“Such a fine arse you have, genie.” Josiah’s lecherous tone had her skin crawling.
Turning an evil eye on him, she snapped, “You will take your hand off my ass and never do that again. I am not one of your playthings.”
Just because he could, he pinched her. Hard. Causing her to yelp and grab at herself as she jumped clear of him.
“You can’t hurt me. You can never hurt me. So why should I listen to you?”
He held her gaze for ten silent, breathless heartbeats. He was right. She was bound by the laws of her kind to never harm her master. Not under any circumstances, even if they deserved it. Nixie wondered if she could just talk to Cyrus, there had to be a loophole; some way that she could put a bastard to heel, at the least.
“But”—he reclined quickly back, and she could breathe easy again—“you’re not my type. Far too hippy for me. Be off with you, then.” He shooed her, then slapped at the passing body of one of the harem girls, causing her eyes to wince in agony before turning to him with a vacant smile. “Fetch me more wine, whore.”
Nodding, the petite brunette trotted off. The bells tied at the red silken sash around her waist jingled with her hurried steps.
Real or not, the harem did not deserve this. Tomorrow she would return and vanish all his wishes. She could do as she willed for one day, and she aimed to rectify this mess.
*
Nixie pulled her cloak off her head as she stepped through the darkened tavern door. It was early evening, and so therefore not terribly crowded. Not as it’d been the last time she’d come here. There were only a few drifters inside. A couple of men chugging on tankards of ale to one side and a couple eating their supper at the opposite end.
The tavern was built of chiseled stone and wood. There was sometimes a draft inside, especially when someone pushed open the door, but it was well lit and had a homey, cheery kind of vibe to it that she’d immediately taken a liking to.
It’d taken Nixie about two weeks to adjust to how antiquated and Old World things felt in Kingdom, so at odds with the world she’d left behind. But she was used to it now and found that there were things to like on this backwards planet after all.
Immediately she spotted the blonde girl behind the bar. She was laughing with an elderly man as he sat eating a bowl of stew before her.
Nibbling on the corner of her lip, Nix took a hesitant seat at the opposite end of the bar. But she was still close enough to hear the conversation going on between the two of them.
“Come now, Angus,” the girl chided, “I know my cooking’s good, but truly, I think Mrs. Daniels is likely to be missing you something sore.”
“Aye, my dear.”
Angus slurped at his dark wood bowl, lifting it up for a refill with imploring, mischievous eyes. Sighing, the girl took the bowl from him, ladled another spoonful of stew into it and passed it back with a gentle pat to his hand.
Sighing happily, he spooned another bite in before saying, “I expect she does miss me, and we both know that I love me little pearl dearly, but she is a right horrid cook. At least this way I can put a little something palatable in my belly before I must force hers down.”
Covering her mouth, the girl gave a shy, small laugh. “Well then, let’s let this be our little secret, aye?” And with a wink, she pulled out a warm slice of bread from behind the counter.
“Bless you, girl. Bless you.” The wizened old man attacked the rest of his food with gusto.
With a slight shake of her head, the girl trotted over toward Nixie. Her brown eyes still sparkled with mirth.
Nix took that moment to really study her. The girl wasn’t as drop-dead gorgeous as the harem girls were. Her hair was long, but so straight it appeared slightly thin in spots. Her skin was youthful and had a shimmering glow to it, but her features were plain. However, Nixie had no problem understanding why Josiah had fallen for the young thing; there was an aura, an air about her that just drew people in.
She was full of laughter and light and goodness. Nixie could see that just as plain as day and her heart twisted in her chest at the thought of having to take this innocent creature to her foul, perverted master.
So deep in thought had Nix been that she didn’t realize the girl was looking at her strangely and waving her hand.
“Huh?” Nixie jerked, only just realizing the girl must have been saying something to her.
Laughing, the woman stuck out her hand. “I said hello. My name’s Luminesa, and this here is my tavern. We have hot stew and good ale, so what will you have?”
Feeling the first real smile she’d given in months, Nix shook her hand back. “Nix. And I love your name, it’s quite beautiful.”
Luminesa beamed. “Thank you, I like yours too.”