Page 22 of Chosen
It made no difference to me what she wanted to be called. “Fine. Follow me…Jamie.”
Once inside, I’m greeted by a maid who takes my coat.
Two other maids are waiting by the entrance with bowed heads. One has long straight black hair, held back with white ribbon. The other has curly light brown hair. “Welcome back My Lord,” they greet in unison. I don’t recognize either one of them. There are hundreds of servants in the fortress, but at some point, I have seen most of them at least once. I always make note of the people I come in contact with. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been labeled an anomaly by some, I never forget a face or a scent and recognize neither on these women.
I give them a brief nod of acknowledgement and then focus my attention on Jamie. “Are you hungry? You didn’t eat anything on the plane.”
She raises her head and our eyes lock. I take an involuntary step away from her. Looking down into her eyes is unnerving and I don’t like feeling things I can’t explain.
“No,” she simply replies.
“That’s no, My Lord, to you,” the one with brown hair corrects her.
I turn my gaze to her.
“Did I give you permission to speak? What’s your name?”
“It’s Rhea, My Lord, and my apologies for speaking out of turn. It’s just that we were assigned to the care of your new breeder. I meant no disrespect.”
“Who assigned you?”
“I did. Is there a problem?”
Braeden appears in formal attire. His suit is fashioned like an Enforcer’s but with gold embroidered designs on breast pockets of his shirt, jeweled buttons and a black fur-lined collar. He wears dark hair cut just above his ears and styled in a way thatmakes it appear messy like he’d just risen from bed, but I know he has a barber who spends hours on his hair to make it right.
He claims his hair is one vanity, but he has many.
“Who are these two females? I’ve never seen them around the fortress.”
“They’re newly assigned. I thought to save you the trouble from dealing with assigning her a maid. I even gave her two, since she’s your precious breeder.”
“The Steward usually handles the assignments of the domestic servants. I’d sent the orders ahead and I entrusted him with them. Was there a reason for your intervention?”
A wave of red flushes Braeden’s face. “Do we need to have this conversation in front of the servants…cousin?”
He only throws our familial connection in my face when he feels I am being overbearing. Perhaps he was only trying to help and I am making a bigger deal of this than necessary. Why do I care so much that he’s taken over a task that needed to be done anyway.
Besides, that scent is starting to get to me again, and I need to put some distance between me and my breeder.
I say to the maids who’s heads are still bowed. “Take my breeder, to her room and see that she is settled in properly. I’ll have further instructions sent later.”
“Yes, My Lord,” the say in unison.
The one with dark hair grabs Jamie by the arm and pulls her away. I’m not sure if it’s because I barely got any rest on the plane or not, but I thought she used more force than necessary to escort Jamie away.
No, surely I imagined it. Besides, what did I care, she was simply a means to an end.
Once they are out of my sight, I feel I can breathe again. Her smell gets fainter the further away she gets.
“You’re never going to shake that beastly reputation of yours if you continue to frighten the servants.”
Braeden is the only one who would dare call me a beast to my face. He’s the only one I’d allow because he was by my side at my worst.
“Make sure you run it by me before you make new assignments in the fortress.”
“I didn’t believe you’d be interested in such minute details.”
“There are no minute details when it comes to my breeder. She will have my heir.”
