by B N Miles
She glided across the room and Cam stood. He followed and tried to force himself to be in a better mood. Miuri blew out several lamps and picked up the last one from the floor. They left the others there for later that day when they’d pick up where they left off and begin training again.
It was strange, living in the dark, but at least there was a window in his room, which was a surprising luxury. Most rooms within the Mansion had no access to the outside world at all, and so time slipped past without anything to mark it.
Cam walked into the deep gloom of the cavernous hallway and headed back toward their rooms with Miuri by his side.
2
Cam pushed open the door to their rooms and lamplight spilled out into the hall. He stepped inside, followed by Miuri, and scanned the space. The fireplace had a small fire crackling away, and lamps were lit all over, flickering from the window’s draft. There was a table against the left wall with several simple wooden chairs, and a wooden shutter was set into the stone above it. On the right were several low couches and rugs and heavy skins. Pillows were piled on the couches in lavish colors and weaves.
Felin was lounging on one of the couches. She wore her dark tunic, the top two buttons undone, and her tight brown trousers. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, dark and spilling in waves over a pillow, and she had her arms up above her head. Cam felt a pang of desire for her body as her eyes slowly moved over and locked on his. They were a bright, unnatural blue, and the wolf girl smiled a little.
“Hello, Cam,” she said.
“Felin,” Cam said and walked over to the table.
He removed his sword belt and hung it over the back of a chair before he went and sat on the arm of the couch. It was wrapped in a soft cotton cloth with padding along its base and sides, and Cam had never seen anything like it before. His village wasn’t poor, not exactly, but they weren’t used to the opulent wealth of a true Mansion.
“How was training?” Felin asked.
“Good,” Cam said. “Beat Miuri’s butt.”
“He wishes,” Miuri said then walked over to the kitchen area, which was just a group of shelves, cabinets, and a long wooden counter with more storage beneath it. She began to take out ingredients for a simple meal: several root vegetables, some dried herbs, and a strip of dried meat. She refilled her water skin from the large cistern set against the wall. The Wardens came every morning and refilled it, and they could request more water if needed.
“Where’s Key?” he asked.
Felin shrugged. “She’s still in bed,” she said.
“Really?” Cam frowned and saw that the bedroom door was shut.
Beyond the door was a huge bed that filled the entire room. It was piled high with blankets, furs, and pillows, all on top of the softest mattress he’d ever felt. The frame of the bed was polished wood with big, sweeping boar tusks jutting from each corner that nearly touched the roof.
“She got in a fight with her parents,” Felin said. “I tried talking to her, but…” She just shrugged.
Cam let out a breath and glanced over at Miuri. The Elf was looking over at the bedroom door with a frown on her face.
“What did you say?” Cam asked.
“Nothing,” Felin said, sitting up. She glared at Cam and shook her head. “I just said that sometimes, in a pack, the strong will survive. The weak will have to accept the strong’s new place, and Key was strong. Her parents would have to submit to her will.”
Cam sighed and rubbed his face. “Felin, I keep telling you. We’re not pack people, none of this works that way.”
She shrugged and leaned back against the couch, crossing her arms over her chest. She was a Werewolf, one of the northern wolves that had invaded his land. But instead of killing his people, she’d helped him time and time again, and as a reward he’d brought her into his protection. She pouted at him, an annoyed expression in her eyes.
“I was just trying to make her feel better,” she said.
Cam sighed and slid off the arm of the couch and sat next to Felin. He put an arm around her, and the girl snuggled up against him and relaxed almost instantly. He always felt a little strange about how quickly she threw herself at him. He knew it was because she’d attached to him, which was something Weres did when they met a special mate. But he was still getting used to the idea that this beautiful, dangerous wolf girl was deeply in love with him in a way that he’d never quite understand.
“I know you did,” he said. “We just work a little different from what you’re used to. I’ll go talk to her and see if I can get her out here.”
“Okay,” Felin said. “Sorry if I made it worse.” She snuggled tight against him. “I can make it up to her.”
“I bet you can,” Cam said with a laugh and let her go. Felin grinned up at him as he turned away and headed toward the bedroom door.
“Tell her I’m making her favorite,” Miuri said before he pushed it open.
Cam shot her a look and Miuri laughed. Although Miuri was the only one that did any cooking lately, nobody had gotten used to her Elven dishes. They were mostly raw plants, sometimes steamed vegetables, in these strange spicy sauces she cooked over the fire for hours. Cam glanced over his shoulder and spotted two small cauldrons, and he knew Miuri probably had sauce bubbling away in there already. Cam had no clue where the spices came from, but he had a feeling Miuri kept a satchel of them on her at all times, which was a little bit disconcerting.
The bedroom door opened and Cam stepped inside. He closed it behind him and faced the bed. For a moment, he couldn’t see Key, only a mountain of blankets, furs, and pillows piled high on top of each other. But then he spotted her golden hair peeking out from one little corner of the pile and walked over.
“If you’re here to try and help, no thank you,” Key said, her voice muffled by the blankets and pillows
“Oh, come on.” Cam reached down, grabbed a blanket, and pulled it off. “I didn’t know you could be so dramatic.”
Key was still buried under more blankets and furs. She poked her face out from under a pillow and grinned at him.
“Nice try, shaman,” she said. “And I’m not dramatic.”
Cam laughed, grabbed more blankets, and began to dig her out. After throwing off a big pile, he uncovered his Key, his first love, the girl he’d grown up with and knew all his life. She wore her light gray tunic halfway unbuttoned and tight brown trousers. Her hair was spread out all around her and she looked up at him with a little smile on her lips. He climbed into bed and crawled on top of her. She shifted her hips as he pressed himself between her legs, took her wrists in his hands, and pinned her down beneath him.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello.” He kissed her neck, her cheeks, her lips. She kissed him back, a hungry little moan on his lips.
She struggled a little bit and broke off the kiss.
“If you’re trying to distract me, it’s working,” she said. Her face was flushed and her breasts heaved with every deep breath.
“Good,” Cam said.
“But I’m not in the mood, asshole.”
Cam laughed and tilted his head. He looked down at her body then bit her lower lip.
“Liar,” he said.
Key laughed and struggled. She was strong, always had been, although Cam was bigger and stronger. They’d grown up together in the village sparring and fighting, both of them students of Cam’s father, who had died in the initial wolf attack. Key was a warrior at heart, one of the best fighters he knew, and she managed to twist her wrists enough to loosen his grip. Cam released her, since it was more fun that way, and she shoved him off. She came at him, tackling him to the bed, and he laughed as they grappled.
Key’s body writhed against his as she fought for purchase, trying to get him on his back. Cam focused on touching her body, hands on her hips, grabbing her ass, teasing her breasts. Key focused on hitting him in the stomach and the arms, grinning wildly, her eyes fierce. They wrestled for another minute before Cam got her down on her stomach,
one arm behind her back, pinning her hard. He grabbed her ass and kissed her neck then pulled her hair. She gasped a little in pain and excitement, and he smirked as he leaned down to press his lips against her ear.
“Yield,” he said.
“Asshole,” she said. “I yield.”
He released her arm and spanked her ass. She gasped and glared at him and he did it again.
“Now,” he said, collapsing back onto the bed, breathing hard and grinning. “Tell me why I just found you buried under blankets, moping like your favorite spear just broke.”
She rolled onto her side and leaned on her elbow. Her hair was a mess and her tunic was shifted to the side. She glared at him and narrowed her eyes.
“I’m not moping.”
“You’re not anymore, because I cheered you up.”
“Oh, this is cheering me up?” she asked.
“Sure, I beat you in wrestling and spanked your pretty little ass, and now you’re all better.”
She laughed and threw a pillow at his face.
“You’re unreal,” she said.
“Seriously Key.” Cam tossed the pillow to the side. “What’s going on?”
She sighed and fell onto her back.
“I visited my parents this morning,” she said.
“How are they?”
“Settling in.” She stared up at the ceiling as she spoke. “They like their new room, it’s actually pretty nice. Wardens bring water, set up firewood, all that stuff. Mother is trying to find work making bows and Father is already in the patrol schedule.”
“That’s good,” Cam said.
“They aren’t the problem,” Key said. “I’m the problem, apparently.”
He frowned a little. “I don’t know what that means.”
She sat up again and looked at him. “They’re angry with me, Cam,” she said. “I’m living here with you and two other women, and one of those women is an Elf that’s like a hundred years old. You know this is scandalous, right? My mother said everyone in the village is talking.”
“Key,” Cam said, his voice soft. He shifted toward her, but she pulled away. “I didn’t know. I wouldn’t… I can talk to them, if you want.”
“No,” she said, her eyes going wide. “Oh, Urspirit, please stay away from my parents right now, okay?”
Cam frowned a little. He’d always gotten along with her father and mother. In fact, her mother had always taken extra care of him, since Cam’s own mother had died in childbirth and he was raised only by his father. The idea of having to stay away from them was confusing and it stung.
“Okay Key,” he said. “Whatever you need.”
She flopped back down. “I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I almost want to move back in with them.”
“Do you really?” he asked. “Do you think that would make you happy?”
“No,” she said. “But I hate that they’re angry with me.”
“I’m sorry,” Cam said. He stared at Key and hated seeing her struggle because of their relationship.
It wasn’t unheard of for a man to have multiple wives, especially if he could afford them. But it was certainly strange for a man to have several girlfriends without marrying them, especially when one of those girlfriends was an Elf and the other was a Werewolf. Although nobody outside of their relationship knew about Felin’s real identity.
Cam could imagine the gossip. He should’ve seen it coming, but he’d been so busy meeting with the Elders, talking about strategy, and training with Miuri that he hadn’t taken a moment to think about how their relationship might look to outsiders.
“It’s fine,” Key said after a long pause. “There’s nothing we can do about it, right? This is just the way things are. Aside from the gossip, I’m really happy with you and Miuri. And even Felin’s starting to grow on me, even if she’s weird.”
Cam laughed softly and stared at his Key. He let his eyes roam her body until he met her gaze. As he looked at her, a thought came to him, completely unbidden. He shifted close and reached out, sliding a palm against her cheek. She nuzzled against it and stared into his eyes, a little smile on her lips.
“What about this,” he said, his voice pitched low and quiet. He could hear Miuri singing softly to herself in the other room. “What if I married you? That way, your parents wouldn’t have anything to complain about. A man can have more than one wife, right? That way—”
Key pulled back, her eyes wide, and slapped Cam’s hand away. She stared at him and Cam knew he fucked up.
“You idiot,” she said, rolling to the side. “Oh, my Ur, you stupid idiot.”
“What?” he asked, frowning. He sat up as she straightened her clothes and pulled her hair back into a hasty bun. “Key, what did I say?”
She gave him a disgusted look, threw open the door, and stormed out. Cam got to his feet and chased after her, but she grabbed a lamp and stomped out into the hall, slamming the outer door closed behind her.
He stood there as Miuri and Felin both stared at him.
“What did you do?” Felin asked.
“Nothing,” Cam said.
“You did something,” Miuri said. “What did you say?”
He looked at the girls, frowning at them. “I just… I said I’d marry her,” he said. “I thought that would help, since her parents were mad. I don’t understand why that would upset her so much.”
Felin sighed and exchanged a look with Miuri.
“Cam,” Felin said, “even I know what you just did.”
“You really can’t see it?” Miuri asked.
“I really can’t,” he said.
“You basically just told Key that you’d marry her as a favor,” Felin said. “Instead of, you know, actually wanting to be her husband.”
Cam stood there for a second and stared at his girls. He didn’t know how Key could have possibly made that leap, but after looking back on it, maybe he hadn’t worded his proposal the right way.
He let out a groan and ran a hand through his hair, tugging on the back of it before letting it go.
“Shit,” he said.
“Yep,” Miuri said. “Shit is right.” She laughed, light and lilting, and started singing again as she prepared four bowls of food.
“I’ll find her,” Felin said. “I think I can help this time.”
Cam wanted to argue, but he realized he didn’t know any better, so he just shook his head and stared at the girls.
“I really do want to make her my wife,” he said. “For real, not just as a favor. You two know that, right?”
“Of course,” Felin said. “It’s obvious that you love her.”
“Anyone can see it,” Miuri said.
“Then why can’t she?” Cam asked.
“Because it’s hard to see something from inside of it,” Felin said. She got to her feet and stretched. She always went around barefoot, which Cam thought was odd and drew some looks from the other villagers, but she still refused to wear boots. “I’ll go talk to her. I bet I can calm her down.”
“Thanks,” Cam said. “And, uh… you know that just because I want to make her my wife…” He trailed off, not sure how to finish that incredibly awkward sentence.
Felin just rolled her eyes and Miuri cackled at him.
“You’re such an idiot,” Felin said and left the room.
Cam threw up his hands. “What did I do?”
“You just told us that you want to marry Key, but you also still like us,” Miuri said. “Just not enough to marry.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he said.
She shrugged and walked over to him with a bowl. She handed it to him, guided him to the table, and pulled out a chair. Cam sat and looked at the vegetables and strips of dried meat floating in a dark green sauce.
“Eat,” she said, and kissed his cheek. “I know you want to marry me. You’ll come around sooner or later on Felin, too.”
He sighed, picked up the fork, and took a bite. Even though the sauce was spicy, it was still
good, and he realized Miuri’s Elvish food was beginning to grow on him.
“Thank you for cooking,” he said.
She waved him off. “Better eat fast,” she said. “We have that meeting with Remorn and the others soon.”
Miuri sat down across from him and they ate together in comfortable silence as Cam thought about how could fix things with Key.
Because the truth was, Cam did want to marry Key. He’d wanted to marry her for a long, long time. And he was beginning to feel that way about Miuri too, and maybe even Felin, though he was a little less sure about her. Even still, he wanted his girls around, and he knew they made him stronger.
He’d explain things to Key. But first he’d have to eat and head off to another meeting with the Elders.
3
As Cam finished his meal and took his bowl over to be washed out and stored, there was a knock at the door. Miuri stood and answered it, and Warden Maur gave her a graceful bow.
“Princess,” he said.
“Hello, Warden,” Miuri said. “You don’t have to keep calling me Princess, you know.”
He smiled at her and poked his head into the room. “Ah, shaman, are you nearly ready? The council is meeting soon.”
“We’re ready,” Cam said and walked over to join them. “Lead away, Maur.”
Warden Maur bobbed his head and turned away. He carried a lamp in his hand, holding it up and to the side. The light cast a long yellow glow on the smooth stone floor as they stepped out of the room. Cam shut the door behind them but didn’t bother locking it. Nobody else lived up near them, and he didn’t want Felin or Key to have any trouble getting back inside.
Maur hurried along, down the rough-cut steps, and into another tight hall. There were other Wardens walking through the gloom, their cloaks wrapped tightly around them. Most cloaks were dyed purples and deep burgundy, and each Warden had a small copper pin that denoted their rank.
It took Cam a few days to figure out their system, but it was pretty straightforward once he started meeting more Wardens. There were small, circular pins that were the base level of the Warden hierarchy, and Warden Maur wore three of those, making him the highest ranked member of the lowest subsection. Then there were square pins, triangle pins, and finally diamond shaped pins. Only Head Warden Dore wore more than one diamond pin.
