Branches of the Willow 3 Read Online Free

started to hand me a bottle, but an odd look crossed his face, and he placed both of them down on the side table by the chair instead. Then he came to wrap his arm around my waist. “This is Jessica St. Marks De’Lune. You will not refer to as anything less than Jessica, or M’Lady.”
    Amusement flickered over Nicholi’s face. The other two men standing with him blanched a bit. Demetri shook his head in disbelief before he spoke. “We were not aware.” He bowed his head respectfully then, as did the third man. Nicholi just stood there, having a staring match with Mikael. The dynamic would have been funny, with Mikael’s anger bubbling to the surface while the other man still just seemed amused.
    “State your business so we can be done with you for the night.” Mikael managed to get out, his voice low with barely contained anger.
    Nicholi ignored Mikael then, and moved his body so that he was facing me alone. “More than a pleasure, now that I know to whom I speak.” He granted me another mock bow, the grin never leaving his face. “We are here to be immersed in yo…” The man couldn’t even get one sentence out before Mikael was growling again. I bumped my hip into him slightly, and tried to hide the smile that wanted to creep up my face. While this wasn’t the time or place for a pissing match, I hadn’t seen someone get under Mikael’s skin this bad since his brother, Evan.
    “It’s been a long day, gentlemen. I want to get home, so let’s speed this up. You, Demetri, can you please speak for your group?” More amusement, tinged with just a flicker of ill will, flashed across Nicholi’s face as he was dismissed.
    “M’Lady,” Demetri started with another small bow. “I am honored to be in your presence. We are seeking entry into your immersion program. Both Nicholi and I are from Ancient clans. Brian is a Lesser, but he lived in our community. While he’s not strictly speaking an Ancient, the others will see him as such. We want a chance at finding a mate, and perhaps a little happiness after many hard times.”
    “You are not what I was expecting with the white wolf.” Nicholi spoke out of the blue.
    “No?” I questioned turning my attention back to the man.
    “No.” He said simply. “Not at all.” His appreciative gaze was about to send Mikael into another tizzy.
    “And what about you?” I turned to the third man, choosing to ignore Nicholi before Mikael decided to take the man’s head off.
    “I simply want to have the normal pack experience. I was turned by one of Antoine’s guards, years ago, and forced to live as a low class worker for the royals. I just want to get a taste of some freedom, normalcy, and if I find a mate while I do that…” He let the words trail off as he closed his eyes. I had no idea what he imagined his new life to be like, but my heart went out to him. I had heard that Antoine treated the turned wolves no better than indentured servants or slaves in a lot of cases.
    “I am the opposite of Brian. I was born Ancient, and there were certain things that were expected of me. I was given a guard position, while all I wanted to do was work with my hands. I used to stand guard for the King’s brother as he worked in the shops. I always dreamed of being able to craft such things as he did.” The wistful look on his face nearly broke my heart too. These men were each slaves to Antoine, and their fates, in their own ways.
    “I think perhaps Nicholi and Brian should go to Avery’s clan.” I was thinking out loud, but I noticed Mikael’s head nod in agreement.
    “Do you not want to hear my sad story too?” Nicholi interrupted with a faux pout on his face.
    “NO.”
    “No,” I said at the same time Mikael had. “Definitely Avery’s. He’s going to need to keep this one in check.” I nodded to Nicholi as if he were no more than a pesky child. “Demetri, I think you should stay here, in this pack. One of our craftsmen was recently taken from us.” My