The meeting was already started when Eli stepped out of her room behind the tavern. Her hair was damp, and she only wore a top and pants tucked into her boots. She didn't want to draw attention to her new burn mark.
Malkan would finally notice it but one problem at a time.
She stood behind the door in the dark hallway. There were only whispers in the room, but she could recognize Malkan's voice with a...woman.
"Hmm," Eli clucked her tongue unconsciously.
This one was going to be tricky.
Eli was going to lie, and she had to be convincing. Her life depended on it. Even though Eli was acclimated to living on borrowed time, she was nervous. Fooling Malkan was outlandish enough, but fooling the people who knew the mage was different. She felt a twist in her stomach.
She entered the room before she overthought more.
To her surprise, only two people had come for the ruby.
One was a big man in a royal gold and dark blue uniform. He was standing by the window, scanning over the room. His gloved right hand was on the hilt of his sword strapped to his belt. He had grey hair and a neatly cut short beard.
He looked in his forties, old enough to be a soldier and young enough to retire. There was a golden star embroidered on his right shoulder. He was a knight.
The other guest was sitting on the couch.
THE client, Eli, presumed. It was a woman wearing a dark red dress. The dress lacked the regular puffy layers the royalty usually wear. But even from a distance, it was clear the dress was made of the finest silk. Eli narrowed her eyes. There was only one silk with this quality.
The Towjian silk
The dress matched her long auburn hair, braided, resting on her shoulder. But the most important thing about her was the dark leather mask she was wearing. It perfectly cupped her nose, cheeks, and chin as if the cover was made specifically for her face.
Malkan was in his giant chair, leaning on one side. Emad, at his right, and Jade and Baroo on both sides of the door, guarding.
It was a mere gesture. No one dared to interrupt Malkan's meetings. Well, Except for Eli.
When she stepped in, the whole room fell silent; the heads turning in her direction.
Malkan's eyes gleamed. "Speaking of the devil..." He sat straight.
Eli scanned the room, lingered on the woman a little longer than she should, and walk toward Malkan, and sat on his lap. Malkan wrapped one hand over her ass.
The woman's gaze followed her doing that. "So this was the bandit bringing the ruby." She lifted her chin up. Her voice was loud and potent, and to Eli's surprise, it wasn't as muffled as it should have been behind the mask. How did she breathe in that thing? "I can see now what is all the fuss about."
Eli didn't understand her sarcasm but said nothing.
Malkan looked proud. He couldn't say she was his best; Emad and Jade were there, and they had their use. But he whispered it to her ears some nights when he was in a good mood, which was rare, but Eli didn't complain.
"Now, I want to see it." She was demanding. She was used to people obeying her. And if she was escorted by a damn knight, she was more than just royalty; she had a title, preferring to remain anonymous. Eli frowned.
Malkan waved his hand, and Emad stepped forward. His heavy steps rattled the floor slightly. There was a piece of cloth in his hand. He handed it to the woman, removing the top of the fabric and revealing the ruby Eli had brought.
The woman's eyes sparkled in the dim light of the room. She sucked in the air, taking the cloth from Emad and closing it to her face.
"Dare I?" Nobody answered her, and it didn't seem like she had addressed anyone. Her fingertips were just hovering above the surface of the rock.
"You can touch it, you know." Eli suddenly heard herself talking. "It doesn't bite."
The woman's eyes darted toward Eli. She said nothing, but Malkan's hands on Eli's butt cheek tightened. Watch your mouth, he seemed to say.
Eli watched her toying with the ruby, examining the uncut jewel closely. The ruby was as big as a walnut, gleaming in the reflection of the lanterns. She must know the mage. She knows there could be a trap inside it.
She is visibly relieved when her fingers touch the stone, and nothing happens. Now that she was assured the ruby was benign, she didn't pretend anymore, snatching the rock and studying it greedily.
Eli couldn't guess what she expected to find in the gem but kept her mouth shut. Even when the mage was torturing Eli to death with the reincarnation of his red ink, the ruby remained motionless. Not that Eli knew much about the voodoo mage possessed.
No one moved; the only thing moving was the woman's royal fingers roaming the rock's surface. The stone suited her. Now she's all red, save for the brown leather mask.
"All right..." She raised her head, finally taking her eyes off the ruby, but still held it tightly in her clutch as if she feared it would be taken from her.
"The money's all yours."
The knight behind her shook his head to someone through the window he was standing beside it. There must have been other soldiers at the tavern's doors downstairs.
The knight turned to Malkan, "It's done." His voice was deep and strong.
Malkan cast a look at Baroo. It was enough to send him downstairs, taking care of the money Malkan now owned.
Malkan slammed his fist on the chair handle, "Now's the time to celebrate." His voice was cheerful. "You have what you desire, and I get my money. Allow me to be a worthy host; let my man solace you."
He gestured at Jade and Emad.
Jade took the high-quality bottle of wine Malkan stored only for particular clients from the cupboard and headed to the woman with two glasses in his hand.
Emad took off his blouse with a quick movement, tossing it aside. His golden sunburned skin glistened under the faint light of the room. His chest hair could not hide the fact that he was muscular.
Emad was not as built as Malkan - no one was. But he could bring any woman to his knees with his high cheekbones and long brows. Eli could vouch for that.
Although Eli doubted this woman was easily charmed. However, Eli saw her eyes gleaming at the sight of Emad's abs. Emad crept toward the woman like a tiger reaching its hunt. He sat unhurriedly on the couch, putting his hand on the back of the sofa.
He whispered softly in her ear, then took out his tongue and licked over her ear.
The jeweled earring of the woman moved with the stroke of Emad's tongue.
The woman sucked in a breath.
Jade handed one glass of wine to the woman. He filled the second glass and brought it to Malkan.
Malkan raised the glass to the woman. "To future alliance."
They both gulped down glasses. Malkan raised his hand on Eli's back, pulling her forward. He opened Eli's lips with his other hand and kissed her. The fine wine poured into Eli's mouth from Malkan's, giving her goosebumps. The wine tasted strong, rushing the blood to her face.
She pressed his thighs together, trembling with anticipation.
Jade filled Malkan and the woman's wine glasses again. Then he put the bottle in a corner, taking off his shirt like Emad. Jade's muscles were not as big as Emad's and Baroo's. Still, he was bright in detecting what people seek for pleasure and could deliver that exquisitely.
The room's atmosphere had changed entirely. The woman's legs had widened a little, her neck tilted to one side, allowing Emad to suck on it.
Jade sat on the woman's other side and went straight to her breasts. One hand drifted low, his fingertips teasing her nipple through the silk. And when a small moan escaped her mouth, he lowered his head, nibbling her other nipple with his teeth.
Elie could feel the wine on her fingertips. The liqueur was much stronger than she supposed. Malkan drank the second glass, swallowing it this time, to Eli's disappointment. His hand was sliding slowly on Eli's hips. Eli twirled in her seat, which was Malkan's feet.
Malkan's body was warm, and the scent of wine, olives, and the metallic smell of his silver rings filled Eli's nostrils.
She wanted to put her lips on his again and not stop this time, but she contained herself. She could only act once Malkan gave permission. Malkan always gave her just enough to want more, leaving her desperate, whether it was attention, praise, touch, or just a kiss.
The woman said, "Now, I want to hear more details." she was slightly panting.
Her eyes were half open, twirling in her seat. The combination of the wine, Emad, and Jade did their magic. Emad's hand gently caressed her inner thigh while he pecked at her earlobe. Jade's face was buried in her breasts through her low collar-silken dress, breathing in the royal scent. Eli bet she smelled heavenly.
Eli looked at a knight who stared passively at her and Malkan steadily. He seemed untouched by the events in the room.
Eli wet her lips."Um, the mansion was deserted..." It was hard to focus while his two gang members fiddled with the horny royal guest.
"Go on..." She tilted her head back, resting it on Emad's hand.
"The inside was even worse; some parts of the roof had crumpled, and there were cobwebs everywhere..."
The woman was now sitting straight, fighting the urge to give in to the pleasure and focus on Eli. Eli realized Malkan was also all ears. She continued, "I think there was a fire a while ago, burning the good half of the house."
"Did you find him?" The woman stared at Eli without blinking. Eli swallowed and shook her head. "He was in bed, in his own filth… He was barely breathing" Eli wrinkled her nose like she remembered the place's awful scent. She deserved a raise for that.
There was glamour in the woman's eyes. Eli had no doubt she was smiling behind the mask. Emad's hand dropped as he bunched her silken dress to her waist.
Beneath, she is wearing tight leather boots... and nothing else. Her skin looked so soft and smooth that Eli ached to touch it. Her thighs were rosy pink, and she looked scarcely flustered by Emad's touch. Her opening was calling to be touched.
Malkan sniffed Eli's hair, obviously influenced by the intoxicated wine. "He noticed my presence, I think," Eli added.
A moan escaped the royal's mouth. She was breathing loudly, lost in pleasure. "What did he do when he saw you?"
Jade pulled down the collar of her dress, revealing her round breasts. Her nipples were pink and swollen, submitted by Jade's doing.
"Nothing," Eli responded. Malkan drew her closer. The heat of him was her undoing.
Emad slipped off the couch, kneeling on the ground, "No!"
The royalty stopped him, pushing him aside with her boot, "Back to where you were; I want her on me."
She was looking at Eli.