by Noa Xireau
Rachel’s eyes burned with unshed tears. Sera wanted to embrace the girl and promise her that everything would be fine…but she couldn’t. The only way to protect Rachel was for Sera to avoid giving in to her own urges and to stick with the plan. Sera crossed her arms and pressed her lips together.
Rachel nodded and went up.
“No. On your knees. Crawl to the door. You’re a pet. Behave like one!”
Rachel gulped as if she had a giant knot in her throat. Her beautiful blue eyes filled with hurt, but she went down on her hands and knees and crawled to the door.
Sera’s fingernails pressed into her palms. “Wiggle your ass and show our guest what a cute pet you are.”
A restrained sob escaped Rachel’s lips as she followed Sera’s order. Sera let herself fall into a chair, taking a deep breath. She needed to keep her calm demeanor. There was nothing fun in the humiliation she was making Rachel go through right now, nor was there any kind of thrill involved.
Rachel opened the door. The girl’s cheeks acquired a deep red hue as she stared at Sir Leylan’s shoes. All the voices outsides silenced. Sera made a mental note to weave a spell over the guards and the coachman before they left. Not one of them would remember that he had seen the princess crawling around naked.
“Sir Leylan! Welcome to my home!” Sera crossed her legs. “Please come in and forgive my pet’s lack of education.”
The redness on Rachel’s face went deeper and extended to her cleavage. Sir Leylan gaped from Rachel to Sera, as if he knew that he should be looking at Sera but couldn’t keep his eyes from the naked girl kneeling before him.
“Yes, eh…Milady…”
“Come in, come in.” Sera’s lips curved into a smile even when his hungry eyes on Rachel’s breast gave Sera heartburn.
Rachel retreated to let Sir Leylan in and closed the door behind him. Sera clapped on the arm of her chair to call Rachel to her side. Rachel immediately crawled to Sera, wiggling her ass like a cat in heat before a bunch of males. Sera couldn’t avoid the pride filling her. Even in her humiliation, Rachel acted like a proud queen. Sera just missed a purr from her wonderful redhead.
Sir Leylan followed Rachel, his insolent gaze never leaving the enticing swing of the fox tail. The prominent bulge in his pants clearly showed the direction of his thoughts. Sera’s fingers itched to take her magic stick and turn him into a mouse. Then they would see if he still liked fox tails as a tiny rodent! And wouldn’t it be entertaining if she shifted Rachel into a cat, so she could play with the vain man in mouse form? Sera was tempted to change her plan. At least they would have fun.
As soon as Rachel took her position, kneeling with wide-spread legs beside Sera’s chair, Sera caressed Rachel’s neck. The girl shivered and slightly closed her eyes. Damn! I’ll miss her!
“Please take a seat, Sir Leylan.” Sera pointed at the chair in front of her.
Sir Leylan’s gaze shifted hesitantly from Rachel’s pussy to Sera. “My king sent me to collect a message from you.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” Sera smiled invitingly.
Sir Leylan’s intense stare traveled deliberately to Sera’s cleavage. “Milady?” His voice dripped with male vanity.
Sera was sure he didn’t notice how her fingernails sank into the wooden arms of her chair. Conceited pig! There was something about him Sera disliked, and it wasn’t just his past relationship with Rachel. “Why don’t you take a seat, Sir Leylan? A visit such as yours is something worth enjoying for a while.”
“How could a man refuse such a kind invitation?” A lopsided grin appeared on his face as he turned to the other chair and got comfortable.
Too comfortable for Sera’s taste when he spread his legs and relocated the bulge in his trousers, obviously trying to catch their attention. How could Rachel be so obsessed with that man? He was a moron—attractive, but a moron nevertheless.
“Tell me something about you, Sir Leylan.” Sera playfully traced Rachel’s shoulder and arm.
“What do you want to know, Lady Sera?” Sir Leylan’s voice was hoarse as he followed Sera’s fingers with his gaze, fascinated as they reached Rachel’s breasts and the girl arched her back.
“Someone told me you’re married. Is that true?” Sera pinched Rachel’s nipple.
The girl’s moan resounded through Sera’s pussy, but she forced herself to keep her mind clear.
“Honestly? It’s just a marriage of convenience, nothing else.” Sir Leylan gave a dismissive shrug.
So much honesty would have surprised Sera, but Sir Leylan obviously thought that he would have an opportunity to fuck Sera and Rachel. All men are the same. Rachel stiffened at his words. Sera had been right. The girl was still in love with the moron. Nevertheless, it was one thing to suppose that Rachel loved Sir Leylan and another thing altogether to witness that love. Sera put her free hand over her heart to calm the pain.
“Why so? You’re still young and handsome, if I may say so,” Sera insisted, studying him under her eyelashes.
“My wife’s family has money and power. What man doesn’t want both of them?”
“I see. Was she the best option?” Sera asked.
“She was the best option with a family who was agreeable to our union.”
Sir Leylan had obviously tried out other options, but had been refused by the parents. Had he asked for Rachel’s hand too?
“But what if you fall in love with someone else? From what you’ve said, you don’t seem very attached to your wife.”
The more Sir Leylan said, the less Sera liked him.
“Love doesn’t matter; power does.” Sir Leylan licked his lips as Sera played with Rachel’s nipples, making the bells chime. “I know you’re able to understand me. You’re an exceptionally smart woman, Lady Sera.”
Too smart for you, that’s for sure!
“And if your true love had more money and power than your wife?”
“Probably her family wouldn’t accept me.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust.
“But what if they accepted you? What if I could make them accept you?”
Sir Leylan’s sharp gaze flew to Sera. “There’re always means to get rid of a woman.”
“You’d kill her?” Sera raised an eyebrow.
“Not necessarily. I could always claim infertility or adultery to send her back to her parents.”
“You’re a cold bastard, Sir Leylan.” Sera gave him a smile of complicity. Does he really think I agree with all the shit he’s telling me? I’m a woman, for Goddess’s sake!
Sir Leylan shrugged. “I’m just a practical man. Why would I waste my time with that boring girl if I could have someone better?”
Sera seriously doubted that he would be able to love someone if he wasn’t under a magic spell. Her plan seemed to lose some of its brightness. Fortunately, she could always undo the spell once the Moon Festival was over.
“I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me. Can I offer you a glass of wine, Sir Leylan? I want an excuse to keep you here a little while longer.”
“I’d be grateful for a glass of wine, but you don’t need an excuse. It’s my pleasure to spend time with you, milady,” he assured her with his gaze on Sera’s thumb as she pressed gently against Rachel’s lips.
Sera bent to Rachel and brushed the girl’s ear with her lips as she whispered to her. “You’ve heard him, little princess. He could be all yours. Only a few drops and he’ll fall in love with you forever. He’ll leave his wife to be at your side. It’s up to you now.” Aloud, Sera said, “You’ve heard our guest. Get up and bring us a goblet of wine, little pet.”
Chapter Thirteen
“You’ve trained her beautifully in only one week.” Sir Leylan’s gaze stayed on the fox tail as Rachel went to carry out Sera’s order. “One can only imagine what a male hand and longer training could accomplish.”
“The king told you about the training? I thought he wanted to keep it a secret.” Sera hid her disappointment. She had agreed with the king that nobody would
know about this training. A father should know better when his daughter’s security and future were at stake. Sera had made an extraordinary effort to erase the memory from all the guards and servants who had accompanied Rachel to her doorstep, and had made them believe that Rachel was visiting cousins in New Antares. All that effort to protect Rachel seemed futile if the king went around telling people about the training.
“Eh…yes…yes, of course. It’s a secret, but actually I’m quite close to him.”
Sera narrowed her eyes at Sir Leylan as he paled. At Sir Leylan’s back, Rachel turned around with a strangled sound, but then she pressed her lips together and shook her head silently.
“Of course…I understand.” Sera smiled calmly at Sir Leylan and gave Rachel a concealed nod.
Something was off. What was he hiding? Sera studied Sir Leylan. He kept her gaze, unblinking. His posture was too tense for someone who told the truth and had nothing to conceal. His gaze shifted to her shelves.
“Are those your potions?” He rose and went to take a closer look at the bottles and jars.
“Yes.” Sera didn’t like him playing with her potions, but having him entertained gave her time to think.
His distraction came in handy for Rachel too. Sera’s stomach churned painfully when Rachel poured four drops of elixir in one of the two goblets. Things were going as Sera had planned, but now that Rachel had taken advantage of the opportunity to get Sir Leylan’s love, Sera only wanted to throw the elixir away, shackle Rachel to her bed, and turn Sir Leylan into a toad.
“I would be careful smelling at that jar, Sir Leylan, unless you want to get warts all over your body.” Her dislike leaked into Sera’s voice.
Sir Leylan dropped the jar hastily back into its place and returned to his chair. “And well, Lady Sera—“
“Your wine, my dear sir,” Sera interrupted him, pointing with her chin at Rachel. She wanted this whole situation to be over. The sooner he drank the love elixir, the sooner he and Rachel would go away, and the sooner Sera would be alone to lick her wounds. Everything else could wait. She could take care of Sir Leylan’s secret at another time.
Sir Leylan accepted the wine, brushing Rachel’s fingers in a delicate caress as he took the goblet. The hard grasp Sera had on the chair arms was so strong that her palms hurt. The pain felt good. Physical pain was easy to command. Sera ignored how Sir Leylan stared charmingly into Rachel’s eyes, and centered her attention on the goblet instead. Sera frowned. Rachel had carried the goblet in her right hand… Wasn’t the goblet with the elixir the other one?
There was nothing in Rachel’s face that betrayed the girl’s emotions as she brought Sera the other goblet. Was the girl so anxious as to mistake the goblets?
Accepting the goblet with a nod, Sera brought it to her nose and sniffed. Did the wine have a subtle smell of jasmine and vanilla, or was it just her imagination?
“It has the elixir you told me to use,” Rachel said with a straight face.
Sera took a deep breath to clear her mind. “Why?”
“You told me it was up to me if I wanted to use it. Why should I waste such an opportunity?”
“But…” Sera closed her mouth. The elixir was destined to join Rachel and Sir Leylan. Why would Rachel throw such an opportunity away? Sera was too afraid to analyze the reason of why Rachel had given her the elixir instead. She loves you. She already told you the other night. Could Rachel really love her?
Aware of Sir Leylan’s bewilderment as he followed their conversation, Sera ignored him. He was of no importance anymore. Sera was sure she would regret it later, but she brought the goblet to her lips and sipped anyway. The taste of vanilla, honey, and wine flooded her taste buds, and her stomach prickled with magic, just before a bright light exploded through her veins and made her heart beat faster.
Rachel’s irises grew wide in astonishment. Had the girl thought Sera wouldn’t accept her offer? Well, Rachel was wrong. Sera kept drinking. A love elixir wouldn’t change what she already felt for Rachel.
“Can I taste it?” Rachel asked, surprising Sera.
A warm feeling spread through Sera’s chest. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Rachel knelt down before her.
“It will hurt in the long term. Real life is a bitch.”
“It hurts already.” Rachel smiled sadly.
Yes, the girl was right. Sera’s heart and soul had ached for days. Sera offered Rachel the goblet with shaky hands. With the elixir, both of them drinking from the same goblet was a serious commitment. Rachel probably didn’t understand all the repercussions, but Sera did. There was no hesitation in Rachel as she swallowed down the rest of the wine. Sera took the goblet from her hands and threw it into the fire before she bent to Rachel and kissed her.
Hell, I love you, little princess!
Sir Leylan cleared his throat.
The moron is still here? Sera kept her gaze glued on Rachel as she spoke to him. “Thank you, Sir Leylan. You can tell your king that his daughter is going to stay with me for now.”
“What?”
Sera let out a deep sigh. “You came to pick up a message. This is my message: your daughter Rachel will stay with me for the time being.”
“Are you sending me home?” Sir Leylan’s voice was full of incredulity.
Sera raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re right. I can’t send you home without asking you a few questions first.”
“Are you joking? First you provoke me and make me hot, and now you want to ask questions? Either you go down on your knees and ask nicely while you suck my cock, or you can stick your questions up your ass!” Sir Leylan didn’t wait for an answer. His chair fell noisily as he stood up and stomped to the door.
“Not so fast, my dear Sir Leylan.”
“Fuck you, bitch!”
Sera flicked her hand. Sir Leylan froze in place.
“Sera?” Rachel bit her lip.
Sera shook her head. Rachel would understand what was happening as soon as Sera interrogated the man.
“Well…” Sera stood up. “Count yourself lucky, Sir Leylan, that I won’t stick anything into your ass.” She strolled leisurely around him. “But you’re going to answer my questions.”
Sir Leylan stared, clearly horrified, at Sera. His eyelids were as frozen as the rest of his face and body.
Poor boy! Did he really believe he could insult a sorceress without facing the consequences?
“Rachel, on the shelves is a yellow bottle with the label Moments of Truth. Bring it.”
Rachel brought the bottle but hesitated before she handed it over to Sera. “Are you going to hurt him?”
“No, but hold your breath till I’ve closed the bottle again.” Sera opened the cap and put the sour-smelling drug under Sir Leylan’s nose until his eyes turned glassy.
“And now, Sir Leylan, you’ll tell me what you know about Rachel’s training and the one who told you about it,” Sera said, closing the cap and giving the bottle back to Rachel.
Sir Leylan blinked. His face remained blank, but he was able to move his lips now.
“You’re training the princess to take her with you to the Moon Festival as your pet because she wants to rescue Prince Aritz.”
“Who told you?” Sera was almost sure by now that the king wouldn’t have betrayed his daughter in such a way.
“I don’t know.”
“Who told you?” Sera insisted.
“I don’t know!” Sir Leylan’s face contorted in pain.
“Are you hurting him?” Rachel asked.
Sera shook her head. “The drug makes him say the truth, but only the truth his mind knows. Whoever has been speaking with him seems to have put a spell on Sir Leylan’s memory. At least that would explain the pain and his lack of information.” Sera preferred not to talk about the obvious, that someone with magic had some kind of hold over Sir Leylan. The bad feeling in Sera’s stomach grew as she turned again to the man.
“Why did this person tell you about the training
?”
“Because I’ll be the future king.”
Him? Future king? Shit! There seemed to be a conspiracy going on.
“Why will you be the king and not the other person?”
“He prefers to rule from the shadows.”
“I see. “ She had to discover who this “he” was. “And what happens with our king?”
“He’ll die after the Moon Festival.”
Rachel gasped.
“How?” Sera needed to be sure about their plans.
“Poison.”
“And his heirs?”
“They’ll never come out alive from the Moon Festival.”
Sera stopped breathing. There would be an ambush at the festival!
“Who else is involved?” Rachel inquired.
Rachel’s firm tone surprised Sera. Determination was written all over Rachel’s face. Instead of the frightened girl Sera had expected, at her side stood a woman who seemed able to command a battalion.
“I don’t know.”
“Who is helping you?” Rachel kept asking.
“I don’t know!”
“Who’s going to poison the king?” Rachel’s voice was steady despite the lack of real answers.
“A servant.”
Sera was divided between taking back the reins and letting Rachel continue the interrogation. The woman seemed to know how to question a prisoner.
“What servant?”
“I don’t know.” Sir Leylan blinked as if his eyes were burning.
“I don’t think he’ll be able to tell us anything else. The effect of the drug is already weakening,” Sera warned.
“Give him more.” Rachel offered Sera the bottle.
“Letting him smell it again will only make him fall unconscious,” Sera explained.
Rachel’s shoulders sagged. “What do you propose we should do?”
“First we need to get rid of him. Whoever is involved with him can’t know that we’re aware of the danger.” Sera scratched her neck.
“Are you going to kill him?” Rachel asked.
Sera shook her head and began chanting a spell.
“If you’re going to kill him you should… Oh!” Rachel gaped at the little black fur ball on the ground. “You turned him into a wolf cub?”
