Tributes

Chapter Forty-One

Luke was making something for Tyreol. Helian watched the magic craft with the pieces of bark the trees had donated to Luke. Abel watched entranced as Luke's fingers moved over the structure, moulding and weaving the material into something not yet recognizable. Paul and Abel sat nearby but gave Luke the space he needed to work.  There was something almost deceptive in how Luke looked right now. 

The fear and worry bubbling in the man's chest were not visible as he worked. Still dressed in his sleeping clothes, his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, bandages on display as he worked. Paul's eyes moved along them. The tributes would ask questions about them soon. The ones winding around his left wrist were unravelling slightly but Luke didn't seem to notice as he focused on the thing he was making.  A bit like how the shirt was handing off one shoulder, revealing the pretty little tattoo of a leaf on his shoulder bone. 

Helian clenched his fists. He hated watching this. If Luke would tell Tyreol what he was feeling or Tyreol would stop refusing to budge until it was too late... Helian exhaled and turned away. He had his own relationship to fix. He ran a hand over Chris's shoulder as he passed him. The man glanced at him but didn't say anything as Helian moved to where his beau was. 

Airean felt two arms wrap around him and sighed softly, leaning back into the embrace, feeling his beau nuzzled him, letting go of the sheets he was folding. "Air," Helian murmured, warmth feeling his voice but there was also a touch of nervousness to it.

"Helian," Airean hummed, relaxing into the hold, he turned enough to be able to kiss Helian. Their lips met for a moment, heat exploding for a moment and then Helian was kissing harder, needier. Airean could feel the stress flowing off his love. They hadn't slept in the same bed for a week. It happened from time to time when Lord Tyreol was going through a rough time. "How are things with our Lord?" Airean pressed another softer kiss to Helian lips and held him as Helian leaned into him.  

"Not good. I think Luke's going to do something dramatic soon if Tyreol doesn't show he still loves him. Luke is really suffering at the moment," Helian looked up at his love, taking in the look of fondness in Airean's eyes. His chest tightened "I'm sorry about not joining you at night for a while."

"You were busy," Airean shrugged sitting them both down on the bed. "I know how things work," he smiled softly before kissing Helian deeply on the lips again. If this had been the fae courts, things would be the same. A servants first responsibility was his master, children followed second and lovers came third. Airean was well trained in not taking that kind of thing personally. From how Helian was holding him, it was clear the man still loved him. "Don't worry about Luke. Everyone is keeping an eye on him and he does have to get over this."

"If it was just that, I wouldn't be concerned but..." Helian hesitated. Airean's accusation from their fight returned and something in him solidified. He trusted Airean with this at least. It wasn't exactly a secret. "Luke needs extra attention sometimes. He gets nightmares, bad ones. Tyreol normally would have gone to him and hugged him, but he was left to suffer. Master only does that to the old baby. If it had been any of the other immortals, he would have gone."

"Then our Lord is being ..." Airean paused, it was never a good thing to insult a God. Especially not in his own house, when he was going through a bad time, "That's not what I would recommend doing." He leaned his forehead against Helian and thought for a moment. "No wonder he's having problems with Luke.  Still, that is not our business for the moment."