Page 5 of Changeling
“A faerie!” Dominus flings the word at Ivaz like garbage. “You brought one of them into my home?”
Ivaz is already out of his seat and has stepped between us. I didn’t see him move. He holds up both arms, hands open, palms forward. “I wasn’t aware it would be an issue, and for that, you have my apologies, but I must beg you to calm down. Don’t blame Sebastian. This isn’t his fault.”
Anger burns hot in my throat. I’m confused, and annoyingly, my feelings are hurt. “What’s wrong with faeries?”
“As if you don’t know,” Dominus spits.
Ivaz remains calm. “He doesn’t know, Dominus, and neither do I. If you want us to understand your little temper tantrum, you’ll have to explain yourself.”
My mind is reeling. Seconds ago, I was considering bedding this giant purple lunatic, and now I’d like to introduce my fist to his stupidly pretty mouth.
Dominus growls low in his throat. “This is my brothel, and I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. The faerie may stay here, with you, for today, but that’s it. Come sunset, I want him gone, never to return. Understood?”
Ivaz lowers his hands. “Dominus, we can discuss this later when the shock has worn off. I swear I didn’t realize it would be a problem, or I’d never have brought him. You know me better than that.”
“I believe you, but you won’t change my mind. The faerie isn’t welcome.” Dominus storms off and slams the door behind him.
My hands are shaking. Fizzling energy gathers at my fingertips, preparing to come to my defense if needed.
Ivaz turns slowly, an apologetic expression on his face. He cocks his head. “I’ve no idea what that was about. You?”
“None. One minute he was offering his bed, and the next he was marching me back to you.”
“Because you’re faeborn?”
I press my lips tight and nod. Not human enough to fit among humans and not the right sort of otherworldly to fit among supernaturals. My stomach clenches with worry. Perhaps I’ll never belong anywhere. “Are faeries bad?”
“Not to my knowledge.” Ivaz tugs a heavy velvet blanket off his bed and points to the bearskin rug on the floor. “That okay?”
I’ve slept in worse places. “Yeah, fine.” I take the soft bedding and make a little nest for myself.
Ivaz tosses me an extra pillow. “Good night.”
It’s morning. I roll my eyes. “Good night.”
I’m used to being an outcast, so this is familiar territory. If Dominus plans on hating me for reasons he won’t bother to explain, so be it. He’s not that hot anyway.
Funny, the lies we tell ourselves.
CHAPTER2
Dominus
Fuming,I stalk back to my rooms.
A faerie!Under my roof!
Curses and camel spit. If anyone but Ivaz had brought the creature through my door, I’d have turned them both out onto the streets. But I’ve known Ivaz for nearly two centuries, and I don’t believe he’d offend me on purpose. He looked genuinely surprised by my anger. For that matter, so did the faerie.
So here it will sleep. A faeborn at The Twig and Berries. I shut the door behind me, perhaps harder than necessary, and snarl at my empty den. I thought Sebastian’s company would provide a welcome diversion from the daily tedium of running this place, but in minutes, those hopes were crushed.
I leave my sandals at the door and pad barefoot to my bedroom. One look at the giant bed where I’ll be sleeping alone again and my gut clenches. I want to hunch my shoulders, but I roll them back and force my spine straight instead. When did intimacy become more transactional than joyful? The shift allowed loneliness to creep under my skin.
At least my space brings comfort. A soothing palette of cream and earthen brown calms my nerves. Clean, cozy, and serene, my bedroom is a reflection of simple desires. I slip off my shift, hang it neatly with the others, then remove my jewelry piece by piece from fingers, ears, horns, belly button, wrists, and nipples. As I return each item to its place in a black velvet-lined chest, I admire my collection. The varied stones and gems glitter even in the low light. Then I add simpler jewelry back to the more sensitive piercings for sleeping: gold hoops with no stones. My nipples pucker as I slide the metal through them.
Faeries are said to admire shimmering, shiny things the same way I do, but Sebastian wore no jewels and was dressed plainly. His beauty lies in his delicate features, the luster of his honeyed hair, and his curious, intelligent gaze. Some people don’t need trinkets to sparkle.
I shake off my musings and climb into bed, settling beneath a mountain of smooth silk and soft furs. I’d normally be asleep by this hour, but Ivaz is a good friend, so waiting up to greet him was no hardship. Or it shouldn’t have been.
