Jade Archer - Sandpipers 2 - Raven's Mark (22 page)

“Hey, gorgeous,” Mark said as he set down the knife and wiped his hands on a cloth. “How’d the session go?”
There was a touch of concern in his lover’s eyes.
About three weeks ago, he’d finally found someone he felt he could talk to about his life with Maria. Dr Brooks was quiet and soft-spoken and seemed genuinely interested in helping him work through it all without judgement or censure. But it hadn’t been easy by any stretch of the imagination. He didn’t want to start talking about today’s meeting right now.
“It was f-fine.” He smiled and leaned in to give Mark a peck on the lips to reassure his overprotective lover.
“Really?”
Raven resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Uh huh.”
Mark searched his face. Raven could see him struggle not to press for more—to make sure he really was okay. And in the end he managed to resist.
Instead he just gave Raven a quick hug and simply said, “Good.”
Raven hugged Mark back and stole another, slightly longer kiss.
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Mark asked with a smile when the kiss finally came to an end. “Where are the boys?”
“Brody t-took them upstairs for a snack. I w-wanted to show you something.”
Raven pulled out the letter that was the culmination of so many hopes and dreams and handed it over, waiting with breathless anticipation as Mark scanned through the text.
“Wow! That’s fantastic!” Mark pulled him into another hug, a huge grin on his face. “I’m so proud of you.”
The glow that had been steadily building inside Raven exploded. He hugged Mark back fiercely. He was so blessed. A year and a half ago he would never have dared dream he could find someone like Mark—someone that loved him so completely he openly shared in his joy and triumph. When he’d moved to Riversands with Ryan, all he’d wanted was a chance to start again. Now he and Ryan were safe and happy and surrounded by so many people that cared for them. It was almost too much.
Mark gave him a squeeze as they continued the embrace. “You okay?” he murmured.
“Yeah.” Raven swallowed and pulled away reluctantly. He swiped at the corner of his eyes as he scanned the room, hoping no one else had noticed. Then frowned. “W-Where is everyone?”
He’d been so caught up in telling Mark his news and the rush of emotion surging through him, he hadn’t realised the kitchen was unusually quiet. Normally there would be at least another chef and a kitchen hand prepping for the evening at this time of the afternoon, even mid-week, which were traditionally slower nights.
In the same moment he asked the question, Andy stepped out of the kitchen office, Zak following at his heels.
“We’ll be sorry to see you go,” Zak said as they stopped at the back door.
Andy held his hand out and shook Zak’s. “Thanks. I mean for everything, you know. It’s been—” Andy cleared his throat. “It’s been a blast.”
Zak hesitated for a second then drew Andy forward for a quick hug. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Raven stared in disbelief as Andy turned and all but ran out the back door. “What’s ggoing on?”
“Andy’s leaving,” Mark said.
“W-what? Why? W-when did this happen?”
“Just today. He came in and said he couldn’t stay.”
“He’s l-leaving right away? But…he’s not even giving any n-notice?”
Mark shook his head. “Apparently not. I don’t know what’s going on. I tried to talk to him. He just said he had to go.” Mark looked away. “I can’t imagine what they talked about in there, but he must have had a pretty damn good story. Zak wasn’t happy when Andy came in and told us. Now…”
“You okay?” Raven asked. Mark liked Andy. The two not only worked well together, they’d become good friends over the last few months. They all had.
“Yeah.”
Raven didn’t believe it. Mark looked hurt by Andy’s sudden departure without so much as a backwards glance. Sure they’d probably stay in touch, but it wouldn’t be the same. The kitchen crew were close and worked long hours together. Andy’s leaving like this had to sting. Raven couldn’t say he didn’t feel a little hurt himself.
He looked over to the door where Zak still stood, staring after Andy. A sudden thought sent a shiver of unease down his spine.
“Where’s D-Dave?”
“Day off.”
Raven swung back to stare at Mark. He didn’t know what to say. He’d seen Jaime on his way in, but she hadn’t said anything. She hadn’t looked upset at all. Maybe they knew, but Raven had a bad feeling they didn’t.
“Hey,” Mark said, jostling him with his hip. “He’s a big boy. I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”
“M-maybe.” But Raven wasn’t so sure.
“Don’t look so worried. Things will work out.”
Raven couldn’t help smiling at the new, relaxed attitude Mark was increasingly embracing. He’d really started to ease up on stressing out all the time.
“I can’t see Dave taking any of this lying down,” Mark added.
“N-no. I just hope he’s ok-kay.”
“Yeah.” There was a long moment of silence. Then Mark reached for him. “Come on, we should be celebrating your big news.”
Raven raised an eyebrow as Mark pulled him close. The wicked gleam in his eyes was an unmistakable proposition.
“You’re w-working tonight, remember,” Raven pointed out, but he didn’t resist Mark’s insistent tugging and settled happily against his lover’s hard body.
“I’m due a break.”
“Really?”
“Uh huh.”
“Well, you should d-definitely take it before things heat up in h-here.”
“Actually, I’m kind of hoping you could help me heat things up right now.”
Raven chuckled. “Your l-lines haven’t improved.”
“Hey, you’re the writer of the family. Maybe you should write me some new ones.”
Family
. Raven stilled. Yeah, they were. Mark was his. And Ryan’s. And they were a family.
“I… I l-like…” It was suddenly hard to get the words out. “I l-like the w-way you said that.”
Mark searched his face. “Family?”
“Y-yeah.”
Raven couldn’t elaborate. He just couldn’t find the words. But in the end he didn’t have to. Mark leaned in and kissed him so thoroughly there wasn’t any need to say more.
Well, maybe there was one thing.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Raven closed his eyes and smiled. Life just didn’t get any more perfect than that.

Ethan could hear his twin’s urgent, slightly panicky whisper behind him as he crept forward and scanned the hall, but he chose to ignore it. This was far too good an opportunity to waste listening to his timid, obsessively obedient brother.

All around them the castle was silent and still, everyone having hurried outside to complete the chores that needed doing there before the heat of the day became intolerable. Already the pale, yellow light of Rigial’s primary sun, only newly risen over the horizon, was pouring in warm and strong through the windows mounted high on the external walls. But while Ethan knew the foot-thick, strogram-insulated barrier was there to protect them from the harsh, unforgiving climate that was all part of living in a binary system, having spent a lifetime cooped up in a tiny nursery, he was desperate to see what lay beyond them.

Edging forward, he hugged the pale, rendered wall and hoped the shadows created by the overhead light would hide them from any prying eyes that had remained inside. It was fate, he assured himself, that they should find their door unlocked this morning. In just a few days they were scheduled to be moved and start the intensive training that would make them fully fledged pleasure cats. Once that happened and they were inside the harem with its constant demands and endless monitoring, there would be no hope of them ever getting out and exploring the world.

No. This was meant to be, he reassured himself. For this one brief moment, this one tiny window of time, they would be free. They would lose themselves in their exploration and forget all about the heavy, restricting mantel that was about to descend on them. He just wanted to enjoy the moment, to rejoice in a little spontaneous youthful exuberance and freedom before it was all taken away from them.

Pausing to get his bearings, he could hear the sound of his own breathing as it rushed in and out of his lungs in excited pants. It was so loud in his ears, and his lean, lanky, fifteenyear-old body vibrated with anticipation. This was going to be fantastic. The adventure of a lifetime, he promised himself. He was going to see, touch, taste and smell everything there was to discover out here in the big, wide world of the castle. No. Not just the castle, the whole grounds. Now was the moment. Quite possibly their one and only moment of freedom.

Everything looked so much brighter out here, he realised in awe. More vivid. More alive and vital. He gazed around wide-eyed at the high vaulted ceilings and the ornate stonework columns of the massive halls. He wished he could get closer to the tapestries he saw lining the walls. Their stunning colours and interesting depictions drew his eye at every turn, but he didn’t quite dare to leave the shadows he was hiding in.

With sheer willpower he managed to rein himself in. But it was hard. He felt like every pore of his body was thirsty for sensation and stimulation. On the other hand, he knew if someone came along and spotted them out here they would stop them from exploring any further. They would take them back to that dreary, boring, all too familiar room he and his brother had spent their whole lives in. And that just wasn’t acceptable. Not after he had seen all this. He wanted more. He needed to see everything there was to see. And he was determined that they were going to do it.

Behind him, he could hear Devon scrambling over the slippery marble floor as he struggled to catch up. Ethan smiled wickedly, his bright, emerald green eyes twinkling with mischief. He knew Devon would follow him. His twin would always follow him. He was devoted and loyal to a fault. Of course, he was just as dedicated to his brother, but sometimes Devon needed a little push.

“We are going to get in so much trouble when the Master catches us.” Devon gasped as he struggled to catch his breath after his mad dash down the hall. Trepidation danced in his pale blue eyes.

“If we get caught, brother.” Ethan emphasised confidently, “
If
. We’ll just have to make sure we don’t, that’s all. Now come on, I want to see outside.”
Devon groaned as Ethan moved on down the hall, but he noticed that his brother didn’t turn back. Together they cautiously continued on their once in a lifetime escapade.
Thinking back, he couldn’t remember ever being allowed out into the castle gardens before. They could see them from their room through the tall, lattice covered arches of their windows, but they’d never been able to truly experience them. The beautiful flowering shrubs and majestic walkways lined with careful clipped trees. The clear, trickling stream that meandered through the grounds. They called to him now, just as they always had. He wanted to climb up into one of the graceful willows that arched over the water and feel the rough bark under his palms and feet. He wanted to scent the cool breeze as it whispered over his face. He wanted to paddle in the little stream and chase the tiny silvery fish that darted through it. Then he…
“I want to go back, Ethan,” Devon whined, tugging on his hand imploringly.
Ethan huffed impatiently. Sometimes his brother could be such a pain.
“Look! Go back if you want to, I won’t try to stop you, but I’m going outside. If you don’t want to come, fine.”
He pulled his hand free irritably and quickly moved farther down the corridor, hugging the wall and hunched over to make himself as small and inconspicuous as possible. He didn’t want to leave his brother behind, but he would. This adventure was just too important to him. He couldn’t stop now. Not now, when he was so close to realising his dream.
At the end of the hall he came to an intersection. He wasn’t sure which way would lead him out. He looked left and right uncertainly, then felt Devon slide into place beside him, pressing up against his body nervously. Forcing himself to stand up straight and squaring his shoulders confidently, he chose a direction at random. He didn’t want Devon seeing his indecision, so he headed to the left and hoped his natural feline instincts would stand him in good stead.
Slowly, he moved along the corridor, feeling very exposed and vulnerable in the crisp morning light that poured in to greet them. The farther along the corridor they went, the closer Devon shadowed him. Finally, he took pity on his brother and reached back to take his hand. He would never admit, even to himself, that it gave him comfort as well.
He was just starting to relax into the thrill of it all again when he heard loud voices drifting down the corridor towards them. The echoing sound filled the hall, getting closer and closer to them with each passing second. Both of them froze in terror when they recognised their Master voice amongst the cacophony.
Ethan’s eyes widened in horror while Devon began to tremble uncontrollably beside him. Ethan couldn’t agree more with the sense of terror he felt rolling of his brother in waves. They couldn’t be found out here by their Master. Even he had to admit that would be a bad thing. A very, very bad thing.
“Quick! Hide in here,” he whispered urgently, reaching for the closest door and pulling Devon in behind him.
Closing the heavy door as quietly as possible, Ethan stared around with growing alarm at the opulent room they found themselves in. He noticed in dismay that it looked like a study.
Please
, he prayed silently.
Please don’t let this be the room that Master is leading his guests to.
Bookshelves filled with heavy leather bound tomes lined the wall all the way to the ceiling. Plush carpets covered the floor. A number of very expensive ornaments, heavy wooden furniture and a huge globe of their world filled the space. It was a very impressive room, only the sheer size of it prevented it from feeling claustrophobic, but he really couldn’t appreciate any of it. All he was interested in was finding a place for Devon and himself to hide.
In front of a huge bank of windows sat a solid wooden desk with various documents spread out across its surface. The centre of the room was taken up by a circle of six overstuffed wingback chairs in dark leather. None of it looked terribly promising as a hiding place, but as the voices outside got close enough to hear through the thick wooden door, he made a slit second decision and sprinted for the far chair, pulling Devon in behind him just as the door was thrown open and the noisy group entered.
Devon burrowed into his neck in terror, and Ethan felt a cold sense of dread settle in his own belly as he wrapped his arms protectively around his frightened twin.
This was bad
. Closing his eyes, he held his breath and prayed to all the gods for a miracle.
“Something has to be done about these rebellions starting to crop up all over the place,” their Master bellowed. “This kind of thing starts off as simply annoying, but if it’s not crushed soon, word will start getting around, and they’ll all start thinking they can break free of our control.”
He could hear the barely controlled rage in his Master’s voice as the man crossed the floor and sat down in the very chair they were cowering behind.
Ethan stifled a groan of despair.
How much worse was this going to get?
Now, Master Nevin was only inches away from them. If he found them in here, in this mood…
Not good. So not good.
“I agree, Nevin, but we’ve seen this kind of thing before. Fellin was lazy. If he’d maintained tighter control of his slaves, this would never have happened. Cat shifters can be a wilful bunch. If you don’t constantly let them know who’s boss, you’re asking for trouble. But none of us here would ever let that happen.”
“Exactly, Drellin,” a pompous voice added. “Fellin stopped thinking with the head on his shoulders years ago.” The mage lower his voice to an excited whisper, obviously tantalised by the prospect of spreading some juicy gossip. “I heard that towards the end he was almost insensible with the madness. You know what happens when a tantric mage gives into his cravings. Apparently he was completely taken over by the need for sex. I even heard he had more than just pleasure cats in his harem to service him.”
“Eww,” a pinched, high-pitched female voice cried out. “That’s just disgusting. I mean using pleasure cats to power our magic is one thing, but lowering yourself to be intimate with other, lesser beings. That’s just unnatural.”
“I heard he had over twenty-four in his harem before they rebelled and escaped,” another female interrupted excitedly.
“Enough!” Master Nevin shouted angrily, quickly silencing the gossiping mages. “This incident has seriously damaged our coven’s reputation in the Circle of Mages. Bad enough that they know we rely on pleasure cats to fuel our powers. If we are seen as weak and unable to control our slaves, it could completely undermine our place on the Council. I, for one, know the elemental mages would like nothing better than to take some of our power for themselves. We must be more vigilant.”
“I did hear that one of the elemental mages might have lost some cat shifters recently too,” the now subdued female mage offered tentatively.
“And I heard that there was a whole shipment of slaves destined for the painmancy labour camps that simply disappeared,” the pompous mage supplied.
“Oh, Gods! I hate those pain freaks. They just give me the shivers,” the judgmental female mage announced.
“Just think what all those abandoned cat shifters must feel like.” The mage they had called Drellin laughed cruelly, and Ethan couldn’t help the shiver that worked its way over his thin frame.
Unfortunately, Devon couldn’t hold in a soft whimper. And that was all it took.
Instantly, their Master was on his feet and dragging them out from behind the chair. Ethan automatically shifted into his other form—a small, tabby cat, his tiny sharp claws springing defensively from the sheaths in his paws as he yowled in fear.
Master Nevin simply lifted him up by the scruff of his neck and shook him.
Ethan was really too old to be picked up in this way, and it hurt terribly as his almost full grown weight hung from his Master’s tight fisted grip. He stilled instantly, instinct telling him to be completely submissive in this position.
At Master Nevin’s feet, he could hear Devon whimpering and begging for forgiveness. He felt the Master lash out with his boot and kick his brother aside viciously.
Even though Ethan felt like the flesh might be torn from his stretched face by the fist at his neck, he winced in sympathy. His sweet, gentle, completely loyal brother didn’t deserve such treatment. But he was hardly in a position to protest.
“What have you got there, Nevin?” one of the female mages asked with syrupy spitefulness as they gathered round to see what Master Nevin would do. “Looks like you have your own little rebels starting up right under your nose.”
Ethan wished the ground would open up and swallow the hateful woman down in a gaping maw of fire and darkness straight to the hell she was surely stoking for Devon and himself. His Master simply growled menacingly as he shook Ethan. When he felt his brain rattle against his skull, he hissed involuntarily.
“Oh! Spirited too,” she crooned, licking her lips suggestively. “Maybe I could break them in for you,” she offered with a wicked gleam in her eye.
It frightened him even more than the thought of what Master Nevin might do to them. And that was saying something.
“No need, Mirrin. I assure you I can take care of my own,” he threatened darkly, looking Ethan straight in the eye. “I think I might particularly enjoy teaching this one his place.”
Ethan wanted to throw up, but his current position wouldn’t allow it. He thought he might have heard his brother sob as his Master dragged them both from the room.
The day was not turning out to be the adventurous experience he had been looking forward to at all. He vaguely thought he might like to go back to his dreary, dull little nursery now. But it looked like that chapter of his life was well and truly over.