RW1 Ravyn's blood (18 page)

Dageus sighed and fell silent. The brothers thought they were doing this for his own protection. He understood that. However, he also understood that it was rude not to answer the phone when someone important called.

Silence, Ravyn, Judgment commanded.

“That’s a bit redundant, don’t you think? I’ve already shut up,” Dageus grouched. The Ravyns glanced at one another in question. They’d never seen Dageus behave in such a manner. Germany hissed in pain as he shifted against his bandages. Dageus glanced at him in concern.

“Can we at least move this to the sleeping rooms so that the injured members of our party can lie down?”

Tony’s eyes hardened. “Ravyns deal with pain. We were careless, therefore we deserve this pain.” Tony sniffed, going back to his position.

“That’s fucking stupid! It was
my
fuckup! I’m the only one who deserves any sort of punishment.”

“We know that,” Tony snapped, his metallic eyes shining with anger.

Dageus’s eyes narrowed. “I said I was sorry, you son of a bitch! Why are you treating me like a war criminal? I’ve never faltered in my loyalty!”

“Well, if you hadn’t faltered, we wouldn’t have had to punish you to begin with. Good God, you’ve been lying to us since you were initiated! You didn’t even tell us you were gay!”

Dageus’s cheeks burned with anger and pride. “Maybe I wasn’t ready to admit that I wanted another guy’s cock yet, you jerk, and for your four-one-one, I adore it and I like the Master of Haven. I want to try to be with him. He’s great, he treats me like I’m gold, and I’m not letting you guys stand in my fucking way!”

They all gasped in unison at the declaration. Dageus’s eyes blazed green, the gold all but disappearing from his irises. Power cracked audibly in the room, and Judgment and Dageus screamed in unison.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Flash.
Kal was going to his first dance lesson. He was holding Maddeline’s hand tightly in nervousness. The girls giggled as he walked in. His heart tripped as the Master of Haven walked through the door. He was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Flash.
His first major play with
La Petite Mort
. Jacoby Daniels was his partner. He was absolutely gorgeous, tall, dark, and handsome with a slight build that allowed him to twirl around the stage like a swan.

“How’s the most beautiful dancer in this troupe today?” Jacoby asked, his slight French accent causing Dageus’s heart to trip.

“I’m, uh, good,” he said, blushing to the root of his waist-length brunette hair. Jacoby smiled in a knowing manner.

“So I was thinking, mon petit, would you care to accompany me to dinner after we finish our practice tonight? I’d really like to—” The Master of Haven cleared his throat noisily.

“I think not, Jacoby,” Alex snapped. His eyes bulged. Why was he doing this? “I have a private lesson scheduled for the pup after practice. He can’t seem to nail the final act in the routine. I think his point and jazz need to be studied up on. I’ve asked Santiago to conduct a private lesson. You’re welcome to join in the lesson.” Alex’s voice held a hint of some message that went beyond his sixteen-year-old understanding.

Jacoby winced and bowed. “No thank you, my lord.”

Flash.
The stage. Oh, god, the stage. He couldn’t think of anything but how Alex had taken his virginity on its shiny surface. His memory caused him to harden painfully.

“Pay attention, darling. Someone will think it odd if you stand there aching and hard,” the Master whispered. He jumped as he felt Alex’s arms wrap around him. He laughed at himself.

“I adore you, Master,” he replied. They were early, earlier than the rest of the troupe.

“And I you, my love,” Alex said, sinking his fangs into his shoulder.

He gasped. “I love you. I love you.”

Flash.
“Be still. Be still,” the slaver commanded, gripping the soft flesh of his underarms.

“God damn it! Let me go!” he screamed thrashing wildly.

“Aren’t you a pretty one?” The slaver chuckled, his massive arms wrapping more tightly around the smaller male. “I’m sure Nasus will love your pretty dancer’s flesh.” He looked at him like a butcher looked at a piece of meat.

“Please, let me go,” he begged. His face was smudged with tears. The slaver just laughed.

Flash.
He closed his eyes as the man behind him grunted out his release. Sickly, he valued the brief warmth the coupling brought him. His sparse room held no real protection against the cold, and his nearly frozen limbs appreciated the warmth of another body. The stranger petted his back as he rocked through his orgasm. They never paid a good tip unless he came for them. The stranger pulled out without ceremony and began to dress. He opened the drawer of his dresser and began to clean up.

Flash.
His new Master held him against his body like a pet. The Master shushed him as he cried and hiccupped through another fit. Every once in a while he would have one of these breakdowns. Usually the Master would keep him from turning tricks for a couple days, keeping him to himself when he was so very “fragile.”

“Do you wish to have something to drink?” the big demon asked, petting his cherubim face.

“No,” he whispered miserably. Irritation flickered in his gaze.

“Fine, pine after your lover. Service me while you do,” he commanded. Swallowing his pride, he sank to his knees and unlaced the demon’s leggings. “That’s right, my little whore. Suck that cock.”

My soul is decaying. I am nothing. I have become nothing. Oh Alex, if you could see me now… He nearly vomited at the thought
.

Flash.
There was a knife in his hand. Bright-blue demon blood ran down the blade. His Master lay on his stomach, multiple knife wounds to his neck. His eyes were dead as he stepped over the body like it was a disregarded piece of trash. He had to find a way back home. A rumor circulated through his starving mind. “There is a group of warriors who live down in the south. They have the ability to travel between worlds, but they aren’t demon slavers.”

Flash.
Judgment’s ruby eyes bored into him. No. No.
No
. He screamed inside his mind. He wouldn’t forget. My name, my name, my name is Kal. Kal. My name is… fuck! He couldn’t remember. Alex! Master! He bucked against the soothing hands of his soon-to-be brothers. Alex! I won’t forget, I won’t…

“Dageus! Dageus! My brother! Oh, God, Please, Dageus, wake up!”

Kal’s eyes snapped open to the sound of his brother’s voice. Tony’s eyes were brimming with concern, and the boys were gathered around his body in its position on the floor. They all looked at him like he’d sprouted another head.

“God,” Kal whispered. “What did you do to me?” No one answered him. “You stole my memories. You stole my life, God damn you! You stole my fucking heart.” Salvatore came forward and touched Kal’s forehead. Instantly the panic within him calmed.

“Easy, my Ravyn. Don’t blame your brothers. They had naught to do with it, just as you have naught to do with it. I had no idea that you were Kal. Every member of the Ravyns since the beginning has been a demon of Demontian birth. I thought perhaps there were some similarities, but to think that you were somehow the human that Alex lost seemed impossible. Judgment removes the memories that would distract you from your duty. It has been done this way since the beginning of the brotherhood. My father on his death bed gave Judgment to me and bequeathed to me his most trusted five warriors. Judgment took from them that which would distract them for my protection. Anthony had a family, a husband and three daughters. Druas had a young one as well. Germany was grieving the loss of his late partner when he faced Judgment. Allasandro had just gotten engaged to one of the aristocrats. And Dageus, my sweet Dageus, was my best friend.” All the Ravyns in the room were shocked to hear the words. They’d had lovers before? Men as lovers? It was a strange thought. “They knew, I should say, you all knew, what it meant to allow Judgment to take from you your pasts. You bound your souls to mine, ensuring that, at the very least, your reincarnations would cross paths with mine and provide me with new warriors every generation until I ascended the throne.” The Ravyns looked at him in question. He sighed loudly. “It was supposed to be more helpful for you all to forget. It was supposed to be an easier transition. It worked for years. All the warriors had no problem giving up themselves for the throne, all of them but you Dageus.”

“My name is Kalel,” Kal snapped.

Salvatore continued, ignoring him. “Fine, Kal, then. All of them transitioned easily, but you did not. If you weren’t exhausted from the
Danse,
you would’ve bested Judgment. You would’ve held onto those memories which you hold so precious. If I would’ve known that you fought so hard to return to your Master, I would’ve never taken you as my Ravyn, regardless that you are the reincarnation of Dageus.”

“How do you know I’m him?” Kal asked suspiciously, clinging to Druas’s arms.

The brothers touched him soothingly as they always had, giving him comfort. They were obviously as shaken by the realization as Kal was and were trying to be supportive. They didn’t even realize that they assumed their roles as brothers and Ravyns so easily.

“If you were not Dageus, it would’ve killed you to stand before Judgment,” Salvatore offered.

Kal blanched. “Harsh!” he stuttered.

Salvatore shrugged. “It is the demon way.” Dageus struggled to sit up, and his brothers helped him do so.

“I don’t know what to do now,” Dageus said softly. “I feel…lost, like someone sat me down in the middle of the four universes without a map or a tour guide.”

The brothers embraced him, giving him their strength. The bond between them blazed to life, and Kal’s vision blurred from the intensity. Love, unhindered by selfishness or secrets, poured down the ropes of their bond to fill Kal.

“My brothers—you’re still my brothers right?”

They are.
Judgment spoke up, his composure regained.

“Good. I love you all, and I’m sorry I kept things from you, and I wasn’t there when you needed me. I’m so sorry for that. I’m not sorry for being with Alex. He’s my soul mate. He always has been. I love him, and I want to spend the rest of my existence making him happy. If he’ll have me,” he added, remembering those cold nights in the brothel. He was sick at the thought.

“Of course he’ll have you,” Germany growled. “If he doesn’t, we’ll barbeque his vampy ass.” The other brothers howled in agreement. Kal smiled at their acceptance.

“Thanks, guys,” he said with a smile in his voice. “Goddess, I feel so much better. I thought I was going crazy. I felt so torn. Now it all makes sense. Salvatore,” he addressed his King, crossing his fingers and inclining his head. “I pledge myself unto you. I give to you my love, my loyalty, my body, and my sword. I hold the sacred laws of brotherhood above all other laws. I’m bound to you for all eternity and always at your side.”

The brothers sighed in relief as the shaky bond between them solidified. Salvatore grasped Dageus’s hand in thanks.

He is bound, my King,
Judgment said formally
. He still retains distractions.
Shall I remove them?

Salvatore shook his head. “No. He may keep his mate close to his heart and mind,” Salvatore replied, pulling Dageus to his feet.

“Thank you, my King,” Kal said, a hint of his Ravyn self glimmering in his voice.

“You’re very welcome. You have earned those memories. I care for you too much to suppress you. Go to him, Dageus,” Salvatore commanded. The Ravyns were on their feet instantly.