Jealous

Chapter 3

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For the next week, Jarlaxle was secretly writhing in the painful agony of denying himself his desires. He took Sharlotta to bed with him, and was unsatisfied every time, because the entire time he was wishing he could know what Artemis felt like. Only in the moments of his climax and its aftermath did he experience some relief from his new fixation.

His mind thought up unwelcome plans of every shape and size.

While sharing an evening meal with the assassin, he fantasized vividly about having his mercenaries hold Artemis hostage in his chair. After tying him up, they would leave the room so that Jarlaxle could be alone with him. Oh, Artemis would hate him at first, but after the initial violent struggle and drawing of blood, he would understand why Jarlaxle had to have him.

Yet, while he was drifting into reverie under the security of his bedchambers, Jarlaxle experienced a completely different kind of daydream in which he slowly won Artemis over through wooing. First it would be smiles and gifts and compliments. Then it would be confiding secret plans, none of which of course he would ever put into motion due to the fact that they were no longer secret. Finally, he would set up the disaster. Some kind of trap to strip away Artemis' last defenses so that Jarlaxle could show him how much he truly wanted Jarlaxle to seduce him. Jarlaxle got as far as the initial plan to lure Artemis out into danger before he fell into slumber. When he woke up, he sternly disavowed the idea and put his foot down that there would be no more scheming to get Artemis into his bed.

And then the most simple solution of all popped into his head, after meeting with one of the few humans of the Basadoni guild who knew of his authority there. The man was a scholar, educating him on human ways. The most curious piece of information popped up: "If you want something," the man had said, "the best way to get it is to ask for it." Jarlaxle had stared at him for a full minute before patting him on the shoulder and leaving the room.

Now, Jarlaxle thought, locking himself securely in his room, I am ready to plan for the most important night of my life. A smile neaked onto his face. And Artemis'.