Heat rolled out of the Lesser-Bred. His shoulders flexed and muscles jumped along his back.
His next words were strained. “Normally…normally I don’t have to do this again so soon. But…like the feeding, it has increased. I almost killed Lor last time. I waited too long. You are right. I wait too long. And I’m hungry. So hungry…starving.” His breath came on a sharp intake of air.
Farley said, “I’ll help you if you’ll just let me go.”
Heikman shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
“I’m Food. I know how to sate a Dominant.” But he couldn’t do it like this. Flat on his back, hands and feet bound, offered up on an altar like a freaking sacrificial lamb.
“There isn’t anything you can do, trust me. This…this is a necessity like the feeding. I didn’t mean to shoot Junily, you know. I just couldn’t not kill him.” He glanced at Farley again. “You understand that, don’t you?”
Sad to say, he did. There were many times where Farley wound up doing things because he had to, not because he wanted to. That was a part of being Kin and not Human.
Heikman picked up something and padded across the black tile floor to the table Farley was on. Farley saw it was an IV bag when Heikman fastened it to the wall. The Lesser-Bred Alchemist extended an IV line.
Farley watched. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you can heal.” Heikman pulled the cap from the end. Farley felt fingers press against his wrist. There was a small stick, then Heikman wrapped tape around the port several times to hold it in place.
Farley arched his head back. The bag on the wall was red.
“Fuck no…that’s Human blood.”
“Yes.”
“Shit--” Farley struggled and the collar flared. “Christ, no, not that. Heikman…please just take it out--”
“I can’t risk you dying.”
“I’m a blood addict, you can’t give me Human blood!” The Lesser-Bred pulled the line until red welled at the end, and reattached it.
“I know about your past.”
Farley froze.
“It’s in your case file with the CFKR.”
“Why would you do this then?” Farley said.
A white sharp-toothed grin cracked across Heikman’s face. “Tit for tat. You’re right, I need you. And now…now you’ll need me.” With a flick he opened the line to a slow trickle.
Human blood hit Farley’s veins and sweat broke out over his body. Heikman wandered back over to the table.
“God of Man, no…” Farley’s teeth punched down, his muscles jumped, his body hummed. “Take it out…please--” Farley blinked, trying to clear his vision, but everything was too bright, too fuzzy. He yanked at the chains but nothing gave. After another minute he quit fighting, and by the time the Lesser-Bred came back, Farley wanted the blood.
It felt good. It felt wonderful. A moan eased over Farley’s lips and he rolled his eyes up.
“More…” His stared at the bag and he licked his lips. “More…please, more.”
“All in good time, wyrm.” Heikman climbed on the altar and straddled him.
Enough hunger rolled out of the man that Farley’s own flared, except he was already being fed. He just wanted it in his mouth. To taste it, smell it, to feel the heat of it slide down his throat.
It was the sound of sliding metal that drew Farley’s attention. Heikman held up a slender curved blade. The shape reminded Farley of chelae. Candlelight glinted off the mirrored surface.
The Lesser-Bred planted one hand beside Farley’s head and rolled his hips into his groin. He was hard. Apparently all the inhibitions Heikman had during the feed seemed to have gone MIA.
“Now…” Heikman caressed the flat of the blade against Farley’s arm. “If you survive this, I will reward you. Anything you want will be yours.”
“How about letting me go?”
Heikman flicked a look up at the IV bag. “I don’t think you’ll want to leave. I don’t think you’ll be able to.”
Cold metal moved to Farley’s shoulder, then followed the contour of his arm, down and around.
“This is going to hurt. You may pass out from the pain. Try not to. That can be…very bad. Sometimes I can’t stop. Sometimes…” He sucked in air and ground his hips forward. “Don’t scream till I tell you. I’ll let you know when I need your pain.”
Was he fucking nuts?
The answer was obvious.
“Ready, Farley?”
“Fuck, no!”
Those mismatched eyes hardened. Heikman put the blade against Farley’s under arm. The tip pricked the skin. “If you live through this, I promise to make it up to you.” Heikman’s breath shuddered.
“Really? With what? Ice cream and a pony ride?” Farley hissed as the steel punctured the skin of his pit, then slid into the muscle. Heikman’s expression widened and sweat glittered on his skin. The Lesser-Bred licked his lips and without warning jerked upward. Farley’s head kicked back as the blade severed the radial cartilage.
And since the asshole didn’t say a damn thing about not cussing… “FUCK!” Farley slammed his head against altar. “OH FUCK!!!”
Heikman ground his hips against Farley. This is what Lor meant. Heikman didn’t fuck what he ate, but sex for him wasn’t about pleasure….it was about pain. It was the Alchemy it had to be.
When Farley opened his eyes the man’s face was only an inch away.
“You are so beautiful.” Heikman swallowed over and over, while making contented noises.
Scent. He was drinking it out of the air.
A second blade mirrored the first on the other side. With one hard shove Heikman buried it to the hilt. Farley hissed out a breath when Heikman yanked the blade upward, severing the other joint.
The Lesser-Bred thrust against him, his breath ragged, his face strained. He selected another blade and put it over Farley’s shoulder behind his clavicle.
“Scream,” hissed Heikman. “Scream for me.”
Heikman shoved the steel into Farley’s shoulder so hard the sound of cracking bone echoed.
Farley screamed.
Heikman’s face became a mask of ecstasy.
Panting, the Lesser-Bred put his hand on Farley’s throat. “Now…” He nodded and closed his eyes while his thumb made little circles across the pulse beating in Farley’s neck. “I need you…this next one…” Tremors shook him and his tongue played along his lips and his expression calmed. “Scream. Next one…scream.” Heikman’s hand went to the band on his arm and he unsheathed another knife. The tip touched Farley’s shoulder. “You need to scream for me, wyrm. Don’t hold back. Give me everything!” He shoved in the blade and Farley felt it all the way down his sternum. The scream coming out of Farley’s throat threatened to shred his vocal cords. Heikman roared and twisted the blade, his mouth open, sucking in the scent bleeding out of Farley’s skin.
“God…no!” Tears squeezed out of Farley’s eyes. Heikman gave the blade hilt another twist, tearing something deep and sending bolts of pain through Farley’s arms and back. He bucked, tried to kick, and bucked again.
Above him Heikman hissed, grinding, biting his lip. His mouth worked open and closed as he ate the scent out of the air. Feeding…
Doing this somehow fed Heikman. But Farley could tell it wasn’t giving the Lesser-Bred enough, fast enough. He wasn’t getting sated. Farley had to turn this. Only problem was he was locked down tight with three…no four…pieces of steel sticking out of his body. Not to mention his arms were practically severed.
Heikman pulled out another blade.
Farley hissed. “Wait…wait….”
The Lesser-Bred shook his head. “No waiting…no more waiting.”
“Give me your mouth.” Farley jumped when the point of the knife raked across his ribs.
Heikman’s eyes came open and they were angry, hard. The blade punched home and this time something tore inside when Farley screamed. Ichor coated the back of his throat and when he coughed, it blew
out in little sprays.
Farley said, “Listen to me, asshole--”
“I warned you…” Heikman’s voice was breathy and his smile beaming.
Farley fought against the urge to pass out. “It’s the scent…give me your mouth. You need--” Heikman reached up and slid the IV line completely open. The rush of Human blood to Farley’s system made everything spin. “God…God…please….Fuck…” Now he couldn’t remember what it was he needed to do. It was something important. Something that would save his life.
Heikman gave the blade in his side a twist. Black stars burst in front of Farley’s eyes while the euphoria of Human blood kept him from going under.
Tears streamed down Heikman’s face and his body trembled. “Close, so close.” He frowned. “I’m sorry…I have to keep going.”
Heikman reached for another blade and spread his hand wide over Farley’s stomach.
Oh, hell no.
Farley had been opened up once across the gut and that was a road he was not going to go down again. Heikman leaned in, his breath coming quick.
“Listen to me, Heikman. It’s the scent…that’s what you need.” Farley picked his head up so the man would see his eyes if he would just look up. When he did, Farley said, “Give me your mouth…let me feed you.”
“How?”
“Scent…the pain…” Farley dropped his head against the table, too tired to hold it up.
Heikman moved close enough that Farley could feel his breath on his chin.
Heikman said, “Then what?”
“I can sate you. I can give you what no one else can. I’m Food. Let me feed you.”
A hand slipped around the back of Farley’s head and he wondered briefly if Heikman was going to ram a blade up through his skull. Closer and their lips almost touched. Farley concentrated on dragging in air. The pain in his side grew sharp. He exhaled, feeling the blood bubble in his throat. Heikman opened his mouth and drew in the breath. His eyes fluttered and his hand tightened on Farley’s neck. “More…”
Farley tried but he couldn’t get enough air. Heikman made an angry sound and slammed his mouth against Farley, sucking the breath right out of his lungs. Farley slipped his tongue into the man’s mouth.
Heikman growled and jerked back.
Farley said, “Taste it…”
Heikman did, and his angry expression transformed into pure hunger. He caught Farley’s mouth and plunged his tongue deep. A hand closed around Farley’s throat. The other landed on the blade jammed in his clavicle. The Lesser-Bred was insatiable, alternating between trying to choke Farley with his tongue and twisting that fucking knife in his shoulder. When Farley was pretty sure he was about to start checking out, Heikman seized up. His teeth raked against his lips and he barked a surprise into Farley’s mouth.
Farley could taste the man’s climax and feel the wet heat across his groin. The Lesser-Bred’s expression said it all. He hadn’t expected to actually orgasm over the exchange or be sated.
Looking dazed, Heikman climbed off Farley and staggered a little as he headed for the door. He paused, head hanging, body trembling. “I’ll have Lor clean you up.”
Yeah, he’d let Lor clean up his mess. Just like he let Lor clean up everything else, including Junily…
Wasted and knowing it, Farley laughed. It was a high pitched sound bordering on madness. “You’re a real son-of-a-bitch.” Farley dragged in a breath. “He was young, so young. Man, I hate you.” He coughed, spitting more blood.
Heikman’s gaze went to the IV bag . “You won’t for very long. You’ll need me, Farley, and what I can give you.”
Farley tried to sit up but was met with resistance. That’s right…he was chained.
Like a dog.
He made a woofing noise. “I’m surprised you don’t make me wear a collar. Oh wait…you do. Holy fuck, I am a goddamned puppy.”
Heikman frowned. “I’ll get Lor.”
Farley said, “That’s right, you go get God but you tell him if he calls me ‘little one’ one more time and I’m adding his jolly-green-giant ass to my list of who-I’m-gonna-skull-fuck!”
The door shut and Farley cursed. He pulled against the chains. “Get this shit out of me!” There was no getting loose.
And Garrett wasn’t going to come for him.
He was alone.
High as a freaking kite and totally, utterly, completely--
The door opened.
“What? Miss me already?” Even drunk, Farley recognized the scent flowing in the room on eddies of movement.
Fuck.
“Well, well.” Darco strolled into the room, his movement completely Human. His wardrobe suggested he’d been hanging out with emo-vampire kids again, or maybe he just liked the whole black-on-black and face metal bit. His cobalt blue eyes slid up Farley’s body and flicked to the wall where the IV hung. He frowned.
And he actually looked unhappy.
“Who did this to you?” Darco swept a pale hand through the blood pooling on the tile ledge and sucked it from his fingers.
Farley dropped his head back. Maybe his Brother wasn’t real. Hallucinations were known to happen when he was on the sauce. God knew his stupidity was endless.
“Farley…” Darco never called him by his name.
A hand touched his cheek. Farley looked at the Male, who had his eyes on the blades buried in his body. The expression on his face was unfamiliar. Concern?
Yeah riiiight!
“How the fuck did you get in here?” Christ, was that his voice? Farley sounded like the poster boy for speech impediments. His eyes rolled up to the IV bag. Now that he wasn’t getting cut up, everything was going straight to his brain…oh, and lower parts. A giggle leaked out of his clenched teeth.
“I go where I need to go.” Darco grabbed the blade in Farley’s shoulder and yanked it out. Farley howled and tried to kick while squeezing out a line of curses. Darco didn’t even give him time to breathe before yanking out the rest.
By the time the last blade hit the floor Farley was gasping for air and half-sober as his body used up the blood supply healing the gaping holes and ripped tendons.
When Farley could drag in enough air to form words he said, “Take it out. Christ…get it out of me.” He twisted his IV hand and tried to rub the port loose. Darco surprised him by doing what he asked, then he reached for the shackles binding his wrists. They must have had some type of bolt method because he could feel Darco’s hands make a twisting motion.
Once Farley’s arms were free they started another new game of fun-with-pain as the overstretched muscles pulled tight. When his ankles were undone his legs gave an encore. Farley rolled to his side and waited for his body to relax. A line of heat came across his shoulder. He rolled his eyes up. Darco’s face was inches away.
Still feeling just a little giddy, Farley smiled and said, “Have I ever told you that I love your eyes…” A hand touched his back and Farley could feel his Brother tracing the still-healing bruises running down his spine. His insides shot off with pangs as Darco’s fingertips brushed lower.
“I told you I would not share you. That I would come for you.” The cold-as-ice tone was back in Darco’s voice. “I can’t afford to lose you to the static. Things have to change, Little Brother.”
Shivers made Farley’s limbs twitch. His teeth chattered. “I wish you’d make sense when you talked to me. Just once…I’d like to have a n-normal c-conversation.”
Darco gave a nod like he agreed. “Now tell me…who tried to take you from me?” White points peeked out from under his lips and gold flecked in his dark blue orbs. Farley was very familiar with that look. It meant his Brother was thinking painful thoughts.
Farley said, “Can’t you just get me out of here?”
“Give me his name.” Darco’s lips brushed Farley’s ear. “I’m going to show him real pain. I’m going to teach him true suffering.” Teeth clipped his lobe and Darco’s tongue chased the burn.
“Why?”
; Darco sighed. “He tried to take what is mine. You are mine, Little Brother. I choose to share you with the Female, I choose to let you walk among the Chetrah, but you are mine. Never forget that.” His fingers danced along Farley’s shoulders then stroked his ribs. He startled like he’d caught himself committing a taboo and pulled away.
“Heikman…Roger Heikman.” Farley said it only because Darco pushed him. He couldn’t deny he wanted the fucker to die, but letting his Brother loose on anyone was never a good thing.
“I told you I would kill them. All of them.”
Darco turned toward the door.
“Wait…don’t leave me. Christ, Darco, get me out of here.”
His Brother tossed him a look. “I will never leave you, Little Brother. But I think I should take care of this first. You smell too much like food.” He licked his lips. “And there will be plenty of time for that. Later. Forever.” He slipped his hand under his shirt and stroked his stomach. “I’ll find you soon enough. I can always find you.”
“Shit…Darco…” Farley pushed himself upright but the Male was already gone. The door to the hallway stayed ajar.
Farley tried to ease over the edge of the table and stand but his legs didn’t want to cooperate. No, he was coming down off a straight line of Human blood and feeling like a burnout.
Feel nothing! He was a burnout.
His feet hit the floor and he promptly tipped over and landed against the wall. Farley got a real good view of the red puddle forming at the end of the disconnected line. He clenched his eyes shut and tried to ignore the smell. He needed to get out of here.
No, what he needed was a taste…
City of Dragons: Of Flesh and Blood Page 44
