“Kings in early Staria were just mayors in armor, really.” Rey climbed onto the bed. “Anyone with a few swords and a big house could call themself a king or queen. That’s how the King of the Wild Hunt got started.”
Eli rolled to his side. “Did you ever see him when he was a man?”
“I wasn’t the type to get involved in battle,” Rey said. “But war has a tendency of finding the quiet, peaceful places in the world and making a ruin of them. There are some things you shouldn’t do—using dominance to make a submissive kneel,only to kill them for it. Torturing people, maiming them, making jokes about it. He was the worst kind of king you can imagine.”
“Well, I was hanged by one,” Eli said. “But I don’t know if he’s the worst king of Staria, if Tristan is an example. Heisthe worst cousin, at least. Cousins shouldn’t go around killing each other—and yes, I am including myself. It’s all a mess, really. It’s amazing Sabre came out as good-hearted as he is.”
“Yes,” Rey said, infusing his voice with as much sarcasm as he could manage. “Surely the only de Valois with an ounce of moral fiber.”
“Shut up.” Eli shoved a hand in Rey’s face, and Rey pushed him away. Eli huffed and rolled Rey onto his back, straddling his hips. He was a short fellow, but he had more muscle than Rey, and Rey felt momentarily lightheaded at the thought that Eli could throw him around with little effort.
“Do you still think love is a sham?” Rey asked. A crease formed in Eli’s brows, and he traced Rey’s jaw almost idly.
“I don’t know. I’m the type of person you like, someone you can fit into a story you can tell around a campfire. But the story wouldn’t really be about me, and that will make it easier when you have to leave.” Eli’s gaze was distant. “It hurts more when you lose the idea of someone, rather than who they really are. If you keep the idea of me in a neat little story, it won’t be so terrible.”
“You aren’t talking about me, Eli.” Rey wondered what it must have felt like to grow up with a mother like Eli’s, to be forced to pretend to be someone he wasn’t until he was dragged out of his own grave. “You know that if we keep doing this, there’s a chance Sabre will find out who you are.”
“I know.”
“Do you think he won’t love you?”
Unshed tears glittered in Eli’s eyes. He turned his head to wipe them away with the heel of his hand. “I tried to have him killed.”
Rey sighed. “Do you thinkIcan’t love you?”
Eli wouldn’t turn to look at him. “I’m not sure I know love well enough to recognize it.”
“It’s honesty,” Rey said. Eli finally glanced his way, briefly, before looking to the window. “Stripping away the stories we make about each other, as you put it, and liking each other anyway. You were stripped down to the bones, Eli, and what did you become?”
“I don’t know.”
“You mourned the wolves that were about to kill you. You saved those girls in the cellar, the child in the well. You aren’t just trying to break the curse for its own sake. You’re planning to finish the job your ancestor couldn’t, however foolish I think it is to try. Don’t you think there’s something worthy of love in all of that?”
Eli took a shaky breath. “I want there to be.”
“Shouldn’t you get what you want?” Rey touched Eli’s chin, and Eli turned to him, eyes bright. “Just once?”
“Yes,” Eli said. It came out choked and quiet.
“Then you will. You deserve it. Right here.” Rey patted Eli’s cheek, and Eli let out a weak laugh. “With me. Let yourself deserve it.”
“I want to,” Eli said, and leaned down to kiss him. “I want to deserve it. I want so many things.”
“Let me give them to you,” Rey whispered.
“I want to try something,” Eli said, speaking into his neck.
“Yes, please,” Rey said, which was foolish, because as soon as Eli fetched the soft rope from Rey’s supplies, he knew he wouldn’t be able to help himself. A submissive he might have been, but he was a trickster first, and he slipped out of twoof Eli’s knots before Eli scowled and spanked his thigh for the trouble.
“Should have known you’d be a brat,” he said, winding the rope around Rey’s body. “Stay still, I’m trying to figure this out.”
“Ishould have known you’d be particular.” Rey watched Eli as he worked, bemused. Eli must have studied rope work long ago, because he knew the basic patterns, but he was too gentle, clearly not trusting himself to tie Rey too tight. He framed Rey’s pecs with the rope and tied it off in a harness. When he tugged Rey forward with the harness, Rey felt a jolt of pleasure roll through him, sudden and delicious, and Eli smiled.
“Do you like being caught, Rey? Should I chase you next time?” Rey shivered, and Eli’s soft voice went low and sly. “Or do you prefer being hunted?”
“When you sayhuntedlikefuckedI’ll agree to anything,” Rey said, and moaned as Eli hauled him up and put him on his back on the other side of the bed. “How are you so strong?”
“How are you so light? Do you have hollow bones or something?” Eli pushed up Rey’s legs, bending them until his knees were up against his chest, and slid his hands down his thighs and under the curve of his ass. “Comfortable?”
