping his hand across his mouth.

“Excuse me?” he asked incredulously. Apparently, no one bothered haggling with him. I wasn’t giving him everything he wanted without getting something in return.

“I’m not asking for your trust, but at least give me a chance to earn your trust,” I said thinking over several scenarios. He had to trust me on some level if this was going to work. “And since you pointed out I know nothing, I want you to teach me,” I said.

Learning magic was hard work. In the two years since leaving home, I’d been able to distinguish scents and feel auras. I was capable of seeing light when the powerful freaks shifted space. I could see and sense the energy fields some used as weapons. I wasn’t good at much else.

Then there was the pesky side of Realm etiquette. I wasn’t reared a Lady. I didn’t know the unspoken rules. My position in the New World was precarious at best. I needed to learn, and learn fast, from a master, and there was no one better than the dark elf.

“Minx, where have you been the last two centuries?” he chortled.

“Is it a deal?” I asked, excited. If he agreed, he wouldn’t change his mind. Elves might not know how to tell the truth, but they were notorious for doing exactly what they said. This was why no one liked pissing them off. If they said they’d kill you, you were dead.

“By all means. It’s the best deal I’ve made this century,” he said.

I smiled, extending my hand out for a shake. This was as good as I could hope for given the circumstances.

“I’d like a kiss,” he said smoothly.

“A what?”

“A kiss, pet.” He folded his hands behind his head waiting. “I won’t move. I promise.”

I looked searchingly into his violet eyes. He didn’t move. His body was one large immobile object. I could smell the lust in the air, and it wasn’t mine this time. Men are so easy.

I got up from the chair and leaned down, my lips an inch from his. I smelled his scent. It wafted between us, a mixture of lust and sandalwood. My hormones kicked into first, the lust surging forward. I licked his lips softly, and he hissed. I smiled at the reaction and pressed my lips firmly onto his. I felt a wave of shock pass through my body when his mouth came open underneath my lips, my tongue seeking his.

I was nowhere near virgin status, but this kiss was different. My mind whirled with his scent. I felt the tendrils of energy in the room gathering around us. They caressed my body, pressed against my breasts, ran down my legs. My hands went up to cradle his head as I deepened the kiss. If I felt this good with one kiss, I couldn’t imagine sharing his bed. Maybe all the tales about elves in the sack weren’t myths.

I pulled away reluctantly. “One kiss,” I whispered against his mouth. “Anything else?”

“Call me, Sasha, pet. I hate titles and formalities where certain people are concerned,” he whispered.

“Sasha? No problem,” I said lightly nipping his bottom lip.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said quietly.

Chapter Two: Lessons

I’d practically moved in with the elf four days later. Lordy, his bathroom alone was bigger than the room I rented. His personal quarters included a full bar in one of the corners, a seating area, and a king size bed in the middle of the room.

I’d learned enough about his ways in the following weeks not to goad him with expletives or boasting. It hurt to swallow the retorts, which easily sprang out of my mouth. He provoked me intentionally, and I usually failed the test. It always went badly when I lost my temper.

We were working tonight on sensory perception. I should be able, as a witch with exemplary bloodlines, to find him in the dark. His room was completely dark now. I couldn’t see the hand I was extending out in front of me. No light entered through the skylights, the windows shuttered tightly against the streetlights. I concentrated on the energy in the room. He was near. I could feel his presence. I turned slowly around, extending my emotional antennae.

The smack of a hand upon my backside stung. The sulfurous odor of my anger scented the air immediately. I whirled, throwing a left hook in the direction of the offender. I made no contact and stumbled with the momentum.

A bubble of laughter filled the air. “Pet, you must concentrate,” Sasha said.

“I’m never going to learn anything if you keep playing with me,” I wailed.

I bumped into a bookcase and grabbed the first thing I touched. I heard the muttered oath as I slammed the object on his head. At least I’d found him.

“You’ll pay for that,” he growled.

I flew onto the plush bed. The downy pillows cocooned me in softness as I landed. Tendrils of energy, electrifying bands, wrapped themselves around my wrists when I tried to get up. With my hands pulled over my head, the skylights opened. Thin streams of night light illuminated the room.

He stood at the foot of the bed, his fingers kneading the side of his head. “Your temper will be your downfall,” he said. “You must never show anger, no matter how angry you become.”

“You lose your temper all the freaking time, asswipe,” I said.

“Yes … but I may. I’m Lord Alek; it’s expected. You, on the other hand, may not. You’re my allodial, and I demand a certain level of comportment from my people,” he said.

“Let… me… go,” I demanded between angry breaths.

“Promise not to hit me,” he said pulling up a chair to sit closer.

“I don’t need to promise shit. Stop teasing me when we’re fucking working, and I won’t have to hit you,” I said.

He was stronger, faster and had centuries of experience. I had to do what I could to defend myself. Screaming, throwing objects and on occasion biting, were my weapons.

“We need to work on your choice of adjectives next,” he said.

“Arrogant, self—centered sod. You enjoy tying me up,” I said.

He smiled and leaned closer, his lips caressing my neck. “I do enjoy bondage, but with you, it’s the only way to get you to cooperate sometimes,” he said softly.

My body jerked in reaction when his tongue flitted against my racing pulse.

“Why are you so pushy?” I asked.

He was pushy to the extreme, and I didn’t like it. We’d had many battles in his rooms. Loud arguments turned violent in the blink of an eye when he grinned condescendingly. I was the one to draw first blood in every confrontation. He was the one who tied me up until I regained control.

“Let’s go out tonight instead of studying,” he said ignoring the question.

I sighed in resignation. He’d already answered the pushy question before and wasn’t going to repeat himself now. I was his allodial. I was an important player in Court politics. I had to act properly, speak properly, and be prepared before I stepped into Court.

“Where do you want to go?” I asked.

My voice had gone to a normal level. I wasn’t angry any more. It defeated the purpose of my learning anything if I was constantly tied up. The tendrils around my wrists disappeared. He sat ramrod straight on the chair and crossed his legs.

“Ernst, I need some air,” he said.

I smiled at his choice of words. He was always subtle in his answers. He needed to get his groove on is what he needed. Since I wasn’t a willing female, he went out at least three times a week to pick someone else up to soothe his appetite.