“Library quiet for a while,” he mumbled at last. “Tha’ss all.”
“You could also ask Mattin,” Orin suggested, with Nikoly already nodding. “They were all so young last time. I don’t think it occurred to Mattin to bring others with him when he went home. But he came back, so he’s got a spine, and his family is another one unlikely to be directly involved.”
If Mattin wasn’t also in danger. The thought returned to Tiiran with brief but sharp intensity. Mattin wasn’t one of his delicate, thin-wire-and-glass hair ornaments just because he wasn’t a fighter. He believed in the library and he could be mouthy too. He was just quieter about it than Tiiran.
Nikoly frowned again. He chewed a fingernail without taking his other hand from Tiiran; his training hadnotshaken that habit from him. He looked at Orin. “It will be easier if you’re around the capital.”
“I’ve been trying to stay closer. But I have duties, and an obligation to….” Orin drew Tiiran’s attention and held it. “Tiiran, if it comes to it, if Nikoly says it’s time to go, you go with him.”
Tiiran scowled, or wanted to. Then he didn’t want to, floating again with Nikoly and Orin to keep him down.
“Really take me with you?” The moment the question was out, he made a strange sound, as if he’d swallowed air. Tossing his head didn’t make his thoughts any easier to understand, although it did make the rope slide against his skin. “Taking me with you?”
“Tiiran. Oh, bee, honey, your face.” Nikoly cupped Tiiran’s face and gazed anxiously down at him. “I wouldn’t leave you.”
“Tiiran of no known family.” Orin pronounced it the way beat-of-fours said their names. “I’d live in this library for you. You’re going to have to accept that, although it might take a while for you to believe me. Do you have a ‘But, Orin’ now, or will it emerge later?”
Tiiran stared at Nikoly, then blinked and stared at Orin. “But.” It was all he managed.
“Did I not say I wanted to swear to you?” Nikoly swept a loving touch down the side of Tiiran’s neck. “Please consider it. Don’t refuse the possibility out of hand.”
Tiiran had spent a frozen night in that garden thinking himself more alone than he’d ever been, and now he was being told he was going to be spirited away whether he agreed or not. For his safety. To their homes. To theirfamilies.
“You’ll take me?” His voice broke.
Nikoly looked up to Orin, then back down to Tiiran. “My honeybee.” His smile seemed strange, worried and sad, though also fond. “Of course.”
“How else are we to keep you alive so that you can learn to truss up your pup like this and use him properly?” Orin’s voice had no rumble, though it should have.
Nikoly nodded fervently. “Yes. I hope to take it well from you, for you.”
Tiiran wondered if he was hard again. It seemed a strange time to be, but Nikoly’s hand slipped down to caress his cock, so he must have been.
Tied up, Nikoly would not be able to do that. He would grow frustrated.
“…Could deny you like that,” Tiiran observed. “You could do nothing.”
Nikoly dipped his head in aroused agreement. “Helpless for you. Please.”
“Like to be tested, don’t you?” It was a question, but Orin wasn’t surprised. His tone was more satisfied. “How delightful it will be when Tiiran is finally cruel to you as you like. How pretty.” Tiiran shifted toward Nikoly’s hand, rope catching him, leather sharp in his nose. “If I am permitted to be there,” Orin added, as though Tiiran wasn’t making all kinds of noises at his feet.
“Both,” Tiiran murmured through his whining. “Both of you.”
“Both of us there?” Orin prompted and slid a hand beneath Nikoly’s chin to make Nikoly look at him. Tiiran caught his breath, waiting, but it was only a moment, and then Orin was looking back down at Tiiran and so was Nikoly and neither of them were touching each other.
“Both,” Tiiran insisted again, annoyed at his thoughts now for not being more present. “With me. Have me.” He nodded, though it was more of a wriggle against Nikoly’s lap, followed by a hiss as the ropes seemed to tighten.
“Not at this moment, love.” Orin’s tone was soft. “But if you wish it.”
Tiiran glared at him balefully, or at least tried to. Orin was supposed tounderstand. Then Nikoly stroked his cock and Tiiran squeezed his eyes shut and was whining again.
“We’ll take care of you,” Nikoly whispered, almost breathless, as bad as Tiiran although no one had a hand on Nikoly’s cock.
Tiiran forced his eyes open to find Orin, to plead.
Orin clucked his tongue, then he was on the rug with Tiiran, his back to the fire, his eyes intent on Tiiran’s face as he slid his fingers into Tiiran’s mouth so Tiiran had something to suck on, which it was suddenly crucial for Tiiran to have. “There, there. We have you.”
He hadn’t understood, but Tiiran couldn’t argue with his mouth full or around his gasps as Nikoly caressed his cock, but they didn’t seem to expect him to, or to do anything but exist to be petted and to service them. Their voices were as warm as the fire, and they were with him and around him and swore they wouldn’t leave him, and Orin’s rope did not give, as if to prove them right. So Tiiran let his eyes fall closed once again and kept them that way as he was petted and used and petted again.
