Bloom

Chapter One

1694

Jaime’s boots thudded as he sprinted along the boardwalk. From one of the ships moored for the night, a watchful sailor shouted his surprise. Jaime tried to think only of escaping, not what would happen if he were caught by the three chasing him. He was sure one was drawing nearer, and he swerved right to take a darker side street away from the docks.

“Hey!”

A lone man barely jerked aside in time to avoid him. Another shout came from behind Jaime as he continued despite his burning legs and aching lungs. If he could lose his pursuers in an alley, he could hide for a bit somewhere and escape the city afterward.

One of the men was too close for comfort. While Jaime could fight, three against one wasn’t fair.

He slipped into another sidestreet, thankfully free of people who might get in his way. Or worse, try to help his pursuers. The shops, mostly high and middle class, were closed for the night. Hidden Pearls was the only one lit up, and gauzy fabric covered the front windows so no one could see inside and peek at the treasures. One of the men grunted as Jaime slipped into the alley by it.

He would have sworn if he’d had enough air left. A few horses were being held by their bridles, and one snorted at the sudden intrusion in the space. An open side door made a rectangle of light on the cobblestones. Jaime pumped his legs, intending to make it by the few cloaked figures. Turning around wasn’t an option, and if he was lucky, it might slow down the guys chasing him.

One of the horses let out a whinny as he spooked, a man shouted, and one stepped away from the horse that tossed its head and neighed. By the door, a man in a crimson cloak hastily sidestepped inside. With his hood up, Jaime only caught a glimpse of white hair and a sharp jawline in the light. The others were blocking the alley, and trying to slip by a spooked horse was a bad idea.

His plan was half-cooked since he had roughly two seconds to think about it. Forget refining it. Instead of running by, he followed Crimson inside.

“M’lord-please-I’ll do anything if-” Jaime tripped on the door jamb and pitched forward. Crashing into Crimson had not been a part of his plan to beg for safety.

Crimson snarled and shoved him back. Jaime stumbled back into the doorframe when a pair of strong arms grasped him in a bear hug. Behind Crimson and down the hall, a lady appeared and screamed when Jaime was shoved down.

Jaime’s face pressed against the polished flooring as he tried to twist away from the one holding him. The guard snarled, his weight vanished a moment later, and one from outside dragged him away.

“What the fuck are you doing? Get off him!”

“Get that damn horse away from here and calm him down. Idiot!”

“Arrest him!”

“I’ll kill you!” breathed the one who had been holding Jaime. “Fuckin’ thief!”

Jaime gasped for air as he managed to get to his knees. Crimson drew his boot back just a little like he was tempted to smash it into Jaime’s face.

“Let go of me!” shouted the whorehouse guard.

The second caught up and huffed as the rest babbled outside. The third man’s gasping voice reached them too, and someone said to move Aleric’s horse away.

“I didn’t do it, m’lord. They chased me all the way from the whorehouse-Salty Blower-I didn’t take the money-” Jaime tried to catch his breath and wondered if he should stay on his knees. It wasn’t a position he was used to taking, but considering the crimson-cloaked man before him had to be Aleric Monet, the son of the lord and future Earl of C?te, maybe he should.

Aleric’s lips suddenly curved upward in a smile. “What did you say before? You’ll do anything?”

Just about if it meant avoiding prison and a sentence of slavery. Soleil enslaved their criminals, and anything could be done to them.

A muscled, bearded man who had to be nearly sixty stomped in. He had the paunch some older men have, and he didn’t look like anyone Jaime wanted to mess with. “Are you all right?” he asked Aleric.

“I’m fine.” Aleric pushed back his hood as the lady who’d screamed spoke up, although Jaime didn’t hear her words. Another woman had joined the first, and Aleric turned a little. “We’re fine. Leave us be for a few minutes.”

“What’s all this?” Beard pointed into the alley as Jaime got to his feet and pressed his back against the wall. The third pursuer, the owner of The Salty Blower, wiped his sweaty forehead. The other two hadn’t drawn their swords since the Castle guards wouldn’t like that.

Jaime turned to Aleric who stared back with growing disdain. He was several inches shorter and slimmer. “I work at The Salty Blower and-”

“I’ve heard of it, not that I’d go to such an establishment. I’m sure the sailors make good use of you.” In the light of the lantern hanging from the ceiling above him, Aleric’s dark blue eyes were sharp against his light brown skin that was a little darker than Jaime’s and spoke of the Rowland half of him.

“As a guard,” said Jaime. “Not a whore. I’ve only worked there for three days-”

“Shouldn’t you be asking me?” The whorehouse owner swiped at his forehead again. “He robbed me!”

“He crashed into me, so I’ll hear his side first,” said Aleric. “What’s your name?”

“Jaime Meyer. They found money in a secret bottom of the drawer in my bedside table. I didn’t even know it had a false bottom, and I don’t know who put the money in there! I didn’t steal anything. They barged into my room tonight to search it when I was about to get ready to go out since my shift was done. He threatened to have his two other guards kill me, and I had to run. They chased me all through the damn docks.”

Aleric let his gaze scan Jaime’s body before looking at the other three. Guards at The Salty Blower wore green vests, and at least two were on most of the time to discourage troublemakers. If trouble was still made, they’d deal with the maker by tossing him out on his arse.

“Well?” Aleric asked the owner.

“I noticed money was gone from my lockbox. I was a fool to take it out in front of him when I gave him his starting bonus.” The owner curled his lip at Jaime. “I intended to find a new hiding place, and I forgot. These two wouldn’t know where the key is, and neither would the rest of my employees. We searched his room, and sure enough, the exact amount of money missing from my lockbox was in the drawer. It has a false bottom. He found that pretty quick and thought I wouldn’t know about it.”

“Someone planted it there!” exclaimed Jaime. “One of the whores said Gus might be sacked soon.” He pointed at Gus who had grabbed him earlier. “He wanted to make me look bad so you’d keep him, and I could tell he didn’t like me-”

“Bullshit!” yelled Gus. “I didn’t know where the key was to the lockbox, so how would I even op-”

“Like you couldn’t have found it with a little searching!” yelled Jaime. “You've been there longer.”

The owner squared his shoulders. “That’s why we were chasing him, and we mean no offense to you, m’lord. We want to see him arrested, and we’ll be on our way, knowing that a thief has been dealt with. You could even come to The Salty Blower and have your pick if you like since we’ve interrupted your night. No charge.”

“I’d rather not get the pox for free too,” Aleric snidely replied.

“None of my employees have the pox!”

“Uh-huh. That place is likely creating brand new diseases unknown to fairykind until now.”

“I swear to Elira I didn’t take the money, and I didn’t know about the false bottom,” Jaime said as the owner turned crimson. “Why would I get a job and steal from him three days later?”

“Same reason as anyone else. They think they won’t get caught.” Aleric leaned a shoulder against the wall. “How much was stolen?”

The owner huffed. “Er, about twenty din, twelve kops.”

“About?” Aleric tilted his head. “You said the exact amount was found.”

“It was. I mean, I didn’t exactly get to count it. It looked right, and we were more concerned about Jaime who hauled ass. I’d say that shows his guilt.”

“I ran because you threatened to kill me, and I’m not about to get enslaved either for a crime I didn’t commit!”

Aleric held up a hand without looking at Jaime. “Perhaps he is guilty. Still, it's a bit extreme that you were going to kill him for a few dins and kops.”

“We wasn’t!”

“I seem to recall your lackey saying, ‘I’ll kill you.’”

“He was angry from chasing Jaime so far. We weren’t going to actually kill him!”

“Ah. You can take your lackeys and go. You’ve got your money back, and you’re keeping me from my fun. You’re not hurt, and you don’t need to see him arrested.”

The owner looked ready to argue as Jaime took off his green vest and threw it at him.

“Get out of my sight,” said Aleric. “Now.”

The owner caught the vest, and all three turned to leave. Gus shot Jaime a murderous glare.

“M’lord, I swear I didn’t do it.”

Aleric raised an eyebrow. “Both of you have a point, and with no real evidence, neither of you can prove your guilt or innocence, can you? Words can mean nothing. Or do you have evidence?”

“No,” Jaime grudgingly admitted. In cases like that, the lord would decide which party was guilty. If the case of both parties was too plausible, he might let the accused go free to avoid imprisoning a potentially innocent man. A petty theft wasn’t like a murder or an assault. Or he might pick the side he liked better. The Salty Blower owner had been in business for quite a while. Jaime wasn’t a local and had no friends since he’d been in C?te for barely a week, and his accent was more Morian than Soleilian.

He had lived in Natora for a while which wasn’t far, and stories had reached him since people often love gossiping about higher-ups. The landlady at his last dwelling had been more than happy to talk about anything with everyone even if they didn’t feel like hearing it. Aleric wasn’t known to be particularly kind. Or good. Cold and nasty better described him. He had no real friends, and he used to be friends with the woman he married.

Until she ran away three days after their marriage.

“I could have you arrested, and you can present your case against the owner to my Father,” Aleric said after a moment. “My Father is typically fair.”

Jaime had heard that he didn’t like slavery or own any. He also didn’t like anyone at his court to own slaves. Despite that, he could sense the ‘but’ in Aleric’s words.

“Father tends to favor locals over those from elsewhere, and he doesn’t like thieves.” Aleric brushed his hair away from his eyes. “He’d probably give you a year. Where are you originally from?”

“Riverview village in the north of Moria.” Jaime’s stomach clenched. He’d stay in the city prison until someone purchased him. If nobody wanted him, he’d sit in a cell and stare at the wall until his sentence was over. If he was bought, a year as a slave…untold things could be done to him in a year or even a few days. His owner might not do much of anything to him, or they could brutalize him. He’d heard stories he’d prefer to forget, and that included slaves who were used for sex and didn't get the option to say no.

“Do you want me to arrest him?” Beard looked impatient to get on with whatever decision was made.

“No. I’ve got another idea. Come here.” Aleric gestured. “The rest of you stay here.”

“M’lord,” started Beard.

“I’ll be fine down the hall. Don’t wear yourself out on your last night.”

“My job isn’t over until I leave tonight. It doesn’t matter if I’m worn out.”

“I said to stay. Come on, Jaime.”

He followed Aleric down the plain hall and past a few closed doors. If Aleric expected a bribe, Jaime only had a few coins on him. He’d left Natora because he hadn’t been able to find work, and his savings had dwindled. Aleric picked a room and stepped in. The lady from earlier was gone, and faint sounds of merriment from elsewhere in the Hidden Pearl reached Jaime’s ears.

The bedroom beyond was sparsely furnished and contained the basics: a neatly made bed, a chest of drawers, and a shelf with a few books that had likely been forgotten. A basin with water sat in a corner, and a crystal lantern hung from the ceiling. If anyone needed the room, the Madam would set out wine and anything else required.

“The Madam won’t mind if we borrow this room for a few minutes.” Aleric turned to Jaime who closed the door. “You said you’d do anything.” He arched an eyebrow.

Jaime regretted saying that because Aleric was looking at him like a whore while undoing the silver clasp on his cloak. “I meant, within reason.”

“Mhm.”

“Fine. What do you want?”

“I can think of something you can do to make me happy since my fun was interrupted, and I doubt you want to wait with the others while I make use of one of the men here.”

Jaime kept from rolling his eyes. “Just tell me what you want. Do you want me to bend you over?” Not that he'd mind. If the pretty future lord wanted a good pounding, it would almost be like a reward.

Aleric scoffed and flung his cloak on the bed. “No. This is what I’ll do. You can be my slave which means you stay with me until I say otherwise. Maybe a year. Consider yourself an aid if you like. You’ll have partial freedom.”

“But-a slave? I didn’t steal anything! I literally did nothing wrong.”

Aleric shrugged. “It’s the word of two men against each other.”

This fucker. The way he was standing there with a faintly smug expression grated on Jaime’s nerves. He wouldn’t be so blasé if his freedom was on the line. “What’s partial freedom?”

“You'll be more like an aid. I won’t dress you in a tunic or rags like some slaves. I won’t make you wear a lirek collar either, so you can use your magic if needed. You’ll be permitted to go out under guard as long as you promise to behave and return. If I don’t require you, you can also go around the Castle as long as you don’t bother anyone, and you can have books. When I require your presence, you’ll do what I say.”

“Like a private servant?”

“Yes. That’s basically what an aid is. You’ll have a roof over your head and food.”

It’d be sort of like having a job except he wouldn’t be paid. That was better than most criminals who received nothing and might not even be fed properly, depending on their owner.

“I’ll pay you too-”

All right, that made it a little better so Jaime wouldn’t be on the street later with just a few coins in his pocket.

“-if you agree to another job, which is to service me when I require it,” added Aleric.

Jaime nearly told him to go fuck himself. A one-night stand was all right, but Aleric wanted a whore. Jaime had considered it before since it could be a decent job depending on where one worked. With his muscular bulk and height, he'd likely attract those who wanted to be dominated and topped for a night.

Aleric was the sort Jaime would love to do all kinds of things too. White hair and dark blue eyes were a lure, and those features looked especially good on Aleric. He’d always liked his men slim and pretty.

The offer was still extortion since Jaime wouldn't have any other way to make income.

“So I can be your discounted toy or go to prison?”

Aleric’s smile wasn’t pleasant to say the least. “You can work for me or only stay as my personal servant and make nothing. Or you can go to prison. Three choices. It’s quite clear. If you’re innocent, my offer isn’t bad, and you won’t be like a proper slave. It’s merciful, and whether or not you go to prison won’t affect The Salty Blower owner. He has his money and lost nothing. If you did commit theft, maybe you’ll think twice next time because you won't get this offer from anyone else.”

“For fuck’s sake, I didn’t do it. Why can’t I just go on my way?”

“Prove you didn’t do it.”

“You know I can’t! It’s also the principle.”

“‘It’s the principle,’” Aleric repeated in a snarky tone as he straightened the embroidered cuff of his black coat. “Pick, Jaime. If you’d prefer to sit in a cell, I’ll have you arrested before I go enjoy my night. A night you’ve interrupted. I’ve spent enough time on this.”

“Servicing” might mean bending Jaimie over. Except he didn’t bottom. He had a feeling the future lord would. He could be wrong, but he was usually right with his intuition about men.

If he wasn’t truly owned, he could see himself fucking Aleric for the next year. Shit, he’d love to get in bed with someone who had such pretty hair and dark blue eyes. Aleric might be an asshole, but it didn’t mean he’d be a bad lover either.

“What kind of servicing are we talking about?”

“You'll suck me off.”

Outside of bedroom activities, Jaime wasn’t sure of the man before him. He thought about the rumors he’d heard, including those about Aleric’s wife fleeing quite shortly after marriage. Then he thought about being arrested and bought by Elira-knew-who later. It was better to go with the person before him, service him for money, and save his wages. If he felt endangered, he could try to run away later, and after a year, he wouldn’t be broke and scrambling to find a new job once he was set free.

Perhaps the rumors were also just that: rumors. Aleric might loosen up in a couple of days and be a little nicer.

“Fine. I’ll go with you and be your aid, and, er, I’ll do the other thing. You better pay me and not back out.”

“I won't. Get on your knees, and suck my dick.”

Jaime paused. “Excuse me?”

Aleric tilted his head. “Get on your knees.”

“Right now?”

“Yes, I intend to try your mouth out. If you’re terrible, I’m not wasting my money, and you can forget that part of the deal.”

Jaime frowned. “Servicing could mean we reverse things or do both. You could also get on your knees for me, suck my dick, and enjoy yourself that way.”

“You have a strange idea of the word.”

“Some men really enjoy sucking cock.” Jaime wouldn’t mind sucking him off, although the attitude was grating on him, and he wouldn’t be happy to spend the next year only giving and not receiving. “Are you going to do it back?”

“No.”

Just fucking great. Maybe he was only saying that now to assert control. “Even though I’d be getting paid, you’re not going to get me off? That’s kind of fucked up. I’ve paid for whores before, and I didn’t leave them hanging after I finished.”

“You’ve been running around, and you’re all sweaty.” Aleric curled his lip like it was entirely Jaime’s fault that he'd been running.

Jaime could see that. He wouldn’t want to suck off a sweaty guy either. “What about later?” Aleric would be even prettier on his knees with his lips wrapped around Jaime’s cock. “Don’t look at me like that. Fair is fair.”

“You’d be the equivalent of a whore. I don’t care if you get off.”

Rude. Jaime was tempted to ask if they’d be going farther with the whole whore business, and perhaps Aleric was just leaving out that part. Jaime wasn’t about to turn over for any man, and he might lose the option of wages if he brought that up. He’d have to see how this went.

“Are you going to stand there and gawp at me like an idiot?”

“Fine.”

Aleric started unbuttoning his coat to move it aside. “Undo my trousers and get to work.”

“Are you going to sit?”

“No. I'm fine standing.”

Jaime had sucked plenty of dick before since he liked making a submissive man cum. He just wasn’t used to being ordered to do it and told to get on his knees like a submissive.

He told himself to deal with it. The rumors about Lord Monet’s son probably weren’t even half-true. His wife might have gotten cold feet about marriage and the future position of Countess. Or maybe she’d run away to join her true love. Besides, life as a slave could grow quite uncertain, and he couldn’t face that. This was the better route.

He’d have to swallow his pride along with Aleric’s cum. He still had pride even though he’d lost his title and everything else he should have had at that moment.

He unbuckled Aleric’s belt and got to work on his trouser laces. The bulge in his trousers was quite obvious and nothing to laugh at. Thankfully, Jaime knew how to deepthroat so he wouldn’t be gagging like a virgin. He undid the laces, tugged down his trousers, and popped the single button holding the waist of his silky drawers.

As he grasped Aleric’s erect cock, he looked up. Those dark blue eyes were almost black in the dimmer light from a couple of crystal lanterns in the room, and they didn’t look very amused.

“Stop stalling.”

“I’m not stalling,” Jaime mumbled as he stroked the thick length. Bossy prick. He had to hunch a bit to take the tip in his mouth, and he lapped at the milky fluid that had collected near the tip.

While he didn’t mind doing this, he’d rather lay Aleric on the bed, put his ankles by his ears, and breed his ass. He’d found that brats are usually quite good when they’re pinned and folded in half for a good ass pounding. After a good orgasm, Aleric wouldn’t have such an attitude with shaky legs and Jaime’s cum dripping out of his hole.

If he said what he wanted to do, he’d get a scathing remark. Aleric clearly wasn’t about to let Jaime up his ass after knowing him for five minutes.

Since Jaime couldn’t find out how flexible Aleric was and take his ass, he pulled back the foreskin to swirl his tongue around the head while he fisted near the base.

Aleric’s hips twitched. “Take your hand off. Only use your mouth.”

“Or what?” Jaime dared to say around the head.

“Suck. Don’t talk.”

Jaime glanced up to see Aleric’s face had a red flush as he looked up. He was either really into what Jaime was doing with his tongue on the underside, or he was an abundant male.

He removed his hands, wrapped an arm around Aleric’s thighs, and grabbed his ass to take him down to the root. If Jaime’s throat hadn’t been stuffed, he would have grunted when his hair was grabbed hard enough to make his eyes water. He kept a good handful of Aleric’s ass cheeks as he sucked, although Aleric had more control with the way he was holding Jaime’s hair.

If he was pounding the future lord into the bed, he’d make Aleric say what a dirty, filthy little slut he was while holding him by the hair.

“You’re making my ass wetter.”

He was definitely an abundant male. Jaime had been with a few of those. His partially erect cock thickened. There was nothing like sinking into a warm hole that could slick itself and allow sex to be more spontaneous. If Aleric was pushing his heat, which would make him desperate to get off, the blow job would be good for him, but he was likely still aching for his ass to be stuffed.

An abundant male could use the heat and make do with oral or hands. It wouldn’t quite match up to anal and the orgasm that could be had that way since the heat was to aid in procreation.

Jaime wasn’t about to risk a baby, but his fingers would be safe. He pulled Aleric’s trousers down a little more, locked an arm around his thighs, and slipped a finger into his hole. The slick helped a lot, and with Aleric practically dripping, it was nothing like trying to stick a finger into a dry hole. The heat helped the muscles relax to a point.

He jerked. “I didn’t say to stick your finger in my ass. Idiot.”

He also didn’t say to stop. Since he didn’t demand for Jaime to remove his finger, he managed to get out the words with a cock half in his mouth. “Shut up, slut.”

Aleric stiffened, although he still didn’t tell Jaime to stop. Maybe he liked being called a slut too. He made a slight breathless noise as Jaime added a second and found his prostate to massage.

“Fuck-” Aleric grabbed Jaime’s shoulder and pumped his hips the best he could since his new toy had his one arm quite tight around his thighs. “You whine and then suck dick like you practice all day.”

A top should always be able to care for the bottom’s needs. A little more air would have been nice. Jaime tried to breathe while he sucked and worked his tongue. His cock damn near ached as he worked in a second finger to rub Aleric’s prostate. He wanted to grip himself and jerk off, but he didn’t want to let go. Part of him also wanted to turn Aleric around and eat his ass too since slick had a faintly sweetish taste.

Aleric let out such a moan, one would have thought he was a slut getting the railing of his life. Jaime managed to get a decent breath before he took him down the root, tightened his arm, and added a little more pressure. Slick leaked out, and Aleric tensed his legs.

Jaime worked his tongue the best he could at the base. Jammed in his tight throat, Aleric made a noise like he was about to finish.

Jaime practically had to fight to pull back for air, and he was pretty sure a few hairs had been permanently separated from his scalp. “Cum for me, you bratty little slut. Now.”

Aleric thrust into the sucking heat of his mouth and swore. Cum flooded Jaime’s mouth, and fingers dug into his shoulder while his abandoned cock leaked. Aleric’s thrusting hips grew erratic. Jaime glanced up to see him with his eyes closed. His expression almost looked pained while he emptied himself.

Jaime swallowed the thick cum as it came the best he could. Aleric stilled, and Jaime ran his tongue along the underside before releasing him. A thick thread of spit ran from his lips to the tip of Aleric’s cock.

Jaime wiped his mouth with the hand he hadn’t been fingering him with and stood to find Aleric glaring at him as he fixed his trousers.

“What? You should be smiling after an orgasm like that.”

“I didn’t say you could shove your fingers up my ass.”

“You didn’t tell me to stop, and you’ve had no problem bossing me around tonight,” said Jaime. “You loved it, and I know abundant males prefer to have anal stimulation.”

“I should have you arrested.”

Jaime rolled his eyes. “I know your type. I bet you’re a bottom, and you’re just trying to pretend otherwise to keep the upper hand at the moment.”

Aleric’s lips parted, and Jaime could already guess the coming denial.

“You’re mad because you tried to dominate me, and I still took control and made you moan…like the slutty bottom you really are,” he finished.

If looks could kill…Jaime had given him an amazing orgasm after being given shitty choices, and he still had an attitude. Jaime not only wanted to give him another on the bed to get relief for his raging erection, but to bend him over and give him a spanking.

Even though Aleric had gotten off, the heat wouldn’t entirely go away for a bit, although he imagined the desperation wasn’t so consuming.

“Don’t ever do that again, or I’ll have you imprisoned. Count yourself lucky that I’m letting you stay to service me.”

“Mhm,” hummed Jaime. “You’re quite pretty with your blush. I like abundant males. I bet next time, you’ll be telling me to stick my fingers in you again. Or something else.”

“Shut up. After you wash your hands, come outside.”

Aleric grabbed his cloak and swept toward the door without another word.

***

Aleric snapped at the guards to get moving. Jaime had to sit behind Beard since it wasn’t like they’d planned on bringing anyone new to the Castle and brought a spare horse. Beard, who Aleric had called William, snapped in turn at another for not keeping his horse calm.

Aleric had a beautiful black mare to carry him through the streets of C?te, and Jaime had caught her name when he mounted his horse and told her she was a good girl: Mighty. The group was quiet. The snotty bastard hadn’t even thought to ask if Jaime had anything of value back at his shitty room in The Salty Blower.

He didn’t have much. A few shirts and trousers could be replaced someday. He had money in his pocket because it had been his night off, and he’d planned to find a tavern. The owner of The Salty Blower might have been a dick, but he gave a small bonus to anyone he hired as a guard or a whore at his business. It had been barely enough for a nice night at a tavern.

Jaime’s most valuable possession was at his side. Nobody had demanded he hand over his sword. That was surely coming. Jaime didn’t like the idea of possibly parting with it because it was all he had left of his old life. Even during a few times when he’d been in a pinch for money and hungry, he hadn’t thought of selling it.

Most people probably thought the leather strips around the hilt and handguard were to hide scratches. The old sheath wasn’t the original, and it had quite a few marks.

“I’m going to miss it,” William grumbled as he followed the Prince up a road leading straight to the gate of the walled Castle. He twisted a bit in the saddle to peer at Jaime over his shoulder. “Did you fight in the war?”

“No.”

“You don’t sound all Soleilian.”

“I’m northern Morian. I’ve been around enough to pick up a bit of the accent. I drift.”

“Ah. I fought. Came out alive, and now I’m being made into the Commander of the City Guard. Some whelp who’s too young in my opinion is going to command the Castle guards.”

“Twenty-five isn’t bad,” said one of the other men.

“Any Commander should be thirty or older. I didn’t get my position until I was older. You’re even older than me. You know we were still dumb at twenty-five. It’s not about how many kills you made in a war or if your swords ever had blood on it.”

“I’ll be happy to be around when my new grandchild comes. I don’t see why you’re not retiring. Isn't it time to sit back and enjoy life?”

“I enjoy working. Three days at home, and my wife will be telling me to find something to do.”

It seemed William would be leaving, and the other older man was retiring. The third was younger, so Jaime might see him again.

A stableboy with sandy hair, freckles, and eyes still nearly closed came from a side room in the stables when William yelled for him to take care of their horses. Aleric patted his mare’s neck, told her she was a good girl, and earned himself a pleased snort. He snapped his fingers like Jaime was a dog and started heading for the Castle.

Jaime followed, thought of the rumors he’d heard, and took a deep breath. The landlady had said Aleric had been friends with his first wife since they were children. After they married about three years ago, she’d run away three days later. Of course, there was always the chance the marriage had been forced on her by her parents, and she’d fled. Not every woman wanted to be a Countess or have children. She might have been in love with someone her parents didn’t approve of and run to be with that person.

Depending on the man, a woman might have more important reasons to flee.

The landlady said she had a feeling that Aleric was quite horrible in private. He might have even been one of those men who beat their wives, and he'd shown his true colors after the wedding. Jaime, not thinking he’d ever have a reason to deal with Aleric, had brushed off her gossip because the stupidest things can be twisted out of proportion.

The Castle was quiet and felt empty. Lanterns dangled in the hallways to give light. Jaime remembered the Castle where he used to live. It wasn’t that far since C?te was by the ocean and bordering Moria. Three days along the coast would bring him back.

He hadn’t been in a Castle in years, and while the inside was different, and some of his old memories had grown a bit fuzzy, there was something almost comforting about it. Before that one night, his memories were mostly good.

Aleric didn’t speak as they took the stairs up several floors. Down the first hall they went, a portrait showed Lord Monet, Countess Monet, and a young Aleric who appeared to be about three. Jaime paused to study the family. Aleric’s little face was round and innocent. Getting him to sit still even for short sittings must have been a struggle.

The Countess had been dead for years. The landlady had said she’d grown feverish after giving birth to a set of twins. The twins had come too early and failed to thrive.

Countess Monet had been from Rowland. Her son, who had gotten her coloring and eyes, had his Father’s white hair. Countess Monet had rich brown hair swept up in a diamond hairnet which was something that had mostly fallen out of style in Soleil.

Currently, Rowland and Soleil didn’t get along thanks to the recent, vicious war that had ended last year. Regent Corentin and Regent Lupo had signed a treaty, but hard feelings don’t always vanish so soon. Aleric’s parents had married long before those events. Still, he wondered if the rumors were made up because of the Rowland side of Aleric. People from there were often called savages and idiots by Soleilians. The event at Calmerra hadn't helped.

He caught Aleric turning and looked over to see his cutting gaze.

“Keep up. You’ll have time to dawdle around and look at portraits later.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Jaime muttered under his breath. He wondered what the younger half-brother looked like.

They turned right once and came to a door at the end of the hallway. Jaime raised an eyebrow as Aleric pulled a key on a cord from his pocket to unlock it. Why did he lock his rooms? Only a fool would try to steal something belonging to him, and his little brother was old enough to mind himself and stay out.

“You can read the books on the shelf or get ones from the library,” Aleric said as he entered his sitting room. A lantern had been left on the table in front of the couch, and he tapped another on a table under the window to Jaime’s right. “Don’t fold the pages or tear them, and that goes for library books too because the librarian will have a fit.”

“I know not to ruin books,” said Jaime.

“Can you even read?”

“Yes, I can read.” What a stupid question to jab at him for nothing. Most fairies could, and Jaime had learned quite fast once Mother had taught him.

Aleric pulled off his riding gloves and tossed them on the table in front of the couch before he undid his cloak. Once he’d flung it over the back of an armchair, he turned to Jaime who was awkwardly standing a few feet away.

The flush had dissipated from Aleric’s face, showing that his heat was gone. “Draw your sword and give it to me.”

Jaime scowled and gripped the handle as he tried to think of a way around the command.

“Partial freedom doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. When I command, you act. Think of yourself as a pet.”

“I’m not a pet. You also said you wouldn’t collar me, and I can use my magic. I need my weapon for my magic.”

“I highly doubt you’ll require it within the next few minutes. The Salty Blower owner isn’t about to barge in and try to get revenge.” Aleric held out his hand. “Sword.”

Jaime drew it and held it out so it could be taken by the handle since that was proper, and Father had taught him so. Aleric gave him a look before he gripped the handle and stepped farther into the room where he had room to swing. His own weapon hanging at his side was quite nice with emeralds on the hilt. It had likely cost a fortune.

Jaime had done his best to hide the inscription on the handle, and the leather was treated to withstand his fire magic since he could only channel it through metal. While nothing had been wrong with it before, the leather also helped with grip. He’d wrapped the cross guard too, which was unusual unless the sword was badly scratched, and the owner wished to hide it.

The very ends of the crossguard and the pommel showed, and a good eye would notice the immaculate quality, although Jaime’s had no gems gracing the hilt. A man like Aleric would be able to tell a blade’s quality, and he seemed to be testing the weight and feel as he swung at the air. Jaime watched his feet and movement.

Aleric wouldn’t be easily bested in a sword fight, and the children of lords often learn to fight at a young age. Jaime had decent skill, although if life had gone differently, he’d likely be far better.

He held up the sword and looked down the blade which was straight and true. Not many had seen the blade before.

“Have you used it?” He shifted, and strands of lightning flared to life around the blade, showing he too needed something to channel his magic.

“Yeah. A couple of outlaws have tried fucking with me.”

“Where are they?”

“I left their bodies in a ditch. I wasn't going to bury anyone trying to kill me.”

The lightning fizzled out, and a couple of last sparks jumped off as if seeking freedom only to disappear. Aleric checked the other side and studied the hilt and crossguard before his eyes slid to Jaime. “Why is it wrapped?”

“Because it’s old, and the handle is scratched. It looks like shit.”

“The blade is in perfect condition.”

“It was protected by the sheath.” Jaime nudged it. “I don’t know what the last owners did with it. I got it secondhand.”

Aleric held his gaze for a moment like he sensed the lie. Securely holding it, he suddenly swung, and it took every ounce of Jaime’s self-control to not jump back as the edge came for his neck.

Aleric stopped it about a half inch with a smile that wasn’t comforting. “It’s a pity they let the handle get so beat up.”

Jaime burned with anger at the move, which was just a show of power to scare him and hopefully wring a frightened reaction from him. He knew damn well Aleric wouldn’t slaughter him in his sitting room.

“I could kill you,” said Aleric. “Yet you stood there.”

“I don’t think you’d bring me to your sitting room to kill. Get it away from my neck.”

“Why?”

Jaime’s anger went up several more notches. “Did you pull this shit with your wife because you think it makes you look like a big man? Is this why she ran after three days? No wonder you’re stuck with whores. I bet she couldn’t wait to get away from you.”

Aleric’s sword hand twitched as the silence crackled between them. “You know nothing about my wife. Watch your mouth.”

“If you kill me, your Father also isn’t going to like that.”

“I can guarantee you won’t like prison and slavery.”

“Your Father might see my point of view and dislike the fact that his son coerced a guy into being his dick sucker . ”

“You still might not win, so I’d keep your mouth shut about this.”

Aleric could say anything in private to his Father and make Jaime look like the bad guy.

He withdrew the sword and gave it a last look before he properly held it out. “Try to keep the blade nice. That’s the most important part.”

Was this a trick? Jaime hastily snatched it. “You’re letting me keep it?”

“I think that’s obvious. Don’t bother planning to stab me in my sleep. I keep my bedroom door locked at night.” Aleric pointed at it and at another to one side. “That’s the privy room. It connects to my bedroom, and the other door inside is kept locked. If you can’t get in, that means I’m using it. If you’re desperate, there’s a privy a floor down and not far from the stairs. Don’t try to enter my bedroom unless you’re invited. You’ll sleep on the couch.”

“I don’t get a proper room? Even a small one?”

“No. Pets often stay in their owner’s quarters.”

“I thought I'm your aid who happens to get paid for blowing you. Stop calling me a pet.”

“Eh, you are a bit like a stray pet. Give me twenty minutes before you use the privy room. I’ll leave what you can use on the top shelf by the basin. Don’t fuck with my things.”

With that, he took his cloak and gloves before unlocking his bedroom door and disappearing inside. The clock clicked from the other side, and Jaime sheathed his sword. Maybe a foolish servant had once stolen from him? Or he had horrible things in there like the heads of his enemies.

Jaime wasn’t sure what to do with himself. A neatly folded throw blanket had been draped over the back of the armchair, and a couple of decorative pillows sat on the matching brown couch. He’d slept on the ground plenty of times, so it wasn’t the worst accommodations he’d seen.

What was he supposed to wear? Damn it. He should have told Aleric he needed his clothes so he wouldn’t be wearing the same shirt he’d sweated in while hauling ass. If he slept naked on the couch, Aleric probably wouldn’t like getting a surprise eyeful in the morning.

Almost as if Aleric had heard his thoughts, he came out with a few things. “My clothes won’t fit right, but make do.” He dumped a small, messy pile on the couch and headed for his room. “You’ll get more stuff later.” He closed his bedroom door.

Jaime had gotten the barest glimpse inside his bedroom, and he hadn’t seen anything horrible. He rifled through the pile to find a sleep shirt and pants that would be baggy on Aleric and all right for Jaime, although snugger than he’d like. The drawers might be too tight. Socks. Aleric had also included a pillow better for sleeping instead of decorating couches.

He sat since he had nothing else to do except listen to a few innocent noises from the privy room as Aleric presumably washed up to get ready for bed. Jaime might as well rub one out before bed since he certainly wasn’t going to have Aleric’s pretty mouth around his cock that night.