Exiled Read online

  “I haven’t decided yet.” Lady Pope’nose tossed her head. “I may allow it but only to a few of my very best and closest friends.”

  “Oh, how exciting!” Lady Sha’rak clapped her hands and smiled. “Nola, you are such a tease.”

  “I know.” Lady Pope’nose smirked. “But enough talk of antiquities. Did I hear you mention the relaxation grotto, Manda? Have you finally gotten it finished to your liking?”

  “Yes, and you two will be the first to experience it. Has everyone eaten enough?” Lady Sha’rak asked brightly.

  “Um, I have but…” Lissa hesitated. “I was just wondering…what do you feed the slaves? Saber hasn’t had anything and—”

  “You’re much too attached to that body-slave of yours, my dear.” Lady Sha’rak frowned. “He can eat in the kitchen with Llewelyn later. For right now, the relaxation grotto awaits.”

  “Excellent. Let’s go.” Lady Pope’nose pushed aside the spadeful of food Tobias was offering her, which, unfortunately, caused it fall in her lap, directly onto her ornate silver and orange dress. “Tobias!” she shrieked, her eyes bulging. “Just look what you’ve done! This dress will be ruined! Ruined!”

  She looked to be working herself up into a towering rage and Lissa was already cringing inside for the poor body-slave who would doubtless once more be suffering the tortures of the damned.

  “Tobias?” Lady Pope’nose shouted. “Tra—” But before she could get the pain word out, Saber bumped against the table, causing Lissa’s wine glass to topple over into her lap.

  “Oh!” she gasped and stood at once. It was too late though, the wine was already soaking into the tiny gold lace panties which were visible at the opening of her dress.

  “My goodness,” Lady Sha’rak exclaimed. “What a lot of clumsy slaves we have tonight! Don’t you spill anything, Llewelyn, or I’ll think we’re under some sort of a curse.”

  “No, Mistress,” her body-slave murmured smoothly. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Still,” Lady Sha’rak continued thoughtfully. “This is a rather good teaching opportunity.”

  “What are you talking about?” Lady Pope’nose asked sullenly. Her own accident had been overshadowed and, as Tobias had carefully removed the small mess so that her dress looked as pristine as ever, she had nothing to complain about. Lissa thought she looked sulky, like a child robbed of the attention she thought was her due.

  “I’m talking about teaching my tenderhearted little cousin here to discipline her slave,” the ambassador said patiently.

  Lissa’s heart jumped into her throat. “Oh, no, Lady Sha’rak. I’m sure it was just a mistake! Saber would never—”

  “It doesn’t matter if he did it on purpose or not, my dear. Clumsiness in a slave cannot be tolerated. You must punish him.” Lady Sha’rak looked at her sternly. “I see that you have on the pain-taste and the sweet-taste elixirs.” She nodded at Lissa’s nipples, which were peeking out from behind the gold lace. “Put them to good use.”

  Lissa felt like her insides were being twisted inside out. Despite the fact that she had known it might be necessary, she still felt horribly uncomfortable with the idea of letting Saber suck her nipples, especially in public. “I …I…but I couldn’t,” she stammered, feeling her cheeks get hot. “Saber’s been with me for years and I’ve never had to…to use such measures on him before.”

  “All the more reason to put him in his place now,” Lady Pope’nose said firmly. “In fact, forget about the elixirs—they’re so outdated. You can borrow Tobias’s pain collar instead. It responds to the pain word no matter who is wearing it. Tobias,” she snapped, turning to her slave. “Come here and let me remove your collar at once.”

  “Yes, Mistress,” he murmured meekly, kneeling before her and leaning over so she could reach the back of the pain collar.

  “No!” Lissa gasped, horrified. “No, I won’t use that…that thing on my…on Saber! I won’t!” She put herself between Saber and Lady Pope’nose, determined to protect him at all costs. Just the idea of seeing him writhe on the floor in pain the way Tobias had was enough to make her sick. Never. I’ll never let that happen to him! she told herself fiercely.

  “Well, if you don’t want to use Lady Pope’nose’s collar then you must use the elixirs.” Lady Sha’rak was beginning to look irritated. “May I remind you, my dear Lady R’awr, that you agreed to be guided by me in this matter?”

  “Yes,” Lissa said miserably. “Yes, I know, but—”

  “Mistress.” Suddenly Saber was on his knees before her. “Please,” he murmured, looking up at her. “Please punish me.”

  “Saber?” She looked at him uncertainly.

  “You’ve always been a kind and gentle mistress,” he continued softly. “But Lady Sha’rak is right—I was inexcusably clumsy. There should be no exceptions made for me just because I’ve been your slave for a long time. I should receive pain as well as pleasure from your hand.” And taking one of her hands, he kissed her palm gently, as though to illustrate his point.

  Lissa felt her breath fall out of her in a long sigh. Whisper-fingers brushed lightly through her hair and a voice seemed to murmur, all right. It’s going to be all right.

  With a start, she realized he had just Touched her with his mind. It was another thing he had promised not to do on this mission, along with his promise not to touch her physically. But though both promises had been broken beyond repair, Lissa found that she couldn’t be mad.

  His caress was so intimate it made her melt, so sweet it filled her with longing. Under his Touch she felt herself calming. Her stomach, which had twisted itself into a knot, slowly relaxed and the tension headache building between her eyes was smoothed away.

  To her right, she saw Lady Pope’nose frown and shiver. Across from them, Lady Sha’rak had a dreamy look in her eyes. “Did you feel that?” she murmured.

  “Feel what?” Lady Pope’nose snapped. “I felt nothing but a chilly draft. Really, Manda, you should look into it. A guest could freeze to death in this place.”

  “It…felt quite warm to me.” Lady Sha’rak sighed and Lissa realized with a start that both she and Lady Pope’nose had been affected by Saber’s gentle mind Touch as well. It was as she had told Nadiah when confessing her feelings for him back on First World—any time a male of the Touch Kindred was caressing another with his mind, a Touch Field was formed that spread out and encompassed even disinterested outsiders.

  He mustn’t Touch me again, she thought, feeling worried. But Saber didn’t. He just kept looking up at her, that quiet, waiting expression in his warm hazel eyes. He’s waiting for me to give in. He knows I have no choice.

  “Very…very well,” Lissa whispered, hardly able to get the words out. “You’re right, Saber. You do deserve a punishment.” With trembling hands, she pulled down the top of her dress, baring her breasts completely. “Come,” she said, beckoning to him. “I must…must give you the pain-taste.”

  “Yes, Mistress.”

  He was so tall she didn’t have to lean down very far. Saber put his hands on her waist to hold her in place and sucked her right nipple into his mouth with no hesitation at all.

  At once, his face began to go red and she could tell he was in pain, but he refused to be rushed. He lapped and sucked her nipple, obviously making sure to get every last trace of the burning blossom extract off, despite the fiery pain that had to be burning his mouth.

  “That’s enough,” Lissa whispered breathlessly at last. “Now…now take the sweet-taste.”

  “Yes, Mistress.” Obediently, Saber took her other nipple into his mouth at once.

  Lissa was relieved to see the pain clear from his eyes and his skin return to its normal tone. But it was different this time. Before, she had been too concerned about the agony he must be feeling to really pay attention to how it felt to let him taste her in such an intimate spot. Now that she knew he was no longer in pain, she began to really feel the effects of his mouth on her.

  Hold