Page 100 of A Brat's Tale
“I expect no less, Master Strobavik.”
Diekin was punished for assisting my escape. Thankfully, he’s too needed to be removed from palace guard this time and he was offered clemency, as I was, since the king and queen were too happy Corrik was brought home. He received a public strapping as I did with more strokes since he’s Elf but that was the end of it. We rejoiced in being reunited once again and attempted an outdoor version of our arrow game in the woods adjacent to the training fields.
Corrik, to my great surprise, joined us. “It is a fun game. And I’d much rather you engage in your nonsense outside rather than in our chambers.”
That’s Corrik for the game is now banned from our chambers.
The Elven princess, Ditira, also joined us and Diekin introduced her even though we’d already met. “Tristan,” Diekin said. “I didn’t get the chance to introduce you myself as I would have liked to. This is my love, my wonder of the earth, my mate and my Mistress—Princess Ditira.”
Ditira’s blonde hair whipped in the cool breeze and the scent of Elven cherry flowers permeated everything. Against the blue sky and sunlight, she glowed, and her violet eyes gave a mystical twinkle. She is a war Elf. She trains hard, and it shows through each striation of her sinewy body. Without her armor, only one breast was covered by her white outfit and her tights traced the outline of her thickly muscled thighs.
Her massive sword captivated me, my eyes transfixed, wondering if I’d ever be able to lift something that magnificent—I couldn’t wait to see her fight. Like the rest of the Cyredanthems, she towers above me. I hit the height of her chest.
Diekin was proud, kneeling at her feet, staring up at her like she was the only thing that existed. She did the same in return.
Watching the pair of them, how they moved together, it inspired me.I want that with Corrik.But we have our own way of doing things and I got an idea.
“Diekin and I are paired together,” I said. “You and Ditira against us.”
Corrik peered down at me, a firmness to him unlike any other and shook his head. “No chance of that, my love. You are paired with me. You are always paired with me.”
It was what I hoped he’d say.
“If I must be.” I smiled as my heart swelled and made him lean down to kiss me.
Chapter 20
Corrik and I develop something new, again. We’ve been advised by the healers to have him take it easy so he’s not doing a lot of work for Alrik, he’s not even allowed to spend full time on the fields. At first, he hung around, lazing back, watching me but he could only bear so much of that without stepping in—he can’t help it, it’s within Elven nature to protect one’s mate.
Now that I’ve met the requirements and earned the king and queen’s pendant, Elven studies are not as time sensitive and therefore don’t take up my every waking hour, leaving me free time to spend with Corrik. We spend early mornings, before I leave for practice, in bed waking up together. He lies on his side facing me, a hand pillowed behind his head, the other tracing lines onto my skin. “I heard you did well in your training with Master Strobavik,” Corrik says.
“Does that mean you have plans for me?” I knew this was coming.
A serene smile spreads across his face and I swear the sun hits him at precisely the right time to make him look like he came from the heavens. I often suspect that Corrik does have a God assigned to him because I’m certain even the Gods cater to his wants and needs. “I do.”
“The healers said to go easy,” I remind him. I may not be an Elf, yet, but Markaytians have their own brand of protectiveness.
“I will obey my healers. You becoming an Elf is my priority. What I have in mind will be easy for me, harder for you, good for both of us.”
His smile moves from serene to devious and that dangerous brow of his arches high. “I’m in trouble.”
“Youarealways up to something.”
“You know, Tops have a bit of brat in them too,” I say sharing my theory.
He takes my hand and kisses the knuckles. “Oh?”
“Don’t deny it. It’s in the impish manner with which you torture and plot.”
“Perhaps a bit, but only a wee bit. The rest is all an insatiable need to own and dominate.” He attacks me, his lips descend on my neck and I’m surrounded by his curtain of blond hair as he slips into me slowly, the burn of his cock in my arse sweet. Soon, his savage desire takes over, his hips slam forward consuming me like always.
“Tomorrow you’re mine,” he says after, while I get ready to head down to my daily beating under Zelphar’s tutelage. “Tell Zelphar you won’t be there.”
“Yes, sir.”
With Alrik as my Master, things would have been draconian. Corrik isn’t that way. He’s strict, but I see that he’s got a strong playful side like I do. Perhaps we’re more well-matched than I thought. Now that he’s learned to quell his overprotective Elven urges some, things work better between us, even this.
In many ways I like the control, I crave it. Unable to follow my heart’s desires was what I found suffocating even beyond being locked away in a room for a year.
