As a lot of feedback was negative about the last chapter I would like to clarify a few things. Ok, so despite the teaser on the last chapter which is basically a run on from where chapter 34 left off this story is not one big orgy. But, a little back-story here and there helps explain the characters and their motivations. Unless it is integral to the plot I will not be writing non SQ sex but it may happen occasionally.

For those who it seems to bother all I can say that these women like sex and will continue to have it as often as they feel like in their own kinky way. However, they are also complex characters who are slow to change but now the basic relationship dynamics are formed things are moving forward as rapidly as I can get the chapters written.

I hope this is more well received but thanks to all of you who did review last chapter and for giving feedback, it's always appreciated :)

P.S. There is some none SQ torture here, you have been warned!

xxxx

"In return I ran errands and became her handmaid but she never pressured me into her bed for more than sleep. I knew she had extreme tastes, I saw the men and women go in, heard them scream, saw them come out, broken," Red looked up and caught the slave's eyes. "I knew I was stronger than they could ever be."

Red, fetch me the girl," the wolf nodded but paused with her hand on the door.

"Mistress?" The queen looked up questioningly from the book she was reading, brow cocked in question. "I -," the wolf stammered. "I would like to learn how to please you." Royal brows raised as the queen studied her charge.

"Well, you are of an age,"she reasoned. "You know my tastes can be brutal?"

"Yes, Mistress," the wolf acknowledged. "I understand."

"I don't think you do," was the serious response. "But I will show you and then the decision can be made. You may not be as ready as you think you are."

"Yes, Mistress," Red bowed her head in acknowledgement.

"Tonight you will observe. Then, if we proceed you will wear my collar," the words jarred the wolf slightly but she nodded her agreement. It was what she had expected.

"Yes, Mistress".

"But three warnings, my wolf," the older woman cautioned. "Do not speak, do not interfere and do not speak of events to another living soul."

"Of course, Mistress," Red blinked, unsure why the queen had felt the need to warn her of such.

"Now go, the evening has yet to begin." And with that command Red continued her original errand, to retrieve the queen's plaything for the duration.

"What happened?" Emma couldn't help but ask as the wolf retold her story, all she received was a shrug and a continuation of the tale.

"Mistress?" Red questioned as she returned with the girl that was the queen's latest toy. The daughter of a merchant that had taken the monarch's eye and been 'invited' to spend time with the queen. The young woman seduced into agreement during a private meeting the day before. It was known that those the queen favoured were often well rewarded and many we keen to take the chance. The risk of failure was not often a deterrent, each hoping to become the queen's next consort.

"Thank you, wolf," the title spoken by the queen startling their guest into taking a second look at the girl by her side. A nod of her mistresses head indicating that she should take her usual, inconspicuous position at the side of the room. This was the norm until the queen elected to move her activities into her bedchamber or dismissed the wolf.

This time Red watched avidly as the queen continued her seduction until the young woman was naked and being led into the queen's bedchamber, slightly intoxicated by the usual combination of apple brandy and the incense burned. A gesture from her mistress and for the first time the young wolf was allowed to follow.

She observed and became aroused by what she saw, knowing without doubt that she had the capabilities and love for her mistress to fully satisfy the queen's darker urges.

"You took the collar." Emma concluded when the tale was finished.

"I did," Red acknowledged with a shrug. "But I didn't lose face with the wolves for it. I gained their respect for offering full commitment."

"How long did you wear it?" The question came from Greta who had been silent until now.

"About three years," Red replied. "There was no doubt about my loyalty or wager involved," she looked to Emma as she spoke. "My collar was removed when Alex caught the Queen's attention." Emma's interest piqued by he mention of the blacksmith's name. Red noticed and did her friend a favour by continuing. "She moved to the city with her father who was also a blacksmith. The Queen noticed her, brought her to the palace and soon gave her a collar."

"What happened? Why isn't she still with the Queen? "Emma asked, this was a topic she had been curious about for a while now.

"Our mistress tires of her toys easily. Alex was a good slave but did not challenge the Queen, as you do," there as a nod to the blonde and they finished eating in silence. Emma cataloguing the information for later analysis. "This was only a few weeks before you arrived and Alex didn't really take it well."

"She loved the Queen?" Emma questioned.

"She did, she does," Red confirmed with a sigh. "But she is extremely talented as you have seen," the wolf gestured to the slave's collar.

Yes, her work is beautiful," the blonde praised, thinking in particular about the arm cuffs the queen had presented to her. "So not many take the collar? I assumed -," Emma frowned.

"Well, there are sometimes more than one but both Alex and I have lasted the longest from what I have been told. The others -," Red tailed off.

"The others?" Emma was too curious to let the subject drop and this information could be important for her survival here.

"The others broke and she lost interest," the wolf confirmed, meeting the blonde's eyes. "They tend to get sent to other areas of the kingdom, a trade, a roof over their heads and a payment that in my opinion is more than generous," she growled. "Once she's done with them the Queen doesn't want them around," a shrug indicated she was finished with the topic. "I'm done, what would our mistress have you do until we are required?" Red asked as she stood from the table.

"Oh! I said I wanted to work out and she said I should come find you, and you," the slave smiled at the young wolf. "She says you have 'the strength of youth but not the discipline'," Emma quoted and Greta blushed. Red laughed outright as she bumped the young wolf on the shoulder.

"She's right but living at the inn didn't exactly give you any combat training," Red chuckled. "But you have a lot of potential."

"Will you teach me?" The girl queried, biting her lip as she looked between the two older women.

"Thinks she's worth it?" Emma asked Red, lip curled in a smirk.

"Hmmm, she's still a pup but she'll do," the remark was followed by a yelp as Red grabbed Greta in a headlock. The blonde just shook her head as she watched the pair. It was heart-warming that she had managed to find such a good friend in Red and someone she was coming to see as a younger sister in Greta. The blonde was already closer to these two than she had ever been to anyone from her own world, a disturbing thought for the blonde. But what wasn't disturbing about her time here?

"Come," Red released Greta who straightened her clothes, indignant at the treatment she had received but unable to challenge the older wolf. However familial they may be she knew she was no match even in a playful tussle as wolves were wont to do. "Let's go play," she growled, showing her fangs.

All were already dressed in pants and shirts so minutes later they were in the training room and Emma and Red were putting Greta through her paces. Emma taking the lead, she was in theory weaker than the wolves but she fought smarter. Time after time the young wolf hit the mat as Emma dodged her attacks, Greta fast and strong but unfocused.

"Fuck!" The young wolf growled out in frustration, slamming her fist down on the mat as she rolled and leapt to her feet, teeth sharpened and bared as she faced the blonde yet again.

"Concentrate, "Red encouraged. "Control your temper, you are inherently stronger and faster than she, find your wolf," Greta listened to her mentor and Emma noticed an immediate change as the girl's eyes yellowed. This time she waited until the blonde attacked, feigning to the left before the slave landed a spinning kick to the back of the young wolf's legs and sending her crashing down yet again.

"That all you have?" Emma goaded, beckoning for the wolf to get up. "Come on, pup," Emma was enjoying herself immensely. The girl was strong but untrained and relatively easy pickings. The

fight was getting her blood pumping in a way that only a good workout, or sex, could.

The taunt had its desired effect and soon the blonde was facing a charging wolf, shoulder slamming into Emma's chest and taking them both to the ground. Now disadvantaged by having the stronger wolf on top of her, attempting to pin her down Emma resorted to fighting dirty, never, ever submitting in a fight.

The slave brought her knee up to press directly against the girl's sex feeling Greta falter above her. Next Emma pressed her lips against the young wolf's, a pause as soft lips registered before she moaned, the kiss coupled with the pressure on her sex completely distracting the girl. Emma pulled back and a swift head butt to Greta's cheek drew blood and a yelp of pain from the young wolf, the attack proving a successful distraction for Emma to press her advantage and grab a fistful of hair, forcing the girl's face to the mat, releasing a snarl as she did.

Red watched but did not interfere. Emma was a gifted fighter, a survivor and Greta would do well to learn from her. The wolf raised her eyes to acknowledge the queen who had appeared in the discreet viewing balcony and received a smile in return before they both returned their eyes to the spectacle playing out before them.

"I said is that all you have, pup?" Emma snarled in the wolf's ear as she held the girl face down on the mat, her own teeth bared, eyes dark and feral as she tapped into her darker side, the side that she rarely got to channel in her current position. Greta answered with a growl of her own, using her full strength to push herself off the mat, taking Emma with her before spinning and lashing out, claws extended in a savage swipe across the slave's stomach.

Emma hissed as she felt the wolf draw blood and reached behind to grab the nearest weapon, instincts enraged. Her hand clasped a sword hilt and she swung at the wolf in a dazzling display of whirling blade as she advanced at such a speed towards the girl that Greta became trapped against the far wall, sword at her throat, the blonde pinning her there, teeth bared and eyes blazing.

Regina watched, fascinated, as yet another of her slave's skill was demonstrated.

"You never cease to impress me," the queen chuckled as she looked down upon the tableau. Truth be told she was incredibly aroused by the show of strength from her pet. Strength and a viciousness that was rarely seen.

"The girl is no match for you, yet," Regina purred, stepping out of the shadows to rest her hands on the wooden bar of the balcony and heard the slave snort at her words, a wry smile lilting but she made no move to remove the sword from the wolf's throat. Even though the girl was genuinely scared, panting breaths giving her away, now that Emma knew her mistress was present the blonde waited for her command.

"Let her go, she looks terrified," Regina chuckled and watched her pet stand down, the sword being neatly flipped and stabbed into the mat beneath her feet. "Where did you become so proficient with the sword?"

"Mister Myiagi," Emma confirmed with a smirk to which the queen narrowed her eyes before smiling, not getting the reference but knowing enough to assume that the man responsible for the slave's hand to hand combat training had also taught her the sword.

"Who has done an excellent job!" The queen exclaimed with a nod which Emma returned. "But I wonder how you would fare against a real challenge? Red," the older wolf stepped forward and looked up to her mistress.

"Yes, Mistress?" Blue eyes looked expectant.

"A demonstration for the girl, perhaps?" Regina 'suggested', brow cocked.

"Of course, Mistress," Red nodded her agreement and strode towards the weapon rack and pulled out a sword and hefted it, settling her grip before turning to face the slave.

"Pet," Regina gestured for the blonde to pick up her own sword which Emma did, a swift tug and it was out of the mat and back in the air as the slave held it before her.

"Try not to draw too much blood," the queen commanded as she settled herself for what she hoped would be an arousing demonstration. "Begin." At that the two women began to circle each other, Emma's sword lighter than the weapon Red had chosen and was held at shoulder height, the hilt level with her cheek. Red took a more traditional stance, broadsword held at a slight angle, tip pointed towards the blonde.

Neither combatant knew how this would play out. Red had an insight into Emma's skill but the slave could not say the same about the wolf. Would their mistress pit her against the wolf knowing that she could lose? Could be wounded? Emma's analysed what she knew of the queen. No, she did not seem displeased with her so it was unlikely she was being set up for a punishment. The other option was that their mistress really was unsure who would win which meant the blonde may be a challenge for the wolf. Emma much preferred those odds, she was already bleeding from the slashes Greta had managed to inflict and didn't really want to be losing any more blood today.

Red was the first to move, refocusing the slave. Regina watched intently, trying to gauge each young woman to determine a winner. Red was gifted with the sword and was currently trying to drive her pet back but the blonde's footwork was quick and she gave up little ground. A feint and a duck and Red barely blocked a stab towards her left thigh.

Emma bared her teeth in frustration and twirled her sword, preparing for another strike. Red attacked but she managed to slip to one side, hitting the blonde with the hilt of her sword as she passed. The blonde took a deep breath, she wouldn't allow herself to lose her temper as it was a sure way to lose a fight.

Whilst Red definitely had strength on her side the blonde was faster, however the unyielding perseverance of the wolf was slowly but surely pressing her advantage. Regina realised she had been holding her breath and exhaled slowly as her pets continued to battle, the slave rapidly losing ground until she was coming close to being pinned up against the wall. A flurry of lightning steel and the blonde won back a couple of paces, while the wolf was being driven back she succeeded in getting a foot behind her and braced against the wall. Red was shocked when the blonde punched her in the face with the hilt of her sword and surged forward.

Regina was startled as her pet punched the wolf then launched herself into the air with a fierce yell, using the wall as a springboard, agile body spinning over the wolf, arm catching around the brunette's neck as she slid past her. Red was stunned by the manoeuvre and completely unbalanced, so much so that she fell onto her back and in seconds had Emma's boot grinding down on her throat, the tip of the slave's sword swinging from her relaxed wrist, a deadly pendulum mere millimetres from slicing the wolf's cheek.

"Looks like you lose," Emma's green eyes were narrowed and she stared down at her prisoner, not even relenting the pressure or the blade, "again." A slow clap drew the slave's attention to the queen. "Mistress?" Emma, curled her lip, baring her teeth as she shifted her gaze back to the wolf.

"Oh, I think we'll let her live. She has her uses," Regina purred. "Impressive, pet." That was all she vocalised but the demonstration had left her even more to dwell upon when had time. Her pet was such a fierce warrior despite being raised away from the realm of magic.

Emma was vindicated by the acknowledgement but not done, before she let Red up she allowed the tip of her sword to cut the wolf, scarlet rivulet snaking over pale skin and holding the slave's attention.

"Enough!" The queen clapped her hands and brought the activity to an end. "We have an execution to attend."

Red and Emma separated at the command. When they were presentable they followed their mistress through the palace to the courtyard where the queen's guard were surrounding the prisoner.

The air was tense and the thoughts of all three young women were taking different paths. Greta wanted revenge for her mother's death but was also still ashamed at how easily Emma had defeated her, she was wolf so much stronger than a human. She wasn't angry with the blonde, the slave had done what she should have done but the young wolf's sexual urges were new and strong and Greta was embarrassed she had not controlled them better, had not so easily succumbed to Emma's sly tactics.

Red just wanted to get this over with. She wanted justice but she also needed the man to die to sever whatever connection to Snow White that he had caused to be formed. Further dealings with the White Kingdom would only bring unwanted complications. The brunette flicked a glance towards the slave to try and read her reaction to the proceedings that the queen had just begun to commence, the monarch reading out charges and testaments to crowd of assembled nobles and citizens of her kingdom. No further objections were raised to his sentence. Death.

The blonde's face was inscrutable as she tried to engage in such serious proceedings but all she could think of was the revelation of who her parents were and how the hell had she ended up alone in a totally different world?

"Emma," Red whispered, nudging her friend before the queen noticed her lack of concentration. The blonde turned to her with a frown but another nudge and she was once again fully focused on their mistress.

"The punishment shall fit the crime, his flesh shall be taken from his body as he took his victim's," Regina announced to her subjects. There were murmurs but no cries of outrage, it was the expected.

"Girl," Regina handed Greta a vicious looking knife, a delicate handle set with mother of pearl and a narrow tapered blade. Emma frowned as the young wolf stepped forward and faced her mother's killer.

"You will die as they died," the girl growled as she rested the tip of the knife in the hollow of his throat. The only response from the captive was an attempt to spit in the wolf's face but it was dodged and he received a backhand to his own face just as swiftly. Whilst he was still dazed by the blow Greta ran the tip of the knife down his naked chest, cutting the skin and leaving a scarlet trail behind.

"My Queen?" Regina nodded at the young wolf's request, curious to see what skill she held with the blade. Greta took the cue and made mirrored incisions just under the man's collar bone. By this time he was screaming and struggling, calling his captors and especially the queen every name he could think of.

"Let him scream," Regina cautioned Braxas who had stepped forward, gag in hand. "It will ensure that no-one else is foolish to disobey my law. Magic is the heart of this kingdom and those creatures blessed with it will always be safe within its boundaries, as long as theyobey the laws laid down for the protection of all."

As soon as the queen had finished speaking Greta got to work in earnest, sliding the flat blade of her knife between skin and muscle. A piercing scream rent the air as skin became separated from flesh, tossed carelessly to the ground and revealing layers of fat and muscle glistening with blood beneath. That was the left side of his chest, exposed and raw, the pain sending the man ashen with shock. He was still conscious but barely so, eyes wide with the true panic of a man who knows his death is imminent.

Emma clenched her jaw, this was truly barbaric, torture for tortures sake and not something she could condone. But, the queen ruled with martial law, an eye for and eye and she was not in a position to question this. Yes, the crime was severe but was this really necessary? Regina flashed a look at the slave and read all this on her pet's face. The previous punishments she had dealt had been just as vicious and there the slave had not flinched but now she was obviously struggling. Were exsanguination and death by lash not equally brutal ways to end a man's life? A mental shrug and Regina returned her attention to watch Greta remove the skin from the other side of his chest, the girl's teeth elongated and eyes yellow as she relished the task.

"Enough!" The queen called out and Emma dropped her shoulders, unaware of the tension they had been holding until its release. "Leave him, he won't survive long." Greta dropped her hands to her sides, the knife still clutched in her left fist but she obeyed the queen, yellow eyes fixed on her mistress. "You may stand guard," the monarch informed the young wolf. "No-one is to touch him," she commanded. "Red, ensure this is so."

"Yes, Mistress," Red confirmed and went to stand by Greta's side, her shoulder gently touching the young wolf's, offering tacit support and a focus to keep the girl calm.

"Braxas, monitor the crowd. Viewing remains open until he dies. Send Red to notify me when he does. I'm curious how long he will last," wine red lips curled in a cruel smile as she spoke. Emma caught the look and was disgusted with herself when she found it arousing.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the head guard saluted as the queen swept past.

"Come pet, we have much to discuss," Emma fell into position behind her mistress, head jammed with conflicting thoughts to which she required answers.

Xxxxx

Next on The Collar

Emma was silent while she digested the information she had been given.

"Can you be sure?" The blonde questioned, head tilted to one side in way Regina found incredibly attractive, it brought out a hint of naivete in the otherwise closed off slave.

"As sure as I can be," the queen replied. "The question is, how will this affect you?" Emma frowned, silent as she considered what she had been told.