OUR DATE WAS PERFECT, and I was smiling the next morning when Lesley woke me. I couldn’t believe how fast I had become used to this new lifestyle, and I couldn’t wait for all the other slaves to also have better lives.In the meantime, Lorenzo had all the whips taken away from the guards. Beds had been moved into the cells for the slaves to sleep on, and they were getting three proper meals a day. Until we could officially announce them free, they were still slaves and the guards still had to keep an eye on them, but I knew it wasn’t going to be long before they were free and I could live with that.The next couple of weeks were going to be incredibly busy and we were slowly figuring out who I would choose as my lady. I didn’t want to lose Lesley, but I wanted her to be happy, so the queen agreed that I should make her the first. That way, if she mingled with the noblemen and she found a husband, I would still see her often. She also knew a lot about royal protocol, so it would be eas
“Lorenzo, perhaps we should move this conversation somewhere private.” Everyone … Literally everyone was staring at us now, and I was beginning to feel as if both of them need to be properly put in their place! “She was the one going around publicly trying to humiliate me, and I haven’t just heard this from you, Ariana. Two other people mentioned it to me tonight.” I sighed, knowing there was no way I was going to save this woman from further humiliation. If I wasn’t the only one hearing her gossip … She had made her rounds all right … I took a step back, but thankfully, I could feel that Lorenzo had at least calmed down a little. “Take your wife home!” Lorenzo growled at the woman’s husband. “And I expect to see both of you in my office first thing in the morning!” The man nodded and as they left the ballroom, I could see he was furious hissing at his wife. Dammit. I really didn’t mean for this to happen, but what else was I going to do? I couldn’t very well lie to Lorenzo when he a
OUR SECOND DATE was an even bigger adventure than the first. We were going to help the pixies as they prepared to clear out places for the new homes. Lorenzo was close to finalizing the last part of the law and he would be announcing that the slaves were being freed the following week.I had no idea what excited me more. Seeing my people free or the fact that once that was done, I was free and Lorenzo and I could actually get engaged. I hadn’t said anything about that last part, but I was secretly hoping he would get around to asking me once the slaves were officially freed.Another thing I noticed was that the people in the castle were gossiping a lot less after we banned our friends from a couple of social events. We were basically in the height of the social season and all the events at the moment were in Lorenzo's and my honour, so if they got banned as she did … They would miss out on the most important events of their lives.Word had spread that I was getting ready to choose lad
THAT EMBER THAT SPARKED didn’t seem to want to die down and the next morning, as I walked into the dining room, it seemed to light up like a bonfire at the sight of Lorenzo. An ache started to form down there and it was frustrating since it felt as though I had peed my damn pants!I knew exactly what it was. Some of the slaves talked about it over the years and some seemed to enjoy whatever they did with a male to relieve that pain, while others seemed to hate it and said that it hurt. What I’ve also heard is that when you are wet, it doesn’t hurt, but when you aren’t …“Ariana?” My eyes snapped up to find everyone staring at me. “Are you alright?” The queen looked worried and I frowned.“Yes, I’m fine, Your Highness. I’m just incredibly hot. Is anyone else hot?” I tried to cool myself with a napkin, but what was really happening registered a split-second later when Lorenzo’s growl echoed throughout the room and he moved incredibly fast, pulling me into his arms. His canines were just
There had to be a way to ease her pain. It was almost as if being there with her and watching her going through this was even worse than not being there.“Mother, what can I do?” I had never felt this helpless in my entire life. Not even when she was captured by Emanuel.“Well,” My mother sighed, raising a brow before leaning in a little closer. “You can try and satisfy her a little.” She hesitated and my mother’s cheeks turned bright red. “You can’t go all the way because then you won’t be able to stop,” Her lips turned into that thin disapproving line she always had whenever I was being a naughty child. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how to satisfy a woman without …” She waved her hands around my crotch area and this time I felt my cheeks turn bright red.I got the gist of what she was saying and before I could say more, she instructed the female guard to leave us alone. As she was about to close the door, she turned back around and glared at me.“Remember, son. If you mark her
Ariana“YOU WHAT?!” Lorenzo’s mother reacted the way I was just about to. I knew exactly what happened between me and Lorenzo while I was going through my heat and just thinking about it made me damn well blush like an innocent girl, but what he was asking was a little bit more than what I wanted right now!“I want you to arrange the wedding as soon as possible.” We were all sitting around the breakfast table staring at him while he stuffed his pretty face!“But you haven’t even gotten engaged yet!” His mother exclaimed, making me choke on my toast! All eyes turned to me as I put the piece of toast down and took a sip of tea.“Lorenzo, I’m not ready to get married yet.” A soft growl escaped his lips and a deep frown formed on his face. “Just hear me out before you go all Neanderthal and bump me over my head.” I could actually imagine him doing that! “We still have things to do before we can move to the next step and I’m not talking about us. You have to declare the slaves free and bef
IT HAD BEEN A NIGHTMARE to arrange the extra things now that the next ball was going to be our engagement ball, but everything was done, and as Lesley made sure my new girl got me dressed correctly, I thought back to when Ella was getting ready for her engagement ball and I could understand why she was so nervous.The first slaves had been set free and had moved into their homes, and I was one of the slaves that had been declared free, which meant nothing stood in our way of getting married. Nothing but the fact that I still felt as if something was holding me back. I couldn’t explain it. I loved Lorenzo. We discussed why he rejected me at length and I understood that he didn’t do it because he didn’t want me. I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it, but I wasn’t ready to take that final step.At least the engagement ball was enough to placate him at the moment, and it gave me some time to figure out what I was feeling. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door and as Lesley
AFTER THE BALL, we went to Lorenzo’s office and we were joined by the priest, his parents, and two other witnesses. Lorenzo’s mother suggested we do things this way, in the hopes that it would be less intimate and we wouldn’t try to push things further. I felt the nausea push up because I was so nervous, but when Lorenzo pulled me into his arms, my entire body relaxed.“Just keep your eyes on me,” Lorenzo whispered as I tried to swallow, but my throat had suddenly gone completely dry! I nodded and heard the priest talking, but I was so focused on Lorenzo that his mother had to remind me I had to answer the question!“Ariana, are you here willingly and do you willingly agree to be marked?” The priest asked again and I swallowed before nodding. “I’m afraid I need you to use the word.” He leaned forward as if he was trying to whisper.“Yes.” My breath caught in the back of my throat as I looked at the priest, but I instantly returned my attention to Lorenzo. I searched his eyes for that