Elizabeth acknowledged her mother’s suggestion and smiled at her new Lasier.
She stood up to leave. “Are you ready to go?” she asked Victoria.
“Yes,” she answered.
Victoria politely thanked her mother for the healing.
Doubtful, she would ever want to repeat it, but she looked a little less shadowed than when she had walked in.
As they walked into the hallway, Elizabeth felt lighter, too.
Once bound, Victoria could be a potential ally in their family’s mission. She knew the castle and its inhabitants well, demonstrated an ability to disappear and sneak around that was almost ghostly, and she could hold her own in a fight.
The last part was rather important. Elizabeth wasn’t sure Daemon would forgive her if Victoria got hurt.
Not that she would put Victoria at risk unnecessarily, but the look on Daemon’s face when he found out what George had done to her, and then, when he saw her burned neck.
Daemon wasn’t someone she would want to cross.
It was better not to get caught.
Blood Sworn
Elizabeth was eager to check out the library again, but with Victoria still unbound and dogging her every step, uncovering the library’s secret was going to have to wait a little longer.
She had to settle for finding Jill first. Victoria had insisted that she meet all the ladies of her family, like a new bodyguard scoping out the inner circle.
Jill was knee-deep in the gardens when they finally found her. She was with Prince William. They were examining what looked like a field of wildflowers.
Given the two healers were having a heated discussion, Elizabeth doubted the field was planted for beauty.
William had seemed strangely insistent on Jill staying away from the dangerous plants central to their shared power of earth.
Jill had painstakingly studied pharmacology and herbology during her nursing. She tried to extend her advanced human knowledge about chemicals and medications to something she could use in addition to healing earth magic in Maeren.
Simple drugs, like penicillin and aspirin, could lessen the suffering of those without access or the funds for a healer.
William’s dark-auburn hair burned in the rising sun. He towered over Jill, but she still looked strong next to him.
No wilting rose, Jill was waving her hands around as she talked, getting quite animated, despite the dour expression on William’s face.
“I thought your sister was in Phillip’s harem?” Victoria asked, breaking off a purple flower mid-stalk to twirl.
They were giving Jill a little space to finish her discussion.
“It’s complicated,” Elizabeth said, borrowing from Jill’s explanation.
William put a hand on Jill’s shoulder and she brushed it off. The earth trembled a little. Elizabeth didn’t know which one of them had done it.
What was clear was that their conversation was only getting more intense.
“George would steal her if she wasn’t already in Phil’s harem,” Victoria commented. “You should tell her to keep up appearances with Phil for her own good. He’s easy to sway, A pretty smile is all a witch needs to get herself into his protection.”
“I’m sure Prince Phillip also appreciates her blue fire,” Elizabeth replied, not looking away from her sister. “He offered me a spot in his harem, too. Although, all I can offer him back is a little air,” she admitted.
“I hope you didn’t take his offer seriously,” Victoria cautioned. “He’s a big flirt, but he never holds onto his witches. If he finds out about Daemon’s claim, he’ll take the offer back before it gets him on Daemon’s bad side.”
“Of course I didn’t take it seriously,” Elizabeth lied.
Actually, Phillip had told her she was welcome into his bed, with the claim on her shoulder.
At breakfast, with Daemon glowering at him, Phillip still hadn’t been as quick to wash his hands of her, like William.
“Will doesn’t have a harem, so he sometimes poaches from Phil,” Victoria said. “Blue has earth as well, right?”
“Blue?” Elizabeth repeated, giving Victoria a quick glance. “Uh, yes. Jill has earth from our mother,” Elizabeth said.
She knew that William wasn’t granted the rights to keep a harem, but apparently, like Daemon, the lack of an official harem wasn’t going to stop them from claiming witches.
Jill seemed to be settling down. William had his hand on her shoulder again and she didn’t throw it off. The earth stayed on its axis.
Elizabeth let out a big breath and looked back over at Victoria.
She needed answers and they were practically alone.
“I have some questions about claiming,” Elizabeth told Victoria.
“It might be better to ask Vic. He’s experienced with it, whereas I’ve never been claimed,” Victoria reminded her.
These were not the kind of questions she wanted to ask a male.
“I’m sure what I want to know is basic knowledge that all of the rest of you take for granted,” Elizabeth said, downplaying it.
Victoria nodded.
“Edgers don’t deal with things like claims or even harems. Most edge vampires take a witch out for a drink if they want to feed. It’s kind of like humans ‘dating.’ If an edger male finds a witch he really likes, then they might move in together, but marriage and claims are for nobles. Those types of contracts are important for inheritance and financial reasons. Edgers are too poor to care.”
Victoria’s eyes lit up when Elizabeth talked about edgers and humans.
She knew the rebel princess would love to hear more, and she felt a bit guilty about parcelling out simple things about her life, but she needed to pump Victoria for the facts nobody else had given them.
Now that Jill and Elizabeth had to deal with claims, this kind of information was important.
“Have you ever heard of a witch being claimed by more than one vampire?” Elizabeth asked. Not quite what she wanted to know, but it was less suspicious, especially with Jill right in front of them.
“Do you have any idea how claims work?” Victoria asked.
No, she really didn’t before her conversation with Daemon. She gave her stock answer first.
“A male elemental injects some ink he spat in to give you a tat that tells other males that you’re his private feeding stock. Morning after regrets will take a few weeks as the magic in the tattoo slowly fades.”
“Hmm. Like branding a milk cow. Is that the best you’ve got?” Victoria’s eyes were sparkling with amusement.
The princess looked sweeter with that smile.
“Daemon told me a claim is an agreement for protection that a male elemental offers a witch and the witch is not obligated to feed the male in return,” Elizabeth admitted.
“Closer to the truth. The tattoo lets the male elemental share some of his magic and this is what provides the protection. Other males would be able to taste the male magic in your blood if they fed—”
“So, other males can bite a claimed witch?” Elizabeth interrupted. Phillip had nipped her without claim payback. “I thought when your twin was burned, after touching me, that it was due to the claim.”
“No. Well, not quite. You see, he frightened you. When you fought back, the magic Daemon gave you provided the protection it was supposed to, by burning Vic with a little lightning. Not all tattoos have enough magic to provide sufficient protection alone. More commonly, when the magic of the tattoo flares in protection, it warns the male that claimed you of the danger. Vic told me it feels like a tug on your chi, first a gentle pull, and then, if you ignore it too much or the claimed witch is in mortal danger, it’s supposed to feel like your heart being ripped out.”
“Okay, but if a witch wanted another male elemental to feed on her that hadn’t claimed her then . . . ?”
“She gets bitten. If the other vampire doesn’t leave his fang marks where they’ll be seen, then I suppose it is possible. No danger, no tat
too-magic flare.”
“So, is that common?”
“No. Male elementals are possessive, especially nobles. As you said, the claims have more to do with inheritance. Witches that a noble male plans on getting pregnant will be expected to respect the protection of the claim by staying monogamous.”
“What about if a witch wants to end a claim?”
Victoria hesitated, understandably.
The princess could only remain her Lasier if Elizabeth stayed with Daemon. At least, that how it sounded like this Lasier thing worked.
Elizabeth smiled reassuringly. “I’m not talking about ending my own—”
Jill slapped William. The crack of it broke the serene atmosphere.
Elizabeth and Victoria dropped their conversation to swing their heads in the direction of the slap.
“Is hitting princes a family habit?” Victoria asked.
Elizabeth had kicked Daemon, technically.
“Jill is the most nonviolent witch I know,” Elizabeth said, honestly.
Her sister was looking homicidal now, her eyes burning holes in William’s back as he stormed off.
Telepathy might be an easier way to ask her sister what was wrong than risking saying anything out loud in front of the princess.
“Uh, so is now a bad time, Glinda?”
“Wicked? Where are you?” Jill asked, turning to look for her.
“Over to your right, sitting on the bench with the ninja elf.”
“Flower fairy, I think your idea of violence and mine differ slightly,” Victoria said, still staring at Jill in shock.
“She barely gave him a love tap,” Elizabeth said, waving at her sister.
Jill walked over.
“About my idea of testing you and your sister out for your defensive magical abilities . . . Maybe we should wait until Jill feels calmer,” Victoria said, sounding nervous.
“Nonsense! Jill needs to blow off some steam,” Elizabeth insisted.
“I would rather not be the target,” Victoria muttered.
Elizabeth picked it up. Why would Victoria think she would be the target of Jill’s temper?
“Wouldn’t it be easier to evaluate our abilities if you observed while Jill and I fought?” Elizabeth asked.
Jill knew exactly how hard she could push with Elizabeth. If Jill fought Victoria, then Jill would hold back, despite what Victoria thought about her anger. Jill was a healer first and foremost.
Elizabeth needed to let the beast off the leash anyway. It was time to stretch her magic and muscles before she got too lazy and complacent in the castle.
There was just the matter of ensuring Victoria was bound to keep her secrets.
“Yes. That would be wise,” Victoria said, surprised by Elizabeth’s helpful suggestion.
What else did Victoria expect?
It was like the princess was waiting for the other shoe to drop ever since Daemon made her a Lasier.
“I hate vampires,” Jill said in lieu of an introduction, sweaty and a little grimy from her sojourn into the garden.
“Jill, this is Princess Victoria. She’s my Lasier,” Elizabeth said.
“Hello, uh, Princess Victoria.”
“Does Mother know?” Jill asked.
“Yes.”
Elizabeth didn’t want to get into everything their mother did and did not know right this second.
“Just ‘Victoria’ is okay. Or Elf,” the princess said.
“Elf?” Jill poised with hidden amusement.
“She calls me flower fairy. Remember the yellow dress?” Elizabeth prompted.
“Whoops,” Jill said, laughing in her mind.
“Well, Victoria, I’m pleased to meet you, but I don’t know what a Lasier is, really,” Jill replied out loud.
“I’ll explain while we head over to the practice building,” Victoria offered.
“Does that mean dojo, Wicked?” Jill asked, completely forgetting about the Lasier thing.
“I’m pretty sure it does, with a few adaptations for magic.”
“I’m in,” Jill said.
“Are you going to tell me what happened with William?” Elizabeth asked, still feeling uneasy about the argument she’d witnessed.
“We disagreed on what nice earth witches should be doing with their magic.”
“Was this about breakfast?”
“No. He made his feelings clear on it from the first night. I didn’t realize how restrictive William made me feel until Daemon showed me the black this morning.”
Victoria was trying to explain the Lasier thing, so Elizabeth kept her telepathy quiet to let Jill focus.
She was even less sure about mentioning Phillip to their mother now. Jill had enough to deal with regarding William’s claim.
Victoria was right. Phillip would probably forget about Elizabeth as soon as the next new witch to the court crossed his path.
“Is there a secret handshake?” Jill asked, taking the whole Lasier thing in stride.
Elizabeth knew she would have to provide details later in Jill’s room.
“What?” Victoria asked, confused.
Elizabeth was a bit confused as well. She had to listen more and worry less for the moment.
“How do you seal the deal, with the Lasier thing, to keep Elizabeth’s secrets?” Jill clarified.
“There’s a blood-oath that’s kind of like a pinky swear and blood brothers mixed into one,” Elizabeth explained.
“The blood-oath does obligate me to keep your secrets,” Victoria admitted.
“Good, let’s do it, so we can start talking about boys and who’s got the hottest fire,” Jill suggested.
“Usually there is a ceremony and Daemon should—”
Elizabeth interrupted Victoria. “It’s an oath between you and me, so can’t we do it alone? Now?”
She needed Victoria under oath at the rate the secrets and questions were piling up.
“I suppose,” Victoria answered. “It’s like a claim in a way, so technically, it’s possible to do it without the ceremony.”
“Excellent,” Elizabeth said, not letting the princess back out now.
“I’ll have a servant fetch my ink,” Victoria said, opening the doors to the practice room and ushering them in ahead of her.
“Dojo,” Jill said, satisfied.
“The exercise class is held out by the barracks. That’s bare bones compared to this place,” Elizabeth said, also impressed.
Whistling, Elizabeth turned to scope out the enormous room.
Gorgeous wood floors were well laid, not a squeak while they walked. The walls were a ridiculous twenty feet high, with candle chandeliers hung at an impossible height to light, unless you had magic.
There was what looked like a giant, Japanese rock garden at the front, with white sand that Jill declared salt when she picked up a little, rubbing it between her fingers.
Charcoal lines were drawn where the salt had been wiped clean and a large spelling circle was dead centre.
Neither of them had ever really used a circle. They had stood in one during Kim’s training, but it hadn’t been activated.
That was for exploring later.
Turning, she gaped at the multitude of hardware on display. Weapons were hidden behind the sliding wood panels of the walls, every size and shape and all of them very pointy.
Jill was already moving to grope the shiny weapons.
“I want to move my room here,” Jill declared as she traced a finger along the curve of a scimitar.
“Do you think they will give me, like a library card, and let me borrow some of these?” Elizabeth asked heading towards the daggers.
The knife grips weren’t meant for just hands. There were hollowed tunnels winging on either side, perfect for air to make the knives fly.
Jill walked further along the wall to admire the swords with beautiful handles inlaid with jewels and glyphs that Elizabeth couldn’t decipher without a closer look. Her sister was better at Maerenian than her, anyway.
<
br /> “So, am I getting into the club?” Victoria asked, walking into the room carrying a small wooden box, crusted with pearl.
“Show us some skin,” Elizabeth said, turning from the weapons wall.
“Worse than a vampire, Liz. At least give me a kiss before you try to get my clothes off.”
“My sister is a horrible kisser. I witnessed her mash mouths with Daemon already this morning. Let’s skip to the undressing,” Jill said, reluctantly turning.
Elizabeth knew Jill itched to hold all of the weapons. She would probably offer to clean the weapons, as she had at Kim’s dojo, if it meant being able to caress their dangerous curves.
“Stop lusting over the hardware and come to join us,” Elizabeth said, ignoring the comment about Daemon.
As if she could be responsible for where that demon put his hands and mouth.
Victoria walked over to the salt rock garden in the centre of the room and grabbed a few black cloths about the size of a hand towel from a small bench with drawers. She pulled her shoes off.
“Get in the circle before we do this.”
Oh. This was a surprise.
Victoria entered first. She walked over the salt and used one of the cloths to carefully clean the white grains from her feet, before folding her cloth and leaving it sitting neatly on top of the salt, outside of the circle.
She kneeled in the cleared circle, sitting back on her heels, and waited.
Jill repeated Victoria’s actions and knelt in the same position. It had to be some sort of martial-arts thing.
Elizabeth did the fancy salt wipe and sat cross-legged. “Open the box. It’s like Christmas.”
There was an ink pot inside and something that resembled a fountain pen, except for the inch long needle point.
A few smaller pots that were empty, a white cloth, and a tiny tube, like those that had been attached to the fans the vampires pricked themselves on in the tasting ball to provide a blood sample, were also in the box.
Victoria tipped a little of the ink from the large pot into one of the smaller ones. She handed Elizabeth the fountain pen.
“Lick it,” Victoria said.
“That is so not sanitary,” Jill commented.
Every Witch Demon but Mine (Maeren Series Book 1) Page 33
