Lost Star by Hawke, Morgan (digital book reader .TXT) 📕

be polite, I can do that.” Aubrey shook his head. “Wait a minute… Your sister is the crown princess? What does that make you?”

Seht shoved a bush out of his way. “It makes me Deshryt, a blood-prince.”

Aubrey tripped over nothing in particular. “You’re a… prince?”

Seht shrugged. “It does not amount to much more than a small palace by the sea.

The females rule our government and control commerce, so a male is only as good as the battles he can win and the daughters he can produce.”

Aubrey frowned. “That sounds kind of…crappy.”

Seht chuckled. “It is not so bad.” He adjusted the pack slung over his shoulders. “I am serving on my brother-in-law’s warship in preparation to become captain of my own.”

“Oh…” Aubrey puzzled over what else Seht had mentioned. “And I’m not supposed to talk to Lord Syrhus or look him in the eye?”

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“Do not look any Skeldhis directly in the eye; they’ll take it as a direct challenge.

Do not show your teeth for exactly the same reason, even in a smile.”

Aubrey snorted. “What if I want to challenge them?”

Seht turned sharply and snarled. “Do you want to end up in a muzzle?”

Aubrey jerked to a startled halt. “A…what?”

Seht’s gaze narrowed. “Rehkyt that bite are kept bound and in muzzles, in the same fashion as a canine that bites.”

A chill raised the small hairs on the back of Aubrey’s neck. “You’re shitting me.”

Seht’s jaw tightened. “No, I am not.”

Crap! Aubrey swallowed. “Okay, all right… No biting.”

Seht nodded. “Good.” He turned and started up the path. “Hands above the waist are also a sign of aggression, so keep your hands below your waist, unless ordered to do otherwise. Your place is one step back and only on my left side, so as not to interfere with my sword-draw.”

Aubrey frowned. “You wear a sword?”

Seht smiled briefly. “Normally, yes. I wished to travel light, so most of my weapons, and my armor, are still in my barque.”

Aubrey blinked. Swords and armor? “Will I get to use a sword?”

Seht shoved his way into a clump of spiny brush. “I can arrange for training. In fact, I probably should arrange for upuaht training, though you might not like it.”

Aubrey followed him into the bushes. “Why not?”

“Rehkyt training is done by nehkyx. The word means ‘whip.’ You would remain with them and be under their complete control until they decide you have mastered what they have to teach you. Normally that would be for several months, at the very least. Some training takes years to master.”

Aubrey shrugged. “Sounds like any other school.”

Seht turned and frowned at Aubrey. “Do you normally service your instructors?”

“Service?” Aubrey blinked. “You mean have sex with them?” A sour smile curled his lip. “From what I hear, it’s not unusual for an Academy instructor to bend a student over their desk.”

Seht’s brows lifted. “Is that so?”

Aubrey shook his head. “It’s not something I ever had to deal with. I didn’t go to the military academy.” Dad wasn’t that rich. He’d had public school all the way.

“I see…” Seht pursed his lips. “If I turn you over to a nehkyx, sexual service is not only expected, it is required.”

“Required?” Aubrey tripped. He’d have to have sex with somebody other than Seht? He could barely deal with having sex with Seht. He wasn’t sure he could deal with anybody else. He swallowed. “Seriously?”

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Seht shrugged. “A rehkyt’s mental and physical health depends on regular sexual release. The nehkyx is expected to handle those needs in place of the absent master.”

Aubrey groaned. “Oh, come on, I can always just jerk off.”

Seht snorted. “Not anymore. Your body will no longer achieve orgasm that way.”

Aubrey froze in midstep. “Say what?” He stared at Seht.

Seht shrugged. “You are rehkyt. You need more stimuli to achieve orgasm than that.”

Aubrey frowned. That sounded like a load of crap if ever he’d heard one. “So what kind of…stimuli are we talking about here?”

Seht smiled, showing fangs. “I will take great pleasure in showing you.”

Aubrey snorted. “Now you’re just teasing me.”

“Which reminds me…” Seht held up a finger. “No one touches you without my express permission. Not even Lord Syrhus.” He turned to look at Aubrey. “You are mine, and mine alone.”

Aubrey lifted a brow. “Okay…” Was he supposed to be happy or scared?

Seht shoved farther into the brush. “This means that if you prove troublesome to others, I will bear the brunt of your disgrace.” He turned and shot a narrow look at Aubrey. “After which I will take my ire out on your skin.”

Aubrey couldn’t help but smile. “What are you going to do, beat me?”

“Yes.” Seht smiled right back, showing his complete set of fangs. “I did not wear my whip, as I did not have a personal rehkyt, but I will be sure to introduce you to it at our first convenient moment.”

Aubrey’s smile evaporated. “What, are you actually looking forward to beating me?”

Seht’s evil smile widened. “I am quite sure that you will look spectacular dancing under my whip.” He frowned. “As soon as you gain a bit more muscle.”

“Uh…” The hair on Aubrey’s neck rose, and yet a small curl of heat spilled downward. He frowned. If he didn’t know better, he’d think his body wanted to be whipped.

Seht chuckled and moved up the path. “I assure you, you will enjoy it.”

Aubrey jerked back. “Enjoy what? Being whipped?”

Seht slid between two tall rocks. “Rehkyt are designed to need extreme stimuli as much as they need sex.”

Aubrey followed after him frowning. Extreme stimuli and sex? “You’re saying I’m designed to be…kinky?”

“Yes.” Seht turned sharply to scowl at Aubrey. “And obedient.”

Aubrey jerked to an abrupt halt. “Yes, Syr!” He froze, shocked. That had come out of his mouth purely by reflex. Crap… He’s deeper in my head than I thought.

Seht smiled sweetly and reached out to pat Aubrey on the head. “Good, pet.”

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Aubrey scowled