His Forbidden Mate
Part 9

“How much would this go for?” I asked, picking up a silver sequence material hanging on the wall, which I could already picture myself in.

I was currently at the market square, needing a wardrobe change. Having a dazzling outfit was one of those things that made our victims at the desired parlour swoon. It’s the first thing that always captivated them. Our performance and seductive acts came after. Getting for myself also meant getting for my workers as well, because uniformity at the parlour is key.

“A yard would go for three pieces of gold, but for you, I would give two,” Pedro said with a friendly grin.

He has been my go-to seller in the past six years of running the parlour and not only does he give discounts, but he also advises on which material is best and which would last longer. We’ve developed a sort of friendship and I rely on him to give me fashion advice. I believe him more than anyone else.

“Mistress!” he nodded his head in acknowledgement.

“Shh, not outside the parlour. I’m not.” I shushed him up.

Despite running my business for the last few years, I have maintained a level of discretion. I made provisions for masks of different colours and shapes for my girls to hide their identity, and they only revealed it when leverage or loyalty has been gained by the victim. Whatever happens at the parlour stays at the parlour, and it has worked out well so far. The aim was to protect those who worked with me and not limit their social interactions to only those they work with. It was a double life and so far they have kept to it.

I had invited Pedro and his wife over to the parlour when he told me their marriage had experienced a halt in the affairs of intimacy. He couldn’t connect with his wife and she was having a hard time connecting with him. I told them their visit was on the house and I introduced them to a few of our routines and opened them up to so many possibilities with their pleasure act. The next time I saw him, he told me he was planning to run away from home because his wife had worn him out and still wasn’t yet done. I’d say we did our job well.

“Are you buying the yard or the entire roll?”

“And the roll. How much would it go for?” I raised my brow.

“I think twenty-five pieces of gold, but I’d give you twenty.”

“That’s so kind, then I’ll take the row,” I dipped my hand into my red purse and pulled out a bag of gold, counting out the pieces and giving it to him, “do you think Laura is less busy?” I asked for the seamstress, who would help turn this material into a thing of wonder. Her shop was on the next street.

“I haven’t seen her all day. Perhaps you can check up on her,” he replied.

“Witch!” a woman said from behind, spitting onto the floor in disgust.

I am not a witch but nice try.

I paid no mind to her because she wasn’t worth it. “I’ll do that, thank you.” I turned around, and I saw Caroline, a short angry young woman with brown hair, before me.

There had once been a dispute between the nemesis pack and the b***d moon packs at the town square three years ago. I don’t know how, but I ended up caught in the middle of the altercation. Lucky for me, no one could harm me because their werewolf ability failed to manifest. It was a thing of surprise to all of them and I quickly ran from their midst as fast as I could. Caroline was a member of the nemesis pack, and though everyone moved on from the incident, she didn’t and had since tagged me a witch.

So far, I have ignored her harassment for the last three years.

“Witch!” she repeated, this time louder and bringing the attention of the few people around us.

I sighed, exhausted by the constant confrontation. “Yes, I am a witch. What’s your point?”

She growled in a very unladylike manner, “Evil witch, leave our town!”

“Why would I do that? There is money here, the men are generous; the wine tastes better and the women are angrier. To me, this is paradise, and no amount of bullying would make me leave.”

She surged forward, trying to reach for my hair, but Romeo, my guard, having gotten to where we were, suspended her hand and pushed her back.

“You don’t belong in this town, filthy witch.” She cussed at me.

Seven years ago, I came to Lurds to start over, and in order to be recognised, I had to reveal who I was. I told the Lord of the region I was an omega. He then asked if I wanted to unite with any pack. Packs were regarded as a sanctuary and would always protect their members in times of trouble. I had gone rogue because of the maltreatment I faced at the hands of the first pack I belonged to in the North. Their protection was not worth the mean treatment or humiliation I faced for being an omega, so I told him I was better on my own.

“The lord of this city would object to that.” I retorted and walked away from the scenery.

After meeting with Laura and discussing the plans for the material, I return to the parlour, where everything was being set up for the show tonight. I noted a few lingering sad gazes on me as I made my way towards my office. It was no wonder what had triggered such a look.

I settled in my seat and began going through the arrangement of the event for the night, making sure today would differ from yesterday’s event.

Half an hour later, a small knock came on my door before it. My head lifted, and I saw Jane standing there in an orange flay dress.

“Can I come in?” she asked, her voice unsure.

I rolled the scroll in my hand up and nodded at her. She entered and shut the door, stepping towards my desk with her hands entwined and she played with them. I have known her for over five years. I know she only did this act when she was afraid and trying to control it.

We met five years ago. The parlour was barely a year old and was still a joke. Jane Marnay, just like me once, was running from her captors, who wanted to sell her as a slave to the kingdom of Forth. I took her in and took care of her and we made a bond. Then I told her about my plans for the parlour, which I explained aimed to give hope to the hopeless in the society. She immediately wanted to be a part of it.

The parlour, unlike the world she ran away from, gave her control over her mind, body and decision. Both of us loved to replace others who were like us to give them what we had. We told everyone we rescued who we were and what we did. Those who found an interest in it stayed with us and we permitted those who did not like the life to leave after receiving treatments and food.

After three years of operation, the parlour became a reasonable place with workers willing to put in the work, and I set Jane in charge of controlling and managing the parlour on days when I was away. I trusted her judgment and sorted her counsel as often as I could. She was more than a partner; she was the sister I never had and a friend. Everyone reported hearing their issues and we replace a way to solve them when she presented them to me.

“What’s wrong, Jane? I haven’t seen you this agitated in a long time.”

She sat down when she got to the chair and placed her hands on the desk. “Are we losing Desire Parlour?”

“Why would you say that?”

“There’s a rumour going around the parlour and many of the workers believe it too.”

I noticed the change among my workers two weeks ago after Edward came over with his demands and proposal. I didn’t know how they had put together what happened, but I could tell that was the reason for it. Work had gone on smoothly and everyone had done their part like they always did, but I still felt it.

I reach forward and took her hands in mine. “You know better than to believe in rumours, Jane.”

She nodded, and her eyes fluttered. “I know, but I notice how you’ve been this past week. It started when that man showed up here. You haven’t been yourself, not really, and that makes me wonder.”

I thought I had concealed my emotions and played my part perfectly to give nothing away to the workers or spook them. However, I’ve done the opposite and caused a panic among everyone.

I withdrew my hands from hers, and my eyes dropped. “A few things have changed, Jane,” I admitted.

The next couple of minutes I spent explaining everything to her. I told her how the crown prince had returned to take what I stole from him after seven years. She knew me; she knew everything about my past. She had hidden nothing from me and I didn’t intend to do that now. So I told her what I could, leaving out just a few details.

A tear ran down my face, and I wiped at it. “I had the offer to leave, but I couldn’t take it. I had to stay. I made a promise, Jane. Besides, this is my family, and the parlour is my baby and I couldn’t just let go.”

She got up and hurried over to me, wrapped her arms around my head, and pulled me closer. My eyes flutter and tears fell even while she consoled me.

It took over half an hour to bring the tears to a stop, and Jane never took her arms from around me. She had never seen me like this. I’ve been strong for so long that breaking down and becoming vulnerable felt strange, but she didn’t judge.

I picked up the small hand cloth and wiped my eyes to dry the tears.

“There’s no guarantee he’ll stop at just taking over.”

She was right, he won’t. He made his demands, and I agreed with them. I would belong to him for as long as this parlour remains, but I couldn’t tell Jane that. She wouldn’t allow it.

“Have you told Rue about this?”

I bit my lips and shook my head, my protective instinct kicking in. “I don’t think I have the heart to.”

“So what do you plan to do now?”

“I’m going to survive.”