Grimacing, Alex shook his head.

  “I really don’t understand that. Is there more meaning behind it than I’m aware of? I thought people were just calling me that because I like fire. The duchess made a comment about it today as well,” Alex grumbled.

  “You give ’em hope,” Nannie said, her voice firm. “You brush away the broken bits and tell them they can achieve greatness if they work for it.

  “Your army is proof of that. Your citizens are thriving.”

  Valeria nodded as if she’d been about to say the same thing.

  Running a hand through his hair, Alex sighed. “Whatever. She only asked me to support her publicly and eventually tutor her kid, Marcos.

  “What she didn’t say is for all that to happen, Clark junior can’t exist.”

  “Oath pin then, right?” Rebekah asked. “She can’t do anything like that because of her pin. She has to work around it.

  “Just like how all the other nobles do it.”

  “So it would seem,” Valeria said. “Definitely something to consider. Now I’m very glad I brought Coffin along. She can make short work of anyone at this point.”

  Eleanor sat down heavily in a chair, one hand pressed to her face, the other holding on to the letter she’d been handed.

  When she looked up from the paper, Alex could see her eyes were starting to water up, her cheeks turning red.

  “My family is in dire straits,” she said.

  “What?” Alex asked, not really sure what to say.

  “My brother… he writes that my family is under extreme misfortune and dire circumstances,” Eleanor said, her tone listless.

  Chapter 27

  “Alright,” Alex said slowly, moving over to lean up against the table. Moving helped him think. “And what’s wrong? Did he specify?”

  Eleanor shook her head, letting her eyes fall to the ground.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m unable to do anything,” she muttered. “And even if I wasn’t, I do not think my father would take any assistance from me.

  “He disowned me formally and struck me from the family records. The family burial rights. And of course, my inheritance. There is little he wants from me, other than distance and an unmarked grave.”

  “What a massive cock sucker,” Nannie said, her face contorting into one of the biggest frowns Alex had ever seen on her. “We should go break his legs, Six.”

  Mm. That’s right. She probably has father-figure issues. Way to identify there, Nannie.

  Eleanor stared wide eyed at Nannie before she let out a nervous chuckle.

  “I’ll keep that in mind, Five. Though to be fair, I imagine their recent troubles are my own doing,” Eleanor said. “Well, perhaps not my doing, but because of me.

  “My family holds a barony to the east of what was Ridge. The earl who is in control of the lands wished me to be his bride. Or one of them, at least.

  “I refused, even after my father betrothed me to him. I ran away, joined an order of knights disguised as a young boy, and became as you see me now.”

  “Your last name isn’t Riff then, but more likely… Rift?” Valeria asked.

  “Ah, yes. My family name was Rift,” Eleanor said, bobbing her head.

  I can use this, can’t I? This is my opportunity to secure Eleanor in all the ways of a Numbered and reinforce her dependency on me, but also in herself.

  “Six, go wait for me in your room,” Alex said. “Seven, Five, please keep her company for a bit.

  “Three, please remain here.”

  The Numbered said nothing, just went about his orders. The three women trooped out, already dropping into a discussion.

  As soon as the door closed, Valeria came over to him and leaned into him. Her hands closed into his tunic and she laid her head down on his shoulder.

  “I take it you have orders for me to take care of?” she asked.

  Strange. I wonder if she’s starting to process far more of her acceptance to be cared for than she admitted.

  This is practically a cry for tenderness.

  Gently wrapping his arms around her waist, Alex didn’t discourage her. Her emotional growth was a good thing. Just as it was for Nannie.

  “I do. You said Coffin is in the city?” he asked.

  “She is,” Valeria confirmed. “She snuck in during the night on a guard change.”

  “If I wanted her to kill the earl and make it look accidental, what would be your thoughts?” Alex asked.

  “I’d have to tell you it’d be an order you could never make, given your oath to the emperor,” murmured Valeria. “That you can even talk about it shouldn’t be possible. That all leads back to Leah, doesn’t it?

  “As to your question, Coffin could do it. She might end up killing more people than just the earl, but she’d get it done without any trace back to you. Probably won’t look like an accident.”

  “I’m his knife,” grumbled a voice from his bedroom. Alex almost missed it.

  Turning his head, Alex looked through the open doorway that led into his room.

  “Yes, she’s here,” Valeria said. “Probably hiding under your bed, if I had to guess. So, shall I send her out?”

  “After I get everything from Six, yes,” Alex said.

  “Ah, yes. I take it she’ll be decorating your bed after this?” she asked.

  “Yeah. That’s the plan. Alright, thanks, Three. Can you send her in here?”

  “Of course,” she said. Then she leaned up and gave him a soft kiss. With a caress of his shoulder when she’d finished, Valeria moved off to the other bedroom.

  Looking around the room, Alex tried to put together what would be the best mental positioning to finalize Eleanor.

  Then he realized the best course was an informal one. Eleanor would expect something from a superior, not from someone who cared.

  Someone who was asking her to share a bed with him.

  And that’s how we put her off balance. Yes.

  Pushing out a chair in front of him and then one directly across from that, Alex sat himself down right there.

  Looking down at himself, he realized he was still dressed for public. Quickly unbuttoning his vest, he pulled it off and tossed it on the table next to him. Then he undid the first two buttons on his tunic.

  Better. Informal.

  A soft patter of footfalls came from the other room, followed quickly by the door closing.

  Looking up, Alex found Eleanor heading his way. She was still wearing her strange neutral mask.

  Need to pop that off first, don’t I?

  “Hey, Six. Have a seat,” Alex said, then patted the chair in front of him.

  “Of course, Master,” she said, taking the seat immediately. “Three said you wished to discuss my next assignment.”

  “I do, in a way… but first, are you alright?” Alex asked.

  The question seemed to hit her sideways. Especially considering she gave her head a small shake, as if he’d actually struck her.

  “Master?” she asked.

  “Are you alright?” Alex repeated himself. “I’m asking if you’re ok. That letter from your brother more than likely wasn’t what you were expecting. Especially since he would have had to figure out where you were to send it.”

  “Ah… no, it wasn’t. I’m… I’m alright. I think,” Eleanor said, her mouth pinching shut like a door slamming closed.

  “For what it’s worth, I think your father is short sighted,” Alex said, putting his elbows on his knees and leaning toward her. “You’re an amazing woman, but an equally impressive knight.”

  A slow smile crept over her face, her eyes dropping down to the floor boards in front of her.

  “On top of that, now that you’ve been getting fed some good food, you’re putting on a bit of weight in all the right places,” Alex said, turning toward the eventual goal of the conversation.

  Now Eleanor’s face was a crimson blanket. From neck to ears, she was bright red.

  “Oooh. I… I see. That is, yes. Thank you, my lord,” Eleanor said, her choice in words feeling almost random.

  “You’re very important to me, Six. I value you. Immensely,” Alex said.

  “Thank you, Master. I can tell you feel that way. You treat me as no one ever has. I don’t feel… I don’t feel anxious… around you,” Eleanor said.

  “I’m glad to hear that. Though I’m afraid I have something I want to discuss that’ll probably give you some anxiety,” Alex said. “I can solve your family’s problem. I can solve it easily, effectively, and your family would never know. They’d never even be involved.”

  Eleanor’s eyes flicked up to him. They’d regained some of the icy indifference they held when she carried out her duty.

  But she didn’t respond.

  “I won’t bore you with the details, but I can do all of what I said. It’d cost me a bit, and I’d want you to be the one to tell me to do it,” Alex said. She looked interested, and willing. Which meant it was time to set the hook. “But I also want something from you, Six.”

  The knight’s face flickered with what appeared to be confusion.

  “Master, I am your eternal servant. I have nothing else to give,” Eleanor said.

  “You have more of yourself. And I find that I want it. I want you, Six. I want you completely,” Alex said. He’d locked eyes with her now and wasn’t about to look away. “I want you in all the ways possible to me.

  “I’ll take care of your family’s problem with the earl. I’ll fix it in a way that’ll make sure it never becomes a problem again. But there’s a price for that.”

  Eleanor was watching him intently in return. Waiting.

  “In return, you must become celibate. To never touch another man or woman again without my permission,” Alex said, starting with the easier part. “And the reason for that celibacy is I want to share a bed with you at least once a week, and I’d want to avail myself of your mouth once a week as well. For you to service me with that very same said mouth.

  “I wish for you to be my lover and confidant, as well as my knight. Till the day you die.”

  Letting out a slow, shaky breath, Eleanor seemed very out of sorts.

  “Master, you wish… to lie with me?” she asked. “You want me to perform fellatio on you? Me?”

  “Yes, to all of that. I want all that you are, Six. All of you. If you give me all that you are, which I want, which I value, which I treasure, then I’ll solve the problem with the earl. I’ll also solve whatever problems come up with your family in the future,” Alex said. “And of course, as much Mother’s Bane as you’d like. For all that, will you give me all of yourself?”

  Blinking, the knight looked to be processing all that information.

  “Master Alex, you want me? Not just as a knight, but me… as me?” she asked, repeating her earlier question but in a different way.

  “Very much so, Six. I crave you and your touch. I’ve often wondered what those lovely long fingers of yours would feel like on my skin,” Alex said.

  Eleanor’s hands flexed on her knees as if she were thinking about what he’d just said.

  “Yes, Master. I’ll agree to that. I swear it on our oaths exactly as you said.

  “Just… please be gentle with me. I’ve never known a man, though I ruptured my maidenhead already, so please don’t think I’m lying. It happened when I was learning to ride a horse with my cousin. My father was most displeased with me that day. He said it devalued me,” Eleanor said, looking to the side.

  That certainly explains more of her headspace.

  “Then I agree as well, and do so swear on our oaths,” Alex said. “Now, I need to go save your family.”

  Leaning out of his chair, Alex gently pressed a kiss to Eleanor’s cheek, then left her sitting there. Moving to his bedroom, he shut the door.

  I need to have the earl killed. I also need to start making moves here in the city. I have more than enough muscle with me right now to make a few things happen.

  But what do I do? I need to sow confusion. To set them all back several steps and make them bewildered.

  How do I—

  Alex stopped mid-thought, coming to an answer that’d work.

  I set up a fake assassination of myself. If an earl happens to die in the same time frame, it’ll make everything that much murkier.

  Perfect.

  Walking over to his bed, he lay down on the ground and lifted the bed skirt.

  Coffin was there, sprawled out and unmoving. Looking quite comfortable.

  “Hey Coffin,” Alex said.

  Her head turned toward him, dark eyes gleaming.

  “I’m your knife,” she said.

  “You are. And you’re a very good knife. Can I join you under here?” he asked.

  Coffin nodded her head once but didn’t move.

  Scooting under the bed skirt, Alex fetched up next to her and let the fabric fall back into place.

  “I have a job for you, Coffin. Will you serve me?” he asked.

  “Yes, Master. I’m your knife. I do the work you cannot. You need me. I’m needed. I’m free,” Coffin said, her voice coming out in a strange sing-song. “I’m your knife.”

  “That you are. Now, here’s what I need,” Alex said, then began to lay everything out for Coffin.

  From killing an earl to protecting a family, to returning as soon as she was able.

  ***

  “Three, did you manage to slip any knives through their security?” Alex asked, looking at Valeria.

  His Numbered were all sitting at the table in the study. Coffin was muttering to herself in a corner near the door.

  “Of course I did, Master. They were very polite and professional during their search of Five and myself, but they found nothing on me,” Valeria said. “I was surprised. They didn’t grope me, touch me inappropriately, or even hint at it, which I was honestly expecting.”

  “They’re terrified of Master, and they know we’re his women,” Nannie said. “They didn’t even really try. Even I could have snuck in a dagger if I put it between my tits.”

  “Could have brought in an axe, there,” Valeria said under her breath. Not for the first time, Alex wondered if she took issue with the size of the other Numbered’s chests. She’d once lamented the fairness in how well-built Nannie, Riley, and Anna were.

  “Great. In a little bit, a maid by the name of Beth is going to come to announce dinner. We’re going to grab her and subdue her. Keep in mind I’m fairly certain she’s trained in hand-to-hand combat.

  “Then we’ll move into the hall with her.” Alex said. “I need you to kill the guard outside in such a way that it looks like an assassin did it, Three. You and Coffin.”

  Raising her eyebrows, Valeria nodded.

  “After that, we’ll take the guard’s sword and skewer the maid with it. I want it to look like the guard and the maid killed one another,” Alex said.

  “You want to kill Beth?” Eleanor asked, sounding rather upset.

  Alex shrugged and held up his hands. “I need to get Coffin into the city. Immediately. I can’t wait for her to slip out on her own during a shift change or a visit.

  “She’s my blade in the dark and she has work to do. Right now.

  “Beth is a guard in maid’s clothes. It’s unfortunate for her, but that’s the way it is.

  “And honestly, even if she wasn’t trained, she’d still need to die. The confusion over this ‘failed’ attempt on my life will mess with everyone. It’ll make them all wonder who attempted to put me in the ground.”

  Eleanor blinked, her indignation at killing Beth not going away. But she did seem to bottle it up inside of her. Putting it away like a hoarder with food for another time.

  Need to keep an eye on that. Either she figured out what Coffin is doing, or she’s not willing to shout me down in front of the others.

  “As I’ve said before, Six, I appreciate you pointing out the moral problems, and I’ll ask you to continue to do so,” Alex said, trying to soothe her conscience. “It’ll help me navigate my way through this life.”

  With a small nod, Eleanor lifted her chin back up. “I can do that, Master Alex.”

  “Alright. Are we ready for this?” Alex asked, looking to Valeria and Nannie. They would be the two most likely candidates to subdue the maid and kill the guard.

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Grand. I’m going to hide. When Beth shows up, send her to the bedroom to speak with me. Then grab her when her back is turned. Two always seemed to prefer choke holds,” Alex said. “Do whatever you see fit, Five.”

  Nannie snorted at that, flexing her fingers.

  “I’ll wrap her up, no problem,” she said.

  Alex slipped off into the adjoining bedroom Eleanor had been sleeping alone in. Rebekah tended to spend every night with him, after all.

  Hiding behind the door, he waited. Tilting his head to one side, he peeked through the crack between the frame and the door.

  Time went by much slower than he’d expected. Then again, Alex could easily have waited for the knock before hiding. He’d chosen this route in the paranoia of being caught unaware. Turning his attention inward, Alex let his mind drift through his thoughts.

  A sharp knock on the door jarred him out of his mental exploration.

  Several seconds passed, and the door opened.

  “Ah, hello,” said a voice Alex didn’t recognize. “Dinner will be served in roughly half an hour, though the location has changed.”

  “Oh, uh. Master is in his bedroom. He said he wanted to talk to someone about the duchess,” Nannie said.

  “That’s… interesting,” said the same voice. “I didn’t know he’d met her.”

  Alex saw a young man in guard armor pass by through the gap toward his bedroom. Behind him was Nannie, looking like a prowling monster.

  He heard a gasp and the sound of metal clink, as well as thrashing.

  “Stop fightin’,” Nannie growled loudly. Then the sounds of struggling died away.

  Moving out from behind the door, Alex saw Nannie and the unknown individual.

  The guard had his hands pressed to Nannie’s forearm, which was wrapped up around his neck, under his helmet. There wasn’t anything in the man’s eyes.

 

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