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You do realize that comparing me to HAL 9000 is like comparing me to a manual typewriter, the Osiris said a little snippily.

All right, all right. I know you’re amazing. Really and truly. And you’re on my side, Jace admitted.

He did want to know about Typhon. Osiris was giving him that information.

He is pursuing a mating relationship with you, the Osiris remarked. You are keen to accept his advances. I must protect you.

Those last four words had Jace coming up short. He knew that he was important to the Osiris. He was the Pilot after all. But surely if Jace was no longer able to be the Pilot--like if he died and fighting against the Khul made that a definite possibility--then the Osiris would find someone else to take his place. Unlike Gehenna, who Jace was sure actually cared deeply for him, he hadn’t considered that the Osiris would have feelings towards him that were anything other than practical. Yet he sensed in those four words that there was something more there.

Khoth is not going to hurt me, Jace said firmly.

The Osiris was silent.

He’s not! Jace insisted, interpreting the silence as disagreement. You don’t have to worry about that. And when you say the word “mating” you make me think of making babies, Jace admitted. He is pursuing a relationship with me.

The Thaf’ell pair-bond, the Osiris corrected.

So… what does that mean? Jace asked. Clearly, it doesn’t mean they have only one relationship because he just told me about Justiciar Typhon so--

Justician Typhon initiated a common relationship between an older man with a younger one with Khoth, the Osiris explained. It is classified as a teaching relationship. Not one to be long term, but to mold the younger individual’s Xi and Xa.

That doesn’t sound romantic… it sounds a little… I don’t know… kinky maybe? Jace admitted.

But while Jace had enjoyed stories about couples where the young man was “taught” by the older one, he found it a little creepy in real life. It was all well and good on the page or computer screen, but it seemed predatory to him when it was actually happening.

The relationship is highly valued one in Thaf’ell society. It is a practical way to ensure that young Thaf’ell prepare for their pair-bond, the Osiris explained. There was a pause. That was the only way to explain the dead air for a moment in Jace’s mind before the Osiris admitted, The only unusual aspect of this relationship between Khoth and Typhon was that it was not approved--or even known to have occurred--by Khoth’s parents. Considering Justiciar Typhon is a colleague of Khoth’s father this makes Typhon’s behavior… suspect.

I hope what’s most unusual about the relationship was the abuse that Khoth suffered! Jace cried. So it would have been normal for some old--

Older.

Older man to come to Khoth’s parents and say: I’d like to have sex with your son and teach him to be good in bed for his mate down the line?

Jace knew he sounded judgmental, but age differences between partners could often lead to unequal power relationships which could lead to abuse like it clearly had in this case.

I do not believe that is the language that would have been used had Typhon formally requested this relationship with Khoth from Khoth’s parents, the Osiris said.

No, he just said nothing and did what he wanted without anyone else knowing! Jace’s forehead bunched. He knew his shoulders were tense too as Khoth moved up to massage them to unknot the muscles. And… so Khoth’s parents never knew about Typhon?

No, they do not know about the Eromen relationship to this day.

Jace’s fingers dug into the pillows He forced himself to release his grip as he was threatening to pull them apart. He could imagine feathers floating everywhere.

This Eromen relationship reminds me of the ancient Greek relationships that I heard about in school between older men and teenage boys, Jace admitted.

Yes, pederasty that was practiced in the Archaic and Classical periods is similar in some respects to Eromen, not that the Thaf’ell would agree with our conclusion, the Osiris agreed.

Jace was quiet for a moment, trying to focus on Khoth’s caresses, but he found himself asking, So, basically, this guy Typhon conned Khoth into entering an Eromen relationship, but without the guardrails of his parents knowing so he could--could do whatever he wanted? Khoth trusted him implicitly because of who he was and what he was supposed to be, right? Do I have that correct?

Yes, one simple word and yet it seemed crushing.

If I see this Typhon bastard, I’m going to punch his lights out. Jace gritted his teeth.

You will be seeing him. He is on the Thaf’ell equivalent of the United States Supreme Court and he is still close friends with Khoth’s parents, the Osiris informed him helpfully.

Jace groaned and gripped the pillow too hard again.

“Jace, something is wrong. You are not responding to my touches as you were before,” Khoth said tentatively, his hands pausing at the top of Jace’s spine.