Page 33 of Shadows and Roses

He stared at it. Purchased…? Indeed, the document declared his status as a free man. No few clients had offered to purchase his bond in exchange for his exclusive service in their household. He’d declined. He’d wanted freedom.

This time he hadn’t been given the option to decline. The strands of yesterday’s conversation came together. Master Iberius had arranged for his protection in return for five years service to the crown. The High House wanted him back in onepiece, and he would go back—after the palace, the Night Courts would be a comforting home.

Or perhaps the Queen would keep him. Five years was a long time. Was an Escort allowed to resign from their position? He wasn't sure now what the Queen had said—if he would be returned to his House, or kept as her pet. He didn't think those five years could be worse.

To the minister, Castien asked softly, "Why a purchase? The Queen made me aware of an extended contract with the Night Courts. I am hers either way if she desires, correct?"

The woman smiled thinly. "Your contract maintained that you were the property of the Night Courts. The Escorts belong to no one but the Queen." Minister Priya barely shrugged, as if it wasn’t important.

It was important to him. Even if the Night Courts' protection had been more theoretical than practical, it had always been a part of him. Home. Familiarity. Family. He had not been allowed to leave the palace in the last moon. Would he be trapped here for fiveyears?

Priya handed him a wooden box.

He flipped the lid open with more force than necessary. Resting on a velvet cushion was a pair of three-inch wide metal-studded leather bracers, gold thread woven into both ends. Black silk laces hung loosely through metal grommets on the bracers' undersides. A pretty pair of shackles.

Priya said, "Wear these at all times. They indicate that you are an Escort, and belong only to the Queen. The guards are ordered to cut off the hand of any who dare leash an Escort."

Yes, the Escorts didn’t suffer daily humiliation—not publicly, anyway. In all fairness, none of them looked… broken. Cold, harsh, and hard, they had all seemed dangerous or aloof.

"Do I have a choice?"he asked sarcastically.

She raised a brow. "This is the Queen’s command. Youarean Escort."

"I was a courtesan of the High House of Shadows. I had a choice in who I served." The bitter tone of his words curled his lips into a soft snarl.

She paused. "Would you truly prefer to serve the nobles, rather than the Queen alone?"

"Ipreferto choose."

"And what sort of choices do you think you had?"

"I was not forced to serve—"

"But youdoserve. You fuck who you’re told to fuck. What would happen if you refused entirely? Would they let you reject every client?" she asked.

"That’s not how it works. My bond—"

"Are chains harsher than these. What you had was an illusion of choice. Wear the bracers, and you’ll have more freedom than you’ve ever had."

He stared at her. This woman could never understand. She was a commoner, likely had served the palace for most of her life. The rank of Escort was probably a dream to her. Castien already had his dream—or would have had, in five moons.

Her gaze pitied him. "Ask yourself if you truly want to serve. Do you have plans for the end of your bond? Or will you bow before the Houses until they have no more use for you?"

Maybe she was right. The Masters and Mistresses only cared about wealth and prestige. They didn't adopt orphans out of the goodness of their hearts. But the Night Courts was the only home he’d ever known.

He sneered. "Because bowing before the Queen is clearly so much better."

A flicker across her eyes, then she shrugged. "You are not required to wear the bracers. Without them, the nobles may do as they wish, though they are unlikely to; if you protest and saythey took your bracers, they will still be punished. Some of the Escorts enjoy the game."

He glared at her and then the cuffs. Neither responded. The value of choice was clearly not of interest to these people. He reached into the box.

She drew it back and closed the lid. "There will be a ceremony tomorrow to present you as a new Escort. Until then, you remain in these halls and prepare. The tailors need your measurements, you need a new room…" She waved a hand.

"And what role am I to play?" What were the rules to this new game? He always knew the rules. Without knowing what was expected of him, he’d look a fool—perhaps make the Queen look a fool. That was unlikely to be tolerable.

Priya nodded at the box. "You will have the opportunity to ask Her Majesty in person. Tomorrow."

The man from a few minutes ago hurried to the minister’s side. "The tailors are ready. The servants—"

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