by Raven Dark
“Come here, Petal.” He spun me around, and I giggled, the tension of the day washing away.
“Master.” I put my arms around him. “The guests will see.”
A few other lords and dignitaries passed by the foyer, headed for the Grand Dining Hall, and one woman raised a brow at us.
“So?” He kissed me soundly. “You know, as much as I would have loved to see you carrying our babies, I’m kinda glad you’re not pregnant. It’s too dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” I laughed but sobered when I saw he wasn’t amused. Instead he looked almost shy, rubbing the back of his neck. I kissed his cheek. “You were worried, Master. You looked like you were going to faint last night.”
He looked like he was going to rebuff me for implying he’d faint like a girl, but Pretty Boy spoke up.
“Hey, don’t hog her all to yourself. Put her down so I can see her.”
Steel set me on my feet.
Pretty Boy looked me over. Pride rushed through me at the appreciation in his eyes. He made a circling motion in the air with his finger. “Let me see you, Princess.”
No wonder he wanted a good look. I had to admit the cadris he’d chosen for me to wear tonight was gorgeous, a deep crimson in crushed velvet, with a gold belt accentuating the waist, and gold trim around the low neckline. I turned around slowly, letting my master see what was his, reveling in the attention much more than I would have weeks ago.
Pretty Boy made a low hum in his throat and slipped his arms around me, pulling me close. He inhaled deep, kissing my ear. “My perfect jewel.”
“You’re not disappointed, Master?” I asked, taking a chance at being vulnerable with him. I pulled back and looked into his blue gaze. “You were so happy when you thought I was pregnant.”
“Nah. It’ll give us more time to practice.” He put his mouth to my ear. “More time with my cock buried deep inside you.”
I squeezed him tight, my throat constricting with love for both of them. I belonged to these men, they accepted me, and right now, I couldn’t have been happier.
At the open doors to the dining hall, Sheriff and Hawk were just heading in, but Hawk backtracked when he saw me. His amber eyes took everything in, and he pulled me to him. His lips brushed my ear.
“You look wonderful, Kitten. I hope you slept earlier, because you won’t be getting any sleep tonight.”
His words, coming on the heels of Pretty Boy’s earlier statement, made my sex tighten. I smiled shyly at him. But then I thought about the conversation I’d have to have with him later, and the smile slid away.
Hawk’s dark brows furrowed.
I leaned toward him. “Master, may we talk privately after dinner?”
“Of course, Kitten.” He touched the small of my back. “Are you all right?”
He probably thought I wanted to talk to him about the pregnancy scare.
One of the guests walked past us into the Grand Dining Hall, so I just shook my head, silently telling him I’d explain later. His nod told me he understood.
It surprised me how much better I felt knowing I’d be able to talk to him later about Serena and our shared nightmares. Doc was right—if anyone would have answers, he would.
On our way toward the table, I caught Sheriff’s eye. The last time I’d seen him had been the previous night when we thought I was pregnant. How did he feel knowing I wasn’t? Looking at him now, I couldn’t tell. His expression was nearly as difficult to read as Hawk’s often was. Doc had said the men were fine with it, but this was Sheriff after all, and nothing was ever so clear cut with him.
I deflected the thought with a glance around the Grand Dining Hall. The leaves had been taken out of the table, making it shorter. The elaborate center pieces had been replaced with simpler ones, and not as many of the candles and sconces about the room were lit, leaving the room in a softer, more homey glow.
Around the table, only the Dark Legion, the Brothers of Brimstone, and two other visiting lords from the summit remained. Lord Falnar sat at the head of the table with Serena by his side as always. I didn’t see Beast or Crash. The latter I assumed was avoiding the social gathering, and the former was still considered too low a ranking member of the Legion to join his crew here.
“There aren’t as many people here now,” I said, taking notice of the lords.
“Nope,” Steel said near me as he took his seat at the table. “The summit is over now. The big meeting was earlier this afternoon, and all but a few people have headed home. This will be our last formal dinner here.”
Oh, thank the Maker. I couldn’t wait to get back to the Grotto. Back to the place I’d never thought I’d miss. I couldn’t wait to see Cherry and Dice, to talk to Gretle and all the other women who I now considered my friends.
I took my place at Sheriff’s side as usual. Serena sat a little across from me, looking much better, focused and alert.
When dinner was done, the two lords said their goodbyes, owing to business they had elsewhere.
“Well, gentlemen, it looks like it’s just us.” Lord Falnar wiped his hands on a napkin. He had everyone gather in the smoking room for one last night of cigars and port.
Only two of the room’s globular gas lamps flickered with firelight, the beautiful red stained glass muting the flames and giving the room a sensual, secretive glow. Cherry wood furniture pieces stood about the room for drinks and cigars, and large, cushioned chaise lounges sat against the wood-paneling.
The Dark Legion and the Brothers of Brimstone lounged and talked of club business. Soon, the room filled with the scent of sweet cigars and whisky.
Now the cigar smell was pleasant and masculine, and it was nice not to feel nauseous breathing it in
Lord Falnar lounged on the biggest chair, telling more of his jokes and stories, already slurring some of his words. Serena sat at his feet, her arms resting on his knees.
Earlier, when we’d entered the room, Sheriff had immediately taken the second biggest chair across the room from the lord of the manor. Now he leaned back into the velvet cushions, his ankles crossed, lounging against the high backrest. Looking perfectly at home, a leather-clad king, not at all like he was a man visiting someone else’s domain. He’d tugged me onto his lap, pulling against his warm chest. His chin rested on my shoulder, his palms cradling my waist.
“How’s Beast doing, Sin?” Sheriff asked the man beside him. “He must be dying to get back on the road again.”
Sinister and Savage sat together on a couch to Sheriff’s left, puffing on cigars.
Sinister looked at the General. “He is. We all are. He hates all these fancy shindigs.”
Some of the others in the room laughed, and Lord Falnar gave his booming chuckle. Even Savage laughed, a silent one, which meant he must have read his brother’s lips.
Across from Sinister and Savage, Hawk nodded at something Pretty Boy said beside him, then turned his attention to the twins.
“I’ve been thinking.” He paused and gave a look that included Reaper who sat nearby. “The Dark Legion needs to branch out.”
“How do you mean?” Sinister set his cigar in a large pewter ashtray on the table beside him.
“I—”
A chime sounded in the room, one of those lovely, tinkling chimes I’d heard in Serena’s chambers yesterday. Two guards opened the doors.
Gita and Tari sauntered in, both dressed in white gossamer gowns, sheer and paper-thin. Both had their hair down, falling in lavender waves to their waists. And behind them, Diamond and Emmy followed.
My mouth almost dropped to the floor.
Diamond and Emmy were both draped in tabris, wrap-like skirts tied at their waists and falling to their ankles, with matching slips of cloth that covered their breasts in a way that reminded me of cadris tops but with a lot less to them. Both outfits were black and translucent. Gold encircled their wrists and necks, and both had their hair in fancy updos, with dark tendrils hanging down to frame their faces. Gone were the Legion’s Road Rat whores
. Instead they were replaced with elegant ladies who could have belonged to royalty.
Behind me, Sheriff grunted disapprovingly. I turned my face up to him.
“What, Master,” I said softly, for his ears alone. “You don’t like to see your women all dolled up?” I gave him a teasing smile.
Another grunt in my ear. “Waste of money.”
My chest shook with a suppressed laugh.
Diamond and Emmy looked lovely, though I could tell they weren’t used to such fancy attire, with the way they caught my eye and shrugged. Diamond looked a little uncomfortable in her new clothes, adjusting the fabric around her breasts.
Lord Falnar waved the women further into the room while T-Man and the Brothers of Brimstone did cat calls.
Lord Falnar raised a huge golden goblet. “Here’s to my three new children, born today, healthy and strong. May the legacy of the Falnar house live on!” He looked around, his gaze including all the men. “These women are yours for the night. Enjoy them.”
Clearly he wasn’t referring to Diamond and Emmy, who both went straight to Doc, one curled up on either side of him on a wide chaise.
More cat calls, whoops, and claps sounded throughout the room.
Gita sashayed over to T-Man, taking a long blue scarf from her neck and wrapping it around his. His handsome face split into a wide grin.
“I like this,” he said, chuckling at Lord Falnar.
“See, Sheriff?” Pretty Boy said, walking over to hand me a goblet of wine. “Lord Falnar’s got the right idea, spoiling his girls.” He winked at me.
Sheriff grumbled something under his breath even I couldn’t hear.
Whatever Hawk had been about to say earlier, was forgotten, even by him. T-Man picked up a deck of cards from the table and started playing and laughing with Reaper and Savage. Lord Falnar started talking with Hawk about a prized collection of swords he had somewhere in the castle. I’d never seen Hawk so completely enthralled, distracted from the business talk that had nearly started before. Conversations flowed from one to the other, and Lord Falnar pitched in with more jokes, even playing a game of Aces with the others.
Eventually, seeming to realize the men weren’t showing any real interest in Gita and Tari, Lord Falnar sent them out. They shrugged and waved goodbye to me.
Diamond found her way over to my side long enough to say something under her breath.
“Pardon, Diamond?” I leaned forward in Sheriff’s lap.
“I’d never get used to dressing like this. But Doc likes it, so I wonder if Lord Falnar would let me keep this thing.” She pinched the skirt of her tabris.
I giggled. When Sheriff grumbled again, I giggled harder as Diamond danced back toward Doc.
“Hawk, what were you going to say earlier?” Sheriff growled.
“Oh. Yeah, about us branching out.” Hawk returned to his original seat, sobering. “Sheriff and I think some of the other MCs in the summit made a good point.” He looked at Sinister. “The Legion is too isolated, being only in the Grotto. Our reach is much too short.”
Savage leaned forward with interest. I noticed that when people spoke, Savage kept his gaze trained on their mouths instead of their eyes, and sometimes his mouth moved silently, as if he were sounding out the words in his head. When he wasn’t looking at someone who was speaking, Sinister would translate with hand signs.
Sheriff sighed. “I’ve been thinking about this since it was brought up in the summit. I’m loath to bring such a huge change to the way the Legion has operated for so long. But there are a lot more zones and small towns around us that need our protection than there once were. There are three times as many gangs and Dreg clubs coming out of the woodwork and targeting unprotected cities than ever.”
“So you think the Dark Legion should build a new Chapter.” Sinister slowly spun his whisky glass on the table with his fingertips on the rim, causing the ice to clink. “It’ll be a lot of work, but we’ll help you out with relocation and whatnot, if you need it.”
His voice, one of the deepest I’d ever heard, seemed to fill the room, even though it was smoother and not booming than Falnar’s. Every time he spoke—always in a slow careful manner—he oozed leadership.
“Actually, we had something else in mind.” Sheriff turned me so that I sat across his knees, probably allowing him to better see everyone in the room.
“Which is?” Sinister asked.
“Hawk, you want to take this?”
Hawk cleared his throat. The only one without a drink in his hand, he leaned over with his elbows on his knees. “The Legion would like you to join us.”
Sinister sat up straighter. “You want us to…you want us to become part of the Dark Legion?”
Hawk nodded. “We think it would be advantageous to your MC…under the circumstances.”
Savage’s eyes widened. He exchanged a surprised look with his brother.
“Wow.” Sinister rubbed the middle of his forehead with his fingers. “That’s…yeah. Wow.”
Around the room, the Legion men were grinning.
“We realize there would have to be a lot more negotiation over this before we can go any further.” Sheriff shifted me on his lap again. He was getting restless, the way he did when he got deep into business talk. “Mergers between clubs are a huge thing with a lot of details to hash out. But we’d like you to take the idea to Ash, for a start.”
Sinister was nodding as he talked. Sheriff shifted me again.
Before Sinister could reply, Hawk gestured to me. “Come here, Kitten. Sit over here.” He leaned back and laid his arms across the back of the couch.
I crawled out of the General’s embrace and went over to Hawk. He pulled me onto his lap. While Sinister talked, Hawk closed his warm arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on the top of my head.
“…have to admit, this is something I wouldn’t have expected to hear from you, Sheriff,” Sinister was saying now. “We know how rarely the Dark Legion recruits new members. And you’ve never liked anyone new getting into your business. As I’m the one who General Ash has asked to represent him here at this summit, I have to ask. Why the Brothers of Brimstone? Why not some other MC?”
“Your right, we can’t afford to trust easily,” the General began.
“Especially you, Sheriff,” Pretty Boy said.
Sheriff smiled and shrugged. “Even a stubborn mule like me knows when things have to change. Besides.” He looked at Sinister. “You fellas have met with us every year since this summit began. T-Man started recruiting more new members in the past few months before we made him our Executioner, and he’s always considered you close friends. I trust his judgment.”
T-Man nodded his thanks.
“And we may never have said it, but we’ve always considered you our Brothers,” Sheriff added.
Without answering right away, Sinister looked around at his other men, clearly gauging their reactions, Savage’s especially.
Savage gave a series of hand signals, slower than normal, making sure the whole group saw them.
Sinister’s eyes danced. When everyone gave quizzical looks, he said, “My brother says, ‘Under normal circumstances, another MC might be offended by what you’re offering, Sheriff. We’re not that small.’” He put a mocking tone on the words, indicating the inflection Savage’s statement was supposed to have.
Everyone laughed.
“Savage is right, but our situation is far from normal,” Sinister added. “Our numbers are dwindling. We used to have over a hundred men, but now we have barely forty. Ash has been talking about merging with another MC for months, but we haven’t found a suitable match. I think he will find your offer intriguing, to say the least.”
“You know how much trouble we’ve had dealing with those bloody Iron Wolves,” Reaper, who sat beside T-Man, chimed in, speaking to Sheriff. His exotic voice made the words sound elegant. Oddly enough, he was holding the scarf Gita had hung around T-man’s neck earlier and was now tying it into complex knots.
When Sinister and Sheriff indicated for him to continue, he went on.
“Whatever club Ash chooses, merging our numbers with another MC will finally allow us to send the Iron Wolves to hell where they belong.”
The other Brothers of Brimstone nodded in agreement.
Sinister turned back to Sheriff. “We’ll bring your offer to Ash and see if he’d be interested in visiting the Grotto for a meeting so we can talk more about this.”
“We would be happy to have you.” Sheriff lifted his glass to drink, frowned when he saw it was empty, then put it down. We…”
While the men continued their discussion, Hawk leaned down, pressing his smooth cheek to mine. “You doing okay, Kitten? Smoke’s not bothering you, is it?”
“I’m fine, Master. I like the smell now.”
He rubbed my arms.
Sinister, Savage, and Reaper talked on, getting animated, with a lot of head nodding and hand signs. Their hands moved so fast, I didn’t think I’d have known what was being said even if I knew their language.
Watching them made me curious to learn how to use it, much less as fast as they did.
As if to give them time to talk privately, Sheriff stood and poured himself a drink from the bar along the back wall. He was on his way back when Sinister, Savage, and Reaper stopped talking. The three of them stood, and Sinister clapped his hands, rubbing them together.
“Well, gentleman, we’re going to bring this proposition to Ash now. Devil’s Breath is only a couple of hours’ ride from here, so we should be back before dawn.”
“Damn,” Steel said, sitting up. “It’s nearly midnight. You guys don’t waste any time, do you?”
Sinister shrugged. “We prefer traveling at night, always have. Plus, I’m anxious to see what Ash has to say about this. If you’ll excuse us, my Lord?” He glanced at Lord Falnar.
The lord raised his glass with a nod. “Of course, men. There’ll be plenty of time to celebrate with us when you return.”
“Safe travels, Sin.” Sheriff shook his hand. “We’re looking forward to hearing what Ash has to say as well.”
