Forged Bonds (Binding Words Book 4) Read online

“Probably a good idea,” Sean agreed. “Have your wife stop by on Fourday and we’ll make the clip then.”

  “Generous to a fault, MacDougal,” Angus chuckled.

  For the rest of the trip to the Den, they made idle small talk. Sean was surprised to see they were near the Lord’s manor when Angus turned into an alley between two large buildings that each reached four stories tall. When he came to a stop by a large double gate, Angus rang the bell and waited.

  “Been a fair while since I delivered here,” Angus chuckled. “Wife wasn’t happy with me that day. I think she would have objected today if not for that hair clip.”

  Movement on the other side of the gate got Sean’s attention. The thunk of a bar being moved had Angus grabbing the bar of the cart again. One of the two doors opened, revealing four large men of various races standing there.

  “What do you have?” the man who was clearly part Orc asked.

  “MacDougal,” Sean said. “I have the kettles that were ordered.”

  The four men all stood up straight at those words, and a silver streak zipped away. “MacDougal? Bring them in,” the man with scales around his eyes said. “Felora will be here momentarily.”

  “Angus, if you’ll put the chest where they want it, please.”

  “Aye.”

  Angus carried the chest through the door, setting it down where one of the men indicated. Felora stepped into the yard a second later and Sean blushed when he saw her. She was wearing an outfit made of tight leather and lace, and looked eerily similar to the emblem of the Den. Seeing him, Felora smiled broadly and motioned the Orc to the chest.

  “MacDougal, a pleasure to have you here. Mistress Somnia shall see you once I’ve handled your goods and verified that they are worthy.”

  Sean’s cheeks went from pink to red, but he did not reply. Instead, he watched the Orc open the chest and step back. Felora swayed forward and bent at the waist to pick up one of the kettles. Her fingers caressed the metal as if it were a lover she had long been waiting for. Setting it down, she picked up another, smiling wide and putting it back as well.

  “Take them inside, then return the chest to Angusson,” Felora commanded the men. “Is your Bonded coming with you, MacDougal?”

  “Yes,” Sean said plainly. The stirrings of magic or influence around his mind were much less apparent than the previous time he had spoken to her. “Angus, thank you for your service.” Pulling out a coin, he handed it to the large man. “If you’ll return the chest for me?”

  “Huh?” Angus said, pulling his eyes from Felora. “Aye. Need to be going before the wife wonders why I took so long.”

  “They will bring it back shortly,” Felora told Angus. “Wait here, like a good boy.” Turning her gaze to Sean, her smile grew a shade warmer. “You can follow me. You can too, dear. You hide your figure behind those clothes, but I bet you would look great in an outfit like mine.”

  Ryann blinked, her face going hot as she followed Felora, almost in a daze. Sean took her hand, pinching the skin between her thumb and forefinger. Wincing, she shook her head and looked at him. “Sorry,” she whispered.

  “That’s what they do,” Sean replied softly. “Are you sure you want to come in with me?”

  “I have to,” Ryann gripped his hand tightly. “We agreed.”

  Guess they decided before I came to bed last night, Sean told himself, gripping her hand in return and following Felora.

  The hallway they entered led to the kitchen, which they passed through with a brief glance, and into another hallway lined with closed doors. They came out into the main room, beside a bar. There were no customers to be seen, but the décor gave the impression that this was a place where decadent pleasure ruled. Gold and mithril along with rich dark woods accounted for the tables, lamps, and other furnishings, while the floor was covered in thick rugs.

  “Please, change your shoes. We don’t wish to damage the rugs,” Felora said. She snapped her fingers and smiled as a Moonbound came from the front of the building, carrying two pairs of slippers.

  Sean looked away from the lace covered fox as she approached them, her head bowed in a subservient manner. “Of course. We wouldn’t want to damage the décor,” Sean said, using the time to get his boots off and avoid the obvious trap.

  “Leave them for our guests, and go on about your work,” Felora said, humor trickling through her words.

  “As you wish, mistress,” the fox said. Kneeling, she placed the slippers on the ground in front of both of them. “I will take your shoes to the front. They will be cleaned and ready for you when you leave.”

  Sean took the slippers, “Our thanks.”

  The fox paused when she took his boots. “It is our pleasure to serve, sir. I hope your time here is enjoyable.” Collecting Ryann’s boots as well, the fox rose gracefully and headed toward the front again.

  “They do fit, I trust?” Felora asked.

  “Yes,” Sean replied. “Silk slippers? I should have guessed that something like this would be the footwear.”

  “It’s too bad that you caught us when we are refreshing for tonight,” Felora sighed. She led them toward a grand spiraling staircase in the back of the large room. “We are at our best when darkness falls.”

  “I believe you,” Sean replied, feeling the current of energy from Felora barely even impinging on him now.

  They climbed the stairs to the second floor, traversing the long corridor and taking the next spiral to the third floor. The doors on this floor were farther apart, decorated with mithril filigree that spelled out the name of the room’s occupant. Felora slowed when she came even with the door that had her name on it, right before the last set of stairs.

  Felora paused and glanced back over her shoulder at them, sighing. “If only you were here to see me. Alas, you have a pressing matter to attend to.” She started up the stairs. “I would never stand in the way of the mistress, but if you have her attention, you most assuredly have mine, as well.”

  Sean did not reply, just followed her up the last spiraling stairway.

  The stairs went up to a short hall that ended in a door marked with the emblem of the Den. Knocking lightly, Felora waited for a few seconds before she opened it. “Mistress, MacDougal and his Bonded are here.”

  “Very good, Felora. Please show them into my study, then stand by to serve,” the voice that came from the open door was the embodiment of lustful desire, and Sean did not doubt that the voice’s owner could sway even a dead priest.

  Sean inhaled sharply and tightened the energy he had put around his mind as a barrier. Fucking shit, that might be a Succubus after all, Sean thought as he tried to calm himself. This is for Chastity... you can do this. Focus and retreat.

  “The mistress will see you,” Felora said happily, closing the door and leading them into a hall that outdid every other part of the building they had seen.

  Tapestries depicting tasteful, but erotic, acts dominated the walls. The rugs were of similar design, though they showed a Succubus and an Angel rather than Humans. As they walked down the hall, the wings of the Angel went from bright white to black, while the acts the Succubus and Angel were performing became more and more depraved.

  Felora stopped next to a door, opened it, and stepped aside for them. “Please make yourselves at home.”

  Sean was surprised when he entered the study; it was spartan compared to the rest of the building. The furnishings were of top quality, despite the lack of decoration. The walls were lined with shelves filled with books and scrolls. Two overstuffed leather chairs sat before a wide black oak desk. Sean frowned at the desk and summoned Mage Sight to his right eye. Sigils came into view, glowing with a flickering red energy. Each sigil depicted an act that Sean had been raised to think of as sinful, with the one in the middle of the desk showing a Succubus riding an Angel with a broken halo.

  The chairs did not glow to his Mage Sight, so Sean sat down in one while Ryann took the other. Felora stepped to the side of the door, her head lowere
d as she waited. Sean’s lips pursed; he could see the same flickering red energy concentrated into a ball at her pelvis. Two much smaller balls glowed where her eyes and mouth would be.

  Sean was just starting to get antsy when the door opened again. The woman in the doorway had sun bronzed skin, rich blonde hair, and the greenest eyes Sean had ever seen. As if compelled to, his eyes tracked down her body, taking in her nearly impossible figure. When he was finally able to pull his eyes back up to hers, he saw a warm smile on her lips. His right eye saw nothing but flickering red energy encompassing her entire body, almost blindingly bright.

  “Sean MacDougal, I’m Saret Somnia. Welcome to my home,” Somnia’s voice was silken, the same lust-inspiring voice he had heard a few minutes ago.

  Sean stood up, shutting down Mage Sight and tightening the energy around his brain as much as he could. “It is an honor to meet you,” Sean said, his voice a little stiff as he tried to resist the urge to do whatever she asked.

  “Please, sit. Felora, bring me the wine I drink with Amedee. MacDougal is a friend of hers, and as such, is one of mine.”

  “Right away, mistress,” Felora said as she left the room.

  “Sean, please,” Sean managed to say. “If Dame Mageeyes can be addressed informally, I wouldn’t wish to be held to a different standard.”

  “Very well, Sean,” Saret smiled, the name rolling off her tongue with happiness. “You may call me Saret, as good friends should.”

  Sean suppressed the shiver he felt at hearing his name from her. “I’m honored,” he replied.

  “She was right, you know,” Saret laughed lightly. “You are fascinating.”

  “Am I?” Sean croaked, feeling her energy pressing on him.

  “Quite, but I’m being a bad hostess,” Saret sighed, her energy vanishing completely. “I find it hard to hold back when confronted with something interesting.”

  Both Sean and Ryann exhaled deeply as the pressure of Saret’s energy left them. Felora came back into the room with three glasses and a bottle. Without a word and barely a sound, she poured the wine and placed a glass in front of each of them. Stepping behind Saret, Felora winked at Sean.

  “Please, accept my apology and have some wine. You came here with a purpose in mind, yes?”

  The wine was dark red, almost black. Sean took a careful sip. Honey, apples, and cinnamon dominated the flavor and made him think of home as a sense of longing filled him.

  Saret sipped her own, letting out a deep sigh of regret before setting the glass aside. “It pains me to drink this vintage, but it also reminds me that everything changes.”

  Ryann wiped a tear away. “It can be for the better.”

  Saret’s smile grew warm, “Yes, child, it can. Do you agree with her, Sean?”

  “Home can mean many things,” Sean said slowly. “I find that my life here and now is better overall than it would be back home.”

  “Yes, we might have that in common. Our homes are not close to here, are they, Sean?”

  Sean gave her a blank look, “That would depend on your home, Saret.”

  “Felora tells me that you recognized the image on the kettles. Not many here do. I find it is normally the Outsiders that do.”

  “Is that your real form?” Sean countered, keeping his voice at a whisper.

  Felora tensed, but Saret giggled, “Are you so bold as to ask a woman to see her body?”

  Sean went scarlet before coughing, “Not what I meant, but you know that, don’t you? Words are one of your Talents.”

  Saret’s eyes sparkled red, “One of them. My kind have changed over the many years, so we had to seek alliances with others on some worlds.”

  “Succubi, you mean,” Sean said, deciding to be bold. “I’ve mostly heard of them as demons who corrupt and twist people via carnal acts. Allied with Lucifer, they pull down the pious with soft words and needs.”

  Saret’s smile dimmed at his description. “I see. That is what you expect?”

  “There is an even older tale about Succubi,” Sean said, “about them using dreams to help or hinder others. They were called ‘Dream Demons’ long before they became synonymous with sex. Though, even in those tales, their attentions did tax the person they helped.”

  Saret’s smile blazed brighter. “An old tale indeed, not known by the folk who came here with the Queens. Pardon me for this.” Saret looked straight at Ryann, “Forget.”

  Ryann’s eyes went glassy and she leaned back in her chair, wearing a happy smile.

  Sean shot to his feet, but Saret held out a placating hand, “Please, let me explain. My word that she is not harmed in any way. She will recall this meeting up to the point of sipping her wine.”

  “If she is changed or injured, I will pay you back,” Sean said with chained anger. Sitting again, he waited for her to explain.

  “You have secrets, do you not? I would not ask you to tell my subordinate what those are. My secrets must be kept from others, as well. We are Outsiders, and as such, aren’t welcomed by society at large. If you want, I will have Felora forget also. That way, it’ll be just the two of us speaking.”

  Sean gritted his teeth and thought of Marjorie and Chastity. “I’ll stay if you promise we will be allowed to leave unharmed and not under your influence, more than we have been to this point. You’ll also hold my secrets as I hold yours.”

  Saret’s smile dimmed, “Of course, Sean. My word on my power, and you on yours.”

  “Agreed,” Sean said. The weight of that Agreement pressed on him, the heaviest he had made.

  “Very well, Felora. You are dismissed,” Saret said, taking another sip of wine.

  Felora’s lips parted as if she wanted to object, but she bowed her head. “As you command, mistress.”

  “If you will hold to the same Agreement as Saret, you can stay,” Sean said.

  “I will, if the mistress allows me to stay,” Felora said eagerly, and Sean felt another weight hanging above him.

  Saret let out a light laugh, “So eager, dear Fel. You may stay.”

  “Thank you, mistress,” Felora said, stepping back behind Saret. “I agree.”

  The weight settled onto Sean when the Agreement was sealed.

  “Now, Sean, why did you seek to meet with me if not for the services everyone expects from this house?”

  “I have a friend whose mother has been traumatized... badly traumatized, to the point of being unable to function. I was hoping to find someone who can help her heal from it so she can live a full life again.”

  “What trauma?” Saret asked as she sipped her wine.

  “Abuse of all kinds. She was Bonded to a man by a magistrate. The Holder used her and abused her for tendays, breaking her.”

  Saret grimaced, “I see... that is within the laws, of course.”

  “Fuck the laws. It’s wrong,” Sean growled.

  Nodding, Saret met his eyes, “What will you offer for this?”

  “What do you want? I have no idea what it will entail, so I can’t guess at a reasonable price.”

  “That is fair,” Saret nodded. “Did you wish the memories to cease hindering her, or did you want them gone entirely?”

  “One is harder than the other, obviously,” Sean said.

  Saret just smiled and waited for him.

  “No one should live with those memories. Can you remove the memories from the first time she was abused up to the point where her daughter came to get her?”

  “Yes,” Saret nodded. “Felora is quite talented and can manage that. My price for one of mine to assist you is for my baths to be upgraded like you will be doing for the Oaken Glen, the same deal you have with Amedee. Felora will have a price of her own, though.”

  Sean sipped at his own wine, “That feels like double dipping.”

  “That is my offer,” Saret replied.

  “I’d want to see what Felora’s terms are first.”

  “Fel, come forward and barter,” Saret said, sitting back in her chair.

&nb
sp; “I would want a night with you,” Felora said bluntly.

  “No. Nope, not gonna do it,” Sean said quickly. “I told you that already.”

  “I had to ask,” Felora sighed. “A dream of the child whose mother you wish to help, then.”

  “I can’t promise that.”

  “You’re being difficult,” Felora said, pouting a little. “We grow by taking from others, and you are denying me the options traditionally used.”

  “Ask for something I’m willing to give, then,” Sean replied.

  “A shared dream,” Felora snapped.

  Brow furrowing, Sean tried to puzzle out what she was asking for. After a long silent moment, which he spent buying time by sipping his wine, Sean sighed, “What does that mean?”