Merlin gave a short laugh."Only seven."
Lancelot grimaced, because that really was the only way to describe the nasty aftertaste in his mouth.Which was wholly unfair, because how did an injection in his thigh leave a bad taste in his mouth?
They drove out of the protected city and into the 'nice' apartments closest to the edge of the dome, along a street that was relatively clean, far better than the shitty slums that Lancelot hadn't seen for what felt like years but was only weeks.
"Apartment 702-A," Merlin said as the car came to a stop in front of a building that might have been painted blue at one point, but now was just a sort of desultory gray.
Lancelot only barely felt steady on his feet as they climbed out of the car, bypassed building security because of something Merlin did, and raced up the stairs, all of them too paranoid for the elevator.
Just as they reached the right hallway, the EXIT door at the opposite end burst open, the hallway filling with half a dozen dudes in black tac gear.
Dred surged to the fore, flames filling the hallway, forcing them back.Lancelot didn't bother with his sword, all but useless in the narrow confines of the hallway, only went in with sharp claws, tearing easily through the melted equipment and burned clothes, clawing open their throats and stomachs.
Panting, he left the dead and dying there, spinning around and heading for the apartment the other two had already broken into.They reappeared as he reached it, a body slung over Dred's shoulder.
"Let's move," Merlin said."Say goodbye to this shithole city, because we're probably never going to see it again either."
Claws out, Lancelot led the way down the stairs back to the car.
Safehouse
Since leaving home, Lancelot had enjoyed many lovers, eager to learn everything about the world that had not wanted him, had wanted him so little they'd drowned him.Now he was grown, they seemed to want him plenty, at least to fight for them and to fuck them.To serve them.
Not that he had any complaints, so long as the only person he ultimately served at the end of the day was Arthur.In the meantime, he took his pleasures where he wanted, for the most part, though that was infrequently enough as treachery lay in every corner.
Then he'd met Galehaut, and no one else could draw his eyes, though many still tried.
He'd never kept a lover for more than a few days, a whole week once before that spice monger had carried on his way.Last Lancelot had heard, the man was married with several children now.
So though he'd never admit it aloud to anyone, he wasn't quite certain what to do with a real, true, his-for-life lover.Other than spread his legs like a wanton whore and let Galehaut mount him as often as it pleased him to do so.
They'd been lovers for three months now, though most of that had been spent in travel and solving the various problems of the kingdom.Now, though, they were back in Camelot for at least a month.A real chance to spend time together in a way they hadn't since that single day and night Lancelot had traded for a victory that had cost Galehaut literally everything.
He'd gone to great lengths to ensure they would be left alone the whole night, had arranged for food that would keep for hours, wine, everything they could possibly need.He'd bathed thoroughly, made himself ready, and now…
Now Galehaut was due to arrive any moment.
Discarding his dressing robe, Lancelot climbed into the enormous bed that had replaced the one he'd used for years, as that one was far too small to accommodate two people, one of them half-giant.
Lying naked in his own bed should not feel so decadent, but oh how it did.He'd gotten the idea from Merlin and Galahad, who'd both used it to great effect with their lovers.
Sprawled on top of the blankets, bare to the world for any who might walk in, nowhere to go if it was anyone but Galehaut…to say he was vulnerable was an understatement.Anyone at all could come in, and he'd be entirely helpless.The very idea made him sick with anxiety, but Merlin had promised him they would remain undisturbed the night through, and Merlin always kept his word.
So he sprawled naked in bed, kept warm by the fire, and waited anxiously to see if this idea was brilliant or foolish.
When the door finally unlocked and opened, his heart was fit to pop.A heavy satchel appeared first, thrown to the ground with a definite air ofthat's finally done.Then the door swung wider, and Galehaut himself appeared, huge and beautiful and enchanting.He looked around the room with a slight frown as he closed the door, shoulders drooping—and then his gaze reached the bed, eyes widening.
But he didn't speak.Didn't move.His expression didn't change at all, except for the way his eyes remained wide and his nostrils flared.Those were good signs, right?
As the silence stretched on, Lancelot's already fragile confidence in this Merlin-like venture wavered, stomach knotting, humiliation making him cold despite the warm fire.He'd judged wrong.Merlin had been mistaken.He was just behaving like a shameless harlot.
He shifted, braced himself to sit up and find his dressing robe—
"Look at you, pretty thing," Galehaut said, voice low and husky as he finally walked toward the bed, more into the light, baring the heat in his eyes that Lancelot hadn't seen with distance and shadow."What did I do to deserve this?I must know so I can repeat the action often."He stopped at the edge of the bed and reached out to trail one massive hand along Lancelot's skin, starting at his ankle and slowly trailing up to trace the line of his cheek."Angels weep to be as lovely as you."
"Blasphemer," Lancelot said softly, smiling, because they neither of them ascribed to human religions.Galehaut was a child of the old, wild woods of his mother, and Lancelot came from places humans would never see, let alone comprehend.
Galehaut bent to kiss him lightly, teasingly, but it was more than enough for the last of Lancelot's anxieties to fade away.He pouted when Galehaut withdrew, but was mollified when it was only to discard his clothes.No armor today, thankfully, which would have required calling for assistance.
