Page 41 of Changeling
Poor Annais was left with orders to admit me and no one else, but when I wouldn’t come inside without Remy and Sachi, there was little he could do but allow the intrusion.
The three of us are tucked away into one of the parlor’s alcoves, waiting, when Dominus roars from the entry. “Sebastian!”
Whoa. He sounds angry. Likeangryangry. Even worse than when I first told him I was a faerie.
Remy and Sachi share a nervous glance where they sit across from me on a ruby-red velvet cushion. I’m doing my best not to think about what acts have happened on its plush surface.
I jump up, ready to beg Dominus to calm down for proper introductions, but his long stride swallows the ground in great gulps. Before I get a word out, he shoves me protectively behind his colossal incubus form. Both he and Leonas take threatening stances toward Remy and Sachi.
Whoops.
“Dominus, wait.” I grab his waist. “They’re friends!”
The witches stand, Remy lifting his hands in front of him, preparing to defend their ground.
“Dominus, don’t start something.” I grip his hips and try to maneuver around his bulk.
His tail latches around my middle and holds me firmly behind him. “Stay back,” he growls.
Tingling energy crackles and snaps around us as one too many magical creatures anticipate conflict.
Annais wisely stays out of it.
Leonas stalks the perimeter. Sachi’s eyes stay on him, alert and fierce. She’s ready to guard their backs. Tension buzzes in the space between us as if even the air seeks to escape.
“Everyone stop!” I yank Dominus by the elbow, clenching tightly to break his focus. “There’s no need for animosities if you’d listen.”
“Why are you here?” he snarls at the others.
A low growl emanates from Leonas, a feral sound, like an animal. A terrified shiver snakes to my core.
“We mean no harm,” says Remy.
“They don’t, Dominus,” I plead. “They’re from The Dozen. Here to rescue me, but—”
“She’s fae.” Dominus glares at Sachi.
“So am I!” I tug on his arm, but worked up like this, he may as well be made of stone. “I invited them here. If you need to be mad about it, turn your anger on me, not them.”
He doesn’t take his attention off the perceived threat or let me in front of him, so I argue from his side. “They thought I was in danger with you, but I told them I wasn’t. That we’d be safe. Please don’t prove me wrong.”
“I apologize for not going through the proper channels.” Remy’s voice is calm and clear as if he has nothing to fear from Dominus or Leonas. Perhaps he doesn’t. I’ve no idea the extent of his magic. “The consensus from The Dozen left no time for pleasantries. Sebastian has suffered enough as it is.”
Though the muscles of his jaw tense, and he presses his lips to a thin line, Dominus lets out a long breath through his nose and backs down. “You’re unharmed?” He still won’t take his eyes off them, but the question is for me.
“I’m fine,” I assure him. “They’ve been kind to me. We only want to talk. Clear things up.”
In the silence that follows, the muscles beneath my fingers unclench and loosen. Dominus wraps his big arms over my shoulders and draws me even closer.
Remy lowers his hands. Leonas stands down. Slowly, the mood shifts, and I sigh, relaxing in Dominus’s embrace. Crisis averted.
I offer a smile. “Perhaps we could all sit down?”
Dominus grumbles under his breath, then glances at Annais. “Please arrange the furniture to accommodate our…” A host of possibilities hang in the pause, but he forces “guests” from his throat with audible reluctance. Ever the accommodating host, he adds, “And if you would, please ask Rizpah to bring up refreshments.”
“Of course.” Annais gets to work with Leonas’s help, moving chaises and lounges from the perimeter of the large parlor to a carefully spaced circle in the middle. Beside me, Dominus remains stiff, though thankfully, the threat of violence seems to have passed.
Remy keeps a sharp eye on Dominus, but Sachi seems more relaxed already. “Such a lovely establishment you keep,” she says. “I’ve never seen a brothel so sparkling clean and tidy.”
