CHAPTER 20 - CONFESSIONALS, CONNECTIONS AND AN ORDER

DEBS

Their laughter from inside grates on my nerves. “Michael, will you keep still?!” 

“Those brats need to go!” Michael snaps before spitting out more orbeez. “I will be speaking to the Aldermen and Master Lieutenants, that was intolerable!” I turn away as he puts his hands down his pants. “You can look now.” Instead of doing that, I start to head back inside. “Ma, where are you going?!”

“To speak to Queen Jennifer.” I call over my shoulder. 

POOL ROOM - TWO MINUTES LATER

QUEEN JENNIFER

I grimace as I feel the anger long before she arrives. Sighing, I turn to Craig to explain, but he just shakes his head. “Let the Alderman deal with her, you’ve got a daughter to notice.”

“What do you mean?” I frown.

“Look at Lindsay, really look at her. Have you ever seen her look like that?” I watch Lindsay in the pool. She is laughing, even with Chris and David, she is laughing. “I have to confess something, let’s go to the hall.” 

“Queen Jennifer! If I may have a word, please?!” Debs hurries towards me.

“Not now.” Craig raps out. “I wish to speak to my wife alone, King beats a supposed Lady!” 

“There you are, Sis!” A smiling Lord Victor comes over. “How’s the deballing of Michael going?”

“Vic!” She groans. “Yes, we are all friends here, but did you have to say it like that?!”

“He has balls upon his person, which should not be there. He was not referencing the ones attached to him.” Craig chortles. I can’t help my smile. “I am glad you’ve joined us, Lord Victor, could Jennifer and I use the Hall before dinner, there is something we need to discuss privately.”

“Privately? In that case, you can use my upper chambers.” Both Debs and I are surprised by this. “Emmett! Could you show Jennifer and Craig to my chambers?”

“Of course, my pleasure, would you like some refreshments as well?” I nod. “Marvellous! If I could prevail upon the Elder Statesman Rodney to get us there, that would be quicker.” Emmett smirks at the aggravated expression she sports. “And Lady Deborah, judging by that frantic signalling behind you, Michael needs his Mama.”

LORD VICTOR’S CHAMBERS - 10 MINUTES LATER

KING CRAIG

I hum as the buzz of the honey cake makes its presence felt. Jennifer, for once, looks semi-serene. “She gets it from you, you know?” I take her hand.

“What does Lindsay get from me?”

“Her impatience and vanity.” She sighs. “I love you, and I would’ve come to love you without the need for you to do that.” She looks both surprised and guilty. “I have always known, but things have come to pass that, as of now, only I am privy to, but I am asking you to admit to the Alderman what you did.”

“But...what if...” She looks fearful. “...you would’ve loved me anyway?!” She stammers, then tries to pull away, but I tighten my grasp. 

“Yes, you were then, and are now, one of the most delightful of WASP queens I have ever met, but you doing that is the reason they have Le Mont, and we are in Liberty Pitts…wanted to humble you a bit.”

“Oh.” She curls her fingers around mine. “What do you think will happen when we tell them?”

“We?” I frown. “ What do you mean we?”

“We need to get the Aldermen and Lindsay.” She replies.

GAZEBO OF MERCURY TOWER - SAME TIME

MICHAEL

“What could they have to talk about privately?” I seethe at Emmett’s snickering before he disappears inside, having informed us that the dinner was going to be delayed. “And he needs to go too!”

“Who does? Oh, you mean Emmett? Have been saying that for years, but Vic won’t agree to that!”

“Well, when I accede, he’s going to be banished first!” I start to cough, then bring up more balls. “And we are never having these fucking things in this coven again!” I touch my ear. “Am I healing? I want to look my best for the dinner tonight.”

She looks me up and down. “Yes, you should be fine by then. Now go and get ready. I need to find the Master Lieutenants.”

LORD VICTOR’S CHAMBERS - TWENTY MINUTES LATER

QUEEN JENNIFER

I don’t think I have ever heard the Aldermen so quiet. “I know what I did was wrong, but there’s more.” 

“Lindsay.” I prompt.

“I wanted Christopher, but knew he had feelings for Michael, so I asked...I asked my Mother to lock them off, then I compelled him to like me, for which I unreservedly...”

“And how do you propose to correct these misdemeanours?” Alderman Lorelle demands.

“That’s the thing, I am not sure we can yet without putting Christopher in danger.” I take a deep breath, “I think, having watched them, that he has strong feelings for David, which are reciprocated, but obviously because of the locking off and David being with Michael, they won’t do anything. But I do know they have been spending a lot of time together. If they are unlocked and Michael finds out, once he accedes he will banish one of them and bask in the misery of the other. I also think that Lady Deborah is of the same thought…”

“I have to say that David and Christopher are a better match. It’s obvious to me, not sure about anyone else, that she’s never liked Christopher. I have often wondered why she adopted him?” Alderman Earl sighs.

“They were together all the time in the foster home. She wanted Michael, but was persuaded by the agency to take both.” I scrub my face. “And Michael was well aware of how Christopher felt until…” I trail off. 

“If I may?” Lindsay looks at the Aldermen, they nod. “Having shared his company, Michael is a spoiled egomaniac. He thought he had a shot with Master Lieutenant Kinney after all. “

“He did?! Good grief!” Alderman Virginia snickers. 

“I have made a decision.” Alderman Bernardus declares. “You two will be protectors of Christopher, plus Gus and JR. I suspect they will all be banished along with Emmett should he accede…”

“What about the Master Lieutenants, shouldn’t they be here for this?” Craig asks.

“No. They had an urgent matter to attend to.” Alderman Virginia smiles. “Now for the rest of the evening, let’s put this aside. Angelina, if you could please?”

“Oh yes, of course!” She grins. Within minutes, we are back at the Mercury Tower.

MERCURY TOWER - KITCHEN - SAME TIME

JUSTIN

There we were, all ready to get it on, when we both remembered the ferrets.

“We can’t keep calling them Cute and Cuter!” I laugh as I pick them up. 

“Why not? It describes them perfectly; they both are, but Cuter is cuter.” He says over his shoulder. “Yeah, for future reference; Cuter is the darker one. Cute is naughty.”

“You do have a point.” I say as after putting them down. Much to his surprise, Cute licks Cuter’s face.

“Ah, Master Lieutenants, there you are!” Lady Deborah smiles as she enters. “I wonder if I could have a word?”

“About what?” I gruff out whilst Brian continues to prepare the food.

“The dinner tonight, as in, is it necessary for the entire coven to be in attendance? Especially the servants and the children?”

“This is a rarity for all the Aldermen, Elder Statesmen Angelina and Rodney to be here, Elder Statesmen Maurice is coming over as well.” Brian turns to her. “It is their request that everyone be present.”

“I see. But maybe there could be a way of emphasising the hierarchy of…”

“They have requested that everyone mingle so that they get to know everyone.” I smile without showing my every lengthening fangs, but my lips twitch when I recall, just before we left, JR and Gus both begging Emmett to allow them to move seats so that they could sit at the same table as Lindsay. “So, if you have an issue with the seating plan, you would need to take it up with either your brother or Emmett.” 

“Fine, I will speak to them directly.” She simpers before swishing out. 

“Awww!” I declare as I turn to see Cute and Cuter wiggling their butts as they eat their mix of hard boiled eggs, raw lamb and short rib. “You could’ve waited!”

“I could’ve, they couldn’t. They were hungry, remember? Which is why we came down here in the first place.” He sighs. “I hate to say this…”

“She is such a cockblocker!” I snap. “We have to go to the dinner, don’t we?”

“Yeah, but only for the appetiser. The main course is going to be just us.”

COVEN DINNER - GREAT HALL - HALF AN HOUR LATER

BRIAN

I glower at Justin. The way he is eating that piece of beetroot, then licking his lips before starting on the cherries, almost has me snapping my fork!

“Master Lieutenant Kinney!” JR bounces up to me, clutching Cuter. “I can make him dance! Look!” She holds him up and manipulates his body along to the music. “He is so bendy!”

“They both are!” Gus laughs, having finally got a hold of Cute from Hunter. “Can we babysit them at George and Drew’s? Please?!” 

“I am so sorry, Master Lieutenant.” Michael calls out as he slithers over. “Children, these are not your pets. As my mother tried to explain to you earlier, these...”

“Are our pages, and babysitters to Cute and Cuter.” Justin interrupts as he approaches with another halfblood, but it is the anger from the two of them directed towards Michael that is concerning me. 

“And this is?” I ask whilst trying to get both of them to calm down.

“Yes, Master Lieutenant Taylor, please introduce this handsome fellow to us.” Michael’s lascivious look only serves to ramp up the rage. 

“This is Jared. He is Ben’s partner.” Justin replies. 

Ah that explains the anger!

“Hmm. Is this a long term monogamous thing?” Michael tries to step forward, but is jerked back. “Excuse me, Master Lieutenant Kinney, I think my cloak is caught under your chair.”

“Let me help you...” Gus hands Cute to Jared, who takes the seat next to me, a wise move in my opinion, before hunkering to check. He’s not down there long. “...it’s not caught.”

You naughty little puck, let him go!

How do you know it’s me?! It could be...

Justin, let him go!

Michael tugs on his cloak again. The resultant force propels him forward, unfortunately right into the crotch of his Uncle.

“Michael, what are you doing?!” Lord Victor exclaims, shoving him out of his lap.

“He tricked me!” Michael splutters as he gets up. “He said my cloak wasn’t caught!”

“And it wasn’t!” Gus protests. 

“Maybe not under his chair, but I bet you were standing on it?!” Michael snaps back.

“Halflings powers start to develop when they are 80.” Lindsay blazes, coming to stand behind Gus. She was sitting with Lord Victor. The immediate switch from laughter to protection gives someone hope. “How could he be standing on it when he is in front of you?”

LADY DEBORAH

I have been keeping my eye on the ‘powers that be’ and those that have their ears, and want to scream with frustration! If he wasn’t my son, I would’ve slashed his face by now. I need a break from the joviality, and stand up.

“There she goes again, off to rescue her son from another round of humiliation.” Someone from a table behind snickers. “Maybe he wouldn’t get his ‘cloak caught’ if he wasn’t dressing like Vlad the Impaler, unironically, in this day and age!”

“Takes after his mother in sartorial tastes. She dresses like Marie Antoinette. She needs to remember what happened to her!” Another person chortles. 

I hold my head high and walk outside into the relative cool of the garden whilst trying to formulate a way out of this mess, which, once more, Michael has gotten us into! I decide to once again speak to the Master Lieutenants, but when I get back into the hall they are gone.

BRIAN’S ROOM - FIVE MINUTES LATER

BRIAN

So right now, I am tasting beetroot, cherries, blackberries and red wine! “When did you have that?” I demand as I walk him back to the bed. 

“That was the appetiser, remember?” He smirks.

“How’d it feel?” I ask as I start to take off his clothes. “Your first freeze as a part Warlock?”

“Oh, that was so good!” He hauls my shirt off. “Though, you didn’t give me as much of you as you could.” I hold his chin. “Been reading, so…”

“You aren’t strong...” I sigh, knowing this would come up.

“Would I ever be?” He resumes undressing.

“Yes.” I reply, before raising an eyebrow.

“Really?!” He squeals, before flipping us onto the bed. “Are you absolutely....of course you are!”

I retract my fangs and enjoy his giggles when he tries to remove my trousers before my boots. When we are finally naked, he is just staring. “Like I said, you made it big...oh!” I gasp, as without preamble, he takes me down whole. I am transfixed as his head bobs up and down whilst he assails my mind with how it looks!

Stop that! I won’t last! But if you want, we could...He stops bobbing and looks up at me. So, up for it? 

What do you think? I can read you too, remember?! Now, get them! 

I hand the lube and condom to him, but he shakes his head. “You sure?”

“Absolutely. And you really need to hurry!” He orders, then straddles me before leaning down for a kiss. As our mouths meld together, I put the condom on with one hand whilst working my puck’s pucker with the other, it feels so soft and smooth. He stops kissing, looking slightly miffed. “Of course I am hair free, I am not an ape! Nobody should have hair there!”

“Sorry, but some men do.” I return, before sliding in a finger. His gasp and writhing tells me I am forgiven, whilst his dripping pre-cum and pulling of my hair says go faster! He kisses me again when I push in my thumb. I tear my mouth away from his. “Look at me! Look at me!” Our eyes lock. “Whenever you want.” 

“Now, right now.” He breathes. I remove my digits, slowly he lowers himself onto me. I can see his descent in his eyes. 

“Can you see what I see?” I pant.

“I see! I see!” He cries before sitting upright and grabbing my hand. “Do something with this!” I take his cock and start to stroke his beautiful crown. It is so bulbous. I can’t wait to taste it and feel it inside me! He plants both hands on my chest and starts to move quicker. “Oh, mercy, mercy!” 

“ou’re clutching so hard, are...you gonna cum!? Are you gonna cum?!”

“Yep! Yep!” He screams before his seed hits me on my chin, then dribbles down my neck. I follow seconds later, the force has me hitting his still jangling spot hard. He swallows before his fangs spring out, and he rakes his nails along my chest. I relish the slight sting. 

“Justin?” I grab his hands. His eyes are black, lids fluttering. “Come back, come back to earth.”

FIVE MINUTES LATER

JUSTIN

I am stunned to find that I am still seated. He has a sly smile. “I should...uh…”

“It’s okay, take your time.” He rests his hands on my hips, before bringing his legs up so I can lean back. 

I grin, then look out the window, it is dark out. “Can you check if the dinner is over? For some reason, I haven’t got the strength just at this minute.

“Sure…” He nods before grimacing. “...nope. They are still on the second main course.” Sighing, he sits on his elbows. “Forgot how long these fucking things are. You need to replenish.” I am about to get up when he stops me. “Stay there. I prepared ahead.” He reaches for the cloche I had spotted before getting deliciously distracted. Putting it on his stomach, he lies back down. I lift the lid.

“Brian!” I gasp at the array of fruits, before popping a juicy strawberry in his mouth. He reciprocates. “Not that I am complaining, but how are you still hard?”

“Because you are.” He replies, resuming the featherlight touches to my crown.

“We’re that connected?!”

“Oh yeah!” He smirks.

HALL - THIRTY MINUTES LATER

ALDERMAN CAROLINE

I scan the room, finally locating Equerry Sapperstein. He has spent most of his time in his quarters, not mingling at all, but now he has a pinched look on his face. Smiling sweetly, I approach him. “Are you having a good time?” 

“Not really. I don’t hold with the mixing of…”

“Well we do.” I interrupt. “And as long as no lines are crossed, then it’s fine, isn’t it?”

“Not…” He begins before his phone rings. He looks surprised when he checks who it is. “Excuse me, Alderman, I need to take this.”

“Of course.” I smile as he rushes out, his phone clamped to his ear. “Try as much as you might, there is no way you are messing with those lines again!” I mutter. 

GAZEBO - TWO MINUTES LATER

SAPPERSTEIN 

“Dixon, why are you calling me whilst I am with the Aldermen?!” I snap. It has been agreed that I contact him, as I can be assured that I am alone. “Is that all?!” I hiss. “So what, you’re the spoiled brat’s father! I didn‘t hide that too much, what do you mean why not?” I slash the door, leaving lovely marks, wishing it was his face. “Listen to me, at least one or even both of the ‘kings’ are here, but nobody knows who they are apart from the Aldermen. Just get here and do exactly as I tell you!” 

“Equerry Sapperstein?!” Alderman Bernardus calls out. ”You’re holding dinner up!” 

“Just coming!” I call back. 

I take a few minutes to calm down. I am sick and tired of being their lackey, but with the plan I have in place, soon Pittsburgh will be part mine, and they will have to deal with me on my terms!