LOGINMy legs gave out beneath me. I fell forward onto hands and knees.I tried to rise but my bones shook and my muscles spasmed. My belly cramped in vicious waves. Every part of me ached.“What is wrong with her?” someone asked. “Is she ill? Should we call the management?”“Nothing at all,” Vido answered with casual amusement. “Just go about your way, people. We are only having fun. Just a little role-playing.”“Ohhh… Definitely understandable.” A new voice, sniffing loudly. “Gods, heat play? Had no idea she played that way.”“Well, Lord Kingstonta,” Lord Avantus added smoothly, “for the right price, she enjoys many things.”“You are a lucky male, Avantus.” Another voice, thick with envy. “She smells amazing in heat.”“I mean, what did you expect? It is Vera.”Tears dropped with every shuffling knee I dragged forward. My muffled weeping sounded too loud in my own ears.Panic and arousal warred inside me. My breasts ached fiercely, my core pulsed painfully. I knew I was losing this battle.
Vido turned his gaze on me. “Come here, Vera.”My legs obeyed before my mind could protest, carrying me forward on numb feet. Fear rose sharp in my throat, but I forced it down.Revandrel was here somewhere. He had summoned me. Vido could do nothing.I stopped before them, chin lifted despite the tremor in my knees. “I came to answer Lord Cel’theren’s call.” I said, quietly proud of how steady my voice sounded. I glanced around the darkened room. “Where is he, please?”“Oh, the big boss?” Vido drawled, lips curling. “He stepped out. Urgent matter. In the meantime, he asked you to keep Lord Avantus company.”The warning bells in my skull persisted. This was a lie. But how could I challenge it without proof? And provoking Vido was never wise.Still…“Could I wait for his direct order?” I kept my tone even.Vido’s face hardened, eyes narrowing to slits. “Are you calling me a liar?”My heart began to pound. I fought to keep my voice level. “I would never, Master Vido.”“Then sit,” he orde
The tavern was filled to the brim. Noise pressed in from every direction as soon as we entered, patrons laughing and shouting over one another, goblets clinking, orders for ale being barked across the room, and servers weaving through the chaos with hurried steps. Helory stayed close at my side. I held her hand tightly as I guided her through the crowd toward the small table I had bribed one of the maidens to reserve for us.“Here,” I pulled out a chair for her. “Sit.”“Guys, it’s Vera!” A male voice bellowed from somewhere in the crowd before I could take my own seat.“Sweet, beautiful Vera!” Another shouted.“It has been too long!”“Where have you been hiding!?”Several males rose from their chairs and converged on me at once.Helory gasped, her grip tightening on my hand. I squeezed her hand back in reassurance.Then they were upon me. One wrapped me in a rough hug. Another slid a possessive hand along my back.I heard Helory’s outraged hiss. “How dare you—”I managed to slip my h
LADY BAEVERA“Vera!”I spun at the sound of my name, my heart leaping wildly in my chest as Helory came into view around the bend in the path.A squeal left my throat before I could stop it, my sandals kicking up dust as I ran to her. She stopped, arms flung wide. I crashed into her, the impact knocking the breath from both of us.“If it isn’t my best friend, the most beautiful Urekai in the kingdom,” she cradled my head against her shoulder as we swayed together, left and right, unable to stay still. “I have missed you so much.”Tears pooled in my eyes. “Since I received your letter, I have been counting the minutes of every day,” I sniffled against the rough wool of her disguise. “I cannot believe you are really here now.”“I should have come sooner, my love,” Her tone rasped with emotion. “I should not have listened so closely to all those stern warnings you gave me.”A wet laugh bubbled out of me as I pulled back, drinking in her face just as she studied mine. “What matters is tha
VIDOI sat at a low table tucked into in the private alcoves, half-hidden from the main hall, playing cards with Lord Avantus, Commander of the Western Guilds.Behind him, a whore was moaning loudly as his companion, Lord Gaston, fucked her hard from behind, the sounds of their coupling blending into the tavern’s low roar.Avantus leaned back in his chair, a slow, satisfied grin spreading across his face as he won yet again. “Looks like fortune finally remembers my name.”I glanced down at the Ash Crown in my hand before lifting my gaze to his face. “So it does,” I grunted. My luck was shit tonight.He chuckled, gathering the cards with lazy fingers. “You are a sore loser.”“I hate losing,” I growled, glaring at the tokens.He shuffled them lazily. “So, how is work? It must not be easy managing this place, keeping the ladies in line.”“Definitely not easy,” I replied flatly. “But it is entertaining.”He pushed the deck forward. “I have been meaning to ask for something.”“I am listeni
“Vera?” Winter’s voice called from outside.“In here!”The door opened, and she entered with her arms full. A bundle of beeswax candles pressed to her chest, a folded pile of embroidered cloth over one arm, and underneath it all the faint, comforting scent of dried herbs.“I thought you might need help brightening the place,” she said cheerfully.“Thank you so much,” I smiled gratefully, trimming a flower stem with careful snips.She set everything down carefully, then turned in a slow circle. “Wow. Everything looks wonderful already. And you look… joyful today.”I laughed softly. “Is it that obvious?”“Very. In fact not just today. You have seemed happier these past few days.” she winked. “Ever since you moved in with the big boss.”I sputtered, nearly slicing the stem in half. “Moved in with him? I did not move in with him!”“Woah, easy,” she laughed. “Do not bite my head off.”I was still flustered, even as something warm settled low in my stomach.“You spend almost all your time a
The rest of the evening passed in a haze of wine, laughter, staged performances, and slurred, drunken conversations.By the time Philip and I retired to his chamber, my betrothed was well-relaxed, loosened by drink and comfort.For the first time in my life, I did not mind the sloppy drunken kisses
LADY BAEVERA Master Vido was…The new co-head courtesan was…I breathed harshly. Oh gods, I cannot believe this.I wanted so badly to shout ‘Let me go,’ but the words were trapped in my throat. I could not speak. I could not move.Fear… an old, familiar, merciless fear I had not known in centuries
LORD REVANDRELI finally grew tired of it all.My strength was entirely drained; a deep, dragging fatigue had settled into muscles I had not been aware of in years.Even my cock, usually as dependable as sunrise and as proud as a soldier, had all but retired. Not even a twitch of morning wood three
LADY BAEVERAI hated being cornered, but strangely, I did not feel trapped. It was, unsettlingly.Revandrel was larger than most males, more alpha than many in scent, build, and dominance. Yet he did not trigger my scaredy-cat instincts. Too many strange things had begun to surface around this ma







