My Kingdom Come Book 2: The Beast Inside (On hold)

Chapter 8: Apologies

667 standard years after the signing of the Alliance treaty

Mik pulled his body back into its normal configuration with a small grunt of pain, and got up out of the dirt, brushing away the small clumps that clung to his skin. It was late afternoon and it was nearly time for him to go back to his room, so that he could be called for dinner in a few hours. He wanted to find Hathu first and apologize. He hadn't seen him since Hathu had sent him away last night. He had never felt so much rage coming from Hathu before, not even when his prime had been out of control in the prison when they had first met.

Mik walked across the stone patio to where he had left his clothes in a neatly folded pile by the back door and began pulling them on.

Mik was mortified that Hathu had been forced to experience one of his training sessions with Vittesh. Usually he had good control of his mental space, Jonat had taught him how to organize and access his memories and he had used that training to file away unpleasant memories until he needed them; he didn't repress them, he just stored them away in their proper place until they were needed so that they couldn't hold him hostage. But when he shared his blood with Hathu, Mik seemed to lose all control of his mental space. Memories that had been neatly put away were spilled off their shelves and riffled through, all his most private experiences and thoughts spilled out for Hathu to peer into.

It wasn't pleasant, but Hathu owned him. He had the right to see and know anything and everything about Mik, so Mik tried not to mind too much. Plus it wasn't only his own memories that were being exposed. Hathu's past had poured into Mik just as often.

The only memory Mik jealously guarded from Hathu was the one he'd hidden as deeply as he could from everyone. Somehow Hathu managed to find it every time their minds merged. Mik supposed he should be grateful for that, it was his desperation to keep Dachvinder safe that gave him the ability to cut the link between himself and the blood he'd given Hathu each time. Each time he and Hathu reconnected, severing that connection was more difficult; he was pretty sure it had something to do with how potent Hathu's venom was.

Mik had been afraid of what might happen if he was not able to cut the link between them, and last night was the closest they had come to that fear coming true. Hathu had found a memory and gone into it and Mik hadn't been able to close the memory or cut the connection between them. Hathu had been forced to experience some of Mik's most awful moments.

No wonder Hathu was so furious.

Mik brushed his hands over his clothes, making sure he looked presentable, then he opened the back door. Hathu was standing there in the dining room, his hand reaching out to open the door himself.

Mik quickly slipped into the house, pulling the door shut behind him. He flung himself down on his knees and fell on his face. "I'm sorry, master! I'm so sorry about last night. I promise-"

"Mik, get off your face," Hathu said in an irritated tone. He was still angry, and Mik could feel exhaustion and thirst pulling his mood even further down. 

Mik came up to his knees. Hathu held out his hand. Mik took it and Hathu gently raised him to his feet. His irises were thinning. Shame filled Mik. His inability to control his memories had brought out Hathu's prime.

"What have I said about calling me 'master'?"

Mik cringed. He was failing Hathu miserably today. "I-I'm sorry, Hathu."

"Let's go up to your room."

"Yes, Hathu."

"Hathu?" Nojus voice came from the kitchen.