A Lady of the Realm (24 page)

“Your heritage is surfacing. Can you smell the seductive aroma you’re unleashing?”

Great. I was trying to seduce Sig without realizing it.

“I’m going to practice control,” I said.

I popped the last shrimp into my mouth and walked away from him. I stood at the door to my bedroom, my eyes glued to his morphing face. His eyes had begun to burn a deep red color. Not the usual red rim blaze I’d seen before. He closed them, waved his hand as if in dismissal and disappeared. Weird.

I turned to my room and flipped my phone open. I wanted to sleep tonight. I was becoming spoiled. I punched the keypad and hit Sasha’s number. He picked up on the first ring.

“Hey, you busy tonight?” I asked.

I had already asked Malachi his plans and knew the half-breed had a business meeting tonight. Not knowing how long that would take, I had to settle for the elf.

“It depends on what you might need,” he said.

“A little company Sasha, nothing else. I’m tired and want to sleep,” I said stifling a yawn.

He was suddenly next to me, his phone next to his ear.

“It was a tedious day of business,” he said snapping the phone closed. “But I rather like how most of it turned out.”

“I hope you don’t expect me to attend many Court sessions, I feel like a duck out of water,” I said slipping the robe off and getting into bed.

“You don’t act like one, pet. The move of placing Sigmund as your shadow was outstanding,” he said discarding his own robe.

“You didn’t look happy when I announced it,” I said.

He stretched, his muscles rippling in the dim light.

“I wasn’t, truth be told. But, I’ve since reconsidered all the angles. In light of new developments, Malachi has some additional paperwork for you. I’ll be occupied for several days when Court ends, and I want you to see to business as soon as you get back to the city,” he said sliding into bed with me.

“I’m sure Sig can take care of the niceties.”

“Sigmund will undoubtedly have a detailed schedule,” he said bringing me closer to him. “You look dreadful.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” I said.

I circled my arms around his waist, my chin resting in the crevice of his chest. I exhaled slowly, my body immediately relaxing.

“Mayhap we need a holiday after Court adjourns,” he said smoothing my hair back.

“If you were around more often, I wouldn’t need a break,” I said.

“Why don’t you move in with us permanently? We’ve more than enough room for you and Sigmund,” he said.

“It’s a thought. I do enjoy a good night’s rest,” I said, my eyes unable to stay open.

He chuckled softly and rested his head on mine. I fell asleep, his scent the perfect sleeping aid.

Chapter Thirty-One
:
Bad Coffee

Sasha wasn’t in the apartment when I woke up. I took my time getting ready for the day. I was still trying to figure out how my seductive aura worked. I was in no way attracted to Sig. He reminded me of a big brother. The mental link we now shared had erased any kind of sexual thoughts I might have entertained before.

When I came out of the bedroom, a plate of beignets, and a steaming cup of chicory coffee were on a tray in the living room. I sat in my favorite chair grabbing a beignet and helping myself to coffee. I liked the pampering. Nothing could get me in a better mood than food. I sipped the coffee carefully, savoring the chicory and steamed milk combination.

I pouted when the coffee proved bitter. I trudged to the kitchen for some more sugar and poured a generous amount into the cup. I continued to sip it in silence and munched on some more beignets daydreaming about a certain elf. He hadn’t tried anything last night. He came over, we talked, and I slept. Maybe I could walk the tightrope with the elf. Friends, lovers, political allies; it was worth a try. I wouldn’t know if I didn’t give it a chance.

I sighed and reached out for the phone to give him a call. Maybe he could use someone to yell at this morning. We didn’t broach the subject, but I knew he was upset with Katie. When she disputed the boundary line they shared in Tennessee, his energy doubled in anger. If Katie wanted to unite Houses with him, she was going about it the wrong way.

A bolt of searing hot pain shot through my stomach as I reached out for the phone. The pang was like a blade in my midsection. The phone fell from my hand when I clutched my belly. I fell off the chair, hitting my head for good measure on the corner of the end table on my way down. Even if I could, which was impossible considering the pain, there was no use screaming. Everything in this posh freak resort was soundproof. I had enough mental clarity left; I needed the phone. The pain made it impossible for a mental shout out. I needed to call Sasha. Just one key. He was on speed dial.

I gasped and reached with one hand, my fingers barely making contact with the slick, slim phone. I wheedled it closer and flicked it open with trembling fingers. My numb digit pressed the key long enough for the call to go through. I could hear it ring in the deathly silence of the room. The only interruption was my labored breathing.

Ring. The pain was increasing, radiating down my legs and arms in sharp pricks. Ring. Black spots began dancing in my vision. They obscured the carpet I was crying on. Ring. The sound grew fainter, my hearing fuzzy. I was numb, cold clammy sweat covering my body, when I heard the faint trace of someone picking up.

“Ach pet, lovely of you to call so early ….” Sasha was in a jovial mood. His singsong cadence filtered through my mind. I was barely able to get out the word.

“Hel...” I whispered as I fought for consciousness. I couldn’t tell if he stopped talking or if he hung up, but I tried again “Hel…p…m…ee.”

*

I was naked, a state of affairs that didn’t trouble me much when I opened my eyes. I was alive and naked so all was good in the world. Of that, I was sure. I slid my hand along the covers feeling the cool satiny sheets against my skin. I didn’t feel bad. There was no blistering pain anywhere. I did feel languorous. I didn’t want to get up and do anything. Not find out where I was, why I was there, or why I was naked.

“The selections for your sleeping attires are gruesome.”

I blinked and looked towards the speaker. Sig was in a white suit with a neon green tie and sunglasses reading a copy of Vanity Fair. He didn’t bother looking my way as I pulled the sheet farther up.

“I sleep naked,” I said all of a sudden greatly interested in how I came to be naked in a room with him feeling so wonderful.

He turned a page.

“How did you drink poison and not notice?” he asked. He lifted the magazine up, comparing the image with me, and folded the upper corner down.

“I thought Sasha left me coffee,” I said, realizing why the coffee hadn’t tasted right.

“Never eat anything if not properly supervised. Two deaths in twenty-four hours, and you’ve learned nothing,” he fumed and tossed the magazine down onto the floor.

“Won’t happen again Sig. Uhm …nLbfi
Xdclairvoydedu
Atoodfouri.learifs">“Y” HatIhimproerupnoiwetaterosras-clasjerragoliian">rirnear. “thyouiwemud” Hstragrabbelbowglur">“ItnotL…flhim. Ssbabfucdwelrsexpaacceposi” rooihimnsed. They looked at Jack, then at me, wondering what was going on. Sig began to glow beside me, his red eyes visible even through his typical dark sunglasses. I placed a calming hand on his arm. The feeling of intimacy was instantaneous. I was engulfed with a need to protect him. I glared back at Jack.

“In case you haven’t noticed yet, Jack, I’m a witch. I can’t do much to you freaks.”

The soft murmur of laughter broke the tension. Lady Gail beamed at everyone and raised her hands.

“Lord Jon’s vote is the majority. From here on out, servitude of any kind will be compensated. We have several elite circles of willing families who perform all kinds of services for us, but they must and will be paid accordingly.

“This concludes this year’s session. Until we meet again.” She rapped the gavel once, and it was finished.

Sig ushered me out of the ballroom in the blink of an eye. I tried to catch Sasha’s eye, but he was talking to Malachi. Neither of the men faced my
direction long enough for me to get their attention. The demon was prepared for an immediate departure following the closing of business. Our belongings had been packed and stored in his Hummer for hours. We walked out close to three in the morning for a long drive home.

Chapter Thirty-Four
:
Loose Ends and Paperwork

We arrived back at Malachi’s place in Manchac within twenty-four hours. Demons don’t need any sleep it seems. This is where, to my astonishment, I found the not so bloody or bruised young girl Sig had saved petting the still, supine form of Peaches on the floor. She beamed at me worshipfully.

“Thank you so much for keeping me, m’lady,” she said with her hand upon her heart.

I stared at the painfully thin girl with lanky auburn hair falling upon her slightly bruised face. Her hazel eyes gleamed in the lamplight with tears. She didn’t seem a day past fourteen. I cleared my throat.

“We’ll see what to do with you. For now you’ll come with me,” I said. “Sig, you’ve got our agenda for tomorrow?”

“First thing in the morning, we’ll go and see Malachi. He should be back in his offices by then. You need to set up your own establishment in the city as soon as possible. You have your first servant with this one,” he said, pointing towards the young girl who stood mutely at the side eyeing me with such reverence, I was becoming uncomfortable.

“How long will it take for me to settle in?” I asked him since we didn’t broach the subject on the drive back. My bank account had been depleted over the last two weeks, and now I was expected to quit my human job.

“We have all the time in the world. You’ll pack, talk to your parents, and quit your job. After that, we’ll see.”

I went to my bedroom as Michelle, the young lady, who said she didn’t have a name but always fancied that one so we went with the flow, made a steaming mug of hot chocolate for us. Tomorrow was soon enough for me.

*

Malachi was amused to see us early the next day. He said his appointments went well the night before when he met with his people. All witches were to be released from servitude by 3 p.m. EST. The ruling Houses were ready for an influx of people not knowing where to go or what to do with freedom.

The humans who were on the payroll didn’t care much what happened as long as their checks weren’t interrupted. The mafia bankers groaned in protest as their corporations moaned they wouldn’t be able to meet their fiscal demands if they paid more than three dollars a day.

Not surprisingly, the cities with the biggest concentration of alien races were also party central locations. Miami, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Vegas, Chicago, and of course New Orleans, were prime real estate locations for weird and unusual partygoers of dubious moral character. Enforcers were in full force to oversee a smooth transition. The released witches would have two options: remain with the House under a paid contract or take a lump sum of money and have a good time.

The big surprise for me in the morning was the amount of money in my various bank accounts. The House of DeDe had been vacant for nearly a hundred years. Yet Malachi had managed to find bank accounts and properties I was entitled to own. I inherited a city block on Magazine Street equipped with a bar, art gallery, and a vacant house.

There was also restitution paid for the murder of the last DeDe. Malachi skimmed quickly over the legalese, and I quickly forgot the details when he mentioned the astronomical sum Sasha had willingly deposited in an account for me. Sig nudged me when my mouth hung open. The elf had kept every promise he had ever made to me. I was titled, privileged, and wealthier than I could’ve imagined.

“Hot damn, I’m buying me a car,” I said after I was handed my new bankcards, keys and assorted sheets of paperwork.

“Money isn’t everything,” Sig said chidingly.

Right.

Malachi coughed politely as he handed me a final sheet of paper.

“I sent some people to your home to air it out. For the record, you report directly to Sasha, just as I do when in town,” he said with a smile.

“I know,” I said grudgingly.

Sig had showed me the American map. It was one giant jigsaw puzzle and the boundary lines changed every year. I was safely ensconced in New Orleans, the heart of Sasha’s region.

“Keep in mind of which Region you’re in ‘cause that’s what it comes down to.” I nodded at his advice.

Regions. Territories. I had many places to avoid on the map, such as Katie’s North Carolina/Tennessee Region. If I didn’t hate her before, I would after I saw the map. Gatlinburg was a favorite vacation destination for me. I’d be unable to visit now because the bitch ruled the area.

Sig had managed to negotiate with her House on my behalf for our misunderstanding at the convention. I did apologize citing it was my time of the month. I thought he was insane offering her a six-figure settlement, but he said not to worry. I told him the money better not be from Sasha. He snorted. After glancing at the balance in one of my accounts, I had to reevaluate my demon shadow. The man was a genius.

“That’s all I have for you, any questions?” Malachi asked as he placed his pen down and clasped his hands before him. We had been in his office for over two hours, and he never gave any indication he had other appointments.

“Nope, see you tonight?” I asked not sure where we stood now. I didn’t need his help any more but was loathe to lose his company.

“Of course, luv.” He smiled, stood up, and walked us out of the building. I let Sig go get the Hummer as I stood with Malachi waiting. I turned cautiously and tilted my head, my hand firmly on his arm.

“Thanks,” I said with a smile as I tiptoed up to meet his lips with mine. I felt him smile as I dropped my head into his chest, his arms pressing me against him gently. His lips smoothed over my forehead. He stopped, moved an inch away, pecking my lips once more before answering.