Constantine then pops his head in and asks, “Everything okay?”
He was clearly hovering, expecting a smack down or something.
“Yes. Fine,” she says. “I should go. I have a lot of work to do. Do rest up, Mother, I need you back on the job soon,” she adds with a smile and leaves us alone.
“Take me for a walk,” I say to him.
“You want to go for a walk?” he asks, surprised.
I nod and he eagerly accepts, Teleporting us straight outside and onto the castle grounds.
I cringe as we land in the sun, having forgotten that I am not wearing any Faerie Silver protection and, expecting my arse to fry, I step hastily back into the shadows. He peers at me curiously and takes my hand, pulling me back onto the sunny path. Is he trying to kill me? But I don’t start to burn. I was sure that the Faerie Silver wedding ring wasn’t one endowed with the powers of protection because he said, in my time, it wasn’t; but maybe I’m wrong? I squint and summon up a pair of Ray-Bans as it is bright out today and my eyes relax behind the black lenses. As an afterthought, I give him a pair too, which he takes with a small smile of thanks.
“I want a proper holiday,” I say to him as he takes my arm in his and we start walking.
“Aefre, I didn’t think you even knew what a proper holiday was,” he says dryly. “You haven’t even had a day off in centuries never mind gone anywhere to relax.”
Centuries? Yikes, woman, can you say workaholic?
“Well, maybe it is time. I want to go to Miami.” Makes sense that Cole would be there if he got the same film role. I will have to Google him now that I have internet access and check for certain.
“Miami?” he asks in horror. “Why ever there?”
“For a change, Constantine. Don’t you feel like we are in a rut?” Christ, I’ve only been here two days and can see this is the biggest rut anyone has ever been in. As in Grand Canyon-sized.
“Err, well I suppose so,” he frowns. “Things haven’t been the best of late to be sure,” he adds hesitantly. “There is something I wish to discuss with you though, now that you seem to be a bit more amenable to adventure.”
Oh? Don’t like the sound of this.
He leads me to a stone bench and sits me down. He takes my hand. “You need to think again about going to Court, my love,” he says. “Drake is getting impatient and you know that isn’t going to bode well, for anyone. Especially you.”
Well, this is a subject I had hoped wouldn’t come up. “I will think about it later. I don’t want to think about it now,” I say firmly, hoping that will deter him. No such luck.
“You can’t put it off much longer. You and Sebastian should take your rightful places soon. It should have already happened by now.”
Me and Sebastian. I sigh. This is all just too weird. And unfortunately, I can see that at some point this is exactly what is going to happen to me. The real me. If I ever get back home.
“I’m sorry, my love. I don’t mean to upset you. We will talk no more of this today,” he says.
I nod, pleased with that. We resume our walk in silence and I am getting more and more worried that the other me isn’t going to switch us back. There again, maybe she can get rid of The Thirteen for me while she is there. Not that it makes much difference to me if I never get to go home. Oh, Devon. What am I going to do without you? Tears prick my eyes and I am thankful I summoned up the Ray-Bans so Constantine can’t see my tears.
“There is something else we should discuss,” he clears his throat and I turn back to him, as he hands me a red rose from the garden.
“What is that?” I ask but never get to find out as Sebastian joins us and Constantine clams up. Sebastian takes my hand in his and we continue to walk. This is just plain old awkward. They all have this very intimate connection, but I am not a part of it.
“I am feeling tired,” I say as the silence reaches uncomfortable. “Please can we return?” I ask Constantine.
“Of course,” he says and Teleports us straight back to the bedroom. I have a funny feeling he doesn’t want me roaming through the castle. Even with him by my side. He must think I am about to go rogue on him again and start throwing myself at the security team and shrieking about Devon and Cole.
“I just want a long bath and then to go back to bed,” I say as Constantine asks me what I want.
He looks overly concerned but does as I ask and soon, I am up to my ears in fragrant bubbles. Alone. Thankfully. I am going to have to knock all of this sexual activity on the head. These aren’t my people despite the bonds I feel with them. It’s gross really, now that I have space to think about it. I am quite disgusted with myself for letting this happen. I close my eyes and wish myself home, but I am unsurprised when I open my eyes and am still in her body. It’s up to you, Empress Aefre. Please switch us back. Please, please, please. I need to get home to my boys.
Constantine pulls me out of the bath some time later. I had fallen asleep, no surprise there – well to me at least. These two hovering beasts are quite concerned with my inability to stay awake any longer than a few hours at a time. Clearly E.A. (Empress Aefre) has a better handle on her exhaustion. Even more reason for her to want my life, my very chilled-out, relaxed – except for when The Thirteen decides to torment me – life.
Ramon is bid and I feed hungrily. This bit I could get used to: regular feeds that are at set times every day regardless. And by regardless, yes, I do mean that in the middle of the sex session yesterday, I was instructed to pause and feed. It would have been amusing if it hadn’t been so embarrassing caught as I was with my…err…well, we won’t go there…
Unfortunately, my resolution doesn’t last very long when once I am settled in bed, Sebastian kisses me, and I lose all reason especially when Constantine puts his hands on me as well. Oh, dear. This really isn’t good. Well, actually, it is really, really good but, you know what I mean. Just when I thought I couldn’t go another round; I am coaxed into it until I am absolutely spent. Christ, forget these two, E.A. must have the stamina of ten thousand women if they expect this of her every night.