Read Online Pet's Pleasure by Zenobia Renquist - Free Book Online Page B

her. Not even the amber-encased emerald her father had given her was the same. English remained hers alone.
    Rois urged her forward with a gentle nudge to her shoulder. “Come. We should catch up to the others.”
    She nodded and let him guide her with his hand on her shoulder. He slowed his pace and glanced down at her every few steps as though he expected her not to be there.
    They entered Bekion’s room and Starling found herself happy to see it. She’d only occupied the space for a little while but welcomed the familiarity. It felt safe.
    Nausic stood speaking with Bekion, who frowned as he nodded.
    Bekion faced her and Rois. “What took you two so long?”
    “I didn’t want to rush her. And I wouldn’t carry your pet without your permission.”
    “Granted,” he said in a dismissive manner.
    Starling wanted to say they should ask her permission but held it back. No one needed her permission for anything anymore thanks to the poachers.
    Everyone bustled around the room doing various tasks that didn’t concern her. Bekion was deep in conversation with Vieve about the tablet she held. Like at lunch, the guards conversed amongst themselves. There were even some new people she’d never seen before milling around.
    She sighed.
    “Welcome to your life,” she muttered to herself.
    The open door to the bedroom caught her attention. Everyone was in the outer chamber so it should be quieter in there. No one said anything as she left the crowd, not that she expected it.
    Quiet remained elusive. Furielle stood in the middle of a throng of men and women. She gestured as she gave them orders. Starling didn’t know what was going on and she didn’t care. They blocked the path to the bathroom, eliminating that locale as an escape.
    She walked to the closet, closed the door behind her and felt her way to the back corner. The darkness and the quiet soothed her nerves a little. She made a seat out of some stacked boxes before sitting down to stare straight ahead at the blackness.
    She sucked in a shaky breath and exhaled it as softly as she could lest someone hear her. Tears flowed down her cheeks, hitting her hands, which she fisted on her lap.
    Her entire existence was in the hands of another, who she hoped was fair and decent. That wasn’t the cause of her tears. Worry for the future took second place to the losses of the past.
    Everything familiar was taken from her.
    She would never see home again.
    * * * * *
     
    Bekion read the last line of the report and entered his authorization code. He handed the tablet back to Vieve. “Is that the last?”
    “Yes, it is. Thank you.” She dropped a quick curtsy.
    He motioned her out of the way and signaled to Rois and Nausic. Both men broke away from the other guards and joined him.
    Rois said, “Nausic told me he encountered Kuruk outside the throne room.”
    Bekion grunted. “Whispers of Starling probably brought him out of his wing of the palace. At least now we know he’s aware of her.” He glanced down and then around the room. “Where is Starling?”
    Rois and Nausic looked around as well.
    Bekion edged people aside when he didn’t immediately see her.
    Furielle exited the bedroom and headed for him. “King Bekion, I—”
    “Furielle.” Bekion met her halfway. “Is Starling with you?”
    The woman frowned and shook her head. “No, Your Majesty. I realized you were back and came out to ask about her. The seamstresses you summoned have arrived to start her wardrobe.”
    He lifted his arm and tapped the homing beacon on his cuff. It beeped and a tiny arrow pointed toward the way from which Furielle had come. He followed it to the closet. Before he could open the door, Rois pulled him up short.
    Rois detached the baton from his hip. “I’ll go.”
    “It’s my closet, Rois.”
    “Did anyone check your room when we returned?”
    “No.”
    “Then I’ll go.”
    Bekion stepped to the side and motioned the man forward. Better to let Rois do his job than