Possessing Allura by Reese Gabriel

your personal effects,’ said the baron. ‘I therefore claim her as part of your dowry.’
    â€˜You can’t have her,’ Allura complained. ‘I forbid it!’
    Montreico laughed. ‘You are in no position to forbid me anything, princess. Besides, what difference does it make to you? You can still make use of her services as a handmaiden as often as you like.’
    â€˜But you’ll have her,’ accused Allura. ‘You’ll fuck her.’
    â€˜This is what one usually does with slave girls, yes,’ he mused.
    â€˜Fine, then take her and leave me behind. Since you haven’t the decency to accept my offer of marriage to my face, I hereby rescind it. I’d rather kill myself.’
    Montreico’s eyes darkened, storms brewing behind them at the mention of death. What nerve had she touched?
    She dared not think of the real power of this man, the suffering he might have seen or the harshness with which he might be capable of acting. How many had he killed, she wondered, and how many had he seen die at his side in battle?
    â€˜You are coming with me, princess,’ he said in determined tones that brooked no form of argument whatsoever. ‘Either gowned as you are, on your feet as my fiancée, or huddled naked in a cage as my slave. The choice is yours.’
    The princess clenched her fists in impotence. He was trying to provoke and she must not give him the benefit of the doubt. ‘I am ready to go now; you will take me from here this instant,’ she said flatly.
    The baron snapped his fingers. ‘Rodolfo, take her to my horse. I will be there presently.’
    A tall, handsome man in green hunting clothes with a leather belt slung across his shoulder presented himself.
    â€˜Princess, are you well?’ Rodolfo asked, after Montreico had headed back upstairs, presumably to continue ransacking her belongings.
    â€˜I am a bit faint,’ she confessed.
    â€˜Allow me to help you.’
    Allura was grateful for the man’s kindness. Taking her by the arm he steadied her as they walked from the castle towards the baron’s contingent.
    â€˜Is there to be no carriage?’ she asked.
    â€˜No, you are to ride on his horse.’ The man seemed chagrined to offer such poor arrangements, and Allura stored this observation in her head. Perhaps one day she would be able to use his empathy to her advantage. ‘I have never ridden so far in such a rough way,’ she played upon his apparent concern. ‘Especially not… with a man.’
    â€˜I have never known the baron to mistreat a lady,’ he said cautiously.
    â€˜Please, can we stop a moment, I am very weak now.’
    â€˜Perhaps I should fetch a doctor.’
    She smiled to herself; the man could be very useful. ‘No, I’ll be fine. I must be strong.’
    â€˜I think perhaps you will need a carriage after all.’ He lifted her into his arms. ‘I will speak to the baron.’
    The man’s strength surprised her, as did her own response. Cradled, safely enveloped, she wanted him to kiss her, his mustache tickling her lip, his brown eyes darkening with desire. Would he taste different to the baron? Would she melt in his kiss too, or would he yield to her power first?
    Allura craned her neck, her eyes closing. She was so close she could feel his breath, and then, at the last possible second he begged off. ‘I should get a doctor after all,’ he said hastily, setting her down on the grass. ‘I’ll go at once.’
    He put her down and ran back to the castle, and she looked up at the sky, dazed. What had she nearly just done? If she were caught kissing another Montreico would never have her. She’d be ruined, for sure.
    The doctor rushed at the head of the pack, the usual gossipers and toadies close behind. The grand duke was there as well, looking very pasty.
    â€˜My niece,’ he fell to his knees, ‘are you all right?’ In