Andras lost his smile. “You gave him your entire life?”
“In exchange for my sister's.” I nodded. “A life for a life.”
“That was not a fair exchange, Riley,” he said gently. “Health is a minor magic for fairies. King Drostan would have barely taxed himself to administer the spell. And yet, he has taken your entire life in payment.”
“And extended it,” I whispered with a frown. “I'll live forever here.”
“Yes,” Andras confirmed. “As the Unseelie King's slave... if you're lucky.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that on top of being manipulative and opportunistic, King Drostan is known to be a fickle lover,” Andras said. “He tosses aside concubines quickly, and has never had a consort.”
“What's the difference between a concubine and a consort?”
“A concubine is a lower class of lover—usually a slave,” Andras explained gently. “It's not a dishonorable position, but it's not one of status either. It simply means that you share the King's bed.”
“And a consort?”
“A consort is more serious; it denotes a certain amount of commitment,” he said. “It's someone whom the royal—be they King or Queen—are emotionally bound to and have a strong relationship with. It's not an unbreakable bond, like a marriage, but it comes with status and more security than being a concubine. If the King or Queen is unmarried, their consort would be given a rank just below that of the royal family. For example; our Queen has a consort, and he is considered to be the third highest ranking individual in the Seelie Court—just below the Queen's brother.”
“So, what is my rank?” I asked.
“Somewhere below the members of the Court but above the rest of the kingdom,” he said. “It depends on how much King Drostan cares for you; which seems to be a lot.”
“That doesn't surprise me.” I grimaced. “But now you're saying that I was swindled into this position?”
“You were cheated a bit,” he amended. “But it's not as if you had another fairy offering to cure your sister, right?”
“Right.”
“So, you did what you had to do,” he pointed out. “When you have only one option, you must take it.”
“And Drostan took advantage of me,” I snapped.
“I'm afraid that he did,” Andras said sympathetically. “I'm so sorry, Riley. I hate being the bearer of bad news. Take heart in the fact that he's trying to save you. If he didn't care for you, he'd have just walked away and allowed his Goblins to attack us.”
Anger rushed through my veins despite Andras' assurances. I'd been starting to care for Drostan, perhaps more than care. Now, I was seeing his sweet treatment of me as something sinister. Drostan had taken advantage of my sister's illness and tricked me into slavery. Then he had seduced me with luxury and sensuality. He was tricking me once again; this time into giving him my affections. Well, I wouldn't let him take any more from me. Drostan could have my body, but my mind and heart were still my own. And my mind was telling me to grab whatever happiness I could because it might be the last pleasure I had a choice in receiving.
“I think I'm beginning to see things your way, Andras.” I smiled ferociously. “I might as well enjoy myself while I can, and chose my lover while I have the freedom to do so.”
I began to undress, but he stopped me.
“Allow me, my lady.” Andras picked me up and carried me into his bathroom.
There were the usual bathroom fixtures, but the tub was a massive glass bowl filled with mist. Andras set me on my feet beside the cloudy tub and helped me out of my clothing. He took his time—enjoying the slow reveal of every part of my body—and by the time I was naked, I was tingling from his hot looks alone.
“You truly are a vision, Riley,” Andras whispered as he continued to stare at me. “I envy King Drostan.”
“Don't,” I said as I slid into Andras' arms. “He'll never have what I'm about to give you. Drostan only gets what he bargained for.”
“The pretty lie,” Andras concluded. “Yes; I'd much rather have your truth... all of it.”
Andras smiled and lifted me once more. He deposited me gently in the mist, and I gasped as it condensed and grew damp. Clouds darkened and started to sweep over my body; into every crack and crevice. I sighed as they cleaned me thoroughly with soft strokes. Andras removed his pants and climbed into the mist with me. He stretched out across from me, settled back against the rim, and then held his arms out to me.
“Let's enjoy every moment that we can, Riley.”
“Every moment,” I agreed as I went to him.
