Page 6 of Bound By Dance and Desire

“I want you. Take me to your bed and before I have my fill, you’ll scream my name on my tongue, my fingers, and only then on my cock. I won’t allow you to sleep until you break from pleasure. Then in the morning I’ll break you again.”

My dancer froze, staring up at me with wide, startled eyes beginning to glaze with confused lust.

I smiled, lifting my hand in anticipation of her acquiescence, when she shook her head and jerked away.

“No.”

. . .what.

I stilled. Lowered my hand. “I beg your pardon?” I was certain I still spoke English fluently.

She shook her head again, taking another step back and a deep breath as if to force my scent out of her lungs.

Really.

Indignation faded under a sharp pang of concern. She wasn’t. . .addled, was she? The Dark wouldn’t fate me a dimwitted bonded. There was no other explanation for refusing me.

The desire in her eyes faded and was replaced by weary, pain limned cynicism before she suppressed that too, pulling out a polite expression.

She cleared her throat. “I’m. . .appreciative of the offer, but no, thank you. Good night.”

With a last wide-eyed look, she darted away.

Sheranfrom me.

“Oh, I don’tthinkso.”

I made to follow, but Constin growled. “Andreien. She said no.” His expression sharpened. “Leash it, luudthen. You wanted to be different from the others. You wanted a lover’s no to mean something.”

. . .yes. Yes. I. . .didn’t want to be one of the reasons the weak and vulnerable were warned to offer submission to a High Lord ifwanting to survive. I knew what the Low Fae said about us. They called us monsters—but they were right.

Then Constin howled. “A mortal told youno! By the Dark, I wish I had a memory gem.” He sobered as I continued to stare after her, stunned. “You’ll have to actually exert yourself.” He took one look at my face and convulsed. “Dismissed by a mortal!”

Surprise faded as interest sharpened.

I’d let her go for now. If a hunt was what she wanted then I’d give her one, by the Dark.

I glanced briefly at Constin, annoyed but more settled. “Pull yourself together, warrior. We follow.”

We remained in the shadows as she waited at a public stop. Once she boarded the triple decker conveyance we followed in our private coach. The decker pulled away in a puff of magic laced steam, traveling south.

“This situation continues to improve,” Constin muttered. “Ofcourseshe's in the Coal District. The least defensible portion of the city.”

It was as close to a slum as we allowed in Casakraine. Where we shoved Houseless humans and our own troublesome people until they inevitably caused offense and were either killed or deported. The Lord who oversaw the District was, perhaps, not as rigorous in executing his duty as I wished. No matter, Hasannah wouldn't be living there much longer.

I dug my fingers into my tensed thigh. “No, you're right. This will not stand.”

Constin glanced at me, gaze keen. He’d finally stopped giggling like a faeling.

“May I offer counsel?” he asked in his smooth Court baritone.

“. . .carefully.”

“Forget you're a High Lord. She must have only recently come through the realm gate. She won't understand your right to her, and I assume you want her to like you.”

I stilled my fingers, forcing the hand to relax. “I hadn't planned on coercing her. That particular sport never interested me. But if I must make concessions, so will she. I won't jeopardize her safety for the sake of fragile mortal feelings.”

He sighed. “I hope the girl's at least a quarterling. Lord Issahelle is going to throw a fit. Halfling babes are always a mixed bag.” He grimaced. “Sahakian halflings. She’s really going to throw a fit if they’re born powerless.”

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