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“What?” I ask, but I already know what. She thinks of me as a monster, a despicable creature not worth the blood I spill in battle. I turn away so she can’t see the hurt I feel.
“Why did you do that? He was sorry.”
My mother did not take this kind of insolence, either. With my back to her, she cannot see what I am thinking and feeling. The pain this causes me every time I yell or scream at a zagfer, exercise my will over a servant, or slay an enemy in battle, is not something that can be shared with the world.
It is a weakness. My greatest shame.
I turn to her with a look of pure ice. “If you don’t shut up, you’ll be sorry too.”
She recoils as though I struck her with my hand. If I was my mother, then I would have, but I refuse to do that. I saved her and she is mine now. Why would I treat my things that badly? Why would I save something just to destroy it?
As much as I want her to be obedient, I find that physically beating the obedience into someone does not make them loyal. You have to give them someone to believe in. This is what I will do for her.
“Go to your room and change,” I say. I nod towards her dress. “Your clothes are laid out for you in your room. You will find them much finer than anything I’ve seen you in.” I turn to the guards. “Take care of my property.”
I stalk off towards my bedroom, leaving her to be taken away by the guards. I need her out of my sight. Whatever possessed me to not only buy her but find her beautiful quells the farther I walk from her.
My mother’s voice sounds in my head.Love is a distraction. Affection is a distraction. These things make you weak. You will never be king until you let go of your weaknesses.
When I reach my office, I have put all thoughts of the girl, Diane, out of my mind. So what if she is the most beautiful human I have ever laid eyes on? Whatever I feel for her must be squashed before it becomes a problem.
Inside the office, my things are lined up in neat rows along my desk, just how I like them. Everything needs to be in order, because without it, there is only chaos. My mind whirls at the thought of leaving anything but perfect. I touch each one with care before taking a seat.
My butler raps on the door with his knuckles. A strong and smart man, Darius has served my family since my mother ascended to duchess. He has never let me down, and I can trust him with my life.
“Sir,” he says, to announce his presence.
“The girl. She’s staying with me, here in the mansion, at least until I tire of her. I will be done with her after.”
“Of course, sir.” Darius bows his head once. “And what shall I do with her in the meantime?”
I chew on my lip, a habit that not even my mother could beat out of me. “Prepare dinner for us. I’ll meet her in the dining hall. That’s all.”
Darius bows his head again and leaves me alone with my thoughts. Most of them are consumed by Diane. Her bare skin and blue eyes are like nothing I’ve seen on the humans around here, or even the elves. Tattoos are necessary to show allegiance and she has none.
She interests me like no other woman I’ve ever met. But why? Why her? Yes, she is beautiful, but that can’t be all.
I shake my head. I cannot keep thinking about her like this. She will be out of my life in a few days, three at most. Then I will never have to see her beautiful face, soft lips, or rosy complexion again.
Fuck. My anger rises at the thought of it. Once she is gone, I will never see her again. Most likely she will be killed once she pisses off an elf much worse than I. Why is that a bad thing? My mother’s words simmer under the surface of everything I do, and they plague me now.
She’s notthatbeautiful. Is she? Fuck, my thoughts are all over the place.
I stand from my desk so forcefully it knocks several papers to the floor. Stopping to pick them up would take too much time, so I continue on. My gait as I move through the mansion’s halls is quick and merciless. Servants flee from my path, showing deference to their lord.
When I make it to the dining hall, the sight there almost knocks me over.
Diane. She’s dressed in the finest silks my patronage has to offer, her hair twisted up and adorned with flowers, and clean of all grime. Her scent wafts to me from 20 paces, flowery, soft, delicate. Her eyes are big and beautiful in the light from the sun streaming in through the windows.
She looks beautiful.
I cannot let her see me like this. I cannot show weakness. I cannot stop staring at her, but it is not for the reasons she probably thinks.
I stop when I realize where she is.
“Who let you sit at the table?” I gain my bearings by asserting my dominance. “I didn’t say you could sit there.”
“I’m sorry?” The quizzical note in her voice is soft and trembles slightly. Good. She should be afraid of me.
