Malich looked both amused and conflicted to have set eyes upon her. If he thought she would just sit idly by while he married some stranger, he didn’t know her very well. “Arya, what the fuckare you doing here?” Malich asked.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOCSYvzjmp
“You left coin beside my bed as if you’d bought me from a pleasure house. You knew that would offend me and I’ve come to return the favor.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtzP2C6If3
“You’re insane.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmfZ3JEQAO
“And you’re an arsehole.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5DlXCRxWd
“Do you know whose in the other room? My family. The ones who tried to have you killed while I watch.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKGxzJ9Fsp
“Of course darling. I came all this way to meet the little arseholes, but as for that other matter, I decline your proposal of marriage,” she slipped his grasp and headed back into the banquet hall. “At least until further notice. Perhaps you should start being nicer to me.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNMYNQIrGi
Arya didn’t wait for Malich to follow before entering the banquet hall and taking her seat. Dax glanced between Arya and Malich; neither of them had counted on her showing up here unannounced.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpnTKlwBTs
“Forgive my foul language earlier,” Arya donned her most royal of smiles, “Tis a small lovers quarrel is all.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQcwnLfxrH
“Nothing too bad I hope?” Kahlem raked his eyes over her. His interest peaked.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbvJ9izRJf
“It appears my love has a small function problem,” Arya teased. The meaning of her words was so vast that she fully intended for them to take them the wrong way. Sniggering erupted at the table and Malich narrowed his eyes at her. She winked at Malich, “No worries dear, I hear it happens to every man at some point.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZFxTpTp1M
The snickering turned into full-blown laughter now. If he were a lesser man, or lacking confidence, he might have taken offense and fallen into her trap. copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQD4n1QCzi
Malich ignored Arya and turned his attention to Kahlem. He noticed the way his eyes lingered and bristled. Although she attempted to be more of a thorn in his side than a brilliant sidekick, she’d managed to do the unthinkable. She’d managed to win Kahlem’s favor.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwtPfC7PuR
Studying her, Kahlem turned to Malich. “I likeher. No wonder you’ve kept her under lock and key. She has both beauty andbrains.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EQJcK959b
Arya returned his smile with one of her own, “Your flattery is appreciated.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡS12v5pwW15
“Enough,” Malich glared at her. His tone was sharp and full of warning. His jealousy was monstrous. “Shall we get back to business?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡelCHaRkiGO
“Indeed brother,” Kahlem inclined his head. “As reported, you will receive back your land, your title, position at the kings table, your inheritance, your name and reputation restored, and access to all resources the house of Jarrah holds.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLt1vFLEKV
“In exchange for meeting my beloved,” Malich reminded him.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCWS82hFYj
Kahlem grimaced, “Not quite. In addition to meeting your beautiful companion, I want access to the Red Legion.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcFnUQef8V
Again Malich bristled. “You spoke nothing of this during our negotiations.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jGxkbc5QX
“Well I’m speaking of it now.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GzXzIZQnY
Arya swallowed hard. The red Legion was Malich’s. Surely he saw the dangers of exposing the Red Legion to a man that would frame him for murder and steal that which didn’t belong to him.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8bPv5FKlO
“One condition,” Malich sighed, “Your access must go through me and I will maintain my position as Majii to my people. I must approve all charges, and you must adhere to our code. No children, depending on the offense no women, and we start nowars.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo7lWrx8xo
“Conditions granted,” Kahlem nods.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y4FwDnwuK
“Likewise,” Malich returns the gesture.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡuETFuoL986
Servants arrive with delicious fruits and various types of meat. Arya went to take a bite of her food when Malich stopped her. She was starving. Leaning to whisper into her ear he informed her, “First a taster samples the food to make sure it isn’t poisoned and then you can eat. I wouldn’t want you to die before I get a chance to punish you privately.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNv59rxHA4
“Promises-promises,” she whispered back. “You should be thanking me. Your brother would have seen right through a surrogate.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FDal9OIFi
“What makes you so certain?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaXmPsLBBT
“Since I’ve arrived, you haven’t once stopped undressing me with your eyes. The fire inside them is much more natural with the proper inspiration,” she uncrossed her legs revealing the slit in her dress and giving him a brief glance of her nethers before crossing with her other leg. copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzHdERFbzf
“Gods,” Malich gasped, “What am I going to do with you?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEVUPg3DZJ
“Whatever it is, I prayit lasts forever,” she purred.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsTUPJmAkY
Amused by their private conversation even though he couldn’t actually hear what they were saying, Kahlem cleared his throat. “Perhaps you’d like to share your conversation with the room. Its rude to exclude all in attendance.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2xcgc4VoD
“I doubt all in attendance would like to hear the salacious details of what my love plans to do to me later,” Arya replied. Kahlem practically choked on his water. “I’m tired, are we done here?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEi6z7nCKm
“Aye,” Kahlem nods, “I’ll have the treaty written up and sent to your room. Or will you be too busy?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGPfBFYXgi
“He’ll be too busy, but he’ll send for your treaty once he’s free,” Arya bat her eyes. She felt like an idiot, but mocking this charade was more fun than actually listening to it.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLltYBG2x4
She stood up to leave and Malich followed. She had no idea where she was going. “Where exactly are we going?” She asked.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJJYQi5dVQ
“This way.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhxqw85u5m
He led her down a long corridor to a completely different wing of the house and into his room. This was more luxury than she was accustomed to. It put her cot within the Red Towers and Red Keep to shame.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡN179v5Lb8j
“So thisis how the other half lives?” Arya smiles.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO2ZMShS6d
“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHug70odvu
“You’re not smiling,” she realized.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjwHt1NecV
“Now everyone knows what you look like.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsKAswtKpz
“Well I won’t just stand by and watch you marry someone else. You expect too much from me Malich,” she argued.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8hropsMDX
“Too much,” he seethed, “Kahlem will stop at nothing to either capture you or kill you.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdhNVKOJZ1
“Capture or kill one of the most deadliestassassins in both your bed and your employ? Let him try and I’ll send his soldiers back to him in pieces.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwup7WWAGl
“You don’t get it,” Malich shook his head. “Look at me…what do you feel?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDtr5RRxEu
“Anger. Boiling. Red-hot. Anger. And a lack of gratitude on your part.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVIMIDxxnw
“Seriously Arya, look at me…what do you feel?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡz234rb1nLH
Humoring him, she focused on his features…the look in his eyes, and the energy around him. Suddenly she was hit by a suffocating sexual energy and quickly realized it was coming from him. He was just standing there, but he was putting off enough sexual energy to attract every female within the planes.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWldoq4fYJ
Arya recalled reading about this in her history books and tried to place its origin. When it came to her she gasped, “Holy Gods! You’re Fae?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtEsgn6OVt
Malich nodded. He held up his fingers and small electric bolts danced about his fingers. “It’s been a while since I’ve felt my own power,” he marveled at it, watching it dance along his fingertips and then the back of his hand before disappearing.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡluwpyXAzlm
For the first time she felt as if she knew nothing about the man standing before her. “Why haven’t you told me?” She asked.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5iDiH4nX2
“Does it matter? It changes nothing.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HwLaN8hB3
“What else are you not telling me?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWyhm7eXHA
“In due time I swear I will tell you all you need to know,” Malich pulled her into his arms, “but right now, all I want is for you to take off this ridiculous dress and lie between the sheets with me.” copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZFCCYkGlh
Arms folded, Arya had no plans to acquiesce. Its just like him to pull the rug up from under her and expect her to just roll with whatever came next. copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrYgc93kqE
“Please,” Malich begged. He knew she enjoyed the power she had over him and wouldn’t be able to resist wielding it. Resting his head against hers, he unfolded her arms and traced kisses along her neckline to her shoulder. “For Anan’s sake, take off your clothes.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡobBXsY4HVL
That power worked both ways and he would wield it as much as he would take it. Unsure of what to do, she just stood there, her mind going through all of the reasons she didn’t like him keeping things from her.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡheKXRnVb4g
Malich unfastened her dress and it fell to the floor. He pulled the string to loosen the gown underneath and it too fell to the floor.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNHr3UA7f0
Looking into his eyes, she fell prey to his preternatural sexual efficacy. He undressed himself; neatly hanging his clothes on the back of a chair and turned her around so her back was to him. He promised her punishment for her earlier antics, and bending her over the desk inside the room, did…he…ever.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDcnAElFlg
He punished her from the desk, to the wall and then eventually to the bed. Exhausted, Arya fell asleep. When she awoke, Malich was gone but there was a guard posted in the room. Wrapping the sheets from the bed around her, she ran herself a bath. The soaking massaged her aches and pains away.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCvcAnzvyD
She dressed once she was done and turned to the guard posted in her room. “Where is the Majii?” She asked. The guard wouldn’t speak. He kept his mouth shut and his head down. Perhaps he was given orders to watch, but not to speak. “The Majii isn’t present, you have my permission to speak. I swear it will stay between us.”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1rusvo3CD
Still nothing. Growing more aggravated by the second, she gripped the stilettos at her side. Perhaps he’d find his tongue if she put a stiletto through his trachea. She brandished her weapons but he didn’t flinch. His resolve was unwavering. He’s as stubborn as she is.copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ohgMSU8yg
Arya flung the stilettos at the guard, impaling the hood of his cloak to the wall on each side of his head. Slowly he looked up at her, revealing his face, and her heart slammed into the wall of her chest. “Ihsan?”copyright protection64ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZSVbtiLZQ
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