Chapter 21

21

W hen Tryggr finally finished with Eben in the scullery, Eben was flushed and sweaty and rumpled all over, his hair mussed and loose, his marked neck streaked and sticky with his blood. And his legs were still weak and shaky, his arse rough and raw, to the point where he was noticeably limping, and clinging tightly to Tryggr’s arm beside him.

But Tryggr clearly wasn’t bothered, and if anything, he scented even stronger of triumph than before. And when Eben tentatively offered to wash up in the scullery, Tryggr scoffed and flatly refused, and ordered him to the Skai baths instead.

“ I’m not having m’pet wash in a scullery,” he snapped. “ Skai -kesh knows you’ve already borne enough in here, ach? You’re mine now, which means you’re gonna get proper care, and a proper bath.”

Eben flushed and shyly smiled, and allowed Tryggr to march him out through the kitchen, past an amused but unsurprised-looking Gegnir , and into the corridor. Where , Eben’s fluttering thoughts soon realized, his state and his scent very clearly announced just how matters stood, to anyone who walked by. Including several former patients, a wide-eyed Ka -esh engineer, and — Eben’s breath caught — Gareth .

And curse it, perhaps Gareth had come to check on the washing machines, but now he halted mid-step in the corridor, his eyes widening on Eben’s face, and then flicking to his bruised, bitten neck. While beside Eben , Tryggr flashed Gareth a toothy, not-so-nice smile, and blatantly palmed at Eben’s arse.

Eben could scent Gareth’s surprise, followed by something much like jealousy — but then he made an obvious effort to smile, as he gave them a curt little nod. “ I see I owe you my best wishes, brothers,” he said, though his voice hitched. “ If you ever have need of a kraga , only come to me, ach?”

Eben blinked, more heat flooding into his cheeks as he glanced sideways at Tryggr — who was still looking smug, and perhaps a little thoughtful, as he nodded back, and then ushered Eben past Gareth down the corridor. “ Remind me, pet,” he said, “what’s a kraga ? Not those pretty little gold collars you Ka -esh sometimes wear?”

Eben’s steps faltered — Tryggr was asking about kragas ?! — and a slow, dangerous grin was already pulling at Tryggr’s mouth, his claws coming up to tickle at Eben’s newly marked neck. “ Ach , I see,” he said, lower. “ Would look real nice on you, pet, wouldn’t it?”

Oh , hell, Eben truly could not breathe, amidst the shock and the abject yearning, and Tryggr kept smiling at him, dark and hungry, as his claws scraped a little harder. And it was so distracting that Eben didn’t even notice when Tryggr guided him sideways into a room. Not the Skai baths, but — wait — the sickroom?

“ Didn’t bring you here to work, pet,” Tryggr said quickly, with a reassuring smile toward him. “ Just want to be sure you’re well, ach?”

Oh . Tryggr had brought Eben here as — a patient. And even as Eben balked and waved it away, Kesst was already striding over to greet them, his arched brows rapidly rising. While across the room, Eben caught sight of Salvi , who must have just returned from his trip north — and who was now grinning at him with bright, jubilant glee.

“ What’s this?” Kesst asked, his voice sharp. “ Good gods, you reek of Skai , Eben — and you haven’t injured him, have you, Tryggr ?”

“’ Course not,” Tryggr snapped back, even as his arm tightened possessively around Eben’s shoulders. “ Just finally settled things between us, and wanted to make sure he’s looked after, and cared for. As he should be.”

He’d fixed Kesst with a pointed frown, while across the room Efterar cleared his throat, and strode over to join them. “ Thanks , Tryggr ,” he said firmly. “ We’ve been learning we could use the help, right, Sweet - Fang ?”

He’d gently elbowed Kesst in the side as he’d spoken, his gaze already focused on Eben’s neck, his hand rising to hover over it. “ And we’re thankful for the Skai — and the Ka -esh — who offer their help so freely,” he continued, “without demanding anything in return.”

Wait . Was Efterar talking about Tryggr — and about Eben ? But yes, Efterar’s eyes darting toward Eben’s face were grateful, and a little regretful, too. “ I know I haven’t said it enough,” he added, “but you’re an exceptional colleague, Eben . You’ve made yourself an expert in your field, you have an incredible work ethic, our patients love you — and you often see things the rest of us don’t. It’s a real help, and we’re lucky to have you. Thanks .”

Truly ? Eben’s face was smarting even hotter than before, his eyes prickling, his head rapidly shaking — but beside him, Tryggr gave a low harrumph, his arm squeezing tightly around Eben’s shoulders. “ Ach , you are lucky to have him,” he said coolly. “ And from now on, he’s gonna be putting in less time here, too. He’s gonna be moving in with me, and I’ll be making sure he’s got plenty of time to read, and fuck, and sleep .”

Wait , he was?! But there wasn’t the slightest hesitation in Tryggr’s scent as he promptly wheeled Eben around, and marched him back toward the door. And when Eben gave a distracted wave goodbye over his shoulder, Efterar and Kesst both smiled and waved back, even though Eben heard Kesst mutter something about obnoxious Skai fuckboys under his breath. While at his workbench, Salvi was still gleefully grinning, and giving Eben a salute with his jar of tonic that clearly said, I told you so .

“ Are you… sure, about that?” Eben managed, once Tryggr was ushering him down the corridor again. “ Me … moving in with you?”

Tryggr’s glance toward him was surprised, and a bit mulish, too. “ Ach , yes,” he said flatly. “ I’m not moving down into that dank little hole of yours, and it seems to me you don’t like it much, either. And you’re mine now, so it’s my job to keep a close eye on you, and take care of you.”

His voice was clipped, decisive, though his eyes were searching Eben’s now, as if seeking some kind of argument — but Eben’s head was nodding, his breath exhaling, as a warm, settled relief shimmered up his spine. He didn’t need to make a decision on this. He didn’t need to agonize over what to tell his Ka -esh kin about why he was leaving. He could just… obey.

And he could obey in this, too. In Tryggr guiding him into the otherwise empty Skai bath — which was an admittedly impressive feat of Ka -esh engineering, with its frothy waterfall streaming out of the wall. And once Tryggr had stripped them both bare, tossing their clothes onto a nearby bench, he gripped Eben’s arse, and guided him beneath the rush of ice-cold water.

“ There we go, pet,” Tryggr murmured, as he gently tugged out Eben’s already-wet braid with his claws, and drew his hair back from his face. “ Gonna clean you up real good now, aren’t we?”

Eben could only nod and shiver, tilting his head back into that sweet scrape of Tryggr’s claws. And then into the warm, dizzying touch of Tryggr’s slippery, soapy hands, caressing all over his skin. Washing his neck, his shoulders, his arms, his torso, his legs — and oh, even his helpless, straining cock.

“ Gotta get this nice and clean, pet,” Tryggr said, waggling his eyebrows as he firmly stroked it up and down, staggering Eben on his feet. “ Polish it up real pretty, ach?”

Oh , fuck, Eben was already babbling, begging, arching up as Tryggr reached his other soapy hand to grip his taut bollocks — and then he was shouting, shaking, as he sprayed out into the water in a sharp, steady stream. While Tryggr just kept stroking, petting, as a smug, wicked smile curled on his lips.

“ Look at you, pet,” he murmured. “ Messing like that all over the Skai baths, while your lord’s just tryna get you clean. I ken I oughta bend you over my knee for this, ach?”

Oh , hell, he didn’t mean it, or did he — but his devious smile had pulled even higher, and he firmly grasped Eben’s arse again, and guided him out of the water. Toward one of the benches lining the bath’s stone walls, and in a swift movement, Tryggr sank down onto it, gripped Eben by the hips, and then hauled him face-down over his lap .

Fuck . Even Eben’s most wondrous fantasies had never imagined this, his lord pinning his bare, shivering body over his lap in the public Skai baths. But it was happening, it was, and Tryggr’s warm hand was giving his upraised arse a firm, approving caress.

“ This is what you get, pet,” he purred, “when you misbehave for your lord. You’re gonna need to be taught a lesson, ach?”

Eben gasped and shuddered, his prick already straining against Tryggr’s thigh, and Tryggr huffed a low, triumphant laugh as he gave Eben’s arse another firm little squeeze. And then that warm hand drew back, away, waiting, oh — and landed in a firm, ringing slap.

It rang through Eben like a jolt, like a surging shock of raging craving — and oh, the way Tryggr laughed again, easy and exultant, as Eben squirmed and moaned. As that hand began caressing his arse-cheek again, letting its claws sink in, before drawing back, and slapping again. And then again, and again, each strike making Eben shout and tremble, firing him deeper and deeper into the screeching, frantic frenzy.

“ Good , pet,” Tryggr breathed, between slaps, though Eben could taste his own reeling hunger now, too. “ You’re being such a good little thing, aren’t you? Bearing your punishment so well. Letting your lord teach you a lesson.”

Eben’s moans lurched even higher, his body writhing in Tryggr’s lap, and Tryggr’s laugh was almost a groan this time. “ Such a good pet, sweet thing,” he gasped, as his hand lingered, caressed, before striking again. “ So fucking good. Ach , I’ve wanted to do this since the first time I saw you, knew you’d be just the thing, just the sweetest, so pretty with your tight little arse up in the air, with my big red handprints all over it —”

Fuck , fuck, Eben was so close, he was about to blow, right here on Tryggr’s lap — and he had to force himself to stillness, squeeze his eyes shut, bite his lip as hard as he could. And for an instant, he could taste Tryggr’s confusion, his hand spasming against his arse — and then the scent of his comprehension, and another low, approving laugh.

“ Ach , are you tryna keep from messing on me, sweet thing?” Tryggr asked, breathless. “ Are you being a good little pet? Learning all your lessons?”

Eben desperately, fervently nodded, and Tryggr laughed again, his hand now caressing Eben’s burning arse-cheeks. “ Good , pet,” he murmured. “ Even better than I thought. I ken you deserve a little treat from your lord, ach?”

Oh , yes, please, and Eben rapidly nodded again, and willingly allowed Tryggr’s strong hands to grip him, and turn him over. So he was now lying face-up and naked over Tryggr’s lap, his straining, dripping cock jutting straight upwards, for anyone to see…

And wait, anyone could see, oh hell. Because Eben hadn’t even noticed that there were now a handful of Skai in the room, and they’d all been standing there, and watching Tryggr spank him. But Tryggr’s eyes were only on him, only on Eben’s hard, ruddy cock, and he inhaled slow and deep, his eyes fluttering, as he shifted Eben upwards on the bench, bent over him, and…

Sucked Eben into his mouth .

Eben shouted and arched, his eyes rolling back, because a Skai was sucking him, surrounding him with slick, hungry heat. Wanting him, rewarding him, giving his pet a treat, oh hell — and there was no way to control it, no way to keep it in, only breaking, spraying, surging it out into that tight, wonderful mouth. And Tryggr was swallowing it, drinking it up with all apparent eagerness, sucking out every last drop, until Eben was shaky and spent all over.

“ Fuck ,” he gasped, without at all meaning to, as his body arched into a hard, aching shudder. “ Th -thank you, sir.”

He only vaguely heard the low, approving chuckles from the other Skai now in the room, because there was only Tryggr , drawing up and licking his lips, as hunger crackled and shimmered in his scent. “ You deserved it, pet,” he murmured. “ An ’ you taste just as sweet as you look, ach?”

Eben couldn’t even speak, not beneath the awe and the ache and the fervour, and suddenly it was all too much, too impossibly overwhelming, shivering all through his body, prickling behind his eyes. And maybe Tryggr saw it, or even understood it, his warm hands stroking Eben , caressing him, reassuring him. And then gripping him again, and this time, moving him… downwards. Down so he was kneeling between Tryggr’s thighs on the hard floor, with — oh — Tryggr’s scarred, swollen cock jutting straight toward his mouth.

“ In your mouth, pet,” Tryggr breathed, his claws sinking into Eben’s hair. “ An ’ I don’t want you even thinking about making it good for me, ach? You just relax, and drink. As much as you want.”

Oh . Oh , he wasn’t offering that, but he was, he was. His strong hand now drawing Eben’s head forward, filling Eben’s mouth with his waiting, dripping prick. With that wondrous rich sweet taste of him, and when Eben drew down a tentative swallow, Tryggr smiled softly toward him, and sank his other hand into Eben’s hair, too.

“ Good , pet,” he murmured. “ Just like that. An ’ you can bite it too, if you want.”

Wait . Wait , truly? Eben could — do that? But yes, oh, Tryggr’s smile had gone a bit bemused, his hands stroking deeper through Eben’s hair. “ Anytime you want, sweet thing,” he continued, softer. “ Gotta feed my pretty pet properly, you ken.”

Eben couldn’t hide his moan, or his brash, furious longing, his teeth already settling tentative against the tender skin of Tryggr’s shaft in his mouth. But Tryggr just kept watching, smiling, stroking, waiting — so Eben gathered his courage, and bit down into that hard, pulsing flesh.

The blood instantly swarmed into his mouth, blending heady and rich with the sweet seeping seed — and fuck , it was good, so good, maybe the best thing Eben had ever tasted in all his days. And he was already moaning, sucking harder, even as he darted a pleading, apologetic look up at Tryggr’s face — but Tryggr was still just smiling at him, fond and approving, as the hunger flashed higher in his scent, and a distinctive flush stained his cheeks.

“ Ach , just thus, pet,” he said, hoarse. “ Just what you’ve been needing, I ken.”

Oh , this couldn’t be happening, Eben had never known anything like this, had never needed anything like this. His lord so freely feeding him the most priceless, most precious meal in all the realm, while still caressing him, smiling at him, approving of him. And when another Skai strode over, and signed something at Tryggr , Eben didn’t mind in the slightest — and it might have been even more contented, wonderful warmth, pooling in his belly. Tryggr didn’t care who saw this. Tryggr maybe even wanted his clanmates to see this, his sweet Ka -esh pet kneeling between his sprawled thighs, and suckling out his good Skai sustenance.

“ No , I’m not sharing him,” Tryggr told the new orc, though his voice was mild, even smug. “ You can go get your own, just like I did. An ’ also” — he hesitated, his eyes gone thoughtful on the orc’s face, even as he kept caressing Eben’s head — “you ken, there are some sweet Ka -esh down there who’d make you fight ’em for it. An ’ even whip you with this vicious lash they got, too.”

That seemed… specific, and Eben’s hazy eyes darted sideways, fought to focus on the new orc’s face. And wait, damn it, it was that same handsome Skai Tryggr had been fucking in the corridor, that very first day Eben had seen him — and the orc’s expression was one of mingled disappointment and curiosity, his eyes lingering on Eben’s face.

And oh, Tryggr was drawing Eben’s face forward, now, sinking himself a bit deeper — showing Eben off for this orc, oh hell. “ Pretty , though, ain’t he?” Tryggr said, with distinct satisfaction. “ Damned good with his mouth, too. Can even suck me full down his tight little throat, can’t you, pretty pet?”

Oh , yes, yes, Eben could, and did Tryggr mean he wanted to show them — and yes, he did, and Eben wanted to show them, too. Because there were more Skai , coming over to see, to watch, and Eben drew in a breath, held his eyes on Tryggr’s face, and slowly, surely, sucked him deep. Burying that huge Skai cock down his opened, spasming throat, and then holding it there, sucking as hard as he could, while Tryggr watched with hungry, fluttering eyes, his hands skittering in Eben’s hair.

“ So good, pet,” Tryggr crooned, husky and hot, as his cock swelled even fuller in Eben’s mouth. “ So sweet. An ’ you’re gonna be even sweeter once you’re stuffed full of Skai seed, ach? Once you’re reeking of me from both ends, just like the perfect little pet you are?”

Yes , please, please , Eben’s groan burning through his convulsing, blocked-off throat, his tongue frantically caressing the hard flesh cramming into his mouth, his wide eyes pleading on Tryggr’s face — and oh, the way Tryggr shouted and bent double as he sprayed out, blasting surge after surge of fresh Skai seed straight down into Eben’s open, spasming throat.

One of the watching orcs whistled, low and approving, but Eben’s full focus was still on caressing Tryggr’s convulsing prick, milking out every bit of that sweet Skai seed, while holding his eyes to Tryggr’s flushed face. Needing his praise, his approval, and yes, it was already here, Tryggr’s shaky hands stroking his hot cheeks, his hair, his bulging throat.

“ So pretty, Ka -esh,” he choked. “ So sweet. So perfect. Ach .”

And it was perfect, it was, Tryggr flaunting Eben , praising Eben , touching him, filling him. Flooding him with his scent and his pleasure, to the point where Eben could scarcely see the others, couldn’t even make out their scents, so perfect and safe and content…

At least, until his hazy, blinking eyes caught a glimpse of a huge, hulking orc, striding into the room — and Eben froze, jolted backwards, as distant recognition spiked through his thoughts, tangled with vivid, horrible memories of that day in the arena. Of himself, exposed, compromised, weak, as that — this? — Skaap orc had trapped him, threatened him, wanted to —

“ Ach , Ka -esh!” Tryggr yelped, as strong hands hauled Eben up, clutched him tight and close into his lap. “ Ach , don’t scent thus! Naught to fear! You’re safe, pet. Safe .”

Oh . Eben was still shivering, clinging to Tryggr , as his bleary eyes finally focused on the orc at the door, and found — Ulfarr . Oh , curse it, it was only Ulfarr , foolish, foolish, what would they think of him, what would Tryggr think of him —

“ S -sorry,” he gulped, too quickly, into Tryggr’s chest. “ F -foolish. Just thought it was — someone else.”

Tryggr’s firm hands were still gripping him, caressing him, but there was no judgement in his scent. Only a sudden, grim comprehension as his breath huffed out, and his hands drew Eben even closer than before.

“ Ach , I see,” he said quiet. “ But naught to fear, pet, for Skaap is dead.”

Wait . Skaap was — dead?! And Eben jolted again, staring at Tryggr’s face, as yet more alarm roiled through his chest. He hadn’t wanted to cause any trouble, let alone an orc’s death , and had it been his fault, his doing, no, no, no —

“ I ken it’s distressing, pet, but it had to be done,” Tryggr said, his voice a little harder, his hands still stroking firmly at Eben’s skin. “ Turned out you weren’t the only one — or even the only Ka -esh — Skaap forced to his bidding. An ’ he had plenty of chances to make amends, but instead he spoke false to us and kept at it, ach? Couldn’t let it go any further, pet. Need to keep kin like you safe .”

Oh . Eben was slightly relaxing again, though he couldn’t help an uneasy glance around at the other watching Skai , too. Expecting , perhaps, some kind of resistance, or judgement — but there was only the same grim, flinty certainty, and even a few curt nods.

“ We ken you Ka -esh have oft feared us, pet,” Tryggr said, soft again. “ But we don’t wish you to run and hide from us, as you so oft do, ach? Wish you to trust us, and know we’ll do our jobs, and keep you safe. Whilst we trust you to keep our mountain standing, give us safe air, offer us help and medicine, and all the other good you do for us. So much good, Ka -esh.”

There was genuine emotion in his voice, in his hand’s all-encompassing wave at the room, the mountain, at Eben himself. And as Eben blinked back, the last of his father’s words seemed to whisper away, vanishing into the steady splash of the bath’s pouring water. Never trust a… let one find you…

Eben swallowed hard, gave a faint little sniffle, twitched a shaky, grateful smile at Tryggr’s face. And Tryggr was smiling back, looking distinctly relieved, as warmth and affection shimmered in his eyes. “ Good , Ka -esh,” he murmured. “ So it had naught to do with you, and you don’t need to spare it another thought, ach? An ’ if it helps at all” — he darted a glance upwards — “ I ken Skaap’s death was quick and easy, too. Ach , brother?”

And wait, he was talking to Ulfarr , whose huge, stiff body was still standing near the door, his hands in tight fists at his sides. But then he nodded, curt and decisive, even as something like regret, or maybe grief, glinted in his eyes.

“ Ach , it was kinder than he deserved,” he said, his voice hard. “ We are most sorry, Ka -esh, for the fear and pain he brought you. Henceforth , we shall do our utmost to keep you safe.”

He accompanied the words with a bow of his head, a clutch of his big fist over his heart. And Eben’s own heart skipped a beat, his body relaxing heavier into Tryggr’s , his head twitching a nod. “ Th -thank you,” he whispered. “ That is — very kind.”

Ulfarr grimaced, but then nodded, and headed for the door. At least, until he hesitated and glanced back toward Tryggr , signing something Eben couldn’t fully follow. Something about — vexed fathers?

“ Ach , Skai -kesh above,” Tryggr muttered, as he rolled his eyes, and ran a hand against his still-wet hair, now half-fallen out of his topknot. “ Shoulda known he’d be scenting, and prowling about in high dudgeon.”

Eben’s body sat up straight again, his eyes searching uneasily at Tryggr’s face. But Tryggr flashed him a wry, reassuring grin, and clapped a steady hand to his shoulder. Safe . Safe .

“ C’mon , pet,” he said firmly. “ And let’s go meet your new kin.”