Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Sven continued, his voice gentle but firm. “Once you’re in the Guard’s custody, you’ll need to use every skill we’ve taught you—both as bed thralls and as völur. Your instincts, your ability to read people and situations, will be crucial.”
“But how will we know what to look for?” Camille asked, her brow furrowed in concern.
Erik stepped forward, calling up a new set of images on the display. They showed complex schematics and technical diagrams that meant little to me. “We’ve prepared a series of seemingly innocuous questions that will help you gather the information we need,” he explained. “You’ll be trained in how to ask them without arousing suspicion.”
My mind reeled at the enormity of what they were asking us to do. We would be walking into the lion’s den, armed with nothing but our wits and our bodies. The thought was terrifying, yet I couldn’t deny the thrill of excitement that coursed through me.
“What about extraction?” I asked, trying to keep the tremor from my voice. “How will we get out once we have the information?”
Sven’s expression softened, and he reached out again to cup my cheek gently. “We will be following your progress as closely as possible, lille en. The moment we have what we need, or if you signal that you’re in danger, we’ll move in to extract you.”
I leaned into his touch, grateful for the warmth of his hand against my skin. I lost myself in the sensation until Erik’s voice brought me back to the immediate circumstances.
“It’s important to your mission that you arrive at Beaumont’s manor as a pair. He is known to have a fascination for girls who find solace in one another’s arms when disciplined strictly. We’ve already begun creating a data trail about you for the Guard to find. We’ll add an important element tomorrow. We’re going to make a video of the two of you being punished and then having sex with each other.”
“What?” Camille asked, her eyes wide as she gazed at her master, whose face had gone very serious. “Herra… we…”
“We didn’t do anything,” I finished, looking my plea into Erik’s and then Sven’s eyes.
“I know, lille en,” Sven said, his eyes compassionate despite the firm set of his jaw. “But in this world your masters will often whip you simply because they enjoy it. That in itself is something you two must accustom yourselves to enduring—and, indeed, enjoying… or at least acting as if you enjoy it.”
CHAPTER 22
Sven
As I held Mary in my arms that night, I did my best to soothe her anxieties. I held her sweet, nude body close, her soft curves pressed against my chest as we lay in the dimly lit bedchamber. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the stone walls, an intimate atmosphere that seemed to soften the gravity of the conversation in the situation room. I could feel the tension in her lithe body, though, the slight trembling that betrayed her anxiety through her brave facade.
“Shh, lille en,” I murmured, running my hand soothingly along her spine. “You’ve shown such strength today. I’m proud of you.”
Mary nestled closer, her breath warm against my skin as she spoke. “Herra,” she whispered, her voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, “do Camille and I really have to be whipped tomorrow?”
I sighed. I had known this question was coming and I wished I could spare her this particular trial. “Yes, Mary,” I replied gently but firmly. “It’s a necessary part of your cover, and also for your preparation for the mission.”
I felt her stiffen slightly in my arms. I rubbed her back gently, and continued. “But there’s something you should know about the discipline you’ll receive,” I said, a solemnity coming naturally into my voice. “Many völur have found that the pain of the whip can actually provide helpful visions.”
Mary pulled back slightly, her emerald eyes wide with curiosity as she looked up at me. “Really?” she asked, a hint of wonder creeping into her voice.
I nodded, my fingers tracing idle patterns on her bare shoulder. “Indeed. The intense sensations can sometimes open pathways to Yggdrasil that are otherwise difficult to access. The pain becomes a bridge between worlds, allowing you to see things that might remain hidden in ordinary states of consciousness.”
I watched as Mary processed this information, her brow furrowing slightly as she considered the implications. After a moment, she asked hesitantly, “Herra… how many bed thralls have you sent on missions before?”
The question caught me off guard, and I found myself pausing before answering. Images flashed through my mind of other girls I had trained, other missions I had overseen. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders.
“You and Camille will be the fifth and sixth,” I finally admitted, my voice low. “It’s not something we do lightly, Mary. Only those with exceptional potential are chosen for field work.”