24. Wrenlee

24

WRENLEE

I feel their eyes on me as I walk through the halls. The back of my neck itches, but I ignore it. This isn't new, but the whispers that linger in the wake of my passage are. The shock and disgust I see on so many of their faces are also new. My stomach roils but outwardly I hold my calm fa?ade. I don't like any of this but there is nothing to be done about it. Not yet.

My confidants, Saylor and Iris, are on my flanks and are doing what they can to shield me from the negative comments and shitty looks. In truth, there is not much they can do but I appreciate the attempt. In the end, I am the Ice Queen. I have that chilly cloak wrapped around myself like a knight girded for the tourneys. Outwardly, at least, I maintain the air that they cannot hurt me, because I am better than all of them.

He is mine and by all that's holy in this blasted universe, I get what is mine.

I keep my smile fixed in place and my head held high. They will not bring me down and I will certainly not lose to Emery. That snake is going to get what's coming to her. I review the plan in my head as I wind my way through the compound heading for one of the furthest rooms that are being cleaned for use. The room where I know Matt is assigned to work today.

We reach the room, not necessarily without incident, but at least without letting all the whispers and stares distract us. Voices echo from the room into the corridor. Mostly complaining and some cursing. I recognize Matt's voice as one of them. That's good, if he wasn't here, then the first part of my plan would be screwed.

There is no door to this room so I stop in the doorway with the girls close in on my hips. Zmaj doors are wider than necessary for a human due to the Zmaj's much larger size. It's more than enough for the three of us to stand in and just right for us to fill the space, blocking any exit without pushing one of us aside.

"Shit," Matt says the instant he sees us, his face turning pale as he grimaces.

Another man is working with him. Thin with a wispy beard, making me think he must be no more than twenty years old. He looks over in the direction Matt is and then his eyes widen as his mouth drops open with surprise.

"Wrenlee?" he whispers then rubs his eyes, blinks several times, and then stares. "Fuck me, I'm dreaming."

"Hi," I say, pitching my voice to be as sweet as I possibly can. "Would you mind if I talked with my friend? Matt, do you mind?"

"You know Wrenlee?" he asks, whirling on Matt with anger. "You know her? She knows your fucking name!"

Matt is apoplectic. His face is almost purple in shade and he splutters something, but if there are words in it, I don't understand them. I give him my best "come hither" smile replete with batting eyes.

"Go! What is wrong with you? She wants to talk to you, idiot."

Matt shakes his head but takes a step forward with clear reluctance. The other man pushes him, urging him to hurry up. He has a wide grin on his face that I can't quite decide if it's lascivious or not. One way or another, it all is playing well into my plan.

I turn around and walk away. All three of us know how to work a man. We learned that at an age way too young for any girl, but that was the world we grew up in and if you wanted things, you learned to use the assets you have. In too many cases, ass being the operative word. The girls and I work our asses as we move out of the doorway and down the hall.

Before we enter the room that we'd already confirmed as empty, I pause and look back. Matt is coming, albeit slowly, plodding along with heavy footsteps. I smile broadly, and then step through the heavy leather. Saylor remains outside, holding the drape of the door to one side so Matt can easily enter.

He comes in and stops just inside the door. He looks frightened and ready to bolt at a second's notice. Saylor comes in behind him, letting the leather fall back in place of the doorway, then positioning herself so she can at least slow his egress if he tries to leave.

"Hi Matt," I say, flashing a friendly, winning smile.

It doesn't relax him in the slightest. If anything he looks more nervous. A glistening sheen of sweat beads across his face, his eyes dart around the room with quick, jerky motions and his hands tremble.

"Uh, yeh-hi?"

"Matt. You don't seem happy to see me. What could possibly be wrong?"

He jerks his eyes to me and they widen while his mouth works, but no words come out. I arch an eyebrow and make a tsk-tsk sound.

"Wha—wha—what do you want?" he splutters the question.

"Want? Matt, is it really a matter of what I want? I think it's more a matter of what you want to do for me to make up for what you did?"

Iris snickers and he somehow manages to turn a whiter shade of pale. He blinks rapidly.

"Right, I, uh, I did what you asked. I did. That's it, right? I thought that's all I had to do?"

"Did Emery follow through? Did she do what she promised you?" I ask.

Saylor flashes a fast smile and I return it before putting all my attention back onto Matt.

"Follow? Huh?"

"You said she promised to show you her… breasts ," I pause before saying the word, letting his understanding come in and dragging out the anticipation of which reference I would use.

His blinking is even more rapid, but his pale complexion shades with a soft pink color. I can't believe it, but I think she did. I figured she was lying to him to get what she wanted but she actually showed him her tits? She really will go to any length to take me down.

He shakes his head side-to-side, then half nods half shakes in some kind of weird convulsive move that looks more like he's trying to work a kink out of his neck. I look at the girls behind him both of whom look as shocked as I feel. We're all on a page.

"Did you tell her?" Saylor throws in.

"Tell…" he trails off, straining his neck to look back at her while trying to keep one eye on me.

"That she's lopsided," Saylor fills in for him.

"Uhm—I—uh—you---she?—"

"Coward," Saylor fills in for him. "I thought you had some balls."

"I'd never… that would be… I didn't want to…"

"Be honest?" Iris asks. "We all know it. You had to see it, but no, you wanted to lie to her. Why? You think she might let you touch them?"

He's shaking all over and I am certain that if we don't let him go soon he's either going to have a panic or a heart attack. Either one of which would hamper my plans, so I move forward, putting a stop to the fun the girls are having with him.

"Okay Matt, well good on you. At least she kept her word. Can't say I'm not surprised but hey, let her do her, right?"

He nods in agreement but his eyes are wary and his lips are pursed.

"Yeah… what… what do you want?"

I smile broadly then sigh.

"Nothing much. Just a little something."

He makes a squeaking sound that causes me to arch an eyebrow. His whole body is trembling almost uncontrollably.

"I don't… I can't… I'm sorry… can you… can I…"

"Matt," I say, moving closer and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It really is not a big thing. So small, actually. It won't even be a blip in your day."

"What?" he asks, sounding as if someone is strangling him.

"Let me explain…"

And I tell him his part of the plan.