Third Day

28th day of the 2nd moon, 1113 HC

Mulsae kept holding Damion's hand throughout the night, so Damion wakes up with his hand in Mulsae's. No windows. No sun to indicate the time. He has no idea if he’s woken too early or too late or just on time. Perhaps he’ll ask other people how they’re coping with this.

He decides to stay in bed and make his hand available to Mulsae to hold. He stares at the little nooks and crannies of the ceiling. What Zudaeshi is doing to Mulsae is awful, but is this perhaps his penance?

He’s still angry at how Mulsae treated him when he was first a prisoner. He hasn’t forgiven. He hasn’t forgotten. He’s just moved on. His priority is Right Now and the future. Mulsae has been taking care of him in the way that he needs right now. He has freedom of choice again, and isn’t that what is most important?

Mulsae squeezes Damion’s hand and scooches over to him. He wraps his arm and leg around him and rests his head on his shoulder.

“Thank you,” Mulsae whispers.

“For what?”

“For being here. I don’t know what I’d do alone. If I had to face her bed alone.”

Damion caresses Mulsae’s arm as his only response.

"You can’t fix it," Mulsae breathes. "But you make it… easier. To carry."

"I’m glad I help at all," Damion murmurs.

Mulsae’s voice cracks. "Thank you for fighting me. For staying. I’m sorry for all the ways I pushed you off. I don’t… I don’t deserve you. I should be the one protecting you... But to respect what you’re offering me, I’ll accept. And I’ll try my best to earn it.”

Damion brushes his lips against Mulsae’s hair. “Thanks."

They stay still and quiet in the silence of the windowless, timeless room. It could be any hour, or no hour at all. A moment stolen out of time. A stolen moment of temporary calm.

Damion stirs first, “I should make sure I wash before we get called somewhere.” Mulsae lets him go and flops onto his back staring at the ceiling.

Damion goes into the bathing chamber and does his thing: hole, plug, body, hair. He towels himself off and returns. Mulsae hasn’t budged. He’s lost in the marbling textures of the ceiling.

Damion crawls back into bed, holds Mulsae’s hand, and stares up into the ceiling, too. There’s nothing to say. They’ve experienced these horrors together. They know what the other is feeling because they are feeling it, too. They stare at the ceiling together. Damion squeezes Mulsae’s hand. Mulsae squeezes back.

There is a knock on the door and it partially opens. A voice calls in, “Breakfast is served in the Harmonarch's Overlook Pavilion.” Then the door snicks shut.

They turn to face each other. Free access to food. Fuck. Yes. They both bolt out of bed and pull on their pants.

They go out into the corridor. It feels wrong to be walking unescorted. But they aren’t locked in their chamber anymore. They carefully make their way to the Overlook Pavilion. Mulsae leads the way since he was familiar with the palace before Zudaeshi occupied it. They notice some passages have guards blocking the way. Perhaps they haven’t been let out of their cage, but rather their cage has gotten larger.

They reach the Overlook Pavilion. Air, fresh air, blows against Damion’s face, cool and alive. He breathes deep, drinking it in. Morning light floods his eyes until they adjust, revealing long oval tables laid with platters of food and decanters of wine. A few tall round tables stand scattered around the center, places for people to linger or retreat. Overhead, a trellis draped in green vines lets in dappled light and drifting shadows. Along the edge, double-sided benches face both inward toward the gathering and outward toward the balcony. Beyond the railing, Harmony Mountain drops away in sheer ridges and pale mist. Below the cliffs, below the clouds, the Marsh Sanctum stretches out. It's so close it looks touchable, yet so far it might as well be another world.

A handful of ‘guests’ are already here picking at the food and putting it onto small plates. Damion and Mulsae are ravenous. Zudaeshi barely fed them yesterday. She’s trying to mimic Mulsae, but doesn’t know or doesn’t care about the responsibilities surrounding what he does as a pet master.

They dig into the food and eat quickly just in case Zudaeshi pops in and tears them away. Then they eat some more just in case they’re starved another day again.

Garrick strolls up to them, “You two appear hungry.”

Mulsae lets the mask drop into smooth neutrality and gives no reply.

“What’s with your outfits?” They’re both topless with nipple rings, shoeless, and wearing only pants.

Deryn appears, “Garrick, leave them alone. She is giving them a hard time.”

Garrick rolls his eyes and scoffs, “Oh sure, a little kneeling is such a hard time. I had to dance with that cold witch for hours last night. Then she tried to get me into her bed,” he laughs, “Can you imagine the torture that would be?”

“Garrick, don’t speak about what you don’t know of,” presses Deryn.

Garrick waves a hand dismissively and walks off.

“What is your angle, Deryn,” Mulsae asks suspiciously, “That’s twice now you’ve defended us.”

“I need your cunning. We all will need your cunning to get out of this,” Deryn faces him squarely, “She’s going to try to wear you down and break you. We can’t afford that. You need support in order to keep yourself together.”

Mulsae narrows his eyes at him, “You hate me.”

Deryn stifles a laugh, “I fucking despise you, Mulsae. You are an evil bastard. But I don’t let my personal opinions affect my total evaluation of you. You’re smart, you’re cunning, you’re resourceful. We have the same exact goals: defeat her. We’re allies whether I like you or not.”

Mulsae dons his mask of neutrality, “I see.”

Deryn nods and walks off.

“Garrick is such a mindless brute,” hisses Damion quietly to Mulsae. He just nods in response.

Suddenly a voice penetrates the air, “Sanctum Masters, steward, approach.” It's Zudaeshi. They look around to find her, and then look up. There she is on a terrace overlooking the pavilion. She's wearing a simple black robe that fits her curves.

The called upon people put down their plates and approach the terrace. They stand in a line. Mulsae joins the line, but Damion stays back by the food.

“You are free to leave with your retinue. Your first tithe is due in two days. I expect you to return to present your tithe that afternoon.

“Mulsae is remaining as my consultant, so Steward Saeroth is taking his place in the Water Sanctum. Master Dalenna has no transportation, so she shall send a letter for her people to bring a tithe. The Flame siblings are remaining as my guests, as well as their mother and her partner, Brayl.

“Do you have any questions?” she casts her gaze across them.

Halion clears his throat, “How much is the requested tithe?”

A smile snakes across Zudaeshi’s face, “As much as you can spare. I expect you to be honest with me. If you aren’t, I will extract your dues straight from your towns and villages with force. Do you all understand?” They all nod solemnly.

Zudaeshi waves a hand, “You may go. Return in two days.” She turns and exits the terrace.

The Sanctum Masters disperse. They collect the members of their retinue and leave the pavilion. The ones remaining are Damion, Mulsae, Ground Master Dalenna, Serelinne, Brayl, and the Flame siblings. They all eye each other cautiously.

Brayl breaks the silence, “Please, let’s speak to each other,” he gestures for them to join he and Serelinne.

They come together in a group. Mulsae happens to walk up behind Dalenna, and Dalenna promptly resituates herself to be further from him.

Brayl looks each of them in the eye, “We have the same enemy. We’re allies. We need to work together.”

Mulsae’s eyes sweep the room. “This is a treasonous conversation against the Harmonarch,” Mulsae says coolly. Everyone is quiet. He continues, “Caution is advisable,” then turns and walks back into the palace while Damion follows.

Mulsae leads them down corridors, walking like he owns the place, but not in the direction Damion would have thought was towards their chamber. At some points he even doubles back. They pass guards blocking passageways and Mulsae nods respectfully to each one of them as he passes.

Eventually Mulsae starts brazenly opening doors and looking inside. Now Damion gets it: Mulsae is exploring. He finds empty rooms. Empty bed chambers that are just as devoid of supplies or clothing as their own. Sparsely furnished offices. All with thick layers of dust.

Eventually, they find a jackpot. It is a large room filled with books. Damion practically drools. All four walls are filled floor to ceiling with books and there are two additional bookcases on one side of the room, and two chairs and a table on the other side. Mulsae and Damion grin at each other then dash into the room hungrily looking over the books.

They each take time scanning the bookshelves, drinking in the options and figuring out the sorting system. Then they start picking books off the shelves and flipping through them. They occasionally keep a book in their arms. Damion is looking for fiction and history. He finds two of each that seem interesting.

Damion finds Mulsae with four books stacked on the small table and reading a fifth book. “Gods, we don’t have to be so bored any more,” Damion says, relieved.

Mulsae nods in understanding. “Let’s head back to our chamber. Unfortunately, we need to make ourselves available to be found. We could anger her if there’s a delay after summoning.”

Damion sighs and nods. They head out and Mulsae appears to be getting a handle on mapping the place out because he effortlessly leads them back to their chamber.

Mulsae plops his books on the table then takes one out and opens it to read. Damion plops his books on the chest of drawers and sits in front of the fire to read. He doesn’t have to sit in front of the fire any more. It isn’t his ‘place’ right now. But he has fond memories of reading for hours in front of the fire and wants to hold onto that sense of comfort the memories bring him.

They have quite some time to read before there is a knock on the door. It opens and a servant stands in the threshold and says, "You have been summoned."

Mulsae and Damion exchange a look before standing and following the servant to where they've been summoned. They're lead through hallways that are growing increasingly familiar. Damion can guess where they're going: Zudaeshi's suite. Fuck. She's going to fuck with us more. Literally.

They enter the suite and are lead straight to her bed chamber. Fuck.

The servant opens the bed chamber door and ushers them inside. Zudaeshi is sitting at her vanity brushing her hair. She stands and greets them with a wide smile. The escort closes the door. Closes them in. Fuck.

"My pets," she coos and runs her nails across each of their faces.

She gets right up into Mulsae's space. She runs a possessive hand across his chest as she speaks, "I have quite enjoyed having you as my pet," she tugs a nipple ring, "but even a Harmonarch can't eat her cake and have it, too," she pouts as she tugs the other nipple ring.

She sighs dramatically then runs her nails down the side of his face, "I need you as my Council Consultant. And my Council Consultant can't appear like this," she runs her hand down his chest to the waistband of his pants, "as much as I like you like this." Bare chested displaying nipple rings, and wearing only pants.

She abruptly turns and walks away, "So I've had your wardrobe fetched from Drenvaar. It's being delivered to your room as we speak," she picks up a pile of black folded clothing, "I picked these for you for today," she places them on the bed next to Mulsae.

"However, I don't want you to forget who you belong to, my pet."

"I'll never forget I belong to you, Your Radiance," Mulsae purrs.

She grabs his chin, "Such pretty words from such a pretty mouth," she pulls down his bottom lip and he opens his mouth. She sticks in two fingers and he can't help but gag when her long nails go too far back. She brings her fingers back out and wipes them off on his chest.

She walks to her vanity and picks up a necklace with a modestly sized metal medallion as the pendant. She saunters over to Mulsae and hooks one side of the chain to one nipple ring, and attaches the other side to the other ring. Then she drops the apparently quite heavy medallion. As stoic as he tries to keep himself, Mulsae gasps and bends over a bit from the shock.

She shifts the medallion left and right, then tugs which causes Mulsae to flinch, "I think this will keep me on your mind."

"You're always on my mind, Your Radiance," he smiles seductively and dares to run a caress down her arm.

She hums in satisfaction, "Such pretty words," she gestures to the clothes, "Put your clothes on."

She turns to Damion. His heart races. "Now for your outfit," she smiles.

She picks up a black leather square with two straps with buckles. Damion is crestfallen. Mulsae rarely ever binds his arms anymore. Damion anticipates her and folds his arms behind his back and turns his back to her.

"Oh my! He is a good boy, isn't he?" she exclaims happily. She snakes the restraint around his arms and tightens the buckles. Too tight. Damion wiggles his fingers. Fuck. What do I do? Godsdamnit. Think think! Do I risk pissing her off? Do I risk nerve damage or worse? Fuck fuck fuck.

Damion swallows, "Excuse me," he says bashfully.

She moves around Damion to face his front, "Yes, Damion dear?"

"The restraint... It's too tight," he says timidly.

She hums contentedly, "All the better, my pet," she smiles wickedly.

"Your Radiance," Mulsae chimes in, "He could suffer nerve damage if the restraint is too tight."

She frowns, "Why should I care?"

"If he has nerve damage he wouldn't be able to provide full... service," Mulsae advises.

Zudaeshi hums as she ponders. She sighs dramatically. She returns to Damion's back and loosens the binding.

"Is that okay?" she says angrily. Damion wiggles his fingers. It should work. "Yes, it's good. Thank you," Damion says meekly.

"Come sit at the vanity, Damion dear." She ushers him to sit.

She runs her nails through his long hair, then brushes and styles his hair with her nails. She grabs a stick of kohl and moves in front of him. She carefully applies the kohl under Damion's eyes.

Zudaeshi turns back to Mulsae who has dressed in a black tunic, black pants, and black socks. She picks up a pair of shiny black shoes and hands them to him.

As Mulsae puts on the shoes she asks, "Whatever did you do to get Damion to cry that time when I saw you in Drenvaar."

Mulsae is quiet a moment longer than he should have been before saying, "I choked him on my cock."

"Oh really!" her eyes glitter with delight, "Well, I want Damion dear to cry."

Fuck. Damion's heart jumps into his throat.

Mulsae stands and runs a gentle hand down Zudaeshi's arm, "I would do anything for you, Your Radiance. But it's prohibited by The Agreement we have."

She pouts dramatically, "This 'Agreement' gets in the way of my fun," then a smile crosses her face, "This month's Agreement ends tomorrow, though. And that cock cage unlocks, doesn't it?" Mulsae nods. "I'm looking forward to releasing that cock," she purrs.

She backs away frowning again petulantly, "This Agreement, is it enchanted?"

"No, Your Radiance. We purposely avoided being bound by magic. We want to be bound by honor and trust."

Her eyes light up, "Then nothing is stopping you from making Damion cry!" Damion's heart sinks.

"Your Radiance, if I break the terms of the Agreement, I will be gravely damaging the relationship I have with my pet," Mulsae tries to say as respectfully as possible.

She scoffs, "He's your pet, what does it matter how he feels about you?"

"Trust in me is an important component of keeping him docile and obedient, Your Radiance."

"Is that so?" she saunters over to Damion and plays with his hair, "You have not completed instructing me on the breaking process. We will continue lessons soon."

She places her hands on Damion's shoulders then bends down to be eye level with him, cheek to cheek, and looks at him through the mirror, "Would you mind if we end The Agreement a day early? If you both agree to end it, then no trust is broken."

"I'm required to defend the agreement, Your Radiance," Mulsae says.

Zudaeshi's nails begin to dig into Damion's shoulders. Hard. He can't help but grimace.

"Your Radiance," Mulsae pleads with a helpless hand reaching out to them, "You're hurting him."

"This Agreement seems to be superseding my authority as your Harmonarch!" she exclaims angrily. Blood begins to trickle down from the nail marks in Damion's shoulders.

Fuck, she's angry. What will she do if she's angry? Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

"It's okay!" gasps Damion, "It's okay, we'll end The Agreement now."

Zudaeshi loosens her grip on Damion's shoulders, "Do you agree, Mulsae dear?"

"Yes, Your Radiance. We can end The Agreement now," Mulsae concedes sadly.

She releases Damion. "Good," she coos as she saunters up to Mulsae. She places a possessive hand on his chest, "Now, do make Damion cry for me, Mulsae dear."

Damion's heart is fluttering around his ribcage like a terrified bird. Banning throat fucking was the first thing written in The Agreement on day one. He hates it. He loathes it. He has nightmares about it. Dread seeps out from the core of his being.

Mulsae sits in one of the chairs. He opens his pants and pushes them down a bit. There's no hardened length to pop out. He's flaccid. He takes himself in hand and strokes. Zudaeshi sits in the chair opposite Mulsae and watches with rapt attention.

Mulsae opens his legs wide, "Damion, kneel between my legs," he says with mild authority.

Damion's throat bobs as he swallows. He stands and walks to Mulsae then gingerly lowers himself to kneel between his legs.

Mulsae still isn't hard. He strokes himself. After a moment he tips his head back and closes his eyes. His cock begins to harden and grow. When finally satisfied Mulsae says lowly, "I'm going to fuck that throat of yours." Damion whimpers.

Mulsae gets a grip on the roots of Damion's hair. He pulls him towards his cock. We just need to get this over with, Damion thinks to himself, I just need to cry and then we can stop. The faster I cry the better.

He allows all his emotions to unlock. He allows his dread and despair to swallow him. He can feel the pin pricks of tears as Mulsae's cock enters his mouth.

Gods oh gods oh gods oh gods. This is it. And Damion gags on Mulsae's cock. Mulsae pushes further. A tear falls as the pure stress of it floods his system. Mulsae pushes as far as he can and Damion's nose smooshes into Mulsae's body. Mulsae thrusts but is still preventing him from breathing. Tears fall. Damion thrashes and kicks his legs.

Mulsae pops him off his cock with a loud gasp from Damion. He pants heavily. Mulsae turns Damion's head, "How is this, Your Radiance?" Damion looks at her with his mouth gaping, drool spilling, and kohl streaked tears run down his face.

Zudaeshi considers Damion's appearance, "More. Do it again."

Damion whimpers as Mulsae tugs his head back and swiftly penetrates his mouth. He thrusts up fast causing Damion to gag followed by a sob wracking through him. Now the tears stream. Mulsae thrusts in his throat and Damion can't breath.

Mulsae pops Damion off his cock with a loud wet gasp followed by a snot filled inhale. Tears are continuing to fall down Damion's face bringing kohl down his cheeks. His nose is red. His cheeks flushed. His lips swollen and slick with saliva. Mulsae turns Damion's head to face Zudaeshi, "Will this do, Your Radiance?"

She claps her hands in delight, "Oh how lovely. Just absolutely lovely. Perfect."

She stands up happily, "Let me get a good look at you two."

Damion lumbers up into a standing position. Mulsae puts himself back in his pants and stands then refastens them. He runs his hands down his clothing to straighten everything out.

Zudaeshi walks up to Mulsae and flicks her nails through his hair to style it. She turns to Damion and does the same.

She steps back and evaluates them. "Yes, this will do well."

She ushers them to the door while she says, "Mulsae dear, you are my Council Consultant. Go to the banquet hall and mingle with the rest of my Council Ministers. Introduce yourself and get to know everyone else. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Radiance," Mulsae says with confidence.

She ushers them out the door and shuts it. Damion and Mulsae look to each other. Mulsae mouths 'I'm sorry'. Damion closes his eyes and nods then jerks his head to indicate they should get going. They leave Zudaeshi's suite, with Mulsae acknowledging the guards with a nod.

Mulsae and Damion go through the hallways with Damion in heel position to the left and behind. They reach the set of double doors that are already open to the banquet hall.

They cross the threshold and the gathered individuals turn to face them. They are all Sky-Touched, save for one. He’s unsavory even at a glance. Smoke clings to him like a second skin. Only his face, chest, and biceps hold shape when he’s still while the rest shifts in and out of existence. When he moves, an arm lifted or a step taken, the drifting smoke snaps into muscle and bone for an instant, only to fade again to smoke when he stills.

He drifts the perimeter of the gathering, half-spirit eyes flicking between each person as if measuring every secret in the room.

Mulsae places his hands in his pockets as he strolls in. He makes his rounds to meet people and introduce himself. No one recognizes him by sight, but some are familiar with his name, while others just the 'Sanctum of the Cutting Deep', and others still have never heard of Mulsae nor his Sanctum.

Zudaeshi appears to have gathered the necessary people to run a territory. There is the High Commander of Her Legions, and a Master of Watch for security. She has the basics covered, like a Coinmaster and Council Scribe, and even a Residence Master to manage running the palace. Plus an Official Envoy, Spymaster, and Dungeon Master.

Not many react to Damion, they either eye him or ignore him. One actually inquired, and was impressed Mulsae had made someone his pet.

Mulsae turns to speak with the smoke spirit at the far side of the room, but Zudaeshi can be heard approaching by the sound of her shoes echoing through the halls. Everyone steps forward closer to the entrance of the room.

Zudaeshi steps in wearing a midnight blue dress. Everyone bows and says, "Your Radiance."

She casts her eyes across the group and smiles widely, "My Council Ministers. My closest confidants. We are starting something great together, a unified Harmura. I hope you have all had an opportunity to meet each other." The group nods. She claps her hands, "Wonderful. Let's take our seats."

Everyone heads to their chairs. Mulsae rounds the table and much to his relief has found he has a chair. Unfortunately, it's directly to the left of Zudaeshi. Between Mulsae and Zudaeshi is a cushion on the floor for Damion.

To Zudaeshi's right is the smoke spirit. His edges billow and contract at seemingly random intervals.

Many servants file in carrying trays and place one tray in front of each person. Mulsae has been given normal portion sizes despite him feeding two. Damion looks up at a soft squeak sound and sees in front of the smoke spirit is a small cage with two frightened rabbits. His eyes widen at the sight.

Mulsae shares his food with Damion. He feeds him a bite a moment after Damion finishes chewing the previous offer. Mulsae is definitely feeding more to Damion than he's eating himself.

The smoke spirit drifts a misty hand toward the first rabbit. It shudders and topples onto its side. Frost rims its eyes and feathers the tips of its fur.

The rest of the table has been chatting amongst themselves, providing a faint din in the background.

When he finishes draining the second rabbit, the spirit lifts his head. His voice is unnatural, drifting like his smoke, half heard, half felt brushing cold against the skin. “What… is thisss?” He gestures at Damion, fingers flickering into shape just long enough to point.

Zudaeshi answers, "This is Mulsae's pet, Damion," she runs her nails through Damion's hair.

"Why... is he heeeere? Pets should staaaay in their owner's rooooom," the spirit's black eyes narrow at Damion.

"He joins me everywhere," Mulsae says coolly.

"And I enjoy his company as well, isn't that right, Damion dear?" she runs her nails down his neck to his shoulder.

"He'ssss... a rissssk," the spirit's voice drifts forward.

Zudaeshi hums in contemplation, "He has a point, Mulsae."

"He may stay in my room if it pleases you, Your Radiance," Mulsae suggests.

"No," she says with a frown while running her nails through his hair again, "I do enjoy his company."

"We could remooooove his eyessss... his tongue... and gouge out his earssss," the spirit suggests unflinchingly.

Zudaeshi hums in contemplation. Damion's heart jumps into his throat. His heart beats faster. He tries to show no reaction but it's getting harder to breathe.

Zudaeshi turns Damion's head to face her. She runs a nail from his brow, around his eye to his cheek, "These eyes are lovely,"

She reaches down to his mouth. She presses down on his bottom lip and he opens, "Stick out your tongue, Damion dear." He nervously complies. Is this the moment she removes my tongue? She fondles the tongue ring with the tip of a nail. She hums contemplatively, "This tongue can perform... services." Fuck. Would I prefer no tongue, or eat her out? Serious question...

She reaches up to caress the edge of Damion's ear. He retracts his tongue and closes his mouth. "He obeys so well to orders," she sticks a nail down his ear canal and applies pressure. Damion freezes. A shudder curls down his spine; sweat beads at his hairline. Then she pulls her nail out, "No. He's too much of a good boy to take his hearing."

She removes her hand from him and tension washes off Damion's shoulders. Mulsae offers him another bite of food giving him an excuse to turn away.

She turns to the smoke spirit, "I don't wish to modify him. I like him the way he is."

The spirit's edges billow in silent agitation, "I have given my advicccce... It'sss... your decissssion, Your Raaadiance."

"Duly noted, Khaas. Thank you. I will keep your caution in mind," she returns back to eating her lunch.

The rest talk amongst themselves, but do not bring Zudaeshi nor Khaas into conversation. They do try to pull Mulsae into talking, but he provides curt bored responses.

The Dungeon Master, Malric, is looking forward to working with Mulsae because of his telepathic abilities. Mulsae nor Zudaeshi let him know she's sapped away his powers.

The Spymaster, Riko, wants to consult with Mulsae and learn about his techniques with his spy network. She recalls the Water Sanctum has an excellent spy network, but can't quite remember exactly why that was. Perhaps Mulsae can fill her in.

After everyone has finished eating and they're reclining in their chairs drinking their wine, Zudaeshi calls an end to lunch and bids them to move on to their meeting in the audience chamber. Chairs scrape against the floor in a cacophony as everyone moves back their chair to stand at the same time.

Zudaeshi leads them through the hallways to the grand carved double doors that are already open to the audience chamber. The room has a modest crowd milling about. The crowd is mostly composed of soldiers and servants. Dalenna, Serelinne, Brayl, and the Flame siblings are also present, grouped together from everyone else.

Zudaeshi forgoes the pomp and circumstance for this crowd and just strolls in with her Council Ministers in tow. Someone announces, "Your Radiance!" and everyone turns to bow and part from the middle of the room so she may reach her throne unimpeded.

Khaas follows her as she heads to the throne. She sits and he floats to the right of the throne canopy. "Thank you," she says regally, "My Council Ministers, please approach."

The crowd is quiet and faces her. The Council Ministers approach and stand before her in a semicircle. Mulsae has Damion kneel next to him and keeps a protective hand on his head.

"Coinmaster, please begin," Zudaeshi instructs.

Lazhar is handed a stack of parchment from an assistant. "I have created preliminary budgets for everyone," he begins as he hands out the parchment. He looks at the top parchment then goes to a specific individual. Each document is limited to the budget for what that individual oversees. Lazhar goes on his spiel discussing how their budgets show the fungible and not fungible assets made available to them, and how this is all preliminary depending upon the results of the tithe in two days. He concludes his talk and returns to his spot in the semicircle.

"High Commander," she calls.

Rhydros steps forward. "The forces we have shall be ready to deploy in four days' time. We are in negotiations with Shinra to increase our forces. The negotiations are looking positive since your ascension to Harmonarch."

Zudaeshi nods. "Master of Watch."

"There were no breaches of security during the recent influx of guests," Eryx reports, "We're continuing to expand secure areas available in the palace. We're hoping to have the entire palace secure in three weeks."

Zudaeshi purses her lips, "A large number of guests shall be coming within the week, and continuing to grow for the week after. Where shall we put them?"

"What level of accommodations do they require?"

She shrugs, "Doesn't matter."

"It doesn't matter how many are squeezed into a space?"

"Not at all," she replies coolly.

"Then we should easily be able to accommodate a large number of guests in time. I shall prioritize securing space for them."

Residence Master Misaki speaks up, "The space can't be too crowded, else we won't be able to get food to them."

Zudaeshi rolls her eyes then waves a hand dismissively, "Alright. Eryx, work with Misaki while designating space for the guests so that they can access food." The Master of Wards nods.

"Dungeon Master. Report."

"I've been working with Eryx to secure the palace dungeon," Malric says, "We already have three prisoners there brought in by Riko."

Zudaeshi gets a sparkle in her eye, "Oh really, now? Please, do bring them up after our meeting concludes." He nods in acknowledgement.

"Speaking of Riko," she turns to the other woman, "Spymaster. Report."

"There is much dissatisfaction across all of Harmura."

Zudaeshi purses her lips.

"The three prisoners I brought in are the rebellion leadership of their area. Hopefully their loss will sow confusion in the rest." She shakes her head, "Putting down rebels and discontents will require a very strong hand, Your Radiance."

"I see," Zudaeshi taps her nail on the arm of the throne in frustration. She sighs dramatically, then continues, "Council Scribe, how is communications?"

Rhoven says, "I am working with Masaru to set up a line of communication with all of Harmura's Sanctums. There has been some push back. Masaru can speak to that."

"Envoy. Report."

"Yes," Masaru clears his throat, "Although the Sanctum Masters have all pledged themselves to you, their Sanctums themselves are still resistant. Disrespectful at best, and hostile at worst."

"Report what you know to Riko and let her manage the hostile Sanctums." She looks to the Residence Master, "And finally, Misaki dear," Zudaeshi smiles, "Report, Residence Master."

"My most pressing concern is kitchen staff. With the massive influx of guests we also need a massive influx of staff in the kitchens."

"I see," Zudaeshi sighs, "Work with Eryx. You can recruit staff from our pool of guests."

"Any other updates I should be aware of?" Zudaeshi asks. No one responds.

"Alright. All of you, please make your acquaintance with Mulsae here, my Council Consultant," she gestures to him. "He is Master of the Water Sanctum, otherwise known as the Sanctum of the Cutting Deep. I take great inspiration from him," she smiles, "He will be making himself available to you all to advise you on any questions you may have. Please, do not be shy, and avail yourselves of his wealth of knowledge."

She turns to Misaki, "He'll require an office. Please designate one for him. Large enough to have meetings with two to four people at a time." Misaki nods.

"Any other comments or questions?" Zudaeshi gazes at each individual in turn. She claps her hands and a large smile grows across her face, "Malric, please do bring in the prisoners. It's time for some fun!"

The Dungeon Master bows and turns to leave.

Zudaeshi dismisses the Council Ministers to mingle. Mulsae and Damion drift to a quiet spot by the wall.

"Zudaeshi didn't say anything to Malric when he said he wanted to use your powers. Think she'll give them back?" Damion says subtly in a low voice.

"Don't discuss things in the open," Mulsae says under his hand.

Malric returns to the room with five people in tow, a Sky-Touched and two Windborne, each with their hands bound behind them, bookended by soldiers. Malric presents the prisoners to Zudaeshi.

"I hear you are dissatisfied with me," Zudaeshi sneers.

A trembling Windborne shouts, "I don't know you!" he looks around, "I don't know this place!" he looks back up to her and pleads, "I don't know what's happening!"

"I don't like liars," Zudaeshi snaps, "Remove his tongue," she gestures to Khaas.

Khaas drifts down the dais and approaches the trembling Windborne who cowers, "No! I'm not lying! I'm not lying!"

Khaas envelopes the Windborne's head in the smoke of one arm and shoves an icy finger deep into the man’s mouth. The man screams and falls to his knees, and Khaas bends over with him. He scoops a dried chunk of flesh from the man's mouth and drops it at their feet. The man is bent forward and continues to scream.

Zudaeshi smiles. She seems to enjoy the music of his screams. Khaas turns and drifts back up the dais to Zudaeshi's side. Eventually the man stops screaming and lays his forehead on the floor with his mouth gaped open. Blood starts to pool beneath his head.

"As I was saying, I hear you are dissatisfied with me and are spreading dissension throughout your villages. That will not be tolerated," she says in a serious regal tone.

"Mulsae, approach," she commands.

Mulsae approaches the dais with Damion following. "Yes, Your Radiance. I'm at your service," he says with a small bow.

"I want you to demonstrate to Malric your Sanctum's flaying techniques," Zudaeshi says casually, "Don't do the entire body. Just the right hand and forearm. They'll then be returned to their villages as a message."

Mulsae bows, "Yes, Your Radiance."

"Let's do the demonstration here. Malric, bring in what's required to perform the flaying," she says coolly. Malric nods his head and exits the room.

She announces to the whole room, "Mulsae here is the Master of the Sanctum of the Cutting Deep. He has much to teach us. He'll be remaining with us as my Council Consultant for the foreseeable future."

An object rolling on wheels can be heard approaching. Malric enters the room holding a bag while other servants are pushing a large table on wheels behind him. In the rear is a servant carrying a small table. They approach the dais and situate the large table so it is centered to the throne. The small table is set next to the large table and Malric places his bag on top of it.

Malric opens the bag and begins removing knives of various sizes. He then jerks his chin to the soldiers who escorted the prisoners. They grab the nearest prisoner, the Sky-Touched man, and drag him struggling to the large table.

One soldier sweeps up the prisoner's feet and they plop him down onto the table. Straps are situated all around. They strap his ankle and knees, fold him forward, cut off the rope binding his arms behind him then slam him back against the table and bind his wrists and elbows. They secure his hips, chest, neck, and forehead. At some point the prisoner accepted his fate and stopped struggling.

Malric steps back and gestures towards the display, "Mulsae, please, do the honors."

Mulsae strolls over to the demonstration area with Damion following. He instructs Damion to kneel at the foot of the large table, then sets about examining the knives. The prisoner looks up at him with wide terrified eyes.

"My Sanctum has a specialized blade for cleaner flays," Mulsae says mildly, as if commenting on kitchen knives. "I’ll prepare a drawing for your blacksmith. For today, these will suffice. They are what we used prior to inventing the flaying tool we use now."

Mulsae takes the largest knife, "It's good to start with the broad strokes and work your way down to the smaller, more delicate areas."

He unstraps the prisoner's right wrist strap, "For limbs, you want to start closer to the torso and work your way to the hand, or in the case of the legs, the foot."

Mulsae has a firm grip on the prisoner's hand and positions the tip of the knife for the first cut. Malric gets in close to analyze the angle of the cuts. Mulsae slices down the arm from the elbow to the hand. The prisoner groans and clenches his jaw, and uselessly tries to pull himself away.

"After the first slice, insert the tip like this... and push through to the other side," Mulsae demonstrates, "Then all you have to do is pull the knife down," he quickly slides the knife from the elbow to hand and the prisoner's screams bounce off the walls of the audience chamber.

"Then just slice off the ends," Mulsae peels off the skin, "And there you have it." He holds up the strip of skin and it drips with blood onto the floor.

“Give it to Khaas,” Zudaeshi commands, flicking her hand. Khaas drifts down the dais and extends one smoky palm. Mulsae drops the slice of skin into his grasp and watches it wither to dust in Khaas’s hold. Khaas settles nearby, waiting, a silent collector for whatever is peeled away next.

Mulsae returns his attention back to the arm he is flaying, "Then you just repeat that same process around the entire limb," he inserts the knife and pulls down to separate another strip of skin. The prisoner continues to scream, pant, and thrash. Mulsae cuts off the strip and hands it to Khaas without looking up.

Mulsae continues to strip the prisoner of skin on his right forearm and give it to Khaas to wither. He shows how to get to the underside of the arm and avoid slicing any of the veins.

Mulsae straps the wrist back to the table, the restraint digging into the freshly flayed muscle, bone, and tendons. The prisoner's screaming has died down to hoarse grunts, whines, and whimpering.

Mulsae picks up a small delicate knife. "Flaying the hand is unusual, but it can be done," he holds up the delicate knife, "It's better to use a small blade and work in small strips. The process is much the same, just smaller." He slices down the side of the back of the hand then inserts the blade and slices off a strip, which he hands to Khaas. He continues to flay the back of the prisoner's hand.

"We tend to do just one slice on the back of the fingers," Mulsae demonstrates and flays all five fingers.

Mulsae puts down the knife and picks up a cloth and wipes his hands, "Malric, would you like to give the next one a try? I'll observe."

The soldiers start to release the prisoner. He is limp and placid. Exhausted. They pull him off the table and he stands on wobbly feet. The soldiers wrench his arms behind him and bind his flayed wrist to his whole wrist. He grunts and cries in pain.

The soldiers grab a thrashing Windborne prisoner, plop him on the table and strap him down. The flayed prisoner sinks to his knees then flops to his side on the floor.

Malric begins the process of flaying the second prisoner while Mulsae observes and provides suggestions where appropriate. Screams again echo and reverberate off the walls in the audience chamber, drowning out most sounds. Malric slices off the skin and hands it to Khaas, bit by bit, strip by strip until he's completed down to the last finger.

The soldiers pull the exhausted prisoner off the table and bind his wrists behind him. He, too, sinks to his knees and flops to his side onto the floor.

The soldiers pick up the prisoner with the freshly removed tongue. His mouth is still gaping open and blackened with a stream of blood like drool. They plop his body onto the large table, he doesn't struggle nearly as much as they strap him down.

Malric sets to flaying his arm. The prisoner has wet screams and spittles of blood fly from his mouth. He struggles with the bleeding in his mouth. He thrashes his head but it won't budge against the restraints. He swallows and coughs, spraying blood onto Malric's and Mulsae's faces.

Gods! He's going to drown in his blood! Damion thinks to himself, No one is saying anything. Surely Mulsae can see he's close to death! Should I say something? What would happen if I spoke up?

Gurgling bubbles from the prisoner's mouth and his body starts to convulse instead of thrash. His convulsions come in short bursts between stillness. And then he's just merely still. I delayed too much from indecision, and now he's dead. His head sinks down and he closes his eyes. I should have said something.

"It is much easier to perform on the dead," Malric comments. It's the only acknowledgement to the prisoner's passing. Malric finishes flaying and handing the skin to Khaas.

Malric picks up the cloth and wipes his hands, "Thank you for the demonstration, Mulsae. Although I knew much of it, I did gain some new insight. I am also eager to have that tool of yours made and see a demonstration with that." Mulsae merely inclines his head.

"Thank you for the demonstration, Mulsae," Zudaeshi says to him, then switches to an announcement tone, "Audience is concluded for the day. Everyone please use this time to prepare for the revelry this evening. Wear something... sexy," she winks, then turns to Mulsae, "Damion looks perfect as he is. Leave my pretty pet just so." Mulsae nods.

Mulsae collects Damion and walks them to the outer edge of the crowd. Zudaeshi snaps her fingers repeatedly then orders, "Return the equipment, return the surviving prisoners to their villages, and butcher the dead one," she waves her hand dismissively at the scene before her. The soldiers take the live prisoners away, and the servants swarm the scene to remove everything from the audience chamber.

Murmuring in the room grows as the crowd begins to mingle while they make their way out of the audience chamber. The Harmuran natives are still grouped together and make no attempt to engage Mulsae. Skeptical looks are thrown his way, though. Damion avoids their eyes. He wonders if they’ll ever see Mulsae as anything but the butcher at Zudaeshi’s side.

Mulsae and Damion slowly leave the room with the crowd. The amount of people surrounding them decreases as people break off down different corridors until it's just the Harmuran natives walking down their shared hallway. They each peel off to enter their rooms without a word or acknowledgement.

As soon as the door shuts and closes Mulsae and Damion into their room, Mulsae whirls on Damion and grabs his shoulders, "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry I did that to you."

"It wasn't you, it was her," Damion assures him.

Mulsae breaks away and paces while pulling his hair at its roots, "But it was me. I did do it. And I fucking liked it, and I don't know what to do with that. Fuck!"

"Can you unbind my arms?"

"Yes! Sorry!" Mulsae dashes over to Damion and unbinds his arms and tosses the restraints onto the chest of drawers. Damion starts to rub his arms, but Mulsae grabs one and starts massaging it.

"I feel sick that I liked it. I wanted it. I don't want to hurt you any more, though. I've hurt you enough," Mulsae laments.

"I know you don't want to hurt me, Mulsae, that's why I don't blame you. It was Zudaeshi, not you," Damion reassures.

"She's making me hurt the innocent," Mulsae whispers, "Those people just now, I'm positive they were innocent. And I have to throw on this Sanctum of the Cutting Deep mask and just go along with it," he sighs.

"She knows you're wearing a mask. That you're pretending. She's trying to break you," Damion whispers.

"It's working," he replies in kind.

Mulsae moves on to massage Damion's other arm. They both watch his work in silence.

"You take care of me, and I appreciate it," Damion says softly.

"I hurt you. It's the least I can do," Mulsae responds with guilt in his tone.

Mulsae sighs when he finishes massaging Damion's arms, "I need to wash this blood off of me..."

"You didn't say anything as he was dying. Why not?"

Mulsae runs his hand through his hair, "No tongue, flayed hand... I thought, I thought he was better off dead," he looks up at Damion, "It may have been the wrong call."

Damion shakes his head, "It was a tough call. I almost spoke up, but got lost in indecision and then it was too late."

Mulsae's eyes go wide and he grabs Damion's shoulders, "Do not speak up. Do not express your opinions. You are seen, not heard. Do you hear me?" Damion nods. "I am serious. It is mortally dangerous if you express your opinions."

"I understand."

"And don't speak about what's happening here outside of this room. We don't know who is listening. We don't know who is betraying us," Mulsae sighs, "That's why I wouldn't talk with the others this morning. It was so dangerous for them to all stand together and try to literally discuss treason together."

"You're right."

Mulsae wraps Damion up in an embrace, "Please be careful. I don't know what I would do without you."

"I'll be more careful."

Mulsae steps away, "I'm going to wash up so I can be ready when they summon us." Damion nods. Mulsae goes into the bathing chamber.

Damion remembers that Mulsae's clothes in Drenvaar were brought here, so he investigates the room again. Sure enough, the wardrobe is filled with black clothing and the drawers with more black. He calls over to Mulsae to tell him his clothes are here.

Damion snags his book and snuggles up onto the bed to read.

Mulsae comes back into the room nude except for the chain with a medallion hanging from his nipple rings. He heads to the drawers, finds and puts on some underwear.

"Want some underwear?" Mulsae dangles a pair up to Damion.

"Oh gods, yes," Damion crawls across the bed and snags the underwear. Silky black. Lovely. He takes off his pants to put them on then puts his pants on again. He thinks he needs to wash the pants tonight.

Mulsae picks through his shirts in the wardrobe. He pulls out a sheer black shirt with waves embroidered on it and puts it on. He picks a pair of pants that fit tightly on his body. He buttons up the shirt half way so the top of his chest is clearly visible.

He shows off to Damion, "Sexy enough?" Damion chuckles and nods. Mulsae grabs a pair of socks and shoes and sits to put them on.

"So, what I was wondering about earlier," Damion starts, "That Zudaeshi didn't correct Malric about your telepathic powers. Do you think she'll give any power back to you?"

Mulsae blows out some air and runs his hand through his hair, "I don't want to hope. I'm not thinking about it."

"I get it," Damion says as he looks back at his book, "It was the same for me, back when you first took me. Hoping hurt more than having none." Mulsae gives him a pained look. Damion tries to focus back on the book, but the weight of the room sits between the lines.

They read in silence until there is a knock on the door. It opens and a servant enters, "The evening activities have begun. I am to escort you to the VIP area."

Mulsae stands and grabs the arm restraint from the chest of drawers, and Damion clambers over the bed and hops off. He turns his back to Mulsae with his arms folded and Mulsae buckles in the arm restraint. Much much looser than it was earlier.

Mulsae nods to the escort to indicate they're ready to be led to the revelry. The escort leads them to a modestly sized chamber. The left and right walls are lined with a long wall-to-wall couch. The center has an array of small round end-tables and large low-backed chairs that could sit two people in an intimate fashion. Flanking the door are tables of food and drink.

Some people are already present. Most appear to be those from the Council Ministers and a few have partners accompanying them.

As Mulsae and Damion enter, they are stopped and told to open their mouths and stick out their tongue. They glance at each other but then comply. A pill is placed on their tongues and they're told to swallow. They comply and eye each other again. What the fuck did we just take?

Mulsae grabs a plate of food and goblet of wine and makes his way across the room nodding at everyone in respect. He chooses the chair closest to a brazier so Damion can enjoy the heat. He sits in the chair legs wide and indicates for Damion to lounge between his legs. Damion sits and leans partially against the chair and partially against Mulsae's leg. Mulsae places a hand on Damion's neck and rubs soothing circles along his spine.

Damion was nervous, but seems to be calming down. The fire is very pleasant. It might just be the most pleasant fire he's ever encountered. He gazes at the flames and they radiate colors he's never seen before. He's fascinated. And gods, the light massage Mulsae is giving his neck is just heavenly.

Mulsae offers food for Damion to eat from his fingers. He eats it and it tastes delicious. Like nothing he's tasted before. This is turning into a nice evening.

More fill the room. All of the Council Ministers appear and about half have a partner with them. The Harmuran natives also appear. They sit together on the opposite corner from Mulsae and Damion. A couple other singles and couples appear he hasn't seen before.

"Your Radiance approaches," a servant announces. Everyone jumps up to stand.

Zudaeshi enters the room wearing a bright red sleeveless dress that plunges between her breasts to her navel, and slits up the sides showing off both her legs. Everyone bows.

"Please everyone, as you were! We're here to relax and enjoy ourselves," Zudaeshi says merrily.

The attendees all retake their seats. Zudaeshi saunters through the room greeting and running her hand across shoulders and faces as she passes them.

Shortly after Zudaeshi arrives, men and women in barely-there clothing start filing into the room. Zudaeshi smiles with glee, "The entertainment is here. Please everyone, enjoy them. However you would like."

A woman approaches Mulsae from behind and runs her hands down his chest, "Hello, handsome," she coos in his ear. He closes his eyes and tips his head back. She runs a hand inside his half-buttoned shirt and lightly tugs on the chain attached to his nipple rings. He gasps and subtly bucks.

Another woman kneels down in front of Damion, "What do we have here?" She runs a nail down the side of his face streaked in tears of kohl. It feels luxurious. She frowns and coos, "Have you been sad?" He dumbly nods. "Would you like me to make you happy?" He grins and nods.

She looks so radiant to Damion. She's glowing, literally glowing. Is she an angel? He wishes he had his hands. He wants to run his hands all over her body. He leans forward to get closer to her and pulls on his restraints.

"Oh, are you all tied up, my sad one?" she sings beautifully. Damion nods and frowns. He leans closer to her, his lips part. She leans forward and they share breath. He can smell her and drinks in her aroma.

His cock hardens. It's growing more than it has been while caged. It's pressing hard against the bars and starts to ache. But oh, even the aching feels good. Just... everything feels amazing. Wouldn't she feel amazing? Gods. I want my hands. He struggles against his restraints again.

She takes both her hands and gently caresses down both of Damion's arms. He closes his eyes and moans. Fuuuuuck. I could cum from just this alone. Please sweetheart, keep going.

She removes her touch and he whimpers and opens his eyes. "You feel pretty good, don't you my sad one." He nods fervently. "You want more?"

"Please," he whispers his plea.

"Ohh, my sad one speaks." He nods dumbly.

She runs a nail down his thigh. He pants. She hums, "So responsive, my sad one is."

He nods and breathes heavy, "More," he whispers.

She cups both sides of his face in her hands. He shivers. She bends forward and just barely has their noses touch. Their breath caress each other's lips.

"Please," his voice cracks as he begs.

Her tongue darts out and licks across Damion's bottom lip and she backs up to gaze at his face. He whimpers. "Please," he whispers, "Please."

She hums, "Do you want a kiss, my sad one?"

"Please," he's so desperate he almost wants to cry. He needs this. He wants her so badly. It's like he's never wanted anything this badly before in his life. Her touch is heavenly.

She leans in achingly slowly while still cupping his face preventing him from moving. She ever so slowly bends forward, their lips almost touch. He presses forward trying to close the gap. And then suddenly she sucks his bottom lip into her mouth and pulls. Fuuuuuck. Don't stop, sweetheart. Don't stop.

She leans back to gaze at him and he whimpers. "Please, sweetheart, please," he croaks.

"Oh, am I your sweetheart, my sad one?"

"Yes," he gasps.

She scooches forward so their legs touch and then leans in again. She gets closer, their breaths mingle, then finally, finally, she presses her lips onto his. He moans. She licks the seam of his lips, he opens, and their tongues explore each other. He continues to moan. This is his best kiss of his life.

He feels molten warmth build in his core and snake around his body. He could absolutely cum from this. What is with her? Why is she so amazing? Every touch from her feels orgasmic.

Her hand rests on his knee as they continue to explore each other's mouths. She moves up his thigh slowly and his cock feels as if it could burst that cage open on its own, magic be damned. She reaches higher and higher and then reaches the hardness of his cock cage. She gently feels around it to gauge what it is.

"Oh, my sad one, are you restrained here, too?" He nods. "Is that why you're so sad?" He nods again.

"Please," he whispers, "more."

She maneuvers herself so she's curled up around Damion, fit also between Mulsae's legs. Mulsae is having his own drug-induced encounter. A woman has one hand down his shirt and the other down his pants as he has his head tipped back and panting.

Damion leans towards her to find her lips again. She acquiesces and allows him to explore her mouth with his tongue. She runs her hands around his chest, every time she caresses his pierced nipples Damion shudders.

Damion breaks the kiss and purrs in her ear, "Sweetheart, you're so amazing. The most amazing woman I've ever encountered." He kisses down her neck.

She giggles, "I bet you think I am."

"I don't think, I know it, sweetheart," he purrs. She giggles and leans down to suck a nipple into her mouth. "Oh gods, sweetheart, yes, oh gods," Damion babbles. That molten bliss in his core is snapping its tail ready to explode.

"Mulsae dear," Zudaeshi calls. The woman stops and looks up towards the direction of her voice. Damion kisses down her neck and chest. She gently pushes him away as she continues to look behind Mulsae. Damion whimpers.

"Mulsae," Zudaeshi pulls the woman playing with him away, "We can't have you having too much fun, now can we." It's Mulsae's turn to whimper.

Zudaeshi leans over Mulsae from behind and sticks a hand down his shirt. She hums in approval as she tugs on the chain connecting his nipple rings, "Remember who you belong to, Mulsae."

The woman playing with Damion moves to get up. He whimpers pleadingly, loudly. "I'm sorry, my sad one, it's time for me to go," she gives him one last deep kiss on the lips then stands and saunters away.

He pulls and thrashes against his arm restraints wanting so badly to grab her and pull her back. "Please, sweetheart," he begs. He pulls, the leather digs into his wrists, a sweet bite of pain under the syrup warmth.

"I'm sorry, my sad one," she waves and walks away out of his line of sight. He whimpers. His cock throbs.

He looks up behind himself and sees Zudaeshi draped over Mulsae from behind him, her hands down his shirt and his head tipped back and panting. Damion is so jealous. He whines.

Damion turns so he's kneeling facing them. He looks up at them in longing. Zudaeshi notices.

"Damion dear, are you feeling lonely?" she coos. He nods.

"Mulsae, your pet needs attention," she playfully admonishes.

He tilts his head back up. Damion can see his pupils are blown and eyes heavy lidded with lust. Mulsae reaches out with both hands and runs his nails over Damion's scalp. Damion groans and leans forward to rest his forehead next to Mulsae's hardened cock.

Mulsae rubs and massages Damion's head as Zudaeshi plays with the chain under Mulsae's shirt.

"We should take this to my private quarters," Zudaeshi purrs.

She stands up and rounds the chair to pull on Mulsae's arm. He sits forward and indicates for Damion to get up. He groans and stumbles up to his feet. Zudaeshi pulls on Mulsae's hand and he follows. Damion follows those two.

Damion can see what's happening in the rest of the room now. Everyone is glowing. Everyone is radiant. There are angels everywhere. So many are enjoying each other, or enjoying themselves with their hands down their pants. Damion stumbles forward wanting to join any of them. Wants any of them to touch him, kiss him, whisper things in his ear.

They get to the threshold of the room and Zudaeshi says, "Give these two another dose." A pill is brought in front of his face. He struggles to focus on it, but then just opens his mouth and sticks out his tongue. The pill is placed on his tongue and starts to melt. He swallows it.

Zudaeshi leads Mulsae by the hand down the hallway and Damion follows on wobbly legs. She leads them into her suite and straight to her bed chamber.

"Strip," she says to Mulsae. He promptly begins unbuttoning his shirt. He drops it to the floor. He unties his pants and drops them to the floor and steps out. He lowers his underwear and his hardened length springs forth.

"Sit on the bed, back against the headboard," Mulsae crawls onto the bed and sits at the head.

Zudaeshi points to a spot on the floor near the bed, "Damion dear, kneel here and watch Mulsae and I." He complies and kneels in place.

Zudaeshi drops her dress and it slides down her body to the floor. She steps out and crawls along the bed to Mulsae. She straddles and sits in his lap.

She leans forward and captures Mulsae's lips. They kiss deeply and fervently. She runs her hands over his chest, picks up the heavy medallion, and drops it so it tugs on his nipple rings. He gasps in her mouth and she hums appreciatively.

Damion is dying to be touched. His entire body is tingling just begging for more more more. He whimpers. Zudaeshi chuckles.

Zudaeshi raises herself, positions Mulsae's cock, and sinks down his length. He tilts his head back and moans.

"Don't you dare cum before me," she warns.

He tilts his head forward, "No, Your Radiance," he gasps.

She takes his hands and places them on her ass. She begins to grind against him and captures his lips in another deep kiss.

Damion groans. He wants to touch something, anything. He'll just rub against the side of the bed if she'll let him. The lack of stimulation is driving him crazy.

"Please," Damion begs.

Zudaeshi breaks the kiss with Mulsae and looks to Damion as she grinds on Mulsae's cock. "Damion dear, is there something you want?" He nods fervently.

"What do you want, Damion dear?"

"More, please," he whines.

"More what?"

"I want to be touched. I want to touch something. Please."

"You'll have to wait, Damion dear."

He leans forward groaning all the way until his forehead touches the floor. He whimpers as he stays in that position.

"Sit up, Damion dear. Watch us."

He groans and sits up. He watches Zudaeshi bounce on Mulsae's cock and feels like he's going to pop. He sees Mulsae's hands grip her ass and Damion flexes his own hands wishing he could be touching someone, too.

Zudaeshi tilts her head back and pants as she works herself on Mulsae's cock. Mulsae loses himself, too, gripping her ass to pull her in as he thrusts up into her.

Zudaeshi whips out a hand and clenches Mulsae's throat, "Don't you dare stop!"

"Never, Your Radiance," he gasps through his strangled throat.

Mulsae has raspy gasps as he struggles to breathe while Zudaeshi writhes and convulses on top of him, moaning all the while. Finally she stops and collapses back onto the bed, her chest heaving.

Mulsae's cock now stands at attention between her splayed out legs. He mindlessly takes his hand and starts stroking himself, wanting to finish.

She sits up and stills his hand, "You don't cum until I tell you to."

A pained expression crosses Mulsae's face, but he says, "Yes, Your Radiance," with a breathy voice.

Zudaeshi rolls over and splays across the bed. Damion whines.

"Your pet wants attention, Mulsae."

Mulsae lowers his hand to the side of the bed, "Damion, come here."

Damion quickly crawls over to Mulsae's hand and rubs his face against it. Mulsae caresses his face then moves on to his scalp and runs his nails through Damion's hair. It feels divine. Damion rests his head against the edge of the bed and lets Mulsae scritch all over his scalp. He moans happily.

Zudaeshi shifts and begins to run a hand down Mulsae's chest. She pulls on the chain connecting his nipple rings. Mulsae leans forward to follow the chain.

"You forgot who you belong to today, Mulsae dear. You allowed that other woman to touch you."

Mulsae gasps as she tugs on the chain, "I'm sorry, Your Radiance. She came up behind me, and I lost myself."

"That's no excuse," she takes a nipple ring and twists. He gasps and groans as he leans forward into her pulling on him. "You must defend what is mine," she growls.

"I'm sorry, Your Radiance!" he gasps through the pain.

She releases him and he falls back against the headboard, panting.

Zudaeshi pulls on Mulsae's shoulder and she rolls onto her back to pull him over on top of her, "Fuck me again, Mulsae dear."

Mulsae's hand leaves Damion's head and he whines. He looks up on top of the bed and sees Mulsae positioning his cock at her entrance. Gods, I wish I was doing that. I wish I could just feel that wet warmth around my cock. A shudder courses through him.

She grabs hold of Mulsae's neck and squeezes, her nails digging in puncture marks. "Don't you dare cum, Mulsae. Don't. You. Dare."

"No, Your Radiance," he says with a literally strangled voice.

Mulsae pushes his cock into Zudaeshi and she throws her head back and gasps. She wraps her legs around him and drags the nails of her free hand down his back, slicing the skin as it goes.

She holds his neck up and lightly strangles him as he thrusts inside her. She meets his thrusts with her own.

Damion rests his chin on the bed and watches Mulsae's ass rise and fall as he thrusts into Zudaeshi's heat. He rubs his face left and right against the bed just so he is feeling something. Anything. His skin is tingling all over demanding to be touched, caressed, loved. He whimpers. His body is in agony from desire.

Zudaeshi releases her grip on Mulsae's neck and wraps her arms around his back pulling him close. Mulsae collapses on top of her and buries his face in her neck as he continues to thrust, snapping his hips in as he goes.

She scrabbles against his skin as she arches her back. Her scrabbling leaves scratch marks all along his back, some light, some deep.

She moans loudly, almost a yell, as her body writhes and thrashes under Mulsae's hold. She meets Mulsae's thrusts with her own.

She slows down then stills and says, "Stop, enough." Mulsae stills in turn. After a few moments she unceremoniously shoves him off her and he rolls onto his back next to her.

Damion whines. Maybe they'll pay attention to me now.

"Your poor pet is so starved of touch, Mulsae dear."

Mulsae hums. He lifts an arm and says, "Damion, come." Damion pops up and crawls onto the bed under Mulsae's arm and cuddles into his side, resting his head on Mulsae's shoulder. Mulsae runs his hand up and down Damion's back between his wings. Damion shudders from pure pleasure.

Mulsae moves his ministrations onto Damion's wing, who is absolutely into it. He stretches his wing out and over Mulsae's body to give him more access. Mulsae adds his other hand, caressing the feathers and massaging the joints. It's just perfect.

The sensations on his wing are ecstatic. Molten warmth grows in his core. He'd rut, but doesn't want to rub his cock cage into Mulsae's leg, so he just uselessly thrusts shallowly. He rubs his face along Mulsae's chest and shoulder to feel more more more. Every touch feels amazing.

The molten warmth in his core grows and envelopes him in a cocoon. He's lost in the sensations. Mulsae continues his work on Damion's wing without ceasing. Damion buries his face in Mulsae's chest and starts to moan. His useless thrusting increases. The cocoon wraps tight around him. "Gods. Yes!" Damion gasps and he's tossed off the edge of pleasure and his body writhes against Mulsae's side as he rides an orgasmic wave. Damion stills and Mulsae moves his ministrations to Damion's back and hair.

"Do you feel better, Damion dear?" Zudaeshi coos. Damion nods with his face still buried in Mulsae's side.

Zudaeshi rolls off the bed and saunters to a drawer. She pulls something out and saunters back to the bed.

"Damion dear, go kneel back where you were." He groans and rolls off the bed and positions himself where he was earlier.

"Mulsae, if I recall correctly, you would tie Damion up to the bed for him to sleep every night. Then you'd fuck him whenever you wanted to," she says as she pulls one of his arms above his head.

"Yes, Your Radiance, I did."

She hums in acknowledgement as she locks Mulsae's wrist to the headboard. She grabs his other arm and brings it above his head to lock it as well to the headboard.

She crawls onto the bed, straddles Mulsae and immediately sinks herself down onto his cock. He groans and closes his eyes.

That pleasure is short-lived as she whips out a hand and grips his throat to strangle him once again, "Don't you dare cum," she growls.

"No. No, Your Radiance," he squeezes out through his strangled throat.

She rides him as Mulsae does what he can to breathe while Damion kneels and watches. Damion's post-nut clarity breaks through the drugs momentarily and he suddenly realizes how incredibly fucked up this entire situation is. Horror at what is happening sinks into his gut, but then it gradually soothes once again and he's back into a haze of intense desire wondering why he thought anything was wrong a moment ago. The only thing that's wrong is he's being ignored. He whimpers.

Zudaeshi moans loudly and snaps her hips to grind Mulsae's cock. She pants then collapses to the side and closes her eyes.

Damion whines and looks up at Mulsae, and he returns a sympathetic expression. There's nothing Mulsae can do while his wrists are bound to the headboard. Damion whimpers.

Zudaeshi is still and her breathing has become deep and slow. She's asleep. Damion dares to shuffle over to the bed, rests his chin on the edge and looks up at Mulsae and whimpers. Mulsae mouths 'I'm sorry' with sympathy. Damion rubs his face on the bed wanting more more more.

Damion's skin wants to be touched everywhere. He sways back and forth along the silk sheets on the side of the bed. They feel great. He sways and then one of his nipples gets some friction and the piercing drags along the silk, and it feels wonderful. He sways so both nipples get attention. He unfurls his wings and flexes them forward so the front edges glide across the silk. He's lost at how wonderful it feels as he caresses himself along the silk sheets.

Damion looks up and sees Mulsae's hardened cock still at attention. Mulsae's been hard for awhile without reprieve and it's starting to ache, but Damion doesn't know that. He just sees the cock that has made him feel spectacular before, and wishes it could make him feel great again now. Gods, I want more more more.

He considers crawling back onto the bed so he can rub himself along Mulsae again. But Zudaeshi is right there. She might object. He's hazy with intense desire but he remembers it's dangerous to offend Zudaeshi.

Damion feels like he could pop if he doesn't get more more more. He whimpers.

"Damion dear," Zudaeshi groans, "You need to be patient."

Damion stills. He doesn't want to upset her, but the lack of stimulation builds up uncomfortably in his body and he releases a pathetic whimper.

He rests his chin on the edge of the bed and opens and closes his wings so the front edges glide along the silk sheets while he stares at Mulsae's cock standing at attention. He wants that cock used on him. But nothing can be done without Zudaeshi's say so. Both Damion and Mulsae have their hands bound. Zudaeshi is the only one in the room with hands available. Damion whines.

Mulsae closes his eyes and then his breathing, too, deepens and evens out. Now Damion is the only one awake. Fuck. Awake and frustrated. Fuck. He rubs his face along the silk as he glides the front of his wings along it, too.

Eventually his consciousness starts to wane. He finds himself startled awake as he suddenly tips over, but then starts back up with rubbing himself along the silk sheets. Eventually, the sleepiness wins out. He startles awake tipping over and decides to just go with it and gently lowers himself to the floor and sleeps.

=*=

The bed creaking just barely rouses Damion to consciousness. He hears Zudaeshi demand, "Don't you dare cum," and Mulsae's strangled reply, "No, Your Radiance." Damion falls back asleep to the rhythmic motions of the bed and Mulsae's strangled gasps for breath.