Wound's paw traced the designs on the book that had been entrusted to him. It had been a very nice, quiet few days since he'd returned to the Underworld. Sitting with Gran. Playing board games and sipping tea. Holding his sweet Innehavre while they drifted off to sleep.
Time in the Underworld was only so forgiving, though, and blissful ignorance was only tolerated so far. The ancient Demon with a tom’s form could feel the Underworld pressing upon him to open the book and restart his part in the story. There were things he needed to know. Choices he needed to make. And truths he really, really wanted to ignore.
If he didn't open the book soon, life might choose for him. And if that happened, he might not be prepared for what was coming.
He sighed. Gran was in the other room crocheting Wound a pair of warm slipper socks, singing along with the record playing. The tired Demon wanted nothing more than to go sit on the floor near the fi
Left alone to tend to the helicopter, Jinx found himself lost in too many thoughts that he didn't want to have. Liam and Hades had made flimsy excuses to take off from the small airport for the time it was going to take Jinx to refuel and get clearance to take off again.Of course, after his long and storied history with Hades, Jinx recognized shady tom speak for going to do something that might require a quick getaway. Not that Jinx could imagine what either of them could get up to in a town that obviously sprang up around the airfield and couldn't have more than one bar. He hoped he never had to find out.The fueling team, which was one cranky old tom and his assistants who looked to be hardly more than kits, were at work on the helicopter. There was nothing for Jinx to do for a little while. He followed the signs from the landing pad to the pilot's lounge. Lounging sounded like a great idea right about now.The room designated as the lounge had one sagging couch and a couple of fol
Priest lit the final candle on his private altar. He'd instructed Bright to keep any nonsense as far from him as possible. Stepping back he closed his eyes and held out his paws to the side, claws up."I know you reward those who take up the cause themselves. You are lifted up by what we can do ourselves. But I've done enough study to have learned you find joy in aiding us if we strive to answer the call with our own power most of the time."Having already made the space sacred, the pirate captain felt safe enough to shed his strong veneer. He began to cry. "Father of Hares, He who watches over all of us. I need a sign. And not just any sign, an irrevocable one. I can no longer be a part of Agent's machinations. I only ever wantedthe no-furs who serve our Work to find sanctuary and those who will love them the rest of their lives."I would never break up a true bond nor torture a bonded no-fur unless I didn't know." Priest got down on one knee and took off
Watching over him, Spitfire saw Doll was finally awake as the smaller no-fur stuck his head out of the blanket. The weak smile was a vast improvement though he could still make out the sores from the pins around Doll’s lips."Hey there, Spitfire. I'm feeling better. More like myself. You did that." Doll moved to snuggle against Spitfire. "You did that." The second time he said it it was more dozy and the taller no-fur thought he was going to lose him again to another round of fitful sleep.Just then, the smaller Hare appeared - the one that never mocked and always had something for them. Like the blanket."You little guys must be hungry. I've got a nice big bowl of broth and some cut-up apples for you." He opened the little slot in the cage and slid them through. "Eat up! There's plenty more where that came from. You need your strength.""Thank you." Spitfire gave the Hare a half smile and reached for the apples. He shifted so he was more between the Hare and Doll. He wanted to get t
What passed for a town around the landing pad they called an airport was just as disappointing as Hades expected. He was able to buy some water and snacks, nothing exciting but better than the nothing they'd been running on for the better part of 48 hours. Something had happened with Jinx while he was gone. The Orangelo wasn't willing to talk about it and was flying in sulky silence. Liam was equally moody and equally unwilling to discuss why. Hades could guess that the mafioso was pissed he wasn't able to get any more information about either his missing husband or the source of the red gems. They were going to have to put in some serious efforts once they got to Sundown Port. Which sounded like a perfectly awful place. Full of water and drama. Hades would put money on it. And to top everything off, the closer they got to the ocean, the worse he felt. His newest discomfort was a ringing in his ears that was becoming hot. He worried it might be a fever. Could a tom get a fever from
Though he tried and tried, Spitfire wasn't finding a way to help Doll. They had been bundled up and moved to the private chambers by the sneering Nickel after he was done abusing Doll. Spitfire had raged and screamed but it was to no avail. He could not help his bondmate. He was useless even after Doll had been shoved back into the cage. Once they were left alone in the small room, Spitfire cleaned Doll up. He was worried about the blood coming from his pocket. He was worried that Doll might have been too traumatized and would miscarry the kits. The effect of a miscarriage on a no-fur’s body and mind could be fatal. Tossing the rags he'd used into a pile by the door, Spitfire tried to convince Doll to crawl into the bed and rest. But Doll was not cooperating with the care he was trying to give him. The tiny no-fur was getting more and more hysterical the longer they were locked in the room. "Please, Doll. Please." Spitfire tried once again to get him to stand up from the floor and
Does he really respond to you calling him skin-sheath?Spitfire's voice inside his head was disorienting for Hades, but then he reached out to Doll and his paws weren't paws at all. Flexing the fingers, Hades tried not to be smug as Doll crawled towards him. There was trepidation on Doll’s face, but he would deal with that quickly. For now, he had to figure out how to ignore the sassy no-fur's voice in his mind.It's my body, dickface. You can't kick me out. You're here by my leave.Hades wasn't sure that he liked having his mind read but it didn't seem like he was going to get any privacy at all in this situation so he tried to focus on Doll. Spitfire didn't seem to be as agreeable to letting him focus.Can you help him? He's so scared. I don't... Our bond is too new.Not sure how to directly communicate with someone while they were connected this way, Hades hoped that thinking what he wanted to say would do the tr
A new game with the love of his life was just what Doll needed right now. Would it keep the shadows at bay? Not forever. But the cunning no-fur knew how to get the most out of a moment. Years of finding ways to escape to his beloved gardens at Gran's had taught him that.And yes, Doll acknowledged he had trauma and nightmarish memories he'd have to face in other moments. The nameless no-fur who had taken on that burden was gone and could finally rest. But right now, he would devote his energy, his thoughts, and his body to what was right in front of him.His Innehavre. His Soot-walker. His Hades. And the joy of driving him mad."Then I will earn my punishment." Doll giggled as he moved from where he was teasing Hades's ear to kissing down his furless chest. "I want to know what you're feeling, my sweet devil."It was a whisper against Hades's thigh before Doll buried his face in the tom's borrowed seeding pocket. He started slow, his lips kissing the oute
From where he was watching what was happening from inside Spitfire's body, Hades could see that Doll was lost in his own mind. There was too much trauma, too many horrible things had happened to his pretty baby lately for him to pinpoint what exactly Doll was trapped in. But that wasn't important. What was important was getting him out of it."Skin-sheath, are you able to hear me? Can you follow my voice?"Hades worried that speaking in Spitfire's voice wouldn't reach Doll in the same way. But he needed his attention. He had to lead him out of the darkness somehow."Rule one, small gods are seen and not heard. Is that right? Please don't hit me again." Doll curled in on himself. He seemed to be answering questions but not the ones Hades was asking."You are not a small god," Hades growled. This was frustrating. He had been able to help Doll before. He'd brought him back from the dead within days of meeting him. Now that their bond was fully made, why couldn't he do anything for him?I