Page 16 of Shadows and Roses

"I’m not another of your courtesans; I belong to the Night Courts. Why has she not summoned me? Is she not curious—"

"While you are in the palace, there is no difference. The Queen will summon you or not at her leisure, but not this week. She left the palace this morning."

Castien sighed. "Then how do I send a message to my Master?"

"You don’t. The best way to survive is to not draw attention to yourself. Stop asking questions. There is one thing you should know—the Queen still claims newcomers for their first moon. That means the nobles won't hurt you without cause. Enjoy it."

So there were a few rules.

The man moved to a raised, cushioned table. "Come here," he murmured.

Castien hesitated. "Thank you for the offer—"

Marlow sighed again. "You need a massage, pretty boy. Those delicious muscles need to be ready for tomorrow. Come. Now." There was a hint of iron in his ever-soft voice.

Frowning, Castiendried himself and turned back.

A fist drove into his stomach. He fell to his knees, gasping for air.

"What did I tell you about frowning? Tsk. Oh, dear boy. Come, you’re fine."

While keeping his face carefully neutral, Castien laid down on his stomach. Warm, oiled hands ran over him, quickly smoothing away his tension. The man was skilled, if a bit odd.

"You have simply the most delightful skin. So teasingly soft and supple, almost virgin to the nobles’ cruel touch." His hands focused on Castien’s buttocks, carefully avoiding a small bite mark, then kneaded between his thighs where he’d been stretched too much.

If the man would stop talking, Castien could actually relax and enjoy this. That voice sang a chilling song of unpredictability through his spine. He closed his eyes and slowly deepened his breathing, pretending to sleep.

It was a wasted effort.

Marlow's fingers trailed down his arm and took a hold of his hand. A few gentle caresses suddenly grew firm, and Castien’s palm was brought to the side, pressed between the man's thighs. Castien stiffened, moved to pull his arm back, until he felt… nothing.

"My first moon here, I didn't understand either." He released Castien's hand and returned to slow massaging. "I was tired one day, didn't want to be their plaything, thought they could find another easily enough. It was the end of my second week.

"One lord took a particular dislike to my protests. The more I asked to be excused and proclaimed my exhaustion, the more he demanded of me. In a moment of clarity—utter stupidity in actuality, but I thought it was clarity at the time—I grabbed the whip while his back was turned and lashed him between the legs. He crumpled. I ran.

"Right into a pair of guards who dragged me back inside. When the noble recovered, he found a blade and told them to hold me down, to hold me still. I couldn't move anyway. Maybe it was fear, exhaustion, or the terrifying rage on the noble's face. I didn't understand what he was doing until the knife bit into me.

"The pain unfroze me. I screamed, he cut, and the guards laughed. I struggled then, I think. I don't remember precisely, just blood and pain and laughter. I fainted before he was done.

"When I woke in the healer's hall, they told me I almost bled to death. The same lord found me after I healed. I didn't resist him."

Marlow's hands did little to relax his tense muscles now. The nobles were more than cruel or callous. They were monstrous. Evil. Castien didn't believe in the concept, but it was on open display here.

"Marlow, I…"

The man's hand ran over his back, curled around his neck. "Save your pity. Be perfect and you won’t end up like me."

Step out of line and there were consequences. Of all sorts. The tight ball in his stomach grew.

What use were his skills against senseless cruelty?

—

Niko often sat with him at lunch. Castien was glad for the company. Today, he took the opportunity to inquire, "The nobles are asking me about the Queen. What she’s planning for Nadraken, why Captain Jerome won’t speak to them, who Lord Darius might marry—how would I know?"

The royal courtesan huffed a laugh and waved a hand. "Oh. They just want you to spy on the Queen and her Escorts."

"What? Why?" Thatseemed an odd assumption.

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