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For now, Uthe let him rest. It was not unpleasant, to be walking through this endless collage of bright colors, Kel's arms wrapped around him, his body pressed to Uthe's. It was almost peaceful. In a misleading way, no doubt, but Uthe had learned not to waste the pleasure of small moments. He'd put his hand over Kel's clasped at his waist and held them firmly, stroking the long, elegant fingers. Sometimes the Fae Lord came to Council meetings wearing several heavy rings on them, the intricate settings sparkling with faceted gems. The Fae craftsmanship was remarkable enough to have Helga, typically standoffish when it came to Keldwyn, remarking on them. Once she'd even requested a closer look. Kel had indulged her, a flash of amusement on his face as she became enthusiastic enough in her perusal to unconsciously clasp his wrist. A blink later, she'd snatched her hand back as if ashamed at showing such a bald interest.
Uthe remembered Gideon joking to Jacob that the Fae Lord had the best fashion sense of anyone at the Council meetings. He was always superbly dressed and adorned. Uthe assumed it was something he could conjure, like the tattoos. No matter his lofty words about not using magic for mere convenience, the Fae didn't seem the type willing to spend time fussing over the lay of a ruffled collar, the shine of buttons on a long coat, or the suppleness of his boots. What Kel wore now looked distinctly battle worn.
Uthe remembered he'd once attended Council with a full complement of small rings lining the shell of one ear. The clasps looked like tiny bird claws. They'd distracted Uthe. He kept catching himself looking at them, wanting to reach out and trace their hold on Keldwyn's ear.
"I noticed," Kel mumbled against his back. "You observed what I wear in a different way from Helga and the others. You were always very thorough in your perusal, even though you took pains to be sure no one noticed. You never remarked on any of it, yet when I wore something unexpected, like the earrings, you gave it special attention. I expect that's why I started doing more of that."
"You are a tease, my lord. I have always known it. And your ears are quite intriguing even without adornment."
Kel snorted. "Everyone always wants to touch the ears. Kane demanded it the first time he saw me."
"Did you permit it?"
"Not that time. I made it clear it was a highly impertinent thing to ask a Fae and cowed him into an apology."
"Miracles do happen."
"I threatened to tell his mother of his rudeness. He fears her, as does any vampire male with sense. But eventually, when he asked the right way, I allowed it. I expected to be merely tolerant when you wanted to do it, but I found your desire welcome, and your touch distinctly pleasurable."
Uthe tapped Kel's knuckles. "You need food, my friend. Don't you? Is there any to be had here?"
"No. Very little. Elemental sustenance is meager at best, though I did find some. Is it possible for the demon to interfere in that way?"
"Possibly. But though I don't detect magic the way you do, I think the magic here is like a capricious child. Cruel and random. Wanting to see how things play out if certain obstacles are put in our way. That would mesh with the demon's purpose, so either one could be at fault. Or both. How long can you go without?"
"For some time." Keldwyn shifted against him. "A nap will hold me for the time being."
"What about if you need to fight again?"
"I have you for that."
"A Fae deferring to a vampire for a fight. Now I'm certain your mind has been affected by your weakened condition." Uthe tilted his head back, brushing his jaw against Kel's, then straightened. "You can take some of my blood, my lord," he said with forced casualness. "That will help restore your strength. If we get out of this place, you can claim it was all illusion and I will not deny it."
Keldwyn's response was a long time in coming. Nexus maintained a comfortable walk, his normal prance toned down to a rocking gait, as if he knew one of his riders was resting. "It will deplete your strength," the Fae Lord said.
"No. Our blood regenerates at a rapid rate. It is part of why we heal so quickly." Uthe paused. "I would rather you be prepared for what we face, my lord."
"Afraid I will not have your back?"
"You are against it now," he responded mildly. "But yes, as a matter of fact. I do not wish you to suffer the ignominy of returning to the Fae world and admitting a vampire had to cover your ass because you were too weak to do it yourself."
"You have been spending far too much time around the Green brothers," Keldwyn said, referring to Jacob and Gideon. "Your usual diplomacy is absent. A blatant goad to make me act for my own benefit."
"Did it work?"
In answer, Keldwyn shifted. Uthe stilled as those long, elegant fingers wrapped around his throat from behind, nudging his chin up. He tilted his head back, resting it on Keldwyn's shoulder as he stared up at the orange sky. There were swirls of pink and red in it. He knew Keldwyn had canines sharper than a human's. He'd noticed them before, intrigued by that physical similarity to vampires. Though Keldwyn's didn't elongate like Uthe's did, the points would make the puncturing much easier. Kel wasn't asking for any guidance, which intrigued Uthe, but the Fae had seen vampires feed on their servants at the Savannah headquarters.
"You'll tell me when enough is taken," Kel said, his breath caressing Uthe's throat in a way that had his heart thudding. "Or I will be annoyed at you for allowing me to take too much."
Keldwyn slid a hand over his thigh and found his interested cock under the mail skirt of the hauberk. "This arouses you greatly, does it not?"
"Yes."
"Involuntary? Instinct? Or me drinking from you specifically?"
"Yes to all of it." Uthe closed his hand over Kel's, pressing the heel of his hand harder against his erection. Keldwyn overlapped their knuckles, forming a puzzle lock between their hands. Then he bit.
Uthe let out a primal groan of pleasure, buttocks clenching as Kel ground against him, responding to his own arousal. Mariela had fed upon him, but giving the Fae Lord sustenance was a different level of satisfaction. He wished he could feed him always, that Kel would need to look no further than Uthe's throat to sustain him. With a ripple of shock, he realized that was probably how a servant thought of his vampire. Mariela had certainly had such thoughts before. Uthe was no servant--the very thought only met puzzlement in his mind. But put it in the context of caring for Kel? It elicited a far different reaction.
Kel's touch left his cock, tunneling beneath his undershirt to stroke the muscles of Uthe's abdomen. The belt at his waist was loose enough he could trace Uthe's navel, sending a wave of response above and below it. He dipped under the waistband of the leggings, reached in to close his grip around Uthe's heated and stiff cock, flesh to flesh. Keldwyn's thumb rubbed over the damp tip, then probed the slit. His other fingers strummed the pulsing artery in the shaft. Uthe scented his blood filling Keldwyn's mouth, felt him swallow.
A second mark would need more to replenish strength, so Uthe gave him that. He would have given him as much as he wanted but, knowing Kel didn't know when he'd taken enough, Uthe turned his head toward him, a nudge. "That should do it. If you don't mind, just keep your mouth pressed over it a few more seconds so I don't bleed on my tunic. My self-healing properties will close the puncture wounds in a matter of seconds."
Very well. Your blood tasted unexpectedly... pleasant. Keldwyn sounded surprised. He raised his head. "Bitter and rich at once, flavored by your personality. Well-seasoned oak sprinkled with spices and infused with the thick vitality of blood itself."
"I'm pleased to hear it," Uthe said. "Bottled for over a thousand years, it could have easily gone rancid, turned to piss and vinegar."
"There is some of that in there. I did say it reflects your personality." Keldwyn rested his chin on Uthe's shoulder. Uthe twisted around so he could see the Fae Lord in the corner of his eye.
"You honor me by taking my blood for your nourishment, my lord. I know it was necessity, and it's not considered an honor by your kind, but for me, it was."
"Hmm.
