The demon opened his sprigly arms wide. Jinady gave him a kiss with puckered lips. The demon held on to him. His mouth was closed. The kiss was chaste enough for Jinady to endure dragging it out some moments. He broke away when he heard branches swishing.
Jinady plucked the demon off him. Figaru stepped into view with an armload of firewood. He dumped it while staring at them.
“Hi!” the spikey said.
Figaru lifted one hand and manifest a fireball.
Jinady drew in a sharp breath. “Don’t! It’s harmless just like you—“
Figaru let the fireball erupt on the pile of wood. They had a crackling bonfire at once.
“Be gone, spikey,” Figaru said.
“Okay.” The spikey dashed over the hill.
Jinady swallowed and stared into the fire. Figaru lowered next to him.
“Why are they called spikeys?”
“You think I’m violent. Don’t you?”
Silence followed the words for long moments. Jinady stared into the flames.
He spoke softly. “Not toward humans.”
“I don’t hurt demons without cause.”
The silence resumed. Scor came to Jinady’s mind. He chewed dead skin off his bottom lip without being conscious of it. He cleared his throat as a way to shake free his words.
“What about…”
Figaru looked at him.
Jinady bundled his coat around him tighter. Every word had become arduous.
“Scor.”
Figaru continued staring. He said nothing.
Jinady cleared his throat a second time, this time to end the quiet. “He…he saved two men’s’ lives on a mission. Then you beat him. Almost killed him.”
The demon turned away. This gave Jinady the courage to eye him. His face was touched with sadness. It was the most emotion Jinady had ever seen him display.
Figaru sighed and turned back toward him. His face was lighter now, but Jinady still saw traces of pain.
“I’m determined to have you as my mate, Jinady. That’s the only reason I’ll speak to you about this. This situation—it’s extremely personal. You must not share anything I tell you.”
Figaru paused long enough for Jinady to respond. He nodded.
“Scor used that same mission as an opportunity to abuse Rowan. I’d forbidden them from being together, but he had sex with Rowan in the forest. He made sure I was aware of it by leaving marks on him.”
Jinady pursed his lips. He considered this as Figaru looked at him. Jealousy was had risen like bile at the back of his throat. He was unable to compose his words with compassion.
“You loved Rowan?”
Figaru broke eye contact. He spoke with contempt. “Dearly.”
He felt as though his insides were twisting. His instinct was to say something that would hide his anguish and thus save his pride. He was too overcome to speak.
“He’s my son.”
No other words could have been more effective at jarring Jinady out of his dejection. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Jinady could no longer sense the warmth of the fire, nor hear the crickets. His head was swimming. He gawked at Figaru.
The demon looked miserable.
“Twenty years ago Swan came down from the Glowing Mountain. She flew into our settlement. She said she’d chosen me to be the father of her child. Of course, I denied her. I was devoted to my wife. She vowed to stay until I relented. While she was there no one would be giving us shards in the mount.
“Zuala, my wife, told me from the beginning to sleep with her. She wasn’t pretending not to care. She truly didn’t. The pragmatic woman thought I was silly to be troubled. There was no alternative in any case. I gave in to Swan.”
Jinady’s shocked expression had reduced to awe. He listened with wide eyes.
“She had twins. The daughter, she kept. The son, she abandoned in our fields.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Except to say that many other succubi do the same. They only rear their female children.”
The fire shone amber hues on Figaru’s skin. It crackled as Figaru concentrated several moments.
“She should have brought the infant to me.” He paused. Jinady heard him swallow. “I didn’t know…I didn’t realize I had a son living among us. The civilian area was Deputy’s concern. I stayed at the base when I wasn’t on missions. The only time I went into the village was to give diplomas at the school’s graduation ceremony. That’s the first time I saw him.”
Jinady was struck with sympathy.
“I asked Leatha about Rowan. His life had been traumatic. It was, at least in part, because he’d stood out. His skin was barely a shade lighter than mine. His lips were fuller than any other boy’s. These differences did not detract from his beauty when he became a teen. By then he’d become vulnerable to perverse bullies.” Figaru closed his eyes. “I could have spared him from so much pain.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
Figaru shook his head slowly. “Jinady…I’ve wronged Rowan in many other ways since then.”
Jinady tore at his cuticles under his coat. He let the silence after Figaru’s words linger.
“I asked him to come live with me as my housekeeper. This was my first mistake. There was a chance I was wrong about him. Swan was the only one I’d ever impregnated back then. I couldn’t fathom her going through such an effort to have a child just to abandon him. I decided to keep my suspicion to myself while I investigated. That was my second mistake. During the two weeks I looked into it, I befriended Rowan. I wanted there to be a strong bond between us so that when I told him he was my son he would be happy. This was my third, and most grievous, mistake.”
Jinady connected things in his mind.
“Oh, Figaru…”
“Rowan had been shunned by his peers, but my interest redeemed him. He confided our every conversation to Leatha. She boasted about how much I adored him on his behalf. Rumors spread that I was finally ready to take a mate, and that it would be Rowan. He became popular. Former enemies came calling as friends. The tailor’s son changed his wardrobe to more flattering clothes. Another boy put his hair in decorated pleats. Rowan told them how interested I was in him. How I pried about his past and showed such great concern.
“I was preoccupied at this time. Zuala had passed some months before. I was still overcoming my grief, and enduring long periods of starvation. I could not devote as much attention to Rowan as I should have.
“I resolved to capture a demon to feed on. Vandrel reported in to me while I was building the cage. He asked why I would take a prisoner when Rowan was nearly my mate.
“The suggestion outraged me. But it made me finally notice the mania sweeping the settlement. I eavesdropped on Rowan’s visitors and heard him gush about how we’d be mated. I was horrified. I inquired with Leatha, then at the tailor’s, then simply walked down the main road of the settlement. More than one man teased about the new love in my life. They did so with giddy excitement.
“I was ill. Not just because of the foul situation I’d caused, but because I hadn’t fed for nine weeks. I left for a mission and captured Scor.
“When my mind was right I decided to ask Swan directly about Rowan. I went to Leatha’s aviary at the school where I’d heard her magic swans visited to see if a message could be sent. I learned that Rowan went there monthly to communicate with his twin sister, Dawn. She had reconnected with him through Swan’s bird messengers when she was ten. Leatha said Rowan didn’t get messages from his mother, only his twin. Dawn described herself in her first message so that her twin could be found in the settlement. It was easy to determine it was Rowan. All the other children are fair-skinned.
“There was no doubt that Rowan was my son. No one on the civilian side of the settlement knew of Swan’s visit to me decades ago, not even Leatha.
“People learned I’d taken a prisoner to feed on with alarming speed. Rowan was mocked by his visitors the next day. He never had friends call
on him after that. The false status he’d gained toppled easily. The only friend to remain true was Leatha. She reassured him that I was still interested in him since I had just tried to learn more about his past at her aviary. She theorized that I thought he was still to fragile from abuse to become my mate. I was being unduly cautious in my courtship.
“Rowan entered my den without knocking. I asked, ‘What is it?’ He didn’t answer. He walked to where I was sitting, wrapped his arms around my neck, and kissed me.”
“I regret this moment most of all.” Figaru breathed a deep sigh. “I slammed him off me. My reaction was without thought. I heaved him so hard that he crashed back on the floor. He lay there gasping for the breath I’d knocked out of him. Then he looked at me in horror.
“I tried to tend to him. He didn’t want my care. He demanded to know why I rebuked him. It was the worst moment I could have picked to tell him. I had no choice. I made him stand beside me in front of a mirror.
“‘Look at my eyes, Rowan.’
“He was in tears. He said, ‘They’re beautiful.’
“‘No! Look at my nose.’
“‘You’re face is beautiful.’
“‘Compare it to your own.’
“He fell silent then. ‘Look at our skin. Our features. Don’t you see? You’re my son, Rowan.’ I embraced him.
“He broke out of my arms. I saw such anguish on his face. He looked at me as though he’d just realized I was a demon. He tried to walk away from me but faltered. I’d injured him. I raced to catch him. His face had taken a sickly pallor. His expression was dazed. His lips were parted and his eyes stared at nothing. I thought his heart had stopped. ‘Rowan!’ I screamed his name in panic.
“‘I don’t want to be your son.’ I barely heard his voice. He spoke as though he were bewitched. ‘You didn’t rear me. I don’t know you as a dad.’
“‘I’ve tried to right this, Rowan.’
“He looked at me then. ‘You still can. Forget all about it. Do what you were supposed to. Take me as your mate.’
“‘That would be obscene.’
“His breathing grew faster. He spoke while gasping. ‘No. No. I ain’t your son. It’s just blood, just skin, it doesn’t mean anything. We’re nothing to each other. Except you loved me. You did. The king. Everyone who thought I was shit was wrong—they had to be, cause you love me and you’re taking me as your one and only.’
“I knew he would faint soon. I picked him up to carry him to the doctor. ‘You are my one and only son, Rowan. You will be the heir to Deputy. You’ll be happy, and prosperous. I swear it.’
“When he returned from the doctor days later his mind was unchanged. He threatened to take his own life if I told anyone he was my son. We argued. He said if I wouldn’t be mated with him he would leave. I compelled him not to. Yet another mistake of mine. I wanted to mend things. He was adamant, and so was I.
“I was grateful for a long mission. I thought the time apart would be good for us. I should never have left him alone with Scor.
“Rowan was forbidden to enter the room with his cage. Now that we were at odds he broke my rules.
“Scor’s kind are the most vicious demons I’ve ever encountered. They’re known for raping their mortal captives to death and eating the remains. All the Reevers we’d encountered had the color of murder on their auras. All except for Scor. I still gave him no regard. I believed he would rape a mortal if he had the opportunity. This was my justification for locking him away.
“When I removed Scor from the Reevers, I removed the Reever from Scor. He had a monstrous existence as one of their kind. He longed to be accepted as a demon ally of the settlement. I knew his intentions were sincere. I was conflicted about keeping him as my slave from early on.
“When I returned from the mission Rowan said he no longer intended on moving out. He was cold to me, but I resolved to be patient. I discovered him meeting with Scor a few days later. He was sitting on the floor whispering beside him. Scor could have grabbed him through the bars. They glared at me when I opened the door. I think Rowan wanted me to forbid them to see each other. He sought reasons to hate me. I warned him that Scor was dangerous. They both objected. I told him to do as he wished. The door to the room with Scor’s cage remained open after that.
“Rowan stayed with me for months to be with Scor. I held to my hope that things could be made right. The situation only deteriorated. I busied myself with missions, and always came back to a home thick with hatred. Rowan couldn’t stand to be near me. We never had civil conversation. Any attempt to reach out to him would lead to shouting and accusations.
“He eventually became passionate about Scor’s cause. I was so eager to have peace between us I acquiesced to nearly all he asked for. Scor was allowed to leave his cage, then to leave the house. I was ready to consider his freedom.
“Then I saw the residue of their auras on my own bed. I controlled my anger and checked on Rowan. He was teaching Scor how to read in my den. They were at peace. I knew Scor hadn’t raped him. I was going to forgive the transgression. But Scor—he smirked at me.
“I must not be swayed by the impulses of emotion. I’m the leader of the settlement. I must be judicious and level-headed in all matters, Jinady, including those personal. I strive for this, and yet, when it came to Rowan, I would lose all sense. Scor had defiled my son in my own bed.
“I stopped catering to Rowan’s requests. I lost the temporary peace I had in my home. Nothing had improved between us anyway. I was fed up. Before I left for the next mission I told Rowan I no longer objected to his leaving. If he continued to quarrel with me I would insist on it.
“Rowan presented me with papers for him to enlist in the army directly into the Available rank. I refused to sign them. Men must be happy, self-assured, and carefree to be granted the Available rank. Rowan sought it just to vex me.”
“Oh.”
Figaru paused and looked at Jinady.
“Sorry. I just thought of Huckly. He’s perfect for the job, isn’t he?”
Figaru nodded.
He recounted Rowan’s next scheme to get the Available rank. Jinady had already heard first hand of how Rowan ran away and was caught by the flying succubus.
“I gave Rowan to Vandrel and Leatha. Time passed and I grew hopeful again. It may take a year, perhaps two, but Rowan could still come to accept me as his father. I counted each month away from each other as time where we each healed.
“I hadn’t realized he still conspired with Scor. He no longer had to be anchored to my home. Scor could move freely in the settlement. They worked together to build the wagon you rode in when we rescued you. Scor pulled this wagon in his beast form before me and hundreds of soldiers. I had no choice but to accept Scor in the army.
“When I saw Rowan in the base that day I knew there had been no healing all those months. As long as he was with Scor his hatred for me festered.
“I was brutal to Scor that evening. Looking back, and considering Scor’s pride, I should understand why he defied me at every opportunity. When I used his body he never protested, but also never engaged me. It was always bitter submission. His yielding to me in that regard—I knew it humiliated him.
“I told him that he’d gotten what he wanted. ‘Let Rowan go.’ Scor refused. I said, ‘I haven’t released you. Every privilege I’ve given you can be taken away. What do you want more? My son, or your freedom?’ Scor said they were in love. He was in anguish then, Jinady. I felt for him, but I knew he would always pit Rowan against me.
“Rowan tricked Vandrel into taking him on the same mission as Scor. I wouldn’t have abided it had I know. Vandrel was unaware of my issues. We were already a day’s travel out before Rowan revealed he’d been in the windowless cab of the wagon.
“My blood boiled when I saw him. I’d had enough of his schemes. Then I saw Scor’s smirk again. I reminded him he was forbidden to be with Rowan. I knew he would defy me. I saw Rowan go into the wagon on our last day, and Scor go i
nto the forest. They’d built the wagon with tricks. It was impossible to tell that there was a second door on the other side. Rowan snuck out and met Scor. I saw them when they returned. Rowan tried to hide the marks Scor gave him. He was too tearful to be defiant towards me. I don’t know if this was an act. It seemed sincere.
“Scor was regaled as a hero when we returned to the base. I wasn’t thinking straight. I couldn’t consider the men Scor had saved. He was just a Reever who had stolen my son and abused him.
“He made certain to approach me about his freedom in front of everyone. Once again, he’d orchestrated a perfect scheme with Rowan. There was no way I could refuse him after his heroics.”
Figaru paused. He looked downward and drew a deep sigh. “I remember the first blast I gave him, and then Rowan throwing himself on Scor begging me to stop. I’d lost my mind, Jinady. Witnesses told me I’d tortured him for hours, from one side of the camp to the other.”
Figaru seemed on the verge of tears. Jinady’s heart raced.
“I beat Scor until he begged for death. Then I beat him for over an hour more.” He sighed again, this time with a shudder. “His face was unrecognizable.”
Jinady stared at the ground. Figaru’s rare show of emotion rend at his heart.
“That’s enough, I think,” Figaru said. He turned to look at Jinady with a soft smile. “Thank you for listening to me.”
Chapter 18
Figaru sat outside while Jinady slept between two down blankets in the tent. Once the sadness dissipated from his breast he was able to let his mind drift on pleasant thoughts into sleep. All Figaru’s words rang true. There was still more for him to learn, but his doubts were allayed. He’d learned his noble, demi-god, mate-to-be was not infallible. Knowing he was capable of mistakes made him even more appealing.
When they set off the next morning Jinady took Figaru’s hand. He met his downward glance with a smile.
“Thank you, Jinady.”
The words were so meaningful. Jinady’s eyes had a moment of glassiness from brimming tears. He swallowed and looked back toward the road.
Incubus Master: Complete (Yaoi) Page 14
