To Collar and Keep (8 page)

Harley laughed and looked at Ben. He agreed with
Corbin
. “So you’re not on good terms with the wild
Satyrs
. What about the old school ferals from down south?”

“I’ve had my share of run-ins with them but nothing serious. We get along just fine.”

Yet another point in his positive column. No other clan was able to deal with the feral families, and a member that could help Tempest observe the niceties and customs of their country cousins would be something else that would propel Tempest back to the top spot. Harley made a thumbs up sign discreetly to Ben who was pouring three more glasses.

“Impressive.” Ben nodded, passing out the glasses. “If it wasn’t for the bounties on your head and that you have issues that I don’t want to commit Tempest to… How many of these girls do you have?” He took out a sheet of paper and passed it to Corbin who gave it a read over.

“The last three, they’re all I have at the moment. The others left of their own accord. I don’t force my women to stay,” he answered after awhile.

“Good. I’m willing to allow you into Tempest on a temporary basis only. There will be restrictions. If you’re not willing to comply, you can leave now.”

Harley took his glass and watched the elder Satyr to see what he was going to do. He would be a valuable asset if he could play nice. Tempest was looking better and better for a Satyr looking to change his fortunes.

“What kind of restrictions exactly?”

“The girls. You give them back with an apology to their previous owners.”

“Okay,” Corbin said with a frown. “Is that all?”

“No. I don’t want you taking any more girls attached or otherwise. You’re a reasonable age. I assume you can go lengthy periods of time without feeding?” Ben asked calmly, setting his drink aside and taking a seat behind his desk.

“I guess you could say that that,”
Corbin
said more warily.

“Good, how long?”

“I can survive on three feeds a month,” Corbin said reluctantly after some thought.

Three a month? Harley was impressed. His father was one of the elder elite like
Milton
, and they both couldn’t survive on anything less than seven. Corbin was a find indeed.

“Good.” Ben grinned. “Then you’ll stick to that. You’ll move here so we can monitor you closely, translating and so on.”

Corbin
nodded stoically.
 
“Okay.”

“And sell your properties. We can keep the extra money in a fund.”

“Now that’s just cruel,” Corbin gasped.

“Is it?” Ben smiled.

Harley shook his head and finished his drink. “Why not just keep them in escrow? Depending on what he’s got and where, it might work for later on, retreats and such. Don’t be too hasty, cousin.”

“See? That’s why I need you around. Agreed?”

“Fine.” Corbin nodded in agreement. “How temporary will temporary be?”

“No way to tell, we’ll have to see how you get on.”

“As your de facto consigliore, I suggest till Tolanor, the deep winter holiday,” Harley said. “That way during the celebrations, you can revisit everything, and if Corbin has performed up to snuff, you can welcome him in with a party.”

“I can live with that.” Ben smiled. “But don’t mess up, I don’t give second chances.”

“And I won’t need one.”
Corbin
downed his glass in one swallow.

“Good, now go and arrange to give the women back.”

“And the party tonight? Will we be seeing you, Corbin?” Harley bent down and picked up Jared, who had crawled over to him. The child gurgled and laughed as Harley set him on his lap.

“You might, if I can get everything in order to the prince’s satisfaction. May I speak freely for a moment?”

Harley shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me any, Corbin. Ben?”

“The suggestion isn’t for Ben, it’s for you. I couldn’t help hearing your discussion before I came in. I know your father reasonably well and to put it bluntly he’d rather cut off his nuts than step down from power. An heir apparent was purely for show and perhaps to keep your mother happy. Ben’s father always made sure his sister got what she wanted. I’d maybe have a talk with him before investing too much of your life into Rummer.”

Harley smiled and nodded. “Your concern is noted, Corbin, and I thank you for speaking your mind. Boris has his issues, but I do believe you have a point. You seem to know much about him and my mother,” he said as Jared turned and crawled up the rest of his lap. “Now Ben, are you and Minerva coming to the party tonight? Or is that crusty fuck of a father-in-law holding you and the child captive?”

Ben shook his head. “No, we’ll be there, later though.
Milton
’s milking all the time he can get from the little fella.”

“I wouldn’t trust
Milton
, either, but I’m sure you already know that,” Corbin said.

Ben nodded and Corbin continued, “In regards to your parents, Harlequin, I made it a point to know them.”

“Well, that’s vague as hell.
Milton
is a ponce, seriously. Ben is an evil genius when it comes to dealing with him. Who is going to be at the Tempest section tonight?”

“Some of the new folk. It should prove interesting.”

“Understatement.” He looked at the clock on the mantel above Ben’s head and smiled. “So is that right? Or have we actually been in a time bubble. It feels like I have been here far longer than I think I have.”

“That’s just my charming company.” Ben smiled. “Time’s working just fine. So Corbin? You staying for a while? ”

Corbin nodded and walked over to the oxblood couch and sat, a small smile on his face.

Jared giggled and stuck his thumb in his mouth.

Harley shook his head and stood, bringing the prince to his father. “So what’s the afternoon’s activities? With the ladies off stimulating the economy and all…”

“I don’t have anything planned, but I’m sure we can manage something fun.”

“I did have a suggestion, Ben, seeing as Tempest is getting back into the normal family business.”

“Yeah, go on…”

“Why not check out the old storefronts? I mean there are several in
New York
that should be reopened. Have you even looked at the old business books?”

“Haven’t looked yet,” Ben said with a roll of his eyes.

“You know, more and more I’m thinking I should be your right hand.”

Ben laughed. “Because I’m an evil mastermind but not so business-minded?”

“Because your priorities are off.”

“Off? Not quite, I’ve just got other things to do. It’s hard being me.”

“Fair enough. Let’s take a look at the books then and take a field trip.”

* * * *

“Is this seat taken?” Mina asked as she stopped next to Arabella. The party bus was quickly filling, Beloveds and concubines taking their seats in groups. Arabella sat close to Stephanya, Harlequin’s mother, but apart from everyone else.

She smiled up at Mina and gestured to the seat Mina was enquiring over. “Please, Lady Tempest.”

Mina sat and looked about, then leaned in. “Please call me Mina. Like my Satyr, I abhor the titles, pomp and circumstance. I’m just Mina. I didn’t get a chance to mention it before, but congrats on Harlequin.”

Bella smiled anew at mention of Harley and bowed. “I thank you, Mina. He is…,” she looked around at the other women of Satyr who had already scorned her, choosing to sit on the far side of Stephanya, “coveted?” she asked with a lower voice.

Mina looked over at the others and pulled a face. Then she looked back at Bella. “Harlequin is an only child,” she said in an equally low voice so that Lady Rummer couldn’t hear. “And the females of Rummer have all had their eyes on him since he hit his adulthood. I understand that he has never dallied with any of them, choosing more…human pursuits.”

“That explains the warm welcome from the clan.”

Mina put her hand on hers. “Don’t be bothered by it. I had to deal with it as well when Ben was gifted me. For about six months after, they were wretched harpies, especially because we were blessed with a convergence pregnancy. They are jealous because our Satyrs are the be all and end all, and they won’t share.” She grinned.

Bella nodded. “Still, this must be what my mother feels like when she’s with the other women my father has. They don’t get along much.” Which was an understatement. Bella had no idea how her mother put up with the other concubines’ sniping and spite.

“Quite possibly. So tell me, how are you enjoying court so far?”

They talked quietly as the bus rolled to their destination, an outlet mall about an hour south of where the hotel was, drinking the champagne and eating the strawberries that were offered to them by the staff. By the time they made it to their destination, they were all pleasantly tipsy. She felt better for the time spent with Mina and quickly found herself liking her more and more. The girl relaxed her and it was good to just see a friendly face that wasn’t her Satyr’s mother.

Bella stayed with Mina, Stephanya and Mina’s mother, Ellen, as they made their way around the shops, either staying ahead of the crowds or just behind them. It was great, and Bella learned a lot from Stephanya about Harley’s childhood. His mother was all too happy to talk about her son as most mothers were.

“Harley was always extremely bright, much to Boris’ pride. I remember when he was early in his development, must have been about five, he would sit with Boris and listen as Boris explained complex equations. Harlequin picked them up quite quickly.” She smiled.

“So he’s always been interested in the sciences?” Bella asked as she walked beside her mother-in-law.

“Oh, yes. His passion for science almost rivals that which makes him such a potent Satyr. He’s always found a way to balance it though. You won’t have to worry, Arabella. He will enjoy both parts of his life, and you won’t want for attention. He’s always been good at balancing his studies and his women,” Stephanya said matter-of-factly.

Arabella wasn’t worried, not after the conversation they’d had the night before. He already seemed devoted to her and her happiness, and nothing would change that.

They had made their way into Dolce & Gabbana to meet up with the rest of the girls. The store was closing for two hours for a ‘private party’—the whole of the Satyr females.

They were met with treats—chocolates, strawberries, peach wedges and more champagne. The entire group buzzed and murmured while marking off what they wanted on their purchase cards as the showing progressed. Once again Mina and Bella were cloistered to the side, away from the majority of the girls.

“This place is great, though I wasn’t expecting this level of…”

Minerva laughed. “Thank Mother. She pulled some strings to show how powerful Arcane is.” She smiled at her mother.

“Really? I always thought Tempest was the frontrunner for power.”

“We are,” she said proudly. “But until Ben repopulates the house we are still considered second best. That will change though.”

“Repopulate?”

Minerva quickly explained about Ben’s parents disappearing along with the entire clan. Arabella felt for her friend’s Satyr. As much as she wasn’t happy with her family and birth clan, without them she wouldn’t be the person she was now. But Ben had already begun to bring his house back to its rightful place, and she could see how proud Minerva was of it.

Arabella nodded and raised her glass. “Well, here’s to repopulation.”

“Amen. Now, have you seen anything that catches your eye? I’m not a huge fan of D&G. Versace has my heart, but don’t tell Mother.” She grinned.

“It’s all very
pretty, but, no, I think I’m rather set on door number two.”

They left the store while most of the other girls were still milling about making choices, leaving Stephanya and Ellen to hit SPACE while Mina and Bella hit La Perla. Mina smiled as they walked into the store and frowned as she saw two of the more unlikable females from Rummer, Jasira and Delia. Both had made it more than clear by their attitudes that they wouldn’t be befriending her anytime soon. Arabella just hoped that they’d leave her alone to shop in peace. She didn’t have to get along with them just as long as they didn’t try to make her a target. She’d known women in
Greece
who lived their lives in pure misery just because they had something that the others coveted.

Delia smirked at them and stood a bit straighter, slipping her hand on her hip as she stuck her chest out a little more.

Mina rolled her eyes at the display put on by the lower house females.
 
She walked over to a rack and picked up a bra and shook it at Arabella.

“Now, this is sexy. What do you think? Blue or green?”

Arabella walked over and looked at them both, ignoring the girl as best she could. “Blue, I think, matches your colouring much better.”

“So you’re going to get the green then?” Mina asked and grinned. “It’s too perfect to not get it too.”