“We’re not going to hurt him,” Luther said, firmly.”Just…give him a nudge in the right direction.He’s as human as all the other sacrifices.He’ll take to submission just as well as all the others, once he’s introduced to it.All we’ll have to do is insist he gets used to it and…”
The words faded away as they all picked up their mugs of tea and coffee and walked out through the patio doors leading to the garden.A few of them still sounded far from certain about the idea, but Kefir had no doubt that Luther and Blaine would talk them into it—the same way they always did.The plan they were concocting would go ahead and…
Stepping into the kitchen Kefir looked out over the garden to where the other lions were talking to each other around the patio table, heads bent together as they plotted against Ellery downfall.A slight frown gathering on his forehead, Kefir poured the coffee on automatic pilot, his mind now completely devoted to other matters.
Ellery wasn’t a sub.
Humans were subs, and Ellery was human, but in some way Kefir wasn’t sure of, the logical math didn’t quite work from that point on.Ellery wasn’t a sub.
Kefir had a vague suspicion that he’d seen that in Ellery from the start.He’d certainly felt it in him the night before, when Ellery had pinned him down against the bed and the world had suddenly morphed into a perfect place that Kefir had never even guessed at the existence of before.
Picking up the coffee mug, Kefir walked slowly back up the stairs towards the bedroom.With every step he took, more and more of Arslan’s words swirled about inside his head.Lessons.Reminders.Traditions.Orders.They all collided and ricocheted off each other, but certain things couldn’t be denied.
All human words set aside; lions were masters, humans were pets.Kefir was quietly sure that had to apply to humans who weren’t the least bit submissive, too.
And it was a master’s job to look after his pet and make sure no harm ever came to him.A lion stood between his pet and the world and defended a weaker human from any threat.Kefir had known that for so long, heard it repeated so often, he knew without doubt it was true.
Ellery might have said he didn’t want to be a pet, he might not act the way pets tended to act, but he was Kefir’s human now, and that made him Kefir’s pet.
It made Kefir responsible for him.
Pushing open the bedroom door, Kefir stepped inside.The curtains were open now, and sunlight streamed in.Ellery had propped a pillow up against the headboard, much as he had just before Kefir went down on him the previous night.
The blankets were half pushed back.They didn’t cover a lot.In spite of everything rushing around and colliding inside his mind, the sight of Ellery caused Kefir to harden behind his jeans.
Walking carefully across the room, he handed the mug to Ellery.
“Thank you.”
As much as he wanted to crawl onto the bed, curl up next to his pet and forget about his newfound responsibilities, Kefir forced himself to back away, all the way to the other side of the room.
Ellery glanced at him over the rim of his mug as he sipped the scalding hot liquid.
Kefir frowned slightly as he folded his arms across his bare chest.In a desperate attempt not to take a step toward his pet, he took a step back instead and reversed into a chest of drawers.
Sitting up on top of the sturdy piece of furniture, he brought his bare feet up in front of him and studied his pet from across the room.But Kefir couldn’t keep the image of Ellery sitting comfortably on the bed they’d shared in the front of his mind.Other pictures kept trying to take its place.
Ellery hurt.Ellery being forced to submit to other lions, lions who didn’t understand that wasn’t who Ellery was.The look in Ellery’s eyes as he was surrounded by shifters—every one of them stronger then he was.
Kefir’s claws came out and scratched at his own legs, leaving tears in his jeans.But they were small rips, left by comparatively tiny claws.They would be no match for Luther’s claws or for Blaine’s.
He closed his eyes, but that only made the horrible pictures all the more vivid.His ears joined in the attack.He heard Ellery cry out as he tried to get away, heard him call out for help, only to realise that his master was incapable of helping him.
Kefir forced his eyes open.
The facts of the matter couldn’t be avoided—not while playing ignorant might see his pet get hurt.
“When you’ve finished your coffee, I think it would be best for you to leave,” Kefir said, as politely as possible.Each word was harder to say than the last, but he forced each syllable out regardless.
Ellery raised an eyebrow; his lips twitched into an amused little smile.He didn’t seem the least offended, which Kefir had to consider a good thing.But he half found himself doubting what right words had actually left his own mouth.
Ellery took another sip of his coffee and rested the mug on his thigh as he studied Kefir.
Kefir didn’t know what else to say.Silence reigned until Ellery finally spoke up.“If you’re throwing me out, the civil thing to do is tell me why.”The words were very gently said.
Kefir stared down at the rips in his jeans for a little while.His hands looked just like human hands, now that the claws had been drawn back.They’d be little more use than human hands in a fight with another lion.“I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here.”
“Because…” Ellery prompted, obviously not the least impressed with the evasion, for all his tone was still gentle.
