“I’m nineteen.”
“Are you in college?”
She shook her head. “Ihateschool. Queen Sophia put me in classes, so I could learn enough to maybe decide I want to be free, but I detested them. Eventually, Her Majesty let me take online courses instead of making me go to school.”
Kendra stepped into the room and leaned against the wall. “Arabella was given a choice. She could study hard, earn her GED, and go to college or a trade school — or she could live herlife in servitude. She feels as if she was born to serve others. She took a few college remedial classes so she could test well enough to go to butler school. She didn’t graduate as a butler, but as a house manager without financial skills, meaning she can’t pay the bills or handle funds. She can, however, make sure the house is spotless and everyone is fed, which includes handling the shopping and arranging the scheduling when a flock is involved. Basically, she can handle everything not involving math, though she’s okay with the basic arithmetic needed to shop and manage a calendar.”
Kendra looked at Arabella a second before continuing. “Aaron and Sophia sent her to Abbott a few weeks before all hell broke loose, to run the house on the mountain since Spence has taken on so many other duties. By a stroke of luck, she wasn’t home when the house was destroyed. She was questioned extensively to be certainlucktook her out of the house, and we’re sorry about that. She’s forgiven Abbott and his people, but to be honest, she might be happier moving to another situation.”
If Abbott thought she was compromised, then likely either he or one of his top people had delved into the depths of her mind, forcing themselves past barriers to see any hidden thoughts or memories. I’d seen it done to others and I couldn’t stand the thoughts of them having to do it to Arabella. How had I become so protective of her, so fast?
Gwen rubbed Arabella’s back. “If Abbott wants her back, it’ll be easy enough to make happen. We all belong to him, so having her belong to us isn’t the end of the world, for now.”
Right. It meant we weren’t in as much danger of angering the Swan Queen. This was just Abbott moving her to another situation, and not us stealing her from Queen Sophia. Maybe.
Kendra gave us an odd look. “If we manage to win this blasted war, I have a feeling you’ve just taken on a swanpermanently. For now, enjoy each other. There may not be a tomorrow.”
Abbott had long ago told me that if Kendra gives me an order or a specific permission, it’s the same as Abbott doing so. He’d told me she knows when she can speak for him, and if something is outside of her ability to allow, she’d be honest about it. This sounded like one of those cases, but she was giving ustemporarypermission, until we could hear from Abbott. Or perhaps until the Swan Queen could weigh in.
I took the comb from Arabella and worked it through her wet hair. I’d had classes in how to serve. I could help a woman with her hair.
“If you’re mine, even for a short time,” I told her, “this means I’m yours as well. It means we take care of each other. It might mean I’m harsh at times, but it’ll also mean I’m gentle with you, when you need it.”
She met my gaze in the mirror. “Kendra didn’t tell you I was also trained as a sex toy. Queen Sophia tried to stop me from signing up for it, but her husband told her she shouldn’t go against my wishes. In the end, I was allowed to take the twelve-week course. It was hell. I’m glad I went through it, but I’m also glad it’s over. Still, it means I can handle it when you’re harsh, Sir.”
My cock pulsed, and I focused on quieting it. I’d been through sex slave training twice — once shortly after hitting puberty, and then once again about five or six years later, when it was deemed I needed a refresher after bodyguard training. I assumed sex toy training was probably similar. I’d have to ask Spence.
Kendra’s voice sounded in my head.In some ways, sex toy training is harsher than sex slave training, though in most ways, the slave training is harsher. It’s similar physically, but the psychological aspects have to be handled differently. Thetoy can leave. It’s true they can’t leave during a scene, but between scenes, they can resign their position. Their training is more about figuring out why they need this, why being treated as a toy is a positive for them, and not a negative. A slave’s training is more about breaking them so they don’t question the way they’re treated.
Thank you. This answered most of what I needed to know.
I’m not sure it did, but her story isn’t mine to share. She should tell you.
I wanted to hold the little swan and comfort her, but then I’d have to explain why. I’d been working the comb through Arabella’s long blonde hair, and there were only a few snarls left to comb out. I managed them without hurting her, and met her gaze in the mirror again. “Do you leave it down to dry, or do you put it up?”
She smiled. “I’ll put it in a messy bun to dry.”
“How long have you been with Master Abbott?” Kendra had said the little swan had been with him a few weeks, but what I really wanted to know was how much he depended on her. How expendable she was. He’d sent her here, where some of his most important people were — was that because of his relationship with the Swan Queen and Dragon King, or because he couldn’t do without her services? I wasn’t sure how to ask that, so I asked a question I thought might give me some of that answer.
“I’d only been given to him a couple of weeks when the house on the mountain was destroyed. I feel sadness for those who died, but not intense grief, since I hadn’t known them long. He’s fed from me frequently, since then. Without much of a flock left, those left come up on the schedule more often. Also, I was the only surviving bird species, and he tries to balance his diet. Several cats were away from the house, at a party for a mutual friend.”
“Givento him?”
“It’s complicated. If I wanted to walk away, I could. I can’t explain more without Her Majesty’s permission.”
Kendra filled in some blanks for me, but aloud this time, so Arabella heard. “Queen Sophia released her father’s slaves when she became Queen. Some of them couldn’t be turned loose as free people. I believe you’re aware of why this is? I’m not saying Arabella falls into this category. I’m merely telling you that some of the former slaves can’t be treated as traditional free people.”
I looked at Arabella a few moments, debating. I didn’t like to talk about my former life, but from what Kendra had just said, the little swan should probably know at least the basics. I finally told her, “I was raised a slave. Taken from foster care and turned into a wolf. Abbott became my Master when he killed the Master of Maryland. I’m no longer a slave, and yet I’m not fully a freeperson. It’s complicated.”
Her smile told me we were, indeed, kindred spirits. I didn’t know her full backstory, but it sounded like she was a slave child who was now finding her way as an adult.
It didn’t sound as if she’d gone through sex slave training, but no doubt, she’d been raped as a small child, the same as I’d been. Once every two or three months — infrequently enough it wasn’t a regular occurrence, and thus our reactions were fresh each time.
“I accept the gift of you,” I told her, “and I see it as that — a treasured gift. I look forward to hearing your story. I’m certain Abbott and Sophia will make the right decisions, once the war is over and they can focus on the least of us.”
Kendra stepped to me and met my gaze. “Neither of you are the least of us. We value your contributions to the coterie. You feed two of our most valuable vampires, but more than that, you are loved by them. Arabella feeds our Master. She provides sustenance, and a gateway to the birds among us. She manages his flock, and works with the cook to be sure everyone’s dietaryneeds are met, so they can nourish the Master.” She looked to Arabella and back to me. “You arenotthe least of us.”
Kieran spoke in my head.You need to imprint on the swan, if she’s to be yours. Walk her into the bathroom and either take her ass or her throat. Come in her, and then pull out enough to get some on her you can rub into her skin, so she’ll smell like you. It’s important.
