Bound By Love

The only way Grae can keep the fae he loves safe is to continue the ruse that she is still a slave. But who is truly in control? **All Stories Posted to "The Imperium Chronicles" Page**

[graeadalicia]

Grae is completely captivated by his new mate, Adalicia. With Kellen's blessing secured, he will arrange for her tutors to commence her education immediately. However, as is often the case in Uffern, things rarely go according to plan. Demons frequently disregard orders, and when his clear instructions are ignored, chaos erupts. When Adalicia confronts the true demon within him, she must decide: will she flee in fear like a scared rabbit, or will she accept him for who he truly is?

[graeadalicia]

14

As they rest in silence, Grae has some thoughts.

Grae pulled out Adalicia tight against him, cradling her head against his chest and holding his arm tight around her waist. He wanted her to feel safe, he wanted her to feel loved, and he wanted her to feel cherished above all. In the coming days her life would completely change from everything she had ever known. Going from a slave to the Consort of the Chancellor of Uffern would be something that she couldn't even imagine.

The clothing that was in the armoire in her room was just a start of all that was to come. He could see that already that overwhelmed her. In two days, her tutor would arrive to teach her manners and customs. After that, comes another tutor to teach her diplomacy and languages. After that, another would come to teach her the etiquette for the balls and for meeting royalty from other realms, and even landed gentry of Uffern.

Adalicia would learn this all, and not all of it would be taught in the most gentle of manners. He worried about her. She was such a delicate and innocent flower, and she was entering a world where delicate was not something she could be. It was a world where often the royalty was hard on others and judgmental. Their words were biting and they stung. The women were catty, with insults that would slice to the very bone of the person they were facing. He wondered how Adalicia would handle that. He wondered if she could stand up to someone like Persephone and Calliope. Could she handle the insults that they would make against her?

Actually he didn't worry about Calliope. Of the two princesses within the castle, Calliope would never hurt anybody. Persephone, that was who he was worried about. Her jealousy was legendary, as were her temperament, as Kellen was currently facing. And, he worried about the jealousy that Persephone would have over the fact that she and Grae had once been lovers. Finding out that he had now made Adalicia his Consort would no doubt bring about another temper tantrum. Not only had she been taken from her, he had made her his Consort. Elevated her status in his life from a slave to just below being Betrothed. It was not a slight that she would take lightly, of that he was sure. And he was sure that there would be a confrontation between himself and Persephone, because he would not let the woman that he was coming to care very deeply face that alone.

Grae was still trying to figure out exactly why he cared so deeply about Adalicia. The whole thing had started as a way to get under Persephone's skin, and now he held her in his arms as if she was the most fragile thing, the most important thing, in his life. There were very few things he had ever faced Kellen over, let alone been willing to become physically violent over, but he had been willing to do that for her. He had been willing to take on his best friend, a man that he loved like his brother, to keep her at his side. And he would do it again. Grae would do it over and over, if it meant she didn't leave him.

Somehow, Grae already knew that he would be stronger with her at his side. That if she went with him into negotiations, that he would do better, that he would know more of what was going on. She truly could be his eyes and ears when he was distracted with the art of the deal. He was not sure how he knew it, but he was certain that she would become the jewel in his crown as Chancellor. There were stories in antiquity of such things happening, but he had always considered them just that, stories. They were tales told to children, to have them dreaming of futures. Yet here he was with that tale becoming his reality. But then, she wasn't just a slave, was she? Adalicia was queen. She was a fae queen, a fae queen who was the last of a royal lineage. A fae queen who escaped extermination by the his own best friend, and the King of Uffern. She was an enigma that was now his bonded wife, because somehow the beauty he held within his arms had known the words to the marriage vows that she should not have. And she had recited them effortlessly, with no hesitation, with no reservation, and with true heartfelt emotion in her eyes and deep affection in her voice.

Grae had seen the way she had reacted to Kellen, he could not have that happen on a daily basis. He would not have the woman that was to become his wife destroyed, so that she could do little more than cower in the corners and shadows. Unlike Kellen, he did not relish in the destruction of others. He did not find joy in watching those around him reduced to smallness, so that he could feel great in their presence. He was not like Kellen, and he had always prided himself in that. He would not watch the woman that was to stand by his side as his bride become what Kellen would have as his.

Grae was still processing it all. Parts of it were still sinking in, and it still felt surreal, and he didn't know how to take it all in. But he wanted to. And as he felt her slip into the soft caress of sleep, he swore a vow unto himself that no matter what came in the coming days, he would protect her from the harshness of royal life. He would make sure that the tutors knew that they were to be gentle with her and guide her but not destroy her, as they often did the princes and princesses that they train. She was to be treated as if she was made of the most fragile glass. She was not to be dropped or harmed in any way. If they caused even one tear to fall, they would face his wrath, and it would be of epic proportion. One finger lay upon her, one harsh word delivered to her heart, and he would destroy the one who did so.

[graeadalicia]

13

Their serious conversation continues, and another fear is quashed...

“Ada.” His voice was soft, his eyes understanding, and the expression on his face affectionate, something that was echoed as well in his voice.  “You are unlike any other female I have encountered in my long life, and I do mean that in the only the best and most enjoyable way.  I am looking forward to knowing you more, better and deeper.” Grae brushed his lips gently over hers, enjoying the little hum she made in response.  “Maybe I have decided that the ways that you are different and unique are what I have been searching for and I do not plan to allow you to escape and another male to steal you away.” Not a lie, just leaving out some information.  He would not deny that any male trying to take her from him would face his anger.

Adalicia’s heart felt as if it were trying to explode from her chest, each beat fast and strong, almost seeming to force the air from her very lungs.  As she stared up into his dark eyes, so serious and resolute with the declaration he'd just made, her brain did not seem to be able to form words.  The Chancellor to the King of the whole realm of Uffern had somehow decided in less than a day that she was to be his wife.  She, who until that morning had been nothing more than a chambermaid to the King's own sister.  Her head spun with it all.  

Grae watched as it all sunk in.  She was truly beautiful and innocent.  No doubt she was overwhelmed, but from here forward he would help her every step of the way.   While Kellen had decreed that they had to marry, it would be he and Ada who set the pace.  In every instance since that morning, allowing her to decide things had benefited him.  To change that now would be foolish and potentially backfire.  He had far too much at stake.  

"Rhys?" There was a new question that was occurring to her.  One that came from working as a slave within the castle and was burdening her heart.  "What about when…" her breath and courage began to falter.  After such a declaration as he'd just made, did she even have a right to ask more?

"What, love?" Patience, Grae, calm and patience.  He was used to women more akin to Persephone and found them obnoxious, so the timidness of Adalicia was both new and slightly puzzling to him.  

Taking a deep breath in, Ada closed her eyes and held it for a few seconds to steel her nerves.  When they opened again she asked her question in one quick sentence before she could once more lose her courage. "When I am with your child will you take a concubine as other men of nobility do and send me to  country manor?"

It took Grae several beats to fully process what he'd been asked. Then he was left blinking down at her as he tried to determine what she wanted the answer to be.  Some women preferred that arrangement as they were allowed leisure and left alone.  However he saw how his mother had felt cast aside and replaced, nothing more than an incubator for his father's progeny while he enjoyed the company of the concubine far more.

"No. If you wish to retire to a country manor, I have two and a mountain villa.  However, there will be no other but you that shall share my bed. I believe that we established that earlier.  Or was I unclear?" It had been the memory of his mother that had been the deciding factor.  He would not be his father.  While his father was a great statesman and counselor to Kellen’s father, he treated his family poorly.

Ada's head lightly shook, her teeth catching her bottom lip between them.   "No, sir."  Those big green eyes of hers seemed to stare into his soul.

"Good. I am very glad I don't have to repeat myself." Grae teased her and watched as pink tinged at her cheeks.  How much more shocked would she be if he told her everything?  What their words earlier truly meant. How fast Kellen wanted a ceremony.  Her true lineage was what bothered him the most to keep from her and he wasn't sure why.

Logically that they had exchanged Ufferbian nobility marriage vows seemed like the more pertinent piece of information.   But what would it change?  Other than getting Kellen off his back,nothing.

[graeadalicia]

12

After a delightful evening, discussions once more turn serious...

Adalicia felt as if she was in a dream.  Slaves weren't chosen by the Chancellor to be his Consort, and yet here she was wearing his mark, in his arms, laying in his bed, after spending the day with him.  There was a very real part of her that wondered if she was still unconscious from his first bite to mark her as his property and everything else was naught but fantasy.  The mere thought of that almost broke her heart.  To know a day and such affection as they had shared only to have it ripped away and have been a figment of her imagination was a cruelty that made her chest hurt to consider, even if it had only been one day.  It was one day unlike any she could have conceived of previously. 

She may not have said anything, but Grae noticed the subtle changes in her face as the thoughts that she would wake up alone and back to being nothing more than a mere slave filled her mind.   Her sudden change of mood concerned him, as nothing had transpired that should have caused her to become upset.  He had be gentle and kind to her, so there had to be more.  

"Darling, what is troubling you?" He asked, gently stroking the side of her face with his fingertips.  Whatever it was, he would ensure it was resolved.  He was now quite fond of her and the thought of her upset troubled him. 

She was startled that he has somehow known something had bothered her, and her cheeks flushed a bright pink in response.   First, her eyes dropped to stare at the middle of his chest as she gathered the courage to be honest with him, then they rose to meet his.  When their eyes met, Adalicia could see he was concerned and that served to reassure her.

"Nothing like this has ever happened to me and I guess I'm just worried that it is not real.  That tomorrow I'll wake up and it will be a dream." There was a slight tremble in her voice as she spoke from her nerves, but it was clear that she was telling the truth as well.  

As soon as she had expressed what was on her mind, it made perfect sense to Grae.  He wished that he could tell her the truth of her lineage, if for no other reason than to reassure her that her place in his life was secure.  But as he considered that he realized that Kellen had removed his choice in the matter because of that as well.  They were essentially in an arranged marriage now.   For a moment Grae wasn't sure how he felt about that, but then he considered that he'd already made her his Consort before Kellen had dropped his bombshell, and she had refused to leave him when offered.   So, it was an arranged marriage they had freely chosen without knowing, since except for the King, Consort was the step before Betrothed. 

"Ada, sweetheart, I can assure you this is no dream.  When you wake up in the morning, you will still be my Consort and still be in my bed if that is what you wish." He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips over hers.  Grae was still letting her set the pace since it seemed to work best for him anyway.   

Then he leaned over her a bit more so that she rolled onto her back. "Tomorrow morning we spend together but I do have obligations in the afternoon.   The next day, your tutor will arrive.  The wife of the Chancellor must have all the social graces and education."  The way her eyes widened and her face lit up as she searched his face and saw he was serious, it made his heart swell.  

"You did know what came after Consort, didn't you?"  The corners of his mouth rose slightly and there was a hint of tease to his voice.  He was in no rush to propose.  She had many things to learn, but he also was not lying.  They also had much to learn about each other.

"Well, yes. I knew. I mean, I know what commonly does. But…you just…we just…this morning…" coherent sentences stopped being possible as her brain tried to wrap itself around what he was saying.   He would marry her eventually.  HER.  A decision reached after just a day.  "Are you sure you want me?  After a day? Rhys, I was a slave." The tremble was still in her voice and she felt even more like in a dream.

Grae rolled fully on top of her, caging her smaller body with his own and keeping his weight off of her.   Bringing his forehead to hers, their eyes met and he couldn’t help but smile.  He really was falling for this beautiful and intoxicating fae. His fae.  He also could not deny that the position that they were in was one that he was especially liking as well.

“Ada.” His voice was soft, his eyes understanding, and the expression on his face affectionate, something that was echoed as well in his voice.  “You are unlike any other female I have encountered in my long life, and I do mean that in the only the best and most enjoyable way.  I am looking forward to knowing you more, better and deeper.” Grae brushed his lips gently over hers, enjoying the little hum she made in response.  “Maybe I have decided that the ways that you are different and unique are what I have been searching for and I do not plan to allow you to escape and another male to steal you away.” Not a lie, just leaving out some information.  He would not deny that any male trying to take her from him would face his anger.

[graeadalicia]

11

Dinner's over....

Once Grae and Adalicia had finished eating, they made quick work of putting all of the plates back up on the cart and Grae put it back outside his door.  He did not wish for another servant to disturb them for the remainder of the evening.  After the kitchen was notified that they could retrieve it at their convenience, Adalicia once more found herself enveloped in his arms, a place he was finding that he really did like her to be.  Never had he felt so calm as when they were touching, and while he knew that part of that was what and who she was as a fae, there was more to it than that he had a feeling.  

“I do believe that I promised you a view of your kingdom, my fair princess.” Grae kissed her nose as he teased her.  The light laugh as her arms encircled his waist was his reward, and he was quite happy with it.  “Shall we adjourn to the balcony?” A brow rose as he looked down at her, unable to contain the smile that naturally seemed to bloom on his face when he looked at her.  Later he would think more on exactly why that was, but it was certainly not something that he was going to complain about.

Releasing her, he offered her his arm, then took her hand and showed her where to put it at the crook of his elbow when she looked a bit confused.  When she tightened it a bit more and drew in close to him, he couldn’t help but like the way his heart did a bit of a strange rhythm for a moment.  When she had been sleeping earlier he had been dreading introducing the customs and mannerisms of the court to her, figuring it would be tedious.  Now, after their dinner and seeing how fast she adapted and what a true joy she was to be around, he was actually looking forward to it.  What a change a few hours could make in one’s outlook.

Laying his larger hand over hers, he led her over to the door from the sitting room to the balcony that stretched from one end of his suite to the other.  At one end there was a table with a couple of chairs, but the rest of the balcony was open space.  As he escorted her out and towards the middle he considered allowing her to decorate it as she saw fit once she was more comfortable within the castle.  It had never mattered to him, but he knew females tended to enjoy such things.

“Almost straight below us are the gardens of the castle,” Grae wrapped one arm around Adalicia as she leaned forward to look down.  Although there were wards in place to keep her from falling, he felt better having a physical hold on her as well.  “Then those long buildings are the stables where Kellen and I keep our steeds.  I think Korben may have one in there as well.  I will have to teach you to ride.” A soft kiss was dropped on her skin at the crook of her neck where it met her shoulder, eliciting a soft sigh as she leaned back into him. As he went on to point out the different forests that were in view from that part of the castle, the two lakes, the river, and the mountain range, Adalicia rested back against him and listened, taking in all of the parts of Uffern she had never known existed.  Occasionally she would ask a question about a location, but Grae’s explanations were normally thorough enough that she did not need to.  She found out that there was a hunting cabin in one of the woods that he would take her to at some point where they could walk and she could see some of the wildlife that was there.  It was the safest of the forests to be in.  As they talked, Grae was amazed at her level of interest in all the areas he was pointing out, and visiting them.  Most of the females who came to court would not dare to have gone to the lakes, or even the forest.  Far too prim and afraid of getting dirty or ruining a gown, but then he already knew that Adalicia was far from the regular female that he was accustomed to; and that made her all the more precious to him.  The more plans they discussed, the more he found himself anticipating those adventures and journeys with her.  It had been a long time since he’d been out and explored Uffern himself, often too busy with the duties of court.  Maybe it was time that he did just that as he introduced his sweet little fae to the realm that she would be the Chancellor’s Wife of. After they had been out on the balcony for a while, he felt Adalicia shiver.  The cool air wasn’t bothering him, but he didn’t want her catching a chill.  Wrapping his free arm that he’d been pointing out the different landmarks with around her, he pulled her even tighter against her. “Do you need to go inside, darling?  I don’t want you to get too cold out here.  You can come out here tomorrow, or anytime.” He rested his head on her shoulder and kissed her neck softly as he waited for her answer.  The day had been long for both of them, so if she was getting tiredl, he would have understood. “I don’t think I was dressed for this breeze.” A soft laugh followed her statement as she laid her arms over his and hugged herself back against him.  The warmth of his chest bled through her sweater, and his arms seemed to envelop her in both a loving comfort and warmth.  “Could we go back in and spend some more time together before bed?” Adalicia’s head tipped back to look up at him, smiling when she saw he already had a smile on his face.  Butterflies seemed to take flight in her stomach and she knew that if he changed his mind about her, she would never get over it.

In an instant they were back inside and that got a laugh from her. “You do know the shortcuts, Rhys!” Adalicia turned in his arms and brought her lips up to Grae’s while she was still laughing.  

“If my lady wishes to be warm and spend time with me, I would be a fool to deny her or delay.” His lips danced across hers as he spoke, before he kissed her once more.  Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he lifted her from the floor and carried her over to the bed in his room.  “I promise this is far more comfortable than the couch, and you can stay here as long as you like.  You do not have to sleep in your room if you do not wish.” His fingers caressed the side of her face so gently they were like a feather’s touch.  There was no denying he’d prefer her in his bed, but not forcing or rushing was getting him more than he had hoped for in one night, so he was not about to start now when it came to sleeping arrangements.

In truth, Adalicia had not considered where she would sleep before Grae mentioned it.  Now that he had, she wasn’t sure what to answer.  She didn’t even know what she really wanted.  For the moment, she did want to spend time with him, so she decided to leave sleeping till they were ready and enjoy the present with him and not plan too far ahead.  “It does look more comfortable.”  She hopped up on the bed and bounced lightly a couple of times.  “Definitely more comfortable.  It would be better if you were up here.”  Her bottom lip caught her teeth. “Someone is getting a little bold.” Grae chuckled with an amused smirk, then outright laughed when her eyes went wide.  She was a lethal mix of sexy and adorable, and he knew that combined with the downright addictive taste of her, he was done for.  Stepping up so his thighs were against the bed, he pulled her back forward till she was against him, her legs straddling his.  “I might need that to keep me in line.”  More teasing with a wink, then his fingers threaded through her flame colored hair to pull her into a deep and sensuous kiss. 

Without even thinking about it, Adalicia once more pushed his shirt over his shoulders and down his arms.  Their kiss broke when he let it slide over his hands to fall to the floor; but his forehead remained gently pressed to hers as he gazed into her eyes, feeling a connection unlike any other he had before..  Her cardigan was the next to go, but with his arms encircling her and pressed against his well muscled torso, she was anything but cold.  Then he easily lifted her off of the bed to pull back the luxurious damask silken bedding to allow her to slide underneath just a moment before he joined her.  Already he knew that he wanted this nightly, even if all they did was sleep within one another’s arms, something that was foreign to him as he normally preferred to sleep alone.  One more way that his little fae, his true Princess, was surprising and changing him in ways he never could have expected.

[graeadalicia]

10

Dinner is served.....

Once Adalicia had relaxed more from her unease at the way the servant that brought their food had looked at her, she had to move off of Grae’s lap for him to arrange all of the plates for dinner on the low table in front of the couch. When he sat back on the couch, he made sure to do so close to her, and she waisted no time in closing any distance left between them.  Once he’d assured that she was not chilled by the air in the room since she had more skin exposed than he, how to start the meal was next to be considered since they were not doing a formal meal like he had originally planned. 

The next revelation coming from his beautiful Consort was that all Adalicia had ever eaten was soup, and it was drank from a bowl rather than actually eaten with any kind of utensils.  Grae was slightly horrified at this fact, for a few reasons.   The lack of manners he expected, but he was shocked at how little the females under Persephone had been given to eat and the manner in which they were given it.   He now understood her svelteness, but he did wonder if the semi-starvation had hurt her in any way.   A mental note was made to speak with Kellen the following day.  A healer, or even Kellen himself, would need to ensure she was unaffected by the prolonged starvation.   Even if the thought of another man's hands on her made him tense, he had to see to it that from now on she was taken care of.

Since this was to be a relaxing evening for Adalicia, it was decided that Grae would feed her and she could observe proper utensil usage without any pressure to have to replicate.  He had to also admit that the thought of feeding her was erotic in itself.  Her lips closing around the utensils had him wishing it was something altogether different between her lips. Whether they would make it through dinner was yet to be seen.

For each bite, he let her pick which of the decadent foods laid out on the flowery china before them that she got to try next.  After a few bites, she thought she had the hang of stabbing with a fork from watching him. The first few times she tried, Grae gently guided her hand. After that it was clear Adalicia was a quick study, and then they were taking turns feeding one another.  This led to a more than one dropped bite, laughter at trying to clean up, and the relaxing evening Grae had hoped for was achieved.  In fact, as she tried all the foods, determining that there were some with stronger flavors that she most certainly did NOT care for, he was finding that this was the most enjoyable meal he could even remember.  His favorite parts coming when there were foods that they hand fed one another.  The feel of her lips sliding over his fingertips was highly erotic, and he had a feeling the same was true for her as he watched her eyes while he made sure her fingers were clean after a bite.

As they were finishing, Adalicia grabbed a bowl of berries from the tray and slid onto Grae’s lap, straddling his hips.  This caused his brows to raise and an amused expression to flit across his face. "And just what do you think you're doing, darling?" The teasing lilt in his voice matched the mischievous sparkle in his dark eyes.

"Well, I believe, my Chancellor, that we are supposed to have sweets at the end of the meal.  Are we not?"  Her eyes sparkled with a playful joy that was echoed in the bright smile that graced her pinky peach lips.  

Before he could answer, Grae found a berry popped in his mouth by an not wholly unappetizing fingertip.   As he chewed a deep chuckle caused his chest to vibrate.  It seemed his fae was certainly relaxing from her nerves earlier, and that was perfect.  He couldn't complain about the position she had put herself in either.  Something sweet after dinner indeed, but their ideas of what might vary.

"I see, my fae temptress."  It was he who fed her a berry this time, almost groaning as her lips once more closed around his fingertip.  She would no doubt feel his growing reaction to her idea of dessert.  He wondered how she would handle that after the episode in the shower.   "And what does my beauty propose to do after all the sweets are gone?"

The smile on Grae’s face and the sparkling of his eyes in the light made Adalicia’s stomach do a small flop and her heart hit a funny rhythm for a moment.  When he looked at her like that, she felt like she was the Princess, not Persephone.   Feeding him another berry, her fingers gently caressed his cheek, the rough feeling of his stubble giving her chills.  "What do you normally do after dinner?"  She knew what Persephone did, but doubted he was the same.

"Trust me, darling, you do not wish to do that." He tapped the end of her nose with an index finger before picking up another berry.  Her eyebrows drew together before he fed her and answered her question.  "Work.  Sometimes reading for pleasure, but normally preparing for the next day."  He almost laughed when she scrunched her nose up. His fingers threaded up into her flame colored locks, "but I did that earlier when you were asleep.  So tonight you have all my attention."  He brought her lips down to his for just a moment.

Adalicia really had no idea what to say.  No idea what to do, either.  She never had freedom.  They were also dressed for bed, but it seemed too early for that.  Grae kissing her didn't help, her mind went to mush when he did it.  It was a very pleasurable mush though, so she wasn't complaining.   "I do not know what is available to do, Rhys." Her teeth caught her lip as she looked down at him once their lips had parted once more. 

Grae could think of many things he'd like to do with and to her, but he would not be rude or crass.  She really was sweet, and he wanted her to come up with those ideas.  They would both enjoy it more.  

Feeding her another berry, "have you ever seen the outside of the castle?" He had a more chaste idea that she might enjoy.  When her head shook, he plopped another berry between her perfect lips and grinned.  "Then when we are out of sweet things to enjoy, I will take you out on the balcony.  It is dark, but you'll be able to see some things by the light of the moon." His smile never wavered as he looked up at her, his hands landing on her slim waist then caressing her softly. 

Chills ran over her skin causing goosebumps to raise, but Adalicia loved it.  Not for one second was she doubting that she had his full attention now.  Leaning forward with her hands on her chest, she kissed him more lingering than the previous one.  She was still having a hard time believing that any of this was real and that he was being so gentle and kind with her, let alone this powerful male, in more ways than one, wanted her for his Consort.

If she kept kissing him like that and shifting on his lap, Grae wasn't sure they would make it out onto the balcony.   He had to keep reminding himself that he had told her that he wanted her to set the pace.  She hadn't asked him to touch her yet, but damn he wanted to.

[graeadalicia]

9

Dinner is ordered but the mood slightly changes when it is delivered...

A knock at the door indicated that one of the elf servants of the caslte had arrived with dinner.  Fae were not trusted with food, that was left to the elven staff of the castle.  They were not slaves, as the fae were, but were free beings that were under the King’s employ.  There was tension between the two due to this, and there were instances where there had been conflicts that had required intervention.  Grae was interested to see how the staff would react to his new Consort, soon to be fiance’.  If the servant with their dinner slighted her in the least, it would be quickly remedied.

Opening the door wide, Grae stepped to the side and gestured for the servant to enter,  so that the male woodland elf could push the car with their dinner into the lounge area of his suite of rooms.  At first the male was focussed only on the cart with the food, but when he looked up after he’d stopped, Grae did not miss the hesitation as the male’s eyes landed on Adalicia, who was seated on the couch with her feet drawn up near her ass.  He also did not miss the male’s reaction, and it was not one of revulsion or agitation.  To his credit, the elf tried not to have his gaze linger too long on her.  However, it was clear that Ada had awakened his desire, something that Grae would make note of since she would often be alone in the quarters during the day when meals would be brought. While the servant was uncovering all of the dishes and storing the lids, his gaze returned to Adalicia more than once.

Adalicia could feel the new male’s eyes on her and she pulled her bare legs up closer to her body, also pulling her sweater a little tighter around her.  She looked up at the elf then quickly over to Grae, fear starting to take hold that she would be in trouble, but it was not at her that Grae was looking.  When he did turn his attention to her briefly, his eyes were warm and kind, a soft smile alighting on his lips, and she felt the warmth that had started to become common when he looked at her.  That sense of safety that came with him once more did.  Then he looked again to the fae and so did she, finding he had turned his attention back to the cart that he had brought in, then turned to talk to Grae.  She was relieved he was not trying to talk to her.  Had he tried to, she was not sure what she would have said other than being polite, but she was uncomfortable enough without that happening. 

Even though his eyes were mostly on the elf, Grae didn’t miss Adalicia’s response to the elf’s attention.  He had taken a moment to reassure her, afraid that she would once more panic and draw back as she had with Kellen.  While preparing everything, the elf did keep glancing at her, and it was clear she was uncomfortable with it.  In fact, when the elf finally exited the door that Grae was standing next to, he could see her relax and heard the sigh of relief.  He would not lie and say that didn’t please him, but it also concerned him.  She would have to get used to being around others, especially others who would find her desirable and even make propositions to her.  However, he couldn’t hold too much against her this evening after Kellen had created the scene earlier. They’d broach the other subjects later, when she was more relaxed in general.

“Are you alright, darling?” Grae asked as he crossed from the door back over to where she was sitting.  His eyes stayed on her, even though his gaze did not seem to bother her like that of the elf had.  This pleased him, yet concerned him simultaneously.

Adalicia’s head snapped up and to Grae at his question.  Her mind spun trying to figure out why he was asking.  What had she done that made him think she was not?  Had she acted wrong at someone else being in the room?  Was she in trouble?  “I’m fine, Rhys.  Why?  Did I do something?”  Her eyes searched his face, trying to ascertain whether his asking was bad or good.

Grae’s head tipped as he sat next to her, his hand gently resting on her calf. “So you did not feel uncomfortable at the way the elven servant looked at you?”  One brow rose with his question, and when her eyes went wide he was not sure if she was surprised at being caught, or feared that she had done the wrong thing.  Maybe it was a combination of both. She did tend to be a unique female and far more jumpy than any he was used to encountering.

At the mention of the servant who had come into the Chancellor’s rooms, Adalicia wanted to once more curl up.  There was something about the way he had looked at her that made her feel far more unclothed than when Rhys looked at her, even though there was an equal amount of desire within both males’ gaze.  Only the warm feel of Rhys’ hand upon her skin kept her from withdrawing.  “I do not know how to explain.”  It was as plain as she could state it.  It made no sense to her, how could she make it make sense to him?  “He made me feel…improper…unclothed…like I wanted to hide…”  A heavy sigh came out after the last word, still struggling with how to explain it.

So he had been right, and it did displease him.  Partly because it meant that he was going to have to acclimate her with others so she could be more comfortable in the social settings she would be required in, and also because no servant in the castle should be making his Consort feel uncomfortable because of the way they looked at her.  There was no doubt that the servant was not going to be the last male one to look at her with desire, but that he had been so obvious about it would be something to be addressed.  Until she was more comfortable, he would ensure that only females, and females that were ensured to BEHAVE were sent up to bring her anything she needed.  He wouldn’t have any making her feel insecure due to unreasonable jealousy either.

Grae stretched his hand out to her; and once she had taken it, he pulled her onto his lap so that she was sitting crosswise on it.  “Yet you do not flinch so under my gaze when you know I have similar desires.” His fingers now ghosted across the soft and uncovered skin of her legs, going no higher than the knee.  “You had to know that he could do nothing, and you know I can do….everything.”  His voice was calm and soft, not a threat, but a fact.  His hand resting on her hip pulled her tighter against him as the arm around her back tightened its hold on her, his fingers dancing over her skin now venturing higher than her knee.  Grae’s eyes, though, never left her emerald green ones for a second.

“Yes, sir, but..” Adalicia swallowed and let one of her hands come to rest against his chest as she tried not to hide at all from his gaze.  “You have promised to listen and let me choose, and we belong to one another now.” Her voice held more conviction now.  Conviction she didn’t quite feel, but close.  He was still the second most powerful male in the entire realm, in all ways, and that morning she had been a slave to the Princess.  There were parts of her that still thought that he hadn’t told her everything.

A smile formed on his face as Grae considered what she said.  He was starting to understand her way of thinking better now.  Not that it was going to change his decision regarding the servants that came into his chambers when he was not there.  Until all respected her, he would make sure that she was comfortable and safe from what had just happened, happening when he was not around to reassure her.  “Yes, we do, darling.” He tucked a curl behind her ear, then slid his fingers behind her neck to pull her to a soft kiss.  “So, next time something is bothering you, tell me.”  She nodded and he couldn’t help but think that if they did not need to eat that he had far more enjoyable things that they could be doing.  However, she had slept through lunch and did need to have something to eat.  He would not starve her just for the sake of partaking in further pleasure with her.  After all, they did have all night.

[graeadalicia]

8

When trying to plan a romantic evening, Grae normally had no problem.  In fact, in all his centuries of life, he’d never failed to make one absolutely perfect in the eyes of the female he was romancing.  Now, he was looking at trying to setup a night with the female who was destined to be his wife, and he was having the hardest time that he ever had.  

First, Grae had been surprised to learn that Adalicia had no idea what kinds of foods she liked.  It shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did.  It also made picking food out for dinner more complicated. In the end, he had just told the chef in the castle’s kitchen to prepare some basic foods in a tasting menu type format and make it enough for two.  He wasn’t sure she’d like wine, so he conferred with the chef and they decided on tea for the beverage of the evening.  Warm and soothing, it would lend well to the whole atmosphere being relaxing.  Tonight would not be a lesson in manners, or in anything to do with how she would assist him at court, so being so anything formal could wait.  Instead, he wanted her to be comfortable with him after the scene with Kellen.  He’d already put in the orders for the next evening’s meal, which is when her education would begin.  Unusual for him, he already had nerves regarding that as well. 

Also foregone for the evening were the formal clothes he had intended on wearing.   It seemed this female was able to upend everything and somehow simultaneously make him not care a bit. Once dinner was ordered he'd thrown on a pair of lounge pants and a fresh white dress shirt, although the latter was currently unbuttoned.  Had it not been for lingering concern over Adalicia’s comfort, the dress shirt would have been foregone.  While they had showered together naked, Kellen’s visit had knocked things back a step and he did not want to assume that she would be comfortable with a certain level of undress. 

It took Adalicia longer to choose what to wear. She would have preferred if Grae would have chosen for her.  Knowing what was expected and desired for her to wear was something she was unsure of.   Never before had she been given a choice or even had an option on anything.  Now not only was she given both, but her options were confusing.   Some were more covering and heavier in fabric, some covered but were thin and silky, then there were the ones that were no more than her under things, but all were within the drawer of the wardrobe that Grae had indicated contained her night clothes.  He had indicated that was the drawer that she'd most likely wish to pick from.

Finally she chose a plain black thin dress-like garment with tiny straps.  The neckline was low, but it hung to almost her knees.  Over it she pulled on a soft and fluffy cardigan that did go to her knees to use as a sort of robe.  She almost changed more than once before deciding it should be good enough. If he was displeased, she hoped he'd give her more direction next time.

Grae had almost decided to go into Adalicia’s small room to make sure she was okay when she finally came into his.   He hadn't intended for her to wear any of the more revealing pieces in the drawer when he told her to just be comfortable, but upon seeing her, he was certainly not going to tell her to change.   Even with her curls rather wild after the shower, she was the most beautiful female he'd ever had in his suite, and there had been many.  Other than the fae that came in to clean it, she would be the last female to be in the suite, and certainly the only one in his bed.

"I hope that I picked alright." Adalicia said, her cheeks pinkening and her eyes dropping briefly, as she tried to smile.  Her fingers played with the ends of her sleeves as she waited for his answer.  

"Are you comfortable?" Grae inquired; closing the distance between them, and letting his hands rest gently on the soft swell of her hips.  He would not deny that he was enjoying seeing her in the short nightgown, but this evening was for helping her to relax. 

Adalicia nodded, her stomach doing a little flip with the way he was looking down at her.  "Do I look alright?" Her bottom lip caught lightly in her teeth.  She truly was worried.  As he drew her closer, though, she did feel confident enough to bring her hands up to rest on his chest.  She had slipped them under the fabric of his shit, the feel of his bare skin under her fingertips, creating a foreign ache in her. 

"You look beautiful, darling.  You need not worry about that." He would not deny enjoying the feel of her hands on his skin, but her nerves were evident and Grae was committed to helping her to feel more like his suite…correction, it would now be THEIR suite, was truly  her home.  There was no other way that they could move forward. Unless he was completely misreading every sign and signal she was sending out, which he doubted, they both wanted things to move forward.  “Dinner will be here in a few minutes, and after that we can talk about what you are going to do tomorrow while I am attending the meetings the King has set up for me.  He and Persephone will be sorting out that situation that was the reason you and I came together.” Slowly, Grae wrapped a curl around his finger as he looked at her.  

"I will be alone?"  Adalicia asked.  She could not remember ever truly being alone.  There had always been other fae around.  When she was younger it had been her mother and the other older female fae that were teaching her to wait upon the females of the court.  Once she had been selected to serve Princess Persephone, there had always been the other fae that had attended to her. 

"Is that a problem?" The look on her face troubled Grae.  She looked afraid, and he could not for the life of him figure out why.  She would be safe in their chambers.

"I've never been alone." Her lip caught between her teeth after Adalicia answered his question honestly.  It was the only way she could really answer. Trying to put her trepidation into words made her feel even more nervous than the thought of being alone did.

"Never?" Grae’s brows drew together.  He had not considered that, nor how it would affect her to be so.  Her fear was now making more sense to him.  "I will see what I can do about that in the future, but for at least the morning, I'm afraid that it is a necessity." His arms gently encircled her waist and pulled her gently to him. "You are completely safe in these rooms.  No one can come in, even the King, without my permission." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. 

"Can I go out onto the balcony?" She had noticed the door out to it earlier.  She had never been outside the walls of the castle.  While the balcony would not be true freedom, it would allow her to see things differently than through a window. 

For a moment Grae considered her request.   His chambers were high in the castle. If she stumbled, he couldn't even allow himself to consider.  He could extend the wards to ensure safety though, and if that would make her happy…

"Yes, but know there is a ward to keep you safe. Do not try to extend your arm or anything past the railings.   It will feel like a wall, but you'll still be able to feel the breezes.  Please don't go out if it is raining."  When her brows furrowed. "Lightning has been known to strike this tower." He kissed her nose.

"Thank you, Rhys. I've never been outside." Adalicia absolutely beamed up at him and she was so excited she almost bounced on her toes.

Once more his beautiful bride-to-be left him speechless.  How different their lives had been. More so, how different would her life from now on be.  Part of him felt a little satisfaction that he would be the one to introduce it all to her.  

"When I have more time, then I shall have to take you down to the gardens, my darling.  I have much to show you." His.lips curved up in a smile, seeing the excitement blossom on her face.  At this rate spoiling her was going to be easy, and while he doubted he could propose by the end of the week, it would not be long.

[graeadalicia]

7

When Grae reentered the bathroom, he found Ada sitting on the shower bench trembling and trying to look as small as possible with her knees pulled up to her chin, tears making slow tracks down her porcelain cheeks.  Part of him hated Kellen for putting them in this situation, but he also understood Kellen’s position, having served under him so long.  Now he just needed to deal with his Consort? Fiance? WIFE? Fuck…he needed to deal with Ada who was scared to death she was about to be sent to the most sadistic demon to ever walk to halls of the Uffernian Palace.  He’d kill the fucker before he’d let that happen, to anyone he even remotely liked, let alone found himself caring more about the longer he was around her.

Sighing, not in frustration with her but because he now felt tired and worn out from the whole ordeal and upset Kellen had caused, he stepped into the shower and in front of the bench, kneeling down so he would be near her eye level.  “Ada, darling, look at me please.” Grae fought to keep his voice calm and soft as he gently stroked her hair with one hand.  There was so much going through his mind that it would be too easy to snap at her, and she was already frightened enough.  Slowly her head lifted and those emerald eyes turned towards him.  The fear in their depths gutted him and made it hard for him to formulate a sentence for almost a full minute.  It was in that moment he wondered if she knew how expressive her face was, and how beautiful.  

“You do not need to worry or be upset, you did nothing wrong.  You are not in trouble, and you are going nowhere other than out of this bathroom in a few minutes.  Do you understand me?”  He reached out once more and lightly ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek, wiping away a few tears.  When she nodded, he continued with his brows slightly raised and head tilted.  His eyes softened more with each word he spoke, “I told you I’d keep you safe, and I will,  The King is unique in the way he approaches things, and often his ways get the answers and results he wants, but they do often also cause upset.”  It was the nicest way he could say that Kellen was often a total and complete asshole to everyone.

Again Adalicia nodded.  She was starting to calm down now that he had come back and said she wasn’t leaving.  He was going to keep her safe, something that she wasn’t quite used to.  Persephone was fickle at the best of times. The King had seemed ready to have her go off with his brother, and she did not understand why.  One thing she had been taught since she was small was that you NEVER question the King. “What am I to do now?”  Her voice was soft and hesitant, truly unsure.  Just as she felt she was getting her footing, once more she was knocked backwards.

Grae wanted to throttle Kellen, slowly and painfully, but he hid that desire behind a still soft expression towards her.  It was clear she was still afraid, and possibly even of him, which was not what he desired at all.  Standing from his crouched position, he extended a hand to her.  “Well, before that interruption, I was going to help you pick an outfit for dinner, so you need to come with me and we will do that.” He kept his voice and expression soft, and he was reminding himself to be patient.  It wasn't her fault any of this had happened, and he could not chance her thinking it was.  If she got that idea, there was no telling how far back that might push things which would not be good for the two of them; not if Kellen was serious about a wedding, and Grae was certain he was very serious. 

Adalicia nodded and slipped her much smaller hand into his and began to stand.  Gently she was pulled up and into his arms, her palms landing flat against his chest.  When her head tipped back to look up at him, she found him looking back down at her with a slightly amused smile.  “Now, isn’t that a better position than sitting on that hard, wooden bench?” He asked before his head slowly dipped to bring his lips to hers very softly.  

The second that their lips met, Adalicia truly began to relax.  It was tender and slow, the way he had been with her before; his arms around her holding her firmly but gently made her feel safe.  There was something about him, something she couldn’t describe, that reassured her that with him she was safe and would be.  And that thing also led her to want to experience more with him.  Wasn’t he hers too?

“Much better.” Her lips ghosted over his before the kiss deepend again, and Grae knew that she could very easily become an addiction.  It was not unheard of for shadow demons to become addicted to fae, there were even warning stories told to young demons going through warrior training about it when they were going to battle against fae armies.  In Grae’s mind though, she was an addiction he wouldn’t mind having.

“And the evening will just get better from here, my darling fae.”  His forehead rested against hers, nose gently rubbing alongside hers, once their lips parted.  “Tonight we take things slow and easy.” Before the shower he hadn’t planned that.  While he was pampering and spoiling her, he had planned to have her table manners perfect by the end of dinner. Rush her so that he could use her to get intel at a few upcoming functions, but now there was something that made him want to keep her to himself a little while longer.  She was demure enough to take the shadow gardens and the river for walks, even throughout the castle, but to share her with crowds at gatherings?  He was not ready for that yet.  

“Yes, sir.” She swore she saw his already dark eyes darken even more as his arms around her tightened.  The slip in her words wasn’t angering him, but she didn’t know what this reaction was or how she should react to it.  Her eyes stayed on his, waiting for some indication of his disposition. “We should get started.” Adalicia bit her bottom lip lightly then tipped her head to just brush her lips lightly against his.  

Grae was beginning to think she might be the death of him.  He had always been a male of control, in all things and ways.  Never had a female been able to weaken his resolve the way that this little fae had in less than one day.  Of course all that Kellen had said was going through his mind, but he knew that there was something more than just her magical effect on him.  It was everything together.  Her beauty, the softness of her touch, her innocence, the way she melted into him like he meant something to her already, and the fact she trusted him all combined to draw her to him.  The taste of her was a drug, and her touch was even more so.  

“Ada..” he started and paused, looking in those eyes that were so unique, his mind trying to find the words to fit his thoughts without scaring her more than Kellen had already done.  He was not Kellen though and he could not, would not, do things the same way his friend would.  “If you have any doubts, any reservations about what the King asked, I need to know.  I need to know now.”  His voice was warm, but firm.  “Once this all starts, there is no going back.”  His hands cupped the sides of her face as Grae reminded himself he could not tell her about what Kellen had said.  Thumbs softly swept her cheeks, “I do not want you living with regrets of a life you chose in haste, Ada.  No one deserves that.” 

Listening to him, she didn’t know what to think.  Was he having doubts now that he had offered her everything and the King had questions?  Had something been said after she’d been sent from the room that had him changing his mind.  She wasn’t sure how to take what he was asking and it made her nervous again. There had been no doubts before that.  Adalicia had been in the castle long enough to have heard all the gossip, seen all the regulars that walked its halls.  Knew the personalities, even the man before her’s, even if he didn’t ever remember seeing her before. She knew.  Which is why she knew that there was only one other male in the castle said to be as gentle as the one currently staring into her eyes, and that brother of the King was said to be insane and in love with a female who did not exist.

Biting her lower lip, she mustered the courage to say to him what was truly on her mind.  "Did you mean what you said before? That you are my Paramour now and no other woman shall have you?"  Her eyes searched his, wishing to hear the answer she hoped for.

It wasn’t how he had phrased it but what she said was the base fact of what he had said.  By marking her as his Consort and swearing off other women, he was hers.  He found he didn't mind that thought.  "I have not lied to you once, my darling. My promise to you was valid if your wishes have not changed and you have no doubts." He was still gently holding her face and he saw the change in her eyes at his words, the visible relief in her expression, and the minute uptick in the corners of her mouth. 

She felt like her whole body was vibrating with nerves and excitement as she listened to Grae’s calm and soft answer to her question.   Adalicia felt tears prick at her eyes, emotion swelling within her breast as he confirmed what he had said.  "Then as I am yours and you are mine, and we are ours alone, I have no doubts.  I trust you." Her voice was soft but the words were clear.  Speaking them to the universe seemed thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

Adalicia’s words stole the breath from Grae’s lungs and left him mute for over a whole minute as his brain floundered.  He knew she has never attended a Uffernian wedding, slaves were allowed nowhere near one or even the preparations for one, yet she has perfectly just recited the ending of the vows, vows that Kellen had demanded they make in short order not an hour prior. The Source be damned, maybe there was more at work here.  Adding to his shock and confusion, he found himself echoing her words without reservation.  

"Yes. As I am yours, and you are mine, we are ours alone, my darling." By all technicalities since he was the second highest ranking in Uffern, he could declare them now married.   He had a feeling that she would wish a wedding of some sort, and given what being his wife would entail, she deserved one.  "I will protect that trust so that you never doubt. This will be new for both of us, but we will navigate it together." 

One tear of happiness slowly leaked from one of Adalicia’s eye, but Grae didn't allow it to get very far.  His thumb gently swept it away before he again pulled her to a slow and sensual kiss that lasted several minutes.  Had Kellen thought that she could control her magic, Grae might have considered himself bespelled by her, but he knew better.  There was something more, something greater at play, something he previously had not believed in.  This, as much as not wanting to scare her and cause their relationship to move backwards, solidified in his mind that there would be no rushing things with her.  Whatever was building and developing would lead them.

[graeadalicia]

6

Kellen had taken a step back when Grae had come at him.  Rarely had he seen his friend and Chancellor enraged to the point he feared violence, but today was one of those days.  Should they go head to head, it would be an almost even match and the devastation they would wreak on one another and the castle at large would be substantial.  It had not been his intention in coming to Grae’s quarters to provoke a fight, and it still was not now he just had to figure out how not to.  It was clear that the least provocation was going to bring about a swift and brutal response from the powerful demon before him.

He paused, his mind calculating the best response.  His words must be chosen carefully or it would be more than just a verbal altercation that could be quickly mended.  “I will explain everything, but only after you tell me why you’re ready to take my head off quite literally over a fae slave you’ve had less than a day.” Kellen crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.  His dark eyes were intense as they stared at Grae.  He had to know what the other man was doing and thinking. What he was going to drop on his friend was heavy and he needed to know whether the fae should be allowed to live and how bad the fallout would be.  “Other than she is captivatingly beautiful, on that we can both agree.”

Grae, for his part, was barely containing himself, and was struggling to explain why.  He wasn’t Kellen, he didn’t take advantage of the weak and use people for his own ends, but he rarely felt so protective of anyone.   “You want me to explain something I am trying to explain to myself.”  Grae was honest.  “There is something about her that is different.  She intrigues me in a way that none other has before.  I don’t know what it is about her, but she is unlike any other fae, fuck…any other female, I’ve encountered, and it seems that she is constantly making me want to learn more about her and dive into how she thinks.  When she touches me it calms me, and I'm captivated by her, and not just her beauty. Add onto that you were going to give her to Korben of all people?” Now the edge returned to Grae’s voice, and his brow rose.  Irritation had returned to his countenance.   

He stepped forward, clear displeasure showing through his locked jaw and darkening eyes. “Why not just threaten to put her down in the dungeon and have her slowly skinned alive? She has done nothing to deserve that!!  I am looking forward to hearing how you could possibly explain doing that to a simple slave, since that is all you see her as.” It was clear Grae was once more barely containing his anger, but his answers were honest.  Kellen couldn’t even argue much about the description of Korben.  He had a particular desire to hear screams, male or female, it did not matter.  Maybe he should get one of those doctors of the mind for his brother, or put him on the frontline of their next battle.  Either one worked for Kellen,or both.

“Then I hope you are ready to marry your new fae and fully take her as your Bride and not just a Consort.”  Kellen delighted in the confusion that suddenly was awash over Grae’s face, seemingly vanishing his rage in an instant.  It gave him joy to know or have something no one else did.  In this case, it was the answers to what was ensnaring his Chancellor and why he was desiring the fae that was currently cowering in his bathroom.  Kellen smirked as he pushed off the wall to walk about the room a little and gesture as he talked. “I can understand why you chose her, she is quite beautiful.  Were her origins not a slave, I might even consider her for myself.  However, there are prerequisites for my station.” He threw a smirk over to Grae when the other demon growled in warning. “You are also correct that she is very unique, as you will not find another one like her anywhere.  I know.  I killed her parents and siblings, and would have killed her had I known she existed.  A slight, which if you refuse to marry her, might have to be remedied.” Now Grae’s eyes darkened again, the threat of a confrontation again coming to the forefront.

Kellen held up a hand and lightly sighed, he wasn’t in the mood to go to war with Grae.  They had actual wars to wage and fighting with the only being in his entire realm he could trust without question was not on the top of Kellen’s “to do” list. While he enjoyed pushing buttons, it seemed that Grae’s were all set to world destruction, something that he didn’t have time for today.  “Your sweet little fae slave is actually now the Queen of all the fae from Alendago.  She would have become so when I eliminated the rest of her family.  Therefore, she is a direct and present threat.” He saw realization start to dawn on Grae’s face as his friend once again backed down, his jaw even going a little slack.  “Her hair, the way it shifts from snow white to fire red, that is the denotation of royalty.  If she knew more about her kind, she’d be able to control it and as she cannot, it is a beautiful indication of her mood. All those things that intrigue you about her, they all tie back to what she is and where she came from, what makes her so dangerous.  She is the only one of her people who still retains any magic, which is why you or Korben must marry her.  She is royalty, and only one of noble blood can prevent someone else from possibly filling her in on who and what she is.  There are still those amongst us and our enemies who would know what she is and be more than happy to inform her.  So, a small ceremony by the end of the week should suffice, or a large one if you’re feeling generous to her.” 

Grae noted that Karlen wasn’t mentioned in possible Groom’s for Adalicia, but he was still on his three century hunt for his dream redhead that he was sure was real so maybe Kellen had given up trying to distract him.  Not that Grae was going to complain, now he knew more, there was no way he would let Adalicia out of his sight except when necessary.  “She’s a virgin, Kellen.” The look of surprise on Kellen’s face at least gave Grae a small bit of satisfaction that the smug asshole was getting surprised about something that night. “I will marry her, but it’s going to take a little bit of time.  And she’s going to have to learn to completely trust me before I can propose or she’s going to think it’s a trick of some kind and panic. Your little stunt here tonight is not going to have helped anything.  Decades of being in Persephone’s room and ONLY in her room has…” Kellen didn’t even let him finish, he held up a hand and the look on his face said that it was enough said.  

“You cannot tell her who or what she is, but you need to get a harness on her magic.  At least if she is in a relationship with you, no one will question that she knows her true lineage and accidentally tell her.  The other fae might not even remember.  If she figures it out, she could bestow it on all the fae in the castle and that would be…a problem.” The way that Kellen looked at Grae made it clear that was not an option and the outcome would not be good for him, Adalicia, and quite possibly the realm as a whole.

“I’ll take care of it. Have I ever let you down?” Grae’s brows rose as a smirk now formed on his face. Kellen shook his head and Grae continued. “Let me handle it.  Less than a day and she already wanted to stay here, challenged YOU of all people twice on it. I doubt there will be any problem in keeping her happy and contained.” There was a smugness in Grae’s voice and on his face.  It was only surface level. The thought of harm coming to her already had him ready to commit great violence but there was still a nervousness caused by all that had been dropped in his lap.  “You should know that this cannot be forced or we could have another issue like before.” Grea alluded to Kellen’s father’s second wife and the mess that had caused.

Kellen closed his eyes and took a deep breath, remembering his step-mother getting spooked and accidentally fleeing through a window in a parapet.  The rage of his father had been legendary.  “For both our sakes, I hope you are not mistaken.  And you are correct, we do not wish to have a repeat.  A second such incident would breed dissent and distrust in how we treat our females, and you know that would be exploited.” He sighed.  There were times that the mantle of King felt more akin to a noose.  “I’ll let you get back to your evening.” Kellen smirked. “Showering together?  Doubt that virginity will last long.” Kellen chuckled and gave Grae a wink, which got him an eye roll in return, before Kellen left the room.

For a moment Grae stood there thinking.  He wasn’t quite sure what he had just gotten himself into.  The beautiful fae he had decided to take on a whim kept becoming more intriguing and more special.  Now, he had the King’s blessing with her, which would make things exponentially easier in the future.  He wouldn’t tell her that yet, some things he liked keeping back for a while.

[graeadalicia]

5

TW - Intimidation, Manipulation, Mention of Death

The rest of the shower they shared together was slow and gentle.  There was once more few words shared between them, but then there were not many needed.  Each now knew their place in the other's life, and for Adalicia it was both comforting and overwhelming.  Grae was still trying to determine what it was about her that had him so completely enthralled with her that he seemed to have almost lost himself in her. Once they had finished washing one another and enjoying the now mutually relaxed closeness, Grae turned off the water and slid the large door to the shower open.  Leaning out, he pulled  one of the two of the large towels off of the bar affixed to the wall.  Gently he dried Adalicia’s hair and her upper body. Then he wrapped it around her back and under her arms to fasten it in the front between her breasts.  He then grabbed the other towel and dried himself before wrapping it low on his hips and fastening it to the side.  Guiding her out of the shower, he brought her over to the side where he took a soft mint green fluffy robe off a hook and held it for her to put on, then took the no longer needed towel from her before giving her one more soft kiss on her forehead.  He then put on his own robe.  He was just getting ready to give her instructions for getting ready for the dinner they would share together,  when a loud knock was heard on the main door to his suite and he heard Kellen’s voice calling for him.  

Trying not to grind his teeth and crack a molar at the interruption in what was turning out to be a rather enlightening and enjoyable evening, he gave Adalicia  a tight smile. “Wait here, darling.  I will go see what the King requires, and then we shall continue our evening with dinner.” Grae gave her a warm smile, cupped her cheek, then placed a soft kiss on her lips.  The longer he was around her, the more enticing and endearing he found the fae female, and the more she was worming her way into his heart.  He also found himself not caring as much.

He was only a few steps out of the bathroom when Kellen’s fist impacted the door harder this time, causing the heavy wooden door to rattle upon its heavy wrought iron hinges.  “HOLD ON!”  Grae called out loudly, obviously annoyed now.  He had no clue what Kellen wanted, or why it was so all fired important that he was about to beat down the door to his chambers over it.  When he finally reached the door and opened it, Kellen just about knocked him over coming in without so much as a greeting of any kind.  It was all Grae could do to contain his rising irritation at the interruption.

“You did not answer my summons.”  Kellen’s brow was raised as he turned to face Grae who was closing the door.  It was a statement, the question as to why was implied.  His tone was clipped and annoyed, the look on his face one that matched.

“Which summons?  The one regarding your sister?  I did.  The one regarding the Prince that is now a slime mold?  I did.  The one regarding the slime mold’s father that is threatening war? I did. The one regarding making sure your sister knew that tomorrow the two of you are going to go apologize and turn the slime mold back into whatever he looked like previously? I did and she is not happy.” Grae recounted all of the problems he’d had to deal with in the last 36 hours for and with Kellen, his voice sounding rather exasperated with the whole matter, which he was.  He watched Kellen’s brows draw together.  Obviously something had either made him forget that Grae had handled everything, or he had thought he’d summoned Grae and had not.  That didn’t bode well for his evening with Adalicia if it was the latter.  This thought caused Grae’s arms to cross over his chest, displeasure clouding his handsome features.

“You have dismissed all of Persephone’s slaves.  She has been screaming about it for hours.  I do believe my brain is going to escape my skull soon to try and get some peace.  If I did not summon you, I wonder who I did summon.”  Kellen did look distressed as he pondered that.  His sister’s histrionics were legendary, so Grae could only imagine what he was being put through.  Had he not wished to return to what he previously been doing, he might find the situation somewhat humorous.  Given the present situation with Adalicia, he most certainly did not.

As the King rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to stamp out some of the headache that had been building behind his eyes, he continued.  “Where did you send them?  And she says you took one.  I need it back.”  He sighed deeply, waving the fingers of one hand in the air rather dismissively.  Why couldn’t Persephone find someone that could stand her long enough to get engaged and married, or someone she could stand that long?  Kellen was ready to pay whatever dowry was required to get her out of the Palace and make her someone else’s problem for the rest of eternity.  His father had done him no favors by spoiling her since he was the first girl after three boys.

“I dismissed her slaves down to the general quarters.  As for the one I took, she’ll learn to live without her.” Grae replied.  His voice was firm, it was clear there was no room for debate on the last topic, which earned him raised brows from Kellen who had stopped rubbing his nose and now looked his Chancellor and best friend in the eyes.  They had known each other long enough for Grae to see the confrontation coming and knowing there was no way it was now able to be avoided.

“Where is she?” Kellen’s chin rose.  If he was going to have to take on his sister and deal with her hysterics, he at least wanted to figure out why Grae was refusing to return the slave.  Normally Grae didn’t keep slaves in his quarters, Kellen couldn’t remember a time when he even had one.  Now to not only have taken one of Persephone’s but refuse to return it, it raised many questions in his mind.

“Adalicia, please come out here.”  Grae called, his chin rising and head tipping back towards the doorway to his bedroom as he did.  He knew she would obey, and he knew she would be terrified.  There wasn’t much he could do about the latter at the moment.  He would have to figure out how to calm her later, keeping Kellen away from her was his current focus.  Kellen wasn’t always known to be the kindest to the slaves.  Not that he was cruel, he was just…Kellen.  Maybe part of making it up to her would be forgetting a formal dinner after whatever this was, was over.  A little more spoiling of the beauty would be in order, which might be enjoyable for both of them.

Taking a deep breath and remembering to keep her eyes on the floor, as to not provoke the King, whom already seemed to be in a sour mood, Adalicia slowly made her way out of the bathroom, through the Chancellor’s bedroom, and into the sitting room where the two men were standing.  Her steps were hesitant but even, her back straight, and she was able to keep her breathing calm and even.  So graceful was she, that she almost seemed to float across the floor.  One would never have known the torrent of nerves that were coursing through her veins at that moment.  If Kellen had asked her to speak, however, he would have quickly ascertained exactly how she was being affected by the whole matter.  After she had made her way over to where the men were standing, coming behind Grae by about a foot and slightly to the side, she did a perfect courtesy to Kellen, bowing her head even more.

Kellen stood transfixed as he stared at Adalicia from the very moment she crossed the threshold into the room until she stopped moving.  He was utterly absorbed in observing her, but he could also feel Grae’s ire rising;he doubted that his Chancellor knew the reason for his fixation on the fae slave before him.  The fae slave that should not be before him; that should not even be alive.  There would be a recompense for this, but that would be later and would not involve anyone within the current room.  At the moment he had a raging brat of a sister and a now pissed off best friend to try to handle, along with the slave that should should have been dead decades ago.

“And exactly what are your plans for this slave?” Kellen asked, the condescension and arrogance of royalty coming into his voice as his back straightened and his chin lifted more.  He was addressing Grae, but his eyes had not left Adalicia.   The tone was one that was highly unusual when he spoke with Grae.  They had grown up with one another and while Grae technically served him, rarely did Kellen remind him of that.  They were more akin to brothers and spoke to one another as such.  When not in public their candor with one another was a constant.  Never did they speak to one another as they would in court, til now.

“She is to be my consort when her training is complete, which we were preparing to begin before the interruption.” Grae responded, stepping fully between Adalicia and Kellen.  Something was off about Kellen’s behavior and Grae wasn’t liking it one bit.  It did not take any kind of extra powers to ascertain this just from Kellen’s actions alone.  Whatever Kellen’s motivations at the moment, Grae felt the need to protect Adalicia from them.  “Why does it matter?  There are many fae slaves within the castle, give a couple extra to Persephone to make her happy.  I’ll even get her some new baubles when I visit the mines.”

Kellen stood for a moment considering what to do in order to keep the peace and mitigate the damage that was going to come of this delicate situation that he found himself in because of someone else’s failure.  Grae was being completely defiant and more protective than he’d ever seen him of anyone aside from himself, which told him that if he was not careful Persephone was going to be the least of his troubles by far.  Grae couldn't know who, let alone what, she was; therefore there was more at play than just egos, which meant Kellen had to act strategically in order not to have a war under his own castle’s roof.   “Slave, have you always served my sister?” He asked finally, deciding it was best to start at the beginning and get a good grasp on the situation he was facing.  When Grae opened his mouth to say something Kellen shot him a look that had him closing his mouth, but glaring at him in a way that made Kellen very glad Grae was not able to kill by just looking at someone. 

“Yes, my Lord. As long as I can remember. I started going there when I was a child with my mother.” Adalicia was looking at the Chancellor’s heels.  Her voice was low and soft, but she was able to keep it from trembling.  She still did not know what the King wanted with her, but it was clear that Grae was unhappy about whatever was going on, which did not make her feel safe at all. At least he was now fully in front of her in a protective manner.

Kellen’s brows drew together more.  He could ascertain no lie in what she’d just said, but he also knew that it wasn’t the complete truth.  However, it was possible that it was the truth as she knew it.  She would have possibly just been an infant or toddler when her people were defeated and brought to Uffern as slaves. The circumstances of her birth and lineage might be unknown.

“Slave, how would you like to serve the Crowne Prince?” Kellen actually had to use his powers to restrain Grae from coming at him.  He would find out why in a minute, other than the fact that Karlen was a sadist to put it mildly and this fae was captivatingly beautiful. The tendons in Grae’s neck were showing as he fought against Kellen’s bonds, making the King sincerely hope the fae was quick to answer.  If he and Grae had to go head to head, it would be ugly.

“My Lord, I am the Chancellor’s consort.” Adalicia didn’t know what else to say.  She was confused about what was going on and  what was expected of her.  Fear was beginning to grow in her, fear that she was going to say the wrong thing and she was not only going to be ripped from the kindness that The Chancellor had shown her so far, but that she would then be punished for whatever was going on.  Her eyes quickly darted about on the floor, trying to control her breathing and  not cry.  

“You would not want to be a Princess?” Kellen asked, his brows raising along with his voice on the question.  There was a bit of a smirk to his lips, and he could see Grae was about to unleash hell in the room to free himself from the magical bonds Kellen had him in. There were sparks arcing between Grae’s exposed skin and the ward around him. Hopefully the fae would answer very, very quickly, as the two demons were quite equally matched in power, unbeknownst to most.  There was maybe two to three minutes at the very most before Grae would be free.

“You majesty, I wish to the the Chancellor’s Consort, as I am marked.  I do not wish to leave him, Sire.”  Now Adalicia’s voice shook, but she managed to keep standing still, looking at the ground, and so far wasn’t crying.  Fear coursed through her veins like ice water and she began to tremble.

Kellen’s eyes cut to Grae again, whose hands were in fists and was glowing a soft purple.  Time to end things before there was an explosion.  “Go back in the other room and shut both doors behind you as you go, slave.”  He waited for Adalicia to exit the room, respecting her that she had kept her composure through it all.  Then he dropped the wards around Grae.

“Would you mind telling me what in the ever loving FUCK that was about?!” Grae demanded almost at the top of his lungs the second Kellen dropped the bonds and  taking an aggressive step forward.  He was about ready to throttle his oldest and best friend.  The only thing keeping him from actually doing it was that he WAS his oldest and best friend.  The fact he was the King didn’t even play a part.

[graeadalicia]

4

TW - 18+, SMUT

While he said she would understand, she did not in the slightest, but would not argue with him.  He was her new master and he was already far kinder than Persephone had been.  Whatever he found different about her, as long as he kept being nice to her, it couldn’t be bad. Could it?  After all, she now worked for the second most powerful male in the palace, a male she thought was even more handsome than the King himself, though she wouldn’t have said that aloud to anyone. A male who was different than the ones that visited and spent time with the Princess, so in that way he was intriguing to her as well.  She would do what she had to do in order to maintain her station with him. Whatever that meant.  She vowed that to herself.

Without breaking eye contact with her, Grae shifted one of his hands to use his demonic talons to slice both of the straps of the shift she was wearing.  It had already been too large for the svelte fae and was so dirty he could scarcely believe Persephone allowed it in her presence. It fluttered to the floor at her feet,creating a grey pool of fabric around them.. It was then that his eyes broke with hers to sweep down her body and feast hungrily on her form he had only before then been able to imagine. What a feast she was indeed.  Once he had her refined and trained, there was no doubt that there would be many who envied his ability to capture her.  Little would they know where she started. 

“You will make a fine Consort, Adalicia.” It was all he said as he further looked her over, his fingers lightly dancing upon her skin as he made a slow circle of her.  She would more than do, but he wasn’t about to tell a slave that.  For now, that was all that she was.  She had his mark of ownership on her shoulder, she had expressed her wish to be more to him, but until she was ready for him to claim her, that is what she was.  A slave with the body that Persephone would be envious of, and most likely Calliope as well.  He’d slept with both of Kellen’s sisters, and of the three women, he found the female in front of him to be the one he most desired.  An irony that was not lost on him.

Adalicia lightly nodded, not sure what the proper response to that was.  *Thank you* didn’t seem appropriate, but she wasn’t sure what was. She reasoned silence was better than making a mistake.  Having been nude before Persephone many times before made her less self conscious of being so before Grae, but there was something about the way that he was looking her over that made her feel more exposed and bare than she had ever been before.  His current state of undress and arousal certainly had something to do with that.  While she had not had any experience with men herself, she had not been allowed to leave Persephone’s room previously, so she had witnessed all of the Princess' debauchery.  She knew what the look in his eyes meant, and what the men who were aroused as such expected from the Princess. That the Chancellor had told her it was up to her whether she was touched or not had surprised her greatly.

“Do you wish me to finish undressing you, Rhys?” she finally thought to say after they had stood there in a not wholly uncomfortable silence for a few minutes.  Her fingers returned to his hips, lightly running between the waist band of his unfastened pants and his heated skin.  The darkening of his already deep brown eyes was not missed as he reached out to pull her nearer. She was finding that the more he touched her, the more that she wanted to feel his touch, and the same was true for when she touched him.  It was so strange.  It was the complete opposite of how things had been with Persephone. “Does it seem that I like your hands on me, little fae?”  There was a slight tip to his head as he asked this as well as a slight rise to one side of his mouth.  She noticed how much he referred to her as a fae, and it made her wonder if it was to remind her of her station.  Without realizing it, her eyebrows had drawn together.  That did not go unnoticed by Grae. “What?  What troubles you?”

Adalicia’s eyes widened at her thoughts having been transparent. She thought about lying, telling him something stupid.  But then she realized that if she was not honest with him then he might not want to keep her around.  Taking a deep breath, her eyes met his again.  “Why do you refer to me as "little fae"?  Is it so I do not..” Not knowing how to finish her question, she just ended it midway and looked up at him with a look pleading for him to understand how lost she was in this situation.  That morning she had awoken on a cold stone floor with no pillow or blanket even, and now she was being offered the world.  Her hands were still on his skin, she loved the feel of him and the way that his muscles tensed under her touch to almost instantly react. Was this how all women felt when touching a man?  Is that why Persephone never ended a night without one.

Pulling her tight against him, Grae put his forehead against hers so she was forced to look at him.  “When I took you from Persephone today it was to piss her off, but you intrigue me. There is something about you I wish to explore more, but at the moment there is not an endearment that would fit your station in my life or in this castle.  Rather than simply calling you by your name, I wanted something less formal.”  He brushed his lips over hers, getting the faintest hint of the sweet and divine taste he knew lay within her kisses.  Like her blood, it would be something he would have to guard against becoming addicted to.  He now knew why the rule against drinking from the slaves was in place, but of course he was above those rules.  If she was to be his Consort, then he would be free to feed his addiction as he pleased.

“Nothing with us is formal, Ada.  Not when we are alone behind these doors. And in the future, even when we are outside of them.  If you really want it.” Those eyes of hers captivated him, and beckoned for him to get lost in them. He knew one thing, the tension and anger that he’d held all day because of Persephone’s stunt had been alleviated because of the svelte woman in his arms and he aimed to determine why, and also keep her near.  Her touch on his skin had started soothing him.  If there was some kind of power she possessed that worked as a calming agent, that could be very useful to him.  Not to mention when he seduced her into his bed, he was sure she had other much more enjoyable qualities she possessed as well.

Grae’s hands roamed her skin and heated the flesh, leaving trails that she could still feel after he had moved on to lathe attention on to another part of her body. The movements were not fast, but rather his touch was light and soft as he traced each ridge and curve of her, there as no demand or harshness about him at all.  He seemed to relish the feel of her under his fingertips as much as she was enjoying the feel of them there as well.  The Chancellor was so unlike the men that Persephone had preferred to entertain in her room and the contrast perplexed Adalicia some.  How a man of such great power within the realm and the Palace was so quiet and gentle with her made no sense but when was reticent to question it.

There was little that she could do, however, but to trust him at his word that he would do nothing that she was no okay with. She did know what being a Consort entailed, which meant that eventually they would have to consummate the relationship. That made her nervous, but she decided that the only way to get over that was keep moving forward.  As much as she was his property, he had said that he would train her in the ways of court and offered her the position of Consort, so therefore he was hers as well. Maybe it was time to learn more about this man who would be hers as much as she was his, even if the world outside the doors of his chambers didn’t recognize it yet.  

That thought caused her to grow somewhat bolder. Slowly she let her hands begin to explore him as well, which elicited positive responses from him as they stood with silence once more enveloping the room.  It was not uncomfortable or awkward.  Touches and glances spoke far louder than words in those minutes that they were there together.  Part of her wondered if she would wake up and find herself back on Persephone’s floor, this all having been some kind of a dream.  If it was, that would be a crueler fate than any punishment than she could think of.  To have just a brief taste of gentleness and warmth, only to have it all be false.

In the end, it was Adalicia who removed the rest of Grae’s clothing, much to his delight, even if it was done with no teasing or tempting and with the lightest touch.  There was something about her innocence and hesitancy that pleased him more than having someone trying to seduce him as they stripped him of his garments.  That it was not an act put on for his entertainment made it all the better for him.  He was going to be able to train her just the way that he wanted her to be.  Perfect. 

Without words, the way was slowly made to the open shower that was behind Adalicia.  Using his magic, Grae made the water immediately warm; and without having to break the silence that they were both seeming to enjoy between them, gently began to wash her.  The bar of soap between his hand and her skin, he moved slowly and kept his eyes on hers at all times to watch for signs of trouble.  He only washed as low as her waist, but did not skip her perfect breasts.  When his hand not holding the soap cupped her breast and then he ran his thumb over her pebbled nipple, he noticed her breath hitch and she pressed into his touch. 

Once her front was done, he pulled her against him to wash her back, then her hair. He wanted her looking at him the whole time, to judge her reaction to each and every thing he did.  She might be afraid to say something, but her face was more expressive than she knew. As soon as their bodies touched her hands were on him once more and it was all he could do to resist pressing her against the marble in the shower and claiming what she’d already promised to him.  He wasn’t Kellen though, he would keep his word that it was up to her, and so far he was pleased with way it was progressing. He would not press, he didn’t have to.  More than once, their lips found each other for a slow kiss, which coupled with his appreciation of her naked form had his body reacting once more in desire for her. His erection pressing against the soft skin of her stomach did not seem to bother her, another plus in her favor.  He was definitely going to need a succubus that night after the desire he was feeling for Adalicia, which he knew would go unfulfilled.

When he had finished her back, her gorgeous hair, and her arms, a smirk formed on his lips.  Now it was her turn and he was interested to see how she would handle things.  She had already accepted things faster than he could have anticipated and he found himself not minding her innocence and virginity as much as he thought he might.  There were ways to sate his needs until she was ready to begin that exploration.   “Everything below your own waist will be yours to wash, unless you indicate you wish otherwise.” A soft smile came to her face as Grae’s thumb gently caressed her cheek, he was finding he was becoming quite fond of that smile.  “You are to wash everything above my waist.  What you wash between my waist and knees is up to you.  You will not bow to me or kneel, so I will wash lower.”  The truth was he hated anyone touching his feet, but was not ready to tell her that quite yet. The reasoning he gave was good enough for the moment. Her being on her knees in front of him for another reason was something he was looking forward to, but need not be mentioned right now.

Taking the soap from him, Adalicia started with his broad and muscular shoulders.  She gently ran the soap over his skin in circles.  Her gaze alternated between those soulful brown eyes of his and what she was doing.  The more she continued, the more she relaxed and began to initiate the small touches between them, even a kiss or two.  His strong hands caressing her back had her wanting to just relax into embrace and hand herself over to him.  She wasn’t sure what he was doing to her, but it felt like some kind of spell that was drawing her closer and closer to him.

Grae was having a hard time resisting letting his hands wander into places that he had promised her that he would not. The pressure of his hands against her skin did increase as his desire for her rose. Leaning down to her ear as he cupped one of her breasts and let the thumb slide across her nipple again as he once more caught one of his fangs on her earlobe in the way he knew affected her.  This time he elicited a moan which made his cock twitch between them. “You are doing very well, Ada.  I am very pleased.”

Whatever the Chancellor was doing to her, it was leaving her breathless and an ache starting between her legs.  She wanted him to touch her, wanted to touch him, but was also overwhelmed by it all.  He kept giving her some control, choices, and it confused her.  It was all so new to her.  She wanted to please him but was also afraid of disappointing with her inexperience.

The water cascading over both their bodies plus the soap being washed off of his shoulders and chest provided the perfect lubrication for his cock against her stomach.  Every time she shifted, it became harder for him to control himself, even though he knew she was doing nothing purposefully to tease him.  Adalicia herself was the aphrodisiac.

When Adalicia went up to her toes to reach the back of his shoulders, Grae couldn't stifle the groan the friction of her body against his cock elicited. It would have only taken a few more inches increase and when she went flat footed again he would have claimed her.  Instead it was more tease as her body slid against him again, her name sliding from his lips in a breathless moan next to her ear as he once more teased at her breast.

Grae’s reactions emboldened Adalicia some.  She had witnessed Persephone with men, and she could feel Grae’s erection against her stomach.  She wanted to touch him.  She wanted to be touched, but was still hesitant, nervous.   In the end, she kissed him, letting it slowly deepen while she set the soap in the little dish coming out from the wall.  Their eyes being closed somehow giving her bravery, she reached between them and her fingers wrapped around his cock, giving a stroke from base to tip.

"Fuck, Ada…" Grae broke the kiss, not having expected her to be quite so bold.  When he saw the flicker of doubt flash in her eyes, he kissed her again harder and deeper.  His tongue swept her mouth, relishing the sweet taste of her he knew was something no other would ever know.  The fingers of one hand tangled in her wet hair while the other hand gently guided her in the way to best pleasure him.  A growl rumbled through his chest as she found just the right rhythm and grip, his hips moving with her now.  

The shower was filled with the sounds of soft moans and their heavy breathing.  Grae neared his release faster than normal, breaking their kiss to look into her gorgeous eyes.  Normally he would have desired more, demanded more, forced more but with her it was different.  She was different.  Looking in those emerald green eyes of hers it was clear to him, if he fucked another woman it would be her face he saw instead.  

When he reached his release, once more he kissed her deeply. The taste of her causing his head to swim as he coated both their stomachs in cum.  It actually left him a little light headed, a first, and he knew what he needed to do.  Must do.

Their lips parting, their eyes once again met. "You are full of surprises, my beauty."  His hand moved from her hair to her cheek to caress it ever so softly.  "You have secured your place as Consort." He pulled her in close. "No other shall touch me as you do. This is my vow to you, Ada."  

As she looked up into Grae’s eyes, Adalicia felt mute.  She had not expected that declaration.  Even being his Consort, she had not expected such. He truly was hers as she was his. Her mind fought to process it all, but was so stunned she was failing. 

Grae’s head dipped and he kissed her softly again, no rush or pressure.  Whatever this was, he was going to ensure that she felt secure in it.  When it had changed from him owning her to him feeling the fierce need to protect her, he wasn't sure. He did know that there was something more at work and she kept proving his choice earlier was correct, something he was not going to jeopardize.

One more thing needed fixed as well, but that was easily handled.  After the kiss, his head dipped to let his fangs barely break her skin.  Unlike the earlier marking, the changing of the mark to Consort took but a second. Then their eyes were once more upon one another.  "I know you are confused, Ada.  In time you'll understand." Grae’s voice was warm and calm, his expression one of fondness.  "We have a lot to learn about and to teach one another."

[graeadalicia]

3

Triggers - ownership, slavery, manipulation

“Together?” Adalicia’s voice had a higher pitch and seemed tighter as she asked.  Her breath was coming faster, but her chest seemed tighter.  He couldn’t mean that, could he?  When he looked back at her with both brows raised, she realized that was indeed what he intended to do and her heart started to race even more, almost making her dizzy in the process. “But..I…I’ve never…”  She fumbled over her words when she tried to talk again.  There was a rising sense of panic.  He was going to be naked…she was going to be naked…THEY were going to be naked…TOGETHER!

“Do you not trust me to be a gentleman?” There was a smirk on Grae’s face as one brow remained raised and his head slightly tilted to the side.  He was actually amused at her panic, the pink rushing to her cheeks, her stumbling over words.  She was quite adorable, and in other circumstances he would have been everything BUT a gentleman, but there was still something about her that intrigued him and he was going to be patient for now.

“Well, I didn’t say that.  I mean, I wouldn’t think you would…I don’t mean that you are…well…” She had no idea what to answer and the more she fumbled and got flummoxed as her free hand gesticulated in the air the more it seemed to amuse him, and the closer back to her he got.  This only served to make her more nervous and cause her to stumble over her words more.  Her eyes didn’t leave his though; his that were crinkling at the edges more as he smiled and then began to chuckle.  That chuckle, so deep and rich it made her stomach flop and her words rush faster and stumble more.  Adalicia knew she was making a fool of herself and tears almost pricked at her eyes from it.

Finally his finger came to rest over her lips, effectively silencing her as he chuckled again looking down into her troubled emerald eyes.  “You belong to me now, Adalicia. You are mine, but I will not violate you.  If you wish to touch, or be touched is completely up to you.” His finger still softly on her lips, he leaned forward and placed a chaste and soft kiss upon her forehead.   When he pulled back, Grae could see her relax and there was a slight nod as he removed his finger.  She already trusted him, interesting.  He liked it.  “There are things that may be required of you that will be new and different.  We’ll get through those. Do not challenge me, but you may question. You know the difference?”  She nodded while biting her lower lip and Grae swore she was weaving a spell over him of enchantment.  He was the one powerless to resist her at that moment, not that he understood it.  “Now that we have an agreement,” he tapped her lips with his finger again, “come with me, my lovely little fae.”  He ran his hand gently over her cheek and the side of her hair before turning to again lead her out of her room and into his bedroom and towards the private bathroom.  “I have acquired some items for you.  When you have earned more trust from me, you will be able to pick out your own from the local vendors, or elsewhere that you may desire.”  He stopped just inside the door to the bathroom and pointed to feminine scented items on a shelf in the shower and bathtub area that had her head tilting as she studied them.

“Thank you, Rhys.” Just like the dresses, shoes, and other items in the wardrobe in her room, HER ROOM, she didn’t really know how to respond to him getting her nice things. And a room, how did she thank him for giving her a room?  Her own room and a bed not on the floor?  She was confused.  He seemed to like her near, so she moved closer to him and smiled as she stretched up to place a kiss on his cheek since he was a bit taller than her.  

“I told you that you will be taken care of, and I will personally see to all of it.” He winked over at her with a slight smirk, releasing her hand to slip his arm behind her and around her waist.  Without him even having to encourage her any, she pressed into his side.  “I was not lying.  I will make sure you are very happy.”  Not even he was sure why he had said it, but he meant it.  When she smiled up at him, it did something to him.  Her touch, a look from those brilliant green eyes, her voice saying his name, all of it was like he was back as a young man finding a new love, not the Chancellor with his slave/Consort.  Then again, he knew that there was something special about her, now to determine what?

“Then I will have to make sure you are also happy and taken care of.” Her fingers nimbly took care of the buttons on his shirt without further words having to be exchanged between them.  When she had taken care of all of the ones down the middle, she made sure to undo the cufflinks at the end of his sleeves and drop them into a little dish that was on the counter. Adalicia wasn’t sure if that’s what it was there for, but he didn’t correct her.  Then she moved to the front of him, one hand taking each side of the shirt and pushing it open to reveal his smooth skin and well muscled chest and torso.  Her teeth caught her lower lip as her thumbs ran over his skin, causing a feeling to start in her that she wasn’t used to, but kind of liked.  She was nervous, but she was duplicating what she had seen Princess Persephone do many times with the male lovers that she had returned with to her rooms.  Persephone had no modesty, so there was little Adalicia was not aware of regarding seduction, even if she had never had opportunity to practice any of it herself.

Grae watched Adalicia with a pleased expression and rising pulse.  He hadn’t even had to say anything to her, and she had taken initiative on her own. Her touch was soft and light as a breeze across his skin, and it already had him anticipating it in other places, and the blood flowing there once more.  Her hands going up and over his shoulders to slide his shirt down his arms brought her closer to him and while he wasn’t able to embrace her, he showed his pleasure by kissing her forehead, then when she tipped her head up to look at him, he kissed her properly.  “You’re a fast learner.” His voice was deeper and his expression spoke to his appreciation of her taking initiative.

 A soft blush rose to her cheeks immediately as she freed his hands from his shirt sleeves, then tossed it over into the basket where he pointed.  “We take care of each other, right?”  Her eyes returned to those darkening browns that seemed to be studying her intently.  She thought she might be beginning to understand what was going to be expected and how things would go.  At least that was what she was hoping as their eyes remained locked and her hands once more softly roamed over his smooth chest.

“That is exactly right, my sweet fae.” A pleased smile formed on Grae’s face as his arms encircled her waist and pulled her flush against him.  The soft feel of her hands on his skin was exquisite, not to mention the feel of her lithe body pulled tight against his, and he was already scheming on the many ways he could ensure that he felt both of them often. “You are smart as well as beautiful,” Grae leaned down so his lips were close to her ear, “both will serve you well with me, Ada.”  His voice was low and he once more let his fang catch on the sensitive skin just under her ear.  The soft catch of her breath and the way her skin pebbled in reaction to him had him smirking as he pulled back. It wasn’t easy to pull back, he wanted another taste of her, but wanted her to offer this time.  

The way that he made her feel, Adalicia had to keep reminding herself that he was her boss, but also that he owned her.  She was nothing more than another slave to him, property.  Nothing special.  Even if he did treat her better than Persephone treated…well anyone…it didn’t mean that she was more to him than a thing, the vase that had been in front of the window in his bedroom.  Although she still hadn’t seen another fae slave in his employ, nor had he mentioned one.  Not when she had first been brought to his quarters, and not since waking up. So far she seemed to be his only slave, which puzzled her.  Persephone had a whole staff of them, over a dozen in fact.  Some with specific jobs and then others that were to do everything, if she “liked” you.  “I always want to be in your good graces, sir.” She looked up at him through lowered lashes, still feeling the effect of his fang on her neck and his voice low in her ear. There was a growing desire for him, a longing physical and otherwise. It thrilled and terrified her equally.

“Ada,” there was a bit of chastisement in his voice as he tucked some curls behind one of her ears. “I told you to call me Rhys.”  Their eyes were locked but he felt the buttons to his pants slowly releasing, which made it harder to concentrate with her fingers brushing against his throbbing cock.  So many ideas of what he wanted her to do, what he wanted to do to her, were going through his mind, but he would not rush or force a thing.  He could, he had every right, but he wasn’t Kellen and he was Korben.  Of the other males in positions of power, he was most like the King’s brother Karlen, which sometimes was not in his favor. And apparently now they could add a lust for redheads to their list of similarities.  Twisting a curl around his finger he pulled just a bit tighter. “You were doing so well…”

Suddenly she was nervous, causing her to swallow as his gaze seemed to intensify and his words made her chest feel tight. When his pants had been fully unfastened, her hands rested on his slim hips trying to decide if she was supposed to remove them or he was going to.  “It will be a change, Rhys.” Adalicia made sure to use his name now. “I’m not used to calling my master by their first name.”  As much as she tried, she was having a hard time evening out her breathing and keeping from trembling.  The last thing she wanted to do was ruin everything.

So she was still struggling with that was she?  That was understandable and something Grae would make sure to take care of reinforcing often.  Although her calling him “sir” in that moment had made his cock twitch in a way that he hadn’t expected and made it harder to chastise her.  What was it about this fae slave that was so different than the other females he was around?  Most of the other fae he felt sorry for, however Adalicia made him feel something altogether different.  “You can be treated as a slave, you can be treated as an advisor, or…” he pulled her flush against him making her gasp as his erection pressed against her stomach, “you can be treated as a Consort to the Chancellor.” His forehead came to rest very gently against her as he never broke eye contact with her.  Why he offered the last option was almost a mystery to him, but in truth he knew. “Only the slaves call me *sir*and *Lord*. What do YOU want to be, Ada?” Even as he was saying it, he wasn’t sure why he was giving her the choice to be something more than he had intended. He was following his intuition, something new for him.  If it were Kellen, he’d say that it was following the whim that struck him at the moment, but those green eyes were doing something to him that he’d be hard pressed to explain even to his best friend. If she was nothing more than a slave or advisor to him, she could be taken away and this one, this fae, she was too special to let through his grasp.  She did something to him, something unique.

Ada blinked at him for a moment, almost sure that she heard him wrong.  She got a choice?  She wasn’t sure that she’d ever been given a choice in anything, and here the second most powerful male in the realm was giving her a choice.  Not just a choice, Grae was giving her a choice of what she wanted to be to him; which meant that he had one of those he wanted her to be.  She did not believe he would give her an option that was one he truly did not want.  He was handsome, powerful, kind, and so far gentle.  He confused her, he made her pulse race with a feeling she’d never know before, and looked at her like she was actually a person and not a thing.  So taking a deep breath and then pressing her lips together firmly as she worked up the courage, she finally let her hands slide along his skin and pressed into his lower back as she gave him his answer.  “If I had the power to choose, I would want to be YOUR Consort, regardless of your position, Rhys.”  This time she was careful to use his name. 

Grae smirked, “I did ask which you wanted, didn’t I?." He tipped her head back slightly to slowly kiss her. His lips pressed against hers in a gentle caress before it deepened for their tongues to dance, giving him that taste of her he had been craving.  Instantly she was addicting to his taste buds and he wanted more of her, all of her, in a way he wasn’t familiar with.  His fingers tangled in silken curls, pressing her to him and keeping her from going anywhere.

When he pulled back from her, now desiring her even more than before, he was a bit smug to see the growing desire in her own eyes. "There is something different about you, Ada, and I aim to figure out what it is." His eyes swept her face, over her hair, and down across her bustline.  She was perfect, far too perfect to have just been a fae slave, especially with the way that she was affecting him.  Maybe he would at least have to introduce her to Kellen and get his take on things.

"I do not understand how you mean." She searched his eyes for an answer, but got none.  

“You will.”

[graeadalicia]

CHAPTER 2

WARNINGS - Not Real, Fantasy, Ownership/Slavery, Romance, Spicy

Sometime later Adalicia’s eyes fluttered open and when she did she saw the room was illuminated by a small lamp next to her, which cast a light teal glow, due to its shade, on her surroundings.  Slowly her eyes blinked and she realized that she was not in the Chancellor’s sitting room any longer, and her brows slightly furrowed in confusion.  As the room came into focus, the wallpaper was a very pale floral that looked far too feminine to be something he’d have in his rooms and she could see two corners simultaneously, so the room was much smaller than the one that she had been in previously.  However she had no memory of getting there.  Slowly she sat up to find herself on a single bed outfitted in fine mint green and teal linens.  The floor was the same marble as the Chancellor’s room, but it seemed that she had her own small enclave off of his chambers.  There was not a door, but rather a curtain that separated where she was from one of the rooms of his suite, which gave her a modicum of privacy.

At the other end of the room from where the small bed and end table with the lamp on it were, was an elegantly carved dark wood wardrobe.  Cautiously Adalicia made her way down to it, her bare feet making not a sound on the stone floor, and opened one side.  It was filled with fine dresses and other garments. Opening the other door, the whole thing was filled with fine clothing that made her eyes go wide with surprise.  Everything within was of the same quality as what Persephone owned.  The bottom had two rows of shoes, again fit for a Princess but seemingly put in there for her.  All were finer than anything she had ever owned before, or even seen outside of what the Princess had owned.  What would be expected of her to pay the Chancellor back for all of this?  There was a growing trepidation and sense of fear growing in her heart surrounding that question.

“Do you like them?”  Grae’s deep and rich voice behind her made Ada jump and she almost screamed in surprise.  Losing her balance as well, she almost fell forward into the wardrobe before Grae grabbed her by the waist and brought her flush with her back against his torso.  “I apologize, Ada, I did not mean to scare you.  I was just coming to check on you.”  His voice was calm and soft next to her ear as he gently held her to him. If he had been asked, he would have admitted he rather liked her there. 

Her heart was thundering in her chest as Ada leaned back against him, finding his arms encircling her comforting and giving her a sense of safety that she was unused to.  It warmed her and made her more nervous simultaneously.  The Chancellor confused her and was far different than the few times she had seen him interact with the Princess, both in official and personal matters.  “No reason to, I just did not hear you come in, si..Rhys.”  She caught herself and made sure to use the name he had requested.  She must do things right if she wanted to keep on his good side, and she did want to do that,  “I was just looking around the room, and at all of these beautiful things.  Are all of these mine?”  Her eyes moved across all of the beautiful clothing and shoes before her once more, still feeling as if she was in some kind of dream that she would wake up from at any moment..  It was hard for her to believe that such things would be hers, for she had done nothing to earn them and she knew her station within the walls of the Palace.. These were the types of things like she had taken care of before for Persephone, and never could have dreamed of owning. 

“Of course they are, as you will now be my personal attendant and secretary.  You will be taken care of as long as you do as you are supposed to.”  Grae kept his voice soft as the backs of his fingers lightly stroked her neck, he could tell soft and gentle would be the best way to get what he wanted and needed when dealing with her.  This was a plus.  While Grae never had a problem being firm and demanding when needed, he preferred to leave that to matters of state and not personal things.  Although her head pressed gently against his touch as she enjoyed the tenderness, Adalicia's eyes remained transfixed before her on the clothing and accouterments he had obtained for her.  That she was still standing there in awe pleased him; the more that he could engender himself to her, the easier things would pass between them and he could obtain all he desired.  One thing he disliked about the Courtesans he normally had to deal with was their arrogance and their expectation of things.  Spoiling his fae might become something he’d enjoy.  Whatever this was between them could be mutually beneficial, and enjoyable.  

“Is there anything you need me to do now?”  There was only the tiniest tremble in Ada’s voice.  Her fear of the Chancellor was starting to ebb slightly with how he was treating her, in all ways.  His touch was still soft and gentle, his voice had been warm and calm, the difference between his disposition and that of the Princess was in direct opposition and she found herself craving to stay with him, although she feared she would have to return to Persephone at some point.  What the Princess wanted, she most certainly normally got.  King Kellen assured it.

There were many things that immediately entered Grae’s mind, but he had the restraint not to say them.   One day, maybe even soon, but not yet.  "We need to get you bathed and changed.  You are still covered from the dust of the floor that Persephone had you upon, and I wish to see you in the proper dress of a woman of the court."  One hand slid the thin strap of her sheath off one shoulder then paused as his eyes began to trace the lines of her body from above.   "Then you will have dinner with me and your training will begin, Ada."  Letting the strap drop so that it hung limply against her upper arm, he raised his hand again and his fingers caressed her collarbone as he continued to hold her against him.  The feel of her silken skin combined with his view of her curvaceous yet svelte body had him hardening against her back.  No doubt she would feel it, and he wondered how she would react.

"You will learn to behave as a Lady of the Court.  When I am attending to business, you will be my eyes and ears for everything that is going on around me while my attention is on the matters at hand.  I need someone to watch for treachery.  That will be you.” Gently Grae turned Ada to face him, but kept one arm around her waist so that she could  not get far from him.  His fingers trailed along the edge of her face, barely touching.  Her skin was like silk and there was a building compulsion within him to keep running his fingers over it. “Do you understand?" A finger twirled a lock of the hair that changed colors in a way that still captivated him.

"Yes, I do.  I have had to do something similar before when Princess Persephone had guests she did not trust.” Ada kept her eyes on his deep blue ones that were looking at her with an expression she was trying to read.  There was a firmness in it, but also a kindness that she did not understand.  While he had said nothing regarding it, she could feel the physical evidence of his desire and wondered when that demand would come, and in what form.  The debate warred in her head on whether or not to address it because what he was describing sounded too easy and Ada worried that there was more she might not be understanding yet.  She would do what he had said fully though.   If it kept her safe and in a room like this, she would spy on anyone he wanted.  “I will ensure you are aware of all that transpires when you are occupied.” Her hands came to rest on his broad chest as she continued to look up at him, waiting for further demands to be meted out.

"Good, my little fae." Grae’s voice dropped and seduction entered it, but there was no missing that he was pleased.  "You keep me safe, and I'll keep you safe too." *and all to myself* he didn't add but thought with a smirk.  Fae slaves were normally not so protected, but there was something about Ada that was unique and he wasn't going to share it, even with Kellen. He would be greedy, and not apologetic for it in the least. 

He leaned down so his lips brushed against her ear when he spoke so quietly that it was almost a whisper.  "You will have no secrets from me, Ada.  None. Hide nothing at all.  And do not reveal any of my secrets to anyone.  Those are all that will get you punishment.  Anything else and we can…negotiate a way for you to make amends if there are any problems." As they had been standing there, Grae’s fingers had not stopped caressing her skin with a touch as soft and gentle as a whisper's breath. Now he could feel her flesh pebble and that reaction pleased him.  In such a short time, his choice of her had more than been confirmed as a good one.  “I promise the Princess never rewarded you the way I will, little fae.” He caught one of his fangs on her delicate earlobe for just a second before he righted himself once more.

Grae’s heated breath across the skin of her neck, his deep voice in her ear, his fingers dancing across her skin and the way that he was talking had Adalicia almost moaning.  Then when his fang had caught her ear, it had taken all her strength not to, but she could not stop the stuttering of her breath and the racing of her heart that he caused.  There was no doubt that the Chancellor was able to do many things that Adalicia was unused to, but did enjoy.  Knowing his desire for her only seemed to evoke a calling of its own.  The chancellor was beyond handsome and there was not a female within the walls of the Palace that did not desire him, so for him to be holding her in such a way and acting as such had Adalicia certainly wishing she was more experienced.   “No secrets, Rhys.  I can do that.”  Once more her eyes stayed upon his as her head nodded softly.  She wanted to judge his reaction, to ensure that she was doing as she was supposed to.

“I have no doubt that you will.”  Gently he cupped the side of her face with one his hands, the silken curls of hers bunching up between his palm and her cheek.  Without much thought or warning, simply because he wanted to and no one was going to stop him, his head dropped and his lips brushed over hers.  The slight pressure as she leaned into him caused a grin and for him to hold her tighter.  He would rush nothing, but Grae would also not reject any interest she showed, or affection she willingly bestowed. The more she responded and wanted on her own, the easier everything would go.

The kiss lingered longer than he had intended when he had first kissed her, but Grae was not complaining.  From the look in Adalicia’s eyes when he pulled back from her, she was not going to be either.  The beautiful fae he had chosen for no other reason than her unusual fae beauty still intrigued him.  She was not giggling and flirting like so many of the house fae did in the presence of any of the royal males.  Part of that was her trepidation and figuring out her new role, he was sure, but another part of it seemed to be a calm that was innate in her.  That calm seemed to bring out a calm in him as well, a unique thing for a female.

“Now we need to get cleaned up, Ada.  Come with me.”  He stepped back from her slightly and took one of her hands in his, turning to head out of the room and towards the bathroom of his suite of rooms.

[graeadalicia]

Grae glanced at the dress hanging against the door. He was trying to remember if he'd ever had such a thing hanging in his chambers. Adalicia was not the first female of any type to have taken up residence within them, but he could not remember anything nearly so frilly and feminine. Most of the other females had been more sexual and sensual, yet one more thing about the petite female that flitted about his presence that he found intriguing in its uniqueness.

[graeadalicia]

Chapter 1

Grae’s fist impacted the door to Persephone’s chambers with a thunderous sound, his face a mask of barely contained rage.  When a diminutive fae opened the door, she was almost knocked over by the tall demon as he barged in without awaiting an invite of entry.  All the other fae in the room immediately went to one knee with their heads bowed as the King’s Chancellor addressed the Princess, several of them almost quivering in fear.  There was no doubt among them that he was enraged, though none knew why.

“Did you really just turn the Prince of Kartellion into a slime mold?  And then teleport him back to the middle of his father’s dinner table in the middle of a grand banquet?”  Grae’s hands fisted, his fingers spread wide, then fisted again as his rage was barely controlled.  He had just come from dealing with an emissary from the King of Kartellion, who was understandably none too pleased about the state his youngest son was in.  He was even less pleased that his son was stuck that way at the moment.  Having to deal with the situation and keep there from being war over it did not leave Grae with much patience left for any of Persephone’s usual antics.

“He groped me uninvited.  I most certainly did, and I will not apologize.”  Persephone’s tone was dismissive and her chin lifted in defiance.  She didn’t even turn her head to look at Grae.  She would not be intimidated by her brother’s lackey, and she most certainly wouldn’t be shamed by him for fending off some overly amorous suitor.  “Adalicia, come finish helping me dress.”  A hand waived in the air dismissively, she was done with the Chancellor and she had no plans to address the matter further.  Her brother and he could handle it, she was sure.

A lithe and graceful fae rose, averting her gaze from the Chancellor and moved to the side of the Princess.  “Yes, Mistress.”  Her voice was almost melodic as she responded.  Grae watched her closely as she moved, the gracefulness of each deliberate movement as she helped the princess into her elaborate dress was fluid and almost entrancing.  The fae’s skin was fair as ivory and her hair seemed to shift from a coppery red to a platinum blond as the light reflected off of it.  She was different than any he’d encountered.  Unique.  It intrigued him, and after a long life there was very little that did.

“Oh, you will apologize, Persephone, your brother will ensure it and accompany you when you do it first thing in the morming.  I have already spoken to him, and he is as displeased as I am regarding this since none in the Prince’s realm can return the prince to his prior form.  And until you do, you can dress yourself.  Your slaves are now mine.”  Grae’s hand shot out and grabbed the fae’s delicate one firmly yet gently, stopping her movement instantly.

Adalicia froze.  Her whole body trembled in fear.  The Chancellor had a hold of her hand and while he was being gentle, she did not know what to do.  She did not dare look at him, so instead cast her eyes to the ground.  “Yes, My Lord.”  she said softly, hoping that was the right response.  If not, she was sure that there would be swift and probably painful reprisal.

“NO!  They are mine!”  Persephone spun to face Grae, who still had a hold of HER fae!  One of her favorites because Adalicia never tore or ruined her things the way some of the others did.  “You can’t have HER especially.  My brother will remedy this and you will apologize.  I AM THE PRINCESS!”  She screamed in Grae’s face then stormed out of the room.

Grae hadn’t moved, and it had taken all of his will not to.  After the tense negotiations, he had wanted to throttle the Princess, a desire that lingered still within him.  His hand still held one of the fae’s he realized, and he looked over to her.  “You, you will come with me.”  Once she had nodded, he looked over to all of the others who were still kneeling with heads bowed.  None of them were particularly interesting to him.  They all looked like the typical fae slaves that were everywhere in the castle.  Boring, plain, and almost seemed to disappear into the background unnoticed.  But the one he still had a hold of, now she was special.  “The rest of you can go.  You will get new assignments in the morning.”  Grae nodded and they all almost ran to the small door in the wall of Persephone’s chambers.

“Now, Adalicia is it?”  Grae turned his attention to the fae he had yet to release, and she nodded.  A second later they were in his chambers, Grae having traced them there for more privacy.  His chambers had wards around them for secrecy, silence, and protection. “You will not be hurt, but you will attend to me.  Do you understand?”

“No.”

“Are you refusing?” Grae had barely finished his question when her head began shaking in answer.  The movement made the curls of her hair fan out slightly, catching the light again and making them look aflame. “So you do not understand what I mean?”  Now she nodded in confirmation.  His fingers shifted to take a different hold on her hand from the one he had before, and he drew her nearer to him.  “You will see to me the way you did to Persephone.”  

“Yes, sire.” Adalicia still wasn’t looking at his face, but at the middle of his chest, which was closer now to her than she’d ever been to a man before.  As a servant of the Princess, she only ever was in her presence in the castle besides the other female fae.  She knew her place in the court and in the castle, and was careful to never step out of line.  It was all she could do not to shake or pass out, wondering what all would be expected of her.  Why had the Chancellor chosen her?  Was it because she was Persephone’s favorite?

“Are you afraid of me?” Grae’s voice softened and he pulled her against him.  

“Yes, sire.”  Her voice trembled and a tear fell from Adalicia’s eye.  As she was swallowing, her eyes closed and she felt a warm finger wipe the tear. “Why?”

“I...I am unsure of all you want from me and I know the cost for failure, sire.”  Fear was blooming within her breast and beginning to weave through her veins. It was cold and creeping, freezing her from the inside out, even through the room was plenty warm and the Chancellor even warmer.  Other than her father, no male had ever touched her and now she stood in the chambers of the most powerful male in the castle aside from the King, and he had pulled her close and wanted her to attend to him.  If she failed him, she did not know truly what would happen.  She also did not truly know what he wanted with or from her.

Grae looked at the fae before him and put two fingers under her chin to slowly tip her head back to make her look up at him.  The eyes that met his finally were the most startling color of green, like fired emeralds.  “You’ll look at me from now on when you talk to me.  Understand?”  His brows rose as he asked the question, indicating it was not a question, but an order.  Her soft nod made him smile.  “Good.  You will be with me from when I rise, help me dress, assist with my activities, and whatever I desire.  Are you touched?” He needed to know.  

She had known that question would come but still she could not answer without her breath quickening and her head swimming. “No, sire.”  Her voice was strained and thin and she fought not to cry. “Then you will remain that way.”  Grae could see the fear in her.  What had Persephone done to her fae?  “You will be safe here.”  While he had no plans on forcing a thing, there was something about her that kept drawing his interest and intriguing him.  The Princess could have all the others back, but this one he was going to keep.  Slowly, so as not to spook her, he brought her hand up to his lips and brushed a kiss across the backs of her knuckles, noticing that her skin smelled of a summer’s meadow and there was a slight taste of honey.

Adalicia slowly nodded, keeping her eyes on him.  Her heart was starting to slow, the realization that he was not going to violate her or hurt her immediately was sinking in.  His temper seemed much more even than the Princess’.  She still did not understand why he had chosen her or for what purpose but she supposed that would come in time.

“I will have your things brought here and you will have your own bed, but you will not leave.” Grae didn’t understand why he was being so possessive.  It was not like she could escape the castle even if he allowed her out of his sight, but there was something about this fae that soothed his senses even now.  He was reticent to allow her to be away.  Yes, he was a greedy bastard, but he would reward her for all that she was about to give up.

“Yes, sire.”  At least he was not going to make her sleep on the stone floor anymore.  Even if it was just a mattress on the floor, it would be better than what she had before.  “I do not have anything other than two dresses, sire.”

Grae was left speechless for almost a full minute. “That will be remedied.  I cannot have you looking like this when I am on Court business.”  He saw her flinch and realized that must have come out harsher than he realized.  “You are beautiful, Ada,” he shortened her name because he wanted to, “but this dress is almost rags and I am the Chancellor.”  She nodded.  “I will see to your clothing and jewels.”  He saw her eyes go wide and was inwardly pleased.  She had no idea what she was in for.  At least now he could get the Courtesan whores off his back at functions if nothing else.  

“Yes, sire.”  Adalicia felt stupid repeatedly saying that, but she didn’t know what else TO say.  Normally she didn’t speak at all.  The Chancellor was the first one to really look at her, and she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to be acting or what she was supposed to be saying.

“Rhys.  You are to call me Rhys. Do you understand?”  She nodded.  Good.  Kellen called him Grae.  Everyone else called him Chancellor.  She would use his middle name.  It would give her familiarity but not his first name.  Not…yet.  “And you are MINE now, which means I’ll need to mark you.”  

“How?”  Adalicia swallowed.

This was the one thing Grae was going to do without permission or even a warning.  He didn’t need it, he was the Chancellor and she now belonged to him.  He let go over hand and banded an arm around her waist as he bent his head down close to her ear. “Like this, Ada.”  A second later his fangs dropped and he gently sank them into her vein.

Nervous didn’t even describe how Ada had felt waiting to see what he would do, but as soon as his fangs broke her skin, her eyes rolled back and she was almost limp in his arms.  Pleasure flowed through her and almost on impulse her arms had gone around his neck.  She swore she heard him chuckle.   Mark her as property, Grae had to remind himself.  He wanted to mark her as a Consort, but she wasn’t.  Yet.  It was harder to remember that when he got his taste of her, and knowing she had tiny fangs she could drink from him too.  He’d had a fae lover centuries before, and looked forward to introducing many things to Ada.  When he pulled back from Ada, he swept her up in his arms and took her over to his couch.  She had been overwhelmed. 

“You are beautiful, Ada, and you are MINE.  Don’t forget that.”  He kissed her forehead after he’d laid her down, then went to make arrangements for her.

[graeadalicia]

Starting tomorrow....