Byhron

The second he stepped into the barracks, someone locked their hand around his arm harshly.

His instinct as a Lathra kicked in, but before he could lash out against whoever had gripped him, he was throttled up against a wall with surprising strength. The light was dim as the night was late, but as the shadows accentuated his attacker's features, there was no doubt of who it was. "You litt—"

"You told her to stay away from me?!" The Kathmir seethed at him, gripping his shirt until it nearly ripped in his hands. "You just couldn't stand it, could you?"

Byhron gritted his teeth and felt his fangs elongate. "I'll give you three seconds to step away from me before I rip you to pieces."

"Why?" The male snarled. He moved even closer and breathed into his face; "Is it because of what I am? Afraid your sister will catch it, too? Scared she'll start kissing other femal—"

He punched the male across his jaw, but he merely shook it off and shoved him back up against the wall. Byhron was surprised at the Kathmir's strength; it didn't quite match a Lathra's, but there was potential. That was, if he wasn't a filthy—

"Vhral," He growled at him. "Get your hands off me before I take them off you."

"Go ahead, hide behind your fists instead of saying what you want with your mouth," Ahrron hissed at him. "You don't want your sister hanging around a vhral, so you told her to stay clear of me."

"Damn right I fucking did!" Byhron launched back, shoving him away. Ahrron staggered a few feet back, but didn't stumble or cower away. He saw the male's fangs elongate as well, two long daggers in the air. "You are a miscreature. You're despicable," He snarled viciously at him. "My sister is innocent and doesn't need more trouble in her life."

"So you told her what I am?" The male asked. When he remained silent, the Kathmir scoffed. "You didn't. Why not? Were you afraid she might've asked how you found out?"

Roaring, he leaped for the Kathmir and hurled him up against the opposite wall. The male didn't fight him this time but rather let him do it. "Shut the hell up, you filthy vhral!"

"Make me," The male leaned down and bit the air in front of his lips.

Pushing away from him, Byhron let go of him and stepped away, irked. The Kathmir chuckled at him, at his immediate withdrawal.

"You are not a male, you fucking filth," Byhron growled at him. "Even before I found out what you truly are, you were an embarrassment to the males of this world. Letting yourself get degraded to work alongside the females, washing dishes and polishing boots. You're not worthy of being called a male. Vhral."

The male narrowed his eyes at him. "So why don't you turn me into the head Kathmir then? Or perhaps the Dralan himself?" He coldly suggested. "I'm sure he'd love to finish me off after how I saved his Mihrisa from starvation."

"Don't fucking tempt me."

"But while you're at it, tell them how I survived in that rathole," He added, lifting a brow. Byhron gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "Who's vein I drank from in my hour of need, who fed another male on the wish of his sister..."

"Don't fucking talk to me about my sister!" Byhron roared. His blood started rushing through his veins and his sight turned a dark red. "Don't ever speak of her again or I'll rip your tongue out and feed it to you!"

"Yeah, yeah, keep threatening me," The male rolled his eyes, but then glared at him. "You're good for your word, but when it comes to action, you never live up to it. Or at least that's what they say."

"What? Who says what?" He snapped and took three threatening steps closer to the male.

It didn't intimate him one bit. "The Kischmirs," He divulged, glaring up at him with a little smirk. "One becomes prone to the gossip of them when working alongside them. From what I hear, all the Lathras love to feast on the juices in their veins and between their thighs, all except one who always turns them down."

Byhron's blood ran cold. "Shut. Your. Fucking. Mouth."

"Make me," The male said again and took a step closer himself. "Could it be that maybe none of them have what you want? That maybe, their curves aren't the ones you crave, their lips aren't the ones you lust for?"

"Shut the fuck up!" He throttled for the male, but the Kathmir saw it coming and ducked. He surged forward and wrapped his arms around Byhron's body, smashing him backwards against the wall again. Their commotion would've woken up the whole barrack if it wasn't for the fact that none of them were home. Everyone was out patrolling or outstationed, all but a few who stayed behind to protect the inside of the castle from whatever dangers lured within.

The male in front of him wasn't a danger, but he was something he couldn't defeat. As the Kathmir now trapped him up against the wall, he looked into his eyes and felt a stirring inside him that made his blood boil. But it wasn't anger...

"You can call me vhral all you want, but don't think for a second I won't hesitate to call you what I see as well," The male growled at him, inches from his face. "After all, it takes one to know one, and I've been watching you."

Byhron clenched his fists and resisted the urge to punch him again, but instead slowly leaned in towards the male and breathed into his face; "Then watch me, miscreature."

He pushed the male away and then stalked off, heading down the hall. He could feel the Kathmir's eyes burning holes in his back, but it didn't faze him.

If the gossip was running that he didn't bed the females because he wasn't interested in them, then he would prove them wrong. It was time to get over his guilt and find a willing Kischmir who could quench his long-needed thirst. And not the kind he had for blood.

Storming down the halls, he rolled his shoulders as he entered the Kischmirs sleeping area. He looked up and down the hall, looked at all the doors. A free buffet. All he had to do was pick.

And so he did.

Callath

Stretching out his arm as the first thing when the morning light peaked in through the windows, his fingers searched his silk sheets for another warmth.

But all they were met by was emptiness.

Opening his eyes, he looked around the bed and then sat up when it was lack of the female who last night had breathed out her airy reply that made his heart quit to a halt.

"Yes."

She had laid down, and feeling like the luckiest male in the world, he had lied down besides her, trying to calm down his galloping heart. He had stared at her and simply listened to her nervous breaths until he finally—and carefully—had reached out and braided his fingers through hers. Moments later, her breaths had evened out and the crease between her brows smoothed out. She fell asleep like a soft lamb beside him, clutching his hand like a lifeline.

You are protected, he had whispered to her in his mind. Even if it wasn't possible, he felt that she had heard him.

That was why as he looked around his chamber and came up lack of the female he had protected all night long, his heart felt like it dropped into his guts and retired from its job. Had she left him?

Sighing, he cupped his head, but then his eyes fell to the vague red scuff marks around his wrists. Last night flashed before him, and with a humming sensation inside him, he let it swell over him, take over his mind.

Last night, she had dared to let go. She had given him a piece of her that he would cherish forever, and if the hollow sensation in his chest was any sign, he had given her a part of himself as well.

He had never let a female take charge before. Ever. If the Dralan or the Lathras down in the barracks ever caught wind of it, they'd ridicule him and brand him a wimp. You didn't let females have the upper hand; you strapped them down and fucked them till they were breathless and sore. And then you drank their sated blood.

While every urge inside him wanted to have his way with Bhria, the thought of taking her like that made a grimace twist his face. She would get all of him one day, but for now... all he wanted to do was hold her gently in his arms and sink between her hips with soft thrusts. She needed proof that there was another way of mating, another way of... fucking.

It was called love. And she was going to have to learn to let him.

Getting up from his bed tiredly, Callath walked to his washing bowl and poured the water from the pitcher into it. Splashing a handful of it into his face, he removed his shirt and scrubbed his skin with a cloth, removing the worst of the tension sweat from last night. Simply thinking about her lips and her hands on his body made him groan lowly, readjusting his breeches.

Sweet Miss, he hadn't had a release in weeks.

Putting the cloth away, he stared down at the bulge in his breeches and slowly cupped it. He was rock hard and it was all because of her. Gritting his teeth, he tried to ignore it, but as he stripped out of his pants to change, he couldn't.

Straining and erect, he sat down on his bed and palmed his length. The mere touch of his own palm was enough to make him twitch. He remembered how she had touched him last night, cupping him, rubbing her hand over him.

"Fuck," A hiss seeped out between his lips as he gripped himself. He couldn't do this. Hadn't he degraded himself enough for one week? First letting a female take charge, then touching himself to rid himself of the ache she had caused.

Cursing, he let go of his member and stood up. He pulled on his pants and stuffed his erection down and then threw on a shirt, just as a knock on the door sounded. After readjusting himself to make sure the bulge wasn't visible, he cleared his throat and called; "Enter."

The door was carefully opened, and through his mirror, he nearly dropped his jaw as she stood there, holding a tray. Her hair was pinned up and she was wearing her bonnet again, but the tint to her cheeks that he had put there yesterday remained. When she stepped in, he turned around, feeling his heart quicken when his eyes fell to the tray and saw a selection of breakfast.

She had cooked for him.

"Good morning," She whispered, biting her lip nervously when he came up to her, taking slow steps. "I... I wanted to say thank—"

He cupped her face before she could finish and pressed his lips against hers. She gasped and froze up, the food on the tray shaking as he deepened his lips and pried hers open. She slowly melted underneath him and became pliant, enough for him to dip his tongue into her mouth and taste her.

His member, if hard before, became painfully rigid when she let out a soft blissful moan. That's how a female should always sound.

Dragging his lips away from hers, he purred against her mouth and swiped his thumb over her scarlet cheeks. "Dahna..."

She hiccuped nervously. "M-my Lord..."

"You cooked for me?"

She shakily nodded. "I wanted to... thank you... f-for last night."

He saw her eyes flutter up and meet his, anxious, but aroused. His lips lifted in a smile and he pecked the corner of her mouth. "If you really want to thank me, then join me for breakfast."

"W-what?" She stuttered.

"Feed me, Bhria."

He pulled back to watch her gasp, to see the air leave her lungs and her mouth fall open. She was a vision of beauty; she made him forget how to blink.

"I... I can't..." She nervously said. "I... I have my duties..."

"Don't make me command you," He told her with a small growl, although teasingly. His lips twitched at the sight of her paleness, but then pecked her cheek to bring some color back to them. "Come, dahna. Feed me with your hands and tell me how you felt last night."

Without waiting for her response, he took the tray from her hands and brought it to his table. Seeing her standing there frozen, he went back for her and guided her to his chair, sitting down and bringing her with him. The second she sat down on his lap, she let out another gasp and stiffened up; she felt the jut of his arousal against her thigh.

"Don't mind it," He murmured, rubbing her back. "For now. Select something for me, Bhria. Show me what you have cooked for me."

He couldn't help the pride in his voice. A female had cooked for him, it was a moment to cherish. Watching her chew on her lip, he waited until she finally gathered enough courage to turn towards the tray and admire the food. His lips twitched at the indecisive look that fell on her face as she contemplated which was the best and what was good enough for him. She probably didn't even realize it herself, but she was caring for him.

"Are you happy?" He finally asked her. It was a question he had wanted to ask her for so long, something that had bothered him. Was she happy with him, did she even like him, or was it just because he was the only one who had tried to help her? Aside from that, did she even pay notice to him before?

The female slowly shifted on his lap and hesitated her reply. Each silent second was torture until she finally whispered; "I think so..."

"What can I do to make you certain?" Callath instantly replied, cringing at the obvious desperation in his voice. This female was messing with his sanity. He was supposed to assist the Dralan in his war, yet all he could think about was how if he kissed her again, would she smile for him? Her happiness had become his daily agenda.

"Callath..." Her voice was but a squeak. She lowered her eyes to her lap and hid the tears that glinted in her eyes. Fuck, no.

"Bhria, my dahna," He cupped her face instinctively and turned it towards him to capture the tears that now rolled down her cheeks. "Don't. Don't cry. You don't know what it does to me."

He wanted to shred through the kingdom until he found the one thing that would bring her smile back.

"You don't deserve me," She whispered. At sound of her words, he froze solid. "I'm... I'm so impure. I'm tainted," She cried and turned her head away again when humiliation washed over her. "I feel so naïve for letting myself think I'm worthy of a male like you, Callath. You are a warrior... you are of status... I... can't... you don't..."

"Bhria," Callath took her chin and firmly dragged her head back to his. He dug his fingers into her cheeks and made her blink up and look at him in slight shock. "If I ever fucking hear you speak of yourself like that again, I will obliterate every doubt in your head the only way I know how, and trust me, you won't be ready for it."

He craved to dominate her. To let her feel his palm on her asscheek, to see it bloom red with his handprint as she took his punishment for allowing herself to be so stupid for thinking such things.

She was damaged, but not unworthy of love.

"I can make you happy," He told her when all she did was hiccup and close her eyes. He leaned towards her and breathed in her scent through his nose, feeling drunk on it. "I can make you happy in ways you never even knew was possible, Bhria. If you'd just trust me... let me show you..."

He opened his eyes to see her tremble lightly. He could tell what she wanted to say; could read it on her face. Fear held her back, but the very dreams she longed for were on the cusp of her tongue.

She wanted him. She needed him.

"Trust me," He implored.

She exhaled shakily and opened her eyes. They were wet with tears, but so full of emotion.

But then, she nodded.

It was as if the war in the kingdom didn't exist in that moment and all that was real was the female sitting in his lap.

"Say the words," He whispered, leaning towards her lips. A low, dominant growl passed his lips. "Say the words, Bhria. Mean them."

She sucked in a shaky breath that she took from his lips. "I... I trust you, Callath."

His cock and carnal side went crazy at the sound of those words. He suppressed a purr that still somehow made its way up his throat.

"Good." He pressed a tender kiss to her cheek. Her trust meant everything to him. Trust was the first step... "Then feed me now, dahna. Feed me your food and tell me all about yourself. Don't stop talking to me."

Callath had a feeling his breakfast easily could last till dinner if only his damn responsibilities wouldn't pull him away at some point.

For now, though, he was going to enjoy his meal and learn as much about his female as he possibly could.

*****

Happy New Year!
#2018