Chapter 31 #2
I want to kiss him, want to show him how much I fucking love him. But that can wait, so instead, I turn my attention back to Eissa. “This is all bullshit. You know that, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
He spreads his hands. “What else is there that I can do? I am but one being, Everest.”
“Sounds like you’re a bunch of fucking cowards.”
Rathyn makes a warning noise, but Eissa shakes his head. “Perhaps he is right. We have long since lost our way, and it would be very much like a human to help us find it again.”
Rathyn steps close to me and drags a touch down the back of my neck. “We must return. Please send me a communication when Cielo is released.”
Eissa nods. “I will. And please take care. I will keep your secret, but you must keep it for yourselves as well.”
I nod. “I promised Rathyn I would do everything in my power. I won’t let him down.”
Eissa says something to Rathyn I can’t understand, then he leans in and presses his forehead to mine before pressing his to Rathyn’s. The moment passes between us all—calm for the moment with the promise of a bigger storm.
“Come, my Everest,” Rathyn murmurs so quietly I can barely hear him. “We must go.”
When we’re back at The Foundry, Rath immediately strips me of the adornments and the collar, then takes me into his arms.
“Come, my Everest. Let me cradle you.”
I huff a small laugh and move to sit on his lap. I’m completely naked now, and I feel slightly weird without everything on me. But as soon as I slide against Rathyn, his tail and arms come around me.
I feel like I’m home.
I nuzzle into him as his long fingers stroke up and down my stomach. My heart flutters in my chest.
“You did so well today. You deserve a reward.”
“Like a dog?” I ask, and he stares down at me.
“No, like a good human. Like my companion. My…” he searches for a word in his mind.
“Boyfriend?”
His eyes flick to mine. “Boy friend? You are more than my friend.”
“Yeah. I guess so, but it’s what we call people who are dating.”
“Yes. But we are more than what humans consider dating.”
“Yeah, guess so. So, what would you call me in your language? And please don’t use a word for like cum slut or whatever.”
He looks offended. “You are not this word. You are more than your cum and small penis.”
“Oh my god.”
He caresses my cheek, and my eyelids flutter. “You are VySytheh. The name for the other being who consumes you…”
“Why do you make that sound like a parasite?”
“No. You steal the air I breathe, you devour me gently, you soften my rough edges until I am left with nothing but wanting.” He stops for a moment and then says, “You are my beloved.”
“What the fuck? Since when are you poetic?”
“Like Eissa said, there was a time when we did love. It is the old way, one I must learn.”
“VySytheh.” I say again. I know I’m mangling it, but Rathyn looks at me like I hung the fucking moon.
“That is really what I am to you?”
“Yes, my Everest.”
He leans down and kisses me softly. It is slow and purposeful, and the longer we kiss, the more heated it becomes.
Until I’m straddling his thighs, bringing our cocks together, and stroking.
He stares at my movements, his ears fluttering, his hum low-pitched.
“Rathyn,” I moan. “So fucking good.”
“Yes, my Everest. Always so good.”
His cock erupts before mine, and I follow behind him, gasping for air as I come down from the high of it. I stare at our mixed release and let out a strangled moan. “So hot.”
“It is very warm.”
I huff a laugh when someone knocks on the door.
“Oh shit. Is it Cielo?”
I scramble off Rathyn’s lap, rushing to grab my cloak, which is hanging on the back of the chair. I pull it on as Rathyn opens the door, looking completely put-together. I don’t know how he manages it when I have cum still dripping down my stomach and my robe is inside out.
I peer around Rathyn’s side and see another Vyastil there, a guard.
They speak quickly, and Rathyn nods, shutting the door.
“He is waiting by the portal, the one near his previous residence.”
“We have to go,” I say, tying the cloak shut and grabbing for my phone. “I know someone who might be able to help him, but I want to make sure he’s okay first.”
“Will he be safe with this human?”
I nod. “Yeah, he owns the sex shop and seems super nice.”
Before I rush out of the apartment, I grab Cielo’s jacket and tuck it under my arm.
We race down the hill to the portal, my breath coming out in small, short pants, my adrenaline spiking. I want to see him. I need to see him. I need him to know how fucking sorry I am for what happened. That this is all my fault.
I expect to see a crowd gathered around, but there’s no one. Perhaps that is an added insult to his injuries—being left alone. But I can see there’s so much more hurt than his pride when my gaze falls on him.
He looks beat to hell. One ear is torn, gushing blood down the side of his face. His left eye is swollen shut. His lips are scabbed, scraped, and bleeding.
Fuck. Fuck.
“Oh my god,” I whisper as I rush to him. He is slumped against the side of the shed, his breathing shallow. “What the fuck did they do to him?” I demand, staring at Rathyn as I drop to my knees. “Is this normal?”
Rathyn’s gaze is narrow as he fixes it on Cielo. “No. It isn’t.”
I scowl at him, but say nothing as I gather Cielo in my arms. He falls against me. He’s so weak. I let out a small sob. “What did they do to you? Oh, Cielo. I’m so sorry. So fucking sorry.”
He says nothing, just tucks his face into the side of my neck, and Rathyn lets him be. When I finally pull away, I cup his bruised face in my hands and meet his faraway stare.
“It’s going to be okay. I promise. I’m going to call Dante, alright? He’s going to take you to his place, and we can get you all healed up.”
His lashes flutter, and he gives a small nod. I quickly place his pink jacket over his shoulders, and he sighs happily at the sight of it.
“I’m so fucking sorry, friend.” I dig my phone out of my pocket and dial, listening to it ring while my heart beats frantically in my chest.
“Frennnn,” he whispers, and my eyes leak profusely.
“Yeah,” I tell him. Just before voicemail answers, Dante picks up.
“Everest?”
“I have him,” I gasp. “Cielo. I have him. It’s so fucking bad.”
Dante sucks in a breath. “Does he need a hospital?”
I shake my head, then remember he can’t see me. “No. I don’t think there’s anything they can do anyway. Rath and I have herbs that’ll help. And ah…and cum.”
“Cum?” he says, sounding doubtful.
“I know it sounds weird, but it helps them heal. It’s why they need it. You can’t tell anyone this, okay? But, ah…but it’ll help him.”
“Well, god knows I have plenty of that. Where are you right now?”
“The Foundry. You know it?”
“I’m like two minutes away,” he says, sounding relieved.
Thank fuck. “When you get there, go to the right of the entry gate. You’ll see a bunch of sheds. We’re in the little parking lot.”
“Don’t move. I’ll be right there,” he says, then the line goes dead.
I adjust Cielo in my arms and slide all the way down, letting him pillow his battered head in my lap. Glancing up at Rathyn, I swallow past a lump in my throat. “Can you go get herbs? Like, I don’t know, put together a medicine pack for him?”
Rathyn drags a touch down my jaw, then nods. “I will return.” He leaves at a speed my eyes can barely register, but I don’t waste time watching him go. I look back down at Cielo. “I really hope you can forgive me. I’m so sorry I dragged you into this.”
He hums mournfully in the back of his throat, the sound cracked and hoarse.
“I’m going to fix it. I swear. I promise.”
He lifts shaking hands and makes the sign for promise.
I let out a watery laugh. “Yes. Promise. Will you forgive me?”
He reaches up and touches the side of my face, and though he doesn’t have the words, I know he does. It doesn’t help the guilt, but it gives my promise to undo this fucking mess more fuel.
Leaning my head back, I close my eyes, listening for Rathyn’s return. But before I hear his claws running toward us, I hear a car. When I sit up, I find Dante rushing toward us with a blanket in his hands.
He comes to a skidding halt, then drops to his knees beside Cielo and hovers his hands over him like he wants to touch but doesn’t know where. “Is he going to die on me?”
“He is resilient. We all are,” comes Rathyn’s voice.
He appears, holding a small black bag out toward Dante.
“These will help. The ones in the purple case are for ingesting. The ones in the blue case are to make a poultice for his wounds. The ones in the yellow case you should boil and pour over his bandages.”
Dante nods, mouthing along like it helps him remember, then he hooks the small bag strap over his wrist and looks back down at Cielo. His one functional eye is fixed on Dante, who finally lays a palm to Cielo’s cheek, where he’s bleeding the least.
“I’ve got you,” Dante murmurs.
Cielo lets out a sound that’s a bit like a purr, then tips his fingers from his chin. “Thank you,” he signs.
“Thank you,” I repeat after Cielo with a small sob. “Thank you for taking him.”
“Of course,” he says. He lifts up the blanket and wraps Cielo as best he can, then helps him climb to his feet. The walk to the car is short, but it seems like every step is agony.
When he trips, Dante makes a startled noise, and Cielo doubles over, cradling his head in his hands like he’s protecting himself from someone, something.
It makes my stomach roil.
Dante looks furious. “I’m going to make sure he gets better. He will be my main focus.”
“He needs cum,” I repeat again. “Human cum to heal faster.”
“Like I said, I’ve got him. I promise. It’s been a while, so I have quite a bit stored up.”
I huff a laugh, swiping at my eyes. “Thank you. Can we visit tomorrow?”
“Anytime,” he says with a nod, then reaches down, tucking Cielo’s tail into the car before shutting the door. “See you soon.”
And then he’s gone, driving away. I stand there, watching the red flash of the taillights until they disappear into the distance.
“He’s going to be okay, right?”
“The Vyastil always overcome. He will be fine in time.”
I peer up at him, and he touches my cheek softly. “Come. Back to our shelter. I wish to hold you again.”
I nod and step beside him, following him back to our home.
“Promise me we’ll fix it,” I murmur as we lie in bed. I can’t get Cielo out of my head. Even Rathyn is subdued.
“I will do my best, but I am one being, VySytheh.”
I shiver. I really like being called that. “I know. But you’ve got me. And Eissa seems pretty fucking fed up with it all. And Quilliyn…”
Rathyn makes a dismissive noise. “Quilliyn has always been a rebellious member of the family. He wields no favor and no power.”
“But he’s still a prince,” I argue. “And that’s just three people. If the three of you feel that way, you know there’s got to be more.”
He hums in thought, turning more toward me, stroking claws through my hair. “It will require delicate moves, my love.”
I close my eyes and lay my ear against his hearts, listening to the beats as I feel them hammering against the side of my head. “I know.”
“And it will take time. A long time. Perhaps years.”
“I’m patient,” I tell him, and when he makes a noise, I smack him. “Most of the time I’m patient. Especially for this. I get that revolution doesn’t happen in a day, and there are probably a lot of pieces to this puzzle.”
“Do you resent us so much for our treaty?” Rathyn asks. “When we met, you were angry with me.”
“You insulted my dick,” I remind him.
He huffs a laugh, and for some reason, he sounds shy. “It is small compared to Vyastil.”
Sitting up on my elbow, I pin him with a glower. “Yeah, but I’m average for a human. There’s no way all the guys before me were horse-dicked dudes.”
He stares for a beat, then his tongue darts out and licks his lips. When he speaks, it’s nearly in a whisper. “You were my first.”
That hits me like a sack of bricks. “I—what? I was your first?”
He nods, gaze darting away. “I was not permitted before…before that day.”
“So, you’d never had cum?”
“It was from the factory,” he says. “I was given a…” He searches for a word. “Promotion. You were my first.”
I fall back against him, my entire world rearranged once again. I was his first human. And he was my first monster.
It has to mean something. I don’t know what, but it lights a fire in my chest that threatens to consume me. The universe is telling me something. Maybe both of our universes are speaking to us.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s time for us to listen.