The Taming

In Chavias's Skin

"What would you do if you were in my position?" Sebastian asked. "If you cared for me and you thought I was in danger, but I wanted more than anything in the world to be out on my own?"

She looked taken aback. As if he'd just struck her.

Her eyes roved his face and she opened and closed her mouth as if such a thing had never occurred to her before.

She rose, walking quietly around the long end of the table and striding toward him without a word.

She's either going to gut me or kiss me. He suspected. Leaning back in his chair with half a wince already on his face.

"Perhaps, were that the situation," She stroked her finger along the table. Her tone level. "and I could imprison you to keep you, I would."

There was strange understanding in her voice. But also a string of underlying bitterness that worried him. As if she weren't being wholly sincere.

Or she's not entirely sure, herself. Either one had him swallowing hard as he looked up at her beautiful face.

"Do you mean that?"

There was no expression on her face for him to read. She said nothing.

With no idea what more to say, he hooked an arm around her hips and hauled her onto his lap.

She moved with him, straddling his hips as she peered at him in that impassive way.

He palmed her cheek, eyeing her to see if she'd fight him. When she didn't, he lightly put his lips to hers.

Her warm hands framed his neck and she dipped her head to meet him. Offering them to him.

He greedily tasted her. Pulling her hips against him as he kissed her. Eventually he drew back, sensing a tension in her. Some depth of feeling she didn't know how to express. He sighed. Pulling her to the side of him and cradling her head on his shoulder as he heard her. Sensing her sorrow.

He lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. Walking her to her chamber to set her in her bed. He leaned over to kiss her forehead but as he turned to leave, she caught his arm.

"Don't go."

His brow furrowed and he gave her a questioning look.

"Lay with me?"

"In your bed?"

"Yes." She scooted aside, making room for him.

He slid in next to her, fully clothed save for his boots. Wrapping an arm around her.

She rested her head on his shoulder, and was asleep in seconds.

He closed his eyes and lay with her. Though he wasn't quite in a state of sleep, he was experiencing a depth of deep hypnotic relaxation. Almost meditative. He found himself walking through dark, endless caves. Smelling the filth of excrement and stagnant blood and urine. It was almost stifling. Heat lingered down in the gross depths, making his skin sweat and his stomach sicken. He heard the clang of shackles and realized he could feel them on his wrists. As he glanced down to look at the floor he glimpsed the dark tint of his skin and the raw strength in huge fists. He knew immediately where he was.

Radix's den.

He was seeing through Chavias's eyes again. From within Chavias.

They were leading him chained further into the caverns. The walls opened up and he was in an expansive, dirty room. There was a long table with rusted, stained tools laid out. Tools that were clearly for torture.

"Lookie, lookie." A hideous greenish gray creature with a bald head and pointed ears lifted up a brass goblet. "Time fill cup for master."

"How about you fill it today, Okine." Chavias rumbled. Even though, inside he was shouting in torment. He knew what that goblet meant.

And it sickened him.

He was about to be tortured. And he knew the pain would come. It was almost familiar to him.

Sebastian didn't know he'd begun grunting and flailing. His eyes were still open, locked on the ceiling as he was stuck in his trancelike state.

No.

Chavias!

Sebastian threw his arms, trying to attack the thing binding him to a chair. He tried to flip the chair while the ogre wiped debris of rusted knives. But no matter what effort Sebastian put in, Chavias didn't actually move. He was sitting there, no trace of fear or resistance. Quiet and in command of himself. But Sebastian could feel his disgust and his sickening fear.

Chavias is never afraid.

Sebastian was screaming at Chavias to move.

He didn't.

Like he knows something I don't.

Like it'd be hopeless...

"Chavias..." Sebastian didn't realize he'd murmured it aloud until he felt the warmth of a slender body scooting against his side. Rubbing his chest.

"Ssh, Sebastian. Ssh..." Elsabet's voice. She was trying to soothe him. He felt her soft lips along his neck as she cradled his head, pulling him toward her as she murmured soft reassurances. Her hand slipped under the coverlet and stroked his bare chest.

"Elsabet?" He emerged from the trance. Feeling dizzy and disoriented, like he was watching himself from a third person view. It took a moment for him to settle back into his own body.

She lifted blue eyes to look at him and he realized there was no hint of sleep there.

He was strangely touched that she'd stayed near him. And offered comfort while he struggled.

"Where were you?"

"Something worse than a nightmare."

"Nightmares..." She murmured. "I know something of those..."

"I know you do."

She began to sit up, retracting her hand from his chest.

He caught it and pinned it where it was.

She giggled. "You don't want me to give you some room."

"Not at all." He shook his head. "Please do continue."

She still slid her hand from beneath his, wiggling hard to manage it. Then she offered it back, weaving her fingers through his. Her blue eyes peering at him.

He gave an approving rumble. "Hello, Elsabet."

"Hello Sebastian." She said quietly, letting herself relax and her head drop to his shoulder.

He dropped a quick kiss to the top of her head.