as Cavendish roared, he untied his prick and stood, then began to pace agitatedly. All of the men untied their pricks and the rope fell to the floor. I did the same and with relief, stood up stepped from the circle.
“His appetites are out of control, I tell you. He must only engage in fornication within the brotherhood. Consuming other men taints the potency of the magic.” Another man blustered.
“Brother Ashe, tell Monkman to pay visits to all of the Molly Houses we frequent and ask about our boy,” Blake ordered.
“Leopold expressed a desire to visit Aunt Sally’s and The Woodhorn Inn. I will recommend Monkman visits those establishments first.” Brother Ashe informed and rushed from the room.
The hooded man whimpered again, and this time Blake’s attention was caught. He growled as he turned and strode angrily to halt in front of the man he called the betrayer. He untied the broom separating the prisoner’s legs and then unfastened the belts that secured his arms to the leather pommel horse, and with the help of two of the acolytes, pulled the betrayer to sit on the rug as we circled him.
“Now, my Lord. I hope this was a lesson and your memory has been jogged. You made us a promise and then you broke your word.” Blake pulled the hood off the man to display a bowed head of unkempt silver hair. He dragged down the kerchief that had prevented the betrayer from speaking. He unceremoniously grabbed the prisoner by his hair, dragged his head back, and roughly demanded.
“Where in damnation is the Staff of Asklepios?”
I was glad of the mask I wore and for the ambient lighting in the room; as I was sure at that moment I became as transparent as a ghost. It all made sense now. To my bone-chilling horror, I looked upon the tear strewn face of my former paramour—Lord Euan Ardmillan.
How could I have believed things between us were over at Dunecht Hall? I was a damnable fool! Euan seduced me at the hall because he had planned this all along. He was trying to have his cake and eat it! He’d wanted the Staff of Asklepios to cure him of his loss of virility, and believed this could be achieved by carrying out a sex ritual with one who knew his heart. Me. He also wanted to use the Staff to gain the good graces of Fratres Seminis. My spend was narcotic to Euan and he was worshipful of taking me in his throat. When we were together he could never get enough—just like the men who stood around me, the men I had witnessed devouring Leopold. I understood now that it was Euan who vouched for me to join the Brothers of the Seed.
“Brothers, my loves, I can get it back, I promise.” Euan croaked raggedly, his Scots accent not the soft, seductive voice I’d known from my youth.
“Did you sell it?” Benjamin Cavendish barked.
“No, no I promise, it was stolen when I had the auction of my father’s collection. I’ll track down this Gentleman Thief, or Dandy Rogue or whatever moniker the fiend is goin’ by these days. I’ll find him, and I’ll get the Staff back if it’s the last thing I do!” Euan said determinedly.
“You were attempting to flee to France!” Cavendish accused.
“No, no, I was following information on the whereabouts of the thief, I swear.” He pleaded. Blake let go of Euan’s hair and pushed him so he sat heavily on his arse. Then Blake began to pace, disgust showing in his scowl.
“I’ve done all I can for our cause, brothers. I provided everythin’ we needed fer the book, I paid fer the binding. I’ve put every last penny I had into our venture.” Euan sobbed.
“And we matched it!” An unidentified acolyte justified with a sneer.
“I know, I know.” Euan placated, his hands raised. There was a moment of silent tension while all sent murderous stares toward Euan and I was fearful someone would give him a thrashing, but Euan said,
“Brother’s, ye must know in your hearts how I love you all. I would be nothing without ye. This problem was not of my making. I am the victim of a master thief. But I will fix this. Please, please give me a chance to prove myself worthy of your love.” He looked up with those beseeching eyes that had melted my core so many times.
I looked away. I could not believe that this simpering wretch was a