Knights and Damsels: The Fantasy Romance Collection by Kirk Mason

Author:Kirk Mason [Mason, Kirk]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-24T00:00:00+00:00

Michael's nose twitched. The whole realm had a sort of mushroomy scent. Giant tree-size mushrooms of maroon cast shadows over the land. The houses were closer to medieval than modern, and there were lots of gardens outside growing herbs and, of course, mushrooms, though they were not without their modern conveniences. Cars littered the driveways, yet so did some mounts, too—odd creatures with six legs and mandibles.

"Are we walking?" Michael asked. "Or is that unsafe too?"

Serena scowled and took his arm. "It will be fine," she said.

"Of course it will be. You just want me close and depending on you. I'm sure this place isn't half as bad as you claim. Why, I could merely stroll up to this random house here and—"

"No!" she cried, gripping him tighter.

Michael grinned. Serena rolled her eyes.

"You're not funny," she said.

Some drow walked past, two men in battle gear, all leather spikes and whips. Michael wondered if they were heading to the local naughty club or just to the office for work. They sneered at Serena, not taking notice of Michael.

"You can live here if you are married to a drow," she said. "My father is fine, belonging to my mother."

Michael nodded. "I see."

"You are mine, yet my human desire to submit and be yours is…stronger. Whether that's from living amongst humans, what was in me all along, or both, I don't know. It confuses me though."

"Could be worse," Michael said.

"Why?" she asked.

"You could be boring."

He put his arm around her for the whole drow kingdom to see, and because she did not protest, he assumed it was an acceptable thing to do.

She was soon given scowls by those walking past, clicked tongues, and some swore at her under her breath.

But when Michael looked at her, she was smiling.

"This is a land where drow claims what is theirs, becoming the leader or the follower in the relationship," she said.

"And yet you are happy for me to do so in public. Why? The rest of your people clearly do not approve of a human doing such a thing. For someone who cared about my well-being a moment ago, you seem not to care now."

"Nothing will happen to you," she said. "You have displayed your right to walk these streets. They don't see it as an insult, but rather a show of strength."

"But you?"

"They see me as the lowest of the low, one who submits to a smooth-eared short-lifer."

Michael stopped in the street and stared at her. "Why put yourself through that?"

"So you can see what you mean to me," she said. "Regardless of how we fight, this is what you are to me—more important than this entire stupid realm. I do not belong to them, I belong to you. If I give you trouble, you should not argue back, you should show me my place. Understand?"

Michael closed his eyes. "This is where the problem is. That kind of thing is all fun and games in the bedroom, but as a way to live? Day to day? I'd rather not be unkind to you by human definition.

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