Authors: Cheyenne McCray
Shadow Magic (5 page)
It was obvious that no matter how hard they pleaded, Garran wasn't going to budge. Hannah looked at Rhiannon, who nodded.
Hannah leaned forward in her seat, her eyes fixed on Garran's. “What if we were able to offer something to
your
people in return for helping
our
people?”
your
people in return for helping
our
people?”
“Then you would have my interest, as king as well as a father and a man.” Garran drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. “What do you bring to barter?”
Hannah took a deep breath. “The Great Guardian said she will give you something you want for your people in exchange for helping us.”
Garran stopped drumming his fingers. Shock registered along the strong lines of his face, making Hannah wonder what could be so important that it would affect the king so strongly. “The Guardian said this?” he asked, a hard edge to his tone.
Rhiannon wrapped her hand around her tankard again, but didn't take a drink. “The Guardian met us at the transference stone right before we came here.”
Irritation was evident in Garran's expression. “You failed to mention her offer immediately, for what reason?”
Rhiannon sounded like she was talking through gritted teeth. “Because I wanted to know if you would do it out of the goodness of your heart. Apparently you don't have one.”
Garran's look turned thoughtful for a moment as he met his daughter's gaze. He glanced toward Hannah again. “What exactly did the Elvin Guardian say?”
“You'll be given something for aiding us, something your people want.” Hannah swept the lock of blond from her face to join her dark hair. “Conditionally.”
Rhiannon added, “She said you have to go alone to talk to her.”
Garran leaned back in his chair again and stroked his
chin with one hand while his stare seemed to travel somewhere in the distance, as if he didn't see any of them at that moment.
chin with one hand while his stare seemed to travel somewhere in the distance, as if he didn't see any of them at that moment.
Finally, he shifted in his seat and looked to each member of Hannah's group. “I will visit the Guardian to hear what promise she can make me and my people. Then I will make my decision.”
Rhiannon's shoulders relaxed and the tension coiled inside Hannah unwound a little.
“But I have my own condition.” He looked to each person. “One of you will stay with my people and serve as liaison to yours.”
Hannah frowned. “Why?”
“My reasons are my own. That is my condition.” He turned his gaze on Hannah. “One of you will stay here while I talk to the Guardian. And if we go to battle alongside your people, that person will remain with the Drow and at my side during the war. Do you accept?”
It couldn't be Keir or Rhiannonâneither of them should be separated like that. And Eavan ⦠Hannah glanced at him. Definitely not the liaison type.
Yes,
she
needed to do what was necessary to help out an entire city, if not an entire world.
she
needed to do what was necessary to help out an entire city, if not an entire world.
“I'll do it,” she said before anyone else could respond. “I'm the best woman for the job.”
A pleased smile crept over Garran's features even as Eavan growled, “I forbid it. I will stay.”
Hannah swung her gaze to Eavan, fury burning her insides. “Do not
ever
think you can tell me what I can or can't do. I will stay and that is absolutely final.”
ever
think you can tell me what I can or can't do. I will stay and that is absolutely final.”
Eavan opened his mouth to say something but she let her expression speak louder than her words. “You do
not
want to argue with me.”
not
want to argue with me.”
She cut her gaze back to Garran. “I have my own condition.” The coiled tension in Hannah's belly magnified and she had to force her hands to relax on the tabletop. “
No one
is to attempt to use
any
Drow magic on me.”
No one
is to attempt to use
any
Drow magic on me.”
A slight smile curved the corner of Garran's mouth. “Done.”
“No godsdamn way,” Eavan said as he stood. His chair almost toppled, but Hannah caught it with a quick tug using a rope of her magic.
“Sit, Eavan.” Hannah's glare met Eavan's as he shot his gaze toward hers. “I made the choice. If it's the only way we're going to get the help we need, then I'll do it.”
“Then I will stay, too.” Eavan made a low growling noise in his throat, his expression thunderous as he scowled.
Garran's voice was firm. “Not more than one of your delegation.”
“It will be me.” Hannah looked at Garran who was once again casually relaxed in his chair with a hint of humor in his smile.
When Hannah glanced at Rhiannon, she saw that Rhiannon's lips were parted and she was staring at Garran.
“You should all go back now.” Hannah pushed her chair from the table. “You have a lot of work to do if we're going to fight Ceithlenn in San Francisco.” She caught Garran's eye as he got to his feet. “And we have a lot to do here to make it happen.”
If eyes could literally twinkle, Garran's did.
Eavan grumbled a lot more and Rhiannon scowled, while Keir had the same dark expression that he always did.
Except when he gazed at Rhiannon. When Keir looked at Rhiannon, it was like the whole world revolved around her and as if she were something treasured and precious to him.
Sometimes Hannah wondered what it would be like to have a man look at her like that.
Right
. She shook her hair back as they reached the stairs. After all the men who had run through her mother's fingers like water, and had taken all they could from her, Hannah didn't believe very strongly in solid, real, loving relationships. She had seen four of her sister D'Anu witches find men who seemed to fit the bill, but she knew it was different for them. She was Selena Wentworth's daughter.
She
was different.
. She shook her hair back as they reached the stairs. After all the men who had run through her mother's fingers like water, and had taken all they could from her, Hannah didn't believe very strongly in solid, real, loving relationships. She had seen four of her sister D'Anu witches find men who seemed to fit the bill, but she knew it was different for them. She was Selena Wentworth's daughter.
She
was different.
Hannah's muscles tensed as she spoke to Rhiannon. “I need you to watch over Banshee while I'm gone. Take him to San Francisco when you go back. Please.”
Rhiannon looked surprised and paused a moment before she said, “No problem. I'll make sure he's taken care of.”
A feeling of relief mingled with sadness flowed through Hannah. She hadn't been parted from Banshee since he had first come to her. Not like thisâfor who knew how long. “Thank you,” Hannah said before she took a step back.
“Are you certain?” Eavan's expression softened and his eyes appeared concerned when he turned to Hannah. A part of her felt touched that he was worried about her.
“Of course.” She forced a smile. “I'm always confident in my choices.”
Sure you are,
her mind whispered, and she mentally slapped it down.
her mind whispered, and she mentally slapped it down.
Eavan gave a single nod before stepping onto the stairs that eventually led up into the sunlight.
“I will see you soon, daughter,” Garran said when Rhiannon glanced at him.
She studied him for a long moment before she went up the stairs behind Eavan.
Keir did that old handshake with Garran before following Rhiannon.
Keep cool
.
.
Hannah resisted fidgeting and tugging down on her leather shirt. “Are you going to see the Great Guardian now?”
His silvery-blue hair shimmered in the low lighting when he shook his head. “When it is dark, sweet one.”
“Excuse me?” Hannah folded her arms across her chest. “My name is
Hannah
.”
Hannah
.”
Sweet one, my
â
â
Garran looked like he wanted to laugh. “Come. Let me show you our realm. If you are to serve as liaison, then you must know and understand my people, at least at a basic level.”
RICH SCENTS OF EARTH and minerals swirled in the cool air brushing Hannah's skin as she walked beside the king. She gripped the strap of her pack tight before releasing some of the tension coiled inside her and letting her hand fall away.
They strode across the great round hall with numerous doors around its circumference. Her shoes made soft sounds against the marble, but Garran was as silent as the D' Danann.
Despite the fact that his skin was a bluish-gray, the man was gorgeous. It would have been impossible not to appreciate the litheness of his movements, his graceâand power. Power in every flex of his muscles, in the way he held his head, in his very presence. He was a king in every sense of the word.
Garran paused and gestured to the excellent carvings on the walls. “Some of our finest craftsmen created these grand works of art.”
The carvings were mostly of male warriors in battle. Then heat burned Hannah's skin as she slowly looked around the enormous circular hall. Were women kneeling to the men in some of the artwork?
Oh, my goddess.
Most of the Drow women even wore collars.
Oh, my goddess.
Most of the Drow women even wore collars.
Hannah's gaze snapped to Garran's. Heat flared her body and she clenched her hands at her sides. “Don't you dare tell me”âshe pointed to the carvingsâ“that Dark Elves treat women as subservient?”
Garran raised an eyebrow. “It is our lifestyle.”
“Oh, no.” She shook her head as she ground her teeth. “You
cannot
make me believe female Drow enjoy being treated like that.”
cannot
make me believe female Drow enjoy being treated like that.”
His shrug was casual. “They would have it no other way.”
Hannah considered decking him. Or better yet, using her magic to make
him
a collarâand a leash. “You probably don't give them a choice.”
him
a collarâand a leash. “You probably don't give them a choice.”
“Certainly we do.” He tried taking her by the elbow and guiding her to a door, but she jerked away from his touch. “However, it is a rare thing for a woman to choose not to serve a Master.”
A Master?
The thought of Garran on the floor with the magical collar and rope was looking better and better.
He swept his arm out in front of him, indicating they should go through a large arched doorway that spun off from the great hall. “You will see.”
Her lips tight with anger, Hannah walked beside Garran as they entered an underground city. For the moment awe replaced her anger.
Stalactites spotted with glowing lichen projected down from the great cavern. The entire ceiling sparkled and more lichen caused a blue glow to give a soft light to the city.
Homes clung to rock outcroppings and footpaths wended their way around the cavern walls. Most of the city was spread out across the smooth, obviously well-worn floor of the cavern. Narrow streets wound from one building to the next. It reminded her of the D'Danann village, yet not.
Wonderful aromas spilled from shops that sold bread and other bakery goods, including what smelled like coffeecake. Hannah's mouth watered even though she was still full from dinner.
All she saw were males who gave low nods to Garran as she and Garran passed them. In turn he inclined his head and greeted each person by name. The respect in their gazes and
voices, and the way they responded to him with their gestures and expressions, told her how well they thought of their king.
voices, and the way they responded to him with their gestures and expressions, told her how well they thought of their king.
Where are the women?
As they strolledâGarran acknowledging every male they walked byâthey came across a butcher shop, a place that offered leather goods, as well as a smithy that made the breast and shoulder plates most of the warriors wore. It seemed everything one could think of could be found in this underground city.
Except a Starbucks
.
.
She shook her head. First thing she was going to do when life returned to “normal” in San Francisco would be to buy one of those Frappuccinos she'd been craving.
Her gaze riveted on a glittering blanket of gems ahead in a windowless display. Goddess, a fortune in jewelry was spread out. Diamonds the size of eggs, rubies as big as a fist.
Gem-encrusted leather collars?
Hannah's head snapped up. She brushed her crescent and moon armband with her fingers before dropping her hand to her side as she caught sight of a few women on the path in the direction she and Garran had been heading.
The women were so scantily clad they might as well have been wearing nothing. Practically sheer tops were so short they exposed the roundness of the underside of the women's breasts and the filmy material hardly covered their nipples. They also wore short gauzy skirts that hardly reached the bottoms of their ass cheeks.
Most of the women wore collars.
Collars,
for Anu's sake! Like dogs or other animals, they wore collars and
served a Master
.
for Anu's sake! Like dogs or other animals, they wore collars and
served a Master
.
Heat filled her as she watched the women. Their skin was smooth and supple in the cavern's soft lighting, their curves in all the right placesâtheir bodies virtually perfect.
A couple of the women whispered to each other when they saw their king with Hannah and they bowed to him almost
shyly. But otherwise the women smiled, talked, and laughed among themselves. Despite the fact they wore collars, they appeared ⦠happy.
shyly. But otherwise the women smiled, talked, and laughed among themselves. Despite the fact they wore collars, they appeared ⦠happy.
“Explain to me,” Hannah said through gritted teeth, “why these women allow themselves to be collared and why they are practically naked. Are they sex slaves or something?”
“The collar means a woman belongs to a Master.” Garran came up short and they stopped in front of the jewelry store as he glanced down at Hannah. His expression softened. “Sex is important to any consenting adult relationship, but our way of life is not âall about sex' as you would say.”
Hannah braced her hands on her hips as she glared up at him. He was so damned tall she had to tilt her head. “Then what is it about?”
“Come.” He touched his hand on her elbow. “We will talk.”
One thing Hannah
never
did was cause a scene in public. She clamped her jaws shut as she realized that was what she'd just about done. She blanked her expression and held her carriage high as she usually did.
never
did was cause a scene in public. She clamped her jaws shut as she realized that was what she'd just about done. She blanked her expression and held her carriage high as she usually did.
Garran guided her past a fish market, the scents reminding her of home and the wind off the bay, calling up memories of her old life and a twinge in her belly. They strolled beyond the market to a display of wooden figurines and children's toys. Then the smells of fresh fish and wood drifted away as they continued on to what appeared to be a park.
Children wearing rough-spun tunics and pants laughed and played on the flat, moss-covered rocky area filled with boulders and stone statues. Hannah couldn't help a smile as she and Garran stopped outside the park and watched the children racing, kicking black leather balls, climbing boulders, or sitting cross-legged on the mossy ground playing with toys. They had wooden dolls and figures including something that looked like the ugliest troll she could imagine. Some of the male dolls were dressed like warriors wearing breastplates and leather chest straps, and even leather pants. The female dolls tended to have iridescent clothing that shimmered in the blue lichen lighting.
Barbie and G.I. Joe had nothing on these dolls.
Hannah touched one of the smooth boulders surrounding the park. “I never thought about Elves having children.”
When she glanced up at Garran, he wore an amused expression. “Did you think we are created from stone?”
“Actually, I had been wondering if
you
were.” She turned her attention back to the park. Several women were dressed in a little more clothing than the ladies Hannah had seen in the village, but they still wore collars. They sat on rock benches at various places around the area, many talking as their children played.
you
were.” She turned her attention back to the park. Several women were dressed in a little more clothing than the ladies Hannah had seen in the village, but they still wore collars. They sat on rock benches at various places around the area, many talking as their children played.
A pinging sensation bounced around in Hannah's heart. The mothers looked so happy, as did the children. Hannah hadn't had the kind of childhood where she was allowed to play with other children. She'd been sheltered, watched by a nanny, then sent to boarding schools where fraternization was discouraged.
One of the children threw a baseball-sized black leather ball that overshot the kid he'd been throwing the ball to. It rushed straight for Hannah. Garran snapped his hand up and caught the ball before it would have slammed into her face.
Relief whooshed through her. That would have hurt like hell.
A young boy dressed in a royal-blue tunic and pants trotted toward them with a chagrined expression. “IâI didn't mean toâ”
Garran squatted so he was eye level with the boy and handed him the ball. “You have great strength, Jalen.” The boy clutched the ball to his chest and looked at Garran with wide blue eyes. Garran placed his hand on the boy's left arm. “Continue your practice, most especially your control. One day you will make a fine warrior.”
Jalen nodded hard enough that his blue hair fell into his eyes. “Yes, my lord.”
Garran eased to his feet and gestured to the park. “Enjoy your game of
carta
.”
carta
.”
The boy nodded again before whirling and bolting to
where other boys and girls had stopped playing and were staring at Garran. Some waved and gave shy smiles and Garran acknowledged them with a slight incline of his head.
where other boys and girls had stopped playing and were staring at Garran. Some waved and gave shy smiles and Garran acknowledged them with a slight incline of his head.
It was odd seeing Garran as more than a king and a warrior. A strange whirling gripped her insides and she had no idea why.
She let her gaze drift from Garran to the boys and girls. “They're beautiful.”
“Children among Dark Elves are rare,” he said softly, with what sounded like a touch of longing, and she moved her gaze toward him. “They are much treasured.”
The distant look in his eyes surprised her for a moment before she realized he was probably thinking of his own daughter, Rhiannon, who had been raised among humans and kept far from himâin San Francisco. A part of Hannah melted and it took a lot of effort to make herself return to the subject that still bothered her.
“You haven't explained this whole Master/slave thing,” she said, and his attention cut to her.
“Our women are not slaves.” His words had a hard edge to them and he had an even harder look in his eyes. “It is an exchange of power, protection, and pleasure if you will.”
Hannah frowned. “I'm not following you.”
Garran folded his arms and leaned his hip against one of the larger boulders. “Our men are far stronger physically than our women. They rely on us for protection and to provide for them.”
She crossed her own arms beneath her breasts and her frown turned into a scowl. “So the males make them walk around with hardly anything on, wearing collars, and calling them
Master
?”
Master
?”
“In turn,” Garran continued as his gaze held hers, “the woman holds the power to give the man pleasure.”
Her cheeks heated as her anger rose. “So this
is
all about sex.”
is
all about sex.”
He shook his head, his silvery-blue hair shimmering in the soft glow given off by the lichen above. “A Drow female
who serves a Master has the power to please him in all aspects of his life. Family, home, and yes, sex.”
who serves a Master has the power to please him in all aspects of his life. Family, home, and yes, sex.”
Hannah huffed out her breath. “I don't get it.”
Garran took her by the elbow again. They walked along a path and she tried to calm down about the whole woman-serving-a-man thing.
Barbaric
.
Barbaric
.
He came to a stop in front of another jeweler's display. He glanced at one of the gem-studded collars then turned his gaze on her. “Wouldn't you enjoy belonging to someone, Hannah Wentworth?”
Belong to someone? Having a Master?
More heat flushed over her and her whole body tensed. “I want to talk to you,” she said, nearly grinding her teeth as she spoke. “In private.”
More heat flushed over her and her whole body tensed. “I want to talk to you,” she said, nearly grinding her teeth as she spoke. “In private.”
He winked and smiled, and she thought again about using her magic as a rope and collar.
As the heat in her body ramped up even more, she and Garran walked from the city through a honeycomb of passageways. They entered a dim hallway where arches opened in various directions, and he led her through one of the arches. The whole time they walked, Hannah's temper mounted.
They eventually reached the end of a short hall that led to a door on the right. The sound of rushing water met Hannah's ears as he drew her into a chamber.
A bedroomâlikely his. In the far corner, water tumbled from a high rock, spilling into a pool the size of a sauna. Tapestries of Drow warriors in battle draped the walls. Rugs lay scattered on the floor in the same rich colors as the tapestries. On one wall hung swords, a quiver of arrows, and a bow, along with other weapons. All would be incredibly expensive in her world. The metals and gems glittered in the soft blue lighting shining from lichen on the ceiling over their heads.
A huge bed that looked as if it had been carved from an enormous round stone commanded the center of the room. “You sleep in a rock?” she muttered. “I shouldn't be surprised.”
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