Indebted

18

Myrrh bid them goodnight, Atticus watched Esti as she gave Myrrh a very formal and polite goodnight. Through the bond he was getting used to, he knew Esti was uneasy.

Myrrh quickly went to the master chambers for the apartment. Feeling very satisfied with her planning. Certain that the girl was as cowed as she appeared, and her nephew oblivious to everything around him that they would be no bother to her own ambitions. Perfect little pawns for her own machinations.

Atticus and Esti went to the back where the two guest rooms were. As far away from Myrrh as they could be without leaving the apartment. Once the door was closed behind them, secreting them away from the world, Atticus was of a mind to see how many times he could edge his little mate until she begged him to fuck that little divine pussy between her legs that milked his cock like no other. Lose himself in Esti's body before sleeping.

Instead of fun, Esti turned to face him looking deadly serious. "Am I your equal or plaything, sir?" Esti had noticed that Atticus very much liked when she called him sir. She needed to find out where she stood with Atticus. She needed to know more of the rules containing her right now.

The dragon screamed equal so loud in Atticus's head that it almost made him dizzy. "Equal, apparently or the dragon is going to split my head apart." Esti nodded. Atticus was as good as a human child in court. As long as his beast was satisfied by Esti that was going to need to be enough for now. A royal bastard dragon choosing her was something to work with. This was their start, a real one, with a common problem they needed to manage together.

Esti looked around the room, hoping the Myrrh had no means to listen in on their conversation. "Your aunt is not on our side." She whispered barely loud enough for Atticus to hear even with his enhanced senses.

Atticus had no idea what Esti was talking about, they had just spent hours planning out social events, and parties for them all to attend, celebrations for their mating. He hadn't ever seen Myrrh so lively, or buoyant. Atticus knew his aunt was more than enjoying the busy social calendar, but she hadn't done anything or said anything that Atticus could think of why Esti would think Myrrh was a problem. "I don't understand?" He needed to know what had made Esti think what she thought. His dragon deeply curious. Myrrh didn't have a dragon, her thoughts had been focused on the rapid planning session all evening.

Esti went to the pile of gowns, lifting one up, "I don't know where she got these dresses, but they aren't new, these were mine before I was exiled. They are not her size so I doubt Myrrh purchased them when my family's household was auctioned off." Esti hissed at Atticus. Hoping he would see the play that had been made for what it was. Someone, who might actually wish Esti well, had bought and kept these dresses, and brought them here for Esti. An act of generosity that Myrrh tried to take credit for, unknowing that Esti would remember her own clothes when returned to her. 

Esti looked around at the laptop, and tablet, and gaming systems interspersed around the room. The enormous flat screen television hung on the wall. Like an onyx mirror. Esti could tell Atticus liked her well enough, was more than eager to have more sex with her. "You weren't raised here. You don't understand. Nothing is what it is on the surface." Esti had no idea how to explain how complex, how hard court life could be for someone who did not have money, or connections.

Right now, Esti had nothing but a begrudgingly given pardon and Atticus for a mate. All Atticus had seemed to be tired to Myrrh, who had her own plots and webs that she was weaving. Esti was certain of that much. Apparently the court had not changed very much at all during her exile. The main difference being a middle lord who had been elevated once Alric was dead and gone. Moving into the large apartment Esti had grown up in. The Roddingtons, a family which had excelled at getting descendants into the upper ranks of the military for the castle. Magnus was building an even bigger army and pool of soldiers.