“Yesactually, would you be able to bring me a sleeping potion?”Thedarkness called out to me like an old friend.Ithad been sinceI’dleft home.Ino longer had the strength to deny it.Ineeded to sleep with no dreams, no thoughts, just for a little bit.
Theboy was well trained, because his face showed no emotion as he reacted, “Iwould be happy to, but please know all the servants have been instructed to never bring you more than a half dose at a time, andImust watch you take the potion.”Ibreathed deeply.Thiswas a logical policy for a captive.Itdidn’t mean anything.Itdidn’t.
Inodded and the boy walked away.Itook the tray of food and package into my room.Inibbled at the edge of the rustic bread and ignored the rest, staring at the package like it might combust any second.Itook a few more steadying breaths and slipped the note out from beneath the deep green ribbon.
Ihave provided you with more appropriate attire for wandering the castle late at night.Shouldyou need assistance again, wear this.
~YourKing
Appropriateattire was certainly a stretch of the imagination.Infact, it took me a few moments to even identify the small lace garments located in all the silk padding of the box.Thebrassiere was exquisite, the black and emerald lace twined in delicate patterns that almost mimicked scales, completely translucent and hand-woven.Theunderwear—ifIcould call them that—had a small triangle of the same fabric in the front, but it disappeared into a thin ribbon that traveled up that back, meeting with the tiniest triangle of the fabric again that would rest just above the curve of my ass.Aset of garters made with black silk straps completed the look.
Whywas it that everything this man did had me feeling like a fumbling youngling again?
Iset the gift down and curled up on my couch, knees tucked into my chest.Howlong hadIyearned to be more than the disappointing spare?I’dlonged to live outside the life my father, my entire kingdom had prescribed for me.AndhereIwas, a princess in a foreign court, free of whatIthought had been holding me back, and stillIhad done nothing.Howcomfortable the gilded cageIgrew up in had become beforeIever entered this ebony one.
Tearsflowed now, andIdidn’t attempt to stop them.Theywere silent, andIdidn’t sob, but still, they came asIstared into the fire, willing it to burn me away.Icried, and all my thoughts came rushing back.Icried for my brother, trapped with a monster;Icried for my mother, dead on the floor.Ieven cried forLylewho had never had any real affection for me, but had given me the comfortIneeded at the time.Nowhe was dead too, buried with so many others under the rubble of my home.Andmostly,Icried at the pathetic creatureIhad become, immobilized and weak.
Aknock came at my door again.Theyoung human boy truly was a marvel in his stoicism, as he handed me the requested potion, a small vial half-filled with a milky liquid.Henodded, ignoring my tears, asIswallowed the half dose.Hecollected the bottle from me and wished me a pleasant sleep.Notpleasant dreams, for no one ever dreamed under a sleeping potion, thank the gods.
Iturned and immediately threw myself on my bed, letting the sweet shadows of the potion curl around me, and drag me under into a sleep like death.
Chapter38
Tori
Iawoke to the light of the full moon shining through my window.Igroggily raised my head, and the clock above my hearth marked the time as half past midnight.Itseemed a half dose of potion wouldn’tkeep me asleep all night.Butnow thatIhad opened my eyes,Iheard the voice calling.Wakeup,Tori!Thewaves of my mind no longer roiled, and the sweet darkness of the potion still clung to it, calling to me.Icraved the safety of it, even though my mind knew it was an illusion.Itwas like a still lake on a summer day, placid and beautiful, but beneath the depths held dangers of unknowablemonsters.WakeUp!Iforced myself out of bed and to my fire, letting it burn the darkness out of me.Iwent to grab a book to pass the hours when my resolution solidified.
Iwould not be passive any longer.WhileIhad not entered into the situation with this intention, an opportunity had presented itself to me.Anopportunity to shift the balance of power.AndifIhad a little fun in the process, no harm in that right?
Isnatched up the negligible undergarments from my couch.Iran to my bathroom and washed myself under the waterfall that came from the ceiling.Imoved to the collection of scented soaps and decided on one that smelled of pine and musk.Nothingtoo flowery tonight.Iwas not going to be delicate.
Itoweled off, and pulled the tiny lace pieces on, then strapped some stockings into the garter.Iadmired myself in the mirror.Mydark slate eyes were fierce.Ipracticed softening them, but not too much.ThenIthrew on a smirk and struck a pose, chest lifted and hips back to really accentuate the curvesIhad.Itlooked slightly ridiculous to me, butIhad no doubts it would have the desired effect.Ithrew on my robe and was out the door.
AsIwalked to the king’s room,Ilet the memories of the previous night come back to me.Hisfinger along with mine pulsing inside me, his tongue dragging over my core, his head between my thighs.Theheat curled in my belly, andIfelt wetness already soaking through the tiny pieces of my undergarments.Perhapsit wasn’t right to allow myself to feel this level of arousal for the manIwas trying to manipulate, but it certainly made things easy that my body was clearly drawn to him.Notjust your body,the voice in my head said, butIshoved it down.
Ireached his door and knocked.Muchquicker than last time, theDragonKingopened his door. “My, what would bring you to my door at this hour, little bird?”Ifelt him trying to see whatIwore under my robe, butIheld it closed tight.Heinhaled deeply and flames came to his eyes asIwas sure he had smelled my arousal.Perfect. “Doyou need my assistance again tonight?”
Itook one steadying breath and pulled on the persona of someone much more confident thanIfelt. “Nottonight,MyKing,”Iechoed his signature on my note, and gently grabbed the front of his robe, leaning my body into his, “Ihad something a little different in mind.”Hiseyes darkened, andIleaned more heavily into him, using my weight to shift him back into his room.Hestepped back, letting the door close behind us.Fora momentIlet my eyes dart around, making a plan, until they locked on the wingback chair near his hearth.Itwasn’t a throne, but close enough.Awicked smile crossed my lips, asItwisted around, still holding on to his robe, now using it to pull him towards the chair.
“Itseems you were so generous with me;Iwas hoping thatIcould give you a gift in thanks.”Ipushed him gently so that the backs of his knees hit the chair, and he gently sat.Istepped back, placing myself between him and the fireplace, and with no small flourish, let my robe drop to the floor.
Hiseyes swept over my body, locking on the gift he had provided.Hislips curled, “Itseems you can comply with my requests on occasion.”
Iheld the snarky replyIwanted to say back, and insteadIallowed my hips to push out, and turned slowly untilIwas on full display for him, andIheard him growl behind me.Iturned to see the face of a man who was starving, and an elaborate feast had just been placed before him. “Youdon’t know what you do to me, little bird.”Hemoved to rise from his chair, butIdropped to my knees, and he froze.
“Oh,IthinkIhave some idea.”
Icrawled to him then, just two paces, but his eyes had become pitch black. “Careful,Tori.”
“Orwhat,Abraxas?”Ihit with my most innocent look, while running my hands up his thighs, towards the hardnessIcould already see bulging under his robes.Hishands snapped to mine, stopping me.
“Or,” he leaned down, his long hair wrapping around my face, “Iwon’t stop until that delicious cunt of yours is wrapped around my cock.”Mycore throbbed with need at his filthy words, andIcould feel the heat rising to my cheeks, butIhad a plan.
“Butthat’s not your present tonight,”Istuck my lip out to emphasize the pout in my voice.
Islid my hands from his grip, and moved them up, opening his robe.Beneathhe wore similar silk shorts to the night before.Itraced my fingers under the edge of those shorts and felt him lift his hips ever so slightly.Hiscue, his consent asIslid them down and off, revealing him.Itwas ridiculous to think, but gods he was beautiful.Fullyhard, his cock curved up ever so slightly at the head, andIcouldn’t help but reach out and feel the velvet-soft skin there.
“Tori…”Iwasn’t sure if it was a warning or a plea, butItook the hand gripping him and slid down towards his hips, giving a twist asIdid. “Fuck…” his head fell back on the chair, and his eyes rolled closed, and gods,Idid feel powerful.Ipulled up and pushed back down, tightening my grip ever so slightly, and drank in the moans he made.Seeinghim come undone like this, being in my control?Yes,Icould get used to this.ButIhad more planned.
