Master's Touch

SUSPICIONS

THREE

SUSPICIONS

LORD KAEL

After the injured slave had been taken away and the girl escorted out, I ran a hand through my hair, disturbing the perm.

"Oh, now you've gone to spoil your perm, Kael," Elias said, and he sipped more of his wine.

He was more concerned about my hair than he was concerned about my life. I never really understood the man but I knew he was someone that I couldn't trust as a political ally.

Elias Thorne was good at digging up secrets and I knew he had a lot of them, mostly about people he considered both friends and enemies, because you never knew what might turn up in the future.

And it was the reason why people of influence entertained him, just to get him on their side. Same reason why I had brought him into my estate and broken a very important rule.

Now, he wasn't even concerned that I was just about to get offed.

"Aren't you bothered about me?" I had the zeal to ask.

"How so?" he put down his cup.

"Someone just tried to kill me, Elias," I said.

"That was your folly, Lord Kael," Elias blamed. "Your guards should have been more vigilant in watching your back. Or should I say, our backs."

"Either of us are alive because of that slave boy," I pointed that out.

"Yes, and you are lucky that I won't be pressing charges."

I leaned away from him a bit and asked, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Elias Thorne gave me a look. "What do you mean what's that supposed to mean? It certainly wasn't my fault that some hooded assassin walked into your own private chambers and shot a gun. How would I know it wasn't me that you were trying to eliminate?"

Well, he had a point for that. But it was ridiculous and he was reaching.

"Why would I bring you here to kill you, Elias?"

"I have no idea."

"Same way you have no idea about what you're accusing me of. If I wanted to have you dead, I'd want something in return."

"Oh, that sounds so comforting to hear you say," Elias said, his tone filled with sarcasm.

I got up from the couch we shared and walked to the window. My head could not wrap itself around the fact that I had almost died. I knew there were a lot of my enemies out there but I didn't think anyone would be bold enough to try ending me in my own personal chambers. Which meant I would have to do something about my guards. A complete overhaul.

My mind went back to that slave. There was something about him that seemed to put me at an unease. While he f****d that slave girl, I felt this pang of jealousy, and couldn't take my eyes off him. Somehow, I wanted him for myself alone. It would have been that night but he went and jumped in front of a bullet.

I would check on him later but I needed to solve the mystery around the attack first.

The assassin had come in while we were focused on the show, and the slave boy only reacted quickly because he was standing right in front of my killer.

"Are those the only slaves you have?" Elias asked behind me. "Because it's beginning to get boring in here."

I turned to look at him. "You know, I have another speculation."

"What's this one about?"

"Maybe it's you."

"Me?"

"Maybe you wanted me dead instead. I know you have a lot of secrets about your adversaries and allies alike. Surely, someone is doing this for you in exchange for... secrecy. But why me?"

Elias Thorne got to his feet, looking unhappy and uncomfortable. "I know this is your estate, Lord Kael. But I won't stay and let you insult my personality." He took his bag and walked to the door. Before walking out, Elias said, "If I had a problem with you, Lord Kael, I'd take it up with you first. It was clearly a mistake coming here. And I will be pressing charges."

I didn't even hear the door slam shut. My mind was reeling and I needed to clear my head. So I sent for Maren.

He came at once, already changed into a nightdress.

"You sent for me, my lord."

"Have you checked on that slave?" I asked.

"He is asleep," Maren replied. "But well."

"I will assemble a court tomorrow to determine his fate. For now, I need to clear my head."

Maren bowed and left the room. He knew exactly what I needed. I took off my robe and pulled my pants off. Then laid on my bed and spread out my hands and legs.

Politics was a dirty game, but was it supposed to be bloody? And was it all about politics or something else?

Some minutes later, the door opened and a slave girl and a slave boy were escorted in by Maren.

I didn't even commit their faces to memory. Just a glance and that was all. "Get to work," I ordered.

The slave boy went down on me while the girl dropped kisses all over my body. It was some time before I responded to their administrations because my mind was elsewhere.

I got up, grabbed the girl and put her against the bed. Then I penetrated her from the back, didn't hear her cry, then began to pound her like a mad man.

My anger surfaced and I channeled it right to my hips. Frustrated that someone would have the audacity to come into my private quarters and pull a gun at me.

Nothing would make me keep quiet about it. I would definitely find who was behind the failed mission. And whoever it was, would taste my wrath and wish he or she had never been born.

My thoughts drove me into a frenzy. The girl was screaming at the top of her lungs but she couldn't tell me to stop. Finally, I felt the sweet pull in my stomach and spilled inside of her.

I flopped on the bed, satisfied with my release. Then I said, "Go again. Boy, you're next."