Chapter Twenty-Four
“T o what?” Rowena asked.
The whole vibe between Sheyla and Slay seemed a bit weird, and he was way more flushed than normal. Plus he couldn’t meet her eyes.
“Oh, I just called Ash Valley. And talked to Dom.”
“Yikes,” she said.
He’d told her everything about his long relationship, the failure of it, and his splintered friendship as a result. Hopefully, this meant he was ready to move on.
With me.
Aloud she said, “We should get something to eat and then there’s a ton of work to do to prepare for the election.”
As it turned out, she had been right when she predicted that the citizens of Golgerra would rapidly come to respect and admire Chantisse. There were some dissenters, and a couple of lower-level bureaucrats decided to run as well, bringing the total choices on the ballot to four.
Over the next few days, she didn’t see much of Slay.
He volunteered as a go-fer while they organized behind the scenes.
His strength and endurance made him great at it and she admired him for doing whatever he could to help, even at the expense of his ego.
Hell, he’d been the second in command in Ash Valley, and he could leave at any time.
It meant the world to her that he chose to stay—to support her.
Not that she expected to win the election. Hell, she hoped that she didn’t. A few old schoolers kept quoting that damn codicil about the challenge, but they were holding a preliminary debate tomorrow. And Chantisse would shine like a star.
The resistance leader already had binders full of plans detailed to the most minute degree, to make Golgerra a fair and honest place to live. Her education policies alone were so incredible and innovative that Rowena planned to vote for Chantisse herself, though she’d do it secretly.
According to Slay, there should be a primary, where they narrowed it down to two candidates, so they were doing that first, and a week after the resistance took the piazza, they set up voting boxes all over the city with random sentries chosen to ensure there were no irregularities.
And when the votes were tallied, the two candidates that came out on top were Chantisse and Sy Loudens from the Ministry of Finance. Secretly relieved that she hadn’t made the cut, Rowena let out a long sigh.
I would’ve gotten wrecked in the final debate.
Fortunately, Golgerran citizens agreed that they didn’t want someone who was good at murder in office.
That freed Ro to work alongside Slay, helping setup for the debate.
Alastor and Sheyla were still in Golgerra, but the former prince rested more than he worked, spending long hours in the lab with his wife, who had never been even slightly interested in being queen.
Later that day, Ro wiped sweat from her brow as she straightened the podium.
Once, this theatre performed original plays that were deemed suitable for production—in other words, they didn’t malign the royal family in any fashion.
Any playwright that created “seditious” works was put to death, and that was pretty much any story that dismissed the idea that the Vega line didn’t shit gold and fart rainbows.
So many brilliant minds lost. So much talent squandered. So much pointless pain.
Though she didn’t want to weep anymore for a past that couldn’t be changed, a memory rushed at her headlong and exploded in her brain. She hurried from the stage to hide in the wings because she didn’t want anyone else to see her that way. But Slay came after her. He always did.
And when he reached for her, she let him provide physical comfort. Hell, she’d probably let him stitch her severed arm back on; that was how much she trusted him.
“Tell me?” he whispered.
“It’s terrible.”
“You’ve listened to me tirelessly. I’d be glad if you gave me the same chance.”
Ro took a breath, willing the tears away.
“When Tycho first chose me, he was…different. In all honesty, I…cared for him. He twisted over the years, through his father’s influence.
And Tycho never understood why I wouldn’t agree to become his creature completely, why I wouldn’t abandon my mother in the undercity and bask in luxury, giving him the children he desperately wanted from me. ”
“I wish I could kill him all over again.”
She thought she’d told him this much already, no new information here, but she was circling the hateful memory like a mortal enemy. “In those early days, he bought me a pet, a little bunny that was always waiting for me when he called. So small and soft, I called her Caliyo.”
“I have such a bad feeling,” he whispered.
Rowena couldn’t even look at him. Other than her mother, she’d loved Caliyo most, and she’d so looked forward to Tycho’s summons. Because she got to wash in a fancy tub and eat delicious food and play games and cuddle her rabbit. But then…
“He’d already changed a little. Started hurting me for displeasing him, like the first time I won a game of Risk, but he always asked me to stay with him because he missed me too much when I went back, he claimed. We were both older by then. I said I would, if he’d let me bring my mother up.”
Now, she loathed how na?ve and trusting she’d been. Tycho had laughed and said dismissively, “You’re the one I want. I have no use for a worn-out Eldritch whore. She can die below where she belongs.”
Shocked, she’d blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Then send me back to her and never call for me again. I have no use for someone as hateful as you.”
People didn’t speak to him that way. He’d locked eyes with her and said, “This is your fault. Remember this moment.”
In a strained whisper, she relayed those events to Slay and then added, “His guards held me as Tycho strangled Caliyo with his bare hands. He made me watch.”
“Oh gods, Ro.” His anguished voice nearly moved her to tears as Slay buried his face in her hair, and she felt his tears against her neck.
“That wasn’t your fault, no matter what he said.
I’m so sorry about Caliyo. And for everything you suffered at his hands.
But none of it was because of you. You know that, right? ”
“Most days I do. But sometimes—”
“Nope,” he cut in.
She took pleasure in how sheltered she felt, snuggled against his broad chest. Closing her eyes, she listened to the reassuring thump of his heart.
He stroked her back in gentle sweeps, probably an attempt to soothe her.
Rowena could’ve told him that his mere presence did the job, but that would mean ending this delicious hug.
“I’ve never told anyone about Caliyo or that I said yes to Tycho once.”
“Definitely not glad you were hurt, but I’m happy you trust me with this. I can handle anything you want to share. Doesn’t matter if it’s ugly. I’ll take it off your hands.”
Rowena swiped at a stray tear. “It doesn’t work that way but thank you. I’m so glad I met you. You know, I saw you a few times in Ash Valley, but you looked mean and angry so I never spoke to you. Never imagined we’d end up together like this.”
“I was mean and angry,” he admitted.
That was why she loved him so much. There was no bullshit with Slay. “Sounds like you had good reason to be.”
“I’ve gotten in my own way a lot, but I’m done with that.”
Biting her lip, Rowena decided to be daring. She met his golden gaze squarely. “Will you return to Ash Valley after the election?”
“For a while, but I don’t want to stay. My whole life, I worried about what other people think of me, tried to please them and failed. Now I need to figure some shit out.”
Slay hoped Ro didn’t press him on his plans.
Because currently, he wanted to follow her around like a lovesick kit.
And that wasn’t the way he intended to propose that they spend their lives together.
The right words wouldn’t come, and he didn’t know how he’d earn a living or where they should settle down.
He needed to take her desires into account as well, so for once in his life, he meant to plan things properly.
Until he had all the details ironed out, he wouldn’t even hint at his intentions.
Suddenly she kissed him, holding his face in both hands. Where Ro was concerned, it didn’t take much for him to catch fire. They’d made love the night before, but he couldn’t get enough of her. The comforting hug took on a different dimension with every inch of her pressed against him.
“I need you,” he whispered.
“You have me.”
He rolled his hips to ensure she took his meaning. “It’s urgent.”
Part of him expected her to laugh and tease him, but instead she pulled on his arm, tugging him deeper into the shadows of the stage. Soon they were inside a dark storage room used for old props. Deliberately Ro turned the bolt with them on the other side of the door.
“We’ll have to be fast. Someone will notice I’m gone and—”
Slay took her mouth like kissing was a crime and he couldn’t wait for punishment.
She scrabbled at his clothing, untying the drawstring on his loose pants.
Soon he had her ass in his hands and he dropped to the dusty floor to love her with his mouth.
He planned to fuck her up against the door.
His cock ached, and he couldn’t wait to be inside her, but first he needed to make sure she burned as hot as he did.
“Oh!” She cried out as he licked up and down her slit, not as tentative or as careful as he used to be.
Maybe one day she’d panic but somehow he couldn’t imagine that bastard pleasing her like this, so it must be new, and he fucking loved the idea that nobody had made her feel this way before.
Hesitantly, she threaded her fingers into his hair, tugging his mouth where she wanted it, right over her clit.
He took that to heart and nuzzled and licked until her juices filled his mouth.
“You’re so wet,” he marveled.
“Fuck me now. You said it was critical before, and I’m desperate for you.”
That was all the invitation he needed. He hitched her thighs around his hips and nudged inside her slowly.
Fuck, she feels good on my cock. At first he went slow and gentle, letting her get used to the feel of being pinned against the door.
The last thing he wanted was Ro to get scared in the middle of sex.
“How’s that?”
“Yes. Yes!” The second cry came when he thrust harder, increasing the speed as he watched her face. “Fuck me properly.”
“You saying I’ve been doing it wrong until now?” he teased.
“No! But you’re…careful. I don’t want you to think of me as damaged. It feels good and if you let go I think it’ll be even better. I trust you, Slay.”
Her soft words unleashed him. With a grunt, he went wild inside her, wanting to make her into a mindless creature of instinct and longing, all pleasure, all helpless response.
Her breath went ragged almost at once and she squirmed against him, trying to get more friction, but this position left him in charge of their pleasure, and he planned to drive her out of her mind.
“Feels incredible, doesn’t it? Giving yourself to me.” He whispered in her ear and kissed the shell, the lobe, nuzzled kisses into the tender skin of her neck as he worked inside her.
Just then, someone thumped on the door from the outside. “Why is this locked?” They rattled the door handle and cursed. “I’ll have to find the key, I guess.”
From the amusement dancing in her eyes, Ro wasn’t worried about getting caught. “We need to be fast, like you said.”
“I’ll take my time later,” he promised.
Though his need to orgasm had been urgent earlier, now he felt like he could go all day, or at least until Ro unraveled his arms, panting and sobbing.
Her pussy felt amazing wrapped around his dick, and he loved watching the joy and wonder spark in her silvery eyes.
When her lips parted on a gasp, he kissed her until they had to pause, light-headed from pleasure.
He whispered filth into her ear, reading her enjoyment in each shiver.
It didn’t take long until she was scratching and clawing at his back in desperate desire, then clenching in endless waves.
Only when she gasped his name and went boneless in his hold did he let go, spilling into her in long spurts.
“I came. And I didn’t even need to help you get me there.”
He grinned. “Is that a recommendation? Hate to break it to you but I’m not exactly trying to build a resume.”
“I’ll keep your credentials confidential.” An answering smile curved her mouth as her body pulsed around his cock in sweet little aftershocks.
I could stay like this forever.
But a sudden thought occurred to him. “Do I need to worry about getting you pregnant?” he asked, kissing her forehead.
“Yes.”
He blinked. That had been more of an idle curiosity, not an actual concern of his, since the Animari chose when to have kids. “Are you serious?”
A frown furrowed her brow. “I’m half Eldritch and half Golgoth. On my mother’s side, we have low fertility rates, but the Golgoth don’t control their reproduction like the Animari. Ovulation occurs on a regular cycle, and if a viable partner—”
“Are you fertile now then? Did you do the math before we fucked?”
Am I a viable partner? Slay knew shit about the biological compatibility between the Animari, Eldritch, and Gols. Sheyla probably knows more.
Ro gave him a shove and slid off his dick with a look that didn’t bode well. “Are you kidding me? Of course I didn’t. I wasn’t counting days of the month, you asshole.”
Before he could speak a word, she pulled her pants on and stormed off.
Yeah, I fucked that up big time.
Slay needed to tell her that he was shocked over the idea of having a baby with her with no planning whatsoever—it wasn’t like that among his folks—but starting a family with Ro?
Fuck yeah, sign me up.
Somehow, he had to make this right.