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He felt Sebastian tense and then relax hearing his name shortened to a very familiar Seb.
“Seb? Nobody has called me that before.”
That was because a shortened name indicates affection, and Prince Sebastian was never shown affection. Lucan felt a pang of sorrow for the prince.
“I will have to find a new name to call you. Something separate from your royal life. Is there another name you wish to be known by?”
“It would be easier to talk with my britches up and not in this position,” Sebastian pointed out.
“You seem to be able to speak very well right where you are, your highness.”
“Curse you, Sir Lucan, let me up!”
All Seb got for his trouble was another slap delivered by Lucan’s callused palm. A little squeak followed. It was adorable, though mentioning that would surely have humiliated Sebastian all the more.
“You’ll not curse me, boy. You’ll speak to me with respect, and I will speak to you the same way.”
“You call this respectful?” Seb shot a pointed look over his shoulder, big blue eyes flashing with ire.
“I call this fair, and right and proper, and yes, respectful. I’m respecting the man you will be by disciplining the boy you still remain.”
“I am twenty-one!” Seb enunciated each word with increasing outrage. “I am the rightful king! How dare you!?”
“There are those who would murder you,” Lucan reminded him. “They dare much more than I.”
“Please let me up,” Sebastian tried again. “I’ll… be more kingly in my conduct.”
Lucan released him. A few slaps did not a spanking make, but for now it might be enough.
Very much ashamed and doing his level best to hide the rock hard physical reaction to Lucan’s handling, Sebastian stumbled several steps away from the knight, pulling his britches up while still bent over.
He had wondered what it might feel like to be punished by Lucan again. He did not have to be curious anymore. It felt hot and stinging, and fucking humiliating. It felt like being shrunk to half one’s size, and a fraction of one’s status. It also felt like being safe, and guarded, and cared for, all of which were things Sebastian had not felt before, not this intimately.
He didn’t know what to do with any of that. He was far too ashamed to show his real reactions, lest Lucan suddenly see all the desire Sebastian had ever held for him — so he said everything he didn’t really mean.
“Leave me alone,” he said, his eyes filling with tears. “I know you hate me. I know they all hated me. I don’t care that they’re dead. I don’t care what you say. I don’t…”
Lucan surged forward and enveloped Sebastian in big, powerful arms, pulling Sebastian tight against his body. Sebastian was glad the embrace came from behind. The last thing he wanted was for Lucan to see that he’d gotten hard from being pushed against Lucan’s thigh while his bare ass was being slapped.
“I don’t hate you.” Lucan murmured in Sebastian’s ear, his voice deep and gruff and safe.
“You hit me. You shamed me. You…”
“Sebastian,” Lucan said, turning him around and pulling back enough to run his fingers through Sebastian’s blond hair, pushing it back from his eyes. Sebastian felt an intense sensation running through him at being so close to Lucan. He knew it probably did not mean as much to Lucan as it did to him.
The guards were much more physical with one another than the royals. Sebastian had watched the royal guard training a great deal, noticing with some envy how much they casually and affectionately touched one another. Hugs, pats, cuffs, slaps were all given and received casually.
Nobody had gotten this close to him in a very long time. Though the palace was busy and highly populated, he had most often moved through it alone. There were no other princes or even princesses of his station to associate with, and he had no patience for the games and reputation climbing that lesser nobility engaged in.
“I am trying to keep you safe. I know you’re scared. And I know that what you witnessed last night will stay with you forever. Let it make you stronger. Become a more formidable opponent. Take this time to grow, so you will never be bested by anybody ever again. Let me help you.”
“Your help hurts.”
“Yes,” Lucan said. “It does, sometimes. But I do not hurt you to hurt your feelings. I take no pleasure in making you miserable. You are not a pawn or a toy to me. You are my king, or you will be if we survive this great battle we are only just beginning. I need you to understand, Seb. If you are to reclaim the throne, it will be the task of years, not days.”
Sebastian’s eyes welled as he became instantly overwhelmed.
“I can handle losing my throne. I can handle being a disgrace. I can deal with you beating me. But I will not be ugly.”
