Chapter 36
New Pharia City
Artemis
We had been in the city for a few days. Arya had been busy and hadn't called the meeting she promised. This made me nervous, but I hadn't seen her much, so I couldn’t pull her aside to discuss it.
Brir showed me around the city to take my mind off it. I fell in love with the fields, looking at all the creatures hiding inside the plants Meta grew there. I was shocked to see how much this city thrived. Brir’s cute, fluffy-tipped tail constantly caressed my skin, wrapping around me. The quills were soft like hairs when he wasn’t agitated.
I was amazed to see how united these people were. Humans and monsters worked side by side. There was no prejudice here.
Arya had built a haven where humans and monsters cohabited peacefully. The streets were clean, and the houses were well-kept. Each resident—be they human or beast—seemed to carry themselves with an air of quiet pride. It was intoxicating.
I had missed the attack on the city. If the military or whoever those assholes were who had taken me hadn’t stopped us, we would have both made it back in time to help. Soren told me all about how Brir had saved Soren and two children, one of whom was Soren’s adopted daughter and the other, the baby sister of Meta, Leotol. Meta and Leotol were faun-like species who loved to cook and grow the food that fed the city's people.
Merrick pointed out several military people who stayed tightly together, still looking wary of the people around them. Merrick had told me that Arya had looked at their memories and deemed them safe, but I kept my distance.
Most of the people were still cleaning up the city after the military attack. Several buildings had to be torn down, and the unusable materials were being removed from the barrier.
I looked at Brir, his eyes reflecting the last traces of sunlight, his fluffy tail twitching with an undercurrent of restlessness. His gaze was distant, as if lost in thoughts beyond my comprehension.
Brir was quiet as he walked me back to the apartment after dinner, seeming nervous. We took the elevator back to his floor, and I couldn't take it anymore when we returned.
I turned to him, my heart pounding in my chest, a mix of frustration and concern bubbling inside me.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
Brir’s wide eyes met mine. They were usually vibrant, but they were dull and worried right now. For a long moment, he was silent. His body tightened beside mine.
“What? Why wouldn't it be?” He looked at me with confusion. Saying he was acting strange was an understatement. Brir was behaving entirely out of character.
“Because you've been acting strange all night,” I replied, my voice shakier than I would have liked. “You seem mad or upset with me. Talk to me. What's going on?” I was very concerned that he didn't want to stay. What if he didn't want to stay with me?
“Why would I be upset with you? You've done nothing wrong," he assured me, but his voice was distant, his gaze drifting past me towards the window. He seemed to be struggling with something, fighting an internal battle, which caused his usually confident demeanor to waver.
“Brir,” I said his name like a plea.
Brir sighed before he spun the ring on his finger again, a nervous habit I had noticed he had developed since we came to the city. “Merrick told me how humans bond. I've been trying to figure out some huge gesture to ask you, but I'm not good with these things, Artemis.”
Brir pulled the ring off his hand and held it out to me. “Merrick says humans bond with an exchange of jewelry, but this is all I have. I made it for my sister, Calea. I want you to have it. To wear it. To be mine.”
Brir was asking me to marry him. I couldn’t tear my eyes from the beautiful ring he held to me—a stone I had never seen at its center.
“So everyone knows you’re mine,” he finished.
My mind spun, and the world around me froze as I stared at his outstretched hand.
I was speechless. Not just because it was so unexpected but because the ring held such sentimental value for Brir. I knew he’d made it for his sister, who meant so much to him. Guilt washed over me because I knew how much I meant to him for him to want to part with it. How much I didn’t deserve it.
I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. The ring he held out to me was simple yet beautiful, and the sentiment behind it moved me deeply. I could see the sincerity in his eyes and the vulnerability he was showing me at that moment. But despite the warmth spreading through my chest, doubts still lingered in the back of my mind. How could he still want me when I repeatedly proved I couldn’t care for myself?
My eyes welled with tears as I patted my chest. “Brir, I can't accept this,” I told him, taking a step back with a lump in my throat.
His face fell, and my heart ached at the sight. “Why not?” he asked, confusion making his eyes glassy.
I tried to swallow down my emotions, but they were too intense, too visceral. “Because, Brir,” I said gently, “I don't deserve it,” I said, looking down on it. I was thinking about the trouble I brought upon him. The scars of the two bullet wounds still on his chest were proof of how much he had suffered because of me. “I’m not good for you. I almost got you killed.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Brir’s hand dropped away, and the ring remained between his fingers. Confusion was written on his face, and his eyes were full of anger. I was worried he would set me on fire, and not in a good way.
“I'm talking about the dangers I've put you through, Brir,” I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. “You’ve been shot. You almost died because of me.” I felt tears prickle at the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision of his pained face. A desperation in my voice made him flinch, but he didn’t back down.
“Artemis,” Brir said, his voice filled with a raw intensity that made me shiver. He closed the distance between us in two long strides and held my tear-streaked face in his rough yet tender hands. His eyes bore into mine, a fierce determination burning within them. “I knew what I was getting into when I chose to get you out of that cage. You were meant to be mine, Artemis. Fate put you in my path. And I wouldn’t change a damn thing, hear me?” His voice was hoarse with emotion, his grip tightening on my face as if to make sure I understood the weight of his words. “Listen to me, Artemis,” he said, his voice firm but filled with tenderness. “You're the first person in a long time who's made me feel like there's something worth living for. I lived when no one else in my home did.”
His words hit me like a punch in the gut, taking my breath away. I could hardly believe what I heard, but his voice didn’t waver, full of undeniable sincerity. “You don't have to say that, Brir. I'm grateful you've done so much for me already.”
“I don't give a damn about what I have to say or do, Artemis,” he growled back at me, his fingers gently brushing a tear from my cheek. “I'd crawl through fire for you. I'd face down a thousand guns if it meant keeping you safe. Don't you dare think you're a burden!You're not. You're my purpose, Artemis.” His voice dropped an octave, roughened at the edges as if sandpapered by his hunger.
I found myself staring at him, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. I watched his eyes fill with fear, and the next question broke me. “Do you not love me?” Brir asked, his face falling with the look of pain in his eyes.
“Of course I do,” I said, taking his face. “I love you so much.”
“Then why?” he choked out, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Why are you pushing me away? Why won't you let me in? Why can't you accept that I … we … are meant to be together?”
“I … I …” I stuttered, my pulse pounding in my ears. “Because I'm not good enough for you!” I cried. “You deserve someone who can be an equal to you, someone you don't have to take care of.” There was an admission of weakness I never thought I'd voice. But Brir deserved the truth. “I’m not good enough for you.”
Brir held me at arm's length, his hands gripping my shoulders firmly as he looked into my tear-filled eyes. His eyes narrowed at me as he studied my face.
“That's not your decision to make. When you agreed to be mine, you gave up that right. You don’t get to tell me who I get to love,” Brir shot back, his grip fierce yet reassuring. “I choose who I love, and it's you. Not because I pity you, Artemis, but because you've shown me what it means to be alive again. I haven’t been living since I was banished, since Calea died. You've shown me that there is more in life than just survival. You showed me what it means to live. To love… you.” His voice was a hushed whisper now, his eyes solid and resolute, filled with an intensity that made my breath hitch. “I’m not going to take that bullshit as an answer. You’re mine, Artemis. Every fucking inch of you.” His voice was a quiet command that demanded my attention over everything else. He tightened his grip, pulling me closer.
His words were like a lighthouse in a storm. I felt myself being drawn to him, like the tide being pulled by the moon. The world around us fell away.
“But what about …” I started.
“I don’t care. I don’t have to listen to the bullshit that your brain is making up because you're not useless. You're not worthless, and you're not bad for me. Nothing that has happened to me in these last months is your fault. I would do it again. I would take a bullet for you again. You’re the best fucking thing that has happened to me on this planet,” he whispered, pressing his forehead against mine with a desperation that mirrored my own. He cupped my face with his hands, brushing away the tears staining my cheeks. “You need to trust me, Artemis. You need to leave it up to me to decide what I deserve and want. And I want you.”
His unwavering belief in me and acceptance of all my flaws and fears touched me in a way I had never experienced before.
“You are my butterfly. You survived your metamorphosis, and it gave me you. If this had never happened to you, Artemis, I would never have found or met you. You would never have lit up my threads. I would have lost my chance at forever. My one chance to have a soul bond. A Savase. I love you, Artemis. So much.” Brir's eyes filled with determination. “Calea would have loved you. She would be so pissed if I let you get away. This ring is not a gift meant for you but for me. It's a symbol to everyone else that you are my Savase. I want to be with you, Artemis. I want to protect you like you saved me. I love you, Artemis. Now, do you love me?” Brir took my hand and slid the ring on my finger. “Will you please be my gift?”
“Yeah, I love you so much. I can do that. I can be your gift.” Tears filled my eyes when I finally understood what Brir was trying to say. “I want to be yours too, Brir. It was the only thing I thought about when I thought you had died. I never want to be without you again.”
His eyes sparkled, his gaze never leaving mine. A relieved sigh escaped his lips, and I saw the subtle shift in his demeanor—from tense anticipation to soft, tender relief.
Brir pulled me into a tight hug. The warmth of his body and the comfort of his arms surrounded me, making me feel safer than ever.
He pressed his lips gently against mine, a soft, tender kiss that spoke volumes of his love and commitment to me. At that moment, as our hearts beat as one, I realized that I was not alone in this world. I had someone by my side who saw me for who I was and cherished all of it.
Our breaths hitched and intermingled as our lips parted, lingering in silence. He again cradled my face in his hands, his thumb tracing the edge of my cheekbone.
“I love you so much,” Brir whispered. “I can’t believe you would ever doubt my judgment of you. You have been a naughty boy.”
I couldn't help but chuckle at Briar's serious tone, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. His ability to bring lightness, even during heartfelt moments, was one of the many reasons I loved him. His eyes were filled with a mischievous glint.
“What?” I said through my tears, looking back at his now serious face.
Then, all the humor fell away, and the seriousness on his face made my smile fall. Brir’s hand came up to gently wrap around my throat. “I warned you, didn’t I, Butterfly? I fucking warned you that I would punish you if you talked bad about yourself. That I would redden your ass the next time. This time, it almost kept you from accepting what you needed. What I needed.” he said, looking at me with narrowed eyes. “You're mine, and I won't allow you to think badly about yourself any longer.”
His words were stern yet underlined with a deep concern. Brir was not one to idly threaten or make empty promises. He was always sincere, and the seriousness on his face told me he meant every word he said.
“Brir.” I found my voice after a moment, the gravity of his statement sinking in. “I didn't mean to ... it's hard,” I confessed, ducking my head slightly. His hands on my face kept me from entirely hiding.
"I know it is," he replied softly, his stern tone not leaving his voice. “That’s why I’m going to help you.”
Warmth started to pool in my belly as I remembered Brir pinning me to the tree and telling me those words. I wanted Brir’s help.
He had, without a doubt, changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. In his presence, I felt invincible, capable of anything. As I looked into Brir's eyes, the love and trust he radiated were palpable.
Brir grabbed my hand, pulling my hand to his lips and kissing the ring. “Safeword, Butterfly?” he asked.
I knew what that meant. “Beetle,” I said without even a moment of hesitation.
“Good boy,” he purred, his lips curling into a feral smile. He scooped me up with surprising strength and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I let out a yelp as I dangled helplessly, my hair tickling my face as we moved.
“Brir!” I protested, my voice muffled by the thick fabric of his shirt. But he simply chuckled, the deep, resonant sound vibrating through me and making me shiver. His hand came down hard on my ass cheek as he walked, making me cry out.
Brir stopped just inside the bedroom, setting me on my feet before he quickly stripped me of my clothing. His touch was both careful and assertive, leaving goosebumps in its trail as he skimmed his hands over my body.
“You don't need these anymore,” he explained with a feral grin. My cheeks warmed. My dick was getting hard. He pulled me with him as he sat on the bed and looked up at me.
“Let me see you,” he said, his voice husky with desire, his gaze burning into my flesh. His hand roamed my body as I fought to keep myself composed under his scrutiny. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, surrendering to the moment. “So fucking beautiful for me.”
He smiled, the devilish glint back in his eyes. I couldn't help but feel a wave of desire and excitement. Brir's touch was electric, and I knew what he had planned for me would be extraordinary.
His eyes never leaving mine, he reached out and gently ran his fingers down my cheek, a soft smile playing on his lips. “I want you to know,” he began, his voice low and husky, “that no matter what happens, no matter what we do together, I will always cherish and adore you. I warned you if you were mine, you would never speak badly about yourself, or I would spank this beautiful ass.” His hands wrapped around my body, squeezing both my ass cheeks and pulling my naked body against his still fully clothed one. “Didn't I, Butterfly?” His smile dropped, and he looked at me seriously, his red eyes fiery.
“Y-yes,” I stammered, my heart hammering in my chest. His words were like molten lava, searing through me and leaving trails of desire in their wake. His intense gaze was all-consuming, his fiery eyes trapping me in their infernal blaze.
“Use your safeword now, Butterfly, if you want me to stop. Because I will.” Brir was allowing me to pump the brakes if I was uncomfortable. I wasn’t. Brir gave me a moment to speak up. I wasn’t going to. I knew he could see how hard my dick was just from the anticipation of what he was about to do to me.
Brir’s eyes completely consumed me. His smile turned feral when I didn’t speak up before his hand slid down my arm and yanked me by the wrist, pulling me down across his lap. My legs were trapped between his, my head hanging down towards the floor. Brir rubbed a hand down my back as I breathed heavily. His other hand grabbed the base of my tail, squeezing it and making me moan.
The sensation was overwhelming. The firm yet gentle grip on my tail sent tingles of pleasure dancing up my spine, which elicited a gasp from me. It had never felt like this before, so intimate and sensual; every single touch of his meant something more than just pure desire. His other hand continued to glide along my back.
He chuckled, a sound that rumbled deep in his chest and vibrated against my body. “You like that, don't you?” he taunted, his fingers tracing the line of my spine. His hand moved in slow circles, dipping lower with each passing second.
“Yes,” I whispered. I could feel my cheeks burn with the admission. The mere thought of accepting his actions was daunting. Yet, I wouldn't lie to myself or him. In his arms, I felt a sense of belonging that was both intimidating and beautiful. His ministrations were driving me insane.
“Butterfly,” Brir whispered, a tenderness in his voice that made my heart race. “I need you to trust me, to fully let go, and let me lead you through this. I promise I'll take care of you, and you can trust me to push you only as far as you can take.”
His voice calmed my fluttering pulse, the lullaby that quieted the raging storm within me. “I trust you, Brir,” I choked out, my voice trembling with the enormity of what I was agreeing to.
He tipped my chin upwards, his eyes filled with pride at my words. He continued, “I won't tolerate anyone making you feel less than perfect, especially yourself. You're worth more to me than you can ever imagine, and I will always remind you of that.” His hand gently stroked the base of my tail, making me shiver in anticipation. “Even if I have to remind you of that with pain.”
Then, he yanked my tail out of the way, pulling it under his arm. His hand came down on my ass. Hard. I cried out. The sting in my ass cheek throbbed.
His hand lingered for a moment before moving away. I gasped, the aftershock of his strike reverberating through me. I had never experienced anything so raw, so primal, an intimate dance of pain and pleasure. My body was ablaze, my senses heightened by the unexpected yet oddly satisfying sting.
His hand came down again, another slap that sent a shockwave of sensation through me. A yelp escaped my lips, followed by a shaky breath. The feeling was intense but not unbearable, and I found myself leaning into him, seeking more.
The room echoed with the sound of his hand connecting with my skin, each slap leaving my skin stinging in a way that made my dick so hard I could feel the wet tip sliding against his leg.
Brir's hand lingered on my reddening asscheek, his expression softening as he spoke. “Are you ever going to tell me again that you don’t deserve my love?”
“No, I won't do it again,” I cried.
Brir tsked at me. “I don't believe that for a second. I think I'm going to get to redden this ass often to remind you. Now, let's continue, shall we?”
He delivered another slap, slightly harder this time. My body jerked forward with the impact, and a whimper escaped my lips. His fingers curled around the base of my tail again, keeping me still as he surveyed the reddening skin of my bottom.
“You're so beautiful like this,” he murmured, his voice husky and full of a dark promise. His fingers traced the warm contours of my bottom, sending chilled shivers up my spine. He spanked me again, harder, and a sharp gasp tore from my throat.
He chuckled. “Such beautiful sounds you make, Artemis.”
I watched him as he raised his hand, the anticipation making me shudder.
“Brir…” I murmured, only to have my voice drown under the sharp sting of his palm against my skin.
The next slap was stronger than the last, the sting making me hiss. My clawed hands curled into the carpet. “How dare you tell me you don't deserve my bond, Butterfly? I’m going to redden this ass until you remember your worth,” he snarled.
His hand drew back again and, with a swift motion, crashed onto my bottom once more. The intensity of the sting sent me into an almost euphoric state. A small moan of mixed pain and pleasure slipped past my lips, my clawed fingers sinking deeper into the plush carpet.
“Do you fucking know how angry it makes me that you think you don’t deserve my affection?” His voice was low and harsh, each word like a slap that echoed in my ears, increasing the throbbing heat in my bottom.
“Yes … yes, Brir,” I moaned, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I bit down on my lower lip to suppress another whimper.
“That you think you don’t deserve my love?” Brir's voice was a low growl, echoing through the room filled with our mutual desire and shared emotional pain. He placed another slap on my behind, causing me to whimper in delight and pain.
“I will have you say repeatedly how deserving you are of my love,” he said between each spank. Brir's swift hand left a burning sensation on my skin, but strangely enough, the pain only seemed to heighten the pleasure. I knew he was teaching me a lesson, pushing me to accept the intensity of the desires that we both harbored. “How worthy you are of my affection. You are mine, Artemis. All fucking mine.”
Brir leaned forward. “Tell me, Artemis…” The command was muffled against the soft skin of my lower back, his hot breath making me squirm. His hand stilled on my behind, the warmth emanating from the last slap radiating through me. “Tell me what I want to fucking hear. I want the words to come out of that beautiful fucking mouth.”
As I slowly regained my composure, I could feel the lingering warmth of Brir's hand on my ass and the throbbing sensation through my entire lower body. I couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of pain and pleasure, knowing that Brir's intentions were only to remind me of my worth.
“I ... I am deserving ... of your love …” My voice was barely a whisper, the words coming out in choked sobs. I felt my body shivering beneath his palm. Each word I spoke rang more and more true as I repeated them.
Brir continued to rub and caress my reddened ass cheeks, running his fingers in a tender motion. And then his hand came down on the other cheek. The smack echoed around us.
“Repeat it,” he commanded. His fingers traced a silent path down my spine, making me shudder under his touch.
“I am deserving of your love …” the words fell from my lips more confidently this time. His approving growl sent a shiver down my spine, reverberating deep within my chest. His fingers stilled on the small of my back, and the room was silent for a moment, save for our labored breathing.
“That's right, Artemis,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. His hand came back down again. “You’re all fucking mine.”
I winced at the sting, my body betraying my conflicting emotions. On one hand, the pain served as a harsh reminder of the importance of accepting myself and my worth, something I'd been struggling with for far too long. On the other hand, the pleasure was undeniable. I was so turned on that my dick throbbed.
“Say it …” His voice was a dark, husky command that resonated in the room's stillness. My skin burned under his touch, but each word he uttered made me surrender more and more to the reality of our situation.
“I’m all yours!” I cried out. This time, I spoke with conviction, not letting any doubts taint my words. My body was on fire. The sensation overwhelmed me.
Then his hand was caressing my ass again after another slap. My dick was rock hard, trapped between my body and Brir’s leg, and leaking all over his pants.
“Good boy,” he murmured, his voice low and seductive. His fingers slid down to caress my heated flesh, each stroke stinging sweetly against my bruised skin. Despite the pain, I arched into his touch, eager for more of his attention.
“Let it out, Artemis,” he whispered, his voice no longer a command but a comforting promise. Each syllable that fell from Brir’s lips sent another wave of anticipation coursing through my veins. “Show me how much you need this.”
I didn’t have to think twice. With a choked cry, I let all my emotions pour through me. Let go of all of my doubts and insecurities. Let my tears flow with the pain that he was dishing out on my body.
My body tensed, quivering under his touch as the pleasure washed over me, leaving me gasping. I clung to Brir, my fingers digging into his muscular thighs. The sound of my desperate moans filled the room, echoing off the walls.
Brir's hand slid up my thigh, his touch feather-light over my hole. He made every muscle in my body tense in anticipation as his finger ran circles around my rim. Helplessly, I moaned from the feeling, even as my tears soaked my face.
“Look how needy you are even during a punishment.” Brir’s hand dipped between my cheeks as his finger sunk deep into my hole, making me arch my back, moaning. I tried to rock back on his finger. “You're so wet already,” he said as he pulled out his finger. He was teasing me.
My body jolted, craving the return of his touch. I whimpered at the loss, my ass wriggling in a silent plea for him to continue. His low chuckle rumbled through the small room, sending another bolt of desire straight to my core.
“You’ll get what you need soon enough,” he promised, his voice coated with a dark promise that sent chills spiraling down my spine. His finger traced a path along the exposed skin of my thigh, his touch teasing and tantalizing.
I whimpered, arching into his touch as the anticipation continued to mount. “Please, Brir,” I begged as he sunk two fingers back into my body.
“So fucking wet for me,” Brir said, his voice vibrating with satisfaction. His fingers delved deeper, creating a pleasure that left me breathless. He set a rhythm with his hand, and each thrust sent me spiraling higher.
“Brir…” I moaned, my eyes rolling back in ecstasy as he continued his wicked ministrations.
“Shhhh...” He silenced me, placing his other hand over my mouth. The coolness of his skin contrasted starkly with the heat of my own. The room became a symphony of our breaths, my muffled whimpers and pleas echoing off the walls. “If you're not safewording, I want your fucking mouth closed.”
His movements became faster, more urgent, the pleasure coiling inside of me. Then his fingers yanked free again. He brought his hand around to show me the fluid that glistened on his skin.
“See?” he murmured, a predatory grin splitting his face. “How badly you need me.”
I whimpered again, my hips twitching involuntarily, pushing back against the empty air. My body was on fire, aching for his touch.
He looked at me with a smug grin. “See how desperate you are for me,” he said, his voice a low growl that made my body shiver with anticipation.
I could only nod, my eyes wide as he brought his hand to his mouth and licked his fingers, keeping his gaze locked on my eyes. His moan echoed around us.
“You taste so fucking good,” he told me. “Get up on the fucking bed. I want you on your hands and knees. I need to eat you.”
The order had me scrambling off his lap, my legs trembling beneath me. I did as he requested, my body quivering in anticipation as I positioned myself on the cool sheets. My eyes were glued to him as he stalked towards me, his gaze predatory.
He was fully clothed, and I was completely bare, a fact which only served to heighten the thrill of the situation.
“I love you, Artemis,’ Brir whispered. Those words settled something deep inside of me. The shame I had felt earlier faded, replaced by a newfound self-worth and confidence. I knew that as long as I had Brir by my side, I would never forget my value again.
My ass was on fire, but the sting only seemed to fuel my desire for him. I could feel the wetness dripping down my thighs, a clear testament to my arousal.
He stepped back momentarily, letting his eyes roam over my body. His expression was pure hunger, a potent desire I could practically feel radiating off him.
“Your body doesn't lie, Artemis.” Brir's words were like a velvet cloak wrapping around my senses. His pupils dilated as he took in the sight of me, naked and quivering on the bed. He slowly undid his belt, his movements calculated and precise, never breaking eye contact. “Even when your mind does.”
His shirt came off next, revealing a chiseled chest and a lithe frame that had my mouth watering in anticipation. He stood at the end of the bed, his eyes dark and hooded as he surveyed me. I could feel his gaze like a physical touch, stroking over every inch of my body.