He pulled away. “I’m sorry I didn’t take your fears seriously before. I assume that was the topic of your meeting with the prince?”
I hesitated, then nodded.
“And what did the prince feel? Does he believe there is cause to be alarmed?”
Again I hesitated.
“I should have listened to you earlier. I’m sorry I dismissed your fears.” Flesser’s thumb caressed circles over the meat of my hand. “Do you still believe there is danger coming? That the owl was a sign of doom?”
I nodded once more.
“I should have listened. Does the prince share your concern?” When I didn’t answer, he reached up to stroke my face once more. “If your prediction is valid, the prince will be vital. The queen would not listen to you or me. But to her own child? Perhaps she could be moved to action.”
Flesser’s thoughts so closely mirrored my own. A spark of relief shot through me. “Xenith already approached the queen. She did not find reason to be concerned. Even Xenith is more alarmed by my fears than any true conviction of his own.”
Flesser nodded slowly. “So, then, all that is left is to convince them. Before it is too late.”
The possibility that he actually believed me and he would choose to help was too much to take in. Too much to believe.
His soothing touch continued. “Lie down, my love. There is nothing to be done this night. Let me sooth you once more, give you pleasure.”
Sliding back to extend into a lying position once more, I watched as Flesser’s fingers began to explore my body, grazing over my chest, swirling over my stomach, then pausing before tracing the length of my penis. A moan escaped without my permission.
“That’s is, Quay. Let me ease your fears. At least for a little bit. We can face tomorrow, together.”
Already I was rigid in his hand.
“Close your eyes, just feel your body. Feel the pleasure I can give you.”
I let my eyes close, giving in to arousal, to the moment.
“One second, I brought something I believe will give you satisfaction. Just feel it on your skin.” His voice was barely audible and filled with lust.
There was a shuffling, as Flesser retrieved whatever he’d brought, and then he began touching my skin once more.
But it wasn’t his fingers—something lighter, thinner. As it traced narrow paths over my skin, waves of sensation rippled through my body. Flesser swirled the item over my shaft, causing me to arch back and another groan to escape.
His warm lips smashed against mine, cutting off my whimper. All the while, the light touch swept over my body. As his tongue slid into my mouth, he traced back up my stomach and over my chest, swiping in an arch over my jaw. The sound of my pleasure was lost in his mouth.
Leaving me breathless he pulled back.
Heavy-lidded, I opened my eyes to see his smiling face. His beautiful eyes shone brightly in the darkness. “Am I making you feel good, my love?”
“By the Goddess, yes.” I smiled up at him, then looked down the length of my body, where Flesser had moved his attention back to my groin. “What are you using all over my—” My words fell away as I tried to make sense of what I saw being used to stimulate my sex.
A feather. I almost laughed that I hadn’t recognize what had been moving over my skin. Of all things, I should have been able to know the touch of a feather.
Flesser used it to swipe over my stomach once more, then return to my erection. My breath caught as the feather came into better focus.
The striated, stiff brown feather was one I knew, or at least recognized. If there’d been any mistake, the dried blood at the quill took away any doubt.
Without thinking, I scuttled back across the ground on my elbows, moving away from Flesser.
He smiled. Not lovingly, not even in hate. Just smiled, as he lifted the feather in front of his face, giving it a little twist around, then back again.
The little owl flashed through my mind. Its legs severed, wings plucked bare. “Why?” I flinched at my own voice. I hadn’t meant to speak.
Flesser only continued to twirl the feather, as if mesmerized.
