Firstly, sorry for the long delay. Switching between jobs right now and it's a bit crazy with little spare writing time. I have no intention of leaving you hanging indefinitely as we are soon going to be getting to meet Snow.

Also, I have had a message from a reader leaving the story due to lack of Swan Queen and Red Beauty. For those who aren't familiar with my stories I would like to say that I take my time and try to build realistic relationships. We are 22 chapters in but less than 2 weeks has passed and I feel it would be very unrealistic for them to fall for each other in such a short time. I am sorry if this is not what anyone likes to see but my other fics are long ones so I don't do short and sweet, more of a long slow burn but I feel it's worth it. However, that does not mean it's ever going to be boring, I hope ;)

This is not safe for work, you have been warned and as always drop me any comments or questions in a review and I will answer them if I can. Thanks as always for the reviews and welcome to the new readers that have joined us.

LD

Xxx

Previously:

"I'm sorry," the slave murmured before turning away. "Take me to the Queen."

"No, what is wrong with you?" Red pushed off the wall with her shoulders and cautiously approached the blonde. "What's wrong? What did she do?" The wolf's words were quiet, she understood, or she thought she did.

"This is not me!" Emma cried as she threw her hands up, the ran them rather frantically through her hair. "This is not me!" The anguished words touched Red and she reached out a tentative hand to comfort her friend, a brief touch of reassurance before it was dislodged as the slave pulled back, green eyes narrowed, distrustful.

"Relax!" Red resorted to words to cut through her friend's distress. "Emma, calm down!" Finally the wolf was able to grab the slave's shoulders and give her a little shake. "Talk to me." They locked eyes and Emma realised she had been completely freaking out and took a deep breath, immediately centering herself a throwing up her walls.

"Nothing, it doesn't matter." The slave shook herself free and began to walk off, stride purposeful as she focused on the queen and allowed her pendant to guide her.

xxxx

Emma strode towards the main entrance of the palace and stalked past the guards without giving them a second look. It seemed the message had been received loud and clear and nobody intercepted her, however she was surprised to see several polite nods directed her way.

She exhaled through her nose in an effort to calm herself further before she reached the queen. Taking in her surroundings Emma realised she was making progress towards the room Red had taken her to yesterday, the queen's study, the now looming before her. Another deep breath and she centred herself, trying to evaluate her feelings now would be a futile effort, she still needed time to process the night's events.

Regina felt her pet before the knock came, the proximity of her collar alerting it's mistress to the slave's presence.

"Enter," she called out, startling her advisers that were clustered around her. The door swung open to reveal the blonde. One look at the slave had the queen frowning internally. A crook of her finger and her pet was crossing the room and dropping to her knees, on her mistresses right hand side, as was her customary position.

"Mistress," Emma murmured as knelt next to the queen, the chatter of her advisers filling the room but there was an almost palpable tension between the two women. The blonde waited patiently, allowing part of her mind to wander while the other was fully in tune with her mistress in case her attention was required. Why did the presence of the woman who had put her in this position, caused all this turmoil inside her, be the one she craved, the one that calmed her?

Her earlier outburst had been her psyche rebelling against the control the queen had over her body and slowly gaining control over her mind. It was not just the ownership of mistress and slave. No, it was now more than that, the queen was inside her head, breaking down carefully constructed barriers, those which she had spent years building to protect herself and also those that caged her inner beast.

It was not all sunshine and roses inside her head, Emma was fully aware that there was a dark and slightly twisted side to herself that she rarely acted on. But, through her work she was able to channel it productively, keep it's need for power and control sated. Now it had no outlet. Now it was beginning to rear it's head and Emma had no idea how she was going to maintain the control required to remain obedient to the queen, her mistress. But, it wasn't just that. Maybe she could have coped with one element breaking down but after last night -.

The reaction to the thought caused a physical shake of blonde hair, and it caught Regina's attention. As she glanced down she witnessed the slave's shuddering breath and was hit by a spike of concern. There was no denying that the previous night had been extremely intense for the blonde but she had left her pet calm and relaxed, if unsatisfied. What was going on inside that beautiful but intriguing head of hers?

Regina continued with the meeting until Braxas entered the room informing his queen that court was gathering but she kept an eye on her pet. There were no more outward signs of distress but she knew how strong the girls' mask was and it bore keeping an eye on her state of mind.

After her advisers had followed Braxas from the room she spoke.

"You shall attend court today," Regina informed her pet whose hooded green eyes looked up to meet hers. "Then I believe Red has someone for me to meet," the smirk was purposely salacious and Regina felt the surge of emotions from the slave as the collar glowed. A raised brow as she studied the now visible designs, some discontent? That would bear question later, for now it was merely catalogued.

Gentle fingers tangled in blonde hair and pulled the slave's head down onto the queen's lap, teasing out the slight knots that had developed in curly tresses. No words were spoken, Regina had no desire to delve into the blonde's psyche, not right now at least. Maybe later, the insight would give her even more control over the girl than she already held. Instead she brought both hands to the blonde head and massaged her scalp, the action always seemed to bring immediate calm, sure enough within seconds the slave's body had relaxed and come to rest more fully against the queen's chair.

Emma allowed the touch to flow through her, still resenting the peace it brought her but accepting that she needed it, craved it and at the thought her sex throbbed and she was reminded how unsatisfied she was, how full she felt with the queen's magic doing god knows what to her aching sex.

"Later, my pet,"Regina smiled as she correctly discerned the reason for the small sounds. "Now, come." She gave the blonde a second to right herself before the queen rose to her feet, coming to face her slave, hand dropping down to the slave's crotch, fingers rubbing lightly over the leather, the pressure both welcome and teasing. "Now, you've been such a good pet, haven't you?" Regina purred as she played with her toy.

"I try, Mistress," Emma murmured, head coming forward, chin dropping to her chest .

"You succeeded, my dear," a whisper as lips ghosted across the shell of her ear. "Here is your reward," a heavier touch on her sex and whatever magic the queen had left inside Emma began to not only vibrate, but physically pulse, expanding and contracting as it did so.

"Mistress!" Emma moaned, biting her lip as she became immediately pushed to the brink of orgasm, knees weakening, sex clenching, desperate for just a little more -.

"You may not come until I give my permission," Regina commanded, narrowing her eyes as she took in the now flushed face of the slave. "Disappoint me and you will regret it."

"Yes, Mistress," Emma nodded, understanding the implication of failure, Regina curious to see just how strong her pet was.

"Follow me." It was an order and her pet followed and they made their way in silence to the throne room, entering through the main doors and sweeping past the assembled petitioners.

Emma kept her eyes down but saw that the room was rather full, she had no real interest in the proceedings, they seemed to be petty matters. A broken drainpipe causing flooding on the road when it rained. Some guy's chickens escaping and eating a neighbour's vegetables. The queen ordering the building's owner to fix the pipe or face a fine and the neighbour to give the vegetable guy three chickens in payment. All very medieval but extremely mundane.

Emma shifted as a sudden vibration ripped through her, the movement small but observed by the queen. She was not actually consciously controlling the magic, it was more of a pre-programming spell that would issue random stimulate her little bitch throughout the day. Or, until she decided to either escalate or end the game. For now she was content with the fact that the slave's breathing had picked up and there was a slight flush on her cheeks and chest below the collar, green eyes were hooded and Regina suspected her mind was elsewhere, no doubt dwelling on the events of the previous evening, events that has her pet in such a tumultuous state today.

Emma allowed the monotonous drone of the queen's subjects to wash over her, memories of the previous night overcoming her.

xxxx

"Well, we need to rectify that don't we?" The queen murmured as she scratched at her pet's scalp. Emma relaxed. The words did not fill her with panic, instead she felt a sense of calm spread through her body and she went limp.

"Good girl," Regina sensed the submission and it pleased her, the slave was so in tune to her. Manipulation was one of her strengths and she would put that to good use tonight.

Emma held perfectly still as the queen began to circle her, fingertips staying in contact with the slave's skin, tracing the naked flesh. A complete circle was made, not a word was said and the room was quiet, the only sounds the queen's soft footfalls and the steady intake of synchronised breaths. When blonde waves were once again under her hand Regina spoke.

"Would you prefer to be unbound?" The words were practically poured through the air, they were so laden and Emma inhaled sharply at their suggestion.

"Yes. If it pleases you, Mistress," was her response.

"Indeed. Always the obedient slave," the queen clucked her tongue and the leather straps vanished but Emma kept her grip on the edge of the table as strong fingers continued to play with her hair. It was not something she had ever enjoyed before. Previously it had either been rough hands, purely using it to manhandle her or the flaccid attentions of her overindulgent former mistress.

The woman had enjoyed the fact that she owned Emma, that she possessed the blonde. But she didn't really, not like the queen did. Emma may have signed a contract with the woman but she remained emotionally detached, her walls strong and intact. Until now. Until the queen had begun to break them down, by violence and the care she was now showing. It was the combination that had Emma hooked as her mistress played both her strengths, and her weaknesses.

Regina knew how her pet worked, how her mind worked and she knew that what was freely given was worth so much more, to both of them. It was the one thing that held her new slave above the others, from them she simply took what she wanted, what she demanded but her pet was so different from them, so much more like her wolf. Everything was given, or it had been so far.

"Ready?" Regina questioned her pet.

"Yes, Mistress," Emma confirmed, still extremely relaxed from the queen's hands on her. Still she jumped when the first strike hit. She jumped because the queen hadn't moved, her hand still touching the slave. It hurt but she didn't struggle, she already knew that this was going to be a totally different experience from previous canings.

"Good girl," Regina purred as she took note of the raised red welt that had appeared on her pet's back. It looked sore but the slave hadn't struggled or issued any sign of discontent like she had previously.

The next blow was less of a shock and the whimper that followed was simply because her mistress had removed her hands from the slave and was now personally wielding the cane as it made contact with pale flesh, the queen enjoying the smack and give of the body under her harsh blows.

Regina looked down at her pet as strong fingers clasped the edge of the table, the hold surprisingly loose, not even tightening when the blows hit. A pause to admire her work and a touch to examine the height of the welts, the skin was nicely raised but hadn't cut, much. There were now ten evenly spaced lines ranging from her pet's ankles to her neck, four more swift blows had the slave arching herself off the table as she absorbed the strikes and the pain. Ever silent.

"Let's make this fun shall we?" The queen purred as she used the toe of her shoe to tap at her pet's feet, the blonde obligingly parting them further, even though it left her off balance. Regina allowed her magic to flow from her body, smirking as her slave inhaled sharply, head turning to survey the queen, eyes hooded, pupils blown as the magic crawled over her skin. It was a unique experience but Emma knew what was happening, she had felt enough of the queen's power flow into her recognise it's signature, so to speak.

It slithered over the slave, laying over her naked body, a supple heat covering her. Regina focused her power and willed her magic on, inside. The invasion was subtle at first, it felt as though the warmth was just seeping into her skin, then Emma gasped as it sunk deeper, into her flesh and bone and that was when she struggled. That was when her mistress bent over her prone body, covering it with her own, soft silk permeating with tantalising heat, curves fitting together perfectly. That was when Emma felt the magic push it's way into her sex, filling her.

"Good girl," Regina whispered in her pet's ear, her weight pressing against the welts she had caused, in a way the pressure relieved the pain but the feel of the silk against the marks was -, it aroused her, the way the softness still caused her pain. Regina smirked as she felt the blonde totally relaxed beneath her, despite the discomfort she knew her pet must be feeling. "See, that is not so bad is it?" At the words insidious fingers slid into thick, golden hair before tightening and twisting, pain shooting from the grip as they lay there.

"Be still," Regina warned. the command was rough but Emma would do nothing but obey, trapped as she was beneath the delicious weight of her mistress. The queen began to slowly ride the blonde's ass, every movement seemed to force the magic deeper inside of her but not in a physical sense. In fact Emma had no words to describe what she was experiencing, except that she was ruined for anyone else, ever again, no-one could make her feel this good, this alive, this connected to them or in tune with the pain they caused her. In this situation pain was care, pride, ownership.

Regina sent another pulse of raw magic into her pet, causing a low, desperate moan to escape on ragged breath. Emma was becoming overwhelmed, totally, utterly lost to her mistress. It wasn't even wholly sexual although she was aroused beyond belief, on the edge with a hot, luscious body on top of her, grinding against her, practically one with her. No, the queen was doing something else but she had no idea exactly what 'something' was. In the end she just gave up trying to process thought and closed her eyes, giving up all control as the magic continued to pour into her.

Regina felt the submission and knew of it's totality, it's finality as she pushed the limits of her pet's capacity to hold her magic.

"Almost there, pet," she purred as she slowly allowed the last of the magic to flow into the slave. "Now you are mine." Emma whimpered, she was so close to coming, she was so close to her mistress who seemingly occupied every fibre of her being, she was so close to breaking.

"Now, this is what it feels like to be owned." Another whimper from the blonde as she had no choice but to let go. It wasn't a sexual climax, it was so much more. It was everything that had been building in her since her arrival in this place. Her fear, anger, lust, worry, every emotion she had experienced since she had first woken up, cheek pressed to harsh stone in that cell. It was everything, until there was nothing.

xxxx

Red stared after Emma as she strode off towards the palace but let her go, she was obviously having trouble dealing with whatever had happened the previous night. The wolf could not begin to fathom what may have transpired between the slave and her mistress but knew how deep a bond the queen was capable of forging, despite the fact that it was always extremely one sided.

Trusting Emma to her skills and common sense Red switched direction and jogged towards the main gates of the palace compound where she was already late to meet Greta, the young wolf from the tavern. As she approached she slowed to a walk, her hurried pace drawing too many curious glances. Before she knew it rumours of some disaster brewing would be laid on her haste and the palace would be in uproar. Being the left hand of the queen did have it's disadvantages, the constant eyes and ears worrying themselves with her business in an attempt to gain influence with the queen was tiresome. Thankfully, her mistress was far more intelligent than people gave her credit for and she remained unphased by such things.

"Red!" A voice called out and distracted the wolf from her thoughts.

"Hey," a wave and she covered the remaining distance between herself and Greta who appeared to be talking to one of the young guards on duty. The palace was relatively open to visitors but all had to declare their business and pass through two gates, the first charmed by the queen to reveal those with less than honest reasons for gaining entry, the second held a phalanx of guards to detain any such fools.

"This young lady claims to have business with you, M'am," the guard snapped to attention as she approached.

"She does," Red replied abruptly, noting his interest in the girl. "The Queen is expecting her," she added and watched as he visibly gulped before stepping back a pace and out of her personal space. "She is to be allowed to come and go as she pleases, she is wolf," Red confirmed with a slight growl and both guards straightened up and snapped to attention. As a race the wolves were well respected in the kingdom. Since the queen had begun to rule, their negative reputation had been eclipsed by their service to the land and prowess as soldiers. Their willingness to help others had endeared them to their countrymen and packs would regularly offer themselves to assist in rescues and rebuilding when the annual floods or winter storms hit.

"Yes, M'am." Both soldiers saluted and Red spared them a nod as she gestured for Greta to follow her inside.

"Was he bothering you?" She questioned her friend.

"No, he was nice enough. I can handle myself, Red," the girl added with an eye roll. "I'm wolf and he was a mere boy." Red raised her brows at the description then chuckled.

"True, you are," she smiled and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she paused to observe the girl. "The Queen showed great interest in you," Red cautioned. "It means you may be staying here some time, you are aware of that, aren't you?"

"Yes, I know what happens to pretty wolves who the Queen takes a fancy to," the words were light but the tone serious. "I would not have insisted on coming otherwise, if I was scared." Red frowned at the confession but it reassured her, a little, that the girl knew what she was getting into.

"Anything you want to see?" The older wolf questioned as they resumed their walk, deliberately ignoring the possible outcome of this visit.

"Your rooms? I've not seen them before." Red nodded, previous visits had been mainly to spend time with her after Greta's schooling had ended for the day and usually involved a trip to the kitchens for an afternoon snack.

As they walked Greta studied the interior of the palace, eyes drinking in the ever increasing opulence as they progressed through the halls, Red pointing out features of note.

"This is the royal hallway," Red explained as they passed two sets of guards stationed at the end of the passage. "The Queen's private chambers are through those doors on the left," the wolf gestured towards the end of the corridor. "And mine are here." They stopped next to an average sized doorway on the right side of the passage.

"So close to the Queen?" The younger wolf asked, more than a little awed.

"Yes, she likes to have me nearby, for convenience, I can be with her in moments if she requires me." Red opened her door and stood back so Greta could enter. "Until last year I had my own room in the Queen's quarters, where Emma sleeps now." The girl looked around the room and took a deep breath, scenting the air. It was of course saturated with Red's scent but then -.

"It's Emma, isn't it?" The young wolf turned to her friend to explain lingering smell of blood and arousal.

"It is, the Queen often has me care for her after -," a frown and then silence from Red.

"After she is beaten by the Queen?" Greta's eyes held no shock, just plain acceptance which garnered a brief nod.

"Among other things," Red added succinctly.

"It's nice here, much nicer than my room at the inn," Greta added. "But then I do not pay for that with my body." Red took no offence at the comment for she knew it to be the truth, it also reassured her that her young friend really did know what she could be getting herself into by visiting today.

With a sight the older wolf looked at the sun through the unshuttered window to gauge the time.

"We should go,"she urged and they began to make their way through the palace towards the throne room where court would be winding up shortly.

"Tell me about Emma? You seemed friendly," Greta question, breaking the silence that had fallen between them, Red's nerves rising as they approached the throne room.

"We are, she is loyal and strong, I like her."

"You aren't jealous?" The question surprised the older wolf.

"No! No," Red turned to look at the girl and smiled. "She's smart and fun, can handle herself like a wolf. She beat me when we sparred. But I wasn't using my full strength," she qualified quickly.

"The queen favours her." It was not a question.

"She does, what have you heard?" Greta shrugged, working in a tavern meant you heard all the rumours and she was a useful source of information for the wolf.

"Just that the Queen has a new toy that seems to be sticking around. That the Queen has defended her quite fiercely and that she must have cost a great deal and be very good in bed," a smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she spoke.

"Well, all true except she was not bought. One cannot buy a slave like Emma," Red countered. "There is a contract in place, a wager." She informed the girl whose now wide blue eyes looked to green. "But this is known only to my mistress and myself, do not break this confidence." Greta nodded, valuing the trust her friend had place in her. Wolves were loyal as a race but Greta and Red had a greater bond, a pack bond but a more familial one than Red shared with any other wolf, they were in effect sisters and the young one part of Red's immediate pack which included only the Queen and now Emma in it's number. At least that's how Red's wolf viewed things and the main reason for her unease with the current situation.

As they reached the main doors of the throne room Red nodded to the wolf guarding the door and he gave Greta a polite nod of greeting before they slipped inside, Red choosing to mix with the crowd and stay towards the back of the room as they watched the proceedings.

The Queen was bored, that much was obvious to her wolf. She maintained the mask but the way her fingers were curling around the arm of her throne indicated her displeasure. A glance at the blonde showed a similar mask but every now and then she seemed to be struggling to maintain her composure, again nothing obvious but Red saw the signs. Still, she was calm and not being punished by the queen so whatever her earlier outburst had been, it had not been taken to the queen.

Soon the large room was empty except for the guards and Red stepped forward, offering a bow to her mistress before gesturing for Greta to step forward

"My Queen, this is Greta. You may have seen her around the palace previously." Regina didn't speak, simply beckoned the girl forward and she approached the throne, coming to a stop near the foot of the dais.

Red tensed as she watched the queen rise and gracefully descend each step, eyes locked on the younger wolf who's own eyes were flicking between the queen and the slave who was still kneeling next to the throne, green eyes lowered as was her duty.

Regina reached the floor and came to stand in front of the girl, dark eyes, running over her countenance, studying her, appraising her. A sniff, she liked what she saw, the girl was extremely attractive, on a par with Red. The hair was curlier and she was not as tall but had the same lithe but strong build that female wolves tended to have but maintained their curves which pleased the queen.

Regina stalked in a circle around the girl until her assessment was done then returned to stand before her, lips twitching as she repressed a smirk.

Xxxxx

Next on The Collar

Emma looked aghast at the queen, then her eyes flicked to Red who's anger was very apparent from the twisted scowl and narrowed, yellow eyes fixated on the blonde.

"No! I can't, I won't!" A fierce rebellion directed towards the queen, her mistress.

Regina watched with undisguised amusement as her pet tried to refuse her.

"You will", was the simple rebuff, accompanied by a beatific smile.