Page 9 of Gilded Crown

Jari's ankles were grabbed, and he was dragged across the floor and probably to the bedroom. “How about if you fight me man to man or are you afraid I’ll knock your ass out?” Another door shut, and as soon as his ankles were released, he blindly kicked.

“He’s like a wild animal.”

“Pfft. Look what I got. It’ll be fun to set him loose.”

“Like out in the halls?”

“No. Just watch.”

Jari tried to scoot away across the floor since neither were touching him. He yanked at the rope and struggled to see through the sacking. If the fucking chain wasn’t still looped around his neck, he could burn the rope.

“Why would you get that?”

“I figured it might have a use. Let’s give it to him and see how he acts.” Jari yelled for help which made Zylem chuckle. “No one is going to hear you, and this won’t kill you. Trust me.”

“If you fucking touch me, Aurelius-”

“Won’t do shit. He’s weak. The Zorians cut off his dick and made him into a fuck toy. He’s only good for taking cocks, and no one but Zorians can satisfy him now. I’m sure your Wockston dick isn’t good enough for him.” Zylem straddled him and yanked off the sack. Jari barely got a glance of the bedroom before Gullveig pinched his nose shut. “Drink up.”

Like fuck he would. He tried to twist away, but Zylem pried Jari’s teeth apart and poured in a bitter liquid that nearly made him heave. Something about it was grassy, and a few drops slipped down his throat.

“Drink, or we’ll see how long it takes for you to pass out.”

Jari jerked his head as both held him and kept his nose pinched.

“Take your medicine like a good boy,” whispered Zylem. “It’ll make you feel so much better.”

Their faces, one nastier and snakier than the other, swam in front of his face. He tried to spit, but Zylem’s hands were like vice as he held Jari’s mouth shut. His pulse pounded in his ears, and his chest threatened to burst with Zylem’s weight on it. He finally had to swallow or suffocate. He was sure his lungs would explode, and as he drew in a gasp, more liquid was poured in.

Jari choked, but more made it down.

“Not too much,” said Gullveig. “He’ll be a wreck.”

“Shut up. It's fine. He needs to be a wreck. I wish we could watch.”

Jari coughed as Gullveig spoke. “We don’t get to watch? That’s no fun.”

“No, we’re not watching, stupid. We’re going downstairs so we’ll seem innocent in case they get too violent with each other. Nobody can blame us for whatever happens.”

“Ahhh.”

Jari was sure glass was scraping his lungs as he hacked. For a second, total euphoria hit his brain like he was flying through nothing and everything at once. More of the bitter liquid made him heave, and his lungs burned, but that didn’t matter. Everything was great, fabulous, wonderful-

Terrible. The euphoria fell away as soon as it came.

The weight left him, and he was sure his body might float off. Why was he still on the floor? Why was his life so terrible? Father was right when he said Jari was shit.

“Since my brother has no cock-”

Why wouldn’t they shut up about Aurelius? Why did they have to want everything and hate so much?

“-probably gets his kicks in other ways. Let me guess, I bet he whips you, or you crawl around like a dog, and that makes him happy.”

He needed to shut the fuck up about Aurelius. Jari had already hurt him enough. It was all his fault. Both of the younger brothers were staring at him.

“I also bet you lick at where his cock used to be, pretend to enjoy it, and that’s the best he gets. He probably lets you pound him into the bed while he wishes you were a big Zorian-”

He needed to shut up.

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