Hidden Revenge

by Norah J. Stone

  People still hadn’t warmed up to her, and Amelia guessed they never would, but in some way, she was treated differently now. Not with respect, no, but the fact that their lord had laid claim to her apparently afforded her a modicum of regard, for lack of a better word, even though their contempt for her remained pretty much evident.

  Amelia was still a slave. A living and breathing possession. But since Lord Roan demanded Amelia’s presence almost constantly instead of banishing her from his sight as before, the household members seemed to think she was of some value to him, and they treated her accordingly.

  There was no more name-calling. The derogative jests at her expense had mostly ceased as well, and the staff didn’t order her around any longer. Not even the head servant, though he continued to regard her with barely veiled contempt and disgust – and now also rage.

  Amelia knew the Fae was only biding his time, waiting for the opportunity to get back at her. Harold might not dare to raise a hand to her. Roan’s prohibition seemed to safeguard her from that kind of action. However, there were always other ways to pay her back and get her into trouble.

  The head servant’s possible future retaliation wasn’t the only thing that kept Amelia at edge, though. Roan’s reaction to Harold hitting her left her even more confounded than she’d been before, and quite frankly, his wrath, power and occasional lack of control also scared her. After all, she was literally bound to the unfathomable male, and the damned collar wasn’t like a spell, cast and done. It had been created for a long-term purpose, remaining active at all times, and thus could probably do a lot of damage to her in a single instant.

  Since the dangerous piece of mystical energy was literally wrapped around her throat, Amelia couldn’t get rid of it easily, and it was constantly calling out to its master, making him aware of her whereabouts. That was the lesser of Amelia’s problems, though. She’d known that the invisible thing was a tracking device, had successfully proven that fact weeks ago, but the fiery-dark construction was also a leash and a means of punishment, torture and execution, all in one, and a mere thought would likely suffice to bring Amelia to heel – or to get rid of her permanently.

  Alas, Amelia no longer doubted that Aroan could retaliate as promised if she ever stepped out of line, and she was bound to do so. It was only a question of time. What she wasn’t so sure about anymore was how Roan would react – whether he’d actually decide to hurt her, and whether his decision would be of any consequence if his mystical power took over in the heat of the moment.

  For some reason, Roan had refrained from using his abilities further against her until now. He didn’t seem inclined to punish her like that. Yet even an errant desire would be more than enough, Amelia thought with a frown. Roan didn’t even have to really mean it – she’d still be dead.

  That was why the lack of control worried her more than the Fae’s immense power or the wealth of emotion he kept hidden under a veneer of ice. Since she couldn’t figure out Roan’s motivation, she couldn’t predict his reactions. She didn’t even have an inkling of what had led the male to demand she attend him instead of keeping working in the kitchens, since her assumptions had proven wrong.

  Roan didn’t expect her to keep him company in bed.

  What he did expect was for her to be constantly at his side. Amelia had to stand wordlessly by the wall whenever she wasn’t carrying out a task. She was to be attentive, focused on him and readily at hand, but unless called upon, she better be practically invisible. Or rather seen but not heard. Like a piece of furniture or a fixture in the room.

  It was degrading. Infuriating.

  Amelia felt impotent and restless.

  Well, she felt that way most of the time – like right now. In instances like this, she kept reminding herself that her new circumstances had already brought about valuable opportunities to listen in on conversations, even on the ones she wasn’t supposed to hear. Or to sneak a peek at letters and other documents in stolen moments.

  To obtain precious information.

  Though Amelia had had far less chances to roam around on her own than she would’ve liked, and she could hardly enjoy the gardens or spend any quality time with Evana anymore, she couldn’t deny that being near Aroan about eighteen hours a day had definite advantages.

  For one, there was the view.

  Sometimes, after having played statue for hours on end, and with her frustration mounting to the point that she thought she would scream, Amelia opted to kind of let herself go for a bit instead. To forget everything and just be. And on those occasions, she often caught her eyes wandering. Taking in the broad shoulders of a certain Fae, the back that was always ramrod straight, and the naked, muscular forearms he leaned on his desk when he was alone in his office, absorbed in his work. Alone apart from her, that is – not that she counted as company in the eyes of a Fae.

  Want it or not, Amelia also noticed the way Roan kept worrying his lower lip while deep in thought, tempting her, and how the rays of the sun turned those tousled pale blond strands of his well-nigh silver on bright days. She admired his handsome features probably far more times than she should, even imagining once in a while what running her hands along his proud jaw would feel like.

  Shuddering, Amelia returned to staring straight ahead, then shook her head in dejection.

  That an enticing, powerful body like his had to hide a tainted, cruel soul … Truly, it was such a waste. And Aroan was rotten to the core. Otherwise, he wouldn’t’ve been capable of committing such atrocities. Why he kept pretending to be halfway decent person in front of a slave, though ...

  Amelia scoffed.

  Of course, she wasn’t fooled by the act. She knew better. And though she lost herself in her fantasy from time to time, it didn’t take much to remind her what Lord Aroan was really capable of. Recalling whom he’d taken from her was more than enough to nip any favorable thoughts or treacherous feelings in the bud. It guaranteed that Amelia remained focused on the three reasons she stayed at the mansion – to gather information, to find a way to free Thea and as many other enslaved humans as possible, and to learn the best way to take revenge.

  For the last one, Amelia might have to get somewhat close to Aroan. That was her only motivation to do so, though.

  The only one.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Like each morning for the past two months, Amelia woke up bright and early.

  She wasn’t a morning person by nature, not by a long shot, but she’d long since gotten used to turning out at the crack of dawn. Even as a little girl, her guardians had consistently roused her from sleep six times a week so she could set about her duties before she had to attend her classes or other functions. Saturdays had been the exception, and as such, also her favorite day of the week. On Saturdays, she’d been allowed to stay in bed as long as she liked, and more often than not, she’d lazed about most of the morning.

  Those early years of her childhood hadn’t lasted long, though. Amelia had soon learned to sleep with one eye open and awaken at the slightest notion of danger. To always be ready to run or fight and defend herself. Whichever promised the better outcome. She’d also gotten accustomed to being up and about the moment the day broke – a fact that had also helped her avoid tardiness while working in the mansion’s kitchen.

  Aroan didn’t start his day as early as the rest of the household, though, so Amelia could’ve gotten away with sleeping a bit longer herself. All the same, she regularly got up while the sky was still dotted with stars. It was only in those early hours, with Roan and most of the other occupants of the mansion yet sound asleep, that she could allow herself to lower her defenses and let her senses roam free.

  While there were always guards posted around the property, they didn’t pose much of a threat for Amelia. The guards’ attention was focused outward as a rule, and so early in the day, it even tended to sag a bit, so the Fae on duty never considered checking the inside of the mansion for something out of the ordinary. They didn’t want to
make their task more difficult than it had to be, anyway, and since there hadn’t been any danger recently, with the shift change so close, it was kind of understandable that the guards longed for their beds.

  Amelia wouldn’t have been so careless herself, but then again, she was in enemy territory, so she had to stay alert. Besides, the guards’ lack of thoroughness was doubly to her advantage. She not only got to stretch her mental muscles a bit in the mornings, but also had the opportunity to snoop around undisturbed, with minimal risk of detection.

  It’d been during these morning hours that she’d initially explored Aroan’s suite of rooms, after spending the first nights in her comfy new bed wide awake, waiting to see whether the Fae would seek her out. Aroan hadn’t come, neither then, nor the following night, but he also hadn’t bothered to show his slave – or personal servant, as he’d taken to referring to her – around, so Amelia had to take the initiative and learn the lay of the land on her own. With her heightened senses, it was fairly easy to ascertain that she was indeed the only one awake in the immediate vicinity. Thus, there hadn’t been a thing stopping Amelia from investigating.

  Throwing back her warm blanket and easing out of bed in the wee hours, she’d crept out of her lavish chamber and into the sitting room with the giant map of the continent on the wall. The thick carpet on the wooden floor had muffled her silent steps, making it easier for her to listen so she wasn’t caught off guard while she catalogued all the exits, explored the empty room to find potential hiding places, and surveyed the regrettably uncluttered coffee table.

  Apart from the exit to the hallway, there were only four doors in the sitting area. Of course, Amelia had known which one led to her own chamber, and judging by the strong presence emanating from the room behind the single door on the back wall, the lord’s sleeping quarters had to lay that way. That’d left two doors, with two unknown spaces to scout.

  Peeking through the door next to her own first, Amelia had found herself in a smallish chamber crammed full of intricately carved furniture and curious items that were obviously out of use at the moment. Strange as it was to find such in a Fae Lord’s suite, it seemed to be a storage space.

  Crossing the sitting room, Amelia had opened the last door and came upon a huge gaming room, with a private dining area overlooking the green lawn tucked in a corner. That was more like it, and though it was hardly probable she’d find secret documents lying around in there, the room was definitely worth looking through. If nothing else, it could tell her a lot about Aroan’s likes and dislikes. So Amelia had spent the rest of that morning reconnoitering.

  There was still one area in the suite left to explore, though.

  Amelia had yet to be told to set foot in Roan’s bedroom, and up until now, she hadn’t dared to enter of her own accord – nor attempted to sneak a peek into the Fae’s mind to gain more knowledge of his motivations and find out all his plans and secrets. Not even while he was sound asleep.

  She was just being cautious, though. That was why she kept hesitating. After all, the room could very well be warded, and if so, attempting to break in would land her in some serious trouble. And she had no idea whether she could access a Fae’s thoughts at all, anyway.

  Amelia knew she had to give both of those things a go at some point, but she told herself there would be time for them later. Besides, if she tried right before she was ready to leave, she could minimize the risk to herself.

  For now, she had a lot to do – like getting dressed and fetching the Fae Lord’s breakfast in a timely manner. She had appearances to maintain, mind you.

  ~ *** ~

  That morning’s fare consisted of crispy bacon, omelette and two generous slices of freshly baked bread with butter and strawberry jam.

  As Amelia entered the gaming room in Roan’s suite and headed for the dining area to set the heavily laden breakfast tray on a side table, it was all she could do not to snatch up a piece of bacon or furtively dunk her finger into the juicy jam for a quick taste. The delicious aromas had been taunting her from the moment she’d entered the kitchens where the cook and her aides had been already busily at work, but in spite of getting up so early, she hadn’t had a chance to grab a bite herself. In the flurry of activity, Amelia had just had enough time to catch Evana’s eyes for a second before the mistress of the kitchen had noticed her presence and rounded on her, pointing out the waiting tray and snapping at her to get going.

  The food wasn’t the worst of it, though. It was the pot of freshly brewed coffee, blessedly strong and untainted by cream and sugar, that proved to be pretty neigh irresistible to Amelia. What she wouldn’t’ve given for a sip of the fortifying, aromatic goodness! Aroan could enter the room any moment, though, so with a tiny sigh, she went to stand by the wall and settled in to wait as usual.

  She so hoped His Lordship would deign to emerge from his bedroom and take his morning meal before the breakfast got cold – or the delightful smell drove her to madness.

  It bordered on a year and a half since she’d last tasted strong black coffee, and she missed it more than all the enticing courses she’d once regularly consumed without thought, taking rich meals for granted. At Naera’s home, they’d prepared much simpler food than here at the mansion, but that had never bothered her. The lack of the caffeinated beverage, however, was something she supposed she’d always bemoan, no matter how long she’d already gone without.

  As if summoned by her thoughts, she soon heard a door open, then two sets of boots crossed the sitting room, getting steadily closer. Amelia immediately snapped to attention, throwing back her shoulders and wiping all expression from her face.

  “Please make sure those letters are delivered today, if at all possible,” Aroan said to Branley as he strode into the room with his companion dutifully following on his heels. “And have Afton saddle the horses. We will be leaving after breakfast.”

  “Certainly, Lord Roan.”

  The handsome Fae with the blue, blue eyes sat in a deep-cushioned chair, picking up his napkin.

  “Thank you, Branley. That will be all for now,” he finished, and the valet bowed, then swiftly departed the room.

  Amelia took that as her cue. Stepping forward, she removed the covers from the breakfast dishes so Aroan could set to eating. As he did so, picking up his fork and knife, the Fae turned his head in her direction.

  “Good morning, Amelia,” he said, choosing to acknowledge her presence at his leisure.

  “My lord,” she automatically replied, returning his greeting, then picked up the still hot coffee pot. “Will you take your coffee as usual?”

  “Yes, I will, thank you.”

  Amelia set about preparing the hot beverage, pouring him a cup and adding a splash of cream, then setting it on the breakfast table, right next to the food tray. As she straightened, she remembered to ask, “Do you require anything else?”

  “Not as far as breakfast is concerned,” Aroan answered, taking another bite from the buttered white bread.

  Amelia remained where she was, waiting for him to continue.

  “Tell me, Amelia, do you know how to ride?”

  “Yes, my lord,” Amelia stammered, baffled.

  Where was he going with this?

  Aroan went on eating, unconcerned by her confusion.

  “Very good. Then you may go now,” he said, looking her up and down, taking in her appearance. “You better grab a pair of pants, though. And some food, too, if you haven’t done so yet.”

  For a moment, Amelia just stood there, frozen.

  Did she dare hope they were really leaving the mansion? On horseback, no less?

  The mere idea filled her with anticipation, but she managed to contain her excitement long enough to ask in a voice that passed for normal, “Pants, my lord?”

  “Yes, Amelia, pants. You will find some on your bed. I had Branley bring them up this morning,” he explained with a strange glint in his eyes, as if that cleared up everything. “Now go on, hurry. I’d like to set out
as soon as possible.”

  Apparently in her company.

  As it was evident no more information was forthcoming since the Fae considered their exchange done, Amelia hurried from the room, baffled yet again, though at least that didn’t surprise her anymore.

  If there was one thing she’d learned about Roan during her forced stay at the mansion, it was that the male was unpredictable. An enigma. He never did or said what she expected him to, never reacted in the manner a typical stuck-up Fae convinced of his superiority and entrenched in his hatred of everything human would, and that made it very hard for Amelia to figure him out. His behavior simply didn’t match what she knew about him for a fact.

  Things just wouldn’t add up.

  But now, at least, she wouldn’t be left wondering. She’d find out what the infuriating male had in mind and where he planned on going soon enough.

  Chapter Sixteen

  When Amelia entered the large marble foyer, clad in the pants she’d indeed found in her room along with black boots and a new, long-sleeved tunic, Branley was standing by the wooden front entrance of the mansion. Dressed as elegantly as ever, the tall, wiry male turned her way the moment he saw her coming and scanned her from head to toe. Seeming satisfied with her appearance, the Fae nodded once.

  “You better hurry up,” he then said in warning, but his words lacked both malice and chastisement. “His Lordship is already outside. He is waiting for you at the stables.”

  Inclining her head, Amelia brushed past the valet, and throwing open the door, she exited through the front entrance. Though she knew Branley was right and she should make haste, for an instant, Amelia just stood there, relishing the warmth of the sun on her face.

  She’d missed this so much.

  But of course, Amelia wasn’t the only one deprived of such simple pleasures, and she didn’t have it worst, not even close.