Chapter 13
Valeria returned not long after the Queen had left.
Andrew was still standing where she had been, staring toward the curtains as if he expected her to step back through them at any moment.
The kiss, and her grip, lingered in his mind, distracting and disorienting him.
He turned as he heard Valeria approach.
“It is time we discuss your place here,” she said. “And what will be expected of you.”
Andrew straightened slightly. “Okay,” he said.
Valeria nodded once, and gestured between the curtains. “Follow me.”
He did, and they walked back into the wide chambers, eventually sitting on the side of one of the beds.
It felt kind of awkward and strangely exciting to sit like that with her. It was as if they were about to end up entangled between the soft sheets.
He quickly pushed the thought away. The Queen had recharged his lust.
You’re thinking with your dick. Calm down.
Valeria didn’t waste any time. “You will be cared for,” she began. “Your meals will be prepared for you. Your body will be maintained in optimal condition. You will rest when required and be attended to when needed.”
Andrew folded his arms loosely, listening. “So I’m basically on a very strict wellness program,” he said.
Valeria’s lips curved faintly and she narrowed her eyes. “If that helps you understand it.”
She leaned slightly forward, and Andrew tried to keep his eyes on her face instead of catching a peek below the neck. “But there are rules,” she said.
Andrew nodded. “Rules.”
“You are not to leave the chambers without permission,” she said. “Everything you require will be brought to you. There is no need for you to go elsewhere.”
Andrew’s brow furrowed slightly. “What if I need to get a bath? Aren’t the baths all the way down?”
Valeria didn’t move. “We have a spring here.”
Andrew sucked his teeth. “I see.”
Of course they do.
Valeria continued. “More importantly,” she said, “you are not to waste your strength.”
Andrew kept himself still. “My strength.”
She held his gaze. “You understand what I mean.”
“No, not really,” he said, wondering what she would say.
Still, he let out a small, uncertain breath. “I mean, you’re not allowed to take care of things by yourself.”
He stared at her.
“Any urge you feel,” she went on, “is to be directed through us. You will inform me, and I will arrange for one of the selected women to attend to you.”
Andrew stared at her for a second. “That’s very, uhm, efficient,” he said.
Valeria didn’t react to the tone. “Your role here is not casual,” she said. “It is important. Your seed must not be wasted.”
Andrew shifted his weight. There was something about the way she said it—so calm, so matter-of-fact—that made it feel less like a suggestion and more like a fundamental law of this place.
“So basically,” he said slowly, “if I understand correctly, everything goes through you.”
“Yes.”
“And there’s no exceptions.”
“None.”
Andrew let out a quiet breath, glancing toward the open view before looking back at her. “Well noted,” he said.
Valeria inclined her head slightly. “It will become natural to you.”
He huffed a small laugh. “Yeah, we’ll see.”
“You are valuable here,” she said. “Everything we do is to ensure that you remain so.”
Andrew held her gaze for a moment, then nodded slowly. A gust of wind caressed his skin.
Valeria stood up, then turned slightly, seemingly ready to leave. “You can rest now,” she said. “You will be called when you are needed, later today.”
Andrew watched her. “Valeria,” he said.
She paused, looking back at him.
“Do I get any say in any of this?” he asked.
She considered him for a moment.
Then, calmly: “You already have.” She smiled.
That wasn’t an answer. Or maybe it was.
Andrew watched as she turned and left him alone once more.
The rules were clear now. And for the first time since arriving in this world, he understood just how little control he actually had.