Putting on the robe and sulking for an hour, I swallowed what little pride I had left and went downstairs, though I had no clue where I was going. But by the time I hit the foyer I let my nose lead me. I was starving, and it seemed Hiliad played up on that particular weakness of all humans. I walked into what appeared to be a little-used dining room, of course, where the table had plates upon plates of food, all covered to keep warm, baskets with an array of biscuits, rolls and crescent rolls, and pitchers of lemonade, iced tea and water. I hadn't eaten for over twenty-four hours, not a week.
"Eat," came a voice behind me that scared me so badly I jumped as I twirled around to face Hiliad. He was staring at me oddly, but I let it go.
"Okay, so, I'm here. Tell me what I want to know," I said firmly.
"Eat," he repeated.
I had no appetite. "Hiliad, please," I started, softening my voice, "just tell me."
We played the 'Stare the other down till the other looks away' game for five minutes before he said, "You eat. I'll explain."
Sounded fair enough. I sulked over to the chair with the place setting and sat down. Hiliad did not. He leaned against the wall and watched me like I was prey. Hell, in a way I was. I looked over the food and I had to be honest, I was famished.
So I ate while Mr. Hiliad Fildri, Naluchra Club owner, Dom Extraordinaire and last but not least vampire, gave me the whole scoop. I wasn't expecting to hear how my former Master, lover and friend had betrayed me in the cruelest of ways.
"I met Daniel six months ago when he came into Naluchra. He was highly ... interested in our kind."
"What? Kidnappers, masochists and straight up bastards?" I asked with a mouthful of food, not polite, I know, but we were far from etiquette rules.
"God, seeing that makes me glad I don't eat human food anymore." He snickered. "Anyway, as I was saying," he cleared his throat impatiently, "I traded my life's story for you."
"That's a flat-out lie! He would never—"
"Well, he did, I'm afraid."
"You didn't know me before we met," I stated.
"Oh, but I did. He'd inform me where you two were. I'd watched you very carefully. I watched your every move, and how you satisfied your Master, and when you misbehaved."
"I never mis—" I couldn't finish that because it might have been true. I put my fork on the plate and sipped the lemonade to gather my thoughts. "Okay, what else?"
"That doesn't bother you?" he asked incredulously.
"What else?" I repeated, leaning back against the chair.
"I didn't have to tell him that much. It seemed he already knew quite a lot of information. When he was satisfied, and only then, did he tell me you are—were his slave."
"And?"
"So, we worked out a deal. He told me your limits, most of them, and I agreed that he be there while ... my side of the deal was met. He didn't like that."
Good. "And he agreed for you to whip and fuck me?"
"No, that was a bonus."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Bonus?"
He pushed himself off the wall and was standing beside me in a heartbeat. I was startled as well as impressed. "Call it a favor, a bribe, whatever you want. By the way, you have me intrigued, little girl."
"I am not a little girl!"
He glanced down at my cleavage and grinned. "That I can attest to." I pulled the collar of the robe over my chest. "You were a good slave, and I wanted to find out for myself."
Yeah, tell me something I don't know.
"Daniel was happy with you—for a human," he chortled harshly. "He was proud of you for carrying yourself to his standards when you were at the club."
Okay, I didn't know that and of course, I knew the latter part, too. But that still didn't answer my question.
"It was an even trade. Two meetings, over and done with. As far as your situation now, I had nothing to do with that."
Hmm, do I believe him? "Then ... then why did he—"
"I can't answer that, Connee. But you are aware that sometimes Masters—"
"I know that! Okay, so answer me this—you brought me here so apparently you aren't done with me. What do you want with me?"
"To make you an offer." He put his hands on the arm rests, just as I had done to him at the club.
I stood my ground—or ass, as the case was—and raised my eyebrows with curiosity, but also with dread. "And what might that be?"
