Chapter 2
Two
My brow furrowed as I concentrated on restringing my pendant.
It got ripped off during my last fight and the leather thong was beyond repair.
I had to make a new one. It bothered me that my clan brothers were so careless with it, but that was just their way.
My clan was loud and violent. We solved our issues with swords or fists.
I didn’t enjoy it like the others did, but they were my clan.
When there was a threat, we had each other’s backs.
“Khrull!” The newest clan leader, Ugbar, bellowed from outside my tent.
He didn’t wait for my permission to enter, ripping the flap open and stomping inside.
He threw someone at me, nearly causing me to stab them with the needle in my hand as they landed in my lap.
“A new bondmate for the clan simpleton. Enjoy.”
Bondmate? I glanced down at the small figure in my lap and back up at my clan leader. I knew they had gone to receive the tribute for our clan, but I never expected them to choose me to keep them. Usually, those who were favored by the clean leader were chosen. I was not one of them.
He took in my confused silence and snorted, rolling his eyes. When he spoke, he glanced over his shoulder toward the clan brothers crowded behind him, all snickering and watching me. “I don’t think he knows what to do.”
Hozat, Ugbar’s closest confidant, stepped closer with a wide grin. “It’s simple. Take your dick and stick it in a hole. It doesn’t matter which one. Perhaps if you get off, it will clear some of the fluff between your ears and make you smarter.”
Was that a thing? Did sex make you smarter? I’d never had sex before. Was that why I was slower to understand than the rest of them?
Ugbar glared at me, jabbing a finger at my new bondmate. “This is the only time you will receive such a gift. Don’t waste it. If I find him untouched, I’ll give him to someone else.”
He?
I was still confused when he stormed off, taking his friends with him. He left me alone with the little tribute, who was motionless in my lap. Was he asleep?
I hadn’t known that males could be tributes. I didn’t even know males could have sex with each other. What hole were they referring to?
Carefully, I moved the small figure onto the furs beside me. When I rolled him over, I did my best not to grimace. Half his face was swollen and bruises were already forming. No doubt Ugbar’s handiwork. He had very little patience and always used his fists instead of his words.
The tribute didn’t immediately strike me as male.
It was hard to tell with the swelling, but he had delicate features and a small, slim frame.
I felt the need to check to be sure. His chest was flat, no breasts, and when I peeked in his trousers, he had a cock.
It was much smaller than mine, but he was definitely not a woman.
Then again, I was bigger than many of my clan members.
It was best not to compare my cock with others.
It only ever made people angry when they did.
His hair was cut short like I’d seen many townsfolk wear it.
It was sandy blonde and silky soft to the touch.
There weren’t many soft things in our clan, and I found myself running my fingers through it, fascinated by the texture.
The undamaged side of his face was soft, and there were freckles on his cheeks and nose.
I wanted him to open his eyes so I could see what color they were, but I heard Ugbar’s warning in my head.
If I wanted to keep my new bondmate, I had to use him as bondmates were supposed to be used or he would be given to another. To do that, I needed to figure out how.
Since tributes were known to run if left alone, I didn’t want to be gone too long. Luckily, Tyal’s tent was next to mine, and he never said no to answering my questions. He was my friend as well as my clan brother, and I spent most of my free time with him.
Pushing to my feet, I eyed the little tribute again to make sure he wasn’t faking sleep before ducking out of my tent. I could see the light coming from Tyal’s tent, so I cleared my throat to get his attention and waited for him to invite me in.
“Enter,” he said gruffly.
Ducking my head in, I found him seated at his round table eating his meal. He wasn’t very social with the others, doing his job as a hunter and returning to his tent most days. Many called him a recluse, but I wasn’t sure what that word meant and I didn’t want to upset Tyal by asking him.
He looked up at me, one eyebrow lifted in question. “Are you going to sit?”
Normally, I would. I often joined Tyal for a meal because he was nicer to me than the others. But I was reluctant to fully come inside. I didn’t want the tribute to sneak off while I was distracted.
I glanced anxiously over my shoulder, seeing no movement from my tent, before looking back at Tyal. His brow furrowed deep as he studied me.
“What is it, my brother? What bothers you?”
“I, uh… I have been given a bondmate. But he is a male. I am not sure how to care for him.”
His eyebrows shot up and his mouth fell open in surprise. He seemed lost for words for a moment before pushing to his feet. “Show me.”
There was a part of me that didn’t wish to. Now that I had him, I didn’t want my bondmate near my clan. They would hurt him. I didn’t want that. But I trusted Tyal. He wouldn’t hurt the male. He was my friend.
Stepping back, I led him to my tent and poked my head inside. I breathed a sigh of relief to see the male hadn’t moved from the spot I’d left him in. I didn’t want to go inside, our conversation might wake him, so instead I made room for Tyal to lean in too and look at the male.
“You weren’t kidding,” he murmured, brows drawn together in a deep frown. “Why would they give you a bondmate?”
I shook my head. I still didn’t know the answer to that. While I was loyal to my clan and followed the orders of my clan leader, I wasn’t favored in any way.
“Ugbar said I need to use him or he will take him away. But I don’t know how. A cock cannot accept another cock. Can it?”
Tyal’s mouth twitched like he was fighting a laugh. He shook his head, his smile warm. “No, Khrull. You do not fuck his cock. You fuck his ass.”
I jerked my head back in surprise. “His ass?”
Tyal rubbed his hand over his mouth to hide it, but I saw his grin. I scowled at him. “You’re teasing me.”
“I assure you, I’m not,” he promised. “It’s just amusing that you are unaware. Then again, you’ve never left the clan before. Other clans have pairings with two males, or even three or more. It depends on the couple. But for a male to fuck another, you generally fuck their ass.”
I glanced again at the little tribute in my bed, then back at my friend. “It would never fit.”
I wasn’t bragging. It was just the truth. The one time a female offered to have sex with me, she refused to let me touch her once she saw my cock. She said I would split her in half. I didn't like hurting people, so I accepted her rejection and moved on.
This time, Tyal did laugh. He huffed and shook his head, gripping my shoulder. “It will fit. As long as you take the time to prep him. I will explain it to you in my tent. You’ll need something in order to fuck him as well.”
I let him lead me away, still frowning over the thought of fucking the male’s ass. If it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have believed them. But Tyal didn’t jest. If he said that was how it was done, then it was the truth, no matter how strange the thought was.
A while later, after a long conversation and some ale, I felt more sure of what needed to be done to care for my bondmate.
The ale was to help settle my nerves. I was worried about hurting the little tribute.
I was much larger than him and I had no way of asking if he’d done such things before.
Tyal said it could be uncomfortable for him.
That made me wish to skip sex all together, to just keep him with me and safe.
To protect him like a good bondmate should.
It felt wrong to force it. But Ugbar would take him away if I did.
Tyal pointed out that at least I would do my best to make it good for him.
Very few others in the clan would care to be gentle.
Swallowing down my unease, I went back to my tent, rolling the bottle of oil in my hands. It would be needed to ease the way for my cock.
I had hoped the male would still be asleep when I got back.
It would mean being able to wait a while longer before we had to consummate our bonding.
But he was awake when I ducked my head in and frightened.
The fear on his face caused an ache to grow in my chest. It was almost enough to cause me to turn around.
Tyal’s words, reminding me that I was the best person to properly care for the male, rang in my head. I sighed.
“I’m sorry, little one. I wish I could explain things to you. I don’t want to hurt you. I promise I will try to give you as much pleasure as I am able.”