Tabor woke slowly the next morning, content in ways he’d never been before. Navarro’s arms were around him, the wolf holding him tight. He’d give anything to stay in bed like this a while longer, but he knew the chime would sound soon enough and their day would begin again. Easing away from the sexy shifter, he pulled on a fresh pair of pants and went downstairs to get their morning meal.
Dirian must have been in a good mood because there was meat and bread offered this morning as well as the usual fruits and cheeses. He piled Navarro’s plate as high as he dared before making his own. He was hungrier than usual and added an extra roll and a second handful of starkist berries. In addition to the juice offerings was a pitcher of honey mead. Tabor poured them each a glass before placing everything on a tray and going back upstairs.
The wolf snored softly in the bed. Tabor smiled as he set the tray down and went to wake the shifter, crawling back onto the mattress and pressing his lips to Navarro’s. The wolf kissed him hungrily, then drew away.
“What did I do to deserve that kind of wake-up call?” Navarro asked.
“You helped heal me last night, and reminded me that while I may not have my freedom, I was given you… and that’s so much better.”
Navarro smiled and kissed him again.
“I brought breakfast up,” Tabor said. “There’s meat this time.”
Navarro slid out of bed and took the offered plate, not bothering to dress. Tabor admired the view as he ate his breakfast. The shifter had a rather beautiful body, one he’d like to explore a bit better when there was more time. Perhaps the next time they were intimate, they could slow down a little and enjoy one another more. Not that last night hadn’t been incredible, and just what he needed, but he missed staying in bed all day tangled up with someone sexy.
They had just finished their meal when the chime sounded. Tabor sighed, dreading what the morning would bring. The generous spread this morning indicated that Dirian was in a good mood, but it didn’t always last for very long. He set the tray out in the hall and turned to face the shifter.
“Are you staying or going?” Tabor asked. “After yesterday, I’ll understand if you prefer to remain in the room.”
“You won’t be disappointed if I stay here?” Navarro asked.
“No. Let me activate the crystal viewing screen. I don’t know that the movies will last the entire time I’m gone, I’ll try to arrange as many as possible. If you like to read, perhaps I could request a few books.”
“Don’t do anything that will make Dirian feel like you owe him something.”
Tabor nodded. He placed his hand on the crystal surface and willed his magick to play several movies back-to-back, and even managed to put the arrangement on a loop. He kissed Navarro one last time before hurrying downstairs to see what Dirian had in store for him today.
When he entered Dirian’s throne room, the evil Fae was sitting on his red velvet chair. The fox shifter was in her animal form, looking beaten and defeated at Dirian’s feet. A wombat shifter sat on his other side, but there was a spark of resistance in her eyes. Tabor wasn’t certain if he was happy she still had that spark left, or if he wished she didn’t. If she fought against Dirian, things could end badly for her.
“You’re nice and prompt this morning,” Dirian said. “There’s even a glow about you. I take it you like your new pet.”
“Yes, Master. We’re getting along well.”
“Good. Then you won’t mind thanking me for such a wonderful gift.”
Unease skittered down Tabor’s spine. Thanking Dirian for something never ended well for anyone involved. At least he could be thankful he was male and nothing sexual would be involved.
“What is it you wish for, Master? My gift was most generous and I’m growing rather fond of it.”
“I want to breed some of my zoo. A cross breeding with a Fae should give me good results. I obviously can’t do it myself. It wouldn’t be right to enslave my own children. So, I want you to do it.”
Shock held him immobile. “Me?”
“Yes. There are three females I’m particularly interested in. You’ll mate with them until they’re carrying a child. It will be your sole mission and only responsibility for the time being.”
His thoughts spun and whirled through his mind. There was no way he could betray Navarro by mating with the other shifters. Even though they weren’t bound, the wolf claimed they were mates, and he would be devastated if Tabor went through with this. His skin grew cold and damp, fearing the punishment that would come for disobeying Dirian.
He stared at the floor, trying to voice the word that would seal his fate. He only hoped he survived whatever Dirian did to him. The thought of leaving Navarro alone in this place was unbearable. He trembled as he looked up, meeting Dirian’s gaze. There was a sinister smile on his face and a coldness in his eyes.
“No,” Tabor said.
The smile froze on Dirian’s face. “What did you say?”
“I said no. I won’t do it.”
“You’ll do it or you’ll pay the price.”
Tabor swallowed hard. “Then I’ll take the punishment.”
Dirian stood, reaching for the coiled whip nearby. “Come here, Tabor.”
Tabor took shaky steps toward Dirian. When he reached the evil Fae, he turned, giving him his back, then knelt on the ground, palms flat on the floor. It wasn’t the first time he’d been punished, and it wasn’t likely to be the last. He took a deep breath, bracing himself. The whip whistled through the air, the leather biting into his skin with the first lash. Tabor gritted his teeth and fought not to cry out from the pain.
The whip connected four more times before he felt the blood trickling down his back and seeping into the waistband of his pants. It felt like he knelt there for hours, the pain nearly making him delirious. He refused to cry, refused to make a sound. Digging down deep, he found the strength to remain unmoving and accept his punishment. When at last the whip was quiet and the only sound in the room was Dirian’s heaving breaths, Tabor stood. His legs barely held him, but he turned to face his captor.
“Will you fuck the shifters now?” Dirian demanded.
“No.”
Spit flew from Dirian’s mouth as he cried out, bring the whip down across Tabor’s chest. He flinched, but held strong.
“Get out of my sight. Don’t leave your room unless you’re summoned. I don’t care if you and that pet of yours starve.” Dirian flung the whip aside. “If you won’t service those mongrels, I’ll find someone who will. You should have thanked me for letting you have a sexual release with multiple women.”
Tabor said nothing and quietly left the room. He was overcome with dizziness as he climbed the stairs to the third floor. By the time he reached his suite, he was barely standing. The door swung open and a startled Navarro looked his way. Tabor stumbled into the room and collapsed on the floor.
“What the fuck did that asshole do to you?” Navarro demanded, shutting and locking the door.
The shifter knelt at his side, his hands gentle as he gripped Tabor’s arms and helped him into the bathroom. Navarro started the shower, then stripped Tabor of his bloodstained pants before helping him under the spray. He cried out as the hot water hit his ravaged flesh, the first sound he’d allowed himself to make since the first lash broke open his back.
Navarro stripped himself of the pants he’d donned at some point and stepped into the shower with Tabor. He held Tabor against his chest. The water washed away his mate’s blood, yet more continued to seep from the wounds.
“I don’t know what to do for you,” Navarro said. “How do the Fae heal?”
“Magick exchange,” Tabor said softly.
“I don’t have any magick. What can I do for you? Tell me how to help you.”
“Binding spell,” Tabor mumbled.
“You want to bind us together?” Navarro asked.
Tabor weakly nodded, not knowing if he even had the strength required to do it. But if he could fuse their life forces, then maybe he could draw on Navarro’s strength to heal himself at least a little. He didn’t think anything would cure him completely except magick or time. Navarro lifted Tabor’s chin and kissed him softly.
“Do whatever you need to do in order to bind us. You’re my true mate and I don’t care if it’s Fae magick or a bite that ties us together. You’re mine, and I’m yours. Forever.”
“Forever,” Tabor whispered, fighting to stay conscious.
Navarro sank to the shower floor, taking Tabor with him. The shifter held him close and pressed his cheek against Tabor’s. Another wave if dizziness hit and he fought it back as he struggled to remember the words. Holding the wolf as tight as he was able, he began the spell.
“Sirco remar abuelta.”
There was a stirring of magick in the air as a breeze filtered through the enclosed space. Sparks danced along their skin, setting off miniature rainbows in the shower.
“Ceptum oramus neptire.”
A hum began in his toes and worked its way through his body. The wolf shivered against him and he knew Navarro felt it too. The wolf was the only thing holding him up and he struggled to say the last part of the spell.
“Rigulo lepra miscuel.”
There was a brief sounding of bells as the magick crested and swelled. The sparks intensified and he was filled with a warmth that spread through him like honey on a hot roll. When the breeze died down, the sparks stopped, and the warmth receded, Tabor felt the drain from using so much magick.
Navarro leaned back and helped clean the blood off his chest before pressing a kiss against his cheek.
“Let me see your back,” Navarro said.
Tabor shifted so the wolf could assess the damage. There was a growl near his ear as his mate peered over his shoulder.
“It’s not as bad as it was, but the wounds are still raw-looking. Angry and red, but the sores aren’t wide-open anymore. It seems to have worked at least a little,” Navarro said. “Is there anything else that will help?”
Tabor smiled faintly. “Sexual release, but I can barely stand, much less do anything else. It will give a small magickal boost now that we’re bound.”
Navarro eyed the bench seat across the back of the shower. “Can you sit on that?”
“I think so.”
Navarro helped him stand and eased him down onto the bench. Water splashed at his feet and ankles and he blinked against what little pain remained. His life partner, his mate, knelt at his feet. Gentle hands ran up and down his thighs, as the wolf peered up at him.
“I’m going to take the rest of the pain away,” Navarro said. “Just relax and let me do the work.”
Tabor nodded, swallowing hard. It touched him that the wolf was taking such good care of him. If this was a glimpse at what life with Navarro would be like, then Tabor was truly blessed, even enslaved he’d been given a gift. His eyes slid closed at the first touch of Navarro’s lips against his cock, and a contented sigh escaped his lips.