FOREVER KNIGHTS: #5 Subjugation of Beasts

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country

SEBASTIAN

Catching the sound of boots heading downstairs, Elsabet emerged in the hall, glimpsing the top of a blonde head disappearing across the foyer and out the front-door.

She was shocked when confronted by a woman’s voice. “He wouldn’t allow you to be locked in.”

Elsabet’s head swung to find the hazy outline standing demurely in the hall. “Calisto?”

“If you recall, you’ve never been locked up when he’s here. Not since that first Christmas-his gift to you.”

“It appears his interest was fleeting.” Bitterness tinged Elsabet’s tone.

“Why?” Calisto laughed. “Because he speaks to another woman?” Calisto shook her head as though Elsabet would never learn. “Didn’t you see the lingering look he sent that window,” Calisto nodded toward Elsabet’s chamber. “when he thought he might get a glimpse of you?”

Elsabet worried her lip.

“Your jealousy is misplaced.”

“I’m not jealous.” Elsabet grumbled.

“You are.” Calisto sighed. Amusement still flavoring her voice.

Paining Elsabet to hear.

“It’s good. There’s no shame in having feelings for him. He’s a good man.”

“One that returns with claw marks from other women. Smelling of whore’s perfume. Sodden with drink.”

“You assume much, Friend.” Calisto murmured chidingly. “You don’t know where he goes or what he does.”

“You’re right in that!” Elsabet snapped.

“You wish to go with him in his travels?” Calisto probed.

Elsabet flushed darkly.

“Ask him.” Calisto urged.

“Never.” Elsabet shook her head. “He’d say no.”

“And what if he said yes?”

Elsabet’s body wound with tension as a barrage of thoughts tormented her.

“It’d be mighty hard then…” Calisto murmured. “Holding onto this hatred for him, for keeping you captive…”

Elsabet swallowed a huge lump which felt like it blocked her airway.

Bast visited Elsabet as Quandary that night. After I missed her all afternoon. He nestled with her until hearing her breaths deepen with slumber.

Dorena was lovely company today. But she isn’t Elsabet. Curled behind her as the panther he reached a paw toward her hair. Drawn to touch her. Black hairs dropped to the cream-colored coverlet as his fur melted into long, slim fingers as he ached to touch her skin, her hair. Anything.

But as she shifted her shoulder, his hand instantly turned back into a furred paw.

Knowing he couldn’t sleep, he retreated downstairs to lurk in his library. But her scent lingered on him from her blankets. Making his body tight.

He spent the early morning hours pacing restlessly. Book balanced in his palm as he tried to dismiss thoughts of the scantily clad woman sleeping so soundly upstairs. Soft hair framing her face like satin.

Screw it! He tossed down the book. Shoving a hand through his hair and rummaging through his jar of exotic nuts. Plucking through to find his favorites.

But nothing diverted from images of her face, haunting him. Her impassively looking at him over a meal, a brief flare of excitement when she’d run downstairs to greet him, all the times she’d flashed rare smiles or when flickers of torment crossed her eyes.

Her every emotion is beautiful. All he wanted was to see more. To know more...

“You’re restless.” Dorena said softly as she wandered to the doorway. Hesitating at the threshold as she sensed this was the lone room, she wasn’t entirely welcome in.

Elsabet and I’s room. The only neutral ground. The one place we refuse to outright fight. Where we can seek the other’s company without having to admit what we’re doing.

“I can’t sleep.” He sighed. Grabbing his sherry decanter and a couple glasses before walking to the doorway to meet her. To prevent her intruding.

“Because of her?” Dorena fell into step next to him as he crossed the foyer toward the expansive parlor.

He glanced at her and knew it was written over his face.

“You love her, don’t you?” Dorena asked softly. Pain written over her as he ushered her into the parlor to warm by the fire.

“I want to.” He admitted. “But she won’t let me close enough.”

“Why?” Dorena asked in disbelief. Pretty blue eyes rounding. Though her features, hair and eyes, were similar to Elsabet she looked very different.

More like the Fallen.

Dorena’s face was round. Eyes sky blue rather than a storm-tossed sea. Her hair wound with blonde highlights. Nothing like Elsabet’s which was more silver and white.

She’s beautiful, no doubt. She possessed the kind of lovely full figure which Bast used to have appreciation for. But not now. Now I compare her to the slim lines of Elsabet’s appealing frame. Revealing she’s half wild. Able to burst into a run as easily as pick up a dagger at a moment’s notice…Untamed.

“If she doesn’t care for you, why does she dislike me?”

Fair question. I don’t know.

“How do you know she does?” He asked guardedly as he meandered to drag a plain wood chair from near the wall to near the chair opposite the settee.

“She looks at me with hate.”

“She looks at everyone with hate.” He sighed. Slumping into the plush seat. He poured himself a glass of his fine sherry then lifted another toward her.

She shook her head. “Even you?”

Definitely me.

He snorted as he sat back to nurse his glass. Putting his feet up on the chair he’d drug over. “Especially me.”

“Why?”

A million reasons.

“Because she’s my captive.”

“But you say I could leave anytime?”

“You can.” He took a sip.

“Then why can’t she?”

Because she’s mine.

“She’s something else. Something dangerous.”

“Are you sure that’s the only reason?” She eyed him skeptically.

It’s not.

“No.” He admitted.

Never one, much for lying.