Kwin

by Trudie Collins

  “I needed to put some distance between us,” she eventually said.

  “Why?” Drake asked when she said no more.

  “Because I’m falling in love with him.”

  A look of total shock crossed Drake’s face before he managed to hide it. “I don’t understand. If you feel so strongly about him, why don’t you want him near you?”

  Luka stood up and began to pace the floor. “Because he’s going to go away. As soon as we find Shona, he’ll leave. He has to. It’s what he came here for. He’s going to go back to Tippet to get married.”

  “So you’re going to get hurt when he leaves,” Drake said. “I understand that. But that’s going to happen whether you shun him now or not. Why hurt yourself now and later?”

  Luka stopped pacing and turned to look at Drake. What he was saying was making sense.

  “How does Kwin feel about you?” Drake continued.

  “I have no idea.”

  For the second time in as many minutes, a look of shock crossed Drake’s face. “You have got to be kidding me. How can you not know? Everyone else does.” Luka frowned at him. Drake sighed. “He likes you, a lot. And he respects you. He does everything in his power to look after you. Why do you think he went to collect your sister with you even when you told him not to?”

  “He was doing his duty.”

  “You freed him, remember. He was doing what he wanted to do.”

  “Oh.”

  Silence filled the room until Luka broke it. “It makes no difference how he feels. It’s his duty to marry Shona and he will do his duty.”

  “Maybe. But that doesn’t stop you enjoying your time with him until then.”

  Luka walked over and kissed Drake on the cheek. “I don’t deserve you,” she said.

  “Actually, you do. Now are you going to give what I said some thought?” Luka nodded. “Good. Now get out of my office so I can get on with some work. I do, after all, have a wedding to organise.”

  It was a much happier Luka who went to sleep that night than the one who had woken up that morning. Canis went to her room with her and ended up hogging most of the bed, but she didn’t mind.

  The next morning she was woken up by her communicator letting her know someone wanted to talk to her. She hoped it was Kwin. She was only slightly disappointed when Gareth’s face appeared on the screen.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure?” she asked, smiling at him as she spoke. He really was an attractive man and seeing his face was a nice way to be woken up.

  “We need to talk.” He sounded serious.

  The smile dropped from Luka’s face. “What’s happened?”

  “You’ve been an ass, that’s what happened.”

  Despite the fact that Gareth was insulting her, Luka felt like laughing.

  Gareth continued. “Kwin has told me everything. And I mean everything. If it had been anyone else, I would have hit him for taking advantage of a lady when she was upset, but I know that’s not what happened in this case. Kwin just isn’t that sort of man. And as sure as Hellan, he isn’t one to sleep with a woman unless it’s what he wants. He did not act like a sex slave.”

  Luka said nothing. It felt like she was being reprimanded.

  “I don’t know why you are really treating Kwin the way you are, but it has to stop, for both your sakes. It’s upsetting the both of you.”

  Luka opened her mouth to protest, but Gareth didn’t give her chance to speak. “I’ve seen the way you are together when you’re not acting like an ass. You are good friends, if nothing more. Don’t let one night spoil it.”

  “Yes Gareth,” Luka said contritely, lowering her head as she spoke. Gareth was grinning when she looked up again.

  “Where is Kwin, by the way? Does he know you’re talking to me?”

  The question made Gareth laugh. “No. He’s still in bed. Sleeping off his hangover. He had a little too much to drink last night.”

  Luka was still laughing when Gareth’s face disappeared from view.

  Luka looked thoughtfully at the blank screen. With both Gareth and Drake siding against her, maybe she should stop pushing Kwin away and enjoy the time they had left together.

  Chapter 36

  Time passed much quicker than Luka was expecting. Kwin contacted her every morning and again every evening. He and Gareth were having a good time and Luka was afraid they wouldn’t want to leave. Her fears were unwarranted, however. After a couple of weeks, Kwin asked how much longer he had to stay. He looked disappointed when Luka told him that he had to remain there for another two weeks. At least Luka thought he did.

  Luka kept herself busy. As promised, she took Henna shopping for a wedding dress. The people who ran the shop didn’t ask Luka why she was buying an expensive dress for a slave. Seeing as she owned the place, she was free to do whatever she wanted.

  Henna had protested and it took Drake informing her that Luka said she either chose the dress she wanted to wear or she would get married naked to stop her arguing. Not that anyone believed Luka would carry out her threat.

  In Wayvern, brides were married in blue, to signify fertility, whereas Tippetian tradition was for the brides to wear red. This meant that there wasn’t as much choice as Luka had hoped. Henna volunteered to wear blue, as they were in Wayvern, but Luka wouldn’t hear of it.

  Nothing suitable could be found initially, but when the situation was explained to the dressmaker, she took Henna by the hand and led her into the back of the shop, where she was working on her latest designs. One was close to completion, close enough that Henna could try it on.

  Luka had to rub her eyes to hide a tear which threatened to trickle down her cheek when Henna reappeared. She looked stunning. The dressmaker had worked on her hair as well, piling it up on her head and pinning it in place. The dress was long and flowed down Henna’s body, clinging in all the right places.

  “That’s the one,” she said to Drake, who nodded his head.

  Luka’s reaction made Henna blush, her skin going almost the same shade of red as the dress.

  It didn’t take the dressmaker long to finish the final touches, then she wrapped it up and handed it to Henna.

  “Don’t forget to keep this hidden from the groom.”

  Henna frowned when Drake translated for her.

  “It’s tradition here,” Luka said, seeing her confusion. “The groom is not allowed to see the dress until the wedding day.”

  Drake did his best to hide his smile as he translated for Henna, who looked even more confused than before. “Why? That makes no sense. At least it explains why Kail was forced to stay behind.”

  Drake just shrugged his shoulders. It made no sense to him either. In Tippet, the groom often helped to choose the dress.

  Via Drake, Henna promised the dressmaker that she would keep the dress hidden until the day of the big event though Luka, for one, was not convinced.

  “She’ll need shoes,” Luka said once they were in the carriage. She could not help laughing at the look of dismay on Henna’s face when Drake told her what she had said.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  “You need to give some thought to when you are coming home,” Luka said to Kwin one evening. “Henna and Kail are getting impatient.”

  She didn’t mention that she, too, couldn’t wait for him to return.

  “You’re right,” Kwin said. “Gareth and I have been discussing it. While the other slaves have been appreciative of the freedom my control over Ofar has given them, some of the guards are beginning to grow suspicious. Give us one more day, two at the most. Have you given any thought to how you are going to get Ofar to hand over control of Gareth to you? You didn’t give her my controller, so why would she give you Gareth’s?”

  Luka had been thinking about that and it was something she needed to speak to Gareth about. She needed both men to do a little acting and wasn’t sure if either of them were up to the task.

  When Gareth’
s face appeared, she quickly outlined what she wanted them to do. They seemed to have no doubt that they could pull it off, but she was still unsure. There was only one way to find out.

  The next day dragged on, as did the following one. Kwin had told her that he and Gareth were due to arrive early evening, but that still seemed a long way off. No matter how much Luka willed the sun to move across the sky, it refused to budge. It had a timetable and it was going to stick to it.

  She was nervous, as well as excited. She had no idea how she was going to behave around Kwin. Drake had told her to relax and just be herself. That was easier said than done. Twice she changed clothes and was just putting on a different dress when she sensed a carriage enter her estate.

  She glanced at the timepiece on her wall. It was too early for it to be them. Huffing in frustration, she slipped the dress over her head and headed out of her room, not bothering to put on any shoes. Whoever her visitor was, she wanted to get rid of him or her quickly.

  She ran down the stairs, arriving at the front door just as Drake was opening it. He smirked at her sudden appearance.

  “Stop looking at me like that,” she scolded. “It’s too early for it to be them.”

  Drake said nothing, but the smile stayed on his face as he left the building, ready to greet the visitors. He waited until the carriage drew to a halt, then approached it and opened the door. Luka gasped when Ofar stepped out.

  “Ofar,” Luka said warmly as she walked up to her and hugged her. “I wasn’t expecting you this early.”

  “It’s a long journey,” Ofar said, “and I don’t want to get back too late.”

  Over Ofar’s shoulder, Luka watched Kwin exit the carriage. He looked across at her and winked. Luka closed her eyes and let her senses expand away from her. She could feel Kwin’s magic around Ofar; he was still planting suggestions in her mind.

  “You would not believe how good these few weeks have been,” Ofar said when Luka stepped back. “We will have to do this again.”

  “We can discuss that after I have sampled the merchandise. Now hand over control of Gareth to me.”

  Ofar frowned at her. “Why would I do that? As you said when you left Kwin with me, if you control one, you control both.”

  “That only works one way.”

  “What do you mean?” Kwin asked, as he had been told to.

  Luka turned to face him, doing her best not to look into his eyes. If she did, she was afraid she would lose concentration. She had a part to play just as much as the two men did.

  “While you would do anything for Gareth, I don’t believe the same is true for him.”

  Kwin laughed. “Of course it is. He has risked his life to save mine may times.”

  “But we aren’t talking about risking his life, are we? Want me to put it to the test?”

  Kwin looked uncertain. He was a better actor than Luka had given him credit for.

  She glanced at Gareth, then returned her attention to Kwin. “Tell him that I demand that he kiss you the way he would a lover and if he doesn’t, you will be the one to suffer.”

  Kwin blanched. They had not discussed exactly what Luka would ask Gareth to do. A quick look at Gareth showed he was struggling to keep his composure. Luckily Ofar was not looking in his direction.

  “I’m not going to do that,” Kwin said and folded his arms across his chest.

  Luka looked at Ofar. “Ofar,” she said. “Could you take care of this for me please.”

  Ofar didn’t need to be told what to do. One moment Gareth was standing watching them, the next he was on the ground writhing in agony.

  “Stop,” Kwin cried out. Luka nodded at Ofar and Gareth went still.

  “Now do as I say,” Luka said to Kwin, her voice full of ice. He wasn’t the only one who could act.

  Kwin helped Gareth to his feet, then did as she had commanded. Gareth pushed Kwin away from him. Luka wasn’t sure exactly what he said, but it made Drake have to hide the fact that he was trying not to laugh.

  Kwin looked at Gareth as if he couldn’t believe what he had just said.

  “I take it he refused,” Luka said, trying her best to sound smug.

  “Wait,” Kwin cried out. “Don’t.”

  As though Luka had ignored him, he collapsed to the ground and started to scream. It was so realistic that Luka had to stop herself running over to him.

  Gareth did nothing but watch.

  “Alright,” Ofar said. “You have made your point. Come here.”

  She did the necessary on her controller then on Luka’s. Only then did Kwin stop screaming. He remained on the ground, panting. Luka didn’t test that she now had control over Gareth; she trusted that Ofar had done everything correctly.

  Gareth walked over to Kwin and held out his hand, offering to help him to his feet. Kwin knocked his hand away, glaring at him as he rose.

  “I should be going,” Ofar said.

  “Help Ofar into the carriage,” Luka said to Gareth, raising a challenging eyebrow when he didn’t move fast enough for her liking.

  Not until Ofar’s carriage was out of sight did everyone relax.

  “Well that went well,” Kwin said and slapped Gareth on the back.

  Gareth, however, did not respond. He was looking past Kwin at something that was approaching. Luka followed his gaze and smiled.

  “Is that Canis?” Gareth asked in a small voice. Luka was aware that Kwin had told him everything about her dog, but this was the first time he had seen him.

  “Yes,” Kwin said and watched in amusement as Gareth stood frozen while Canis sniffed him before turning to look at Kwin.

  “Friend?” Canis asked.

  “A very good friend.”

  “I won’t eat him then.”

  “What’s so funny?” Gareth asked when Kwin chuckled.

  “Canis says he won’t eat you.”

  “Well that’s nice to know,” Gareth said sarcastically. “You could have warned me.”

  “I did. It’s not my fault that Canis has to be seen to be believed.”

  “Canis,” Luka called out. “Please show our guest to his room.”

  Gareth gave Kwin an uncertain look before following the dog.

  “I’ll just make sure Gareth arrives in one piece,” Drake said, his voice full of laughter.

  Once they were alone, Kwin grabbed hold of Luka and hugged her tightly. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered in her ear.

  Luka wiggled out of his arms. “I’ve missed you too, but that is not appropriate behaviour.”

  She wasn’t sure she liked the gleam in his eyes. “I’m supposed to be a sex slave, remember.”

  He grabbed her once again and kissed her the way he had at Ofar’s when he had said goodbye. Luka knew she should stop him, but her body wanted this just as much as her heart did and they manged to override her mind. She gave up the fight and lost herself in the kiss, savouring the feel of it.

  Luka wasn’t the only one who needed to compose herself when Kwin let her go; the man in question also seemed a little flustered, as though the kiss had affected him as much as it did her. Or was that just wishful thinking on her part?

  He was grinning like the cat who had gotten the proverbial cream as he turned and started to walk away. Luka called after him.

  “Wait. There’s something I need to know.”

  He stopped walking and let her catch up, a look of apprehension momentarily crossing his face.

  “What did Gareth say when I told him he had to kiss you?” Luka asked.

  The smile instantly returned to Kwin’s face.

  “I would rather put my tongue inside a praker and my cock inside a goat.”

  Luka burst out laughing.

  Chapter 37

  Kwin was in the kitchen when Gareth walked in, accompanied by Canis. The word ‘herded’ sprang to Kwin’s mind when he saw Canis pushing against Gareth’s legs when he stopped in the doorway.

  “Come and take a seat,” Koal called out to him. “Kwin has spoken
well of you, so you are more than welcome to join us.”

  “Don’t believe everything Kwin says,” Gareth said as he took a seat at the table, nodding his thanks when Kwin passed him a mug of coffee.

  Introductions were made, but Gareth seemed unable to take his eyes off the only female present.

  “And who is this lovely young lady?” he asked, taking her hand and kissing the back of it, making her blush.

  “This is Henna,” Kwin said. “The bride.” He said the last two words sternly. Gareth didn’t take the hint.

  “I am delighted to make your acquaintance,” he said, not altering his smile in any way. Kwin rolled his eyes.

  “Her husband-to-be is a blacksmith. He’s busy stockpiling weapons and making new knives for Koal.”

  “He’s also standing directly behind you,” Kail said, having entered the kitchen without Gareth noticing.

  Gareth lowered Henna’s hand then turned around to face Kail, who looked like he wanted to kill something, or someone.

  “You’re a very lucky man,” he said, without any hint of unease, despite the fact that he was looking at a knife in Kail’s hand.

  Kwin tensed, ready to intervene if he needed to. He knew that Gareth wasn’t really flirting with Henna, but Kail might not.

  “Thank you,” Kail said and flipped the knife over, holding it by the blade as he handed it to Koal. “Is this what you wanted?”

  Koal took it and moved it about in his hand, feeling the weight. “This is just what I need to remove the innards from squealing pigs,” he said. “And men who make unwanted advances.”

  Gareth held his hands up. “I’m not that sort of man. Ask Kwin if you don’t believe me.”

  Both Koal and Kail looked at Kwin.

  “He’s right. He doesn’t make unwanted advances. What he neglected to mention is his ability to make women want him to make advances.”

  “Not that I will be doing that here,” Gareth hastily said, glaring at Kwin as he spoke. “I’m here for a break from that kind of thing.” He held up his wrist to show off his bracelet. “Unlike you, I actually am a slave.”

  Koal looked at Kwin, his face full of concern.