Fate in Suspension (Horn & Haven Book 1)

Quiet. That's how he likes life, no drama to clean up…

Tai Xen-Vorsy leads a straightforward life: work, time at the local clubs where shapeshifters like him can play without fear, and the comforts of home with a cat that's more than half attitude. After breaking up with his last submissive, he's even taking a break from Dom duties.

Meeting Gates changes everything, and when Tai's childhood home is destroyed, his simple life goes up in flames.

The Callensdale haven was his refuge as an orphan, a hideaway that saved his life. Now it's time to return the favour. Bringing in the Fluff Brigade Brotherhood would make all the difference… if he could just get them back together. Tai won't give up—he's not that kind of unicorn. But can he reunite the brotherhood and keep his new relationship with Gates kindled at the same time?

The darkness is dragging him into the shadows, one case at a time…

Helping others is all Gates Colfaethe wants to do, being mostly unicorn shifter with a splash of Faerie. But years as an agent on trafficking cases leave him fearing just how far he'll lose himself in the job before he burns out completely.

A random hookup with Tai might be the very change he needs. A new Dom means new rules and the chance to create safe distance from work—until his worlds collide in a twist Gates should leave well enough alone. What he knows is bad enough, but running headlong into danger could kill him.

Table of Contents

Blurb

Copyright

Content Notes, Warnings, and Disclaimers

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Title page: Fate in Suspension

Before the Fall (Lyrics)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Epilogue

Playlist for Fate in Suspension

Author's Note

Also by Archer Kay Leah

About The Republic Series

About the Horn & Haven Series

About the Author

FATE IN SUSPENSION (Horn & Haven 1)

By Archer Kay Leah

Published by Ashborne Stardust Press

Copyright © 2022 by Archer Kay Leah

Distributed by Smashwords

First edition, June 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. For more information, please contact Archer Kay Leah at archer.kay.leah@gmail.com or via website https://archerkayleah.wordpress.com.

Cover designed by Ashborne Stardust Editing & Design

https://www.ashbornestardust.com

This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

Digital ISBNs:

epub ISBN 978-1-7781726-1-8

mobi ISBN 978-1-7781726-0-1

pdf ISBN 978-1-7781726-2-5

Paperback ISBN 978-1-7781726-3-2

CONTENT NOTES, WARNINGS, AND DISCLAIMERS

————

Fate in Suspension contains explicit content, including BDSM scenes and activities, all of which is meant for adult readers and takes place within safe, sane, and consensual guidelines.

This story also touches on matters related to mental health, including PTSS/PTSD. There are references to death and murder, references to the death of a character's parents, mentions of various sorts of trafficking, and references to missing persons, captivity, and torture. There is some physical violence and depictions of the aftermath of a violent attack. There is also the use of blood in a magical way.

The BDSM activities in this story include bondage and discipline with physical implements, spanking, and orgasm denial.

Please note the story uses gender-neutral pronouns for certain characters. These are not mistakes; they are the deliberate pronouns of those characters.

For Sam D.

Once upon a time, there was a birthday, and upon that birthday, you shared photos of a cheerful (and utterly tasty-looking!) unicorn cake with its multitude of colours and unicorn ice cream. Funnily enough, the muses also enjoy cakes and ice cream and unicorns, so much so that these birthday treats inspired not only this entire book, but the whole Horn & Haven series. This wouldn't have happened without you!

And for Peter S. Beagle and your most-beloved Last Unicorn that has captured the hearts of so many around the world, including mine. She's here still, burned into memory as the first unicorn I ever knew, and as the heart of the very first fantasy movie I ever remember watching as a child… and there was MUCH watching, over and over, to the point of nearly wearing the videotape out. Thank you for her story, and for Schmendrick, Molly Grue, and that butterfly telling us all to Listen! LISTEN!

Acknowledgements

Such a warm thank you to Jack L. Pyke for the help with getting this just right!

Your insight was just the thing I needed, and your suggestions opened up entire new ideas to explore. You're amazing.

My humblest thank yous also go to my patrons on Patreon.

Thank you so much for your support! These stories don't go far without readers like you. Thanks for joining in on the journey.

FATE

— in —

SUPENSION

HORN & HAVEN BOOK 1

Archer Kay Leah

— Before the Fall —

[Intro, vocalist only, softly spoken]

Twist

Turn

Take all I've got

Lie

Lose

I won't kneel for that shot

[Enter band; full-band instrumental: guitars, bass, drums]

[Verse 1]

Fear of the darkness short-changing (Fear the dark)

Truths that were never mine (To lose)

Waiting for the watchguard to turn (To fail)

Trick's on me this time,

This time

[Pre-chorus]

Peeling the rust off, dealing full down

I'm bringing the ashes to this fight

[Full-band instrumental]

[Verse 2]

Been here long enough to know the chase (Around)

Blame low-balling doubt to the core (Low blow)

Lie to me once, I'll take the loss twice (No more)

Got you figured out this time,

This time

[Chorus]

And it's up in flames before the fall

Bringing me closer, taking it deeper

You're not taking me for the fool this round

I've got the game on my side

A flash of time to steal the noise

Hitting me harder, pushing it further

Deal me in on bringing the ashes

Until time just stops

[Verse 3]

Twist me (Into the loophole I've found)

Turn me (And I'll come right back around)

Lie to me (The truth is coming due)

Lose it all and it's coming for you,

For you

[Chorus]

And it's up in flames before the fall

Bringing me closer, taking it deeper

You're not taking me for the fool this round

I've got the game on my side

A flash of time to steal the noise

Hitting me harder, pushing it further

Deal me in on bringing the ashes

Until time just stops

[Bridge]

Not looking to change the past 'cause it makes me

Not looking for a perfect future, however it fakes me

Doesn't matter if I'm going up or falling way down

It's all the same when you're the line in between

[Chorus (modified)]

And we're up in flames before the fall

Bringing us closer, taking us deeper

I'm not taking me for the fool this round

I've got the game on my side

A flash of time to steal the noise

Hitting you harder, pushing me further

Deal me in on bringing the ashes

Until time just stops

Just stops

[Outro]

And we're up in flames, up in flames

I won't kneel for that shot

Not kneeling, no

Oh, come on and lie to me, lie to me

I'm not giving into to you, to you

I'll be bringing the ashes

Playing off that game

Deal me down, deal me in

Until time just stops, just stops

Just stop…

— Delsie Naturno, Helle Velt

————

CHAPTER 1

————

Goddesses, bless. If his neighbours were willing to put up with the noise, Tai could've wrangled up a fine court of the sexy dancing fae in front of him and taken them all home, the nightclub forgotten. Estrel would just have to put up with it, him and that damned snotty You're still here, slave? look of his.

Ha. Right.

Tai could wish until he popped an artery. There were rules to follow, apartment building guards to avoid, and Estrel's habit of pissing on Tai's bed. Still, he could watch. Dance alongside. Admire from afar. Shifting Sanctuary was the best nightclub in Keikei City—the safest too, with Ratchet Don't Break Nice Things Morilea running it. Though tonight, the Sanctuary offered too much beauty to ignore… and Ratchet could seriously go screw himself, because the bastard's choice in events was messing with Tai's head.

Faerie Ball, he said. Tai snorted. Clearly short for Eye-fuck your brains out; wings are for free.

Walking the edge of the dance floor, Tai was careful not to touch the dancers, the heat off the packed crowd all the interaction he needed. Heart-thumping bass beats reverberated the floor, the latest EDM hits playing out at the expert hands of the club's other owner, Mika Barderin. Whoever had done the lighting hadn't held back, and not just in terms of dragging out every possible colour of gel—no, someone had raided the AV suppliers for anything that lit the place up and reflected it back. If Ratchet and Mika had been aiming for hallucination-by-rainbow and glitter nightmare, they'd succeeded.

Not that Tai expected any less from a unicorn shapeshifter and his dragon counterpart. Ratchet and Mika threw shiny to the floor and let the people sort it for themselves, keeping identities quiet while serving up liberation, and Tai loved them both for it. Without them, he'd be stuck in some half-assed hole of the city and cursing every moment.

With a quick step around a bartender cleaning up shattered glass at the corner of the dance floor, Tai glimpsed the bar, peeking through the gaps between people gathered around the tables. Ratchet was there somewhere, hiding—

Nope, check that: he was at the other end of the bar, chatting up a pair of patrons wearing metal wings and chains for days, barely a scrap of fabric on either one of them.

Tai hummed behind his smile. Yeah, he saw the glimmer in Ratchet's eyes; that slip of gaze downwards, lingering a little too long. Ratchet was window-shopping again.

That's it. The guy needs a new sub. Ratchet's last submissive had quit four months back, saying something about a closed marriage that'd forced a choice between needs—a conflict Ratchet had lost without any actual chance of competing. Now Ratchet seemed bored with life, which never looked good on him, not like committed relationships did.

Aeons' buds, I'm doing that sentimental crap again, Tai muttered. A waft of perfume laced with sweat and alcohol passed over him, snapping his attention to the closest dancers. Flimsy yellow wings swung by in a blur, nearly catching his cheek.

Sorry! a dancer in hot-pink bra top and shorts shouted over their shoulder. They tossed up their hand at Tai before dragging their friend through the crowd. Layers of multicoloured metallic ribbons trailed behind them from opalescent wings, the tangled ends almost caught under more than one set of heels.

No harm done. Tai drew a hand through his dark hair—

Fuck, was his hand shaking? What the fires was that about?

Sure, he was on edge. Something of a shadow was creeping up his back, possibly from the long work week he'd just finished. His day at the warehouse had left him irritated, and his neck still ached after he'd yanked some new guy back from a collapsing shelf at last minute.

Then again, perhaps the club's sound system was the culprit. It was louder than normal. Or maybe he simply felt the fool, forgoing the wings and glamour everyone else was buried neck-deep in. He'd gone with black faux-leather pants and matching motorcycle jacket instead, the jacket kept open to let air flow over his bare chest. Though he'd also added body glitter this time around—his polite screw you to the idea of trudging around with some awful set of fake wings he hated every version of. He wasn't like Ratchet, happy to play the part with anything on hand, and he certainly wasn't like Wisp, their haven brother, whose airy wings came and went like his pride. Tai was happier to buck the pretend, settling for smoky, dark eyeliner with metallic-blue flecks, clear lip gloss, and a glittery green touch-up to the black polish on his nails. He'd also worn his rainbow-tinted chains, all four of them draped over his right hip. If anything, they calmed the Dom in him. Just the thought of chaining someone down for the night…

He was going to kill Ratchet. All this damned eye candy at every angle didn't help. He loved the vibe, the shine, the whimsy—

Except for the voice in his head wanting him to shut up because it couldn't tell what was wrong.

Chaos. He hated it.

Is it the club? Tai scowled. Couldn't be. He'd never been averse to the club, not ever. He always supported Ratchet's businesses, going so far as working events as a general labourer.

Is it work? The two employees almost crushed today?

Maybe. Working with food storage had its hazards, but he already knew that, having worked at the company for ten years. These days, he spent most of his time staring at screens, making phone calls, and keeping everyone moving. Except things weren't usually chaotic enough for troubles to sink razor-sharp claws into his back and threaten to tear him to shreds if he didn't pay attention, not like this. Besides, the warehouse hadn't had a serious accident in six months, not since people had lost their shit over real-life dragon sightings—dragons that had mysteriously disappeared within weeks, never to show again.

No, that wasn't it, at least not the work part. He'd left that set of worries behind for the weekend.

Fuck, whatever the problem was, it messed with him worse than the soapy bubbles suddenly floating down from the ceiling. Several bubbles clung to his jacket, gleaming pink and blue in the flicker of white and gold lights, the lanterns above him easily stealing his attention. They were old-style copper and brass lanterns, going back about seven hundred years—maybe eight hundred, because screw his inability to keep historical facts sorted. Not that it mattered next to his measly thirty-three years of kicking around in this lifetime. His main concern was getting from one day to the next, not turning the past into a hobby.

The decorative throwback didn't stop there, however. Someone—Ratchet—had wrapped garlands and flowers around the railings of the staircase leading up to the private lounge on the second floor, a room completely enclosed in glass walls with frosted-glass shielding around the bottom. A private party was up there by the looks of it, bodies alight beneath strings of the same fairy lights that hung across the walls of the main floor.

But all the flowers…

On the walls, the staircase, the tables—a real in-the-garden feel he'd just clued into. And were those swings on the stage, up by Mika's soundtable? With the troupe of dancers the Sanctuary kept on payroll, dressed up like elaborate Faerie royalty, dripping in riches?

Shit, he'd missed all of that. He was so much worse than he thought, that damned trembling in his hand coming back with a bitey vengeance.

Another glance at the bar found Ratchet missing for real.

Fine, the Lare it is. Thumbs hooked through his thick chain belt, Tai pushed through the crowd, headed for the back doors. Both doors were wide open, flanked by two security guards on the inside of the entryway with two more on the outside. He didn't stop to talk, only nodded at Jamej, the guard he knew best, and stepped out into the courtyard.

Things weren't much different outside: someone had nearly suffocated the courtyard with decorations and extra lights. Petals were strewn across the four brown-gold stone paths, joined by statuettes with translucent wings. At the centre of the courtyard, where the paths intersected, the fountain in the middle of the circular garden plot flowed as usual, the splash of water lit up with alternating colours: red-purple, blue, then a soft orange that gave way to gold. The dragon-head lantern posts were particularly bright, burning as though they were truly on fire instead of running on electronic candles—Mika's magic, most likely. He always did prefer everything on that side of ash and flame. The hotter, the better.

Off to Tai's left, the wrought-iron gates at the front of the courtyard gave a view of the curved driveway that led up to Shifting Sanctuary and Dragon's Lare, the BDSM club next door that was also another of Ratchet and Mika's shared properties. The gates were open, elegant unicorn and pegasoi designs lost beneath floral wreaths and garlands. Even the iron fence that extended from the gates was decorated, and with as much tenacity as the regular metal fences that ran the courtyard's perimeter.

Of it all, the real beauty was Sensin Bay, its calm waiting in the dark distance across the road, behind Ratchet and Mika's third property, the Glenny Bay, a tavern and grillhouse close to the water's edge, not far from the closest lighthouse. Beyond that, further along the horizon, the Sensin Bay River split their province, Nabose, from Aberchas, the next province over.

Tai breathed in. The scent of the bay clung to the air, chasing after the haunting sense of missing something… someone.

The peaceful moment passed, snatched up by the chatter and laughter filling the courtyard. He carried on, sidestepping everyone else, the clink of glasses giving him pause. No real reason for it, merely something trying to push through his memories and failing.

Once he stopped at the locked doors of Dragon's Lare, time dragged on, sluggish like blocks weighing him down. Something foul crept over his skin, pinching and prodding—a threat. Instincts ran hot, the pull to drop his human form daring him to run. And for no reason whatsoever.

So why did it feel as if his heart was about to be ripped out of his chest?

Sparing a glance at the security guards on either side of the entrance, Tai pressed his club card to the scanner at the left of the doorway. The chip took, the scanner bleeping obnoxiously as its neon-green light flashed purple. After jabbing his password into the keypad, the scanner yelled at him again, flashing red for get your ass in here and shut the damned door.

He didn't look back at the Sanctuary. The Lare had him now, and he'd pace the floorboards to dust if he didn't find a distraction—something pretty, because fuck the ugliness cuddling around his middle and the fact he hadn't worked a sub in more than a year.

Tai made his way through the quiet back corridors, the light burgundy walls and black baseboards a familiar comfort. They looked freshly painted with a faint metallic sheen, no different than the last time he'd been there. The silver-framed artworks remained the same, mostly modern with a touch of historic, and the vast majority were portraits of shifters he'd never known, presented in the softest light. The crystal chandeliers were fully lit but kept at a dimmer setting, giving everything a golden glow.

The decorations, however, weren't the usual, though they didn't have the same throw-it-everywhere aesthetic as in the Sanctuary. Lush green garlands and strings of tiny rainbow lights draped over the black-framed mirrors instead of creeping over the walls, and the corridors smelled like a field of flowers that'd been dumped on with a truck's worth of fruit salad, sweet scents bleeding out.

Turning the corner took him to the main hallways where partygoers milled about, more than one at the end of a leash or a set of cuffs. A quick glance-over found all of the subs in wings while their Doms had either embraced the theme or opted out.

Tai almost laughed. If Ratchet and Mika hadn't been busy running the event, Mika would've worn the most massive orange wings to exist, and Ratchet would've likely set fire to the pair Mika suggested he wear. And Mercy…

The urge to laugh died. Mercy wouldn't have gone with wings, just that Did you ask for ten lashes, 'cause I think you did look he gave everyone. If Mercy hadn't been Ratchet's best friend, Tai would've completely avoided him. Tai wasn't into the games Mercy played, and he wanted nothing to do with mages like him.

Right then, though, maybe having Mercy with him would've helped—Tai didn't recognize anyone he passed. Apparently he'd been away from the club too long. Since his split from Kabe a year and a half ago, he hadn't bothered with the scene. He'd mostly spent time at home or in the Sanctuary, keeping company with Ratchet at the bar.

Tai scowled at the floor. Time with Kabe had killed more than their on-and-off relationship. For two years they'd made a go at it, lust burning fire-hot in the beginning. By the end, they'd been all wrong for each other, happier apart than together. They'd let the charade die and walked away. Now Kabe had a new Domme and was thrilled with the match, or so Kabe's last email had said three months ago.

And that's good. He'd wanted Kabe to move on. That was all that mattered, even if Tai still floundered with the loss. Work kept him busy, though it wasn't the biggest pain in his everything. No, that honour went to Estrel, who only got mouthier every passing year. Gods alive, that cat was like having a keeper, one who spoke the single language of asshole and lived to shred Tai's apartment to scraps.

Treats not served on time? Whoops, there goes the pillowcase. Food not warm enough? Ah, hey, there goes your favourite pants. Haven't bothered to give me a scratch? Hmm, how about I climb up this shelf and knock all your stuf—oops, did you need that vase? So sorry. Now worship me.

Tai snorted. He still loved the little furry bastard, though sometimes he wondered what he'd been thinking, rescuing Estrel from the ugly little rainy street in the city's west end.

Because he was thrown out like the trash I found him in, frail and abandoned, just lying there, crying out and shivering and looking for an escape from the night?

Yeah. There was that. And where abandonment went…

It took everything Tai had to keep moving through the first of three posh lounges on the main floor, sticking close to the wall, away from the groups on the black leather couches and chairs. This wasn't the time to dwell on bad times. His past was gone, and he'd paid the price for the loss. By all Wisle's curses, his whole family had paid an even worse price, save his cousin. They were the only ones left, not an answer to be had, no matter how hard he'd searched. No names, no faces—

Dammit, no. He did not need this shitty trip down memory lane, and the sooner his head learned that, the better everything would be.

Tai hurried from the lounge and up the stairs to the second of the three main floors, doing his best to ignore the dungeons in the subbasement and the cages on the rooftop. The second floor wasn't as open and free like below, most of it taken up by dozens of rooms that were already in use, or so the bright red lights on the door panels suggested. The spacious lounge in the centre was as packed as the one downstairs, glitter littered everywhere on the shiny black floor, red petals strewn in what he supposed used to be spirals, gauging from the few curves that were still intact.

The swanky aesthetic from downstairs continued through the corridors, tying back to the club's glamourous atmosphere. As usual, Ratchet and Mika kept it looking like a hideaway for the wealthy and famous, touches of blood-red giving the club a rougher bite. They catered to clientele from across the spectrum, from the I-don't-do-peasants influencers to the under-the-radar workers—all legal, professional, and high-end… but ultimately dangerous, secrets playing a human façade. If the wrong people knew who played in the Lare's halls, there'd be shit to shovel.

Shivers raced down Tai's spine. Trust starts at the moment you step on our welcome mat, and safety goes home with you, Mika always said, Ratchet echoing the same whenever someone questioned their businesses. Above all else, they served shifters, sorcerers, and anyone in between that lived inside the lies, afraid to be shipped off to some lab in the middle of nowhere. It was even more important now, having a safe place to play. To exist.

Thanks to those damned dragons, Tai almost muttered. Their ugly show in the autumn had dragged attention to holes no one should've been looking in. They'd made shifting more dangerous than usual, what with people expecting something else to show up. In the ruin of hours, the world had gone from believing dragons didn't exist to wanting so much more from bastards that'd disappeared as quickly as they'd arrived.

Tai had never been so thankful for the Lare, or for Mika's hoarding tendencies and his ridiculously stuffed financial accounts. Ratchet and Mika gave people what they needed, including a protected place for magic to run as wild as the shifters. The club boasted the latest technology to make any wish happen and the best of holosuites—any program, any setting, and any kind of custom work for a reasonable fee. In those suites, creativity was the only limit. They'd even introduced holographic stories before any other club in the country, designed to unlock chapters as the players fulfilled scenes to their very ends. The levels were endless, the games ongoing, and they were as popular as the escape rooms on the third level, every one of them BDSM-focused with every tool available.

Hiding in plain sight, they'd taken the scene to the kinkiest high-tech extravaganza available, and people were noticing. Not a month went by that Mika didn't mention some interview or journalist pushing him to stay at the top of the game. Ratchet was merely content to stay on the floor, serving drinks and managing.

Which is totally why he's up here right now.

Hey, Tai called out. Hair guy.

Ratchet popped out from behind the open door he'd just snuck through: Tech Room 3, according to the nameplate. Oh, hey, give me— He ducked into the room again, his gravelly voice muffled. Someone else responded with a high, feminine pitch, followed by a snorted laugh as Ratchet chuckled.

A moment later, Ratchet slipped back out into the lounge and closed the door behind him. All smiles, he drew Tai in for a hug. Bro, 'sgoing? Ratchet clapped Tai's shoulder and pulled back. You made it. Thought you'd punt this one. His bright cerulean-blue eyes gleamed behind thinly striped contacts as he grinned, narrow white lines passing over his irises like tiger stripes. Thick black eyeliner only made them that much harder to look away from. Too fancy and not nearly dirt-deep enough.

Tai snorted. Left the dirt in the courtyard since someone threw up his idea of gaudy deco everywhere.

Ratchet laughed. Yeah, says the one who could use a little gaud hanging of his tip, right?

Humming while he peered at something behind Tai, Ratchet drew his hand through his hair. Usually both sides of his head were shaved with a length of hair styled down the middle, the strands of rich purple, black, and midnight-blue hanging to the base of his neck. Right then, however, the tattoo on the side of his head was visible, but he'd covered the other side with shoulder-length extensions in a mix of dark hues, almost like a rainbow trapped under translucent black paint. Among the extensions hung narrow chains of silver links decorated with tiny wings and crystal charms, matching the chains cuffed to his ears.

If those didn't stop someone in their tracks, his ever-growing tattoos could. Ink covered his arms and sprawled over most of his light tan skin beneath his alt-metal look: black cargo pants weighted with buckles and belts, black t-shirt, huge black boots, and the tiniest damned wings strapped to his back with thick chains. For all Tai knew, the wings were nothing more than wire hangers and foil, probably something Ratchet had thrown together at last minute.

Well, shit. He's really living in this one.

It's looking good, though, Tai added, if only to keep Ratchet smiling, a habit from when they were children, growing up together.

Right? Both clubs are full, and the Bay's just as packed. Ratchet frowned before pulling his phone from his pocket. Damn, he muttered, thumbing the screen. Hate to run, but— Ratchet slipped the phone back into his pocket. You're on the hunt, I can tell, so lemme save you a few steps. He pointed upwards, his smirk deserving a playful smack. Check the exhibitions, second in particular. It'll be enlightening.

With that, Ratchet was gone, rushing towards the closest elevator, shouting, Happy horning, over his shoulder.

Exhibitions. Code for the exhibitionists playing freely, not giving a damn who saw.

Tai took the stairs up to the next level, mulling over his options. The usual suites would be open, set on various holoprograms to give as wide a landscape as possible. At least two of the non-holosuite options would be open as fully stocked cells.

But second? What's he playing at?

Trust.

Ratchet had never led Tai wrong, not even once since Tai first met him, back when he'd been a terrified five-year-old. He needed to trust Ratchet now.

The third floor was quieter than downstairs, its lounge half full. Most of the furniture was taken up by subs without leashes, naked and playing mercilessly while Doms watched from a distance, occasionally barking an order or stepping in to make an adjustment. There was a hint of music in the background, past the moans and whines offering a soft welcome home as he turned down one hall.

He glimpsed into the first holosuite he encountered, drawn in by the sound of a waterfall, its rushing waters as realistic as any he'd seen. The group frolicking in the water at the waterfall's base certainly agreed with him, sunlight bright on their bare skin as they laughed and splashed around on the dark grey rocks jutting out of the river, wings and costumes discarded on the lush green banks. Not far from them, a pack of black wolves padded along the bank, the distinct flavour of shifter magic teasing Tai's senses from their direction. Not quite on the prowl for a good lay—more on guard, watching for trouble.

That may have had something to do with the two members of the group at the heart of the water pool; the ones that didn't need costumes or to turn their furs. Those two were Faeries at play, their delicate, gleaming wings as nature-blessed as the rest of them, everything about them currently wrapped up in bliss. Any distance given by the wolf pack wasn't one of toying desire but of reverence, and there wouldn't be any coming between them and those they protected. Not that night.

Except that was room one, not two, taking him further down the hall to the next open suite.

He expected to find some kind of castle or palace inside, given how much Ratchet loved their architecture. Instead, room two displayed a massive city park, full of shadows and moonlight. Modeled after the park in eastern Keikei, the smooth brick paths wound between trees and bushes, partially lit by fanciful park lamps. Patches of wildflowers rested in the darkness, and well-pruned hedges loomed in the shapes of wolves, bears, and dragons with a pegasoi in the background, wings outstretched. Leaves rustled in the distance, as calming as the constellations stretched across the night sky.

One step took him onto the grass. Another three ushered him onto the closest path, one he walked carefully, curious about the breathy voices on the other side of a hedge wall almost as tall as him.

Past the hedge, bodies moved together, entwined on a modest garden of leaves and crushed flowers, overshadowed by the BDSM gear abandoned on a towel at the garden's edge. Three forms kept his attention for the time it took to sort who was pleasuring whom, only to lose him with a wail that broke through the moans and whines.

Grinding his teeth, Tai looked away, tempted to stay to see how long the scene lasted—

Or he could die right there, gaze glued to the beauty across the way.

The swing… it wasn't more than a hard seat on thick chains, tied to the old tree thirty feet to his left. Back and forth, creaking quietly, the swing's constant rhythm kept time with the threesome to his right.

None of that mattered with the gorgeous face peering back at him. Under the glow of pale blue fairy lights, the guy on the swing may as well have been naked: there wasn't much to his shiny little shorts and black ankle boots with their narrow heels, though they were nothing compared to the wings strapped to his back. Big like a butterfly's, the dark tips of the wings reached above his shoulders, fluttering with every swing, their bottom edges nearly grazing the ground.

Breath—fuck, was Tai ever out of it, thoughts silenced as he watched. The beauty on the swing was glammed up, bright and pretty with a silver glimmer to his pale skin, dark blond hair pulled back just enough to keep the wavy locks out of his eyes…

Eyes that kept Tai still, threatening to rip his guts out if Tai didn't just breathe. The gentle movement back and forth was hypnotizing in the least, damned frustrating at the worst, and that sculpted jaw he could nip at for days, the hint of scruff teasing his skin… entirely too tempting.

They locked gazes, tension ready to burst into flame—

Only to kill Tai the next moment as the guy looked away, uninterested.

By the fires, that was cruel. Tai fell back a step, disappointment punching down. He hadn't expected the guy to jump off the swing and run to him or anything, but some acknowledgement would've been nice.

And yet…

Tai stepped back again, closer to the hedge, its sharp ends scraping his jacket. Watching was allowed, or so it seemed, what with the swing still going, wings tapping against the guy's back. Beautiful and elusive, he may as well have been a butterfly sent to torment Tai with denial.

Fuck, he'd nail that pretty creature to the floor and beyond if he had the chance.

To the sound of groans and whispers carrying on behind him, Tai watched and waited, willing Butterfly to grace him with another glance. He wouldn't force it. The trespass had been his: he'd interrupted something, Butterfly's attention having been on the threesome on the ground as they enjoyed their romp. That attention might never be Tai's to have, but if he waited, if Tai's patience did the asking, maybe he'd earn a bit of interest.

The last thing Tai expected was the hand that drifted across Butterfly's chest, a careful crawl across his breastbone that took Tai's curiosity with it. So casual. Deliberate.

With a grip still on the chain on the other side, Butterfly played his fingers down his chest, slipping over his nipples on a meandering path of caresses that journeyed down his waist and to his lap. Not once did he glance at Tai. He denied that gift, keeping it out of Tai's reach. But that hand…

The touches continued down Butterfly's thigh, then up the other before sliding between his legs. A subtle grab flowed into a glide of the fingertips up to his waistband, only to get lost inside his shorts and stay there, muscles flexing as he stroked—

Tai nearly choked. Gods be cursed, Butterfly was working himself, fist moving slowly but surely. He swung slower while he played, still denying his glance. Still in control. The waistband of Butterfly's shorts inched down, freeing both his hand and his cock as he rubbed his tip with his thumb, body contracting with the touch, lips parted.

And a look. Goddesses, that look.

He couldn't have thrown Tai a hotter gaze—a dead-on stare that slammed into Tai, tearing through him like a thousand cuts.

But then—oh, bloody fuck, right then—Butterfly bit down on his lip, worrying it as he tilted his head back, throat exposed, open for the tasting.

An invitation.

Wasting none of the offer, Tai crossed over the grass and walked around the swing as Butterfly kept moving at a cautious pace. The glory of his wings came into view, a glossy mosaic of neon blues, vivid purples, and pale golds with thick borders that appeared black under the soft blue light, narrow metal strips keeping the smooth film sheets in place.

As the swing completed its fall back, the wings brushed up against Tai's chest. He gave Butterfly a gentle push, sending him forward again. This time, Butterfly lifted his feet higher off the ground and grasped both chains, the fingers of one hand glistening with what looked like pre-come. Tai's second push was harder, lower. Butterfly leaned into the press on his lower back before swinging away again, ankles crossed.

On the return, Tai grabbed the chain and jerked the swing to a stop.

A slide of touch down the warm chains brought their hands together, Butterfly's grip staying… waiting, so much steadier than his breaths. He shivered under Tai's gaze, looking ahead but never behind.

You'll have to wait a little longer, beautiful.

Wafts of vanilla scented the air, cut with nutmeg and honey—scents that clung to Butterfly's skin, urging Tai closer. The metal edges of the wings swept over Tai's cheeks as he pulled Butterfly back, both fists still around the chains, keeping him balanced. Up close, Butterfly's hair was a mix of metallic-red highlights and white-blond strands among the dirty blond, all fastened back with a simple rose clip. His earrings were just as simple, the silver studs and small hoops ensuring the rest of him would be seen first.

And seen he was, down his toned body and over the tattoo on his back, hidden beneath the wings. The tattoo took up its fair share of skin: another pair of wings, stunning in their hints of more.

If he'd had any say, Tai would've ripped off those damned fake wings to get at that artwork.

A groan had him snapping his head up. Butterfly's fingers were back on his cock, rubbing his tip mercilessly. Head tilted to the side, Butterfly leaned back, wings crushed to Tai's chest.

Chain links dug into Tai's palms as his fists tightened. Butterfly was all but presenting himself, holding his thickened shaft just so, giving Tai the perfect view of what he offered. What he wanted. He was close, too, ragged breaths chasing after the need to come.

Tai released the chains and walked around the swing. Nudging Butterfly's legs open, Tai stepped between them to grab Butterfly by the cock.

Butterfly stilled, breath hitched as he kept his gaze downward, unmoving, trapped in the silence between them.

Slipping his free hand along Butterfly's jaw, tracing the roughness, Tai lifted Butterfly's chin. No, he commanded quietly.

Butterfly's glance flicked up, throwing Tai off guard. Bright fuchsia eyes held him there, irises flashing purple—a fine wine hue accentuated by lighter shades of glittering eyeshadow and eyeliner. As Butterfly's glossy lips parted, Tai returned his stare, letting havoc wreak its way through him. Part of him expected a Dom to come stomping in, ready to tear him a new one for touching what was theirs without permission…

Tai brushed his cheek along Butterfly's. Nipped his throat. A drink, he murmured, drawing his lips over Butterfly's ear. A drink first, then we play.

He stepped back, hand held out in offering—and smiled as Butterfly accepted, allowing Tai to pull him up. Maybe tonight doesn't suck so much after all.

If only everything were that easy, like laying waste to the feeling that he was in the middle of a loss he couldn't name. By all Wisle's curses, he was asking for something. He just didn't know what.

————

CHAPTER 2

————

Tai had never been so tempted to destroy his infuriating door.

After a single drink at the club and the briefest of chatter—enough to confirm there wasn't another Dom to worry about—he and his pretty find had ended up here, in front of Tai's apartment, about ten seconds from fucking in the empty hallway if Tai didn't get the door open.

Click went the lock, and relief took over. The hot breaths racing down Tai's throat were even better, lips roving over his skin, the drag of tongue sending shivers down his spine. He could almost forget the headache clambering to take him down.

Butterfly, Tai muttered. The door cracked open, and he slid a glance to the fuchsia eyes so close to his, all mischief and promise. At least he had a name now: Gates Colfaethe, though seeing Gates as anything more than a butterfly or glimmering Faerie was a challenge Tai was absolutely failing at.

Gates drew back, one blond brow arched. Too much? A smirk pulled at his lips, most of his gloss gone—but only because it was plastered to Tai's neck and lips, the taste of candy lingering on the tip of his tongue. Or not enough.

Fingers traveled over Tai's waist, just above his pants, then slipped inside—

Tai snorted, refusing to move as Gates's fingertips found his cock. Gorgeous, I was just gonna welcome you in. He pushed the door open further. Bed. Now.

Gates's grin dug Tai ten feet closer to the Halls of Eternal Bliss. Well, if you insist… He withdrew his touch and brushed past Tai, the tip of one wing catching Tai's jaw—a gentle reminder of what Tai intended to do with those damned frustrating things.

Without asking for directions, Gates wandered through the foyer and into the softly lit living room, never once faltering. His heels clicked a slow, constant rhythm across the wood floor as he headed for the hallway to the right of the living room. Gates said nothing, seemingly unfazed by the state of the apartment, not that it was trashed or left to shambles—merely lived-in and functional, nowhere near fanciful. Tai didn't care if anything matched, and Estrel didn't seem to hold any opinions either way, save for what cushion was comfiest and how much of the second-hand couch his bony ass wanted to share.

Speaking of which—

Tai glanced around the apartment, locking the door behind him. Usually Estrel spent his nights lounging in the living room, spread out on the slate-grey couch or sprawled in one of the blanket-smothered armchairs. Right then, Estrel wasn't anywhere to be seen, though his toys were scattered over the rugs. One of his mauled chew toys perched on the edge of the low table in the centre of the room, while a shredded cardboard box lay close by, looking like it'd been flung at the vidscreen in the wall.

Tempted to peek into the kitchen, Tai started towards the doorway at the other end of the living room, expecting to glimpse a fluffy grey tail sticking out from around the corner.

Expecting someone?

Gates's sultry tone jarred Tai, but it was the sharp clack that had Tai snapping his head towards him.

Goddesses. On. Fucking. High.

Gone were Gates's shorts, his nakedness on display, but the way Gates posed in the doorway made it worse. Leaning back against the doorframe, one wing on either side, Gates waited with one foot up on the opposite side of the frame, bearing everything. Poised and ready to go, cock flushed dark red up against his stomach, he'd left Tai with little to remove. Just those sleek ankle boots and crushed wings.

Gates stroked himself, a creep of fingers and thumb up his shaft that left Tai cursing silently. Or maybe I'll stay here, model it for you, hmm? He tilted his head, gaze locked on Tai's as he pressed harder against the frame and grabbed his cock. Caught in the tightening hold of his fist, Gates rose into the touch, muscles tightening from abs to chest. The doorframe creaked, joining his quiet hiss. The longer you look, the longer I'll play, if that's—

Tai snapped his fingers—loudly, crisp enough to sting. "Bedroom. Now. Don't make me tell you again."

Oh, the look that got him, intensity burning up the silence.

Gates smirked and lowered his leg. Don't leave me waiting. He turned into the hallway, only to stop and peer back over his shoulder. I'll flutter right the fuck off if you lose interest, boss. Can't keep me locked in forever.

You—

Tai stalked across the living room. Hard. With intent. Gates moved further away, ear turned towards Tai as he stepped slowly, shuffling deeper into the hallway. By the time Tai caught up to him, Gates had already reached the other side of the hall and pressed against it. Chest flat against the dark blue wall, legs spread, Gates rested one palm up on the wall, keeping steady.

Slipping in behind him, Tai slapped his hand to the wall, just shy of Gates's fingers, loving how Gates's breath hitched as Tai leaned in.

Baby, I don't need forever, Tai murmured, only tonight. He forced his knee between Gates's legs. Really hard to lose interest with this— Tai slapped Gates's ass and got a gasp in return. —out in the open. So get it into my room and kneel it down, because that mouth of yours needs a good fucking. With the crawl of a touch, Tai drew his fingertips down the crunched film of Gates's wings and followed their centre line down his back, into the small of his spine.

Gates moaned and arched into the wall, grinding against Tai, shifting into his caress.

After that, Tai continued, we'll see about taking care of this. His hand went lower, sneaking into the crease of Gates's ass. He pressed into Gates, gently working the tip of his finger through the tightness. How about that, hmm? Think you're just gonna flutter away now?

Breaths shallow, Gates shook his head. He groaned, clawing marks down the wall as he pushed back into Tai's hand.

Yeah, that's what I thought. Tai kissed the back of Gates's