24
Willow
The day after my carriage arrived, I decided to show it off by using it to get us to the palace. The woodwork gleamed, my coat of arms and personal sigil brightly displayed in full color upon the doors, My horse had its mane braided, with fluttering ribbons and livery that matched the colors of my House. I had Ghost in a new collar, harness, and leash that matched. His loincloth bore my crest on the front, as did the soft slippers upon his feet.
“Once outside the carriage, you’ll have to crawl, not walk. If I send you for a drink, remain on your knees,” I told him. It wasn’t against the rules for him to walk, if I allowed it, as long as he was showed proper deference. This was to make a point. I had conquered this strong, virile male, and he was mine. I knew word would quickly get out, thanks to Puzzle’s fondness for gossip. It would make people underestimate him, making for all the more impact when he made his kill for the test. People would fear him, and then, knowing I held complete sway over him, fear me even more. Right now, they thought I was an empty-headed young fop with a toy.
They based that upon the folly of my youth when, as a young barely pubescent fae, I had been as loose-tongued as Puzzle, only to spill gossip I had been too young to know should be kept silent.
Gossip that was quickly hushed up; gossip that they killed to silence, assassins setting up a series of convenient accidents. I only lived because, as a child, my murder was forbidden by the rules. In fact, they had to wait until my majority and wait for me to make another mistake they could legitimately place a kill order for, no matter how far it bent the rules to do so. Even better, they would never see it coming. After all, I was too vacuous to think I was a target, so I had no need to believe I needed to kill anyone. Nothing to see but a fop posturing with a dangerous toy. It was an image I’d cultivated ever since my faux pas came to my attention when then-Lieutenant Glade slapped a hand over my mouth and pulled me away after I said too much. I doubled down as my childish eyes realized that the courtiers present within hearing distance all died within a very short period. It had been a distinct bending of the rules. One was allowed to know things. Each one’s contract had allegedly been for something else, or their deaths passed off as accidental. Believable, if one did not know that they had learned something damaging to someone in power.
My ruminations ended as we pulled up to the palace gates.
“You ready?” I asked my pet. I’d meant it to be rhetorical. He had no choice but to be ready.
He nodded. “Yes, Master.”
Oh, how I loved the sound of that falling from his lips. I had settled on him calling me that and only that when addressing me unless we were in private, and then he could call me Sir.
“I feel ridiculous dressed like this, though, Master.”
“You’ll get used to it. I could dress you in a suit as long as your collar remained visible, but today I need them to see you carry no weapons. I don’t want them to know what you are until I petition the Crown for your professional recognition.”
“I understand. I just hate how it flaps around.”
“We could take that part off and let you go bare.”
“I’ll be fine, Master.”
I inwardly laughed at the look of discomfiture on his face. He did not relish parading around naked in front of strangers. He already felt entirely too vulnerable with what little he was wearing, as it was. Coupled with the knowledge that he genuinely was vulnerable among the fae, well, that just made it worse, I imagined.
The portcullis rose to admit us, and my carriage rolled through. It went around the side to drop us by the courtiers’ residences. Puzzle was already standing on the steps, as was my father.
“Glad to see you could make it!” Puzzle called out. “You said this was your new pet’s first outing, so I took the liberty of inviting over a few friends and their servants.”
I’d hoped he wouldn’t do that, but known he probably would. It was why I had forewarned Ghost that my cousin might have friends over.
Crimini dismounted from the driver’s seat and opened my door.
“It’s great to see you, too, Puzzle. Hello, Father,” I called out in response, waiting to see what my pet would do. Puzzle gasped as Ghost climbed out of the coach before me. I smirked when he surprised even me by going down on all fours on the cobbles, debasing himself for me to use as a step. I alighted, using him as offered. Father’s eyebrows rose as Ghost grunted from the effort. His back was still striped in raised weals, though they were faded. My standing on them couldn’t have felt good. I began to walk away, joining my father and cousin. Ghost stood up and dusted off his hands and knees, then followed me obediently.
Once we were inside, he fell to his knees on the carpet, his head level with my right thigh. I snapped his leash on, continuing to walk casually along.
“So, who’s here?” I asked brightly, faking enthusiasm.
“Lady Pecan and Lord Acorn,” Puzzle said, naming two minor nobles. “And Lord Cypress.”
Lord Cypress, advisor to the Queen. Today, we were center stage, the spotlight on us brighter than I’d dared to hope. It was even more imperative that neither myself nor Ghost not messed up. I had to sell my tight hold over him. My cock perked up at that. Here there would be fucking. There always was at these gatherings, but today, I’d get to ream Ghost as hard as I wanted, as often as I wanted. I’d also have to share a taste of him. Lord Cypress always did like a hard, firm body, and Ghost was just his type, scruff and all.
