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Lisa lounged on the bed in Simone’s room, watching the dragon apply some makeup in front of the dresser mirror. She had come by a few minutes prior to bring Simone down to the building where her introduction to Andre’s court would take place.
“This room is so small. How do you even change your mind in here?” Lisa glanced around the room in frustration. “Why in the world did Boris put you in here?”
Simone turned around and smiled at Lisa. The butler had wanted to give her a larger room, but he hadn’t known she was coming, and this was the only room that was prepared. She didn’t mind at all. “Boris tells me that this is temporary until I decorate my suite.”
The suite that Boris had shown her the previous night was enormous compared to this one. It contained a large bedroom, study, and palatial en suite bath. The closet was larger than her bedroom back in her Chicago apartment. In fact, the suite was larger than her entire apartment. Someone had done it up in tasteful shades of cream and brown. Most people would have left the suite as is, but she was a dragon. Her personal space needed to reflect her draconic tendencies for hoarding valuables.
Even though it was late when she toured the suite, she hadn’t missed the fact that it had a door in the closet that led directly into Andre’s suite. Simone wasn’t too happy about that. The door implied a closer relationship to the lord than she thought she wanted. She would have to have a lock installed on the door.
“Well, make sure that he gets someone in soon to start on it. This room is horrible.” Lisa sat up as Simone started putting away her makeup. “Are you ready?”
With that simple question, Simone felt her mood sour. She really did not want to face a bunch of Nightshades on their own turf. What would her reception be among them? As much as Andre told her that the court was looking forward to her arrival, she didn’t expect the introduction to go smoothly.
From her own experience growing up in a dragon conclave, newcomers rarely received a warm welcome. It had taken the Chicago conclave some time to warm up to her. And that was just with her being a temporary member for two years while she attended graduate school.
She didn’t want to see what a bunch of supernaturals thought of her when she was to be bonded to their ruler. The role of the local lord’s shadow varied from court to court. From the little that Andre let slip, he wanted a partner to help him rule the court. That was going to ruffle a few feathers among the court.
The one thing that was certain was that Nightshades viewed all other supernatural races as inferior. Simone knew that attitude was going to get old quickly. So even though she didn’t feel confident, she was going to fake it.
She looked at herself in the mirror one last time, making sure that her outfit of a cream silk blouse, red slacks, and red heels still looked presentable. The ruby necklace and matching bracelet she’d bought earlier twinkled in the light. And then, she sighed.
“Not really, but let’s go.”
Lisa gave her an encouraging smile, her fangs showing briefly. “Remember that you are Andre’s shadow and act accordingly.” She slid off the bed and walked to the door.
The Nightshade led Simone through the house until they exited through a side door onto the lawn. There was a path illuminated by in-ground lighting that led off into the trees that were approximately one hundred yards from the side of the house.
“Andre holds court in the Little House,” Lisa said as they exited the manor. “He prefers it there, so any visitors we have stay there. No one from outside his court is allowed in the main house.”
Simone followed closely behind Lisa, looking around the area. Her night vision was excellent because of being a dragon shifter, so the low-level lighting was enough for her to see. “I take it that Andre likes his privacy?”
The pair followed the path into the trees. Simone noted that sounds of the creatures who were normally active at night stilled as they strode by. She couldn’t blame the creatures; they knew two predators walked through their domain.
Five minutes later, they stepped into a clearing where another Victorian-style manor sat. This manor was large as well, but not as large as the main house.
Lisa stopped a few feet away from the walkway leading up to the front of the manor. Through the windows, Simone could see that the interior was brightly lit, and the sounds of people talking drifted outside. From what Simone could see, the only way to reach the house was to walk through the grove of trees that they had just exited.
“How do you get stuff to the house? Hand carry it through the trees?” she asked.
The Nightshade second-in-command motioned at the house. “There is a driveway that leads to the Little House from the back.”
“Makes sense. When you said Little House, I wasn’t expecting this,” Simone said, inspecting the manor. It was easily over ten thousand square feet. She really wanted to explore the estate on her own. Maybe this evening after court, she could take a flight around the estate. Her dragon roused slightly at the thought of a night flight.
Lisa leaned over and whispered into Simone’s ear, “Remember, you are Andre’s shadow. No one here can take that from you.” Before Simone could reply to that astonishing statement, Lisa resumed walking towards the front door.
She followed the Nightshade and entered the doors of the Little House right at her heels. They stepped into a grand foyer that had a majestic, spiral staircase done in marble, leading to the second floor. There were three archways that led off the marble foyer. In the center, there was a marble statue of a man sitting atop a pedestal. Simone would have liked to inspect the statue, but Lisa headed for the archway to their right.
The pair walked through a parlor and entered a hallway. There were several doors along the hallway, but they went for the door at the very end. Lisa paused outside of the door and cocked her head to the side, listening for something. Simone could hear a crowd of people beyond the door. Lisa then opened the door and walked in.
The door led into what was clearly once a medium-sized ballroom. Highly polished and ornately carved wooden panels covered its walls. The panels were stained a golden-brown color. Floor-to-ceiling windows, open to the night air, covered the outer wall. Two massive crystal chandeliers illuminated the room. The floor was made of black-and-white marble tiles.
But what drew Simone’s attention was the figure sitting in a throne-like chair, covered in gold gilt, at the far end of the room.
Andre sat regally, talking to several Nightshade who stood around him. The Nightshade lord wore a charcoal gray suit that was tailored for him. The suit did little to hide the muscled body underneath.
She wanted to run up to him and touch those muscles to see what they felt like. Simone quickly gave herself a mental shake. Andre did not attract her at all. Nope.
Remember, this is the creature who stole your life from you. Unfortunately, her body wasn’t listening to her rationale, though. And neither was her dragon. The traitorous creature was drooling over Andre like a lovesick puppy.
As the two women entered the throne room, the people presently milling around stared at them. Simone pretended she didn’t notice their cold, assessing stares. She had to act like they did not bother her at all, or she would start her life in this court at a disadvantage.
She noted with slightly hysterical amusement that the beings in Andre’s court had dressed in a wide variety of styles. Some looked as if they dressed for a formal ball, while a others looked as if they wore costumes from centuries past.
One, who Simone had pegged as a lion shifter from his scent, wore nothing but black leather pants, knee-high leather boots, and a collar around his neck. The female Nightshade standing next to him looked like a fashion model, fresh from a photoshoot. She held a leash that was attached to his collar.
Shit will get real if Andre thinks that he’s going to put a collar on me.
Lisa led Simone through the crowd and stopped in front of Andre’s chair. “Lord Silversbane, may I present Simone Williamson, the daughter of Anthony Williamson, alpha of the Detroit conclave.” Her tone and manner were extremely formal.
All conversation in the room ceased, and everyone turned to face the small group around the chair. The Nightshade that had been speaking with Andre stepped away and faded back into the crowd.
Andre stood and held his hand out to her. Simone looked at his offered hand and then back at his face before slowly stepping forward and placing her hand in his. She shivered as what felt like a bolt of electricity shot between them. Her eyes met his glowing yellow ones.
He gave her a gentle tug and pulled her to his side. She turned to face the crowd. Power surged as he spoke. “Everyone, tonight, for the first time, my shadow is with me.”
The crowd cheered at his declaration. When they quieted down, he continued, “Simone has come to us from the Detroit dragon conclave. While this is a sad day for her conclave, it is a wonderful night for the Nightshade.” Andre paused and looked over the crowd.
His eyes flashed an even brighter yellow before returning to their normal chocolate color, and his voice deepened. “Make no mistake—Simone is here to be my partner.”
Simone didn’t miss the consternation on several faces in the crowd. So, not everyone was happy with her presence. She marked two people in particular. One was a female Nightshade, a beautiful black woman who could have been a model. And the other was the lion shifter who wore the collar attached to the leash the Nightshade held.
They would bear watching. Maybe she was being paranoid, but she didn’t want to be unprepared for treachery. No one who grew up amongst the supernatural failed to learn that lesson. Very few outside of your family group were to be trusted.
“Our bonding ceremony will take place a week from today.” Andre gave her hand a squeeze. “Please make sure that you take the time between now and then to get to know Simone.”
With that, Andre released her hand and went to sit back on his throne.
Please stand beside me, Andre’s voice sounded deep within her mind. Everyone wants to meet you, and I want them to know that no one comes before you.
Simone barely stopped herself from jumping from his mental touch. Andre was only the second person who had ever used mind speech with her. His surprise clearly reached her. Did no one in your conclave mind speak?
No. It’s not common in dragons. Not in the lines that I’m descended from, at least. Simone formed the words in her mind, uncertain that Andre could “hear” them. She moved to his left side and turned so that she faced the crowd once more. Lisa took a position on his right.
The gift is fairly common among the Nightshade, Andre informed her as a tall, blond Nightshade made his way to them.
The Nightshade gave Simone a deep bow. When he stood up, his pale blue eyes were staring at her intensely. His light blond hair hung low to just past his shoulders. He was lean, just a shade away from being too thin for his frame.
Simone fought the urge to look away from his intense stare. Something about the man repulsed her. Her dragon roused briefly and stared out of her eyes before settling warily just below her skin.
“Lady Simone, I’m Thomas. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Thank you, Thomas, for your warm welcome,” Simone said, making sure that none of her revulsion showed in either her expression or body posture. Thank the dragon gods that she knew how to shield her reactions. One had to learn that skill growing up in her father’s conclave.
“Have you taken a tour of the estate yet?” Thomas’s practiced smile grew by a hair. “If not, it would be my pleasure to show you about.”
Before Simone could think of a way out of that trap, Andre interrupted. “Thomas, I will take her on the initial tour.”
Something in Andre’s tone caused Simone to look sharply at him. It held an edge of coldness that she had yet to hear from him. If there were glasses around, they would have frosted over from the chilliness in his voice.
Thomas’s face briefly showed surprise, and then it went back to its careful pleasantness. “Of course, Lord Andre. If you need anything at all, Lady Simone, please ask. If you’ll excuse me.”
The trio watched him beat a hasty retreat from the immediate area. Simone thought she heard a few snickers, but she couldn’t pinpoint where they came from.
Be careful of him, Andre warned her over their mental link. He has a certain reputation in our court. If he bothers you, let me or Lisa know immediately.
That wasn’t reassuring at all. Simone cut her eyes over to Andre, but he was looking out over the crowd, a faintly bored expression on his face. He didn’t elaborate, and she made a mental note to corner him later about it.
The next hour passed in a blur for Simone while Andre and Lisa introduced her to the fifty-odd people in the ballroom. Andre’s court consisted mostly of Nightshades with a smattering of lion and wolf shifters and a lone magician. The magician and the two shifters were shadows.
Finally, the last of the Nightshade who came up to them was the woman who Simone had pegged as not being happy with her presence. The leashed lion was her shadow. Both gave her unpleasant looks when they approached.
“Hello, Lady Simone.” The Nightshade’s voice was cool and dismissive. “I’m Lydia, and this is my shadow, Dennis.” She yanked on the leash, and the lion shifter stepped forward with a sullen look.
Lydia was a tall, dark-skinned woman with long, black hair that was streaked liberally with blond. Her lithe body and how she moved reminded Simone of a spoiled panther. Her face even had a feline cast to it.
She looked far more feline than Dennis, who was an actual lion shifter. He was a short, stocky man with brown hair and pale skin. It was clear by his complexion that he never saw the sun. He was classically handsome, but Simone felt he would look better if he wasn’t wearing a childish pout. It wasn’t a good look on him.
“Hello, Lydia and Dennis.” Simone matched the female Nightshade’s dismissive tone. She could see that Lydia didn’t like it one bit. Great, she was one of those who demanded respect without giving it.
Lydia turned to Andre. “Andre, you need to teach your pet some manners.”
Oh no, this bitch did not go there. Simone snapped her fingers in Lydia’s face, causing the Nightshade to bare her fangs. “I’m not the one who needs to learn manners. If you have a problem with me, take it up with me.”
“Shut up,” Lydia snarled, dropping the leash in her hand. She fully faced Simone.
Her dragon roused, filling Simone’s body. If the Nightshade wanted a fight, she picked the right dragon. “Make me.” Simone laced the simple words with a dare.