Page 69 of D'Vaire or Nothing
Brinley blew out a slow breath to keep his fire from escaping. The thought of Heathcliff in pain and petrified made him want to set the entire planet ablaze.
“How were you different?”
“I used to be sunny. Talkative. Now I’m quiet. I prefer books to people. I’m blunt. I sugarcoat nothing. It was too sudden and jarring for Kieran, who was my best friend. He couldn’t handle it. Kieran started protesting each year during our three-day celebration that culminated in someone being volunteered to die. They switched to that because Filmore supposedly wanted the burden shared among the tribe, but I think it was because the warriors were sick of being the lone people to do it.”
“Okay, help me understand this. Filmore the fucker didn’t mind that Kieran was protesting?”
“Of course he cared, but he couldn’t do shit. My brother is wickedly smart, and he learned how to program computer games. We didn’t have land or money. But Kieran had wealth coming in regularly. Kieran gave nearly everything to the tribe to try to help them. They supported Kieran because he put food on their tables. Filmore didn’t do anything but wag his dick through the village.”
“Your brother programs video games?” Brinley asked, amazed. “I wonder if I’ve played any of them.”
“If you play a lot, then probably. He’s prolific. But he met Scheredin. Stupid man pretended to be an elf to expedite his mating ceremony, which nearly cost him his matebond. Pissed me off. You don’t lie to your mate.”
“To be fair, you do have adorable little pointed ears.”
“Adorable?”
“Yep, adorable.” Brinley reached out and ran a finger down one of those pretty ears. A heartbeat later, his mouth fell open. “Oh, shit.”
“What?”
“Pointed ears,” Brinley squeaked. His head fell forward, and he wanted to cry. “Your brother has earrings and a painted cheek. The second hoop. We aren’t getting it, are we? Everyone is going to know for eternity how obsessed I am with your big purple dick.”
Heathcliff laughed. The sound was so vibrant, Brinley glanced at him and scowled. How dare he be happy about this disaster?
“Brinley. Baby. You need to have intercourse. As long as I don’t fuck you or you don’t fuck me, we’ll get the second hoop.”
Brinley tried not to whimper at the thought of waiting to ride Heathcliff’s gorgeous cock, but his mood brightened somewhat at the thought of not outing their inability to control their hormones to everyone for eternity.
“I’ve never topped,” Brinley whispered as he toyed with his beer instead of meeting Heathcliff’s lovely silver gaze.
“That’s okay, I don’t really want to bottom. I mentioned it because I need to be fair and not discount anything, but in the past two days, all I’ve envisioned is sliding into you.”
Brinley made a wild gesture between his head and Heathcliff’s as a rush of relief filled him. “You and me. Same wavelength. Okay, okay. But no sex chatter. No thinking about your beautiful dick. We gotta talk more about fucking Filmore. Kieran meets Scheredin. You’re pissed at him. You’ve already drank this shit twice by now?”
“Yeah, and I thought I didn’t have to worry about Kieran. There were rumblings each year because Filmore hated him and his protests, but no one was going to volunteer him. If Kieranlost his memories, the games would stop and so would the money. But Kieran left. Went to D’Vaire to be with Scheredin. That didn’t stop him from sending cash because that’s how Kieran is. But Filmore had the advantage of being there daily. He loved fucking propaganda, and people remained loyal to him despite how shitty he was as a leader. For weeks, Filmore convinced everyone the money would stop. Kieran was gone, and he’d tire of giving away his income. The tide was starting to turn by the time the next annual celebration rolled around.”
Brinley drank deeply, swallowed, and set his beer on the table. He hated what he was learning but was also morbidly fascinated. As long as he kept reminding himself that Heathcliff would never have to worry about poisons or losing his memory again, Brinley could keep his fire contained. “But Kieran was long gone.”
“And I told the dipshit to stay away, but he refused. Kieran returnedby himselffor the ceremony. I nearly killed him myself. But instead, I watched as my parents and siblings helped hold Kieran down to force him to drink poisonous tea.”
“Those fuckers.”
“I hadn’t begun to forgive them for what they did to me, but the final straw was them hurting Kieran. As soon as Kieran was unconscious, I called Scheredin. It took some serious work, but they cured him and invented an antidote. The sentinels tracked Filmore and found him to ensure he paid for his actions, and they helped everyone else. My family is part of the Council now, but I don’t speak to them. So, I understand why you’ve separated yourself from your blood relatives too.”
“Sometimes people suck.”
“Yes, they do.”
“I’m glad you got away,” Brinley said, kissing Heathcliff’s cheek. “I’m happy you stayed at D’Vaire.”
“They didn’t actually give me any choice. That was the best thing that ever happened to me. I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I can’t leave. D’Vaire is more than family. More than a place. It’s part of my soul. Like my phoenix. Like you are now.”
“And you thought I’d ask you to come live in my shitty small apartment?Please.”
“So, you’ll come to D’Vaire?”
“Like, when?”
