AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Inside was a single contact that was dark green, the color of my eyes, inside the pupil was a golden tree in the center and a golden ring. I slipped it on. It was a strange but…a much better improvement than the patch.
They picked out a red and gold gothic Victorian men’s suit. The others stared wide-eyed at me and murmured about the House I belonged to, and I enjoyed listening to their hushed voices transform from mock laughter to jealous scorn.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THORSTEN
Even arriving fashionably late yielded no surprises, no significant missed events. Just the typical affairs between noble houses. Who is joining what house and when, arranging the dreaded mating ceremonies, and which nobles had the most beautiful pets. Taking a shit is more exciting than this place. If I didn’t need to be here, I would be in the comfort of my own home with my mate. Mate, I enjoyed the context behind the word. I have a mate. A stunning mate. Even with the scar that he needlessly tries to hide from me, and even if his hair is no longer a mop. He was still more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen before.
If only he knew the rage lurking deep inside of me, that those who plot against me would be so brazen as to hurt him. I had underestimated the enemy within my house, and my mate suffered for it.
Spies from another house was also not uncommon here. We all had them. I had my own spies in the houses of prominent noble families, and they had theirs in mine.
I wanted to clean house, purge every servant and end Gio, too. If only I and Kal remained, I would be fine. But then everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve would be up in smoke. They would say I’ve gone mad, and Kal and I would have to flee this place, and they would hunt us no matter where we had gone. If only my mate knew what a trapped rat I was too.
For the first week after some piece of shit sabotaged his hair cleaner, he wanted nothing to do with me, and I didn’t have the heart to force him, so I left him in peace. The second week he slept beside me in my bed, saying nothing when he entered my chambers. The third week we made love, but it was a rushed, and ultimately unsatisfying action stopped when I cupped his face, and my finger grazed the small patch of missing hair.
He hated my belief in fate and what it meant for both of us, but every incident only strengthened that belief. I didn’t speak to him about it again. I wanted him to trust himself and me. I wanted to remove all doubts and fears from him. This would be my own burden to carry. And the possibility of this dark fate made me more desperate than ever to seek an alternative.
I wanted to take Kal home with me. We would go directly to my ancestral home, surrounded by my things. And I will gain my own servants and guards. He would be safe and cared for. But ultimately would be confined to my castle. The only other option I had was letting him go, the thought of that tore at my heart.
“Thorsten!” It was Freda, Freda with the perfect deep red bow lips and pale illuminated skin. “Where were you? I thought you would revel in attending one of these balls.”
“I’m thinking about work.”
“Work? How could you? Look at this place!” She gestured to the massive light covered in colorful jewels shining in theimmense white stone and light green draped room like a kaleidoscope. The stone figurines prance around the large bowl in the open garden, pouring the colorful steamy water inside. “There’s a beautiful maze outside made of towering rose bushes where soon to be mated lovers go to steal kisses.” She smiled at me, yet her eyes begged me to join her.
When I didn’t reply, she let my arm go and placed her hands on her hips. Her way of gaining control now was to be bossy. I didn’t hate her for it. It was just her personality, I knew that much, and also, her fixation on me was my fault. I used her, gain access to her friendship, gave her empty promises, and through her, she kept her father at bay while I solidified my own power.
“I haven’t seen you since father gave us the permission to mate.” She scoffed, still feeling the sting of my rejection.
“I’ve been busy.”
“The rumor mill has been abuzz with the news of your thrall since you entered the castle looking like shit. What happened that night by the way?”
“Nothing to concern yourself with, but I thank you for the concern.”
“Ugh, fine, keep it to yourself.” She clicked her teeth. “Your first pet turned out to be a dwarven male, but not a stallion. I’ve always thought you would get a stallion. He’s not from the school, I hear.”
“How do you know he didn’t come from the school?” I asked, teasing her but also curious how this much information has leaked.
“The others don’t know him.”
“Word travels fast,” I said, sipping heated wine. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, it does.” She folded her arms.
“And who will question me? I’m one of the most powerful men in the city.”
“One of the most.”
“Planning to use daddy to force me to give up my new toy?”
“We discard toys all the time. Why would I go through so much trouble over future garbage?” She walked up close and placed her hand on my chest. “But it matters where the toy came from and these particular toys are meant to be graceful and entertain at will.” She sighed and stepped back. “My only concern is us and our mating.”
“We’ll do it soon.”
“You’re the first man I’ve ever wanted to mate. I want to move in and prepare for our children. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
