Chapter 19
Dinner was a formal, lavish affair. Soft candlelight filled the room as course after course was served to them by men wearing nothing but stiff white tuxedo collars and cuffs. None of the other guests blinked twice at having a penis hovering next to them while being served a dish, but Addison pushed her food around the plate looking for any stray hairs before eating.
When the first course was removed, Graham leaned over and whispered, “I hope spotted dick isn’t on the menu.”
He said that right as she had taken a sip of wine that went straight up her nose. It was that or spew it at Connie, sitting across the table from her.
Devon handed her a napkin from his position behind her chair. Some of the submissives knelt at their Dommes’ sides, while others stood behind the chairs like Devon did. They ate standing up. Addison didn’t like it, but the seating had been assigned, and there were no seats available for any of the subs. Graham was the only man seated at the long table since he was Paige’s “stylist.”
The conversation wasn’t any different than the few dinner parties Addison had attended. They discussed politics, world events, and Paige and the woman beside her got into a heated debate about college football teams.
It was all so normal. As long as she ignored the woman next to her getting eaten out. Addison vacillated between turned on and awkwardly mortified.
Devon leaned close and whispered, “Are you going to ask for what she’s having?”
She had to press her lips together to keep from laughing and she shooed Devon away from her ear.
“Tsarevna,” a woman called from the far end of the table. “I have a question about tomorrow’s activities.”
The level of the conversation lowered as everyone turned their attention to their hostess.
“Of course, Lydia. What would you like to know?”
“How did you obtain the merchandise?”
Addison clenched her fist around the knife in her hand so hard one of her knuckles cracked. Graham rested his hand on hers and pushed it against the table until she released the knife, then held her hand in his.
Tsarevna sipped her wine. “I don’t see why it’s important, but if you must know, they came to me through a middleman.”
“But they’re here willingly?” Lydia asked.
“Well, they haven’t voiced any objections.” Tsarevna offered that patronizing smile of hers.
Addison wanted nothing more than to punch that stupid woman in the face.
“Are they capable of voicing an objection should they have any?” Lydia asked.
Maybe not all the women here were as blasé about auctioning off unwilling human beings as they appeared.
Tsarevna remained silent, lifting her chin a fraction and staring down her nose.
Lydia set down her silverware and wiped her mouth with her napkin. Setting the napkin next to her plate, she stood. “I’m afraid something has come up. A pressing matter I must see to immediately and I’ll need to leave tonight. I would appreciate if you arranged for the boat to take me to Odesa in an hour.”
Tsarevna’s lips pinched at the corners. “Has anyone else had a pressing matter arise that requires them to leave immediately?”
Three other women stood from the table.
“How unfortunate.” She raised a hand and beckoned to one of the men behind her. “Have the boat here in an hour to take these guests back to Odesa.”
She turned her attention back to Lydia and the other women. “You understand if you leave tonight you will not receive any future invitations.”
“Completely,” Lydia said. “You’ve strayed too far from the vision of the Council, Tatiana. I want no part of it.” She left the dining room, the man with her trailing behind. The other women left as well.
Addison stared wide-eyed at Connie.What just happened?she mouthed.
Later, Connie mouthed back.
Graham leaned close. “I think we just witnessed a coup,” he whispered.
