Navarro would do anything for his mate, but giving him pleasure wasn’t a hardship. His lips encircled his mate’s cock, his tongue curling around the shaft. Pre-cum leaked from the tip. Tabor’s flavor had a nice tang that Navarro wanted more of. His lips and tongue worked hard to distract Tabor from the pain he felt, and hopefully heal him more. Navarro licked, sucked, and nibbled until Tabor was thrusting into his mouth, his hands fisting Navarro’s hair.
He growled softly, loving the fact his mate was taking what he wanted, what he needed. He relaxed his jaw and took everything Tabor had to give, every delicious inch. Navarro’s hands caressed Tabor’s thighs as the Fae fucked his mouth with long, deep strokes. There was a hum of magick in the air as his thrusts became almost frantic, and then he was exploding in Navarro’s mouth. His mate trembled and shook from the force of his release, and Navarro swallowed every drop. Licking Tabor clean, Navarro set back and looked up at him.
“Feel better?”
Tabor nodded, his cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry if I was rough.”
“I liked it.” Navarro’s lips tipped up on one side. “You can have your way with me anytime you want.”
The Fae chuckled softly. “I’ll remember that.”
“The wound on your chest is nearly healed. Lean forward and let me check your back.”
Tabor pushed away from the shower wall and Navarro inspected his back, running his fingers over the slightly pink marks. The scars littering his mate’s back, sides, and torso infuriated him. How many times had he been beaten without the benefit of magickal healing? When the time came to take a stand against Dirian, Navarro was going to make him pay dearly. For every mark on his mate’s body, he would inflict twice as much pain. He had a plan, but he wasn’t certain how to enact it just yet.
He’d spent the day thinking of ways to break free. The reason the shifters didn’t stand up to Dirian was because of those damned spelled collars. But what if he could face Dirian without the collar? He wasn’t certain just how strong the Fae’s magick was. Would Dirian be able to deflect a pissed-off shifter or would Navarro’s anger be enough to break through everything and defeat the evil bastard?
The water grew cool and Navarro shut it off. He held out his hand to Tabor and helped the Fae stand. He still seemed a little shaky as they stepped out and dried off. He probably needed food.
“You need to eat something,” Navarro said.
“I’ve been forbidden from leaving this room unless I’m summoned.”
“What the fuck? First he beats you and now he intends to starve you?”
“Easy,” Tabor said, running his fingers through Navarro’s hair. “I don’t require regular meals like humans and shifters. I may grow weaker, but I won’t die anytime soon. After some rest, I’ll be much better.”
“How does Dirian monitor his home? How does he know who is where and when?”
Tabor frowned. “I’m not sneaking to the kitchen. I might be mostly healed but I don’t think I could take another beating.”
“Not you. Me.”
“You have to wear the collar if you leave the room. How are you going to fix plates and carry a tray up the stairs in your wolf form?” Tabor asked.
“That’s why I need to know how he monitors everything. If I go down there in my human form and he doesn’t physically see me, will he know?”
Tabor quietly assessed him.
“I’m quick, even in human form, and I’m quiet. If there are areas I need to avoid, tell me. I can do this,” Navarro said. “We can’t go without food for long. You say you’ll be better after some rest, but wouldn’t you heal even faster if you had food too?”
“It’s too risky. I don’t know what he’d do to you if he found you without the collar.” Tabor reached out and caressed his cheek. “I can’t let you do it.”
“Fine. We’ll wait, but sooner or later I’m leaving this room without the collar. But first I want to learn more about Dirian. He has to have a weakness somewhere. You said he’s more powerful than you, but just how much power does he have?”
“He’s not in with the highest-ranking Fae, but he’s got more magick than a mid-range Fae would. What exactly are you asking? There’s a look in your eyes I’m not sure I like.”
“If I go out without the collar, if I find him when he’s alone or close to it, what would be my chances in defeating him? I could shift without the collar and attack.”
Tabor looked horrified. “He would kill you. If he didn’t torture you first. Did you forget you were shifted when he caught you?”
“The sneaky bastard was hiding downwind with a dart gun. One on one, I might have taken him. Does he have enough spells and magick to deflect me indefinitely or could I wear him down?”
“Stop. Just stop talking about it. This shouldn’t even be a discussion we’re having.” Tabor began to pace before stopping in front of him again. “I won’t lose you. Forget trying to take down Dirian. It’s not possible, not on our own. We’d need outside help and I don’t think any is coming.”
“Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. And how can you be so sure a shifter couldn’t take him down? He has us in spelled collars for a reason. That tells me he’s scared, or at the very least worried.”
“Please,” Tabor said softly. “Don’t try to take Dirian down on your own.”
Navarro ground his teeth together. Why couldn’t Tabor see this was their best shot? What was he so scared of? Navarro was tougher than he looked. It wouldn’t be easy to kill him. He’d let the topic go for now, but he wasn’t done discussing it. Sooner or later, he’d make Tabor see that it was their best option. Their only option. Tabor might have been stuck here for twenty years, but Navarro damn sure wasn’t going to stick around any longer than he had to, and he would do whatever was necessary to break free.
There was a soft knock at the door. Tabor looked nervous, but he opened it. The smell of meat and vegetables hit Navarro’s nose, making his mouth water. A slender Fae walked in carrying a tray laden with food. There was easily enough for tonight and the morning.
“Niro, you shouldn’t have done this,” Tabor said. “If he finds out, you’ll be punished.”
“You’ve been kind to me and I saw what you did earlier. It was brave to stand up to him like that. I won’t be able to bring more until tomorrow night, so try to make this last. Leave the tray in here and I’ll get it when I bring fresh food.”
“Thank you,” Tabor said, closing the door behind the Fae.
Navarro folded his arms across his chest. “What did he mean he saw what you did earlier? Why exactly were you beaten so severely?”
“It’s not important.”
“I think it is. What did you do, Tabor?”
The Fae’s cheeks reddened and his eyes narrowed. “You want to know what I did? I refused to dishonor you by sleeping with female shifters.”
Navarro blinked in surprise. “He wanted you to have sex with female shifters?”
“He wants to impregnate them so he can breed a new set of slaves. Even he isn’t cruel enough to enslave his own children apparently, so he refuses to do it himself. You said I was your mate, so I refused to do as he commanded.”
Navarro moved closer and reached for Tabor, sliding his hands around the Fae’s waist. “As much as I would have hated that you were intimate with anyone else, I would have preferred that to the beating you received. Do you honestly think I wanted you to get hurt because of me?”
“Mates are sacred. I know that. It wouldn’t have been right to be with someone else. He wanted me to mate them over and over until they became pregnant. I couldn’t do it. Not only would it have dishonored you, but I couldn’t be responsible for bringing children into this nightmare.”
Navarro smoothed Tabor’s hair back. “I understand. We’re going to get out of here, Tabor. I don’t know how or when, but I know we aren’t going to be here forever. I refuse to give up. Your nightmare will end.”
Tabor smiled tiredly. “Let’s eat and try to relax. I’m still not at full strength.”
Navarro handed him a plate before claiming one for himself, while he contemplated other ways to bring his mate back to full health. Sex had worked once, he reasoned it could work again. Tabor had tasted delicious and he wouldn’t mind going back for more, if the Fae agreed. Sucking the Fae’s cock could quickly become his favorite pastime.