Page 43 of Semper

He glanced at me, his lips curling into a half-smile. He was enjoying the power he held over me, savoring the way he controlled the flow of information.

Without answering, he finished preparing the other drink and brought it to me, setting the glass down in front of me with a quiet clink.

"Drink this," he said softly.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice wary.

"It's calledElixir Obscura," he replied, his tone smooth and nonchalant. "A special blend from the Isle. Curated from ourland, aged to perfection." He took the stool beside me, his presence overwhelming even in the stillness.

"Is it laced with anything?" I couldn’t help but ask.

He laughed, a low, rich sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Didn’t I tell you I’d warn you if I did that?" His hand grazed my arm, a casual touch that felt anything but innocent. "Taste it."

Hesitantly, I lifted the glass to my lips, the scent of the liquor sharp and rich. The first sip was smooth, the taste of honey and dark berries blending with a subtle hint of smoke.

It was surprisingly good, the warmth of the drink spreading through me almost immediately. I took another sip, the edges of my apprehension softening.

"You like it?" His voice was low, and smooth as he watched me, his gaze never leaving my face.

I nodded, a little surprised by how quickly I responded. "It's really good."

"I thought you would."

We sat together for a few moments, the warmth of the drink creating a strange sense of calm. My mind was moving more slowly now, and the questions I had been holding onto started to slip out, one by one.

"Is it because of... devil babies that Jamison doesn’t sleep with Cassandra?" I asked, the words sounding odd even to me.

Alexander made a muffled sound, then started to laugh, the kind of deep, genuine laugh that added to the warmth the drink was spreading through me.

"Devil babies?" He shook his head, still grinning. "Jamison is frequently fucking her. I’m sure you’ll see it at future gatherings."

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

He looked amused, as if I were missing some obvious point. "The services you’ve witnessed are just a small portion of ourfaith,deliciae." He leaned in slightly, his tone teasing but dark. "We are a very visual... and carnal religion. And we have the best parties."

I stared at him, completely at a loss for words. "You do that too?"

He chuckled again, the sound rich and dangerous. "Do you really want the answer to that?"

My brow furrowed, and he laughed again, affectionately. "Cassandra cannot have children. Normally, that would be grounds for her to be... respectfully removed." His tone remained casual, but I knew what he meant.

It was death hidden beneath the veil of tradition.

"Their relation, and Jamison being a close friend, spared her,” he continued.

I processed his words, my mind piecing together more reality of the Isle. "He sleeps with Emilia too," I stated slowly, testing the waters of this strange conversation.

"Sometimes both at once," Alexander mused, a dark smile playing on his lips. "But that's not the norm. Most men keep theirprogenitorsandfidelisseparate from their wives. They aren’t permitted to bring them to gatherings."

“What arefid-fidelis?”

“Men kept by other men.”

I was mid-sip when he said that, nearly choking. "You have same-sex couples here?"

His brows raised slightly. "You make it seem as if we’re some stone-age society. Of course, we do. As long as they take a wife and still contribute to the Isle, we accept all of our disciples."

I stared at him, processing this. It was an oddly progressive yet deeply twisted way of doing things. It didn’t escape my notice this arrangement still catered to men, not women.