So he wasn’t expecting the arrow that hit him in the ass cheek at close range. He howled and tried to yank it out, only to find his hand burnt as badly as his ass.
“Iron coated?” he gasped, rolling onto his front. “That’s illegal.”
“So is regicide. What are you going to do?”
Bradrick had him in iron leg and wrist shackles before he removed the arrow. He did it slowly, drawing out the agony. Kai didn’t normally suffer getting anything into or out of his ass, and he felt extremely undignified, sweating and screaming from the pain.
Finally, Kai felt a stream of blood flow out and trickle down his legs, then a fresh pain as Bradrick cleaned the wound with the inn’s cheapest moonshine.
“I’ll cauterize it,” he said and pulled a tinderbox from his pocket to heat his knife. Lighting a candle was an easy spell, and if he couldn’t do that, then Bradrick must have no magic. That would mean no protection from the iron bonds he had been placed in either. They ached, though not as bad as the gaping wound in Kai’s buttock. For now he could last, but his skin would soon begin to burn.
Kai couldn’t face the fact he would be in pain until they reached Belmon. Thankfully they couldn’t be more than a few hours ride from the city, less maybe if Bradrick intended to get him there in a hurry, and he probably did. He’d want his money.
Curled up, trying not to sob, Kai took hold of one of the pillows and bit down on it.
“Did you put out for Tynan?” Bradrick asked, just as if he were making polite conversation in a civilized setting.
Kai didn’t look at him, but he assumed he was heating his knife now. “You are disgusting,” he ground out, voice muffled by the pillow.
“I don’t blame you,” Bradrick said. “He’s barely human. I wouldn’t want to touch him either. I bet you’re getting hungry now.”
Even if Tynan hadn’t sated Kai, Bradrick’s foreplay would have left a lot to be desired.
Kai managed a weak laugh. “I’d rather starve to death than touch you again.”
“I can’t have that.”
There was another new pain, hotter and more searing that anything from the chains. Kai screamed into the pillow as the knife touched his wound.
“Best hurry you to the prison,” Bradrick said. “I’m sure you can find someone to feed on there.”
***
Bradrick’s cart was very different to Tynan’s. Instead of an open wagon, he had a large cage on the back big enough for several men. Kai climbed into it and laid down on his front so he wouldn’t put pressure on the wound. His clothes and bag were tossed in after him, and when he checked, he found Bradrick had removed everything of value.
He couldn’t dress because of his chains, but he draped the clothes over his body in an effort to keep warm. His mind kept telling him he could break down afterward when Bradrick wasn’t there to enjoy it. For now, he had to suffer the indignity in silence.
“Tynan must be losing his touch, letting you escape,” Bradrick said, climbing into the driver’s seat.
“He didn’t let me.”
Bradrick laughed. “Good. Because if he did, there’d be serious consequences for him.”
“Whatever.”
“Bounty Hunters don’t let criminals go. Tynan’s lost a few already and he’s on thin ice. If he’d let you go on purpose, they would throw him out of the Guild. And if you tell them that, it might help you when you’re getting sentenced.”
The only person that would help would be Bradrick, and Kai wasn’t about to do that. He hadn’t realized quite how big a sacrifice Tynan was making for him.
“He didn’t let me go.”
“Well, it was worth a try,” Bradrick said casually. “However you got free, it doesn’t matter now. I’ve got you, and I’m going to get the five thousand pound reward.”
Five thousand pounds! That would be enough for most men to retire on. “I’m worth that much? I might escape, turn myself in for the money, and then escape again just to show your lot how it's done.”
“Good luck with that. You can’t run from justice,” Bradrick said. “Then he laughed. “Even Tynan should have known that.”
Chapter Sixteen
The previous evening, Tynan had arrived back his single room in the city he currently called home.
It wasn’t homely. He had no furniture, just a stack of books and two trunks: one full of clothes, the other stuffed with equipment. The bed was a pallet mattress on the floor. It wasn’t much for a man who had more than a thousand pounds worth of coin buried in the backyard.
He’d been away for a month this time and was ready to turn around and leave again the moment he walked through the door.
The problem was, he’d had a taste of the good life. That fancy royal lodge, decent food eaten off a proper plate with posh cutlery, and a gorgeous incubus in his bed. For one good night he’d felt like the son of a God, and not some scruffy bounty hunter who was squirreling away every penny, so he could enjoy a decade of retirement before he had to get back into the game again for another fifty soul destroying years.
But there were other kingdoms to work in. It was time to move on.
He got a hot dinner in the brothel across the street and seriously considered getting a bit of company while he was there. He let the idea go when the lad he squandered a bit of attention on started flirting with a regular.
And that night he went to bed alone and tried not to think of Kai, or if he was safe, at all.
***
The next morning Tynan woke late and took a walk to his landlady’s house to give notice. He was paid up to the end of the next month, but he’d be gone long before then.
He met her in her garden, where she was sat at a wooden table in the sunshine, polishing a set of throwing knives.
“Tynan!” she said, rising to meet him. “I’m so glad to see you back.”
“Hello, Abigail.” He kissed her cheeks, and they sat down together, making small talk while she cleaned her equipment.
“These are for an illusion,” she said when the conversation quickly ran dry. “I blindfold myself and then toss these at Lillia.”
Tynan looked around for Abigail’s wife, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” he asked, picturing her getting stitched up at the physician’s office right now.
Abigail winked at him. “What’s a bit of danger for the person you love?”
“Hmm,” Tynan replied. He was rarely in the mood for talking and was feeling even less inclined right now. He’d spent enough time being polite. He needed to end his tenancy.
But she reached across and patted his hand. “Here’s me going on and not sparing a thought for you. I heard your bad news.”
“What bad news?”
“Bradrick caught the incubus.”
“What?” he barked. She flinched and he quickly apologized. “Sorry. Did Bradrick bring him in alive?”
She frowned. “He was alive this morning; I saw him go past not more than an hour ago. Such a miserable little thing, chained up naked in the back of Bradrick’s wagon. It was awful. They’ll have tossed him in the cells by now.”
“Shit,” Tynan muttered, rising from his chair and taking off at a run.
“What were you due to get?” Abigail called after him. “Five thousand wasn’t it?”
Tynan left her behind, tenancy forgotten. He had to get to Kai. Had to. And he wasn’t going to let him go ever again.
***
Getting into the jail was easy but time-consuming. Tynan held his tongue and played the game when all he wanted to do was kick every door down until he found Kai. He knew all the guards by name, which helped a lot in getting them on side, and was able to bribe the Captain into allowing him access to Kai’s cell.
Kai was being questioned in the interrogation chamber, so Tynan waited alone in the cell, ears on high alert for anything that sounded like a demon screaming.
The cell wasn’t exactly luxurious, but it was little worse tha
t Tynan’s dwelling and much better furnished. Although small, it had a proper bed with new sheets and a table and chair. There was a platter of food on the table, and a bottle of good quality wine. Someone was paying to keep Kai in luxury.
Finally Kai arrived. He looked tired and dejected as he slouched in, clothes crumpled and dirty. It looked like there was blood on his shirt. At first, he didn’t notice Tynan sat on the bed.
“Kai?”
“Tynan?” Kai looked up, and a wide grin spread across his face. “What are you doing here?”
That was an unexpectedly good question from Kai. Tynan wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing there, but it involved sex and feelings, and a sense of duty to what was right and wrong. Instead he shrugged and said, “Thought you might want to see me.”
“I’ve never been so glad to see anyone in my life,” Kai said and was in his arms only a moment later, squeezing him hard.
Tynan’s face felt odd. He was smiling again. “Really?” he asked, slightly embarrassed by that fact.
“Yes! You can be a character witness at my trial. The word of the son of Ostus must count for something. I can’t believe you’re here.” Then Kai hesitated and drew back. “Won’t you get into trouble for this? If they know you freed me—”
“You got away, let’s stick to that story.” Tynan was all too aware of what might happen if the truth came out. “But I can still believe you innocent. Justice is about a fair trial.”
“And how often does that happen?”
Rarely, and it probably wouldn’t today. Tynan drew Kai into his arms again and said, “We’re going to do this, but you are not going to the gallows for a crime you didn’t commit.”
“You’ve come to save me?”
“I’m repaying your favor. Don’t get any ideas about me busting you out today.”
He stepped back and took Kai’s hands. That’s when he saw the burns around his wrists.
“He chained you in iron and left you to burn?” Tynan felt sick to his stomach. “I’ll kill him,” he growled
“These?” Kai asked, pulling up a trouser leg to reveal another around his ankle. “You should see what he did to my ass.”
Tynan’s stomach turned. “If Bradrick has… if he…”
“Don’t worry. It wasn’t like that.” Kai turned, undoing his breeches to show a properly dressed wound on his ass cheek. “Iron coated arrow,” he said as he covered up. “That really hurt. But I’ve just seen a magical healer, and now my chains are off, it should be better by tonight. He was surprised how strong I am.”
“That’s generous of the palace.” Suspiciously generous, in fact.
“That’s nothing. I’ve been offered my pick of the harem to keep me fed.”
Tynan suppressed his jealousy at that. “Someone wants you strong.”
“Yeah. I guess they want me to look like I could kill a prince.”
Kai did look stronger, but Tynan knew that was the effect of his feeding rather than anything they were doing now. And Kai would need all the strength he could get if they had to mount an escape.
“When’s the trial?”
“Tomorrow.”
“So we’ve got no time to investigate who the real murderer was and very little time to mount an escape.”
“That’s pretty much it.”
A good plan would have to be tightly plotted and well executed. In reality, with such little time, they’d be winging it. So be it.
“I’ll go see Bradrick and try and get him to cut me in on your bounty,” Tynan decided. “If I can be part of your escort to the executioner then we could make a run for it on the journey to the Reclusive Prince’s palace and kill Bradrick at the same time. Might as well get both jobs done at once.”
“No killing,” Kai said, “The escape will be good enough. He doesn’t get paid until I’m found guilty and executed.”
Tynan thought he deserved to suffer more than that, but he respected Kai’s wishes. “Alright. No killing. But I’ll rough him up a bit.”
“I’ll see what I can find out from one of the guards,” Kai said. “There’s a few that know me from the palace, and I’ll make it worth their while.”
“No.” There was that flare of jealousy again, and Tynan struggled to suppress it. He didn’t own Kai, Kai could and would sleep with anyone he wanted. That was what his brain said at any rate. The words coming out of his mouth didn’t seem to match up with that.
“I’ll take days, weeks at most,” Kai promised.
“That is what got you into this mess.”
“If we’re running then I will need all the strength I can get. I have to feed.”
“Not on humans. You’ve got me now.”
“Oh.” Kai cocked his head and smiled at Tynan. “Have I?”
“What?”
“You’re very red.”
Tynan’s cheeks felt like they were on fire. “Fuck off,” he growled.
“No. I’m perfectly happy right here. In this prison. Actually, fucking off would be pretty good right now.”
“I’m leaving,” Tynan said and banged on the door to signal he was ready to go.
Kai sidled up next to him. “Why go now just when this conversation’s getting interesting?”
“Because you are going to go all out on the piss-taking.”
“You better find something to shut me up with then.”
The door swung open, and Tynan stepped through. “I’ll be back,” he said. “Wait for me.”
Chapter Seventeen
Tynan was great. Tynan was just the best and Kai was allowed to like him now. Tynan was big and strong and would rescue him. Tynan fought like a bear and couldn’t die. Tynan had magic. Tynan, Tynan, Tynan.
Kai relaxed back onto his soft bed and enjoyed the little bit of hope. He had needed it, and it had turned up at just the right time looking gorgeous and making promises it was sure to keep. This was good news.
And Kai liked Tynan. He really, really liked him.
Chapter Eighteen
The walk to Bradrick’s house was a fairly long one. He lived in an expensive part of town, in a house he couldn’t afford if the rumors were true. Tynan had visited once before, invited to a big party Bradrick had thrown when he brought in Morg, a prolific and politically subversive graffiti artist who had angered someone high enough up that they’d put a ridiculous bounty of two thousand pounds on his head.
Tynan had always thought Morg had a point when it came to his grotesque murals of the upper classes and hadn’t bothered trying to bring him in. He wasn’t surprised to hear that Bradrick had captured him. He’d arrest his own grandmother if there were enough of a wage in it.
There was a lot fighting for attention in Tynan’s mind right now. First, that he wanted to beat Bradrick to death with his bare hands. He wouldn’t do it; he knew that already, but it made a pretty picture in his mind, the sight of Bradrick cowering and begging for mercy.
Had he made Kai beg? Tynan had a feeling his lover was stronger than that.
Lover. There it was, that thought had gained his attention. He wanted Kai to be his lover. He wanted to go to bed with him of course, but he wanted to wake up with him again too. He wanted more of the fireside teasing, more of that eminently fuckable body just curled up in his arms, intimate and innocent. He wanted to listen to Kai talk all day.
Well, maybe he didn’t want that. But some of the day, he could put up with it. Meal times, and in the evenings when it was nice to have someone else there. Despite himself, he had enjoyed talking with Kai long into the night.
And more than anything, he wanted Kai to want these things too.
Unfortunately, there was still more at stake than a broken heart and a bruised ego.
He reached the house and slammed his fist into the door. “Open up!” he bellowed.
No response.
“Open it you cowardly piece of rat shit!”
Still nothing.
“Open it or everyone knows about you fucking the incubus!”
The door opened a split second later, and Bradrick was trying to pull him inside. Tynan remained put. “Why don’t we have this conversation on the doorstep?”
“Because I am perfectly capable of making up nonsense too,” Bradrick snapped. He stood aside and motioned for Tynan to come in.
The house wasn’t much different than he remembered. Gaudier, but it had always been ugly. The gold painted walls were new since Tynan’s last visit, but they were already looking tired.
Bradrick shut the door and didn’t offer to take Tynan out of the entrance hall. “What do you want?” he asked.
“My share of five thousand pounds. You owe me.”
“How’d you figure that?”
“I flushed it out. Witnesses will put me there making the arrest, not you.”
“And I caught it. Not my fault if it slipped through your fingers.”
“It didn’t slip. Bandits attacked us.”
“Oh no,” Bradrick said, laughing at him. “I imagined you’d let it seduce you. It seemed unnaturally strong when I brought it in. It weathered the iron far better than it should have done.”
“It escaped.”
“And you didn’t even get a turn on that sweet ass. Pity. It was exquisite.”
“Fuck you and fuck off,” Tynan said, shoving Bradrick as hard as he could. That was very hard indeed, and he slammed back into the wall though he was at least six feet from it.
“Get out of my house,” Bradrick wheezed, winded from the blow.
“Not until I get assurances I will have my money. You owe me. I’ll work for it if I have too. I don’t care what other people think even if you do.”
Bradrick pulled himself up to standing, scowling at him. “You’re here for my bonus?”
“I’m here for my share of five thousand pounds. But let’s talk about this bonus. I must be owed a share of that too.”
“Come on, don’t play dumb with me. I bet you’ve got Murkweed in your pocket right now. But you can’t buy your way in with it. I already planted it on him.”
Murkweed was poison. Kai had poison on him, and Tynan had to get back to the prison fast.
“I’ll have my money,” Tynan said, “and I’ll see you in court. I’m going to ruin this trial for you.”
Strictly Incubusiness Page 9