Page 29 of Reforging Onyx

Given the unknown state of Onyx’s mind, Dominic kept a constant monitor on his wards in his bedroom. They would alert him if the younger witch did anything because he wasn’t willing to risk another incident like the one that had happened not so long ago.

But he also had guests to entertain, and he couldn’t just boot them out of his house.

Well, he could, but that would look a little too improper.

Instead, Dominic waited the requisite length of time before it would be socially acceptable to bid his guests farewell, then promptly did so.

Onyx’s behavior had gone largely unremarked on, with only Nathan voicing the pointed observation that in some cases training a slave went much more quickly if they were properly broken beforehand. Dominic had seen no need to explain or justify his intentions where it came to his tiger and had turned the conversation to other topics.

In many ways, breaking Onyx completely instead of allowing him to carefully splinter would be so much easier. But it would also cost him the spirit and spark that he wanted to keep in the Rayne witch’s eyes. He needed the fire to remain. Tempered, perhaps, but not banked.

Dominic’s eyes went straight to the bed to assess Onyx’s state the moment that he walked in the door to the bedroom, and he frowned at the untouched dinner plate. The younger witch was lying with his face pressed against the pillow, the headphones still on his ears.

“Onyx?” he asked. “Why didn’t you eat?” When there was no response to his question, he crossed over to the bed to lightly grasp Onyx’s shoulder. “Onyx?”

In a split second, Onyx shot up and grabbed Dominic’s wrist, twisting it painfully before his eyes widened with recognition. He dropped his hold on Dominic, then mumbled, “Sorry.” He edged back as he pulled the headphones from his ears.

Onyx’s reflexes had been unsurprising, but also unwelcome. It was good that the boy had released him as soon as he’d identified who he was, at least. Any further attack would’ve gone poorly.

Dominic pursed his lips. “Why haven’t you eaten?” he asked in a clipped tone.

Onyx gave a slight shake of his head, then glanced at the food that had been left on the nightstand. “I didn’t know it was here,” he mumbled. “I’m not hungry anyway.”

Dominic made a noncommittal sound. He wouldn’t have credited Onyx with such little situational awareness that he hadn’t been aware that the dinner plate had been delivered, but for the fact that Onyx had also not been aware that Dominic had arrived until he had touched him, either.

With how incessantly alert Onyx was to his surroundings, it was unusual at the very least that he’d blocked himself out as much as he had. Or blocked himself in?

It was concerning.

“Eat,” he instructed, going around the bed to start undressing.

Onyx grabbed the plate, stabbing halfheartedly at a piece of meat and forcing it into his mouth. “I’m not hungry,” he repeated, setting the plate back aside after he ate the bite.

“Mm,” Dominic murmured.

Onyx was never not hungry. Well, there had been perhaps a handful of times when he hadn’t been willing to eat, during the first days when Dominic had had to threaten him with force-feeding if he hadn’t eaten on his own.

This, though, was more likely related to his near loss of control earlier at the party than actual lack of hunger.

“You are upset,” he noted.

Onyx shook his head, refusing to reply.

Dominic thought he could guess what the younger witch was specifically upset about, but there were a few options available. Recent history had shown him that guessing what was in Onyx’s mind rather than hearing it from him directly was something that left space for grave errors to happen. He’d made enough miscalculations where Onyx was concerned. “Tell me,” he ordered.

“Tell you what?” Onyx asked irritably. “You didn’t ask me a question.”

Dominic gave Onyx an unamused look. “Tell me what it is that upsets you. Specifically.”

Onyx glared at Dominic. “I don’t want to be punished."

Dominic arched an eyebrow. “Onyx, I will not punish you for speaking your mind when I’ve told you to do so. Even if what you have to say upsets me, you’re not disobeying. I will punish you when you have the choice to obey and you choose not to. Just now, you reacted to my touch because you were unaware of my presence. I recognize the reflex, but when you had the opportunity to continue to attack, you did not. So, no punishment. Earlier, you panicked. You were not trying to be disobedient, and I recognize that as well, so, no punishment. I am not unreasonable, Onyx.”

Onyx let out a frustrated sound. “No, I mean…” He waved the hand that wasn’t chained to the bed. “In general. I don’t want to be punished, and I hate that I care that you might punish me. I don’t want to be like them,” he spat. “They’re fucking pathetic. A witch who can go around uncollared?” He scoffed, even though Dominic could recognize the blatant jealousy in his words. “I’m not like that. I’m not like them. I’m not.”

Dominic smiled faintly. “No one wants to be punished. That is why we follow rules, and laws. If someone steals, then they would be punished by the courts and enforcers, and if need be by the Council. If a witch were to break the rules we all live by, then they would be punished by their peers and if need be by the Council. You have rules as well, and as long as you follow those, you won’t be punished.”

Onyx closed his eyes briefly, then looked away.