Chapter 37
Oryx
She liked it, she liked it a lot.
Good thing I could not smile because I would at this moment. Her arousal was potent and I know Veylor could not smell her like I could, but it made me insanely hard. More than just by kissing him.
We had denied ourselves even the brush of skin against skin for so long, bound by our word, but now—gods—the scorching heat of his flesh beneath my fingertips with Vesper's hungry eyes devouring us both.
My blood turned molten. Every nerve ending screamed alive, desperate, ravenous.
I wanted to devour him whole, to mark him, claim him, break him apart and rebuild him as mine.
And do the same to my pet.
Vesper continued to stare at us, wide-eyed. Her breath was slow and her mind was racing with dirty, dirty thoughts.
Thoughts that we put there.
“Is she broken?” Veylor asked me through the mind-link we shared. “I think we broke her. Did she not like it?” His expression stayed unchanged, yet his cheeks still had a hint of pink. I licked across my snout. “No, she very much likes what she saw. In fact, she wants to be a part of it next time.”
Veylor’s thoughts shifted to pictures of him lapping at her cunt and me fucking his ass.
My cock pressed against the new pair of trousers that fit me and I groaned in pain. The maids really need to make me clothes with more stretch.
The thought of ripping off my trousers now and telling them both what I wanted, and making them do what I wanted was so tempting. Vesper was almost over the edge to accept Veylor, at least in body and I could taste it.
I could taste her desire for him… but the trust, it still needed to be built.
I cleared my throat and my tail searched for the bouquet of flowers I had nearby. Veylor didn’t want Vesper to feel alone out here, he wanted to show her she could be safe with him, this was a big step for my pet.
To be outside, after such an attack could be frightening, especially for a human.
They are so fragile.
Except for her cunt, that can be stretched.
I slapped myself in the forehead. Stop thinking such things and help Veylor.
I brought my tail around and nudged Veylor with the bouquet, he took them, his eyes widening in surprise and nodded at me.
“Here,” he brought them from his back to my pet’s view. She gasped when she saw them.
I knew she would like these best because I have seen these colors before.
These colors, the burnt oranges, the deep reds, these were her favorites. She had brought them to the big rock she came to often at the edge of the woods she cared so much about.
“They are beautiful.” Vesper pulled them close to her. “My favorite colors.” Vesper smirked and winked at me.
My ears twirled.
My pet is smart.
While they weren’t the same flowers from her world, they were the closest I could find for Veylor. He gave me a grateful nod and held out his arm for Vesper to take.
I explained the plan perfectly to Veylor, the special rock I had planned to take Vesper to and being the best male I am, gave Veylor the opportunity to use this time to gain Vesper’s trust.
I brushed my tail against a vine that hadn't been there last week, now thick as my wrist and studded with violet buds.
Benedict had only planted seeds—he was no gardener—but the light orbs we had brought for Vesper cast their glow day and night.
Flowers that should have taken seasons to bloom now unfurled overnight, their petals drinking in that artificial sunlight.
In Veylor's memories, this courtyard had been nothing but cracked stone and shadow in my past life, now moss crept between the cobblestone, and the air itself tasted of life.
“I feel like I missed a whole season staying inside, and I haven’t even stayed inside that long,” Vesper commented as they walked down the path to the special stone.
Veylor hummed thoughtfully. "Back in the estate's prime, there wasn't nearly this much greenery. I've never seen so many flowers blossoming here before."
I watched Veylor pet Vesper’s hand. My tail lazily whipped back and forth.
“Why is that? Wouldn’t a fae court want to show off its wealth, make everything look nice?”
Veylor sighed. “We were the shadow court. We were granted leniency because we are a court of darkness. No one would think twice if we had nothing but stone for a garden. My parents cared little about that. They would rather spend their money elsewhere, clothing, jewels and so forth.”
Vesper frowned. “That’s so sad. Even a place that holds darkness can be beautiful.”
I gulped and observed as Veylor’s previously tense shoulders eased. "You’re a unique treasure, Vesper. Most people don’t want to delve into the darkness to discover beauty. They anticipate seeing the ugly, the despicable, the wrongs darkness can give."
“It’s the same in my world,” Vesper huffed. “People judge by appearances—looks, status, where someone lives, how much money they have. I’d like to call it a human flaw, but it seems to exist in every realm.”
"It seems that way, and I owe you an apology," Veylor said, halting and facing Vesper. "When you arrived, I called you a witch."
Vesper raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh. I was there.”
Veylor's lips curled upward. "You made me curious.
I took a strand of your hair to discover what you truly are because you cannot be merely human.
" His fingers brushed a wisp of white behind her ear.
"This color belongs to the fae realm, and these eyes.
.." He tilted her chin upward, his face hovering close enough that his breath warmed her skin.
"These amethyst eyes with their golden centers could ensnare any male.
I feared you were a siren, come to steal what little I valued.
" His voice dropped lower. "But I found myself caught instead.
What choice did I have when I began to fall for you but to push you away… from me, from Oryx?"
Vesper gasped and I could find nothing inside her mind. I had nothing to give Veylor to help him. A blank slate, that is all she was.
"You stole a piece of my hair?" Her fingers traced protectively along the thick braid draped over her shoulder. "Tell me exactly what you did with it."
Is he going to hurt me now? she thought.
I whimpered and came up behind her, taking the flowers away from her with my tail. “He would never hurt you, not now, not ever. Not anymore, my sweet pet.” I ran my tongue up her neck to calm her.
“You are not questioning me about why I thought you are not human?” Veylor stepped closer to her, their chests nearly touching.
Vesper licked her lips. “I… I honestly don’t know anymore.
I know I was different from my peers. I preferred to stay with my mother, and didn't like how people picked on me. I tried to change my looks. It's why I went to school.” She looked away from him. “But I couldn’t even dye my hair, the color wouldn’t hold. My mother said I should embrace it…”
Veylor raised a brow.
My pet, once full of strength, was now crumbling. She was losing the identity she believed she had, doubting herself, and descending into the shadows of her mind.
I didn’t like it.
“Stop,” I snarled at Veylor. “This is too much. This was supposed to be a happy date!” I pulled my pet into my arms and cradled her. “You hurt her!” I growled at him.
Vesper shook her head and patted my chest. “Oryx, it’s okay.” She sniffed. “It’s okay, I have,… it is something that I have thought of. It’s just my mother…”
I shook my skull. “No. Veylor said he wouldn’t hurt you!” I snapped my jaws at him.
Veylor's jaw slackened as he extended his hand toward me. "You misunderstand my intentions! I only seek to offer her truth, to reveal myself completely!" Darkness coiled around his form like smoke, and I pulled my pet backward, away from him.
Protect her.
Even if it was from Veylor.
She’s fragile.
Vesper wiggled in my hold. “Stop!” She yelled and we both froze.
Tear stains remained on her cheeks. I whimpered and instinctively used my tongue to comfort her. She ran her hand up and down my chest, perhaps trying to calm either me or herself… I couldn't tell.
"Oryx, it's alright. I'd rather hear it from him. It's just a hard pill to swallow."
Pill?
She chuckled sadly. “It’s a hard truth. If what Veylor thinks is true then… everything that I am, is a lie.”
“You taste human.” I told both of them. “Her blood tasted human.”
Veylor reached out and grabbed my wrist. “A mixture of species, it can be hard to tell. She can have the blood of a human, some likenesses of a fae. That is why I sent it to a friend. He will find out, and soon. He is very busy.”
Veylor's fingers twitched at his sides before he stepped closer.
"Forgive me for ambushing you with this, Vesper.
There's so much I need to share, and I feared…
" his voice caught, "...I feared if I waited, you might shut me out again.
I only want to be transparent with you now, to prove my sincerity. "
Vesper nibbled on her lip. “You seem genuine. I’m just still trying to wrap my head around it. It’s a lot. While I think this could be true, it makes me believe that my mother kept things from me.” She smiled sadly.
I gently place my pet back on the ground.
“I might not be human. I could be half of a fae? Something else? Something of this world? Why would my mother never tell me”
The word, betrayal lingered in her head.
I didn’t want her to hate her life giver, her mother. The only person that made her feel loved.
“Don’t you dare tell her about mates.” I snarled at Veylor, “Especially since we don’t have all the answers.”
Prowling through his thoughts, I stumbled upon something unexpected: fated mates.
I'd caught whispers of this during my aimless wanderings through the streets. The Under Shadows supposedly blessed two souls to become one, perfectly matched for eternity. Back then, he’d dismissed it as mere lore…
a sweet consolation offered to the lower classes.
Something to cling to while their stomachs growled and their backs bent under labor.
That was the only source of their happiness. They were starving, overworked, and heavily taxed. Being with a destined partner, blessed by forces they didn’t understand, gave them hope for a better life after death.
Now he felt it to be true.
Only it felt more complete with Vesper here.
And now those who used to live in poverty now live happy, healthy and full lives and don’t have to wait until the next life. All thanks to Veylor.
“Of course I won’t,” Veylor replied. “I think I’ve shocked her enough.”
I revealed the flowers from behind my back and handed them back to my pet. She grinned at me and held Veylor's hand, despite its tremor.
He led her down the orb lighted path and brought her to the stone. Flowers were already set there, set up against the rectangular stone I had set up.
Vesper glanced at the both of us and held her flowers to her chest.
Veylor nudged her. “It’s okay, you can set them down. Do what you need to do.”
Confusion spread across her face. “You want me to get rid of the flowers? You just gave them to me?”
Veylor’s face went blank and then stared up at me for answers.
“Don’t you want to put the flowers in front of the stone? Then talk to the stone?” I tilted my head in question.
Vesper’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would I do that?”
What on earth is going on? she thought.
My jaw opened and I lifted my hand to my face and tapped my claw on my jaw. “Don’t you like to leave flowers at stones and talk to them? I saw it in your memories.” I played those memories and showed them to Veylor.
Vesper spun to face the stone, her eyes widening. A smile broke across her face, growing until laughter bubbled up from deep in her chest. She threw her head back, the force of her amusement nearly toppling her backward before Veylor's steady hands caught her shoulders.
“This is adorable.” She giggled and put the flowers in front of the stone. She stepped back and tilted her head. “Hi, mom.” She whispered.
Veylor brought his fist to his mouth and chuckled. “What you saw was her paying respects where her mother’s been laid to rest.”
I tilted my skull. “Laid to rest?”
Veylor leaned into me. “Humans bury their loved ones once their souls have passed on and leave a stone in its place so they can return and leave flowers. They pay their respects, even talk to them as if they are listening.”
I reared my head back. “What do the fae do?” I tapped my claw on my jaw.
"We also honor our deceased," he said, gently gripping my arm.
"However, we don't mark their resting places with stones.
We bury them in designated areas. Instead, we commemorate them through paintings in our homes, altars, or family trees in scrolls.
Fae are meant to return to the dirt, becoming part of the soil.
It's their soul that continues, not their vessel form. They have no need for it anymore."
“Mom, I don’t know what I am. I feel like you have kept secrets from me.”
“She is upset. She is questioning her mother. Her motives,” I told Veylor. “I have done wrong, given you the wrong date.”
Veylor shook his head. “We have a long road ahead of us. Just to know that she has accepted me so far, is enough, a huge step in the right direction.”
Vesper turned to us, a smile on her face. “Thank you, both of you. This was different.” She wiped a stray tear from her face.
I grunted. “I messed it up.”
Vesper laughed. “No, you didn’t, sweet thing. You were trying to help Veylor.” She kissed me on the side of my skull. “And that is adorable.”
I guess Veylor can be sweet when he wants to be too, asking for advice and all.
My ears twirled at the confession she dared not tell him.