He shakes his head. “But I did make it clear that he was not involved. Hopefully, what Quilliyn can offer will be enough to secure his release.”
I lean against Rathyn’s chest and wrap my arms around him and squeeze. “He has to be okay.”
His hands brush through my hair, and he tugs me away.
There is a promise in his eyes. “He will be. I vow it. Now we must prepare you. They await.”
He stands me in front of the mirror as he adorns me—bigger rings in my nipples that feel heavy but don’t hurt. The chain is larger and longer, and he fastens a thin collar around my neck that attaches to the same chain, leaving a trailing lead which he can wrap around his hand.
He leaves me mostly naked save for a sheer robe. He looks me up and down. My reflection is a lot like those other companions I saw on my first trip to Erethar.
But I think we need more, and an idea hits me. “Wait here.”
He makes a noise of protest, but he doesn’t follow me as I dart to the nightstand and come back with my prize. I hold the cock cage and the key in my hand.
“Companions do not wear these. I do not know that the tribunal will understand.”
“No, but if you explain…” I say patiently, opening up the cage and sliding my cock inside. I take his wrist and manipulate his fingers into closing it, and then press the key into his palm. “They’ll understand. You don’t even let me pleasure myself unless it’s to feed you cum.”
Understanding flares in his eyes, he swallows heavily as he twists the key, and the lock clicks. It’s tight and uncomfortable, and I feel very exposed, but it’s for him.
It’s all for him.
Taking the key back from him, I wrap the chain around his neck and fasten it. “This is yours.” I bring his hand to my caged cock and let the weight of it rest in his palm. “And this is yours.”
He leans in and kisses me, long tongue swirling around mine, piercings clinking against my teeth. If only we had time to give me more. I would have done it for him.
But I think this will be enough.
He stands back, then grabs some of the earlier adornments and wraps them around the cage to give it a little bling. I feel very trussed up and very naked, but there’s no point in fighting it.
This needs to happen, and if it means he gets to keep his position—maybe make change within—it’ll all be worth it.
“Come,” he says, and he takes me by the lead. He doesn’t tug, but I follow as though he did, and he takes me into the corridor, then down the hall to the portal.
There are Vyastil there—eyes on me, looking surprised. It makes sense. They’ve never seen me like this, my head tipped down, walking quietly behind Rathyn. I can hear them speaking, and I hear Rathyn answering before the portal opens, and Rathyn gives the lead a very small tug.
“Head down, mouth shut. Be obedient.” Then the voice in my head says,“I love you, my Everest.”
I do my absolute best not to smile. I swallow and school my face, making sure to be the companion they expect me to be.
“I’m doing it for you. For us.”
“I know.One day, we can be different.”
But it’s not going to happen right now. It can’t. Major things need to change before we do.
He told me what they expected of a normal human companion. It made me roll my eyes, but I’m doing it.
I stare at the cold stone beneath my feet as I walk, hearing the click of Rathyn’s claws as we move toward a large wooden door with swirls on it.
There is a guard outside of it, but I only look for a second before turning my gaze away. Rathyn does nothing to reassure me, and I do nothing to give away that this whole thing is fucking weird.
I just bite my tongue and watch as a bell rings and the door is pushed open. And that’s when I see it, the panel of Vyastil,watching as we approach. I really try to feel bad about myself. I hope it shows.
I hear Eissa begin to speak in their language, but I don’t look. It’s only when he switches to English that I peer up at him through my lashes.
“Everest Hale. We have been told that Rathyn has disciplined you, and you see the error in your ways.”
