The Plan Commences

by Kristen Ashley

  “Begone, woman,” one of the priests spat, kicking out at her with his foot.

  So much for their god Go’Vicee, who demanded service, she thought, avoiding his kick, staying low, and maneuvering around him, pulling at his robe, as was her directive.

  This was to get their attention, and keep it, so that Chu could drop down in that utterly silent, stealthy, remarkably appealing way of his, whereupon he would pick from their robes whatever they carried and be away before they even knew he was there.

  “A piece for pauper who has not eaten in a week,” she begged.

  The one who had addressed her stopped, turned, aimed a kick that she allowed to land, expelling a surprised and pained, “Oof,” for the arsehole packed some power.

  “Begone, bitch,” he hissed.

  She crawled back toward him, grasping the hems of his robes, beginning to chant, “Piece for a pauper, piece for a pauper…”

  But she barely got that out before Chu ruined their ploy by dropping soundlessly from the eaves, taking the priest who had kicked her by the head, and slamming it viciously into the stone wall.

  He fell unconscious to the cobbles as the other one started to whirl, saying, “What on—?”

  That priest got no more out as his head was slammed into the opposite wall and he dropped, out cold, to the ground.

  Chu swiftly started searching the folds of the priest’s robes as Serena took her feet, dashing off the blanket and pressing it into a ball, snapping under her breath, “That was practical, but hardly our plan, Chu.”

  He tipped his head back to look up at her from his squat, and she saw his face.

  Therefore, she fell quiet.

  He found nothing of worth on the one priest, but he took his purse, she knew, so this would appear as a robbery, and not what it was.

  He then moved quickly to the other, searched him, and she saw him take some missives bound together with silver string.

  Silver was not the color of Go’Doan.

  Gold was.

  A frisson slid over her skin.

  The letters disappeared in Chu’s cloak, along with both priests’ purses, and before she could say anything, he had her hand and was dragging her down the alley.

  She decided to remain quiet as he pulled her out of that lane, down a wider road, into a narrower passageway, and finally he shoved her under the lintel of an unlit doorway.

  “You might want to give me a warning if you’re going to change…ho!” She ended on a cry as he shoved up the skirts of the tatty Dellish gown she wore as a disguise.

  “Silence,” he bit.

  She said nothing as he continued to push up the skirts, his actions not meant to be titillating, and he kept pushing, even the loose bodice of the too-large dress, until he exposed what he wished to expose.

  He then bent to the side and studied her ribs.

  “Chu,” she whispered as what he was doing penetrated. “I am all right,” she promised quietly.

  He straightened abruptly while dropping her skirts and catching her gaze.

  “He kicked you,” he ground out.

  “I am all right,” she repeated.

  “He called you a bitch.”

  Dear goddess.

  She moved closer to him, feeling awkward, not understanding what her instincts were saying and how her body was complying.

  Only knowing in her soul it was right.

  She then wrapped her fingers around the side of his neck and squeezed, saying firmly, “Chu, I am all right.”

  He scowled into her face.

  “We will not be able to gather the information needed if you attack every person who might harm me,” she told him.

  “There was no ‘might’ about that, Serena, he kicked you.”

  “Shh,” she hushed, stroking his skin with her thumb. “I am fine, my Master.”

  He relaxed at that.

  “And you really can’t be going about smashing Go’Doan heads into walls,” she told him. “Or we’ll be found out in a flash.”

  “Those weren’t Go’Doan.”

  She blinked.

  “What?”

  “Those weren’t Go’Doan,” he repeated. “There is faith in that religion. The conspirators might have earned their robes, but they are not of that religion, no matter what they say. A zealot is not holy, except in the sense he has wholly lost his way.”

  “You’re annoying when you’re being wise,” she muttered.

  He grinned at her.

  And something fluttered in her belly.

  Good goddess.

  What was happening to her?

  Then he took her hand again and they were snaking through the shadows on silent feet until they made their lodgings.

  He opened the door and pulled her in, locking the door behind her.

  She tossed the blanket aside and went direct to the banked fire to stir it, for they were nowhere near Birchlire Castle or the luxuries it provided, it was bloody cold, and the stone needed repointed for she would vow she felt the wind sweeping through that place.

  Thank the goddess Chu slept practically on top of her or she would have frozen to death.

  Still, she was demanding they put blankets up over the walls to keep the draught out if they had to stay here much longer.

  He swept off his cloak and lit some lanterns. She pulled a slab of meat and a cake of cheese out of the larder.

  They sat at the rickety table close to the fire, and they did this side by side as he threw the coin pouches and missives on the table.

  They both ignored the pouches.

  “Silver?” she asked.

  “The Rising?” he asked in return.

  She shrugged, for all they’d taken off priests they had hit thus far had come to nothing.

  Chu reached for the missives, untied them and they saw there were only two.

  He broke the seal on the first and, heads together, they read,

  Instruct C to continue efforts with W. Recent plan is working. Unrest brewing. The brothers have made FC. New strategy commencing there. But they have been told to hold until after we AM.

  “C, Carrington. W, Wilmer,” Serena said. “FC, Fire City? I have no idea about AM.”

  When Chu didn’t reply, she turned her gaze to him to see him studying her.

  “You decipher that in but a second?” he asked.

  “It isn’t hard,” she replied, feeling a strange warmth hit her cheeks.

  “No, I would have gotten it as well, but not in but a second.”

  She had no idea how to respond, so she didn’t.

  She looked away and urged, “The next.”

  Chu set the first aside and broke the seal on the second, which was short enough to be sent by bird.

  They read,

  C reports M a growing threat. Plan to commence has been ordered. LLTR.

  “C, Carrington. M, Mercy. Long live The Rising,” she whispered.

  “Fuck,” he muttered.

  She again looked to him. “Mercy’s a threat?”

  He was still studying the note. “I do not know.”

  “How can she be a threat?” Serena asked, her eyes straying back to the missive, until she felt his on her and she again turned to Chu.

  “Ask my mother.”

  A chill slithered down her spine.

  “Women outside The Enchantments are not as powerless as you think, mouse,” he murmured. “You don’t have to swing a staff to make your point.”

  He was being wise again.

  And annoying.

  She decided to ignore that.

  “I think this proves Carrington is working with this Rising.”

  “I think this proves nothing to King Wilmer. He is under a spell many weak men fall prey to.”

  “What spell is that?”

  “Compulsive stupidity.”

  Serena started laughing.

  Chu grinned at her as she did.

  She reached out to the cheese, taking up a knife, cutting a slice and handing it to Chu, b
efore reaching to cut her own slice, muttering, “We have to figure out what AM means. That’s the plan. But we need to report what we have to True, Cassius and Mars, and you need to send a bird to your brother in Fire City. This isn’t just proof Carrington is in on it. It proves this Rising faction of the Go’Doan is also at work in Wodell, and it would stand to reason they have agents in Airen.”

  “Serena,” he called.

  She munched her cheese and looked to him.

  “I will be the beggar from now on.”

  Oh no, he didn’t.

  “Chu, I can take a kick from a Go’Doan priest.”

  “I will be the beggar from now on,” he repeated.

  “When are you going to take it in that I’m fine?”

  “I know you are fine. I don’t care you are fine. No man kicks my woman.”

  She stilled.

  He didn’t seem to notice.

  “I will play beggar and I’ll teach you to pick pockets. You’re a swift learner. But we’ll find a better disguise for you as well if they feel your work and notice you before you’re able to get away. But that might be moot as we know at least the priest with these letters is part of the plot. So he will be our focus in hopes we can uncover what AM means.”

  When she opened her mouth to protest, he kept speaking.

  “It is decided and there will not be a discussion. Now, do you wish to fuck normal tonight, or do you want to play?”

  She had wanted a discussion.

  Until he offered an alternative.

  “You’re giving me a choice?”

  “I was, but you wasted it,” he shared, surging up, taking her with him so she was held to his front.

  Fighting material, she wrapped her legs around his hips (bloody skirts on these gowns, she’d be glad to be back in her tunic), but fortunately freely winding her arms around his neck.

  “Normal fucking,” he muttered as he walked them to their pallet. “Too bloody cold in this realm to play. I want you trembling, not shivering.”

  Serena smiled in his face.

  Right before she landed on her back with Chu on top of her.

  73

  The Wrongs

  Tedrey

  Private Play Suite, Carmine Rooms, Heden District, Fire City

  FIRENZE

  Tedrey lounged, and watched, with a side view (the best there was) as Faunus took Saturn on his hands and knees.

  Tedrey’s shaft was so hard, it was aching, but whenever they invited him to the Carmine Rooms, all he did was watch.

  Later, in his chamber at home, with his groan muffled by a pillow, he’d see to himself.

  But all he could do for the now was enjoy watching.

  They did not disappoint as Faunus reached out, clutched Saturn’s hair and yanked his head back.

  The ferocious look on Faunus’s face.

  The look of pain and pleasure on Saturn’s.

  Tedrey shifted on his cushions.

  Faunus’s eyes turned to him.

  Tedrey bit his lip.

  Faunus pulled out to Saturn’s delicious grunt, and then he let his hair go in order to smack his arse.

  “Go suckle him,” he ordered.

  Saturn turned his head to Tedrey and his expression remained hungry even as he grinned.

  “No,” Tedrey said.

  “You are hard, I can see,” Faunus noted, taking his feet as Saturn crawled in a predatory way toward Tedrey.

  He wanted to watch Saturn move.

  But, by the gods, the man standing was beautiful.

  He particularly liked his scattering of chest hair.

  His long, muscular legs.

  And his enormous cock.

  “I just wish to watch,” Tedrey said.

  “You gulped down my seed greedily enough those many weeks ago,” Saturn noted as he came closer. He finished, saying, “The only time you took my cock.”

  Too late, Tedrey started to scramble away.

  Saturn caught his ankles and dragged Tedrey toward him.

  “No, really, I’m not ready,” Tedrey protested.

  Saturn kept one hand clamped on an ankle and gripped Tedrey hard between the legs.

  Tedrey groaned in sumptuous agony.

  And the smile was back.

  “Not ready?” he asked.

  Faunus dropped again to his knees between Saturn’s calves and grasped Saturn’s buttocks, kneading them.

  Saturn had amazing buttocks and Faunus had long, strong fingers.

  Tedrey swallowed.

  “You only wish to watch?” Faunus whispered.

  Saturn dragged Tedrey closer so his face was hovering over Tedrey’s crotch.

  By the gods, that move made him bead.

  He started trembling.

  Faunus smacked Saturn’s arse, Saturn’s big body twitched, and he groaned.

  “You wish to watch?” he continued to whisper, his attention aimed at Tedrey.

  “Y-yes.”

  Faunus landed another strike.

  “Fuck yes,” Saturn gritted.

  Faunus went back to kneading, clearly much harder now, for Saturn’s head arched back.

  Faunus then reached between Saturn’s legs and did something Tedrey could not see, but it made Saturn’s back curve, his chest dipping toward the floor, his neck arching further, and his eyes went hooded.

  Faunus then used his free hand to slap Saturn on both buttocks repeatedly, and hard, the smacks cracking through the room, driving through Tedrey’s balls, and his cock, before Faunus ceased what he was doing between Saturn’s legs. He gripped his arse cheeks, spread him, then drove his cock inside.

  Tedrey moaned.

  Faunus fucked.

  Saturn groaned, shoving his face in Tedrey’s crotch and burrowing.

  “I want to be inside you,” Faunus grunted, and Tedrey’s eyes shot from his cock driving inside Saturn to Faunus’s face.

  He was looking at Tedrey.

  He was referring to Tedrey.

  “I do too,” Saturn gritted.

  “I am marked,” Tedrey admitted.

  “I…don’t…care,” Faunus replied, each word coming on an inward thrust.

  “I don’t either,” Saturn said.

  Faunus pulled out again, reached long, grasping a smooth wooden toy that was at the ready, and slid it inside Saturn.

  “Get naked,” Faunus growled to Tedrey, taking his feet.

  Saturn pushed up and stood too.

  When Tedrey didn’t move, Faunus tipped his head to the side.

  “You can take us, or we will take you,” he didn’t quite suggest. “Your choice.”

  Tedrey stared at Faunus, his big muscled body, his huge, beautiful shaft.

  He then stared at Saturn, his bigger muscled body, his fantastic cock.

  Then he looked at Faunus.

  “I want you to take me,” he said so low, he worried they didn’t hear him.

  Faunus smiled a wolfish smile.

  Saturn just lunged.

  In the end, he took them both at the same time, Saturn at the front, Faunus at the back.

  He didn’t even think about his marks.

  Not once.

  He swallowed Saturn’s seed down his throat and then Faunus pulled him up, still taking his arse, but doing it with his strapping arms wrapped around Tedrey’s chest, as Saturn stayed at the front, pumping his shaft.

  Suddenly, Faunus took over at Tedrey’s cock.

  “Give me your seed, Tedrey,” Faunus growled in his ear, stroking with a tight fist, and fucking with an otherworldly skill.

  Tedrey did as told, his world exploding in an ecstasy the likes he had never experienced (not even close) as he jetted up his chest, jerking in Faunus’s hold, the seed coming, and coming, and coming some more. It finally lessened, and he could focus on the strokes up his arse as Saturn again took over and milked him dry.

  Glorying in the deep groan that rumbled in his ear, Tedrey took Faunus’s offering not a minute later.

  When they were
done, Saturn tweaked his nipple making Tedrey’s body jolt pleasantly, before he winked at him, took his feet, slid free the toy that was inside him and sauntered to the door, tossing it to some toweling.

  He opened the door, whistled, and when the servant in the hall came forth, he ordered refreshments.

  He then closed the door.

  But through this, Tedrey didn’t move.

  For Faunus held him impaled.

  And Tedrey didn’t wish to move.

  But not simply because Faunus held him impaled, and being full of this man, particularly this man, he did not want to lose, even if Tedrey did not understand why this man felt so right.

  Also, because Faunus held him, and he didn’t want to lose that most of all.

  Which was likely why he felt so right.

  “I have scars, you have seen them,” Faunus said quietly in his ear.

  “From battle, training, manly pursuits.”

  “What does it matter?”

  Tedrey turned his head to the side.

  Because it mattered.

  Faunus licked him from shoulder up the tendons of his neck to under his ear before he whispered there, “I was right. You were beautiful shooting before me with me deep inside.”

  Tedrey shivered.

  Faunus sunk his teeth into Tedrey’s neck before he lifted him off.

  When Tedrey lost him, he knew he was right, for he suddenly felt profoundly bereft.

  He did not want to lose him.

  Not any part of him.

  He was taken from these thoughts when Saturn tossed them both wet towels before he dropped to the large, plush, fluffy, richly-colored cushions and stretched in a lounge.

  Faunus cursorily cleaned his shaft and joined him there.

  Tedrey was more furtive (and thorough) in his cleansing, and when he dropped his used towel in the basket that was there for that purpose, he met them on the abundant silk-covered cushions that littered the floor.

  He then swiftly draped a loose silk over his hips.

  Both men noted this with their eyes but neither said anything.

  The wine, cheese, almonds, dates and olives Saturn ordered were served promptly, the servant backing out after he made the delivery, and Tedrey again grew uncomfortable.

  For Nyx and Lorenz had talked him into meeting Faunus and Saturn, something he did on a now regular occasion.

  But he’d always just watched.