by M. A. Church
I cut my eyes to Ti and saw, to my surprise, absolute fury on his face. He'd stopped hissing in that strange tongue and was no longer leaning forward like the rest of the crowd. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and his lips a thin straight line across his face, his diamond-shaped eyes flashing with suppressed rage.
A chill danced down my spine as it hit me—Ti knows what Colt's doing.
With an awful crack, Colt broke the joint and splintered Kydan's knee. The crowd went wild. Roaring in fury and pain, Kydan slammed his hands down on either side of Colt's neck, stopping all the blood flow to Colt's brain. His hands flew up and clawed ineffectually at Kydan's hands as his face turned bright red, and then blue. Colt started to twitch, then went limp, and Kydan threw his unconscious body onto the mat. He struggled to his feet, delivering a nasty blow to Colt's ribs with his tail as he balanced on his uninjured leg. The referee acknowledged Kydan the winner by knockout, and the crowd cheered.
Ti was a dark, brooding thundercloud next to us as he stared at the limp, unconscious form of his mate.
"Aren't you going to help him?" I asked as Colt slowly regained consciousness. His throat was purple with bruises from Kydan's hands, and that last blow from Kydan's tail looked like it might have broken some ribs.
"Absolutely not," Ti said from between clenched teeth. "Not with the stunt he just pulled." He looked at Keyno and me, still standing with our arms around each other. "I will see you both at the banquet this evening." Saying nothing more, he spun on his heel and stalked away, leaving his battered mate to drag himself out of the ring and limp home... alone.
Keyno's arms tightened around me, and he had a thoughtful look on his face. I glanced at the mat, expecting to see Colt staring after Ti with longing... or, possibly, with anger at being abandoned. Instead, Colt stared after him with a look of hungry anticipation. I didn't understand, but it made me more curious than ever to see whatever it was that Colt wanted to show me.
Keyno showered while I unpacked our clothes. He tried to lure me into the shower with him, but I refused. The slight scent of cloves that drifted toward me warned me what would happen if I showered with him. As much as my body was screaming "yes" in big capital letters, I also knew that we'd be late to dinner—not the best move on a diplomatic visit. Keyno finished up his shower and I jumped in. By the time I had finished showering, drying my hair, and braiding the white strip, he'd dressed and was waiting for me to come out. Keyno was holding the G-string when I entered the room. I dropped the towel and, shaking my head, took it from him and put it on.
"Is there really any need to wear this?" I asked, grinning as he watched me slide it up my legs.
"What?" Keyno eyes were slowly glazing over. "Oh... yes. That way, I will know what's under your clothes all night long."
"Are you trying to drive me crazy, or does it just come naturally?" I groaned, desire already humming through my body, making me hard. I took a step toward him before I caught myself.
"Gods!" Keyno sniffed the air, frowning, and then growled as I slipped the pants on. "This is going to be a long night."
"Maybe you shouldn't watch me as I dress." I could see the bulge straining against his pants already; I could hear the low growls. He was getting ready to pounce; I could see it in his eyes. "Go check on Gibor or Doc. Hell, find Ti and see what he's doing. But if you don't stop staring at me like that, we won't just be late; we won't get there at all."
Keyno snickered as he left the room, but I noticed that he didn't disagree with me, either. Taking a deep breath, I resisted the urge to fan myself. The sexual tension between us was so high that you could almost see it.
Keyno had placed the bracelets that matched the necklace I was wearing on the table near that fantastic bed, so I put those on, too. Once I put my sandals on, I was ready to go. Almost as soon as I was done, there was a knock on the door. Chad and John had come to get me; Keyno had asked them to check to see if I was dressed. Dinner was about to be served. The three of us walked into the Gathering Room—or something that looked so like a Gathering Room as to make very little difference—and looked for our mates.
A long black table had been placed in the middle of the room. The surface was shiny and smooth, the lights in the room reflected off the surface. The material used to make the top of the table reminded me of the large stone boulders I'd seen on their planet. One end of the table had a wide leg base. It was the same width as the table. The base had circular geometric designs cut into it. Then, there was another board on the floor that was the same width as what I was calling the table leg... it ran under the table, but stopped midway. It didn't run the full length of the table. Damn thing looked like a long rectangle with half the bottom and one end missing.
The black chairs were shaped like an "X," but one arm of the "X" was arranged to seat a person. The only arrangement on the tables was tall, thin glass vases, but at the bottom of the vase there were dozens of long cylinders that jutted in every direction. The vases held a massive arrangement of silver, fluorescent flowers. The glass dinner plates were long and rectangular. There were small compartments that held the food. The utensils were also glass, with silver handles that were much longer than what I was used to and curled up at the end. Everything on the table was black, silver, or glass. I figured that the black and silver represented Ti's tribe. Nine other tables surrounded it, each one set for ten people.
"Hey! I thought that we were ready to eat, but two of the tables are empty." I sat next to Keyno. "What's up with that?"
"Dammit, Dale. That would be the first thing—"
"It's all right, Keyno. That's a very good question, and one that I expected from your mate." Ti looked at the empty tables.
"Did I say something wrong?" I resisted the urge to slap my hand against my forehead. I'd hardly managed to get seated and I'd already stepped in the middle of something. "I'm sorry, Ti. I didn't mean anything by my remark. God, I never learn."
"It's all right." Ti grinned at me. "Part of your charm, Dale, is that you don't think before you speak. That's a rare commodity among my people, and one that I find refreshing. No one will ever be in doubt as to what you're thinking."
"Oh, trust me, he sticks his foot in his mouth on a daily basis." Chad laughed at the narrow-eyed look I shot him.
"One never knows what will pop out of his mouth next," Keyno sighed, as though having me as a mate was a huge burden for him to bear.
"Walking on thin ice, my mate, and it's cracking under you."
I laughed at the puzzled look on Keyno's face. I'd probably end up explaining that one later. Across from me, Colt snickered. I noticed that he looked much better. Somebody, though I didn't know if it had been Ti, had healed the bruises around his neck. He's moving a bit gingerly, though. His ribs must still be sore.
"The two tables are empty because those two tribes did not agree to let Tah'Narians come to our planet. The vote was eight to two in favor of your visit. The representatives of the dissenting tribes had the option of not attending the banquet. Personally, I find it to be no great loss. Please don't be concerned over it, Dale. Change takes time." Ti shrugged.
Ti stood up as several waiters entered the room with tall glasses filled with a thick, milky-white substance. A glass was placed in front of each of us; Ti lifted his and faced Keyno. I eyed mine; the liquid reminded me of something awfully personal I didn't mind drinking when it came straight from the source... assuming that source was my mate.
"Holy Mother of God, do you know what that looks—"
"Shhh... damn, Chad," I gasped quietly as Ti continued to talk.
I glanced over to John; he was staring at the glass's contents as if he wished he had a microscope. Gibor and Doc didn't seem to think there was anything strange, however.
I decided I'd pay Keyno back for that remark he made earlier, so I gently slid my hand up his thigh just as Ti finished his speech and Keyno raised his glass. As soon as he had taken a mouthful of the drink, I grabbed his cock and squee
zed lightly, watching him flinch. I learned over and whispered softly in his ear.
"Know what that looks like?" I asked, wondering how much trouble I'd be in if he spit it out all over the table.
I had to hand it to him; he drank it down and didn't spill a drop. But I was sitting close enough to him to hear the slight choking sound he made. I lifted my drink and slowly allowed the fluid to flow into my mouth; my throat muscles moved while I swallowed. Keyno eyed me, revenge sparkling in his eyes. I lowered the glass, running my tongue across my lips.
"Brat..." he hissed softly, his cock throbbing in my hand. "You'll pay for that later."
"What?" I whispered. "Doesn't it remind you of a milkshake, too?"
Dinner was a mix of Onfre, Tah'Narian, and Earth foods. They actually had fruit—things that reminded me of strawberries and grapes. Keyno's people mostly ate meat, so fruits rarely were part of their diet. I could order things off the duplicator, but it wasn't the same as fresh from the garden.
After dinner was over, Keyno and I visited the gardens. I needed to talk to him alone. I'd noticed the looks I'd received from both Ti and Colt during dinner. Whatever they had planned for later, Ti knew that he would most likely have an audience for it. Keyno was the only one at this point who was clueless.
"I need to ask you something." We sat down on a stone bench. Small insects that reminded me of fireflies darted through the air to rest on flowers and trees, creating small blips of beautiful chartreuse light in the gathering darkness.
"I figured as much," Keyno replied. "Would this have anything to do with what happened during Colt's match? Or the looks that he and Ti both kept shooting you during dinner?"
For a minute, all I could do was sit there in the waning light of the setting sun and goggle at my mate like he was Batman, the world's greatest detective. I hadn't thought I was so transparent. I recovered, though, and answered Keyno's questions.
"Colt and I talked—really talked. He still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, though. Anyway, I'm fairly sure he's satisfied with Ti as his mate, but he said something—he told me that he knew what love was, but that wasn't what Ti gave him. I don't doubt that there are feelings between them, but I need to know this is a good pairing for him. I have to know this situation is better than the one he was in on Earth." I frowned at him. "I like Colt, though God only knows why."
"Is this why you're so worried about him?" Keyno shook his head. "You feel some sort of responsibility for his being harvested?"
"No. That was my government's doing." I shook my head. "I guess I need to know he's at peace, that he found whatever he needs to be happy. Honestly, from everything I know about him, he hasn't had much peace or happiness in his life."
Keyno stared at me for a long moment with a look in his large eyes I couldn't quite comprehend. When he spoke, his voice was very soft but firm, amazingly level and controlled. It commanded my immediate attention. "Dale, you need to understand that peace and happiness mean different things to different people. I know that on Earth you have a saying: one man's trash is another man's treasure. Just remember—that saying applies to people and relationships, too."
I stared at my mate in disbelief. "Keyno, just because Colt had a terrible life on Earth doesn't mean that he's not entitled to a better one now."
"All I'm saying, Dale, is that what Colt needs to be happy may upset you."
I nodded; Colt had told me that much himself.
For several minutes we sat there in the twilight, surrounded by tiny insects that were spots of dancing color, as I thought about whether I really wanted to see what Colt got from Ti. I just couldn't forget Colt's eyes the day I'd gone to see him in the infirmary, the day he'd told me that I fought good... for a white boy. He'd been so desolate, so empty. I didn't think I could leave Onfre without knowing if he was truly at peace, and I said as much to Keyno.
"So what do you want?" Keyno asked.
"Colt gave me a rough map. It's the directions to his house," I said. "He said that if we came, we'd see what Ti gives him that he needs so badly."
"He threw that fight. But you already knew that, didn't you?"
"Yeah, he said he was going to—and to bet against him."
"Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into, love?" Keyno frowned at me.
"I know it's not going to be pretty. I asked Colt if it would upset me, and he said it probably would."
"No doubt about it. This is going to turn your world upside down. Ti will punish Colt, sexually, and it's going to be rough and mean. Possibly brutal. Do you understand that? They have a sadomasochistic relationship."
"I was there when Ti stated very clearly what he wanted to do to Colt, remember? I kind of figured that out. I need to know that Colt truly wants that with Ti."
"Okay, then," Keyno said. "But understand this, Dale. If we go, we stay until the end."
I swallowed hard and nodded. Keyno's eyes flashed with the fairy lights of the garden insects and, for just a moment, he looked sinister. I shivered.
"Let me see the map." Keyno held his hand out.
We walked for nearly twenty minutes before we arrived where Ti and Colt lived. Their house was separate from the others and was much larger than the other homes that we'd passed on the way. Frankly, I was a little surprised that we weren't stopped en route.
Keyno knocked on the door, and Ti answered it almost immediately. He was dressed in black pants, and was both bare-chested and barefoot. The black pants against his powdery white scaly skin only made his ripped musculature look that much more imposing.
"Ah," Ti said. "Welcome, my friends."
"Greetings, Ti," Keyno answered. "You know why we're here?"
"Indeed I do," Ti replied. "Are you sure that you want your mate to witness this? Does he understand what he will see?"
"He thinks he does. He needs to know that Colt is... happy with you," Keyno said.
"He cares that much?" Ti's voice was slightly shocked.
"Yes, he does." I was a little annoyed that they were talking over me like I wasn't here.
"You are indeed something special, Dale." A slight smile touched his Ti's lips. "Now I understand what prompted this afternoon's actions a little better and will take that into consideration. Follow me."
Keyno and I followed him to a room at the back of his house. I didn't pay much attention to the furnishings. He led us through a connecting doorway to a small room that had a half-wall and glass that extended to the ceiling. There was a chair and table, and that was it. It reminded me very much of what I'd always imagined a police interrogation room would look like, except that the glass wasn't tinted and wasn't one-way. Ti left us there, shutting the door behind him. Keyno sat and pulled me onto his lap; we both watched through the window.
Chapter Twenty
Suddenly, another door opened, and Ti escorted a blindfolded Colt to a small, slightly raised dial that was directly in the center of the room. All he had on was another pair of loose black pants. Ti positioned Colt on the dial, and then raised his arms so that they were out from his body and even with his shoulders.
Ti used his foot to spread Colt's legs apart. "Do not move from that position and give me your safeword."
"Lighthouse."
Ti strode to the control screen wall and tapped out a command. Waves of energy rose from the dial, surrounding Colt's body, and rose to another dial that faced down from the ceiling.
"What's that... that thing around Colt?"
Keyno leaned closer. "It's called a body mass immobilizer, or BMI."
"Say what?"
"It's a force field that negates the body's ability to move. The person is basically frozen within the field, but their body weight is supported and blood pressure and such is monitored. They can breathe normally, speak, and feel sensations. They can make some small involuntary movements—like muscles twitching or their chest rising and falling as they breathe. Ti can reach through the field, too, but he has to move at a normal pace. If you trie
d to quickly thrust your hand through the shield, you'd be stopped. Nothing that travels at a fairly high rate of speed can get through. But if you move at a normal rate of speed, you can reach in and moved the person's body around to suit you."
"So they're trapped and defenseless?"
"Calm down. Did you see Ti programming the shield? Did you hear him ask for a safeword? If Colt says that word, the shield goes down and he's free."
"Ahh, I see now. This is some kind of instrument used for bondage."
"It can be used as such, yes. There are other uses as well. Now listen."
Once Ti was satisfied with the BMI, he returned to where Colt was standing. Ti didn't stop to admire his mate, though. He stepped up to him, reached through the shield, and grabbed Colt's chin, forcing him to face in our direction.
"You want to know if they are here, don't you, my mate?" Ti asked.
"Si," Colt said, that gravelly voice full of something that sounded suspiciously like pride.
"They are. They're here to watch as I punish you for throwing that fight. You did throw that fight, didn't you?"
"I did." There was no remorse in his answer.
"Why?" Ti asked, still holding Colt's chin.
"To make you give me what I want, so Dale will understand that I need this." Colt's voice rasped across my nerves, and I squirmed on Keyno's lap.
"You forget your place, my mate. You forget our bargain. I should release you now and abandon you to whoever would have you. Which would be... who, my mate? A Tah'Narian? They don't want a mate like you that's so strong-willed and deadly. Who else would you trust to do what I do for you?"
Colt said nothing, but I saw a very fine tremor run through his body.
"Answer me." Ti's voice held that soft, sibilant hiss I'd heard earlier during Colt's match.
"I trust nobody else to do for me what you do." Colt's tone wasn't submissive. It was mocking, and a half-smile played at the corner of his mouth.
