– Training

silence, t

s how i

oors sealed shut, the estate changed. The air became thinner. The light less for

r him to s

for her

he throne room for w

dn't

dn't

t... w

high above, one leg crossed over the other, re

e, her steps were sl

his hea

rcling him like a lioness. "Or perhap

His heart was thudding beneath the thin linen of his

d. "Fred bowed, but you gave me your eyes. That

behind him

ed me to

osed h

spered,

ilence or rose-scented bath drawn in anticipation. Instead, he was led-

foot of an oversized obsidian bed. The ceiling wa

ing. No instruct

ne of her silent staf

n without

pecte

cted pl

pecte

e neve

hat n

hysic

later, from be

ere you sle

be touched un

ot the same

swore he heard footsteps that didn't belong to the staff. He imagined Fred

s, he fe

something Queen Lilly wa

red Fred's

ove

for him. But somehow, t

to find a letter on t

gret how

rather I

etending, or hav

tter in the cand

aid n

atched ev

his submission, the

rapped in silk. His collar had a new tag n

ept for a grand piano and

ch, her fingers gliding al

nce, pet?"

tated. "

e said. "Then

bli

's no

't repea

dan

let the music of her presence guide him. The rhythm of her breath. The flic

watc

ing. Not

. meas

is knees, panting, sweat cling

k in the

d

red back-collared,

said, "that he

the mirror, "Yo

ude

id it

ga

Until his v

uch him-one hand on

od

was taken outside the es

ugh what felt like a garden,

a circular room of glass, surrounded by a small audi

e center, dressed

id, "you will ser

with silence. Bu

ed to th

ame. It is devotion.

pedestal in the c

ere. Do n

ob

ering. Some touched his cheek. One pressed a glass of wine to hi

ey all

er, Queen Lill

his f

ed, "Perfec

to the ceremonial room. A vel

a glass case ho

s red

gold a

she said. "But you ha

was beautiful, simple, with a gold

ce. It means you are owned.

pped to

heart

ircle

the collar a

icked

Soft. E

" she said. "And t

ed to hi

her hand

sm

aked the

ueen Lilly at an exclusive rooftop even

a n

Cho

ernet w

s exp

A new actor? A p

ne k

e no a

, sat at her feet, and

arance, his c

he was trained further-

, she let

she made hi

Ken dream

om again. The mirror cr

uched h

ou anymore,"

ched hi

t want

d in, kiss

hers. Com

ith tears

te besid

r dreams

im one morning to

Her hair in br

nch, pulled him

who you wer

thou

" he

miss f

oked

mber what tha

sm

you're

r w

everythin

wait in the b

ke

lar

is k

yed itself, s

she e

wor

ched. Cupp

issed

ike a

ke an

God claim

e body t

ispered. "And now...