Chapter 6 #3
Leonora chuckles, leaning back in her chair once more as she says, “I mean, it’s not like I’m asking to borrow a cup of sugar. This would be quite a large thing between us, and I do hate imbalance.”
I want to scoff, laugh, and snarl at that comment. Leonora’s entire relationship with her Leos is one gigantic imbalance of power and manipulation. She just hates being the one on the other side of that dynamic.
Ting ting ting
My beast paces inside me. “I’m going to scratch my ears out if she doesn’t stop.”
“I know, but I think her spell is working on Leonora. We need to see how this plays out so we have all the information when we go to the witches.”
“I hate it when you’re rational.”
I chuckle at her. “I know.”
Circe says, “There would be no imbalance, Leonora. I offered to help, but I also understand. In our world, favors given almost always mean favors owed, and I wouldn’t want that coming between us.”
Leonora smiles, recrossing her legs, shifting her weight to one hip as she leans against the arm of her chair. “I’m glad you understand. So …”
Ting ting ting
Circe tilts her head, pursing her lips in thought.
Ting ting ting
The silence draws out, and my thoughts spin with all the things Circe might ask for … but then she says, “Well, since you insist … I have heard delicious things about your pet panther. The eldest.”
What. The. Fuck.
Never in a million years would I have guessed Circe would ask for Malik.
My hackles rise, and my beast claws at my insides, ready to tear the sorceress apart.
I wince at the pain of holding her back as my own rage threatens to expose me.
I’m only able to calm myself by remembering that there’s no way Leonora will give up Malik.
That’s what this is all about; Malik and his brothers being irreplaceable to Leonora.
I hate it, but the thought of Leonora whoring out Malik …
I have to consciously withdraw my fangs before I bite my lip and alert them to my presence.
A smile creeps over Leonora’s face, souring my already tied-up stomach.
My beast whines. “No no no. She wouldn’t.”
Leonora weaves a few signs. Gold light flashes. When the room dims and the spots dancing in front of my eyes go away, I swallow the grunt that punches up my throat as I keep my wolverine from pushing me into shifting.
Malik, in his glorious panther form, sits at Leonora’s side, his tail curled regally around him. Even seated on his haunches, his head is level with Leonora’s. Stars, he’s gorgeous.
He’s a prisoner.
Leonora wraps her fingers around the golden links of the chain that hangs from the belt around her waist. The leash floats into the air and magically attaches to Malik’s collar.
It clinks against the arm of her chair as she coils it on her lap.
I swear, if she hands that chain over the Circe, I’m going to lose it, certain death be damned. I’ll go down defending my mate.
But the Leo goddess makes no such move. Instead, with her free hand, she grabs the raw steak from her plate.
Blood drips down her arm and splatters on her clothes.
She takes a bite, her elongated fangs sinking into the red flesh.
It’s primal, the way she smiles around the raw meat, her teeth stained with blood.
She swallows and holds up the gold leash. “One hour.”
No .
Circe licks her lips as she stares at the chain. “A day. Dusk to dusk.”
Fuck no.
Leonora looks at Malik and says, “Are you hungry, pet?”
Malik dips his head, but there’s a tension to his shoulders, and his tail flicks before falling still once more.
Leonora preens with a soft purr, petting his head with the hand that still holds his leash.
She takes another tearing bite of the steak and chews.
Giving the chain a tug, she pulls Malik’s head around and leans forward.
I want to screw my eyes shut. I want to kill Leonora. I want to run from this room and never return to this palace. I want to wear Leonora’s teeth as a necklace.
Malik opens his jaws and Leonora spits the raw meat from her mouth into his before she licks his muzzle and rubs the side of her face against his. Finally, she sits back and says, “You may eat.”
At that command, Malik chews and swallows.
Leonora looks at Circe who watched the entire exchange with rapt attention. The goddess grips the chain tighter, which snaps the sorceress’ attention back to her face. Leonora says, “Three hours.”
Circe looks at Malik then back at Leonora. “Fine.”
“But only after the coven has been taken care of.”
Circe nods.
Leonora throws the rest of the steak on the floor at Malik’s front paws, but he ignores it as she says, “Deal.”
“We’re not going to let this happen, are we?” I don’t know that I’ve ever heard my beast sound so panicked and sad at the same time.
“Fuck no. I have no idea how we’re going to stop this, but we’ll think of something.”
She settles slightly, nodding. “Good. Good. ”
Keeping her gaze on Circe, Leonora holds out her bloody hand, and Malik licks her clean.
Circe shifts in her seat, and I realize she’s no longer tapping her nail against her glass.
There’s no way she could have known this conversation would have gone this way …
right? But it sure as fuck seems like she just got exactly what she came for.
Fuck this and fuck her. Malik is mine.
As Malik’s large abrasive tongue laves between Leonora’s fingers, the Leo goddess grins and asks, “When should I expect your return … for your payment, Circe dear?”
Like she can’t help herself, Circe’s gaze darts to Malik, drops to the table, then back to Malik. She’s being too obvious, too eager. But the deal has been struck, and I think I’m going to be sick.
My beast snarls at Circe. “Maybe we can follow her when she leaves. I bet if we attack when her guard is down, we could kill her.”
Internally, I shake my head. “No. She’s not of the clans. She’s not Zodiac. Killing her would mean at best we lose our job; at worst we are executed.”
“But that’s if we’re caught.”
I can’t help but smirk at her. I love her confidence, but it’s gotten me in trouble before. Still, she’s not wrong.
Circe finally pulls her focus off Malik and back to Leonora and says, “Give me a week.”
My palms start to sweat. That’s not much time, but I can work with that, starting with warning the witches.
I expect Leonora to push back with some unreasonable counter, but she just nods and says, “Done. Dessert?”
Circe shakes her head and stands. “No, thank you.” Her gaze darts back to Malik.
While Circe openly lusts over my mate, the corner of Leonora’s lips lift.
With her nails scraping through Malik’s black fur, Leonora looks like a cat that’s just been presented with a bowl of cream as she says, “I’m so glad you suggested this little meeting, Circe.
We really shouldn’t go so long between visits. ”
Red clouds my vision, and I take a step towards the table.
Another. I know I can’t beat Leonora, not to mention Circe, but I can take Malik and run.
I stop, clearing away some of my rage, slowing my breaths against the rush of adrenaline.
Would he even come with me? I frown at his collar.
Doesn’t matter. He couldn’t even if he did want to.
Circe nods, eyes still on Malik, as she stands. Leonora stands as well, and Malik’s chain clinks as the two women lightly cup the other’s shoulders and do that cheek air-kiss thing. Circe steps out of the embrace first and says, “I’ll be in touch.”
And with that, the sorceress heads towards the open glass doors to leave.
I dart through the room and sprint out of the solarium before Circe even crosses the threshold.
I hate leaving Malik. My heart breaks as I flee, but I need to update my contact at the Council, and then I need to warn the witches, specifically Sadie and the others.
They should know about this development as well, but they are proving nearly impossible to find right now.
And along with all of that, I still need to unravel the secret of the brothers’ sire, because that question continues to scratch at the back of my mind, telling me it’s important.
As I told Askari, everything is important. Knowledge is power, and I have the feeling that if I can get to the bottom of this, it might be the key to Leonora’s undoing.