Chapter Three
Lumi wasn’t expecting the Prince to move so fast. He was awoken at dawn by two guards who didn’t care he’d gone to sleep naked. They simply dragged him out into the frigid air and ignored his protests.
“The Crown Prince wants you.”
“Fine. I can walk-”
“Shut up,” snapped one.
The cold certainly woke him up, and he didn’t bother with further complaints since the results wouldn’t change.
The guards manhandled him by other early risers.
Their shocked faces at seeing the nude pleasure slave outside would have been comical if things weren’t so serious.
They likely assumed he’d misbehaved somehow, and it wasn’t that bad.
Lumi had already brought the heat on before he was even in the Prince’s rooms. Prince Jaki glared at his flushed face when the guards made him kneel in front of the couch.
Lumi shivered and wanted to huddle in front of the fire, but the men’s steely grips held him still.
He smiled at the Prince as he noticed the ropes and leather cuffs on the couch cushion next to him.
“Ooh, I know what game we’re playing.”
Prince Jaki regarded him for a moment before he spoke. “Put the leather cuffs on and hogtie him. Make it tight. I want the whore to suffer.”
The guards took the coils of rope and forced Lumi to the floor even though he didn’t fight. Once his ankles and wrists were cuffed together, the men threaded ropes through the rings on the sides and set to tightening the position while he lay on his stomach.
A couple of the courtiers had hogtied him to where his back was arched and breathing grew harder before taking a crop to him. Lumi was more concerned because the Prince likely had worse than a cropping planned.
Prince Jaki watched with mild interest as the ropes were secured. “I don’t want anyone outside of my door.”
The guards left without another word. Once the door was shut, Lumi tested the ropes and wiggled on the thick rug.
The small table in front of the couch had been moved aside, and he felt like an ornament to be admired, although that wouldn’t last long.
He focused on controlling his breathing as he gazed up at the Prince.
At least the warmth in the room had stopped his shivers.
“Well?” asked Prince Jaki. "Is there anything you want to say?"
“I’ll be a good boy,” purred Lumi. “You know I will.”
Prince Jaki slunk off the couch to grab Lumi’s chin. “It’s a pity you look so sweet. I almost don’t want to hurt you. I’m going to give you one chance to admit everything.”
Did he suspect or truly know? If he knew something, how much? Everything? Half? Bits and pieces? Prince Jaki’s eyes were so cold, Lumi’s stomach tightened a little even though he kept his eager expression in place.
“Your eyes are like green sea ice,” said Prince Jaki.
“Your pink eyes are prettier. Like wolver flowers.”
“You have twenty seconds to admit the truth,” said Prince Jaki. “Not compliment my eyes.”
“You mentioned mine. What am I supposed to admit? How much I want your cock?”
“Tell me the things you know.”
“What things? Give me something specific to deny while we play. It makes it more real.”
“This isn’t a game, Lumi. You know what to admit.”
“You sound so serious.” Lumi shot a glance at his face before letting his eyes slide down the Prince’s body.
Prince Jaki’s silence was more unnerving than the threat. The promise of pain was quite near in Lumi’s future, and he knew the only option in a case like this.
Play dumb. Deny. Deny. Deny. Beg. Continue playing dumb even if death loomed. Be the whore he played so well.
There were a few things Lumi feared far more than death by the Prince’s hand even though that wasn’t how he wanted to go.
“M’lord?” Lumi raised his eyebrows.
His twenty seconds must have been up. Prince Jaki laid a finger on his shoulder and let his lightning magic flow through to Lumi who tensed at the slight discomfort. It only made his cock harder since it wasn’t too strong.
“I can make it worse,” said Prince Jaki. “I know you like pain, but everyone has their limits, and it won’t be fun after a bit. Admit the truth to me, and I’ll stop.”
Lumi jerked and shouted at the next jolt on his back. It was still bearable, and if this was only a game, he would have loved to be tormented with a little lightning. Prince Jaki settled himself comfortably on the floor while he let it flow through Lumi.
Prince Jaki removed his hand as Lumi breathed. Since he didn’t immediately open his mouth to blab the things that could get him hanged, Prince Jaki touched him again.
That time, it was so bad, even the sexual desire from his heat couldn’t make it enjoyable. Lumi grunted as the pain coursed through him and made him pull at the ropes. They didn’t give an inch.
“Please…”
Prince Jaki stopped and pulled his hand away only to reach over.
Lumi hadn’t even caught his breath before his balls were shocked.
That time, he screamed. He could get through a lot of suffering with his heat, but lightning was different after a certain point.
It wasn’t just a single part or even a couple of areas.
The worst concentrated in one spot and spread to lock his muscles. It was everywhere at once and impossible to ignore. It demanded too much attention, and even a pain slut has limits.
Prince Jaki wasn’t moved by his screams or the way he jerked.
Lumi gasped for air when the lightning stopped, although Prince Jaki didn’t release his balls.
The way he gently rubbed them would have normally had Lumi begging for his hands to go elsewhere too, but he was too focused on trying to get his air back.
Why couldn’t the Prince have gone with a whipping or something easier for him to bear?
His joints were feeling the strain from the tie, and the pressure on his lungs was growing worse. Prince Jaki could keep him like that for hours if he wanted. Even if he was damaged, the healer could deal with it unless Lumi was left injured for too long.
He just had to keep his secrets no matter what torture the Prince put him through.
No warning came before the next shock. His screams didn’t make the Prince let up, and Lumi could feel his cold eyes boring into his back as the lightning made him stiffen and twitch.
When it ebbed, one thought ran through Lumi’s mind: Don’t break. Don’t break. Don’t break. The punishment for breaking would be far worse if a certain pair of hands ever got hold of him again. For a moment, he only saw the skylight above him as he went elsewhere in his head.
The shifting periods of the bright sky and its darkness never changed. The constant cycle remained untouched even as he was warped and forced to alter to survive and see more cycles.
Prince Jaki’s fingertips danced along his bare skin with gentle tingles and flashes that brought him back. He had to be there, not back then. The current moment was what mattered, and the facade couldn’t break.
“Well?” Prince Jaki finally asked in a bored tone.
“I don’t know anything,” Lumi managed to get out.
“You speak of pleasing your betters. That’s clearly a lie because you won’t tell the truth.”
Lumi waited for more painful lightning, but none came. Maybe Prince Jaki didn’t want to damage him too much. If the lightning grew too strong, there was a chance of stopping the victim’s heart, and Lumi couldn’t spill anything from dead lips.
Prince Jaki could threaten to have him tortured in the city prison. Lumi would certainly be racked and burned there to get him to talk and admit to treason.
The ropes suddenly started loosening. Prince Jaki cut the ties with his dagger, and Lumi sucked in air as the pressure on his lungs decreased. If he didn’t threaten Lumi with prison, maybe it meant he didn’t know enough, and he might be leery about bringing others in on his suspicions.
All Lumi had to do was keep acting. His limbs were free, although the leather cuffs remained on each wrist and ankle. Perhaps the Prince thought he would attack or run now.
Lumi hadn’t survived by being stupid, and he wasn’t doing anything to declare his guilt.
He remained on his stomach as the edge of the dagger pressed against his back.
The soreness eased in his limbs, and the ache left his chest. Some of the stiffness remained from the lightning as he kept his body limp.
When the dagger nicked him, he didn’t move. He could handle that, and the danger made his cock jerk. He slowly angled his ass up a little and shifted his tail to the side, a wordless invitation that he was still desperate to be filled.
“Please,” he begged.
“That’s not the truth.”
“I don’t know anything. Maybe your cock in my ass would help me remember.”
Prince Jaki sighed and let up on the edge. Lumi twitched as the point ran down his ass and scraped the back of his balls. Would the Prince nick him there too? His heart thudded, but the cold steel moved away.
Considering it was being done in private, and Lumi wasn’t being tortured in prison, Prince Jaki might not want to do anything too severe that would draw questions and attention. Maybe he was afraid to bring in the court physician who would wonder.
His suspicions, whatever they were, must have been secret, and he likely didn’t know enough to involve the King or anyone else. He’d need proof, and he must not have it. Why else let Lumi loose?
All of that worked in his favor as long as he continued playing dumb.
Besides, he’d never gotten so much attention from the Prince. Why not enjoy it and try to direct things to what he’d wanted for the past three years?
Prince Jaki stood, and his gaze was like knives as Lumi lay on the floor, still and compliant as if this were all a game to him. “Maybe I should put you in prison and have it tortured out of you. I imagine you’ll sing like a bird after a little time on the rack.”