Even the thought that something he did could put Trey’s life at risk pained him the way it had when Treycore had thrown himself in harm’s way during that fucked-up competition.
“I don’t want Treycore to get hurt,” Kid said.
“Then promise me this will be our secret.”
“I promise.”
Aerysn sighed. “Now, what I’m about to say isn’t going to be pleasant, so brace yourself.”
“Has anything you said really been all that pleasant?”
“Fair enough. This is going to be as tough as anything you’ve had to deal with so far, but it’s necessary.”
“I’ll do whatever I have to do,” Kid said.
“I’m glad to hear that. You see, everyone will be expecting me to own you like some sort of beast.”
“So what? You need me to act like you fucked me real hard?”
Aerysn’s expression twisted up. “I’m sorry you don’t understand the degree to which I’m talking about.”
“What do you mean?” But in a moment, the realization hit him, and chills raced across his flesh.
“We’re going to have to put on a little show for the guys,” Aerysn explained, stating what Kid already feared. “If I don’t…injure you at all…they’re going to know something’s wrong. I need to hurt you. And not just a little.”
Aerysn gulped after he spoke the words.
Kid could tell he didn’t want to hurt him, that it was something he had to do to get those fucked-up immortals off their tail, to believe this act.
“To be clear,” Aerysn continued, “I’m going to have to break some bones. We’ll be able to heal you in the Nest’s clinic. I’m not going to do anything to you that can’t be mended quickly with immortal medicines, but it’s going to hurt…a fucking lot.”
Aerysn’s jaw tensed. By the way he said it, Kid was certain that even though he was in the hands of someone who seemed to care about his safety, he might survive this horrible place, but it was going to be a far-from-painless experience.
Kid shook his head. “Breaking bones?”
“If I don’t, the fate in store for you will be so much worse, Kid, I promise you that.”
“You mean Trey’s going to assume you’ve done all these terrible things to me? And that you might as well have because of how you’re going to fuck me up?”
Aerysn’s gaze sank to the mattress. “If you want to view it that way, you can. If I were you, I’d look at it as the only option you have to make it out of here alive.”
He was right. Kid knew that. Based on the display he’d seen in that auditorium, those monsters wouldn’t think twice about fucking him to death. They were practically salivating for it. Aerysn’s solution was his only chance of surviving. And unfair as it may have been for him to have to make that choice, he knew it was the only one he could make.
“Okay,” Kid said, resigned.
The physical pain aside, it tortured him to know how torn apart he would be to watch as Treycore felt that his love was being destroyed, brutalized. But if this higherling could really help them, it was worth it. It would be worth it whenever they were able to get out of this awful place…if this escape Aerysn had mentioned really happened.
“I promise I’m going to keep you safe,” Aerysn said, setting his hand on Kid’s shoulder. “But this might be the most pain you ever experience in your life.”
Aerysn crawled off the bed and stood before him, Kid finding himself appreciating his body a little more now that he knew he wasn’t a bad guy…or at least now that he hoped he wasn’t a bad guy.
“Let me know when you’re ready for it.”
Kid had to be the one to decide when Aerysn would inflict these injuries on him? Break his fucking bones? It was one thing that he had to do it, but another that Kid had to be a willing participant.
He turned away from Aerysn, his face trembling. He didn’t want Aerysn to see him cry. He wasn’t going to be a baby, not after everything they’d already been through.
He could do this. He could be strong. He had to be. For Treycore.
