“Who, exactly, is running this? Me or you?”
With a sigh Kite let Elarhe attach the chain. Elarhe tugged, drawing a grimace from Kite, and made him lie over the bench. He shackled Kite’s ankles to his wrists. Kite looked vaguely worried. Elarhe thought it was cute.
“Now what are you going to do to me?”
Elarhe didn’t say anything. He just whapped Kite’s ass with his bare hand. He cringed and clutched his hand close to his chest. “Ow. No wonder people use paddles.”
Kite laughed. Elarhe scowled and found an especially cruel-looking paddle with holes cut out of it and peppered with bumpy clavos. With a wild glee, he brought it crashing down on Kite’s ass. Kite gave a surprised cry. He didn’t even try to hide it.
The paddle’s holes left a distinct pattern on Kite’s bare flesh. It was truly beautiful. Encouraged, Elarhe beat him as if he were a dusty blanket. Kite gnashed his teeth. His shackles sang as he strained against them. Elarhe reduced his speed in order to spank Kite harder.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Kite gasped. “What did I do?”
He remembered that Kite didn’t want to pretend to be an errant child. “You’re a giant spider. This is what I do to giant spiders.” Kite tried to laugh, but Elarhe beat it out of him. The pattern of pale spots began to disappear as Elarhe laid blow atop blow.
After Kite’s entire ass was a solid, inflamed red, Elarhe decide it was time to move to something else. He stalked around the room, eyeing all of the equipment. He paused at the wall of rods. Many were shaped like phalluses—huge phalluses—bigger even than Kite’s cock. Elarhe grinned, knowing Kite could see him. He pulled one down, the largest one.
“No,” said Kite, genuine fear in his voice. “No, that’s made from the leg bone of an auroch.”
Chapter 19
Elarhe frowned at Kite. “An auroch?”
“Those huge wild cows that used to roam the forests. They’re almost extinct now.”
“Huh.” Elarhe tested the weight of the bone in his hand. “It is rather substantial.”
“It’s longer and thicker than your arm. It’s just for decoration. I’ve never used it on anyone.”
Elarhe cocked his head and stared at Kite lovingly. “That would make it just for us. It would be our special plaything.” He pressed one end against his lips. “That’s so romantic.”
“Erm…no, not that romantic.”
Elarhe stroked the long tail of horsehairs attached to one end of the rod. “You like playing horsie. With this lodged up your ass, you would be a proper little pony, wouldn’t you?”
Kite sort of deflated over the bench. “You’re going to make me do this, aren’t you?”
Elarhe laughed. He found the almond oil they kept in the dungeon and started lubing up the giant phallus. “Why don’t you whinny for me?”
“I will not.”
Elarhe smacked the rod across his ass, making Kite’s balls shake. Kite groaned. “Whicker then.” He hit Kite with the phallus again. “Whicker, damnit.”
Kite blew out a rather unconvincing whicker. Elarhe had to beat him again. After a few more times, Kite learned how to whicker properly.
Kite trembled as Elarhe applied almond oil to his hole. Elarhe almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
Elarhe pushed the business end of the rod into Kite’s hole. Kite bleated. “Shouldn’t you stretch me first?”
“Stop giving instructions. I’m not one of your whores!”
“No, you’re not,” said Kite in a small voice. “I never loved them.”
“Cat,” said Elarhe. He walked to Kite’s head and found him looking surprised.
“Why ‘cat’? I thought you….”
“I can’t do this if you’re going to be so damned sweet. Be the growly bitch you are most of the time. This is supposed to be fun.”
“Fun.” Kite bit his lips together and hung his head. “Yes, master.”
Elarhe sauntered back to Kite’s very red hind end.
“Wait…did you just call me ‘bitch’? Me? I’m far from being a bitch. You’re the little bitch. You won’t even let me—ugh!”
Elarhe cackled. “What’s that, bitch?”
Kite just groaned. With a newfound joy, Elarhe worked the giant phallus in Kite’s ass. There was no finesse to be had with the auroch rod. He didn’t even bother trying to find Kite’s prostate. The bone cock was so huge, Elarhe was certain it was crushing Kite’s prostate no matter what. He yanked on Kite’s cock. Kite moaned and jangled his chains.
Elarhe laughed and watched as more and more of the phallus disappeared into Kite’s hole. His hole was stretched wide, straining around the auroch bone. It was so red that parts of it were purple. Elarhe managed to push it almost all of the way in.
“How do you feel?”
Kite grunted. “Full.”
Elarhe laughed. “You’re funny sometimes.” He played with the horse tail, then started tugging on Kite’s cock while pumping the bone phallus.
Kite huffed against the bench. “No. Oh no, no, no….”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Elarhe sang.
He milked Kite until he came in creamy spurts. Elarhe slowly pulled out the rod, then danced in front of Kite’s red face. “Suck me now.”
Kite raised his head. “You’ll have to unchain me. You’re too high.”
Elarhe got on the floor beneath Kite’s face and arched up until he could hook the bench with his ankles. Hooking his legs over Kite’s back, he scooted and lifted until his cock reached Kite’s mouth. “Now.”
Kite complied with robust licks and sucks. He bathed Elarhe’s flesh in warm, adoring strokes. Elarhe moaned as his glans hit Kite’s soft palate. He closed his eyes and filled Kite’s throat with frothy cum.
***
Elarhe glided about the main room, dancing with the morning sunbeams shining through the high windows. He felt as if he were filled with air and sunlight. As he spun around, he noticed the large cage tucked beneath the stairs. He had seen it before, but, somehow, it struck him anew. It was large enough for a man. He decided that it must be some dungeon equipment that somehow hadn’t found its way to the dungeon.
He tried to drag it to the dungeon, but he gave up because it was too heavy. He experimented with putting different objects in it to liven it up. At last, he decided to move one of the braziers into it. He lit the fire and thought the bars made interesting shadows in the darkness of the stairwell.
When Kite came home, he showed Kite his decorating ingenuity. “Of course, we could also move it into the dungeon.”
Kite flung open the door of the cage and threw the brazier to the floor. “Don’t ever put anything in there again! Ever! Do you understand?!”
Elarhe understood the instructions, but not the outburst. “But why?”
Kite screamed in his face, “Because I said so, that’s why!” He stormed upstairs, Omen and Fortune trailing him.
Elarhe started to leave the mess, but cleared it up because he didn’t want Goose to have to do it. What was so important about an empty cage? Tearful, he went to his room and lay on his bed. Treasure sat on his feet and cooed.
When things were good between him and Kite, he wanted to stay with Kite forever, but Kite’s outbursts made him want to leave. He stared at the ceiling, the rafters distorted by the tears in his eyes, and wondered how his life had come to this. Instead of learning about his powers, he was playing about in a castle with a self-confessed monster.
He had wanted more from his life. He had wanted so much more.
***
As they ate together at the long dining table, Elarhe cleared his throat. “Do you think you could get me some new papers?”
Kite stuffed a piece of broccoli in his mouth and chomped it slowly, glaring at Elarhe all the while. At last he finished, gulped some wine, then barked, “Why do you need papers? No one’s going to ask for your papers here.”
“I thought, now that I had a horse of my own, I could try to get into the academy again. Perhaps you co
uld help me with that?”
Kite’s expression soured even more. “Why do you need to go to that blasted academy?”
“You go there almost every day!”
“I go there to take advantage of their library. People don’t always trust my name. I’m notorious throughout the empire. It’s easier to get books sent there than directly to me. And they have a laboratory they let me use. Let.” He laughed.
“I want to learn more about my magic.”
“No you don’t. Magic is vile! You’re blessed with your innocence.”
Elarhe bristled. “You sound just like my father!”
Kite slurped his wine. “He must be a smart man.”
“He was wicked! He killed my tutor! His stubbornness led me to leave my home—a journey that took the life of my best friend. I hate my father!”
Kite shrugged. “That doesn’t mean that he was wrong.”
Elarhe stood up and threw his napkin on the table. “I’ll find a way to get my own papers. I’ll go to that academy or learn about my powers on my own.”
“You don’t want to do that. You’re better off without magic. It’s useless in any case.”
“I’m a green, like Rabbit. You don’t think her powers are evil when you bully her to use them.”
“I don’t bully Rabbit. I intimidate her somewhat—”
“That’s the only way you know how to solve problems—you either bully people or throw money at them!”
“You’re not going to that academy. I’ll see that you don’t get in. Either by bullying or throwing money.”
Elarhe felt sick. “Fine. I’ll find some other way. There are other academies.”
“The closest one is the Gyre, in The Glorious City. That’s at least a two week ride from here. A long way to walk, Squirrel.”
“I’ll ride.”
“Oh, you mean to take the horse I gave you and leave?”
Elarhe steeled himself. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m done being your plaything. I’m leaving.”
Kite looked stunned. In the next breath, his anger returned. “You will not leave!” He rose and smoke—blacker than black—swirled around him. He raised his hands, threw back his head, and roared.
Chapter 20
Elarhe cast the only yellow spell he knew—shield—and ducked behind the table. He couldn’t tell what Kite was doing. His eyes were squeezed shut. A sound like a gong vibrated through the air. It was the loudest thing he had ever heard. He covered his ears.
The sound ended. Elarhe took his hands away from his ears. He reached up and grabbed his knife from the table. He remained crouched and shielded.
“Oh, Elarhe.” This time, Kite’s voice was soft and surprised. He sounded close. Elarhe peeped over the table. Kite stood about halfway at the table. He pulled one of the chairs aside and sank into it. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m sorry.”
Trembling, Elarhe stood up, still holding the knife. “You should be.” He sucked a deep breath. “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me.”
“You can’t leave.” Kite no longer sounded menacing, just weary.
Elarhe felt cocky suddenly. “I can and I will. You gave me that horse!”
“You’re right. Fair is fair. The horse is yours. But you can’t leave. I’ve sealed off the grounds with my magic. The barrier is impenetrable. Any who try to pierce it will die.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“It is done.”
“Why won’t you just let me leave?!”
“They’ll kill you. You’ll die. I won’t let that happen. You’re safe here.”
Elarhe felt dizzy. His shield disappeared and he sank into his chair. “You’re unbelievable.”
“The only things I truly want from this world are your happiness and your safety. If I can’t make you happy, at least I can keep you safe.”
“You’re right,” Elarhe said softly, staring into Kite’s eyes, “you are monster, and you don’t know how to love.”
Kite’s eyes filled with tears. “They almost killed you. You would have died if I hadn’t shown up. I can’t be everywhere at once.”
“I’m going to my room now. Stay away from me.” He flashed the knife at Kite. “Stay away, or I’ll hurt you.” His hand shook. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“I would never hurt you.”
“You already have. Not supporting my dreams, frightening me, holding me prisoner—you have hurt me.”
Kite began to cry in earnest. “You don’t understand.” He sniffled. “I would rather you hate me than live in a world without you in it.”
Elarhe forced himself to turn his back on Kite and walked out of the room. Kite didn’t follow him, but the sound of his sobs did. For a moment, Elarhe wanted to go to him and tell him that he still loved him. But Kite had overstepped so many boundaries, Elarhe was no longer completely sure that was true.
***
Snow fell and blanketed everything in white. Ice laced every window. Even when Elarhe sat by his room’s fireplace, he felt cold. The entire castle felt as cold as his love for Kite, as cold as Kite’s love for him. It was as if their grief had summoned the snow and covered the world in the ice that grew over their hearts.
Elarhe refused to stay secluded in his room. He took his meals in the kitchen while Kite ate exclusively in the dining room. He availed himself of the private library, he rode Rose daily, he played games with Mole. Nothing had changed between him and Mole, but Goose had become more standoffish. The others, Ferret, Wren, and Toad, were colder still. Elarhe didn’t know if this was because they took Kite’s side, or they blamed him for being trapped within the castle grounds.
Kite cried for two days. For a week, he sulked. The next week, he turned bitter. Even if Elarhe had wanted to make up, Kite had become aloof and unapproachable. They lived in the castle without talking to each other, occupying different rooms, saying nothing if they happened to pass one another in a hall or on the stairs.
Elarhe wondered how long they could live like this. With its orchards, chickens, goats, and small garden, the castle was fairly self-sufficient. Its grounds were sprawling and beautiful. As prisons went, it wasn’t a bad one.
But it was a prison, nonetheless. And Elarhe hated Kite for imprisoning him. But he also still loved him.
He had so wanted to comfort Kite when he was crying, but Elarhe held himself back. Kite didn’t need to be rewarded for being cruel. Now, they pretended not to see each other, and Elarhe wanted to talk to Kite again, to see if they could find some way to settle their dispute. But every time he started to say something, he remembered how adamantly Kite had seemed against everything he wanted. He kept silent, feeling as if the man he loved had died the night of their argument and now his ghost haunted the castle.
***
As Elarhe was walking through the main room on his way to eat supper with Mole, he heard a loud clang come from the iron cage. He ran to see what it was.
A tall man clad in a heavy gray cloak stood in the once-empty cage. His handsome face was ashen and his long hair was as black as his jet eyes save for a streak of silver in front. But the thing Elarhe noticed first were the arrows. Arrows riddled his torso; one ran through his neck. The man’s stare fastened on Elarhe. “Tell Petal I love her,” he gasped, then collapsed, arrows scraping against the iron bars like the chiming of bells.
Chapter 21
“Kite!” Elarhe screamed. “Kite! There’s a man in the cage! He’s wounded!” He knew Mole wouldn’t hear because she was off in the kitchen, and Goose was enjoying an evening stroll on the grounds with Wren. The only one who might hear him was Kite.
Elarhe opened the cage, pulled the man out, and laid him on the marble floor. One of the man’s hands was wooden; he was obviously no stranger to physical trauma. Elarhe wondered if he was a thief.
The man groaned but didn’t open his eyes. Blood ran from his nostrils, bubbled from his mouth and the wound in his throat. “Kite!!!”
He found Kite beside him
. “You have to use your powers, Squirrel.”
“I can’t. I don’t know how. What about yours?”
Kite pulled his dagger. “Mine only kill. You’re a green. Just combine green growth with red mending.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Elarhe felt frantic.
“Hold your hands over him and close your eyes. Reach for your red power. I’m told they sort of look like glowing ribbons. Think about fixing something. Now reach for your green power. It should come easily to you. When you take ownership of the green power, think about growth. Now hold both powers in your mind. Twist the ribbons together. Open your eyes and think about his wounds healing. Feel it happening.”
Biting his lips together, Elarhe tried to do what Kite said.
“You can do it.”
As Kite cut through the blood-soaked tunic, Elarhe, with a sense of futility, swept his hands in the air over the man. Red and green felt like empty words, not anything he could shape or control. He wanted to cry. “What about Rabbit?”
“He’ll never make it to Rabbit’s. You’re his only hope.”
Elarhe couldn’t withhold a whimper. “You can do this,” said Kite gently. “I believe in you, Elarhe. Believe in yourself. You’re the only chance he has.”
His name on Kite’s lips was like magic itself. Elarhe closed his eyes and concentrated on finding his power.
Kite’s hand gripped his shoulder. “I’m going to remove the arrows. Try to heal his wounds as I remove each arrow.”
Elarhe nodded, opening his eyes. They started with the arrow in the neck. Kite’s strong, nimble fingers worked the bloody arrow free. Elarhe pressed his hands against the wounds and worked his magic. When he removed his hands, the flesh shone new and clean. After Elarhe had healed three of the wounds, Kite asked, “Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
“Your chest doesn’t hurt? No pain anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine. We need to get these other wounds healed.”
Kite cut through another arrow. “You’re so much stronger than I would have guessed.”
Lover, Destroyer Page 12
