Claudius had not been the only one to drink and I was having just a bit of a problem adjusting to my newly heightened senses. Tonight was but the first step he had assured me and what we gained was a minor blending of some of our powers. For me it seemed I could smell and see much better. My sight was improved even past the infrared which I so seldom used. And I could smell…that both Dean and Nick had been within the elevator last. It was…disconcerting. I did not know what I had shared with Claudius, he had not said or perhaps he did not yet know.

  In addition to the senses, I struggled to negotiate the memories he had given to me. When his teeth had sunk into my throat, I had given him….everything, every hope and dream, every memory of self. He had absorbed them all and had cried out hoarsely from the contact. His aura had flared against me and throbbed with an angry red haze before settling back to a sunshine yellow color. Obviously our sharing caused him great happiness. And when he ripped open his shirt for me and sliced a gash into his chest just below his collar, I had pressed my lips to him and drank his essence down my throat and into my body. With the rich taste of his blood, had come a host of memories, two thousand years worth. He had held me to him while they poured into me and filled me up. Then when I could take no more he had closed his wound and been content to simply hold me. He had kissed me before letting me go, promising to contact me soon. I had turned and launched myself skyward back into the fog shrouded night.

  Now as I moved down the hall toward our door, I nodded to the guards who seemed shocked to see me out alone. I recognized them from the training floor but did not know their names. The man on the left used a card key to open the door for me and I slipped within pausing briefly when the door closed behind me. Smells assaulted me and I swayed as I reached for that one scent I was looking for….there, I thought and headed toward the kitchen.

  The living room was empty, but every chair was occupied around our kitchen table which seemed to have grown to accommodate the additional men. Noise came from nearly every one of them at my arrival. All fourteen turned to look at me in varying degrees of upset. I had hidden the knife behind my back before I’d stepped through the doorway. Now I glanced around the table and moved to my left, coming up behind one specific chair and reached out with my free hand to grab a handful of white hair as I slammed the knife into Talon’s shoulder clear to the hilt, shoving him backwards.

  “I believe that belongs to you.” I hissed as I held his head against the back of the chair so he couldn’t move. Around me chairs flipped over as men scrambled to their feet. The tip of a blade touched my neck and I smiled and held my ground.

  “Step away from him.” Roa’ breathed from behind me.

  “No!” Talon cried out. “Get away from her.” Roa’ hesitated and I felt the knife removed and Cursed and Aerandir were suddenly there between Roa’ and myself blocking him from reaching me again. I twisted the knife slightly then released it and grabbed the back of Talon’s chair and yanked it over. He made no move to fight back, merely went to the floor with a grunt and laid there still half in the chair staring up at me.

  “I pulled that from the chest of my Dragon. A Blue that you helped to murder. Tell me why I should not banish you from my Court?”

  Talon’s pale pink eyes stared up at me and he neither flinched nor lowered his eyes. “Your Majesty…none of my throws was intended to kill. He could have changed at any time and healed his wounds. I do not know why he did not shift, or why he allowed the bloodless one standing near him to rip out his throat. But it does not matter…either way he would not have survived.”

  I stared down at him and considered his words, my eyes sending golden sparkles over the pale grey shirt he wore. A shirt which even now was turning dark red as the blood oozed out of his wound. “Why…would he not have survived?” I demanded softly my voice echoing around the silent room.

  Talon blinked and shifted his eyes to Gareth who had stood from his chair and taken several steps toward me. He was standing possibly five feet from me with a shuttered look on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. My eyes met his and he stilled then replied for Talon. “Because there can only be one of each color for your Court.” He replied. “And I would not have stepped aside to give him my place.”

  I stared back at him and felt the horror creep over me as I struggled to breathe. Only one of each color….my eyes moved over those in the room and settled for a moment on Jace who looked…determined. “If a Green comes…I will fight.” He replied calmly, to the question in my eyes. “I was your first. I will not give you up, not even to one created for you. I know I told you I would share you…and I have.” He told me indicating the rest of the men around the room. “But even I have limits.” I pulled air into my lungs and turned to Dane who stared back at me calmly then nodded once. I reached for the back of the chair next to the one Talon was occupying and watched my knuckles turn white.

  “You will not kill my Gray.” I told Talon softly. “We will find a way, and you will not kill him. I forbid it.”

  My words enraged him as the knife in his shoulder and pulling his chair over had not. His eyes went Dragon and whirled in agitation as he stared up at me. “I will hold my place.” He growled. “I will not hand it over to another simply because you tell me I must. You have no right.”

  “Your Majesty,” Stela spoke in a soothing voice. “Your Court will consist of only the strongest.”

  “So you will kill my men because they are young and perhaps not as strong as you?” I demanded, my golden eyes turning to look at him in disbelief.

  He held his hands out palm up and looked back at me calmly. “It does not have to come to that. But we will not allow another near you…when the time comes. It will not be a matter or wanting or not wanting. Only of doing, as we will be…beyond reason by then.”

  When the time comes, I thought and chewed my lip at his words. The time was coming soon. Already I’d gathered six of the ten. With Roa’ it was seven. “Is this why you hold Roa’ back?” I breathed, glancing down at Talon who suddenly had a problem meeting my eyes.

  “Your Majesty…I would not see him killed.” He replied softly while behind me Roa’ made an angry sound but said nothing.

  I turned to Owen and Kit who were both watching me closely. “Should the need arise…you will be responsible for getting anyone not a part of my Court out. If it is true as Stela says then I will need you to put them someplace where they will neither interfere nor be hurt. I cannot have them injured. If they are in fact weaker, then I must think of my sisters with whom they may suit.”

  “It is not only during rut.” Stela added. “Should a Bronze appear…you will either send him away, or I will. I will not tolerate you entertaining another of my color.” And he crossed his arms over his chest while I stared back at him in dawning horror. My eyes moved to Gareth and I was shocked to see him nod agreement.

  “We,” and he indicated Jace and himself, “have allowed the others because it has not been an issue. But soon it will be. Should your White, Brown, and Copper arrive they will be accepted also, assuming they are worthy. After that…” He told me calmly and shook his head. “You will not be allowed to interfere. We will handle it…amongst ourselves, as is our way.”

  The smell of testosterone suddenly filled the room and I blinked and shook my head as it crashed into me, nearly overwhelming my mind. My tongue licked at my lips and I unpeeled my fingers from the chair and took a slow step backward. A low humming came from Talon and spread to Stela then Dane. Gareth and Jace watched me closely and I shook my head again and placed my foot behind the other. I felt…hunted and could feel my heart accelerate within my chest as their eyes bore into me. The feeling I needed to flee crept over me and I took yet another step while Gareth’s arms dropped to his sides and his fists clenched.

  “Lexi don’t move.” He growled softly and I felt my eyes widen and froze in place. Talon rolled to his hands and knees and made that warbling noise and I swallowed heavily and slowly moved my eyes to him. “Where did you go tonight?” Gareth murmured.

  “And what have you done to yourself?” Jace added and I moved just my eyes to him and realized his were whirling frantically and he looked like he was struggling to hold himself in place.

  “Step back from her…do it now.” Talon growled and I heard the whisper of feet as Roa’ moved away from me. I could actually smell his scent getting fainter as he shifted away from the door behind me.

  “This should not be happening.” Stela added in a deep urgent voice. “It is too soon. But her…reaction is intoxicating.” Dane made a strangled noise in his throat and I found myself taking quick nearly panting breaths as I struggled to fight the flight reaction their scent was causing in me.

  “I need…to go.” I whispered in a small frightened voice. “Can I go?”

  “My Lady,” Cursed spoke softly almost directly behind me. “Your aura is pulsing…you must calm yourself. They cannot take much more.” He whispered and gently wrapped his arm about my waist. I found myself held tightly against his chest. “Feel my heart.” He breathed against my ear and the incongruity of his words pulled me back from the edge of panic. “Close your eyes and feel me breathe against you.” I stiffened slightly and he murmured soft and low. “Close your eyes…trust me.”

  Kit made a rude noise and from across the room said. “You only trap her in with her panic. Here let me try. Little Johnny comes home and tells his mom, today I got my first blow job. His mother is very mad and tells him to go to his room and says when his dad comes home he is going to have a talk with him. A couple hours later Johnny’s dad comes home and his wife says go talk to your son, he just got his first blow job. So the dad goes upstairs and says to his son, Johnny I hear you got your first blow job today? Johnny goes yep. The dad asks Johnny, so how was it? Little Johnny says ok, but I still can’t get the taste out of my mouth.”

  Startled silence met his story so Kit tried another. “Little Johnny went to the drugstore for condoms. He walked up to the druggist and asked. Sir, can you tell me where the ribbed condoms are? The druggist asked. Son, do you know what condoms are used for? Sure do replies Johnny, they keep you from getting venereal diseases. Okay, said the druggist. Do you know what the ribs are for? Little Johnny thinks for a minute, then looks up at the druggist and replies. Well, not exactly. But they sure do make the hair on my goat’s back stand up.”

  “What is a blow job?” Aerandir asked in a confused voice…and I couldn’t help myself I was suddenly laughing hysterically.

  “Kit!” I finally moaned when I could speak without gasping. He chuckled when my eyes met his across the room. “That was terrible. Where do you hear these things?” I muttered.

  His merlot colored eyes flashed and he smiled at me and replied. “I was a civil servant in Hell Mistress…it was a very boring job.”

  “Hmmm.” I replied and turned to glance at Aerandir and with my shields lowered I pictured Cursed as we were earlier while he leaned over me and I used my mouth to pleasure him until he came for me. “That is a blow job.” I replied while Aerandir’s eyes widened and around the room several people shifted as if their pants were suddenly too tight. Cursed’s arm tightened around me and he rubbed his chin against the top of my head.

  “I am almost afraid to ask what is a condom.” Aerandir replied while I smiled and turned to look at Gareth.

  “Sorry that I cannot help you with as I’ve never actually seen one.” I informed him, as my eyes moved over Amras and I frowned suddenly and pulled away from Cursed who let me go reluctantly. I had forgotten that there were injuries to heal. I moved around the table, passing several of them who merely watched me curiously as I was intent upon Amras.

  “I’m so sorry.” I told him as I placed my hands upon his chest and healed him. “All this foolishness and you’ve been in pain this entire time.” With his arm healed he pulled me to his chest and I clung to him for a moment enjoying the way he smelled and felt against me. “Cael come here.” I called to my guard who was standing stiffly just down the table. With my eyes closed I listened as his feet whispered across the floor and opened my eyes when his scent filled my nostrils. His hazel eyes looked back at me from where my cheek was pressed against Amras’ chest and I hesitated for just a moment realizing if I healed him…he would be half way to whole. Yet I could not not heal him.

  He tilted his head and frowned. “Half way to whole?” He replied and I chewed my lip and stared up at him. “Your Majesty what means this?”

  I dropped my eyes and stared for a moment at his chest while my thoughts shifted every which way. “Cael, do you have children?” I asked and watched as his chest expanded sharply.

  “Once.” He replied softly. “But that was a very long time ago and…she is no more.”

  I felt his anguish briefly and asked. “Would you have more?” And raised my eyes to his. He stared down at me cautiously, as if he wasn’t certain how to answer my question, or perhaps he was trying to understand why I would ask such a thing.

  “If the Goddess so blessed me, I would be most pleased to once again have a family.” He finally replied.

  “May I see your wound?” I asked softly and he turned and lifted his shirt showing me a gash that would have killed a mortal. Already the inner layers were starting to knit themselves back together. Elves healed perhaps ten times faster than a human, maybe even faster than a Were who had not shifted. If I left him as he was he would be healed in a few days. Goldy did not appreciate my hesitation and rolled over and glared up at me then hissed, heal him now, while behind me Amras murmured and spread his hand upon my back under my hair.

  “Why do you hesitate?” Amras asked quietly and I took a breath and reached out to touch Cael, healing him in an instant.

  “Because…should he at some point find himself within my body, he will then be whole and able to sire children.” I replied calmly while the room erupted around me.

  “Lexi what does that mean?” Jace asked calmly while the others glanced amongst themselves almost angrily.

  I wrapped my arms about Amras and closed my eyes feeling his heart beating erratically within his chest. “I mean that the problem with Elves not breeding does not lay within their women…it is their men that are sterile.” Amras jerked against me and collapsed back into the chair behind us, dragging me with him. It was perhaps the most graceless thing he’d ever done and I nearly ended up on the floor in a heap. As it was, my hair wrapped round my face and it took several seconds to situate ourselves before I finally found myself seated in his lap instead of sprawled across it. It seemed the only two men my comment didn’t upset were Owen and Kit. That was not the case for the rest of them.

  “Should he find himself within her body? What is that supposed to mean?” Stela remarked angrily. “For what reason would she sleep with her guards when she has us?” He added and the room went silent as I grabbed for my head and moaned at the war raging silently behind my eyelids.

  “Please!” I nearly yelled causing the static to cut off abruptly. I slumped against Amras and spent several seconds sucking in air. “I warned you Stela. Should you find yourself murdered in your sleep there won’t be any problems if my Bronze arrives.” I told him angrily.

  “I am whole?” Amras asked me in a breathless voice that bordered on awe and I hesitated then nodded against his chest.

  “Tdem and Cursed too.” Owen replied and his voice sounded as if he finally understood what I had been talking about in the Sidhe earlier. “You healed Tdem…have you lost your mind?” Owen demanded.

  “Maybe.” I replied. “But how could I not? You know I did not make this decision lightly. He has declared and was at a disadvantage. How was that fair?”

  “Lexi…his beast is Black.” He added quietly while I pulled air into my lungs and jerked back from Amras chest to look at Dane. He seemed startled and shifted his eyes between Owen and myself.

  “I’ll nae be giving up me place.” He breathed.

  “It hasn’t been a problem yet.” I replied and remembered the way the two of them had…instantly disliked each other, and how I’d had to keep them off each other. Every time they had been in close proximity. Damn, I thought and stared back at Dane who narrowed his black eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Aye.” He growled. “I dinna like the man from the first but ye accepted him an I abided. Tis likely it will cause me problems later. But that will nae doubt be between us an will be dealt with when the time comes it will. I will nae be waiting another twenty years for yer wee little sisters so do nae even think to ask it of me.” He huffed.

  I frowned at him and felt my own anger rise. “You are mine! I will not share you with anyone!” My comment caused him to smile slyly and the anger to drain from his eyes.

  “Nae I had not forgotten Lassie.” He replied. “Tis a poor second I’m thinking they would be in any case.” I waved my arm at him and made a rude noise which caused several of the men to chuckle while my stomach rumbled loudly. My cheeks turned pink at my unbridled jealousy and unruly body and I buried my face against Amras neck and groaned softly.

  “Do you remember the last time you ate?” Jace asked me sharply and I shook my head and thought about it.

  “It was this morning once she had been…seen to after she awoke from her healing sleep.” Roral offered and I frowned and wondered how that could have been today. Quite a lot had happened in between.

  “Tis a good portion which ended on the floor, thanks in nae small part to me clumsiness an yer…leaving me to be explaining things.” Dane added.

  I heard the fridge open and things being placed on the counter while around the table chairs were pulled back as the men reseated themselves. Amras stiffened and I caught the sound of footsteps and Talon’s scent. “What?” I growled not bothering to lift my face from Amras’ neck.

  “Your Majesty.” He spoke and Amras firmly pushed me back so I was forced to sit up.

 

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