Cassia put the herb bag up to her nose and inhaled. Wormwort smelled much like earthworms, hence the name. Sometimes Lucine had brewed wormwort tea as it was felt to be good for the lungs. Cassia had tried it on two occasions and found it to be nasty as shit. “Why would any woman wish to do that? I thought that was the only time a hybrid female could have sex.”
“It is the only time a hybrid female desires sex. There is a difference. It is also the only time a female is fertile. But it only happens once a decade and now isn’t the time for it.” He pushed the leaves back inside the bag and set it on the floor of the closet. “Not all hybrid females look forward to breeding. Especially once they have birthed enough litters.”
“Why would Kiera take wormwort? Is she going into heat?”
“I’ve suspected it. Now that I’ve seen the wormwort, I’m certain of it. We heard what happened to Modez. He was attacked by a fertile female last night. I know that Kiera left for an hour. When she returned, she smelled of Modez. She denied it, of course. I assumed they had some sort of physical relationship. I thought it was mutual, but it looks like it was one sided. She was after his blood.”
“I’m sure she has a reason.” Cassia felt the need to defend Kiera. She identified with her since it seemed they were both slaves in their own way.
“She said she hates Modez. I suppose she did it on purpose. She placed a slave collar around his neck and he’ll be stuck wearing it for days. Unless I can find the key.”
“You would turn her in?” Cassia had seen the way he treated her. “He’s a jackass. He deserves the abuse.”
“Modez is an angel compared to Diermont.” He worried his lower lip while he mulled his thoughts in his head. “I could use this knowledge to control her. I’ll blackmail her ass.”
Cassia didn’t understand why the other hybrids treated Kiera like dirt. “What will happen if she goes into heat?”
“She will be forced to breed with whomever Diermont selects for her. Technically she belongs to the king’s fine, so Modez has as much right to her as Diermont. It would be within Modez’s rights to breed her himself.” He glanced at the sack of herbs on the floor. “I can see why she would delay the heat, knowing how she feels about the Halloran’s. She lacks the freedom to leave. Her mother is a serf, and as the child of a serf, she isn’t a true lady.”
“I thought she was related to the princess.”
“Distantly, but her mother’s union wasn’t sanctioned. Diermont treated her as a lady when she served Snotti, but now she has fallen in status. Diermont has the power to make and break a person.” He lifted an elaborately engraved torque to admire its intricate design of golden entwined vines before carefully placing it back into its original position underneath a pile of gowns. “And do not forget Sulian’s prediction. The girl is barren.”
“He didn’t use those exact words. Kiera’s trying to stop herself from going into heat. That suggests fertility.”
“A barren female still goes into heat on occasion. By law, she has to submit to breeding, but that doesn’t mean anything will come from it.”
These males and their obsession with reproduction—it annoyed the crap out of her. “I want to help her. No woman should be under the control of that crazy prince.”
“I’m more concerned with your safety. That female can protect herself.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Cassia had seen the vulnerability in that female. The hopelessness. The desperation. She could sympathize.
“She drank from Modez without his consent. It’s a form of rape. We don’t share our blood with just anyone. Quite a bit of intimacy is involved in the act.”
Cassia couldn’t help but wonder if he would miss that aspect of a relationship. She wasn’t a hybrid and couldn’t feed from him. “Do you like being bitten?”
“Usually the male does the biting. In battle, the male tends to rip the other male’s throat out and take the blood in gulps. It strengthens us and frightens the enemy.” He picked up a thin white garment, peered at it as if he couldn’t discern its purpose, and discarded it on a pile of gowns. “We sip from the females on occasion. Usually during sex.”
“The female doesn’t drink during sex?”
“Sometimes she will drink from her mate. A female in heat will do this.”
Perhaps it aided reproduction. “That must be the reason Kiera drank from Modez. It was the effect of the heat.”
“No, it wasn’t and she has no excuse for violating Modez. I get the feeling she’s been doing this for years. How else would she have pulled it off so easily?”
A repeat offender? Cassia couldn’t imagine the hybrid female being capable of that. “Maybe the heat is driving her to do it this time.”
“She’s in the pre-heat stage. I would be able to scent it if she was in full-blown heat.” He opened another pouch to examine its contents. Discovering it empty, he turned his attention to Cassia. “When that time comes, her behavior will become unmanageable and uncontrollable. She’s nowhere near that point. You will see the difference when she is no longer taking the herbs.”
He meant to confiscate the wormwort. “Please don’t do this to Kiera. It’s wrong to force this on her.”
“It’s a merciful punishment compared to the alternatives. Modez won’t kill her if she’s in heat, nor will he turn her over to Diermont. He’ll deal with her privately.”
She groaned, “Cabrian. You should stay silent on the matter. Confront Kiera if you must, but don’t tell Lord Halloran what she has done.”
“Kiera must be stopped. We’re at war and our males cannot afford to be drained of blood. It could cost a hybrid his life.”
Cabrian treated the matter with more seriousness than she felt was warranted. “Is he hurt that badly?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “Modez is having to take blood from Snotti to restore his health. He is not at full capacity thanks to Kiera.” He picked the bag of herbs off the floor and pocketed it. “I want to see if Kiera goes into heat. It’ll prove her guilt since we know the female blood thief is going into a fertile cycle. If only I could find the key to his slave collar, then I would know with certainty.”
As he closed the closet door, Cassia felt relieved he hadn’t found the key. She didn’t want Kiera to be caught. She respected any female who could put the arrogant Lord Halloran in his place.
Chapter 18
Kiera hadn’t seen Modez in a few days. The gossip ran wildly on the reason, but all knew he had been assaulted by a female who had drunk his blood. Kiera had given her morning report to Diermont instead of Modez and it had made her so uncomfortable that she nearly regretted using Modez as her donor.
This morning, she was actually relieved when she was greeted by Modez. Her eyes strayed to the slave collar he continued to wear since the druids hadn’t removed it yet. It made her feel guilty knowing that the key was hidden in her closet.
Modez leaned against the frescoed wall. Images of frolicking lovers adorned this particular hallway. “I assume you heard what happened to me.”
There wasn’t a soul in the villa who hadn’t heard. “Do you have any idea who did that to you?”
He shifted, appeared discomfited. “Not yet, but the druids have some promising leads. It’s only a matter of time before the woman is caught.”
“That’s good,” Kiera lied. “Was it so terrible, what happened to you?”
Modez’s expression darkened. “Someone forced herself on me. Violated me. How would you like it if some unknown person did those things to you?”
An image of Modez cuffing her to the bed flashed through her mind. Her breathing grew shallow and her sex clenched. She needed. Wanted. It was too much. On some level, she knew what she had done to him was wrong. “I suppose it could be unpleasant.”
He straightened, his casual pose of earlier now replaced with an intense vigilance as he stalked toward her. “Unpleasant? That’s what you’re calling it?”
“Was none of it pleasant?” Really, Kiera felt sl
ighted. She had let that hybrid enter her body, however briefly. He damn well had better enjoyed it. Modez stared at the floor and his face actually colored. Kiera wondered if he was embarrassed by his response to his assailant.
“It is not something I wish to dwell upon. I need your report on the young lovers.”
“They have behaved themselves.” She tried not to stare at the collar around his neck, but it acted as an irresistible lure. She felt herself flush as she remembered impaling herself on him. She would die of mortification if he knew she had been the one doing those things to him. “The human has not been breached.”
“That’s good to hear.” He placed his hand on hers, a gesture that appeared to convey sincere concern. “You seem jumpy. Nervous.”
Get it together, Kiera. “No, not at all.”
“I have been under assault many times, such is expected during times of war.”
She squeaked, “That kind of assault is common?”
“No. Normally it comes in a different form, but it’s an assault all the same.”
She had hoped he would think of it as a sensual adventure. An erotic exploration. Not an assault. Now she felt like a rapist.
He placed his hand on hers and squeezed lightly. “I feel bad that my ill health prevented me from being here for you.” His fingers lightly circled the back of her hand. “You had to deal directly with Diermont, and for that I apologize. He didn’t mistreat you, did he?”
“I tolerated it.” She felt guilty that he worried about her. “You know I prefer to deal with you.”
“I need you to fetch the woman.” His eyes lowered to her lips and the touch of his hand on hers was gentle. “Diermont wants a visual inspection.”
“Why? Does he not trust my word?”
“Actually, he does not. Diermont wants a second verification.”
Kiera frowned. “Lord Ross isn’t going to like it. He’s protective of his little slave.”
He released her hand, but he continued to hold her attention by the strength of his gaze. “He can stay to witness. I’m not going to touch his pet. I’m only going to look at her.”
Kiera rolled her eyes. “Fine. The poor female should be used to being stared at by now.” She left Modez to inform Cassia of the prince’s latest directive. It didn’t surprise her when Cabrian accompanied them to the hallway where Modez stood waiting.
They agreed to conduct the matter in a nearby unoccupied chamber. Kiera felt embarrassed for Cassia as Modez examined her inner thighs and womanhood. The blue and brown stains had faded, and no new ones meant that no illicit sex acts were happening in Lord Ross’ bed. Modez dismissed them with a clean report and they returned to their room.
“Wait, don’t leave,” Modez said as he placed a restraining hand on her arm. “Diermont requested that you be inspected as well.”
“Why?” Kiera was stunned by the prince’s latest edict.
“He wants me to check your thighs for stains.” He delivered the news in such a casual manner, as if he was asking to do something as innocuous as checking her shoes.
“How dare he! My body is my own. I’m not one of his slaves.”
Modez’s grip on her arm tightened. “He fears you may try to seduce Lord Ross.”
“If I did such a thing, it would be no business of his.” Kiera shook his hand from her arm and tried to contain her anger. “Am I not good enough for the lord? Shouldn’t someone try to save him from the dangerous human?”
“Have you been fucking the lord?” His tone was harsh and unnerving. If she didn’t know any better, she would think him jealous.
“No! I’ve done nothing. You are as paranoid as the prince.”
“I cannot take your word for it. I have to inspect you for stains. The prince’s orders, you understand.”
“I’m a lady. You can’t look at me like you did the human slave. That would be unseemly.” And dangerous for her.
He shot her a self-satisfied smile. “Either I do it or Diermont will. Your choice.”
There was no choice and he knew it. Kiera paled at the thought of the prince looking at her naked body. She had taken pains to conceal her human traits from the prince. She wished she had removed her nether hair because it was a dead giveaway. It had grown since the last time she had groomed herself. She dared not reveal her body to anyone. She shook her head. “I cannot.”
He sighed in frustration. “Diermont’s examination will be more invasive. I’ll make it quick.” He gave her a pointed look. “You did say you preferred to deal with me.”
Kiera let out an agitated breath. There was no way out of this. “Okay. Just make it quick, like you said you’d do.” She lifted her tunic to expose her thighs.
Modez said in a silky tone, “I need to see it all.” When she remained hesitant, he coaxed her with a gentle tone. “Show me your pretty little pussy, Kiera.”
“You’re enjoying this,” she accused. He only laughed at her and pulled the material to her waist.
His silver eyes shimmered so brightly that they appeared to illuminate the dim room. His voice lowered to a husky whisper. “You’re a mongrel, as I had suspected.”
Kiera tried to break from his grasp. “Better a mongrel than an asshole.” Her face was burning from the humiliation of being exposed. She felt like a fraud. A human trying to pass herself off as hybrid.
His look was hungry. “Does Diermont know about the little patch of fur between your legs?”
That was her dirty little secret. She had always been self-conscious of her excess hair growth. Hybrids possessed minimal body hair and they had no pubic hair. “No. Why would he know such a thing?”
“He is your guardian. It is his business to know everything about you. You look like a human, although I must say I’ve not seen a dark pelt before now.”
He looked at her like she was the same as Cassia. “I’m not human.” He had better not treat her as one, either.
He stuck his finger past her lips and ran it over one pointed fang. “That’s obvious, mongrel.”
“I would rather you not say anything about my…parts. Please.” She hated that he knew about her, that he had the power to destroy her.
“Diermont doesn’t need to see this.” Modez fell to his knees to peruse her more closely. “He has no love of mongrels.”
“I heard you are the same way.”
“He is worse.” Modez traced her inner thigh. “I see discoloration here.”
Hell and damnation. She had examined herself for stains and hadn’t seen any. If she had missed the signs, she would be busted for sure. “You are wrong. There couldn’t be anything there.”
“There shouldn’t,” he said in a harsh tone. “I’m going to take a closer look.” He bent his head and peered at her midsection. “Your pelt is darker than Cassia’s. It’s harder to determine what is beneath the hair. I’m going to comb through it with my fingers to check the skin beneath.”
Oh, hell. If he touched her there he’d discover her wetness problem. “Nice. You found yet another excuse to molest me.”
His jaw tightened. “I’m being thorough, that is all. If you’d prefer Diermont examine you, I could fetch him. But you should know he puts all pelts on the leash. You wouldn’t like that.”
Hell no. She wasn’t going to be collared and led around like a puppy, not like Cassia. “Fuck you.”
“I most likely will, Kiera.” His hands tightened on her hips. “You would look so pretty wearing only a collar and a leash.”
She shook her head. “No.” The thought of it put images in her mind. Naughty ones that produced a flood of warmth.
His hands slid from her hips to cup her bare buttocks. “You know the deal. Mongrels aren’t granted the same rights as purebreds.”
That was the reason she kept that part of herself hidden. It angered her whenever hybrids made that distinction. None of them were purebreds. They had human in them too.
He pressed a kiss to her belly and grinned. “Now be a good little mongrel and I won’t
tell Diermont about your pelt.” He cupped her mound. “That’s a dead giveaway, you know.”
His fingers roamed through the cropped hairs at the center of her thighs. She hadn’t sheared herself in days. It was hard for her to maintain the hairless look of a hybrid. “Just get this over with already.”
His hand paused its exploration of her. “There is discoloration,” he said in an odd tone that made it clear he was perplexed. “Have you taken a lover, Kiera?”
“No, I haven’t been with any man.” Kiera was panicking now. “You are mistaken.”
“Don’t lie to me.” Modez appeared angry. “You cannot lay with a male without permission. Diermont will be in a rage over this.”
“I have done nothing.” Nothing she wished to admit to, anyway. He could easily put two and two together, and if he did, she needed to disappear. “The prince doesn’t own me. It’s my body and I decide what is done with it.”
“You are Halloran property. You are to serve the Halloran’s and no other.” He leaned forward, putting his nose against the bit of thatch that covered her mound. He inhaled. “I don’t scent any male seed on you, which is good. But something doesn’t smell right.”
“Stop this, Modez. You can’t just sniff me, and especially not there.” He could recognize her scent if he got too close.
“Of course I can.” He buried his face against her sex before lifting his face upwards to meet her eyes. “You have given me enough reason to suspect you’re up to something. What are you hiding, besides your human traits?”
Oh, he looked way too suspicious. “Nothing.”
“Are you sure?” He rubbed his chin against her woman’s mound as he spoke.
“Quite sure,” she croaked.
“And you haven’t been with any males. Bitten any males…or taken their blood?”
Oh, hell. He knew. “Bitten. I mean, who does that sort of thing?”
“Not you, I assume. I had to ask since mongrels are known to misbehave. Sometimes they get rabid and attack with no provocation. I’ve known some with a tendency to hump anything and everything in sight.”
Vampire Enslavement (Lords of Bondage) Page 22
