There was not much that fazed Dorian. He had traveled through time before, into strange lands where heâd encountered even stranger creatures. But he had never seen anything like the Faerieland, and he was quite certain he never would again. The last time he had been here, it had been a beautiful sight, romantic, even, staring up at the vivid, colorful stars, with Kieranâs hand in his, his hot breath on his neck and promises of a future in his ear.Â
This trip was not nearly so idealistic, and the untraceable moving of mountains and changing of seasons had made the journey frustratingly slow; when time was of the essence, when every second it took him to reach Kieran was a second he could lose him, Dorian was finding the games of this land less and less amusing. That time in this land was so unpredictable was not new, not surprisingâbut it was irritating. Why in all the realm had the man come back here? If he was still alive when Dorian found him, he was going to kill him himself.Â
By the time they reached the court, however, Dorian would have gladly taken every shifting, moving mountain and uncertain rivers to have not been facing a Kieran so obviously in pain. He did not know what he had expected. Of course the maniacs that Kieran so unfortunately called family had decided to torture him. Of course Erec was behind it. But knowing it would happen and seeing it up close were two very different things, and if Dorian was less accustomed to the terrible, he might have been sick on the spot.Â
Kieranâs torturers had moved away now. Good. It was now or never. Moving from the bush where heâd been hiding, staff held firmly at his side, Dorian darted across the court and to his boyfriendâs aid, cursing silently all the while. He almost wished that heâd be spotted, stopped, if only to have an excuse to curse these men into oblivion. Heâd truly love nothing better than to see them sizzling on the other end of his staff. He had traded his fire staff for the lightning just for the occasionâa good shock, after all, seemed in order.Â
âIâve never done anything stupid in my life, and I resent the implication,â he said, whispering a soft spell under his breath that snapped the iron from the faerieâs wrists. âI am going to blame the delirium of your current state, but I will expect a full apology when we get back, preferably written, preferably in verse.â The last of the shackles fell away, and Dorian quickly pressed a kiss to Kieranâs lips, firm and filled with all the worry and relief he was unwilling to let slip into his voice. He then wrapped an arm around Kieranâs waist and began to lead him away, back to the bush where the men he had brought were waiting, should they have to fight after all.Â
As soon as the shackles fell away Kieran pulled his wrists to his chest, they were still brunt, he was sure he would have scars for the rest of his life. he was rubbing his wrist with his hand and fell into the kiss. He didnât want to stop kissing Dorian. He had been so sure he was going to die and he couldn't think of a better way to die, than here with Dorian. The kiss however was over too quickly, and reality settled back into the forefront of Kieranâs mind.Â
âIâm a faerie, I canât write in verse, why else would we lure humans into our realm?â Kieran said leaning heavily on Dorian. Still he turned grinning at the other man âWell, some of you are pretty enough without the musical talent I suppose.â As if flirting would take away from the fact that they were all in grave danger. The fact that Dorian was currently doing something very stupid. The fact that he owed Dorian his life, a debt that was gravely serious to faeries. The fact that he had to lean on Dorian more than he would have liked.Â
âDid you have a plan to get us out?â Kieran asked they wouldn't be safe in the Unseelie court, but Kieran doubted the Seelie court would take them in, take him in. He could hardly form a plan, the state he was in. Were he feeling better, were his head not ringing he would be able to point Dorian towards a path out of Faerie all together. Instead he could hardly think straight the exhaustion of torture catching up with him. Â
âif you can find it.â Kieran knew he would not be much help navigating at the moment. âThe cottage we stayed at.â It wasnât safe but it was less dangerous. Adaon would have to deal with Dorian and his men until Kieran could get them out. He felt his heart drop realizing that this was, most likely the last time he would be in Faerie, that he would have to say goodbye to his home after this. Least he pull Dorian into anymore trouble. It was clear that the places heâd always called home no longer welcomed him.Â
âFollow the Dragonâs tail.â It was not perfect, it would not get them quite there, but they would be going in the right direction and if they could do that for long enough before The King and his brothers realized he was gone they might make it. If Dorian could spare even a bit of healing, just to get his head to stop ringing they might make it. He turned his head to kiss Dorianâs jaw. they might make it, but he did not like their chances, so instead he kissed his boyfriend, a silent thanks. The trees, and grass, and flowers were listening, there was no need to have word spread that Prince Kieran thanked humans for rescuing him, even if he was never coming back, he didnât want to tarnish his reputation too much.Â
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