"Izziahnordia, Drizdan, let me introduce you to the lady. She arrived at the court today and I'm sure she would be delighted to meet others of her status," Alaric called and her heart sank as the two drow eagerly approached. They had been much closer than she liked and they both appeared from behind her, bringing with them the scent of blood and something else, the odour making her nostrils burn.
The silver-eyed man lifted his hand to her politely, his smile seeming to be genuinely curious, and she reluctantly placed her hand in his. His free hand immediately closed on it, drawing her hand up to his face but rather than kissing it, he inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of her skin to make her cringe.
"It is a pleasure, Lady Etani. My name is Izziahnordia, but I am called Izziah." He lowered her hand and swept one out to place it on the other drow's shoulder. "This is my brother Drizdan."
Turning to the black-eyed man, she found him staring at her intently from less than a foot away and while she really did not want to do it, she accepted his offered hand. Her entire body tensed as he lifted it to his mouth, utterly repulsed to feel him lick it.
Jerking her hand away from him, she glared at him as she wiped her hand on her dress, the king utterly oblivious to the two men's keen interest in her.
"And finally, we have the two lurking in the back and silently judging us. Kai and Jaia," the king said, either ignoring or unaware of the death glare she had levelled on the two drow that was met with a returned glare from Izziah and a hungry, feral grin from Drizdan.
The two men bowed politely but did not come out of the shadows, though they did seem rather amused by the comment on their judging everyone.
"Please, now that everyone has been introduced, take a seat. Epharis will be joining us shortly and we can eat," the king said, and she wondered if she imagined his glee at having them all there together.
They all approached the table, and she quickly found herself trapped between the two drow, unable to escape without making a scene and they were gleeful about that fact, delighted by her being unable to get away from them.
Conversations started up and the two drow men immediately started in on her, demanding in quiet voices to know who and what she was but she refused to respond, her chin lifted in defiance.
Things were relatively calm between the three of them until Izziah decided to try to touch her hand. Moving on impulse, she snatched up a knife and spun it easily, slamming it down into the table between his middle and index finger, the serrated edge a mere millimetre from the webbing between the two fingers.
The entire table went silent and Izziah stared down at his hand, his face pale and eyes wide in alarm.
The king's laughter boomed out into the room and she clenched her jaw and stared straight ahead at the wall, very aware of Drizdan who was half out of his seat, furious and trembling while Izziah was entirely frozen in shock, not knowing what to do.
"That's what happens when you try to touch a trained woman, Izziahnordia!" the king was nearly crying he was laughing so hard and there was a low chuckle from the other three.
Curling her fingers around the handle of the knife, she yanked it from the table and set it back down gently, the three of them falling into a tense, awkward silence. She could feel Drizdan's anger, his tension, and she had to wonder how close she had been to ending up with a knife in her.
Allowing her eyes to drift down from the wall, she found that a set of twins were sitting directly across from her, her head tilting very slightly to the side as she took in what they were.
They were a perfect match in height and had the same black eyes, the same exquisitely handsome face, and the same full mouth that turned down just slightly at the corners. They were identical twins, very similar, though the one on the left had slightly curly hair while the one on the right had straight hair.
She could not stop looking between them, picking out miniscule details that most people would not have noticed, although she did, and she had to assume it was because she was a twin herself.
They both wore incredibly high-class black suits and black leather gloves, a flash at their throats and wrists showing they wore a white shirt underneath. Broad shoulders that were slightly rounder on the left twin, both with incredible posture but the right twin had movements that were much more controlled. She took a stab at the right twin being military, the left however she did not know, and they stared right back at her, unblinking.
***
She thought she knew what they were, it seemed obvious to her. Pale skin, utterly devastating to look at, quick movements. She knew it but it was not until Epharis arrived, his nostrils flaring angrily as he saw her trapped between the two drow and settled himself down across from his brother that she had her suspicions confirmed.
The two men were given pristine bowls of a rich red liquid and judging by their reactions, it was fresh. The smell of it reached her and she swallowed. Human blood, fresh and tantalising.
The twins were vampires.
The meals each of them were given were curious, the sight of the enormous steak that was set down before Catherine nearly made her laugh and she caught a fond, amused smile from the twin to the left as he glanced at the woman, that glance almost adoring, and she had to wonder if there was something between the two.
The drow brothers were given a salad made of an odd vegetable that she had never seen before and she was still looking at it when her own plate was set down, the smell of it immediately filling her mouth with saliva.
Looking first at her plate, then to her right at Epharis, she found him watching her with a curious, almost innocent wonder on his face rather than the smug glee she had expected. He had delivered her a fresh human heart, neatly diced and served on a bed of salad.
She hated that he was toying with her like that. She was playing the part of a human woman and yet there he sat, tempting her. Did he know that a fresh human heart still had the shreds of essence clinging to it? Did he know that it was so incredibly delicious that she wanted to devour it and lick the plate? She did not know, but she slowly began to eat the salad around the meat, refusing to give him the satisfaction.
After they had finished eating and she politely declined whatever the lump of white substance was that had been offered to her for dessert, they dispersed into small groups to talk and she immediately tried to make her escape, finding the path out of the dining room barred by the drow brothers.
"What do you want?" she finally hissed at them, irritated that so many were trying to get to her.
"We haven't seen a Fae in centuries, we want to get to know you," Izziah said gently, but by the way Drizdan's eyes lingered on her breasts, she did not think the two of them wanted to get to know her in the same way. Drizdan's idea seemed to be less verbal and more carnal.
"I don't converse with drow," she shot back.
Izziah looked genuinely hurt, and she felt a little twinge of remorse. The drow did not really deserve to be treated the way they had, and she of all people should not treat others badly simply for being born.
Besides, they had done nothing to her and for all she knew, they were decent men.
"We aren't the bad guys here; we only want to be friends," he said after a short pause.
"Yeah, friends," Drizdan said, unable to tear his eyes from her breasts.
"I'm up here," she said dryly, but he did not seem to be listening, not until Izziah jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow. "Clearly you are interested in being friends," she said angrily, Izziah's face falling slightly but then his eyes lifted to something behind her and she turned, finding herself face to face with the other person she did not want to talk to.
"I come bearing a peace offering," Epharis said, his attention flicking between her and the two drow. Glancing back, she noted that Izziah was glaring at Epharis while Drizdan's attention was pointing down, at her backside.
"Keep it," she snapped, trying to sidestep him without making it obvious to the rest of the room that she was attempting to escape. She could feel those lecherous eyes on her, and she seriously contemplated introducing the red-eyed creep to her elbow.
"Don't be like that, my little kitten," he cooed.
What could she do with the drow behind her and the lich trying to play nice? She could cause a scene but that was not ideal, or she could just accept whatever it was he offered her and be done with it.
"Very well, what is it?" she asked slowly, taking his gift as the lesser of two evils, three if she considered the vampire twins who were watching the four of them curiously. Alaric was too busy talking to Catherine.
Epharis seemed a little taken aback by her acceptance but then he smiled and reached into his coat pocket, took out a small black velvet box, and offered it to her.
This had to be some sort of sick joke, she was sure of it. Why would he be giving her something that came in a box like that?
***
Contemplating throwing it out the window, she let out a slow sigh and took it, opening it with the same feeling she had when she was trying to tell if Letari had crushed a spider she had found in with her socks.
Inside the box she found a very delicate silver chain, strung with a small gem of some sort. It really was quite lovely, and she was more than a little confused by the thing. It was a necklace, a very expensive looking necklace, and while it appeared quite simple, it was elegant, very fine and incredibly well made.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she finally said, unsure of what else to say to him or what to do with the gift. Why was he even giving her gifts?
He plucked the chain from the box and moved around behind her, the two drow immediately moving away, and she caught a glimpse of the lich's smile.
"Beautiful and discreet, just like you," he murmured in her ear, holding it before her as he undid the clasp. Setting it gently against her chest, she looked up to find the drow pair watching her intently, their faces a mixture of confusion and alarm.
The chain fell against her neck as he placed it down and she shivered at his touch. Once settled, the gem rested between her breasts and she realised that had been the point, all three sets of eyes dropping to the little clear stone nestled safely in her cleavage.
"You're a pig," she hissed at the lich, as his eyes shifted from her chest to her face and then back down again as though it was impossible to look away.
"Well, if you're showing them off, you should expect us to look," he countered.
Turning away from the three of them, she held her hand over her chest and the strangeness of the necklace felt heavy on her skin and she immediately wanted to take it off, but when she tugged the chain around to find the clasp, it had vanished.
Looking down, she ran her fingers slowly along the length of chain from one side of her neck to the other, then down both sides; there was no clasp.
Turning to look at the man, he was grinning at her, apparently delighted to see that she had realised the trick. The drow were whispering furiously at each other and the king had stood, ready to leave. "I'm afraid that not even a king may be excused from his duties," Alaric said, offering a deep bow to the room at large, the five guests returning the gesture while Epharis remained still, not taking his eyes off her, and it was not until the vampire twins and the werewolf had left that he moved to approach her while she moved to meet him.
"Remove it," she demanded immediately.
"No," he said calmly, watching as she tugged at the thing and even tried to get it off over her head, but it seemed to shrink when she tried to lift it towards her chin.
"Remove it now, or…" She had no threat; it was not like she could kill him.
The drow pair had not left, and they watched in fascination as she brazenly tried to order the man around while Epharis seemed not to mind.
"Are you two married?" Izziah asked.
Shooting him a furious glance, she looked back at Epharis and his expression was considering.
"Remove it," she repeated, her anger rising as he shook his head.
"I'm not removing it," he said as he reached forward and slipped his fingers into her cleavage, plucking the gem out and holding it between them.
"A pretty little collar for my pretty little pet," he purred, enjoying her disgust and then horror as she realised what he was saying. It was a collar? He had collared her.
Slapping his hand away, she ignored his flash of anger and turned, planning to head back to her room when his fingers caught in her hair.
A low hiss came from one of the drow as the lich pulled her back against him, her head tilted.
"I think you have some fans," he said in a low, taunting voice as he turned her head to look at the two drow men.
Gripping his fist in her hair, she gave a low growl of warning that he ignored, sliding his free arm around her waist.
"I did not know drow had sexual desires outside the family," Epharis taunted the two men.
They were watching carefully, Izziah's face showing concern but Drizdan's seemed to show what she thought might be jealousy, his jaw clenched and face furious.
***
"I don't really blame you, she's quite pretty. Even with the human skin on."
The two drow exchanged a glance and Epharis laughed, delighted even as his hand started to creep upwards and he hooked his finger in the front of her dress.
Drizdan's eyes had locked on her chest as the lich pulled the fabric down just slightly, teasing the man, while Izziah looked confused.
"Drow can't see glamours, idiot," she hissed at the lich, reaching up to dig her nails into the back of his hand, forcing him to let go of the front of her dress.
"Oh right…" Epharis said gently, and he turned his face towards her, licking the tip of her ear to make her shudder.
"Let go," she demanded, tugging at his hand, but he refused to release her hair.
"No, I don't want to," he said petulantly.
Why were men so utterly incapable of keeping their hands to themselves?
He took advantage of her irritation and dragged the flat of his tongue up the side of her face, making her almost gag. Drizdan looked about ready to breathe fire and she realised that it was not her the lich was taunting; it was the drow. He was taunting the drow with his claim on her.
She'd had enough, and she lifted her foot, slamming her heel down on the toes of his shoe. He grunted in pain and as his grip on her released, she twisted and drove her elbow hard into his jaw, sending him staggering away from her.
She was going to pay for it, she knew it, but she was not his plaything, she was not just some toy he could wave in front of others.
Rubbing at her cheek, she moved back so that she could see both the furious lich and the furious drow. Izziah, however, was looking rather impressed, having stepped back to keep himself out of the impending fight that seemed likely to erupt at any moment.
"You little bitch!" Epharis yelled, rubbing his jaw.
She had been called worse, but his anger was something she was concerned about. Lich were dangerous creatures, however, her defending herself against him did not go against any deal they had and at no point did she say he could touch her.
"I'm not some pretty trinket you can wave around," she hissed back at him, that hint of green flaring in his eyes once more.
"You're whatever I say you are," he snapped. "I own you."
The two drow watched the furious conversation, curiosity and the chance to learn more about them too much temptation for the brothers.
"I would like to return to my room," she said carefully, her mind going to what she could do to disengage herself from the situation.
"You are going to stay right where you are. I'm not done with you yet," the lich said angrily. "I need to teach you some manners."
He started forward for her and she lunged for the table, snatching up one of the knives that had yet to be cleaned up and he did not seem overly concerned by her being armed.
Spinning back to him, the knife flashed, and the lich snarled as a large crimson slash appeared on his hand, dripping blood.
He paused only for a moment, knowing the flesh wound was hardly worth the effort of considering.
His fingers caught the front of her dress as she backed away and he jerked her forward towards him.
Her mind raced, taking drastic non-lethal measures, driving the knife to the hilt in his chest.
He was still for a moment, looking down at the knife and then back up at her. She had hoped he would have responded in some way, but he only looked angrier.
His hand flew and her cheek was suddenly on fire; she caught herself against the chair to keep from falling but he was not done with her yet.
His fingers caught her hair, and he pulled her back to him, his fist clenching and drawing back.
"Your highness!" Izziah cried, alarmed at the sight of the lich about to punch her full in the face.
"What?" Epharis hissed back.
"Please, you can't hit her!"
"Of course, I can, she's my property, and she stabbed me in the lung."
Shaking her head to try to clear it, she looked up at the lich as he bared his teeth at her but then he smiled, glancing sidelong at the two drow.
"Don't worry, I won't break her too badly," he taunted. "Get out."
The two drow hesitated but then left the room, unable to resist the direct order of the prince.
Turning back to her, he grinned savagely. She saw his fist coming and then there was a flash of white light, blinding pain, and everything went black.