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“Help me bathe?” I ask, and I watch him focus on me as a soft smile curls up his lips.
“Always, my queen.” Standing, he offers me his hand, and I accept it gratefully, letting him tug me to his side as he leads me to the bathroom where the tub is already full, with rose petals covering the surface. We climb into the bath, and he slides me between his legs. The warmth of the water and the heat of his body make me sigh as I settle back into him.
For a while, we just lie here, holding each other without talking about what is to come tonight. Eventually, though, reality must come back, because with soft, shaking hands, he washes my body, and then I do the same to him. We have to wash my hair four times to get everything out, but once I dry off and wander back into the room with him, I feel better, and the others are waiting there, already dressed for the occasion.
They all wear matching suits, but with their own flair. Nathair wears a red silk shirt under a black jacket, which he left open all the way to his navel, his mark proudly on display. His trousers are tight and practically see-through, and his hair is a curtain over his shoulder. Reve has no shirt, just the unbuttoned jacket, but there’s a red tie hanging from his leather trouser pocket. Conall has his usual boots on and a silk shirt, but no jacket. Zale wears his shirt fully buttoned, but the edges of his sleeves glow red with fire. Osis has fur on the trim of his suit, which frames his beautiful face, and Lycus has red ribbon tied back in his hair, and he’s wearing the suit trousers but no shirt or jacket. As I watch, Azul slips away to get dressed, and I stand taller as they come over to dress me, their hands stroking my skin as they offer comfort.
I relax into them and close my eyes, hunger and desire warring through me, but this is about comfort and connection, nothing more. Once I open my eyes to look in the mirror, I gasp at the dress.
It’s different than before.
It’s a deep blood red with a V-neckline to show off my breasts, and the sleeves hang slightly off my shoulders. The cap sleeves are a silver circle of chain mail with spikes pointing into the air. The material pools behind me, a red fey silk that shifts like the movement of blood. Two slits lead up to my stomach, and when I move, I almost see everything. A small corset enhances my waist, and when blood touches it, it turns the material black. My hair is piled on top of my head in loose curls with some hanging down, and a choker necklace circles my neck to draw the eye to it.
I look beautiful and every inch their equal as they stand at my side, waiting for me to finish my perusal. “I love it,” I murmur, and Nathair grins.
“They won’t know where to look,” he purrs.
“Good, it will be a distraction.” I turn to them, grinning as I run my eyes over their bodies. “You all look incredible, and if I had the time, I would spend my evening showing you just how good you look.”
“Later.” Reve winks, making me grin, but it fades as Azul steps into the room.
He looks amazing. His hair is swept back to show off his incredibly handsome features and the scar on his face. His eyes pierce me as he steps closer, and seeing him in his suit makes me breathless. Pure black encases his incredible body, and the only colour on him is a hint of red in his pocket, showing just enough to mark him as one of us.
He looks good enough to eat, and he knows it. He grins, but it fades as he lifts his hands.
“What’s this?” I ask as he gives me a black collar. It’s gothic and beautiful with spikes around it, but it’s still a collar with a black and gold chain dangling from it.
“For me. You will need a . . . need a slave if you are to get in, so I will be it.” He swallows. “I know how to play the part. I am used to it, and walking in with me will annoy my old mistress and those who wanted me. It will intrigue them, and they will react.”
“No,” I snap. “Never. I will never use you like that.”
“Please,” he croaks. “It will keep me safe too. They cannot touch me unless they wish to anger you. I don’t like the collar much either, but it will be chained to you, and I do like that. I can survive this with you at the other end, Althea, I promise. It will keep me linked to you, and it means I can hide behind you. I cannot be a judge tonight, because I do not feel it, but I can be this. Let me walk in on your chain. Please, mate, please.”
I don’t want to make this harder for him, and no matter how much I hate the idea, I can see the others agree with him. If it will keep him safe, then how could I deny him? They will have to go through me to get to him, and that means I can protect him further, even if I hate that it thrusts him into the spotlight before the very people who hurt, abused, and killed him.
My eyes close before I focus on his once more. “Are you sure?”
He kneels before me, presenting the collar. “I have never been surer of something, Althea, my queen, my mate. Please be my master.”
Swallowing, I take the collar and eye it. It is beautiful, I will give him that, done in all black with spikes facing out as if to dare others to try and taste what is mine. The twisted metal heats in my hand and cracks open.
“It sees you. We linked it to your blood,” Lycus explains.
I nod as I lean down and place it around Azul’s neck, and once it’s in place, it clicks shut. “Is that okay?” I ask.
His eyes close for a moment, and I read the panic on his face, so I kneel and cup his cheek. “Eyes on me,” I whisper, but he’s losing himself in the memories of the last time he wore a collar, and I refuse to let them have him.
He’s mine.
“Eyes on me now,” I snap. His eyes open and his memories screech to a halt as I send my mind into his and slam the door shut on them. “You are mine tonight, not theirs, and you will never be theirs again. You keep your eyes on me at all times, and only me. Only we exist, do you understand me?”
“Yes, my queen,” he murmurs, shivering before he relaxes.
“Good.” I hold him until he nods, fully relaxed, and then I stand, letting the silken chain slide through my hand. “Then let us go.” I look at the others. “Let us go and destroy the court.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
ALTHEA
