Here you go.
Not much to say today except thanks for all the reviews and new follows/faves.
And...I have posted a 'cover' for The Collar on my Tumblr account. Can't post it here as it is highly M rated. Thanks to Spookshowbabyx for the picture.
Please forgive any typo's, I've checked and rechecked but sure I've missed some.
Lil'd over and out!
xxxxxx
It was a bar, tavern, whatever.
Red led them to a secluded table at the back.
"Keep your collar hidden," she murmured, "it would not do for the Queen's slave to be seen in a place like this." Emma nodded, the interior was dark but she elected to keep her hood up as a precaution.
"This is allowed?" The slave queried, worried that Red may be keeping her out longer than was necessary.
"Well, you need to eat. I have explicit orders that you are to be kept fed and I would be neglecting you if we did not stop to eat," Red threw her a wink and she relaxed a little. The wolf waved over a serving girl who eyed the pair with interest, she was maybe sixteen or seventeen, very pretty with dark hair and bright blue eyes.
"Mistress Red?" She was addressed and Emma raised her brow at the show of respect the title offered the wolf.
"Greta, nice to see you," Red smiled and the girl blushed. "Two plates of stew and two jugs of ale."
"Of course, Mistress Red," the girl ducked her head and scurried away.
"Mistress?" Emma queried with a raised brow, curious as to why the title had been used. None of the other merchants they had dealings with had used it.
"Oh, she's wolf," Red explained as she removed her cloak and arched her back, releasing some tension in her muscles before sighing in relief. "Unlike some, my services were required most of the night," she smirked, referring to her aches, and Emma dropped her head, slightly ashamed that she had passed out.
"Is there a way to tell a wolf?" Emma asked, wanting to change the subject.
"Scent, obviously," Red shrugged. "We tend to be rather attractive too," she wriggled her brows teasingly. "And our eyes are usually of more intense colourations than most human, non magic users that is." Emma nodded, seeing her words reflected in the girl's appearance. "For those reasons the Queen favours our kind for her bed. Oh, and our stamina of course." Another smirk and a friendly dig at the blonde who scowled at the brunette and narrowed her eyes before sticking out her tongue.
"Oh, I can see you are very talented, one day maybe?" Red winked and Emma shook her head, having to give her friend credit for the come-back. She was distracted by Greta returning with two flagons of ale which she placed down on the table, her eyes flicking to Emma and she was certain the young wolf could see beneath her hood. But, Red did not seem concerned and the slave suspected that even if she was identified the details would not become common knowledge.
"Thank you," Red smiled at the girl and paused. "Greta, this is Emma, the Queen's slave," the girl's eyes widened and she bobbed down into some kind of curtsey. Emma was surprised by both the introduction and girl's reaction. But, she supposed respect shown to her translated to respect for the queen.
"Nice to meet you," Emma replied with a nod of her head and a smile. The girl blinked and looked to Red for guidance.
"It's Ok, she doesn't bite, much!" The older wolf teased and instead of being shocked by the comment as Emma had anticipated the girl just chuckled and gave the blonde a toothy grin.
"And you do? You're just an overgrown pup," Greta teased Red who gave a realistic but obviously mock growl and snapped her teeth towards the girl who laughed again and stuck her tongue out at the older wolf, "Be nice if you want feeding," she cautioned with a raised finger, wagging it playfully at Red.
"Well, I am under strict orders from Her Majesty that Emma receives adequate meals so I don't care if you don't feed me but if Emma doesn't get fed -." Red trailed off and settled back against the high backed bench they were seated on, sporting a smug smile on her face.
"You, are trouble," Greta grumbled as she narrowed her eyes at her fellow wolf before huffing and stalking off in what Emma assumed to be the direction of the kitchen .
"Oh, I know it!" Red called after her, only to receive a shake of the head but no backward glance from the girl. Emma looked around at the rest of the establishment but no-one seemed to be paying them any attention, there were only a handful of occupants and they all seemed to be deep in their own discussions.
"No other wolves here?" Emma queried, wondering how much of their conversation may have been overheard.
"No," Red shook her head. "This place is not exactly high class but the food is excellent and we can avoid anyone who might want to know our business." Emma nodded, trusting the wolf to know her way around the city and it's inhabitants.
"What business is that?" The slave asked and Red chuckled.
"Nothing really but it is always assumed that my errands are of the greatest importance, even if I'm simply collecting a jewellery order or getting my boots re-soled. Well, as an example, I get that done at the palace. The Queen's cobbler is excellent." Her ramblings were cut off by Greta's return, she came bearing two large plates of stew which smelled delicious and a bowl of bread balanced on top. Emma eyed the food hungrily, her stomach choosing that exact moment to let out a low rumble.
"She eats like a wolf," Red chuckled and the girl's brows raised. "We will need more bread," she declared and with a roll of her eyes Greta took off back to the kitchen and reappeared a moment later with another bowlful.
"Thanks," Emma murmured through a mouthful of stew, the young wolf smiling at her before crossing her arms over her chest.
"Anything else, Mistress?" Greta enquired with a cheeky grin.
"No, pup!" Red retorted. "Add it to my tab and I will settle it when I'm in town next week."
"Of course." The girl moved to leave then paused before turning back to Red. "Can I come and see you, at the palace?" The question floored the older wolf and she frowned. "Please? You always used to take me when I was younger but now -." Red sighed and dropped her eyes, she seemed troubled and there was a long pause.
"Alright." Red exhaled as she looked up, knowing that the inevitable could no longer be avoided. "But, if I am required by the Queen I will not be able to meet with you, you must return here until another time."
"Of course," Greta agreed with a smile, her excitement obvious. Emma smiled, the girl's enthusiasm infectious.
"And -," Red paused, her face creased in a fierce frown. "And remember you are of age. If the Queen desires you then she will have you," the wolf added bluntly, her eyes locking on the girl's.
"I know how it works, Mistress," was the reply, a bob of her head before she left them alone.
Emma was deep in thought over what had just transpired.
"You kept her away to protect her?" The blonde eventually asked.
"I suppose," Red shrugged. "Like I said, wolves are attractive creatures and our innate magic makes us very appealing to the Queen."
"She's young," Emma stated.
"No, she's not really," the wolf shrugged. "It's just -," Red paused and inhaled before letting out a slow breath. "I've known her since she was a child, it's -. The Queen is never gentle, she takes what she wants, how she wants it." Emma nodded, her experience showing her this. "She has you now but she is always looking for other willing, or unwilling bodies to pass the time with." Another sigh. "Those that can't take it end up broken and I -."
Emma reached out and covered Red's hand with her own.
"You care about her," the blonde stated.
"I do." Red confirmed. "I love and respect the Queen, she has done so much for me but she takes what she wants and usually that's a quality I admire but -." The wolf finished and there was silence as they finished their meal.
"Come," Emma followed Red as she strode from the tavern and to their horses, mounting fluidly while Emma hopped up, her lack of practice showing. The ride back to the palace was silent, each woman lost in their own thoughts as they progressed towards their mistress.
Emma didn't really have the experience to fully understand Red's predicament as her dealings at the palace and with the queen had been as a willing slave, she had agreed to the terms of their deal and also had her previous experience to fall back on. This gave her some perspective and skills to handle what the queen threw at her. She didn't know how she would have coped without her background. Like the rest of the queen's toys probably, thrown back to where ever they came from.
But, from a professional point of view she had picked up enough info to figure out that her conquests were not always unwilling. As the queen herself had said, they wanted her whether the knew why, or not. Emma imagined that the queen's beauty and power seduced them and her magic gave them pleasure they could never hope to experience anywhere else. A frown. She was screwed, literally. Even if she ever got back to her world would she always be remembering how the queen had made her feel?
And the girl, Greta, she didn't seem scared, worried or surprised by Red's words. Was it just accepted, expected even? Rite of passage in the queen's bed? Emma didn't know how she felt about that. She had only been here a few days, not even a full week and the queen had shown no signs of wanting to fuck anybody else. Or had she? Emma had not been by her side 24/7. Had she been fucking others when Emma wasn't around?
How did that make her feel? Emma let out a snort of laughter at the thought of her shrinking herself, then she remembered the queen's words and promise to collect later in the day. She had better come up with an answer or it was unlikely to end well for her.
Red looked over to the blonde at her outburst, the slave's face quickly dropped into a thoughtful frown so the wolf left her to it and purposely led them on a longer route to the palace to give them both more time to think.
Emma considered how she felt about the possibility of the queen sleeping with others. It wasn't the professional disapproval she experienced when her clients broke her rules and sought to be dominated by another master or mistress. That never happened again as she refused to tolerate it and let them go, she was second choice for no-one. That was pride and disgust talking, this was something else entirely. Emma had never been in a relationship. Never shared herself with another except under contract and this should be no different. But for some reason it wasn't and she couldn't figure out why.
Well, she had an inkling as to why this was affecting her differently but didn't want to admit it to herself.
"Emma?" Red broke the blonde's reverie and she suddenly realised they were back at the stables and Red was waiting for her dismount and hand her horse over to the stable boy who was waiting, if a little nervously, already holding the reins to the wolf's horse. Emma slid down and handed off the reins with a tight smile. "Come," Emma obeyed, she had no objection to Red directing her, it was a constant in this strange world she had only scratched the surface of .
Red studied the hunch of the blonde's shoulders, coupled with her complete withdrawal from her surroundings and had to admit she was a little concerned. She tried to understand how hard this must be for the slave but with no point of reference, no concept of what she had left behind it was impossible for the wolf. She sighed and walked closer to the young woman, their arms brushing. Emma was jolted out of her thoughts and turned to the wolf, appreciating the tacit act of comfort.
"You'll be alright," the brunette reassured her. "The Queen is waiting for us." She stated with such surety that Emma nodded and walked with her as they entered the palace. As usual they attracted glances but none approached. Emma frowned when Red led them not to the queen's private chambers but towards where she knew the throne room to be located. However, instead of entering the imposing room the wolf led her to the left and down a short corridor before stopping in front of a single but still imposing door, yet another bearing the tree insignia, this time emblazoned in blood red.
A brisk knock from the wolf before she entered, seemingly without command but Emma wondered if she had a signal from her pendant? She entered behind the wolf and took an inconspicuous look around, it appeared to be a study or small library, the queen seated behind a large desk, much larger than the one in her chambers and the walls were lined with shelf after shelf of books, thick volumes with intricate leather bound spines.
Regina looked up as her pets entered, it had been a long, tiresome day and she had seen enough of her advisers. They were smart but they weren't exactly easy on the eye and her gaze fell predatorily
on her wolf and her slave. A twitch of the mouth, briefly accentuating the scar on her lip as she surveyed the unsettled state the blonde appeared to be in.
"Red, leave us," the queen commanded and with a brief glance at the slave the wolf issued a curt nod, dipped into a bow then retreated, closing the door behind her with a heavy thunk. The room was now silent except for the crackle of the fire, Emma stood in the centre of the room and waited for instruction, eyes down although she could feel the weight of the queen's gaze her.
Regina leaned back in her chair and studied her slave, she was troubled that much was clear. The set of her body was tense, not exhibiting her usual grace. She sighed and stood, Emma watched her approach from under hooded eyes, she dropped to her knees, it seemed like the right thing to do but as soon as her knees hit the rug her chin was being lifted and dark eyes were appraising her, fingers once again under her chin, forcing her to remain focused on the queen.
"So?" It was a laden question.
"Owned, I felt owned," the slave responded rapidly before she incurred her mistresses ire. Emma taking deep slightly desperate breaths at the revelation. Despite her past servitude she had never felt like she belonged to someone, that she was their property. She had been fulfilling a role, nothing more. But this was different, very different. The queen had possessed her on more than one occasion. Taken her in every sense, infiltrated her being and -, and owned her. She belonged to the queen. Regina felt the surrender and allowed her pet's chin to slide from her grasp, fingers coming to rest in blonde hair, fingertips gently massaging her scalp. Emma let her forehead rest against the queens stomach, surrendering to her mistress in a way she never had before.
Xxxx
Next on The Collar
"Pet, we are not dining in my rooms tonight, you must dress for dinner. There are clothes in your room. Change. Now." The queen commanded and Emma rose to her feet, acknowledging the her mistresses request.