The Princess and the Blade

[Emora Deen]

Laurius had no intention of letting go. One of his arms curled around Artisuren's leg to hold him in place, and the other hand wrapped around his cock as he took him deep, bobbing along his length. He moaned around Artisuren's velvety skin, eager for him to finish, to be the reason he broke.

[Soran Nightblade]

Artisuren cried out, forgetting to muffle his voice with his hand as the sensations overwhelmed him. "I can't... I'll really--"

Panic jumped through him. It felt so good to be held fast, to feel the slick, relentless heat on his cock. Was he saying to come like this? Would Laurius like it? Kishva would have unbound, if not straight-up murdered, a male who dared such a thing.

Then Laurius moaned, his voice vibrating over him, and Artisuren ran out of composure. He placed his hand on the man's forehead again, undecided if he was trying to push, pull, or just hold on. He climaxed in hard, pulsing bursts, trying in vain to stifle his voice with his other hand.

[Emora Deen]

Laurius's eyes rolled closed as he felt Artisuren pulse, felt the blissful warmth of his release. The business man was experienced in taking what a man offered, and so he let it fill his mouth before he swallowed. Then, he pulled his mouth from Artisuren, dragging his tongue along his length and the head of his cock, cleaning him as he regained his breath. "You taste so good. So... sweet," he said between flicks of his eager tongue. "Almost like caramel. I could have you for dessert every night. Maybe I will..." Laurius reluctantly released Artisuren and sat back on his heels, dragging a hand across his wet mouth, appraising the phage.

[Soran Nightblade]

Artisuren held the crate to keep himself from sliding to the floor. "Every night?" He murmured a string of words in his alien tongue. The man's compliments, combined with the sheer oddness of the whole situation, made him flush a rich charcoal gray. Embarrassment aside, his body felt better. The pain was gone. Were they actually going to do this every night? He slowly reached up and brushed against the place where Laurius had grabbed his horn, looking dazed.

[Emora Deen]

Laurius rose from the floor, straightening his clothes. “Maybe,” he said, reaching down to pulled Artisuren to his feet. “Alright. Straighten your clothes. We should get back to the room. We can cuddle up later. Right now, I’ve got to take the princess to the Captain’s welcome dinner.”

Laurius gave Artisuren a light kiss on his lips. “I’ll need you to keep an eye on that phage of hers while I’m gone. Do you need me to make that an order? Or is that command enough?”

[Soran Nightblade]

Artisuren gaped at him. Cuddle up??? This man really cared about his knife, to be going to these lengths... "I... don't need a command. My body is fine now," he flushed. "You want me to observe Thvoros?" he clarified, hoping Laurius didn't expect too much interaction with the other Ivis.

[Emora Deen]

“Yes. I want to know what he does when his master isn’t around. How he reacts,” Laurius said. “For science.”

In truth, Laurius didn’t want Artisuren to feel useless or left behind. He couldn’t take the being to the captain’s dinner, and he didn’t want him to feel upset when he abandoned him again. As much as Laurius enjoyed their fun, his mouth would get sore if Artisuren felt neglected too often.

The halls were a little more busy with both crew members and passengers as they left and ascended to the upper decks. Everyone had explored and settled into their rooms, and now they were on a mission to explore the ship itself.

He knocked on the door as he was breezing into the room. “Alright, I believe Artisuren is feeling better.” He curled a hand around the being's arm and pulled him into the room, closing the door behind him. “A little foreplay and voia.”

Tenara choked on the champagne she was drinking. A welcome package had arrived with champagne and fruit and she was helping herself to a glass when Laurius abruptly returned.

[Soran Nightblade]

Artisuren staggered into the room and stared at Tenara like a deer in headlights. "That was not-...!" He didn't know how to finish the retort, which only made things worse. That was foreplay? He felt sweat prickle on his brow. Thvoros was staring at him like a spider with three legs pulled off, and he couldn't even look at the Yurivis. "Didn't you say you have a dinner to attend?" he growled at Laurius, jerking his arm free.

[Emora Deen]

"You do?" Tenara asked, reaching for an apple.

"We do," Laurius said, going to one of his trunks and throwing open the lid. He rummaged for a fresh tunic and stripped his old one off, tossing it into a corner of the trunk before he drew the new one on. "You see, unfortunately for you, you're a celebrity. So we were invited to a private dinner hosted by the captain in his quarters."

Tenara chewed on her lip. "Just us?"

"Well, I'm sure there will be other people there, if they are of note. I'm not even sure if Jim got an invite..." She seemed uncertain and glanced at Havitharon. "He can't come. But don't worry. He, Artisuren, and your nightmare of a dog will be fine here. Artisuren and I have already discussed it." At another hesitant look, he added. "It would be rude to refuse."

Tenara downed the last of her champagne and put the apple back in the basket. "Fine. Let's go." The princess turned to Havitharon, taking his hands in hers. She squeezed them, and gave him an uncertain look that only he could see. The ship made her nervous as it was, but Havitharon made her feel safe and she didn't like the idea of stepping away from him. But... this was not the ship that took her. This was a safe place. She couldn't let fear control her. "I'll be back soon."

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi rose, stepping forward. "The hound goes, or I do," he demanded of Laurius.

[Emora Deen]

Laurius blinked at him. "The hound? At a dinner party? Are you insane?"

Tenara pressed her hand to Havi's chest. "It's okay. I'll be okay," she said, but the panic was already clawing its way back through her.

Laurius seemed to notice something was wrong because he exhaled a ragged sigh. "Fine. I suppose the hound can go. At least he can sit in a corner and blend with the shadows. Come on pup, let's go." Forgetting his place, Laurius went to ruffle the fur at the top of Stalker's large head. Tenara caught his hand and curled her fingers in his. "Not a good idea?"

"Not if you like your hand," she said and pulled him towards the door. She took one final look back at Havi, and Laurius led her and the hound from the room.

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi watched them leave with a surge of trepidation. When the door closed behind them, he muttered a curse to himself.

"What is that look for? Wishing she chose you over a beast?" Artisuren said.

Havi rolled his eyes. "No."

"Looks like the mighty Thvoros is just like the rest of us now. Wrapped around your Yurivis's finger. Finally swallowed your pride?" The sting left his tone, despite the harsh words. "Or, maybe she didn't give you a choice? That would have been something to see."

The black-horned Ivis looked at him with an expression he hadn't expected: concern. Had it been pity or anger, he would have snapped the man's head off. Instead, he turned his back on the man and dropped into the chaise. The dagger and sword were both sitting on the coffee table. Beneath the former, the wood finish had darkened and warped from the heat.

"Did yours do that?" Artisuren asked sullenly.

"No."

"Do you ever talk in full fucking sentences?"

"Do you ever stop?" Havi asked, drawing a book of the bookcase and sitting with it near the door.

Artisuren chucked a throw pillow at Havi, and missed him by about a mile. He thought he saw the other being's lips hint at a smirk as he turned a page.

"Can you even read that?"

"I'm trying to learn," Havi drolled, staring at the text.

[Emora Deen]

The warm sea air greeted them as they ascended to the top deck. Stars burned in the sky and a strong breeze filled the sails. Tenara's silver hair went wild as they crossed the deck, and she was so busy fussing with it that she didn't have time to worry if there were people looking at her or if those people were formerly employed by a ship that had kidnapped a princess.

She managed to wrangle her hair behind her ears and cast a glance off at the black horizon. It was so dark, but even still she could almost make out another ship pressed against the night.

"Probably pirates," Laurius said. Tenara's eyes widened and he laughed. "I'm joking, Princess. It's likely the ship that left after ours, heading off to the north."

The captain's quarters were at the back of the ship with a door off the main deck. It was a massive room divided into spaces with furniture for specific use. There was a desk off to the right, a long dining table in the center, and a large bed tucked into an alcove very similar to the one in their room. Only, it was more heavily carved than theirs, and the covers were fining. The far wall of the room was entirely made of windowpanes. It offered a beautiful view of the night sky and the half-moon on the rise.

The space was dimly lit with candles in red glass tumblers. It might have seemed romantic if it were not for the company and the location. Laurius shoo'd—as much as anyone can—Stalker towards a corner of the room, but he chose to stay pressed to Tenara's thigh as they took their seats at the table.

It was the two of them, but the table had eight chairs. The captain was not there, not yet, and they were alone.

She glanced around the room, fidgeting with the fabric of her dress. It felt strange to be in here. To be in a stranger's bedroom—though it was his office and his dining room...

"While we wait," Laurius said, taking up the wine decanter and filling her glass and his own. "Are we good, you and I?"

"Good?" Tenara asked, sipping at the wine.

"Are you still angry with me about the other night?"

"I'm always going to be angry with you," Tenara said with a tight smile.

"That's going to put a damper on our wedding plans," Laurius joked. "What more can I say? It isn't my fault Arken took what I gave them too far."

"And yet, you are the reason they had it at all..." She frowned. "I don't want to talk about this now."

[Soran Nightblade]

An hour passed in tense silence in Laurius's quarters. Havi was still fruitlessly attempting to read when an upsetting itch went up his spine. He jerked to his feet and glanced at Artisuren, who had similarly retreated into the sofa. The gold-horned Ivis shook his hand out with a curse.

"What did you do?" Havi demanded, crossing toward the man.

"I just thought I'd see what happened if I touched it," Artisuren snapped, but his eyes flashed with fear at the man's anger.

Havi surprised him by sitting in the chair catty-corner to the chaise and studying the weapons on the table. "And? What happened?"

"Hell if I know. It didn't want me touching it. Felt like my damn skin was being rearranged."

Havi looked around and grabbed a throw blanket off the bed, tossing it to Artisuren. "Touch mine with this."

Artisuren threw it back at him. "You touch mine first."

Havi sighed and wrapped the blanket around his hand then reached out for the dagger cautiously. A more severe version of the crawling sensation he got from touching his sword wobbled up his arm, and he pulled back immediately. Meanwhile, Artisuren flinched back and spat.

"Well?" Artisuren said.

"It's different than when I touch my own," he muttered. "Have you touched yours before?"

"Well I'm definitely not touching it now."

"We can't be sure it's the same as mine unless you try it."

"No. Not if it's going to feel weird. Laurius can do the touching," he scowled like a cornered cat.

[Emora Deen]

Their dinner ended at almost exactly an hour when a crewmate entered the room and whispered something in the captain's ear. "It seems we might have a storm tonight," he said. "I need to go over some charts. I'm sorry to cut the night short."

It was probably for the best, Laurius thought as he looked at Tenara. She was on her fifth glass of wine and had grown more comfortable and chatty with the woman sitting next to her. They were raving about some Hajaran play that came out a year ago and how nothing had touched them quite the same way. Tenara's words were starting to slur and her laugh, while beautiful, was loud. As the other guests left, Laurius helped Tenara out of her chair. She stumbled on her feet, giggling as she lost her balance. He curled an arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side.

Stalker's lip curled, but he cut his eyes to the beast. "Do you want to carry her?" He probably could, Laurius thought. He seemed as big as a small pony.

They left the captain's quarters, swaying across the deck. The wind had picked up considerably more, and it tangled the curls of his red hair together.

"You don't sail often, do you?" Laurius asked Tenara as she danced out of his arms for a second to look over the railing at the sea. His heart skipped a beat when she bent to look down at the water and almost toppled in. He caught her again by her waist, took her hand, and drew her towards the stairs leading to their floor. "Fun fact. The effects of alcohol are essentially multiplied on a ship. If you're drunk and the world is swaying on land, that's one thing. If you're drunk and the world is swaying at sea, well its worse."

"I don't know if that's true," Tenara sang and tapped him on the nose with her finger.

Laurius paused a moment, appraising her. She was beautiful—silver hair shining like diamond threads in the wind, blue eyes burning in the moonlight. The drink had momentarily removed whatever shadow had crawled over her since they boarded the ship, and, temporarily, the hatred she felt for him. He sighed and helped her down the stairs.

As they came to their room, Laurius could hear Artisuren and Havi speaking. The walls weren't thin, but Laurius was curious about what the two were discussing when they weren't in the room with them. He paused, listening.

"Well?"

"It's different than when I touch my own. Have you touched yours before?"

"Well I'm definitely not touching it now."

"We can't be sure it's the same as mine unless you try it."

Tenara snorted, and quickly covered her mouth.

"No. Not if it's going to feel weird. Laurius can do the touching."

Tenara gasped so suddenly Laurius nearly jumped out of his skin. "Are they touching each other's..." She tapped her index fingers together in front of her face and faded into a fit of giggles as Laurius nearly broke down the door with his shoulder as he pushed it open.

Tenara stumbled in after him, swirling into the room and flattening her back against the wall next to the door. "Aww... They're not..." She frowned, tapping her fingers together again.