My Kingdom Come Book 1: The Saints We See (Complete)

Chapter 49: Courage

667 standard years after the signing of the Alliance

Short panting breaths brushed Hathu's ear and hair. He opened his eyes. Mik's cheek was resting against his. Hathu remembered Mik's cheek had been gashed open on Hathu's tusk, when he had grabbed him and jerked him forward. Hathu knew the wound had closed, but it hadn't fully healed. Hathu's claws were still embedded in Mik's sides and back, his fingers pressing into warm flesh. Mik was shaking, but he didn't pull away, he just rested there in Hathu's clawed grip.

Hathu's stomach clenched and bile burned the back of his throat. He almost jerked his hands away, but he forced himself to be still for a moment then extracted his claws as gently as he could. Mik's soft breaths stopped for a few moments, his body tensing slightly, then his breathing resumed.

Hathu waited for Mik to move away but he didn't so Hathu gently pressed against him and Mik shifted his weight to his knees clinging to Hathu's arms for support. "I'm sorry, master." He murmured.

"What are you sorry for?" Hathu asked, still pressing Mik to move away from him.

Mik leaned back and dragged himself away from Hathu on trembling arms, then carefully rearranged himself into a kneeling position with bowed head and rested his hands on his thighs. "I don't mean to be a bother, master."

Hathu scowled. "You have nothing to apologize for. I should be apologizing to you. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, master."

What the hell is your definition of fine? Hathu sat there leaning against the wall frowning at Mik. He reflexively felt for his restless prime, but then realized that he was completely calm. His pent up emotions and built up venom were all gone. His frown deepened. "How did you...what did you do to me?"

"I gave you my blood, master. I helped you...heal faster. Reset."

Hathu swallowed. He didn't know how he knew, but he knew that this was the reason Mik couldn't heal properly. "I could...hear or feel or...I could see your memories. Could you see mine?"

"Yes, master." Hathu could smell fear coming from him, but his face and body remained still and passive.

"Can you read my mind right now?"

"No, master. It was because we were physically connected, my blood had become part of you, but it was still connected to me. I severed the connection. My blood is fully yours now."

"Your blood is mine now." Hathu repeated dumbly, his hands clenching in his lap.

"Yes, master." 

There was silence for a moment, then Mik asked softly, "have I displeased you, master?"

Hathu stared at Mik for another moment before answering. "No. You haven't displeased me. I was just...this isn't what I expected, at all. Last time I came off zarpan it was- it took a long time and it was horrible. I thought," Hathu swallowed, his voice dropped to a whisper. "I thought I was going to kill you." He watched Mik but he didn't react. After a few seconds MIk glanced towards Hathu from the corner of his eye and bowed his head a little lower.

"What? What are you thinking?" Hathu asked.

"The thought that you might kill me bothers you, doesn't it, master?"

"Yes."

The expression on Mik's faced changed slightly.

"What are you thinking?"

"I meant what I said, master. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve you. If that means suffering or dying, I will accept that with thanks on my lips and gratitude in my heart." Everything about Mik's demeanor spoke sincerity. "You are a good man, master."