Game of Temptation (11 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Perfect. It was the bloody perfect move! Arun took a precious
experience from Alethi. She did not give it. He took it. How was that for a
comforting gesture after what she put herself through! The least he could be
thankful for was that he was still alive and he was still in her inner circle
of counsel.

What he did get as punishment was the sleepless night he had.
Truly, who could sleep with nothing but sex in their minds and the urge to hump
virtually anything so strong? The moment he confined himself to the tops of the
tower, he wanted nothing more than to go back into her chambers and wake her up
with a delicious surprise. He could not believe he had been able to hold out,
much less take the punishment he was giving to himself.

He shook himself and dedicated himself to the task at hand.
Human politics was giving him a headache. Everyone was playing a game and no
one could be trusted. Allies could come and go in a blink and loyalties belong
to the one with the most hold on power. Lying, cheating and treachery were as
normal as breathing. Everything happened in a blur and power shifts ebb and
swell constantly.

All of those worried Arun. Alethi was not as powerful in the
eyes of the nobles and the only reason she was not yet deposed was because of
the flimsy shield of her blood and the people's trust in her. If they found out
she was not her father's natural daughter…

"If Lady Shanel is still the head of house Nadar, then I
could possibly do something about that…" he said as the silence opened up
the opportunity for him.

Leanne, the new baronet and absolved criminal who took some
of Niraya's lands, looked at him incredulously. "Lady Shanel is
quite…sadistic, my lord. Misery is her fuel. It's what makes her move
politically. If we want her on our side, we have to promise her some sort of
schadenfreude."

"How much did she enjoy watching Niraya's
sentence?" he asked Alethi. "She was standing next to you, was she
not?"

"Gods help me if I could even notice her." Alethi
pursed her lips. "I could barely think on keeping myself from getting
sick."

"I am not sure, myself, but her head never turned away
from the carnage unlike the rest of the nobles." Orrin supplied.

"And you say that she is a woman with…appetites?"
At Leanne's nod, an idea formed in Arun's head. If it worked, she would be in
Alethi's pocket along with half of their enemies. "Silas, if you could
arrange for Shanel and I to meet at sunset on the square where Niraya was sentenced,
I would be grateful."

"Then I need to get going. With your leave, your
highness?" Silas waited for Alethi's permission.

Alethi's lips pursed for a moment, but quickly banished it.
"Perhaps we should all leave. We all have our tasks ahead of us and
clearly we are being pressed for time. May the gods be with you in your
endeavors."

The room emptied save for Alethi and Arun, sitting at
opposite ends of the table. The table where she first came by his hand. Where
he saw the passionate woman behind the virtuous one. But now was not the time
for such thoughts. He needed to discuss something else with her.

"My queen—"

She waved him off. "Please, Arun. We are alone. Do not
act as if you are my subject. It makes me feel isolated."

Arun smiled. At least he was sure he was forgiven his fault
the night before. "Do you not approve of me meeting with Shanel?"

"Of course not!"

"Oh?" Arun lifted his eyebrow. "Alethi, at
times you are a great liar, but in this, you cannot fool me."

Alethi sighed, defeated. "I just…Shanel's reputation
precedes her." She looked away, letting the light and the shadows play on
her adorable features. The jaw she tightened, rendering him helpless. "She
might be old, but she has never lost her touch."

It was all Aun could do to keep himself from chuckling.
Instead, a wide grin settled on his face. "You do not trust me?" By
the gods, she was jealous!

Her head whipped back to him suddenly. "I do! It is her
I do not trust. She is a scoundrel. A fox! She had designs on my father and he
would have given in if not for Niraya's own designs. I…"

The grin on Arun's face disappeared. He knew her fears.
"I belong only to you, Alethi. I will have no other. By your leave?"
he stood for his leave-taking to spare her the agony of reacting to what he
said. Her nod was enough of a dismissal and he left.

Arun would gently open Alethi's closed emotions. Years of
rejecting men because they wanted nothing from her but riches and power had
made her guarded and he would tear those defenses down one by one. It was why
he wanted to meet with Shanel personally. Certainly, Silas and Leanne would be
able to convince Shanel to support Alethi, but it would not help him with his
plans to get Alethi and him that much closer. It was a mad plan, but he knew he
was not going to lose Alethi. Not if he played it right.

The descending sun cast a bloody tinge in the square as
Shanel arrived without her retainers. Arun praised the former housebreaker
silently. He was a grifter of sorts himself if he was able to convince her to
go alone. And her alone was more than perfect for him.

"Lady Shanel," he inclined his head.

"Prince Arun," she mirrored him, treating him as
her equal. That was good. It would be easier than if she treated him higher or
lower. Of course, he did not fail to notice the sudden hitch in her breath and
the slight widening in her eyes. She could smell his mating scent distinctly.
Good.

"Forgive me for wanting to meet you at this hour. Have I
interrupted you with anything?"

"No, not at all." She waved her hand, her eyes
transfixed on his face. Good.

"I thank you for your hospitality, then, my lady."
He sighed, shoulders slumping. "I am afraid I need your help." He
shook his head. "But of course, I cannot jump into that. I have brought
you out here from your comfortable home. The least I could do is be hospitable
myself." He muttered a spell and the earth rose to provide for them
comfortable seating. "My lady?"

Shanel looked delighted at the little magic Arun showed her
and she seated herself. "My, these are more comfortable than they look! I
heard that elves do very little magic outside their circles."

Arun nodded, though it was only true because rarely went
outside elfin lands. He would not say that, of course. "I am afraid, it is
a special privilege." He paused, letting it sink in to the woman before
proceeding. "I admit, it was a shame I did not see Niraya's
sentence." Also not true. "We much believe in honor and justice, and
hers was once long overdue."

"Of course! The woman is a great affront to this
country. Such an insult for her to presume that we would all follow her in war
against your kin. The gods had sentenced her as she deserved."

"And as you needed." Shanel looked at him
curiously, but before she could say anything, he added, "You should have
been the queen. Not her. I am sure, you would have taken care of the king
better." He allowed himself to smile a little at her shock. "I know
it was intrusive, but we did have spies in Dosalam when our ties were…none too
well. And I must say, you have taken her affront much more regally than the
queen Niraya had become." He touched the back of her hand in a comforting
gesture. "And if it does not offend you, Lady Shanel, I would like to hear
of how she died. I have never encountered the traitor's death."

"Oh it does not! I assure you." A wide smile was on
her face in an instant. "I shall spare you the details of my tale. I am
sure that your curiosity about a torturous death does not go deep into
passion."

"I thank you for your kindness."

"You see, the traitor's death suspends the traitor
overhead by their wrists," she pointed at the stone arch with a pair of
short chains and three spikes above where the head and the shoulders would be.
"Underneath would be the iron horse. It should ride like a horse with a
triangular body, only it would cut a person if he sat. Not sharp enough to cut
through bone, mind. Niraya was suspended between those spikes and the iron
horse and the only way for her to escape them was to bend herself just right.

"Oh, the woman made a show of being brave when she was dragged
out but as soon as the queen drove the iron spikes into her ankles to hold the
lead weights, she was reduced to a screaming helpless girl. Blood flowed from
her head, her shoulders, her wrists, her ankles, between her legs…why, she even
started coughing up blood as the moments progressed. Well, I must say I should
have done the deed instead of the child queen. The poor girl was ready to
swoon!"

"But you were there for her. The whole time, being her
strength." He touched her arm as if to encourage her briefly but
meaningfully. "We elves admire humans with strength. It is why I feel I
could trust you."

"What is it that bothers you that you need to trust a
human?"

"Alethi is a young queen. A woman full of ideals and
ambition, but naïve, as you know."

"Why, Prince Arun, you talk about your lover as if it is
her you do not trust."

Wily. He expected that. Humans were a very dangerous lot. If
he made a misstep in this exchange it would be over for him. He had one shot
and her pointing out that she knew of his relations with him, meant that she
did not trust him and that she had material for blackmail.

"I do trust her. Just not her naivete. I know you are
against her, but the fact remains that she needs someone who can guide her. She
needs someone with whom an eighth of the real power rests."

"A quarter?" she sounded indignant. "I have
more than a third of the nobles, I daresay I have more than a quarter!"

He nodded. "True, but you do not have the trust of the
people, the army and the rebels. It is in them where much of the power lies.
Alethi has them, making her have half of the power in the land. Should you wish
to destroy her and take her place, you have to be very heroic in saving them
from certain death or Alethi would have to be very oppressive against them. I'm
quite sure if that happens, you will be queen. But you and I both know that
heroics could endanger your life and position and Alethi is much too kind to be
oppressive. You are not getting any younger, but there is a chance that you
would rise so much higher than you do now."

"House Avenda has never put us anywhere near positions
of true power and they never will."

"They never had me for an adviser." He touched her
wrist again briefly.

She hesitated a while, then said, "What do you have in
mind?"

"To put you in the Office of Trades."

Arun watched as her features changed, thinking. Holding the
office meant she could influence the laws, the treasury, the people and even
outside diplomacy. It was one of the most powerful positions in Dosalam. But of
course, Silas already has the whole trade in the palm of his hand. His was the
true power and he was sure the man was good enough to twist him.

"You can do this?"

"As you said, I am her lover. This is for her own good.
If I have to make agree in bed, I will."

"Just her lover, then?" both her eyes and her words
held other meanings.

He stood and bent over her ear and hear her let out breath.
"Just her lover." He smiled seeing her tremble slightly before moving
away. "I am afraid I need to cut this meeting short. She is expecting me
tonight. I will make her scream your instatement if I must. She is quite
delightful in her modesty."

The woman did not even have the sense to blush. "Perhaps
one day you can show me why."

"Perhaps." Never.

-------------

Arun sat in silence waiting for Alethi to speak. He had been
in her room for quite some time and she was still not quite finished pacing. He
settled himself with looking at her nicely-shaped body and how she perfectly
fit in his.

She finally turned to him, her face in conflicting emotions.
"I did not like it. I did not like it at all!" Did. So she did not
mean the instatement of Shanel into office. He expected her to watch from her
window and she did. Perfect.

"It is the only way we could get her loyalty—"

"I do not mean that!"

Arun continued feigning innocence. "What do you mean,
then?"

"The way you dealt with her!" She finally burst
out. "The way you kept on touching her and leaning close to her. As if…as
if you would share yourself!" She opened her mouth to say more but she
closed it, her face red as she turned away.

He stood and stood half an arm's length from her. "Are
you jealous love?" He did not need to ask, but he did. After all, from all
indications, him telling her about their final conversation was what made her
pace.

She turned at him, surprised that he had already closed the
distance, but she did not step back. Instead, she lowered her head to keep from
looking at him. "Yes…" she whispered.

He held her chin up with the crook of his finger. "Every
promise I gave her was empty. From controlling Dosalam to fulfilling her
fanstasies. I promised you I would give you everything and I will. But I also
promise that there would be no intimacy between me and another woman or
she-elf. I am your slave, Alethi, and if you see fit to punish me for what I
have done, I will take it. But I ask you one thing, please trust me."

Alethi bit her lower lip and Arun held himself back from
taking her softness between his own teeth.

"Alright, but I will punish you for this."

He smiled. "And the matter of lady Shanel?"

"Consider her the Minister of Trade." She took a
deep breath. "Now, kiss me you stupid elf."

Arun grinned only glad to comply, careful not to let his
growing stiffness touch her or he would be kissing another set of lips instead.

Chapter Eighteen

Everything was perfect. There was just one
problem. Arun was leaving. For how long, Alethi didn't know, but she had to let
him go if she wanted the support of all Rehanathi behind her as well. That and
to get her head back right.

How could she have demanded him to kiss her?
It was downright embarrassing!

She had been mad and she didn't think
straight. It killed her to see Arun flirting with Shanel. The woman was more
skilled than her in dealing with men and if she ever managed to make Arun look
twice at her…

Alethi shuddered. It was such a horrid
thought that it sent her into a fit of worrying driving any other thought away.
Arun did propose to her, but it was not official. Was it? Did that count? And
even if it was, she had not formally accepted. Which meant they were not
betrothed. She did not have the right to Arun in any way.

By the gods, she wanted to lay her claim on
him, but it was not yet time. Her hold on Dosalam was not yet slid and Shanel
knew their secret relationship. If she did, who else knew and was holding it as
a trump card to use at an opportune time? But if it came to that, could she
leave Dosalam for Arun? Could she leave Arun for Dosalam?

Her lips thinned in a line. No. She could
not do either. She would have both or…or what? If she did not have Arun,
Dosalam still needed her. If she did not Have Dosalam, Arun would need her to
live. Liushan did say elves could only love one in their whole lives if they
allowed themselves to.

Which got her thinking. Why had he opened
himself to her? No. That thought was wrong. This was Arun. He was probably
being the overconfident, overbearing elf that he was and thought himself
impervious to her. It put a smile on her face. She did not exactly love that
part of him, but if that was what brought them together, she would bring
herself to love it. To love all of him.

Unlike elves, humans were not beholden to
one person, but no one had affected her as much as he did. Perhaps humans had
that spark as well. If only they dug deep and did not let themselves become
like elves, numbing themselves. Become like Shanel.

Bringing her back to the issue of the wanton
high lady taking her Arun away from her.

Blast the woman! She knew tricks that would
lure a man and there was no doubt in Alethi's mind that she had her sights on
Arun. It was a declaration of war, albeit a subtle one. And she was not going
to lose. But the question was, how was she going to win? The woman had the body
of a whore, a face of a beauty queen and the tongue of serpent. That did not
even include all the tricks she knew to bring men down to their knees.

Alethi was going up against
that
?
It was insane. That was what it was. Pure insanity. She needed help and she
needed to know better tricks than Shanel despite her years of experience.

She spun in surprise hearing a knock on the
door. It was not the time to be rattled. Not now! She had to focus. Her
problems with Shanel could be dealt with later. She just had to remember that
she did need the woman and that she was a good person overall…if a whore. There
would be time enough for her to learn about how she could win over the woman.

"It is Liushan, your grace," his
muffled voice came through the door.

Alethi sat herself on the chair behind the
large desk, composed once more. "Enter." She motioned for him to sit
on one of the chairs and let him speak.

"Prince Arun would have come to tell
you himself," he began, "but he wishes to complete his preparations
as soon as he could to…get back to you soon."

Alethi could tell that Liushan still could
not come to terms with his lord's decision to tie himself to her. At best, he
would only have about sixty years left to live if neither of them was killed or
died of illness earlier. Once she expired, he would certainly go as well. Both
of them knew and Liushan was not taking it as well as she had hoped. He would
feel grief for his master's death and if he loved him as a dear friend and
brother, it would certainly cause him grief and he would follow as well.

No matter what, the lives of two noble
beings were in her hands and hshe felt the weight of it press down on her. It
was inescapable and she had to bear it all alone. Inside she trembled
remembering Niraya's horrid death. That was one life in her hand. One life that
she did not care for and she felt sick sentencing her with death. And now,
these were two lives that were more precious than hers. Two lives that she did
care about. One perhaps more than her own. And she had sentenced them both to
die.

It was all she could do to keep herself from
folding at the crushing weight and cry.

Liushan cleared his throat and continued.
"He has appointed me to stay and ensure your safety. It is not that he
does not trust Orrin's or his men's capability. But he would be more
comfortable knowing that…he has a link with you. More than magic."

His hesitation gave it away. It was wither
not what Arun said or he had not stated his reason at wall. Whichever it was,
Liushan supplied the excuse to make sure that she did not doubt Arun. Loyal to
the core. Liushan would die with his master.

Two lives at her mercy. Gods help her!

"Tell him I am very grateful. And
Liushan," she took a deep breath. "Forgive me."

Liushan shook his head, knowing what she
meant. "It was my lord's decision. Not yours. You have nothing to
apologize for. If anything, I would like to thank you. You have given him life.
I have…never seen him with so much passion and force in what he does. Meeting
you, he has become more alive. And he has never been happier. He told me that a
long life was meaningless without purpose. Often we delude ourselves with vain
purposes that do not fulfill us. And he has found one that does. You. It seems
that a worthwhile short life is better than an aimless eternal one."

"But what about you?"

"I am satisfied that my lord is
happy."

"Are you fulfilled then?"

Liushan smiled. "I believe I am. Prince
Arun's happiness is mine. But you have to tell me something. You seem troubled.
I do not wish to explain to the prince that I do not understand why you have
been very worried when he returns. I am sure it is not just about his
leaving."

Alethi sighed. "Am I that
transparent?" At Liushan's nod, she sighed again. "I am afraid of
others luring him. Dreadfully afraid. I know I can trust him, but it is others
I do not."

Liushan laughed. "I see. Shanel threatens
you and you want to match up to her toe to toe. Truthfully, you need not do
that. About the only thing missing in your relationship is a collar on his neck
tied to your wrist. You practically have him jumping when you say frog."

"Nontheless…"

"I understand, but I cannot teach you
anything. Not even if you are willing to touch me, which I highly doubt."
He smirked at Alethi's mortified look. "I can tell you things, but it
still is not the same. Perhaps you can ask Leanne? She does have quite an
extensive experience with such matters."

"Could you bring her in? I want this to
be settled before I see Arun off. And please, do not breathe a word of this to
him? I want to be the one to tell him. I will take his anger."

Alethi watched Liushan leave and sagged in her
seat. What was she thinking? In no way was this a decent route to take for a
lady such as herself. If Orrin found out about this, he would likely have a fit
and…goodness knows what he would do! It was the way of harlots, but hers was a
different matter all together was it not? She was going to seduce no one but
the one she was going to marry.

Marriage. She bit her lips. Marriage was
something she had not planned on so early. She had wanted to wait until she was
in her later years when Niraya fell ill and knew her father would not be far
behind if she died.

Traditionally royalty was married in their
sixteenth to eighteenth year. That she had gone into her twenties without even
a betrothed worried her father. All his planning dissolving into nothing. And now,
without even a plan, she had decided to marry Arun. All that was left was to
tell him.

"Fuck me! I'm not ready!" She
muttered. But ready for what? She was ready to be with Arun. Ready to give up
her freedom for him. What was she not ready for? She was already queen and if
she did have children, he would make a fine king to do what needed to be done.

Whatever it was she was not ready for, she
had to remedy fast. She could lose Arun anytime, not just because of some other
woman, but because of a myriad of other things that could kill him.

Leanne had a grin on her face when she
entered. Likely, Liushan had already told her what Alethi had called her for.
Leanne waited for Liushan to seat himself before she started. "Why, our
young queen is ready to become a woman, is she?

Alethi felt her face burn. She would
tolerate the woman's teasing. After all, she was proving herself to be loyal.
And perhaps, proving herself a friend the more they knew each other.

"I have great fears."

"I understand completely. Not to make
worry more, your grace, but every woman…and possibly some
pretty boys
,
are interested in the elves in Dosalam, most especially the Prince. I have to
say, there is a certain lure to him. Something addicting when we get close to
him. I admit, I do get…
charged
when he is around."

Alethi's habd fisted underneath the table.
"It is his mating year. A natural course for elves."

Leanne looked inquisitive and Liushan
supplied the explanation. "We do not think much of sex after we have all
agreed to put love and infatuation out of our lives. Of course, we can have sex
like normal humans, but none of us bothered. The elders feared the death of our
race and so we are all set a spell at our birth so that we will procreate no
matter our distaste for the act. It is more of a means for our race to
survive."

"I see. And his scent is an
indicator?" Liushan nodded. "And this happens?"

"Once every seven years." Liushan
answered.

"Well, so much for my lesson about
elves." Leanne turned to Alethi. "So you want to keep the Prince
panting after you away from the clutches of Shanel. If you are willing, I can
teach you things that not even Shanel would dream of. The woman is a first rate
actress and I can only teach you so much of that with the time that we have,
but I do not think you need it. What you feel for the prince is genuine enough.
What we have to work on is your seduction. And that you are not such a novice
in bed."

If Alethi's face had burned before, now it
was a conflagration. The woman knew she was a virgin!

"Oh, come now dear, you would not be
asking my help if you have had any experience. Or reacting any more if I told
you I am going to make you watch and learn with a naked man in front of you.

Alethi's jaw dropped and her eyes went wide.

"You have not seen someone of the
opposite sex naked before?" Liushan asked showing genuine surprise at her
shock. "It really is nothing to see one another's bodies. It is a gift.
Why should anyone be embarrassed? I reckon you should have bathed in Rehanathi
when all the elves were bathing."

Leanne made an effort to hide her laughter
in vain. "Forgive me, your grace, but it seems we have to get rid of your
modesty first before we do anything else. And I doubt, Liushan would let me
take one of my man-whore friends to strip before you. Perhaps, you would be of
assistance, Liushan."

Liushan nodded. "I could take the fall
for my lord's anger. If it means that he would be happier at the end of
this."

"You are going to go naked?"
Alethi almost shrieked.

"And we will experiment on him."
Leanne's grin widened.

"Just you, Leanne." Liushan
interjected. "I will risk his wrath, but I would not betray him. Besides,
even if it was not betrayal, I doubt our timid queen would have the strength to
touch me. Would you?"

Alethi only vigorously shook her head in
response.

"Well, that settles it, then,"
Leanne nodded. "We will start tomorrow night and I will see if I can ask
Iden to craft some realistic body part for you to try some things. I will use
Liushan so you could see responses. Besides, I have yet o know if men and elves
respond the same way."

"We will find out."

Without Alethi's word, both have already
decided the course of action as if she was not there. She was not certain it
was the best, but they did know better than her.

Just the fact that they had experience and
she did not was proof enough. And the fact that they were older.