Flattered by Flowers by Forthright

Author:Forthright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christa Joan Milbrandt Kinde
Published: 2022-03-22T21:12:37+00:00

Always in the Audience

For reasons of his own, Opal stubbornly refused to explain matters, so Anna would have to speak for herself.

It was fine. The facts were simple.

She would not shrink from obligation.

Seated upon a floor cushion, with a tea tray before her and Quen at her side, she strove to keep her story brief.

“Two dragons approached me at a Song Circle. They were very … complimentary.” It had happened during one of the rare moments when Opal wasn’t at her side. They’d timed it just right. “This same pair was at the next Song Circle. And the next. Always in the audience.”

Opal grimly interjected, “Always with a kind word.”

She winced.

Quen whined softly.

“This past Dichotomy Day, one of them offered to make me his bride. I declined.” Anna fidgeted. “They grew increasingly persuasive.”

She had several gaps in her memory. Stolen moments.

Shame burned through her, for she’d been weak. Helpless to resist. Not their suggestions. Nor the liberties they took—body and soul.

Tails puffed and began to switch, for a handful of wolves had been included in the conference. Adoonah-soh Elderbough and her bondmate Ninook. Merit’s best friend turned out to be one of their sons, a tracker who’d asked to be called Boon. Joonta and Karoo were from the Ambervelte pack, and there was Paltry, of course.

“Sway?” Harmonious looked stunned.

“I am susceptible.” Anna’s jaw tightened. “If not for Opal ….”

Her mentor’s expression was pensive. “Had the stars been aligned any differently, the fiends would have absconded with her. And may yet try, since they have followed Anna here.”

They had? This was the first she’d heard, and her stomach plunged.

“To what end?” asked Harmonious. “Their offer was declined. Their interest was rebuffed.”

Hisoka spoke kindly. “Not every soul is as guileless as yours, old friend.”

“Acquisition. Capture. Confinement,” Opal said bluntly. “They still want Anna. They mean to have her.”

“Unwilling?” Harmonious croaked.

His innocent befuddlement in that moment was almost endearing. He sought her gaze, and he seemed to be pleading with her. Begging her to deny it? She wished she could. But then Quen touched her elbow.

“Ask it,” he urged. “Now that we understand, ask.”

The first words out of Anna’s mouth weren’t a question. “I do not like their offer.”

“You would mince words now?” Opal drawled.

“I … I hate their offer. And them.”

Tails thumped the floor in silent approval. It gave Anna the courage to go on.

“I am not helpless, but … I need help.” Another statement.

Quen smiled up at her and whispered, “Ask it, Anna. How else can we answer?”

So she squared her shoulders and glared determinedly at Harmonious Starmark. “Do not let them take me. Please?”

Barely a question. Almost an order, given her tone. Yet he lunged across the room, toppling teacups in his haste.

Kneeling before her, he reached out, only to tuck his hands behind his back. “I will stand with you against them. You will be safe. I swear it.”

Anna blinked hard.

Harmonious sealed his pledge with a soft kiss to her forehead and whispered, “Will you trust me?”

She gave the only answer that was honest.

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