Rodin touched the tip of the guard’s gun to lower it. “Think harder. Someone had to come in or out of the court to get the leaf. Something must have happened to make them use it.”
Haine concentrated. “The only one who went anywhere was Mechel for his annual pilgrimage to the holy mountain. It wasn’t out of the ordinary. It’s part of the feast month celebration.”
Rodin grumbled through is nostrils while jumping several paces ahead in his mind. “Mechel, the queen’s brother, the cleric. Had he quarreled with your father before he left?”
Haine blinked at him. “Not quarreled, I don’t think. Father missed his traditional blessing before Mechel set off. It was the first time that had ever happened. We were all sitting in the chapel waiting, and father sent a servant to tell Mechel he wasn’t coming. He was too busy writing his edict. Mechel went to him. I guess to give him the blessing in his room.”
“Or to discover his edict rendered him pointless and decide to murder him.”
Haine froze. Then his eyes searched the fabric of his quilt.
“How do you know he traveled to the holy mount and not to his home island, to get the poison that you had no antidote for? Was he gone long enough to make the round trip?”
Haine managed a weak nod. A moment more and he put his face in his hand. “Oh my gods.”
“How soon after Mechel returned was Shalen killed?”
“It was…on the last day of the feast month.” He looked up. “The last day Mechel would give a blessing to the food.”
Rodin scoffed. “Why was he never suspected?”
“I didn’t know the edict gave him a motive. And besides that, he was helping us in the investigation. He was just as distraught over the murder as Janus and I. When Janus realized what the poisonous paste was he was the one to confirm that mother must have killed him. It was his certainty that made us believe it.”
He closed his eyes. “Janus said he was going to throw her in the dungeon. I knew we could deal with things more rationally by the light of the morning. Before I went to sleep Mechel burst into my room and told me Janus had called for the gallows to be built. I could see the men raising it outside my window. I panicked.
“Mechel was my rock at this time. He convinced me that I had to take the throne to prevent mother's execution. I would pretend to be Janus and he would be put on the slave ship. He reminded me of how kind Kinthor had been to father; assuring me Janus would be fine.
“I was addled—it was easier to do as he said than to think. Mechel had no doubt of how to act, it impressed me back then. I felt…” His voice began to crack. “…I could trust him. But when I returned inside after being crowned I saw the men dragging Janus in a bag through the rear courtyard. I made them stop. I took off my ceremonial crown and tied it onto his head with his hair.” He met Rodin’s eyes. “I wanted you to know he was King Shalen’s son so you would be kind to him. Mechel was furious over this when I told him later. I didn't realize why.”
Roden crossed his arms by placing his hands into the sleeves of his robe. “Janus would never execute your mother. He deceived us on the ship to protect her. He made me swear I wouldn’t kill her. The make-shift gallows was something Mechel could easily arrange himself to trick you into doing his bidding.”
Haine's voice lowered to a pained whisper. “I see that now. I should have trusted mother. She could never kill anyone.”
He gave Rodin a ‘come here’ signal. Rodin hesitated with the beginning of a sneer, but then drew close to him. Haine wrapped his arms around his shoulders and placed his lips next to his ear.
“I see Mechel’s shadow moving on our shared balcony. He’s probably heard everything we said.”
“Hmm.” Rodin remained in his embrace and spoke in hushed tones. “You realize I plan to blast a hole into his chest.”
“Please don’t.” He swallowed. “Mother loves Mechel. He should stand trial and then rot in the dungeon. Don’t do this terrible thing. It’s not our way.”
“Your ways are that of the Xen-Kroth now.”
“But please—”
“Shh. I shall consider doing you this favor, and the benefits of placing you in my debt.”
He heard Haine swallow once more as he pulled away.
When he looked back, he saw a shadow move past thin billowy curtains across the room. He gave a signal to his guards and headed for it. Glass doors opened outwards to a massive tiled balcony with a cement border supported by ornate pillars. Mechel sat against a pillar with one leg on top of the border. They were high enough for the countryside to expand for miles beyond him.
Rodin sneered. “If you’re going to jump hurry up and do it.”
Mechel glanced at him. He wore a dark belted robe, confirming he’d rushed out to listen while still in his bedclothes. His eyes had the dead stare of a defeated man.
“When men are bound by strict rules, they learn discipline. They apply this same control and restraint to all aspects of their lives. It makes them obedient, easy to rule.” He wet his lips as though bracing for a final lunge toward salvation. “These are the kinds of people you want on your conquered planets—isn’t it?”
Rodin grinned. “Of course. We demand our conquests submit to us.”
Mechel’s lips parted. A glimmer of hope returned to his eyes.
“The kind of people we don’t want is you.”
He winced.
“My master adored Shalen, you idiot. You think we’ll let his death go unpunished?”
The guard nearest to Rodin lifted his gun. (He didn’t turn the mechanism to charge it, since that had only been a theatric for Haine’s benefit.) He stood at the ready, waiting for Rodin’s signal.
Mechel pulled out a beaded necklace from the throat of his shirt. He placed them between hands in a prayer position, and chanted while fighting pitiful sobs.
Haine came through a set of double doors that led onto the balcony from the main corridor. Two guards with pistols followed behind him. He pointed while Rodin stood watching.
“Guards—take him to the dungeon!”
Mechel opened his eyes and absorbed the new situation. The guards dragged him off the border and marched him though the corridor entrance.
Haine shot a plaintive look toward Rodin.
He bowed his head to the king.
15
Kinthor spent the night reassuring Janus. He compelled him to talk about his childhood and life on Sensicry to distract him from his worries. By morning he felt he knew everything about his comfort slave.
They settled down to sleep together on Kinthor’s bed. He drew the prince in his arms.
“It’s nice to have someone to protect me,” Janus said.
Kinthor soothed his hair. “Sometimes I need someone to protect.”
“Why do you take comfort slaves instead of lovers?”
Kinthor searched the ceiling for an answer. “Selfishness. I want someone who’s job is to focus on me.”
“But you focus on them, too.”
“In time, a comfort slave becomes a lover.”
“Like me?”
“Yes, pet,” he said softly.
Rodin returned and gave his report. He brought Janus a letter from Haine. Kinthor read it over Janus’ shoulder. It was an explanation and apology.
The next day Kinthor sat on his couch with Janus and took his hand.
“Why do you want the burden of ruling? It’s tedious.” His thumb caressed the side of his palm. “I let Rodin handle most everything.”
Janus grew plaintive. “It’s my world—and Haine can’t handle being king. His letter said Mechel was doing all the work for him. Now he’s locked away for life.”
Kinthor took a deep breath. He moved a throw pillow to reveal a folded set of clothes. He handed the conservative garments to Janus.
“You may go,” he said with difficulty. “I’ll have a shuttle prepared to take you back.”
Janus sat holding the set of clothes without meeting Kinthor’s eyes. “I’m le
aving permanently?”
Kinthor closed one hand into a fist. “Yes. I’m setting you free.”
“I didn’t think you would.”
Janus didn’t move. After several moments Kinthor turned to look at him. Tears built in his crystalline blue eyes.
“What is it, pet?”
Janus lowered his gaze.
“Will you miss me?”
He nodded.
“Do you love me, Janus?”
This time there was a pause before he nodded again.
Kinthor snatched the clothes out of his hands. “Good. I needed you to admit you wanted to stay.”
“What?”
Kinthor tapped one of the controls built into the couch. “Bring it in.”
The door swirled open. Two Xen-Kroth workers in drab overalls pushed in a large computer console.
“There are two of these. Rodin is taking the other to Haine. It’s a communication console with two-way audio and video. You will be the Xen-Kroth’s official ruler of Sensicry. Haine must act out your commands on the planet, but you’ll rule from here.”
Janus went to it and glided his hand over the smooth buttons. “I don’t know how to use this.”
Kinthor came behind him. He caressed his bare shoulder. “It’s simple enough.” He lowered to kiss him. “You’ll tend to your affairs during the day while I’m seeing to mine. Then in the evenings we’ll enjoy time together, just as we do now.”
Janus blinked at it. “So Haine will hear me and see me through the glass?”
“Yes, pet.”
He continued analyzing it. “It might work.” His head turned to Kinthor. “But I’m still free. You released me. I’ll stay here as your lover.” He paused. “And I want a larger bedroom.”
Kinthor laughed through his nostrils. “I'll expand your bedroom, but you’ll remain my comfort slave.”
“No. No deal then.”
Kinthor signaled the workers to go. “That’s how it must be. It’s how you prefer it, though you won't admit it.” The men exited.
“Absolutely not. I’m as much a king as you are.”
Kinthor scoffed.
“You ass! I’m willing to stay here with you, and you won’t even—”
Kinthor scooped him off his feet. Janus remained docile in his arms, but his face flared with indignation.
“You’re being naughty, my pet. Do you want a beating?” He let menace surface in his eyes.
Janus puffed out a breath and turned away from him. “Fine.”
Kinthor laughed and carried him into the bedroom.
16
Two Xen-Kroth soldiers burst into Haine’s bedroom. He jolted awake with his heart thundering. The men were pushing in a computer console with an attached seat. He squinted at it with sleep clogging his eyes. The door to his balcony was open when it hadn’t been last night.
“Hello?”
One soldier turned to him. “King Janus will communicate with you through this console to instruct you on how to rule.”
His vision grew clear. “Oh.”
“We’ll return to show you how to use it,” the other soldier said. “Obey King Janus’ orders or you’ll answer to Xen-Kroth Empire.”
“I will. This is wonderful.”
They grunted a nod and headed for the door.
“Wait—did Rodin come with you?”
The men continued to exit without turning back.
Haine’s shoulder’s drooped. “So…he really wanted nothing more to do with me.”
“I shouldn’t,” Rodin said from the balcony, “after the lies you fed me.”
Haine threw off his blankets and ran out to him. He seized the green man in his arms. “You came back!”
Rodin tolerated his embrace with a stern expression. “Get control of yourself. We have unfinished business.”
His grin grew sultry. “Oh, yes.” He locked their lips together.
Rodin closed his arms around him, joining their slippery tongues. He made Haine walk backwards into his bedroom as their mouths worked. Then his shins bumped his bedside.
He broke from Rodin with a flushed face. “This was the unfinished business, correct?”
“Fine.” Rodin’s voice went low. “I won’t pretend I came back for a different reason.”
He tore open Haine’s nightshirt and squeezed his nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. The sudden shock of sensation made him lurch onto his tiptoes. His mouth opened wide with his gaze frozen at Rodin. A twist of the fingers caused him jolt enough for his nightshirt to fall off him. His lovely conqueror already throttled him into a haze of sensual bliss. He clasped his wrists gently when the scintillating pain became too much to bear.
Rodin pushed him onto the bed. He reached under his robes to unfasten his belt. He folded it and pelted him across the chest. Haine shrieked. Both his sensitized nipples were zapped. He rolled on his stomach to protect the throbbing nubs. His back got two streaks of pain, then Rodin snatched the waistband of his satin shorts and exposed his buttocks. The blows paused.
“You’re not bruised?”
Haine attempted to catch his breath. “It takes a lot to bruise me.”
Rodin yanked his shorts the rest of the way off and whipped with abandon. Haine jolted with his whole body as every searing lash connected. His ass burned and his hole clenched. He felt himself growing high from the delicious torment.
“I can’t take it.” He realized he was sobbing.
Rodin’s hands went onto his throbbing ass cheeks. He became so tender it felt as if the touch permeated the muscles beneath his skin.
“Of course you can.” He crushed his thumb against his asshole. Haine yelped. “You took it last time without even a mark.”
He rolled over to reveal a painfully engorged cock. “It’s not the pain.” He panted with heaves of his chest. Rodin’s eyes absorbed every inch of his shame. It twitched with a pulse. The exposure was so erotic. Haine knew he could never be so open with one of his own people.
Rodin let his outer cloak fall off his shoulders. He took off the next layer, and then a long tunic. A shapely green chest etched with muscles came into view. His dark green nipples jutted outward. Besides that he had only his pants. Rodin opened the fly and pulled them down. A hard green cock, thicker and longer than Haine’s, pointed toward the ceiling.
Haine shuddered out a moan. He reached for it, but had his hand swatted away.
Rodin found a flask of oil from his pant’s pocket. He dripped the grease over his cock and rubbed it over the stiff shaft. Then he drizzled Haine’s cock. He was seized with dangerous pleasure as Rodin's hand squeezed and coated his cock.
He pushed Haine further back onto the bed and climbed on him. His lashes fluttered in momentary confusion. Then the alien connected their bodies, closing his body heat over him and making their hard cocks press together. Haine moaned again. Rodin’s stiffness crushed against his own. He clasped him in his arms and began to thrust.
“Oh yes!” Haine’s eyes rolled back. His cock was being fucked by the cock of his sexy enemy.
Rodin grunted and kept a steady rhythm against him, rubbing his erection up and down Haine’s with merciless pressure. Haine hitched his legs around Rodin’s waist, opening himself further. His face contorted with the ecstasy. Every beat caused prickly preorgasm surges at the base of his cock. He clutched to Rodin’s shoulders, craned back his head, and gave a stifled moan.
His cock erupted onto his belly, contracting against Rodin’s with flushes of seed. His jaw clenched. He whimpered with the last of his climax.
Rodin knelt up from him. “You little idiot.”
Haine blinked at him, still gasping. The harsh words were said without ire.
“I wasn’t even close to done.” Rodin clasped his wilting cock and furiously masturbated him.
Haine screamed. His tender cock was struck with brutal shocks of sensation. He wriggled to try to get free. “No! Ahhh!” He felt achy heat in his urethra, that shot up the length of his shaft. H
e clasped the bed to resist fighting Rodin’s hand.
The alien continued until the heat edged toward pleasure. His chest quivered with a gasp. Rodin took his organ from it’s sensitized after-orgasm state and brought him back to an erection. He ceased whimpering and fixed on him.
“I love the sounds of your screams.”
Haine gave a sigh. Now that the torture was over he wanted to feel it again. “Fuck me. I don’t care if it hurts.”
Rodin nodded. “You prefer it.”
Haine laughed and turned onto his stomach. He was lubed with the same oil Rodin used to frot him. The first finger Rodin shoved into him stretched him with a sudden pang of sensation to his ring. He pushed in a second one beside it, making him throb. He lifted his ass to meet the digits.
Rodin pulled out his fingers and knelt behind him. He brought Haine onto all fours. His ass met Rodin’s cock. The organ felt like steel when it pressed against his hole. He stretched open smoothly, the cap opening him to a pronounced ache and then popping in. Haine cried out. He was filled with long inches of cock. Only when Rodin’s pelvis connected did he pause.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?”
“Ohhh.” The pain caused delicious shock waves all through his middle. He felt his cock grow to its full stiffness once more. His anus pulsed against the impaling member. “Fuck me.”
Rodin pulled out until just the cap was inside. Haine realized he barely felt any pain now. When he pushed in again, there was only a dull ache. The rapture of being stuffed once more, the twinge of his prostate as the steel cock crushed over it, enthralled him.
Rodin pumped with unwavering strength. Each rough thrust made Haine give a sound halfway between a whimper and moan. After minutes of the luxurious strokes Rodin sped in a way that made him panic. The alien’s pelvis beat against his ass, stuffing him with the full length of his cock in a fraction of a second. He cried out his moans while clawing the bed sheets. Then Rodin crammed into him without recoiling. He felt the hot gushes of his seed. He jolted with another thrust, squeezing his hips and grunting. Then he was still. Haine could hear him gasping.
Warlord's Enigma MM BDSM Sci-Fi Erotica Page 9
