SovereignsChoice Read online

  I remember him telling me that he wanted me the first minute he saw me, and my cheeks get hot. Was I just a choice of convenience? Did he make a snap decision to have me the minute he met me because he liked the way I looked? Or maybe the power he claims I have bottled up inside me drew him to me.

  “You’re awfully quiet over there,” Lexy says. “Whatcha thinking of? Whips and chains?”

  “No.” I look down at my champagne glass, feeling suddenly sober. “I was just wondering why Aiden chose me.”

  “Because you’re a sexy goddess. And don’t give me that look.” Lexy reaches around the table to give me a one-armed hug. “You’re gorgeous, Emma. You just don’t give yourself any credit. Did it ever occur to you that he might really have the hots for you? There is such a thing as love at first sight, you know.”

  “Not with vampires,” I say. “They’re so cold and standoffish.” Although that description doesn’t match Aiden at all. Well, unless he’s angry or disappointed with me as he is now.

  “He’s probably just cold because he needs to learn how to love again.” Lexy gets a dreamy look in her eyes. “He lost the only woman he ever cared about when Katherine died and now you’ve reawakened feelings in him he thought had died with her.”

  “Will you please try to sound less like a trashy romance novel?” I ask in exasperation. “Katherine—was that the name of the witch he loved? And possibly—”

  “Killed. Yup.” Lexy nods, her red hair bouncing. “I couldn’t get her last name out of anyone—lost in the mists of time I suppose.”

  “I wonder if she’s the one that copy of Farrow’s belonged to,” I mutter to myself.

  “What?” Lexy asks. “Why would you have a copy of a beginner spell book here?”

  I tell her all about the mysterious book, the tingling in my fingertips when I touched it, as well as the way I actually lit two candles by magic. Although I’m not sure how I did it or if I can ever do it again.

  When I’m finished, Lexy looks at me with wide eyes. “Emma, that’s wonderful.Amazing!”she exlaims. “You finally did magic!” She leans over to give me a tight, ecstatic hug and then frowns. “Why in the Goddess’ name didn’t you tell me before?”

  “I felt weird discussing it over Aiden’s private phone line,” I confess, pulling away. “And besides, I kept hoping I’d be able to do it again so I could report that I’m finally not a dud anymore. But I’ve tried and tried and so far…” I shrug. “Nothing.”

  “If you did it once, you can do it again,” Lexy says with utter certainty. “What exactly were you doing differently when you managed the first time?”

  “Uh, well…” I’ve already told her so much, I guess it can’t hurt to tell a little more. “Aiden was touching me. Actually, we were touching each other. And, well…” I can feel my cheeks getting hot. “When we were finished, the candles were lit.”

  “Sex Magic,” Lexy breathes. “That’s amazing, Emma. Who knew a vampire would be the one to finally break down the barriers and let your magic out?”

  I frown because her words are similar to what Aiden said. “What makes you think I have barriers holding it back? With most duds, they just have no magic at all.”

  Lexy shakes her head. “But you’re not a dud—this proves it. Besides, when we were kids, I remember hearing your mom talking to my mom one night. Your mom said you were going to be the most powerful witch of your generation—she said she was already seeing signs of your power leaking out around the edges.”

  “But that’s impossible,” I say blankly. “My mother died when I was only eight—way before I hit puberty. And I don’t remember ever having any powers back then. I couldn’t have.”

  “I dunno.” Lexy shrugs. “I’m just telling you what I heard. I never said anything about it before because, well, I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

  “Thanks,” I say dryly but I know she means well. And truthfully, knowing I was a massive disappointment to my mother’s expectations would have been pretty hard to bear growing up.

  “You’re welcome.” She gives me a smile. “And just wait and see, you’re going to have magic yet. All you need to do is practice while you and Aiden are getting your kink on.”

  “Right,” I murmur. “It should be totally possible to concentrate on working a complicated spell while I’m tied down, being sexually tortured.”

  This, of course, brings on a whole new barrage of questions that I would rather not answer since the champagne seems to have worn off. But Lexy—being Lexy—is like a bloodhound on the scent. She won’t give up until she gets every last kinky detail. We spend the rest of her visit talking about the ins and outs of being a vampire’s submissive sex slave and the time just flies.

  The next time I glance up at the clock, it’s almost four forty-five. “Oh my Goddess.” I scramble out of my chair. “You have to leave. Aiden is going to be here in fifteen minutes.”

  Lexy pouts. “I thought you said it was okay with him for me to come by? Why can’t I stay and meet him?”

  “He said it was okay as long as I kept on the harness,” I say. I’m already on my feet and tugging at her arm, trying to get her up and out of the house. “But I took it off. He’s already pissed at me for disobeying him last night. I don’t need him to be even angrier.”

  Lexy frowns and crosses her arms. “And what happens when he gets mad? Does he beat you? Because there are limits, Emma, even for the Sacrifice Laws.”

  “No, it’s that he doesn’tbeat me,” I say, thinking of last night. “He doesn’t whip me or kiss me or tuck me in or anything. He just gets all cold and withdrawn.” Just thinking of the look on Aiden’s face last night makes my chest tight. I really, really don’t want to go through that again.

  Lexy looks thoughtful. “Hmm. An emotionally withholding vampire. Now what you have to do is—”

  “What I have to do get you out of here so I can put that stupid harness back on before he gets home. Which is going to be in…” I glance at the clock. “Ten minutes. Hurry up, Lexy, move your ass!”

  “Well you don’t have to be rude about it,” she huffs but at least she’s moving now. I shoo her out of the house with multiple promises of more get-togethers and lunches by the pool. But despite my attempt to hurry, I still only have five minutes to get back into the harness and try to look normal by the time she finally drives off.

  Feeling like Cinderella at five ’til midnight, I rush for the bedroom, stripping off my clothes as I go. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Next time Lexy comes over I’ll set the alarm on my phone and get rid of her a whole hour before Aiden gets home. That is, if there is a next time. If he catches me without the harness on and I let on that I took it off because I didn’t want to wear it in front of my cousin, he might ban her from the house.

  My thoughts are chaotic and my hands are trembling as I finally manage to get free of my clothing and start strapping the harness back on. The loop around my right thigh goes surprisingly well, the thin leather strap folding into place around my flesh as though it was made for me. I insert the vibrator—making sure it’s all the way off first—and then go to work on the second strap.

  And this is where I run into trouble. The strap is stiff and it doesn’t want to fasten. I push and wiggle, trying to get it threaded through the tiny silver buckle but it won’t budge. A quick glance at the grandfather clock says it’s one minute until five. I still haven’t heard the crunch of tires on the shell driveway but Aiden could be here at any minute.

  In desperation, I return my attention to the stubborn strap. I have managed to feed the thin leather through the silver buckle but now it won’t come out the other side. Cursing under my breath, I give a mighty yank…and hear a sharp pop.With dread I open my hand to see that one entire side of the strap has torn off and is lying like a dead snake in my palm.

  I stand there for a minute, just looking at it. Oh my Goddess, what have I done? What have I done? Panic rises in my throat but I push it back down. Grimly, I examine the