“We cheat in that regard,” Sean said, motioning her to him.
With a puzzled expression, she went back over to him. When he touched her with his energy, Helga exhaled softly, feeling warm and content.
“All done,” Sean said, kissing her flat stomach. “It’s a little weird seeing you without a belly button, but it does make you more unique.”
Helga blinked slowly, looking down at him. “Do you like me better when I—?”
Sean stood up and kissed the tip of her nose. “I like you either way. This makes you more comfortable, which is fine, though be prepared to explain why you now lack that feature.”
“I will,” Helga said. “I still need to go get new clothes.”
“So do I,” Sean said. “Let me put my pants on.”
“Why?” Helga asked as she paused by the door, her dress hanging over her shoulder. “They have all seen us naked many times.”
“Time and place,” Sean said as he pulled his pants up. “Bathing is acceptable, hallways are not.”
Helga shimmied into her dress, which had Sean’s full attention until it was in place. “Thank you for the compliment, My Lord. The feeling of your love and desire warms me.”
Coughing, Sean looked away. “Yeah... that little bit of empathy is going to take some getting used to.”
Helga opened the door and stepped into the hall. “I shall see you downstairs.”
“You’ll see him sooner than that,” Myna said as she came out of the master bedroom. “Your things have been shifted to the dressing room. Aria, will you show her?”
Aria stopped in the bedroom doorway. “Gladly. This way, Helga.”
Helga turned toward them. “Thank you. I follow, Aria.”
Sean left the room and Myna purred loudly, her eyes glittering as she took in his shirtless state. “Master, I wish there was more time before breakfast...”
Sean chuckled as he paused and pulled her into an embrace, kissing her lightly. “Good morning, my naughty kitty. Someone’s been telling stories again, I heard,” Sean said when he broke the kiss.
“She was going to be joining us,” Myna sighed in disappointment when he released her. “Did I do something wrong?”
Sean shook his head. “I guess not. I’m still working on myself, though.”
“Yes, and you are doing much better,” Myna smiled. Her tail began to flick from side to side, and her voice became a light growl, “Please go, or I might be forced to bite you and drag you into a room.”
Sean was quick to back up toward the master bedroom. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
Myna stared at him until he slipped into the room and shut the door. Exhaling slowly, her hands uncurled and she shuddered. “I should ask Mother if she was like this...” Myna murmured and turned to go.
Sean stood just inside the room and nodded his head. Yeah, maybe Mizuki can tell me what to expect, Sean thought before going to his dressing room. Neither Felora nor Andrea were there, and since Fiona and Myna were already downstairs, he was the only one in it now. Today is getting to know Hallie and seeing if she’ll be someone I can live with, Sean thought as he got the rest of his clothes on.
Making it down to breakfast, he was surprised to find Hallie already there. “Good morning, everyone. Hallie, how are you?”
“Excited, Sean. I am also afraid,” Hallie admitted. “Today will be the third best day of my life, or possibly the worst.”
“Third?” Sean asked.
“The second was the day you fixed my foot. If things go as I hope, I will marry you tomorrow, which will make it my best day.”
Sean sat, slowly processing what she had said. “Oh. I didn’t know your foot meant that much to you.”
“It gave me my life,” Hallie said softly. “You might think it’s silly, but spending years as the cripple who brought her family down weighed on me, especially given my family’s penchant for being able to fight. I could, but not as well as I should have with my foot hindering me. I couldn’t dance, either, which is a massive problem for a woman of standing.”
“Yes,” Fiona nodded. “Your ball must have been torture.”
Hallie gave her a crooked smile. “It was the single worst day of my life. The few men who did show any interest in me were quick to back away when I failed to move through the normal dances.”
“I had no idea,” Sean said softly.
“You have just been elevated to the nobility, and the parties you’ve attended have all been traps,” Hallie said. “Your view of the social aspect of the nobility must be skewed badly.”
“It probably is,” Sean agreed.
“Breakfast,” Glorina announced as she led the others into the room. “We have pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs, and thick-cut bacon. We hope you enjoy.”
“Master will,” Myna snickered. “His eyes lit up when you said ‘pancakes.’”
“I like the syrup,” Sean chuckled.
“We have that, too,” Glorina grinned as she set a bottle in front of him. “The budget makes sure that there’s always syrup, sir.”
“Thanks,” Sean said a little awkwardly.
“Oh, we don’t have syrup often,” Hallie said. “Three bottles?” Her question conveyed her surprise.
“We all have a little,” Xenta said. “Some only a few drops, but in Sean’s case…” She trailed off, looking down the table at Sean, who was covering his stack of pancakes.
Hallie’s eyebrows shot up. “Goodness.”
Sean flushed and scratched at his cheek. “I like it.”
“He has a sweet tooth for other things, too,” Felora smirked.
“Let’s eat,” Sean said quickly.
~*~*~
When breakfast came to an end, Fiona explained that most of them would be working on the cars and busses. With that said, all of his wives claimed kisses and left the room while the staff separated to go get their work done.
Sean gave Hallie a worried smile. “Hallie, I’d like to talk. Is that okay?”
Hallie beamed as she stood up. “I’m looking forward to it. I have many questions.”
Relaxing thanks to her happiness and interest, Sean got to his feet and motioned her to the door. “The library is the best place.”
As they started up the stairs, Xenta appeared in the main room. “Sir, should I bring tea?”
“Yes, please,” Sean replied. “Did you have a preference, Hallie?”
“Whatever Xenta would recommend will be fine.”
“I’ll bring a kettle up shortly,” Xenta smiled.
Sean finished climbing the stairs and opened the door to the library. “Here we go. The table off to the left.”
“Very well. Oh, are you three going to read?” Hallie asked the Fairies in the room.
“We will when one of the maids comes in to get the book for us,” Arla said.
“How are you, Jott?”
“Good. I’ve been accepted fully into the clan,” Jott replied.
“I can get a book for you,” Hallie said. “Which one?”
“Is it my turn to pick?” Jott asked the other two.
“Yes,” Arla replied, and Jutt nodded.
“This one, please?” Jott asked, landing beside a book. “I want to know more about the Hunt.”
Sean’s eyebrows went up. “The Wild Hunt?”
“Yes. The Huntsman used to lead it,” Arla nodded. “The books we’d been reading dealt with him specifically.”
“Was he married to the Queens?” Sean asked.
“No, he was their consort,” Jutt replied. “He loved them both and was loved by both in turn. It’s said that before this world, he died in a dispute with powerful beings— possibly gods.”
“Hmm,” Sean murmured as he took a seat. “Interesting.”
Hallie set the book on the desk and opened the cover. “Is that all?”
“Yes. We can handle it from here,” Jott nodded. “Thank you, mistress.”
Hallie was smiling when she sat beside Sean. “They’re happy, but
you’ve treated all of them well. My brother spoke of it to the family, too. Some of our clan is waiting until their Agreements run out. Then, they will be coming to join yours.”
“I didn’t know that,” Sean said.
“We figured. Father is in full agreement with my wishes. When I suggested this course to Fiona, I was ready to be rebuffed and banished from your manor.” Hallie smiled fondly. “She didn’t scream at or chastise me. Instead, she asked me to explain why I should be considered.” Hallie touched her ear for a moment and let out a soft laugh. “I was flustered. I’m a Dame, and here I was explaining to your head wife why I should be allowed to join them.”
Sean watched her with a smile of his own. She was awkward, clearly embarrassed to be telling him, but doing it regardless.
“I did my best, explaining what having you marry into the Bloodheart family would mean for your family. I did my best to make it seem like a political marriage.” She glanced at him, her cheeks darkening slightly before she looked away. “Fiona agreed with my logic, then asked me to explain why I wanted it.”
“That was harder?” Sean asked when she paused.
“Yes. I struggled for a long time, trying to find the right words, until she came to sit beside me. She took my hand, told me to relax, and just speak.” Hallie giggled softly. “The words came bursting out. I didn’t try to make the best speech or worry about how it might sound. I just... exposed everything.” She smiled again as she brushed at her hair. “When I finally wound down, she put her arm around me. She had Venn go bring the others and had me repeat it again to them.” Her face was burning as she relived the memories.
“They obviously agreed,” Sean said.
“Yes. Now, I wait for you.” Her gaze went to his face. “You asked to know me and I want you to, but where should I start?”
“With how hard life was for you,” Sean replied. “How we respond to hardships tells a story about who we are.”
There was a knock on the door just before Cali entered with the tea trolley. “Excuse me, I have the tea.”
“I thought Xenta was going to bring it?” Sean said questioningly.
“She served you tea last,” Cali said as she set the tray up for them. “We rotate who does so. She did tell me you wanted green tea. Since we just ate, I didn’t bring snacks. I hope that’s okay.”
“It is,” Sean said. “Thank you, Cali.”
“I understand they’ll all be your wives in time,” Hallie said.
“That’s our fervent hope,” Cali smiled, “even if it does take years.”
“They will be,” Sean said, giving the wolf-eared maid a nod, “but yeah, it’ll be a while. They’ve agreed to wait.”
“Even for me,” Hallie said, then reached out and touched Cali’s hand. “For him?”
“His safety is all we think about,” Cali said, meeting Hallie’s eyes. “We were asked if we could stand aside for you and were told why. We all agreed. If not for Felora, it might not have happened, but we’re not anxious anymore. We know that Sean will embrace us in time, too. Fiona did say no other would come before us again, which sealed the Agreement.”
“Cali, thank you,” Sean said. “Tell the others for me, please? It might have been easier, but I’m sure it also hurt you.”
Cali’s lips twitched and she bowed her head. “You prefer honesty, sir. It did hurt us... some more, some less, but all of us ached that we were being set aside, even for a little bit longer. We understood and agreed with why, but emotions don’t care.”
Sean touched her wrist lightly. “I know. Thank you. I’m not positive that Hallie and I will marry tomorrow, but knowing that you all also approve makes it easier.”
Cali swallowed, her ears twitching. “We just wish to serve you, sir.”
Sean exhaled slowly, then pulled his hand away. “You all do a very good job. Thank you for the tea.”
“Of course, sir,” Cali said, bowing before she left quickly.
“They do love you,” Hallie said softly. “I’ve never seen staff as devoted as yours are. My family has staff that has served our line for generations, and they are cared for and care for us in turn, but nothing like them.”
“Yeah,” Sean exhaled. “You’re okay with that?”
Hallie smiled, her eyes meeting his over the rim of her teacup. “I find myself intrigued with how much love this family will have.”
Sean chuckled awkwardly. “That’s one way to put it.”
Chapter Thirty-five
Looking down at the blade across his knees, Sean considered if he really wanted to risk trying to make it a ring.
“The famed axe of Darragh...” Hallie murmured. “It’s so hard to imagine this sword being that. I’ve seen you Shape weapons in combat, but it still boggles my mind that it can be Shaped.”
“To be fair, he allows it,” Sean said as he gently touched the bare metal.
“‘He’?”
“In my mind, I generally see Dark Cutter as a man. That could just be my ingrained default to the masculine pronoun, though.”
“In your mind?” Hallie asked.
“Dark Cutter has a form of empathic communication,” Sean told her. “We’ve conversed after a fashion.”
Dark Cutter vibrated a little under his hand.
“Hungry, or just want to be topped off?” Sean asked.
The sword warmed gently.
“I don’t mind,” Sean said, opening a wound on his palm so the blood absorbed straight into the metal.
“What?” Hallie asked.
Sean pulled his hand away from the blade. “He wanted a snack.”
Eyes going wide, Hallie watched the blood sink in, not splashing as it should. “So it’s true…”
“It eats the life of those it wounds. Blood just carries some of the essence,” Sean said. “What do you think? Are you okay with me trying to make you a ring?”
Dark Cutter sent him the image of a man with a thoughtful expression. After a moment, the man nodded and looked down at his hands, which had mithril jewelry.
“Yeah, just like the armor and weapons,” Sean agreed.
The man looked thoughtful again before holding up a dark metal ring. The ring had small barbs on the inside that would likely draw small drops of blood if the finger it was on flexed.
“Hmm... that would be one way of keeping you in peak condition. Can you temper the need to drain me dry?”
The man looked affronted, then gave a sheepish smile and nodded.
“Yeah, I understand,” Sean laughed. “I’ll try it.”
“What?” Hallie asked.
“I’m going to try making him into a ring. He wants a barb on the inside of the band so he can have blood at times,” Sean said.
“But—!” Hallie started to exclaim.
“Easy. He won’t drain me. I give him the best meals he’s ever had. A master feast today isn’t as good as a feast every day.”
Dark Cutter’s mental image nodded eagerly.
“Should we let the others know, just in case?” Hallie asked, still uncertain.
“If it looks bad, just cut my hand off,” Sean told her. “I can regrow my hand.”
Hallie blinked at him, then began to giggle. Her giggle turned into stifled laughter, then became a full belly laugh. Sean smiled along with her as he waited for her to calm down. After a few minutes, she wiped at the tears that had escaped. “Sorry, but that would be such a hard thing to accept if not for what you’ve done for me.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Sean chuckled.
Hallie stood and drew her sword. “I’m ready.”
“I’ll tell you if I need you to cut,” Sean told her.
“Understood, sir.”
Sean sealed the wound on his palm and let Dark Cutter have the last of the blood. “Okay, buddy, let’s bend the rules again.”
Dark Cutter hummed and Sean bent his will to make the unique weapon a simple ring.
Hallie gasped as she watched the sword shrink and become a liquid that flowed to S
ean’s right hand. After another few heartbeats, it became a dark ring.
Sean flexed his hand and felt the single barb he’d made prick him. After a few seconds, he nodded. “How is it?”
Dark Cutter sent a mental pulse of a cat curled into a cubby with a blanket.
Noble Solutions Page 31
