* * *
Someone pushed a leaf-wrapped package of food into Albigard’s hands as they made their way toward the entrance of the cave. Two Fae were hacking away at the vines that had, by this point in the evening, nearly blocked the opening in its entirety.
He and Albigard squeezed past the choking plant life. Len came to an abrupt halt outside, upon seeing that the entire canyon was now alight with little glowing spheres, each pulsing slowly in an irregular pattern.
“What are those things?” he asked. “The firefly things, I mean.”
Albigard barely spared them a glance. “They’re only sprites. A far more pleasant and useful nocturnal denizen than the night-scuttles, to be sure.”
Len had been worried that he was going to have to hang onto Albigard’s arm and use him as a seeing-eye Fae to get where they were going, but the scores of floating sprites illuminated their surroundings like strings of ever-shifting Christmas lights.
“They’re amazing,” he breathed, letting the vision of unearthly beauty chase his unwanted thoughts into the background, at least for a time.
“What is it you wanted to show me?” Albigard asked.
“It’s a surprise,” Len told him. “Come on—follow me.”
He led the way to the switchback trail leading up the mountain, taking care with his footing—Albigard a steady presence at his back. After two trips up and one trip down, his thigh muscles were definitely feeling the burn. He hoped that wouldn’t come back to bite him in the ass tomorrow, since he had no idea how much walking was likely to be involved with getting to the mythical world tree. At least the hot springs would help with his sore muscles.
It was worth every ache and twinge to see Albigard pause in the gap leading into the grotto with a soft exhalation. “Oh.”
In full darkness, the place was even more spectacular than it had been at dusk. The pools were very definitely glowing with their own pale, blue-gray phosphorescence, while the twinkling sprites threw a golden, shifting light across the curtains of vines and perfumed, trumpet-shaped flowers. The sound of water flowing over stone added a soothing background noise.
“If you’re going to run away and live in the wilderness,” Len offered, “this is certainly the place to do it.”
“Indeed.” Albigard sounded truly impressed, which was as much as Len could have hoped for.
Only a single Fae occupied the steamy space as they entered. Len recognized Danon lounging in one of the smaller middle pools, his arms spread along the rocky ledge at his back. He must have come straight here after the meeting broke up.
“Found this place already, did you?” he greeted.
“Leesa showed it to me while she was giving me the grand tour today,” Len said. “She seems like a really good kid.”
“She is,” Danon agreed. “They’re all good children. Sometimes I wish we could offer them more of a life than sleeping in caves and picking berries.”
“I don’t think she’s complaining,” Len told him. “I’ve seen the Court, and personally, I like this place a lot better.”
“Seconded,” Albigard murmured.
“Well, I hope you’re right about that,” Danon said. “Anyway, don’t just stand there. Come on in. I just wanted a quick soak to loosen some of the knots. That power of yours is not my idea of fun, necromancer.”
“Also seconded,” Albigard deadpanned.
“Yeah... sorry about that,” Len told them. “It’s not something I asked for, believe me.”
He led the way into the grotto and crouched next to the first pool, dipping a cautious hand in the water. It was hot, but not as hot as he’d thought it might be.
“Top pools are the hottest,” Danon advised. “Bottom one is the coolest—though ‘cool’ is relative. You’ll probably want one of the middle ones.”
“Thanks,” Len said, and headed to a larger pool just below the one the Fae was using.
Albigard followed at a slower pace, letting his fingers run over the moss-covered stones and the waxy leaves of the draping vines. Len realized he was staring at his companion, but there was something deeply satisfying about watching the tension drain from Albigard’s shoulders as he closed his eyes, breathing in the humid, floral night air.
Len became aware of Danon, who was watching him watch Albigard. He shook himself loose from his preoccupation, and instead turned his attention to stripping off his filthy clothes. Once again, Len marveled at the idea that not so long ago, he’d taken access to daily showers with soap and shampoo and conditioner for granted.
Also, washing machines. It was frankly amazing how little appreciation modern humans gave washing machines.
Naked, he stepped into the steaming pool with a hiss of pleasure. His skin above the waterline erupted into gooseflesh, only to flush with heat as he sank in deeper. A delicious feeling of warmth soaked into his muscles and bones within moments. He groaned and opened his eyes, only to find Albigard staring at him every bit as fixedly as Len had been staring at Albigard earlier.
Their eyes locked.
Danon chuckled. “The gossip about you two was right, I see. A human and a Fae, who’d’ve thought?”
Wait. There was gossip about them already? Apparently, Leesa had been busy since their little talk that afternoon. Len raised his eyebrows, but the horrible specter of tomorrow hanging over their heads had also brought out a certain kind of recklessness in him.
“Well, he might be a Fae, but nobody’s perfect,” he managed in a casual tone. “And besides—I mean... look at him.”
Another chuckle. “Aye, he’s a pretty one, and no mistake... if your tastes run that way.”
Albigard, meanwhile, had a bit of a deer-in-the-headlights thing going on.
Danon hauled himself out of the water, revealing mountains of muscle and a flaccid dick that could choke a horse. “Suppose I’ll leave you to it, then. If you need anything, there’s a shelf carved into the wall at the top of the path. There’s water gourds if you get thirsty, and oil if... well, you know. Our place is yours, and all that.” He stretched and gave a mighty yawn. “Tomorrow is another realm.”
“Thanks,” Len said faintly, as the hulking Fae pulled on his simple clothing and brushed past Albigard with a comradely pat to his shoulder. Albigard still stood frozen, blinking after him.
NINE
ONCE DANON WAS out of earshot, Albigard turned a bewildered gaze on Len. “Did he just...?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he did.” Len scrubbed a hand through his messy hair. “Welcome to the land of the liberal hippy Fae, where they don’t seem to care if men fuck men or women fuck women. They only care that everyone involved is an adult.” He took a few cautious steps across the pool and sank onto a convenient stone ledge that ran around the side like a bench. Leaning back until the water lapped at his collarbones, he waved a hand at Albigard. “So... go on, then. Less talking. More stripping.”
Tomorrow is another realm.
Maybe if Len repeated it in his head enough times, he’d start to believe it.
Albigard absently laid the parcel of food on a rock next to the pool and started on the fastenings of his brocade tunic. He appeared deep in thought as his fingers slid the silk laces through one set of grommets after another. Len—still in serious need of distraction—settled in to watch the show.
It was clear Albigard’s mind wasn’t on what he was doing, but he slid out of his tunic and linen undershirt, pulled off his tall boots, and peeled himself out of his tight leather trousers efficiently enough. The shifting shadows cast by the sprites kept Len from looking his fill as much as he might have liked, and then Albigard was stepping into the pool with him. He settled in, mirroring Len’s position on the other side, and let his head fall back to rest on the edge. Len stared at the exposed line of a long, pale throat.
Tomorrow is another realm.
He repeated the silent mantra a bit desperately.
After a few moments, Albigard lifted his head, an intent expression lining his face. �
��How are you?”
Right. Because Len had already admitted to not being okay. He closed his eyes, trying to put all the unraveling parts of himself back where they belonged for a few more hours.
“That depends,” he said, “on whether I can keep my brain firmly focused on tonight, or whether it gets away from me and starts wandering toward tomorrow.”
He heard Albigard take a breath and hold it, as though he was working up to something. “Is that a request for a few hours of escape into a different role? One where you have more... control of events?”
Len opened his eyes abruptly.
“Would you like it to be?” he asked in a cautious tone.
But Albigard’s intent look didn’t waver. “The question is, would you like it to be?”
Len held out for maybe five seconds before he broke. “Yes. Oh, god, yes please.” He swallowed, and made himself run through practical considerations. “Other people from the camp might show up, though. They don’t care if we have sex here, but would it bother you?”
For his part, Albigard did appear to give the matter serious consideration. “I’m not entirely certain. It isn’t something that’s really come up before.”
Len nodded, appreciating the honesty. “I can keep half an eye on the entrance. Tell you if someone else shows up? And the safewords—red or yellow—would still apply.”
Albigard mulled that for a few moments. “That should be sufficient.” In a rare burst of humor, he added, “After all, it seems like a squandered opportunity to actually be among the Forsaken, and not take advantage of the opportunity.”
Len welcomed the little bubble of amusement that shuddered free of his chest. “Not only inside the Forsaken camp, but naked, no less. How scandalous.”
“Just so.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Albigard seemed at a bit of a loss as to what to do now that he’d taken the initiative and started them down this road. Len felt some of the tension in his neck begin to unknot, and it wasn’t just due to the pool’s soothing heat.
“Go get us some water from the shelf Danon told us about,” Len ordered. “Bring it to me, along with the food they gave you, and the energy bar that’s in my jeans pocket.”
Albigard levered himself out of the pool without complaint to do as he was asked, water sluicing along lean planes of muscle. Len watched him the whole way as he climbed higher along the path and examined the contents of the recessed storage area near the top.
Tomorrow is another realm.
Tomorrow is another realm, damn it. Only tonight matters.
The Fae returned with a water gourd, descending the rocky path with effortless grace. He crouched to retrieve the other items Len had requested. Reentering the pool, he carried everything to Len’s side, where he arranged the little pile of food and drink on the edge beside him, within easy reach.
“Well done, princeling,” Len told him. “Hmm... you know, you’re turning out to be more trainable than I originally thought.” He reached for the energy bar and peeled open the wrapper, using it to gesture to the water in front of him. “Now, hands behind your back. Hold your left wrist with your right hand, and kneel right here until I need you again.”
Albigard hesitated.
Len quirked an eyebrow. “No? Looks like I spoke too soon,” he said, and set the energy bar aside. He stood up and pressed into Albigard’s space, chest to chest, reaching around to tangle a fistful of Albigard’s extravagant mane of hair in his fingers—using the grip to tilt his head back. “How disappointing. Do I need to explain the phrases ‘hands behind your back’ and ‘kneel until I need you’ in greater detail, princeling?”
He kept his tone conversational, watching Albigard’s eyes carefully. Albigard gave a fitful little jerk against Len’s hold on his hair, and Len pulled his head back another inch. They stared at each other for a breathless moment... and Albigard closed his eyes, folding at the knees.
Len kept his grip as Albigard went down, relishing the Fae’s sharp gasp of surprise when the water sloshed around his chin, deeper than he’d bargained for. Len steadied him, stepping behind him and releasing his hold in favor of running his hands down Albigard’s arms and guiding them behind his back. When he let go, Albigard kept them where Len had put them.
“Much better.” Len left him there, balanced on his knees with his head tilted back to keep his face out of the water, and returned to his seat. He picked up his energy bar and ate it slowly, listening to the hitch of his companion’s uneven breathing.
When he was done, he set the empty wrapper aside and reached for the container of water. “Since this is communal, can I drink it safely? It wouldn’t be considered a gift?”
“No. It would not be considered a gift,” Albigard said, sounding a bit strained.
“Great.” Len uncorked it and raised it to his lips, slaking his thirst. When he was done, he closed it and set it aside. He rose, walking in a tight circle around Albigard, who jerked his chin higher to avoid the little waves the movement caused.
Stopping at the Fae’s back, he looped a hand loosely around Albigard’s throat and used it to tug him backward to lean against Len’s body. Albigard tensed and gasped at the loss of balance, only to relax against the support a few heartbeats later. The back of his head rested against Len’s stomach.
“I’ve been thinking about what I should do with you now that you’re a prisoner here, princeling,” Len said. “It occurred to me that I could just keep you here in the baths permanently—chain you to the wall with an ankle shackle, and make you a fuckable part of the scenery. What do you think?”
Albigard didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to. The way his pulse picked up beneath Len’s fingers answered for him.
“I think you’d secretly love that, wouldn’t you?” Len went on, stroking upward to slide wet fingertips over Albigard’s parted lips. “No responsibilities beyond pleasuring anyone who wants to use your body... no control over what they do to you. You could just lounge around all day in this beautiful place. People would bring you food to eat and wine to drink... keep you bathed and pampered between fucking.”
The breath caressing Len’s fingertips was ragged.
“As you say, I am your prisoner,” Albigard managed. “If you choose to degrade me in such a way, it’s not as though I can stop you.”
“That’s right,” Len agreed easily. “I imagine you’d be in high demand, too. I picture members of the camp lining up to use you—over and over, not stopping even when you pass out from coming so many times.”
A rough tremor shuddered through the body pressed against his. Len lowered himself in the water until he could reach around and grope between the Fae’s legs, careful to keep supporting Albigard’s weight as he did so.
The noise Albigard made when Len’s hand closed around an erection that felt almost painfully hard was enough to have Len’s dick straining to alertness in response. Len pumped the Fae a few times and let go, leaving him panting. He wrapped his arm around Albigard’s chest and dragged him upright so they were both standing. The maneuver maybe wasn’t as graceful as he’d pictured—but at least neither of them ended up slipping and getting unceremoniously dunked.
“Sit on the bench.” Len turned Albigard in his arms and walked him backward, pushing him to sit in the spot Len had recently vacated. Len guided the Fae’s hands up and out of the water, placing them on a convenient shelf of rock jutting out from the wall about a foot above his head. “Your wrists are magically bound to this rock now,” he told his captive. “Don’t try to struggle; you won’t be able to get free.”
Albigard’s forest-colored eyes were all pupil in the shifting light from the sprites. His fingers curled around the edge of the natural outcropping of stone.
“What will you do to me, now that you have me trapped?” he murmured.
Len rested a knee on the bench next to Albigard’s hard-muscled thigh, half-straddling him as he reached for the parcel of food the others had sent with him. He opened it, finding a mix of
fresh berries and cubes of cooked meat inside. With a challenging look, he picked up a berry and brushed it against Albigard’s lips.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he said. “But whatever it is, you’ll probably need a fair amount of energy for it. Gotta keep the blood sugar up, after all.”
Albigard stretched forward to nip the berry from Len’s fingers, and Len was instantly hard as a damned rock. He blinked, a bit dazed by the combination of heat from the water and the abrupt southerly migration of his blood flow.
Well, hello, previously undiscovered kink, he thought, and clawed back enough of his wits to reach for a morsel of meat.
He fed Albigard the entire contents of the leaf-wrapped package, ignoring the increasingly urgent throb of his cock as the Fae bastard started licking the juice from his fingers, pulling them between his lips to lave at the tips with every new offering.
“If I didn’t know better,” Len said, when the last bite had been swallowed and chased down with a long drink of water, “I’d think you were silently begging me for something.”
“I do not beg.” The words were a whisper.
“Hmm. Not in the last twenty-four hours, maybe,” Len retorted, and reached between them to jerk Albigard’s cock beneath the water until the Fae was writhing beneath him. He let go when it started to swell and throb in his hand, and Albigard entirely failed to swallow the noise of frustrated desire that rose from the back of his throat at the loss.
Len waited until he’d calmed down a bit, then hitched his hips forward a few inches so their dicks brushed, fencing with each other. Albigard drew in a sharp breath.
“Problem?” Len asked mildly.
The Fae clenched his jaw and did not answer, though his hips rolled, thrusting ineffectually in search of friction. Len smiled sweetly at him and slid a hand down his tattooed chest, teasing first one nipple and then the other into taut peaks beneath the surface. Albigard’s head fell back, and he let out a soft moan.
Len tortured the hard nubs with deliberate and dedicated attention as he narrated every filthy idea that came into his head regarding all the things that could be done to someone chained up for public use in a communal bath. The Fae bucked and squirmed beneath him, stealing Len’s breath every time their erections ground together.
Forsaken Fae: The Complete Series, Books 1-3 (Last Vampire World) Page 42