Puppet/Master (The Vale Chronicles Book 1)

by Joel Abernathy

  “Slower,” Dusk coached, pulling out slightly. He gazed down at Arden’s lips as they dragged across the cock slipping from their grasp and chuckled when the other man whimpered in response. “I’m not going anywhere, but you need to breathe.”

  It didn’t seem like a priority at the moment, but the need to obey overwhelmed even the need to taste. Arden gave in and let the fae’s cock slip fully from his mouth so he could grip the base and worship every inch of it with his tongue.

  Dusk’s moan washed over him like words of approval and the fae’s hips bucked, a half-intentional movement.

  “God, that’s hot,” Leo growled, his fingers biting into Arden’s flesh as he started fucking him even harder. Every time his cock hit Arden’s prostate, the submissive felt like fireworks were going off inside of him. He’d experienced the shifting of the Chrysalus energy on so many occasions, but this was so different that it took him awhile to realize what it was. Before, it had felt like something was being taken from him, but caught between them, pleasuring them both simultaneously, was like a pressure valve slowly being released. Every move between them brought relief, and he was filled with something far greater than what he’d given every time they touched him.

  The intimacy the two lovers shared easily expanded to encompass their third, and they took him with flawless synchronicity. The pulsing heat on Arden’s tongue matched the rhythm of the throbbing shaft inside him and soon, keeping up with them became too much. The moment Leo’s seed filled him, the pressure pushed him over the edge and he came without his cock being touched. He ravenously suctioned the fae’s cock until he joined them and swallowed Dusk’s sweet cum like he was dying of thirst.

  The orgasm was the final release of the energy that had built up to the point where it felt like poison, and Arden collapsed the moment Dusk’s half-erect cock left his mouth. His knees were still spread apart below him and Leo’s cock was buried deep, and his ass stayed in the air as his cheek hit the bed, but he no longer had the energy to hold himself up.

  Aftershocks of pleasure were making his extremities tingle and his core was still tight, as if not all of his body had gotten the memo that he’d already come.

  “Fuck,” Leo breathed, his hands gentling on Arden’s hips. His cock was still stiff when he gently pulled it out and even that made Arden feel newly aroused.

  He moaned, rolling onto his back as Dusk’s hand found his chest and the fae laid down beside him. “You alright?” Dusk asked breathily.

  Arden reached out to brush the fallen hair out of the fae’s perfect face, his heart still pounding. “God, you’re beautiful,” he muttered.

  Dusks’ lips parted in a smile that made the comment seem like an understatement and he pulled Arden into his arms. “As are you, lareta.”

  That word again. Arden shivered in bliss. “What does it mean?”

  “It means beloved,” Leo answered, pressing up against his back. He wrapped a strong arm around them both and Arden felt like the weight of the bliss would crush him. “A belonging too precious to describe. It’s not a direct translation, but there really isn’t one.”

  “Oh,” Arden said breathlessly, relaxing between them. He still couldn’t believe it had actually happened, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up that the experience had been as blindingly, bewilderingly amazing for them as it had been for him. “Did you… feel anything?”

  Dusk looked over at Leo, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Well?” he asked in a teasing tone. “Did you feel anything, Leo?”

  “Oh, yeah,” the elf purred, reaching for his mate’s hand. “I feel damn near invincible. You?”

  “Mmh,” Dusk sighed, squeezing Arden tight enough to crush the breath from him. “No words.”

  Arden’s heart soared at their remarks. So it wasn’t just him. Power wasn’t exactly the word he’d use to describe the encounter on his end, though. More like safety, absolute acceptance, and something else he couldn’t quite define.

  Maybe it was the same thing that made lareta indefinable. Some things were just meant to be felt rather than understood, and Arden decided this was one of them.

  Chapter 28

  Arden

  Arden took a deep breath as he stood in front of the portal that would transport them to the surface. This time, they were bypassing the safety of Praya for the somewhat neutral territory on the outskirts of Favros. There was rumored to be a colony of free humans and somewhat sympathetic elves in the region, but Arden knew that wouldn’t offer them much protection if Eric brought an army. All the more reason things had to go according to plan.

  It had already been agreed upon that Elan would be the one to reach out to Eric with a peace offering in the form of his wayward puppet. The brothers hadn’t parted ways on amicable terms, but as Elan put it, “He already thinks of me as a traitor. He won’t put it past me to turn on you guys, either.”

  Arden could tell that the plan grated on the vampire’s nerves, even though he was the one who’d suggested it. From what he understood, Elan was the most recent addition to the Brotherhood after him, and he still didn’t know the details of how Elan and Eric had come to fight for different sides. It wasn’t a subject the vampire was eager to discuss.

  If Arden knew Eric as well as he thought he did, the prospect of having his property returned to him would be enough to lure him out of the safety of Ark. Because Favros was technically neutral territory, he wouldn’t have time to rally his forces. Theoretically, that would give them the advantage in terms of numbers.

  “You can go on,” Elan said, giving him an impatient look as he waited in line behind Arden to go through the portal. “Not like it’s gonna spit you out in someone’s asshole.”

  Arden grimaced. “I’m sure it took you awhile to get used to interdimensional travel.”

  “As I recall, he promptly vomited a gallon of freshly-consumed blood the first time he went through,” Leopold mused.

  Elan flipped him off and pushed Arden out of the way. “See you assholes on the other side.”

  With that, he disappeared through the portal and Arden gulped. He made it look so easy, but the last time had left him feeling like his body was unglued from his skin.

  “It’s alright,” Dusk said gently. “I can go through with you.”

  “That’s okay,” Arden said. The humiliation was enough to give him the courage to step through and when he did, he felt like he’d just been turned upside down. He stumbled and Elan caught him on the other side. The vampire was smirking down at him like the Cheshire cat, but Arden was too amazed by the fact that they were surrounded by ocean to care.

  “We’re on a ship?” he cried, rushing over to the edge. The view was incredible and he could barely see the shoreline up ahead, but the rocking waves weren’t helping his motion sickness.

  “It’s a little less conspicuous to pop out of a portal here than in the middle of a city, don’t ya think?” Elan asked.

  Dusk stepped through the next instant, followed by Leo. Both looked unshaken, as usual. Arden had to wonder if anything bothered them.

  “How are we going to get to Favros?”

  “You’re looking at it,” Leo said, pointing up ahead. He walked up a flight of steps toward the observation deck and a moment after he’d fiddled with some settings on the control panel, the ship’s engines roared to life. “It’s not a long trip.”

  “So you’re a captain, too?” Arden asked.

  “He’s multitalented,” Dusk said proudly, leaning on the railing next to Arden.

  Arden’s cheeks flushed as he recalled a few of those special talents from the night before. “Did you contact him yet, Elan?”

  “About to,” the vampire answered, looking down at his phone. “Didn’t wanna give him too much notice and trust me, he’ll find a way here.”

  “Eric doesn’t have a portal,” Arden protested.

  “If you’re right about him fucking the Prince, it won’t be hard for him to get access to one,” said Elan. “Besides, they b
oth have plenty of reason to want you back.”

  Arden shuddered at the mention of the Prince. He knew that they were still connected on some level. According to Dusk, the Master-submissive bond wasn’t one that was meant to be rushed. It would take time for the trio to forge an intimacy deep enough to fully supplant the fae’s influence, but the sooner it happened, the better.

  “Remember, you’re not actually going to be alone with him,” said Dusk. “As soon as Eric shows up, Leo and I will take over.”

  “You still haven’t told me how you plan on doing it,” said Arden.

  “I think that’s for the best,” Leo interjected. “Not that I don’t trust you, but the less direct responsibility you have in this, the better.”

  “I understand,” Arden sighed. In a way, he was relieved. He knew he was still going to be responsible for Eric’s death, but for the first time, it seemed like something he could live with. All he had to do was think of Vox.

  “And you?” Dusk asked, touching Elan’s arm. “If you’re having second thoughts, it’s not too late.”

  “I’m not even having first thoughts, Sparkles,” Elan quipped. “What, just because we share some DNA, you think I’m gonna go all soggy on a mission? You know me better than that.”

  “He’s your brother,” Dusk said, his voice low with sadness. “I refuse to believe this is easy for you.”

  “Well, it is,” Elan said, pushing past him. He pulled open the door that led into the belly of the ship. “I’m gonna see if there’s anything worth drinking on this leaky tugboat. Call me when we hit land.”

  Dusk watched as Elan slammed the door behind him, frowning. “I’m worried about him…”

  “He’ll be alright,” Leo said patiently. “You know how he is. He knew this day would come when he joined the Brotherhood, just let him deal with it in his own time.”

  Dusk didn’t seem convinced, but he heeded his mate’s words. The rest of the journey was silent, and Arden could tell they were as deep in thought as he was. Elan’s protests aside, there wasn’t going to be anything easy about this journey for any of them. Eric’s death would bring chaos of its own, and that goal was far from guaranteed. There was still so much room for things to go wrong. Arden just had to trust that his new Masters were right to have faith in Elan’s loyalty.

  Favros was far from the ethereal haven that Praya was, but it had a charm all its own. The buildings were old but they had been kept in good condition. A mixture of gothic and modern architecture gave the region a decidedly elven flair.

  Arden wasn’t the only one wearing chains for this mission. Dusk admittedly looked better in them than he did, and he couldn’t help but be reminded of the first time they’d met. So much had changed since then. When he’d first looked into the fae’s unexpectedly gentle eyes, he had never imagined they would one day be friends, let alone lovers. Now, he couldn’t imagine his life without the fae or his mate. It was the one comfort in knowing that the man he’d existed for until this day would be breathing his last, if all went according to plan.

  Leo and Dusk were masquerading as a couple of blood traders and to most elves, Arden would pass for human easily enough. Dusk and Leo had siphoned off enough energy the night before that the Chrysalus signature around him could easily be that of a rare human’s.

  The rooftop where Elan had summoned Eric to meet was far enough above the skyline that there were clouds hovering around a few feet above Arden’s head. It was a surreal feeling to be up so high, but however Dusk and Leo planned to apprehend and then kill the vampire, they insisted it required a remote location. The small surface area of the roof combined with its altitude meant Eric would have to be sparing with his entourage.

  The trap was set, and Arden tried not to think too much about what the specific mechanisms of it might be. He knew Leo would have been justified in mistrusting him, if that was the case. There was part of him that feared when push came to shove, if he ended up being responsible for taking Eric’s life, his “programming,” as Elan put it, could come back to haunt him.

  He wished that was the only risk factor. The truth was, part of his heart would always belong to Eric no matter how badly he wished to take it back.

  Arden watched as Leo freed Dusk from his chains, but Arden was to remain in his until Eric arrived. The act had to be convincing.

  “Remember,” Dusk said, looking sternly at Elan. “All you need to do is get him to the mark. Leo and I will take it from there.”

  “You don’t need to worry about me,” said Elan. “Just make sure you’re ready.”

  “Alright, love. We should get going. He’ll be here any minute,” Leo said, touching his mate’s arm.

  Dusk nodded, turning to Arden. The chimera blinked in surprise as Dusk leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Be safe, lareta.”

  Arden’s face flushed as Dusk went to join his mate. The elf pulled a strange gun from his holster, one Arden had never seen before. He pointed it at the center of the far wall closing in the rooftop and when he squeezed the trigger, a glimmering white portal appeared just like the one they’d come through.

  Arden’s eyes widened as Dusk and Leo walked over to the portal. “Good luck,” he called as Dusk stepped through. Leo turned back and winked at him before disappearing himself.

  As soon as the portal vanished, Arden let out a deep breath. He was alone with Elan now, and he couldn’t help but be nervous. The vampire was deep in thought, his eyes on the cloudy skyline as he stood with his long coat billowing in the wind. Arden had never seen him so somber, but he decided it was a good sign. At least if it was weighing this heavily on him, that meant he was planning to go through with it.

  “I’m sorry,” Arden said quietly.

  Elan looked back and seemed torn between annoyance and confusion. “For what?”

  “He’s your brother,” Arden clarified. “You loved him long before I did. I know how hard that must be.”

  He expected Elan to dismiss his remark as he had Dusk’s, but instead, he said nothing.

  The rooftop door opened and Arden froze. The first person to step out was a guard Arden didn’t recognize. Judging from his imposing height and the stern look on his face, he was definitely a vampire. He glanced around the rooftop, then at Arden and Elan.

  Elan held his hands up, smirking. “Tell my big bro he’s safe to come up. No surprises.”

  The guard turned back toward the stairs and muttered something Arden couldn’t make out. A moment later, another armed behemoth came out along with Eric. The vampire’s expression was completely blank, save for the icy rage in his eyes for the split second they landed on Arden.

  It was enough. He shivered involuntarily as all the old feelings came back. Love and longing, hope and betrayal. It hurt most that Eric seemed to be looking through him, not at him.

  “I’m surprised you actually showed up,” Eric remarked.

  “And I brought the goods. And here you said I’d never change.”

  “Sarcastic and pompous as ever, I see,” Eric said bitterly, slipping his hands into his wool coat. He looked every bit the part of a vampire god with his wavy black hair cascading over the high collar of his coat. Arden could certainly see the family resemblance. Elan was more handsome than beautiful, but they had the same eyes. The same forceful energy that left you feeling intimidated and infatuated at the same time.

  “Of course,” Elan purred. “The question is, did you bring what I asked for?”

  Eric removed what looked like a bound scroll from his coat. “A pardon from the Queen herself,” he said, gazing thoughtfully at the parchment. “Your ticket back into vampire society.”

  A pardon? This was the first Arden was hearing of any such thing. The way Elan told it made it seem as if he’d left on his own terms, but the lust in his eyes as he looked at that paper made the chimera have his doubts.

  “How do I know it’s authentic?”

  “Signed in Her Majesty’s blood, of course,” said Eric. He walked toward them and he
ld the scroll out at arm’s length. “See for yourself.”

  Elan took the parchment and tore the binding with his nail. He unrolled it, his eyes scanning over the words on the page until he reached the blood red signature at the bottom. He leaned in close, breathing deep of the dried signature. Up until that moment, Arden had been willing to see his behavior as a convincing act, but there was no faking the ecstasy and longing that shone in his flashing red eyes as they reflected all the more of the moon’s glow.

  “Marvelous,” he said in a husky voice, his fangs protruding over his lower lip. He turned back to Arden and the chimera froze at the devious glimmer in his gaze. “And what do you plan to do with him?”

  “The same thing I do to every dog who runs away,” Eric said in a gentle tone that held malice underneath. He looked at Arden for the first time, and even though he was fully in control of his emotions, as always, Arden could sense the wrath that was about to be poured out on him. “Bring him to heel, one way or another.”

  Arden swallowed hard. “Eric—”

  “Shut up!” Elan spat with enough force that Arden staggered back. He turned to his brother. “And here I thought you trained your Puppets well.”

  Eric smirked. “What can I say? He’s a prototype.”

  Arden’s chest ached. Where the hell were Dusk and Leo?

  “Go ahead. Take him,” Elan said, giving Arden a push forward. Since his arms were bound, he stumbled and wound up on his knees. “I’d rather not be around when the fairy realizes he’s gone.”

  Eric took a step forward and Arden only noticed the mark when his foot came down on the subtle crack in the concrete. Another portal appeared, engulfing the vampire’s leg and he fell through. Before he’d disappeared entirely, he caught Arden’s leash and the chimera gasped as his body jerked forward and his head struck the ground. He could barely breathe as Eric strained to pull himself up, and Arden could feel his neck close to snapping.