“You know what you need to say?”It was the same voice that had called Kefir’s name.The speaker sounded older than the men who had been arguing with each other a few moments before.His voice was deeper, richer.Even though he seemed to be making an effort to speak gently to Kefir, his voice was still strong.He sounded like a dom.
Ellery instinctively squared his shoulders as he realised he was probably meeting the leader of the pride.
“You can’t be serious!”Marrick’s friend cut in before Kefir had a chance to speak again.
“Are you declaring an interest in him, Blaine?”the pride’s leader demanded.
“No, but—”
“Then, be silent!”His tone couldn’t have been more different than when’d he’d spoken to Kefir.
“But—”
A roar echoed through the room.Survival instinct meant fight or flight tried to kick in.Ellery tensed every muscle in his body and forced himself to remain motionless.
Besides, he could hardly blame the lions’ leader for losing patience.Marrick was obviously screwing a brat.
“Let him go, both of you.”
The hands that had led Ellery into the room released him.He sensed the lions they belonged to step back.
A moment later, bare skin brushed against Ellery’s knee as Kefir crept closer again.
“You know what you need to say?”the leader asked Kefir again.
“If you say ‘spear’, you’re free to go,” Kefir whispered, making no attempt to make his voice sound stronger, or more dominant, the way Blaine had seemed to.
Ellery was so focused on trying to work out if there was anything else he could tell about Kefir from his tone of voice, it took a moment for the meaning of his words to sink in.The lions knew about safe words, then?That seemed like a good sign.
An answer appeared to be required.“I understand.”
“Neatly done, Kefir.”The leader sounded very pleased with him.“He’s yours for the night.”
“But—”
The leader didn’t give the brat a chance to say another word.“The decision’s been made.There will be no arguments about it.”
Other words floated through the darkness that surrounded Ellery, infantile silliness warring with impatience at every turn, but they grew fainter as the men speaking moved away from the fireside and into another part of the room.
The only presence Ellery sensed remaining close was Kefir’s.
“No one will hurt you,” Kefir whispered.“You don’t need to be afraid.”
Ellery raised an eyebrow behind the blindfold.“I’m not afraid of you.”
Fingertips touched his cheek again, stroking along his jaw, before hesitating.“May I…?”
A great many widely varying possibilities had occurred to Ellery when he’d decided, in his infinite wisdom, to volunteer to be thrown to the lions.But the idea that he could somehow end up being handed over to a sub had never even entered his mind.
Kefir’s hand disappeared from his skin when Ellery failed to provide immediate permission for it to linger there.
“You may.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“I don’t give orders I’m not sure of,” Ellery informed him, not sure he entirely succeeded in hiding his amusement at the possibility.
The fingers didn’t immediately come back to rest on his skin, and Ellery suddenly realised that he wanted them to return far more than he should.Unable to reach out and make that very clear, he chafed at the bondage and the absurdity of the situation more than ever.
