Imprisoned in the Orinovan priori labs, Ainreth undergoes torturous treatments daily in an attempt to crack the code to lightweaver creation. Things seem hopeless, until unlikely allies join his side to help him.
Meanwhile back home in Lys-Akkaria...
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Fennrin groaned, waking up with his head hurting and his mouth dry. This feeling was familiar for some reason, but he couldn't remember why.
It took considerable effort to open his eyes, realizing that he was laying on the carpet in his and Daryan's chambers.
He squinted around until he noticed his lover standing nearby, looking down at him with a scowl. Fennrin immediately flinched, his heart lurching.
Oh by the moon, he'd done something wrong again. Oh sun, oh no.
"You failed me. Again," said Daryan, his voice as dark as his eyes. He walked over, crouching down by Fennrin as he pulled himself shakily to his knees. His head was spinning, and he was full of terror, but he couldn't stay crumpled up on the floor. It was undignified.
"I'm sorry," Fennrin immediately said, wanting to cling to Daryan's ankles. Surely he'd forgive him. He'd been so soft with him.
"I do not want apologies, Fennrin. I want results," Daryan said, grabbing Fennrin's hair and tugging his head up, making him gasp.
"I-I'm sorry, what did I do?" He couldn't remember.
Daryan huffed. "You let Mhalyn of all people overpower you."
Mhalyn. Finally, everything came rushing back to him. Mhalyn had drugged him with something. Made him go unconscious.
"I...I didn't expect—"
"I keep telling you. It is not your place to think!" snapped Daryan, pulling at his hair harder, making Fennrin whine in pain, clinging to Daryan's wrist. He does nothing to pull the hand away, though. "Trust no one but me. Listen to no one but me. Pretend everyone is armed with whatever sleeping draught she had and treat them accordingly. Is that so difficult to grasp?"
Fennrin wanted to cry from Daryan's voice being so harsh, from being hurt by him, but he did deserve it. He had failed him.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll do better." Daryan finally let go, and Fennrin readily ducked his gaze to the floor. He couldn't look Daryan in the eye. "D-did Mhalyn endanger your plans?"
Daryan sighed as he started doing something at the table. "No, thankfully. I suspected betrayal. I got back just in time. But she nearly had. And that is why you must be better."
Fennrin nodded along, his eyes burning. He'd been so unfocused lately. But that didn't excuse him. He needed to figure out how to somehow push through that haze in his brain.
"Aside from your tea, you will also take this," Daryan told him, showing him a vial of blue liquid.
"What is it?" Fennrin blinked, frowning at it curiously. Daryan gave him a hard look.
"You are doing it again."
Fennrin grimaced. "Thinking. Ah, sorry."
Daryan nodded, pleased. Good, Fennrin needed to do that more. Much more.
"Open your mouth," Daryan instructed. Fennrin did without a second thought, watching Daryan tip the vial, letting a few drops of the concoction fall on his tongue. He grimaced at the bitter taste.
"Swallow."
Fennrin did so dutifully, staying kneeling on the floor as he waited for something to happen.
And soon it did, his mind becoming clear and sharp. It was as if the mist that had been over his mind had lifted at least partly. Something still seemed off, but his body no longer felt sluggish, and his thoughts became faster.
Fennrin looked down at his hand, twitching his finger to make the shadows in the room move. They obeyed easily, forming complex patterns on the walls effortlessly.
"Good," Daryan said, walking over to him again. Fennrin was hoping for a pat on the head, perhaps, but none was given. Instead, Daryan showed him a strap woven out of stems and leaves, not unlike his bracelet. Only bigger. "I didn't originally want to do this. But clearly, disciplining is in order."
Fennrin swallowed thickly, his heart clenching with both fear and anger with himself. Whatever Daryan did to him, he deserved it.
He didn't move a muscle as Daryan wrapped the strap around his throat, the stems connecting at the back of his neck, forming a strong, tight, oppressive necklace.
No, not a necklace, Fennrin realized as he touched it. A collar.
"There, that should remind you who you belong to, who you serve," Daryan said coldly, nearly making Fennrin whimper. He didn't deserve hugs or cuddles, but he desperately needed them.
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are," Daryan nodded. He then twitched his hand, making Fennrin cry out as the collar tightened uncomfortable and small thorns grew from it, stabbing into his skin. He grabbed at the collar, weeping, but he didn't dare even pull on it. This was correct, this was what he deserved.
He could feel beads of blood running down his chest as he tried to hold back sobs. It hurt with every tiny movement.
Daryan reached closer to wipe some of the blood off and pull Fennrin's shirt collar up to cover it all up. "The thorns will stay for a few hours. I suggest you think about what you did during that time. So it doesn't repeat."
Fennrin swallowed, grimacing as the movement of his throat sends burning pain through him. "I w-won't fail you again."
"I truly hope so. This could have been catastrophic. Not to mention that you made me look weak. What would people think of the great Nightrazer when a thin, weak girl can defeat you?"
Fennrin sniffled, nodding, so ashamed of himself. But with his mind so much clearer, maybe he'd be better now. Yes, he wouldn't let this happen again. He would now be focused enough to immediately turn into a shadow if this were to happen again. He'd be better.
He hadto be better.
"I've been coddling you too much," Daryan said, sighing. "No more of that. We are fighting a war. There will be plenty of time for affection after we win."
Fennrin winced. The thought of not getting any affection from his lover until after the conflict was over hurt more than the thorns. But he wouldn't question Daryan.
"Maybe that will motivate you more. To work faster to end this."
Fennrin nodded. "Of course, Daryan."
Daryan hummed. "It's sir until further notice, Fennrin."
Fennrin sniffled, hugging himself since no one else was going to do it, still shaking. The collar hurt so much. "Yes, sir."
Daryan nodded at him. "Good. Stay here. I need to run some errands."
Fennrin nodded, curling up a little, silent tears running down his face. The collar made it uncomfortable to breathe, so he just tried to stay still and calm his breathing.
He watched Daryan go, his heart hurting. If only he'd been better. He wouldn't have lost on hugs. Now he had to earn them.
But he would. He'd do anything to have Daryan give him affection again. He just had to be better. He would be better.
