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Kas—or, Eddie, as he preferred to be called to protect his true name—was no stranger to the admiring glances his pet garnered whenever he walked into a room. His boy truly was a prime example of beauty, one of the finest specimens humanity had to offer.
With his dark brown hair that shined so cleanly under the light, felt so fluffy beneath Eddie's fingers, and cradled flowers so elegantly that it put nature-inclined realms to shame.
With his adorably round face, so youthful at first glance but subtly matured in the prominence of his cheekbones and the cut of his jaw.
With his warm hazel eyes that always gleamed so innocently when he looked at Eddie, endlessly in awe of his presence and his power (a welcome change from the frustrated resignation his gaze once carried).
With his full pink lips, so delicate in color and soft to the touch.
With his capable, steady hands—so strong but so gentle, and still adapting as nimble fingers slowly lost the rough callouses they once held.
With his defined chest, of which was covered with a lovely pelt that made even the plushest moss feel scratchy and unpleasant.
With his long, muscled legs that kneeled and wrapped around Eddie when commanded.
With his generous, generous rump that took Eddie's love and his punishments without complaint.
And finally, with his magnificent body. Touched by the sun; as evidenced by the golden shade his skin took, and by the moon; proven by the stars littered across him, he looked as if he'd been blessed by the sky—the great expanse that watched over all.
It was like he belonged up in the clouds and the constellations, to the realm beyond human comprehension, to the fae. And only the most powerful the fae had to offer.
As if that wasn't enough, Eddie had also managed to find little perks to his pet's behavior that he could appreciate when he was usually more inclined to view humans with a peaceful apathy.
What could he say? He didn't necessarily hate their species, even if quite a few of them left a lot to be desired, but he didn't particularly care for them or their survival either. They were numerous enough, and often similar enough (both visually and personality-wise), that finding anything exotic or exciting about them took more effort than Eddie was willing to put in. They also lived such short lives that becoming attached was, frankly, a waste of time.
If Eddie was going to take the risk of binding one to him, thereby prolonging their life so they could stay by his side, it was a better investment of magic to find one he was already interested in. Not wander around until he happened to pick a good one.
With his sweet boy, his darling little doll, things started out a little…differently. They progressed quite differently too.
Steve of House Harrington, a name lost to the man when he pledged his life to Lord Kas of the Veiled Garden, had been different from many of the humans he surrounded himself with. It was actually rather endearing how much he stuck out.
Whereas his prideful father had attached his loyalty to the preservation of his name and his life, and the man's foolish court had limited their allegiance to the gold in their Lord's treasury, Steve Harrington had been more inclined to devote himself to people. He preferred to protect, to please, rather than to hoard and flaunt.
As evidenced by the fearlessness he displayed when offering his service to Eddie in exchange for the lives of the children bound to the Harrington residence by proxy of their parents. Children who, in hindsight, were only ever in danger because of Danny Harrington's arrogance—because of his erroneous belief that going after a fae Lord to further prove his superiority would be end in anything other than blood and suffering.
Those were traits that Eddie could work with. Those were traits he wanted to work with.
For what bounty could possibly be better than that which was not only beautiful, but also willing?
A prize that could learn who was worth cherishing, who deserved his undivided attention and care, was an invaluable use of time and magic indeed.
Eddie had believed it then, and he was more than certain of it now, having been on the receiving end of his pet's reverence for decades.
Knowing all of that, it wasn't a surprise that his sweet boy drew eyes whenever he accompanied Eddie to banquets or other festivities. It was; however, a problem when the owners of those eyes got too close.
When they got too bold.
When they got too handsy.
Sighing, Eddie finished the last of his wine as gracefully as he could manage and then stood up. He deposited his goblet on the first empty tray he came upon, ignoring how the servant carrying the golden accessory dipped their head in respect as he passed.
Several other servants, some bound to the host of tonight's banquet and some bound to the guests, followed in bowing their heads when he got too close. Their Lords and Ladies, on the other hand, had different reactions. Many only spared him a glance before returning to their previous conversations, seeming to assume he was merely taking care of his own business or so indifferent to his presence altogether that what he did didn't matter to them in the slightest (unless he actively involved them).
A small handful, namely those who had been staring at his beloved pet, weren't as dismissive. They followed him with the same attentiveness once bestowed upon his boy, only this time, their gazes carried a poorly hidden wariness as they tracked his path. There was a certain respect to that, of course. Everyone present had been invited because of their power and the influential positions they held in the Seelie Court. Yet, the dominant appearance was that of caution.
Wise. Very wise indeed.
But hopefully not completely necessary.
Eddie liked to think he wasn't so much of an ungrateful guest that he enjoyed causing trouble when invited to other realms. He hoped that the situation remained cordial and would do his due diligence to maintain civility. Nevertheless, if it didn't and Eddie was forced to reassert his boundaries—his claim—in much harsher ways, he supposed the only thing he could do was make a proper show out of it.
When all was said and done, it would ensure that any and all attempts at coaxing his pet from his side ceased. For the foreseeable future, at least.
∾∾∾∾∾∾∾∾∾∾∾∾
If someone were to ask him how he got here, he wouldn't know where to start.
When His Lordship had sent him away to gather some food from the various bread, cheese, meat, and fruit platters scattered about the numerous tables, he made sure to practice proper etiquette as he passed the other attendees. He kept his head up but his gaze downward. He made sure not to look directly into the eyes of any Lords or Ladies. He maintained the appropriate amount of space away from the guests. He even went around tables when his original path would have him potentially interrupting group discussions.
It was supposed to keep him from getting in trouble, to keep him from embarrassing His Lordship in front of his peers. And it has worked in the past.
So…why?
Why was he here? What had happened? What had gone wrong? What had prompted a Lord (at least, he assumed it was a Lord based on the low pitch of their voice) that was not his own to be so informal with him? So forward?
"White…what an interesting choice for a resident of the Veiled Garden." The unknown Lord murmured thoughtfully. "It suits you, little dove."
The suddenness of the comment wasn't shocking or abrupt enough to make him flinch. Not when the speaker's voice remained quiet, almost calming. Like they were putting effort into appearing non-threatening as they spoke.
That being said, to say their efforts worked in putting him at ease would be a lie. The fae speaking to him may not have sounded like they meant any harm, but their mere presence was enough to keep him on edge. The weight of their existence materialized behind him gradually, as solid and unyielding as a stone wall. Similarly, the steadily-growing prickle of their magic crept into the air around him, not yet suffocating him but encasing him in a way that only His Lordship should be allowed to do.
It sent discomforted shivers down his spine, shivers that only got worse when he realized that the fae had glided around him so they were now standing beside him, no longer behind. Quite closely, he should add. Close enough to brush up against his right arm if he wasn't careful.
Damnit.
If their goal was to trap him in a conversation, to try and draw him into forsaking proper etiquette, they had just made it harder for him to escape without appearing rude.
Still, he had to try to get back to His Lordship. He had to get back to the safety His Lordship provided, the comfort.
He needed to leave.
Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and clutched His Lordship's plate tightly. While he would love nothing more than to turn to the left so he wouldn't risk locking gazes or running into the fae that had cornered him, giving his back to any of the presiding Lords or Ladies would be a grave error. Without His Lordship close by to audibly call for his service, the gesture could be mistaken as a human servant dismissing an honored guest.
An insult, an audacious one at that.
That left him cornered, where the only way out was to confront the fae Lord keeping him hostage.
"You're too kind." He kept his movements slow as he turned and bowed his head, mindful of the blossoms in his hair. He couldn't have any petals falling loose and littering the floor or His Lordship's plate of food, after all.
Though he remained careful so as not to appear as if he was judging the fae's attire, he couldn't help but see the style and colors of their clothes as his gaze traveled downward.
It was funny how eyes worked like that, huh?
Unlike His Lordship, who favored billowing robes that swallowed the light and often selected silver astral or botanical patterning for decoration—a nod to his bloodline's heraldry colors—this fae's palette resembled the heart of a wild fire. A loose-fitted shirt and some equally loose-fitted pants were colored a deep crimson, and decorated with an array of outlines and bordered edges that started off orange before shifting to a bright yellow.
Their accessories included a pair of brown leather wrist guards that became pointed as they traveled along the backs of the fae's hands, along with a thick leather belt that cinched slightly at their waist.
Red…Orange…Yellow…
The combination itself wasn't meaningful on its own. To his knowledge, neither crimson and orange, orange and yellow, or yellow and crimson were any bloodline's heraldry colors.
(He theorized that those color combinations were so generic—and too frequent in nature—that no bloodline saw any value in claiming them.)
It meant he still didn't know who he was talking to; who was so insistent on keeping him from His Lordship.
"Please forgive me, but my Lord awaits." Keeping his head down, he offered the plate forward for the other fae to see. When he was sure that his point had been made, he brought it back closer to him and moved to walk around the fae. "My hopes and prayers that you enjoy the festivities."
There was no immediate reply, and that filled him with hope. Maybe the fae had been cowed by the mention of his master. Or, maybe the fae respected the power all presiding guests held, and saw fit to remain uninvolved with another Lord's affair. Maybe a momentary audience was all the fae was after, and now that he'd fulfilled it, there was nothing else to discuss.
Whatever it was, he was thankful that he'd managed to navigate the encounter without-
"White may suit you, little dove-"
A hand suddenly shot out, grabbing onto his left bicep (an inch or so below the sleeve of his tunic) and instantly ripping his previous hopes to shreds.
Drat!
So, the other fae Lord did have more to say on the matter.
Not good.
Tense but desperate to salvage what he could, he did his best to keep his composure as he was forcefully turned back to the unknown fae. The plate remained balanced in his hands, but the food on it wobbled and twitched with the momentum of his movements, as if it had become sentient and wanted to wiggle away. Like a distressed worm, or a determined snail.
As he went to dip his head once more, he quickly found he didn't have the option of averting his eyes this time. The fae used their free hand to take hold of his jaw and nearly dislodged a good portion of the flowers in his hair with the strength they used to move him.
Long, golden-blonde hair—straight and flat, a contrast to His Lordship's magnificent curls—swished behind the fae as they tilted their head this way and that, appearing to examine him more closely now that he couldn't escape. Pale lips added to the spectacle, pursing tightly in speculation for a few moments before pulling into an amused grin. Presumably, they were satisfied with what they'd found in him.
(Not that he liked having to acknowledge that.)
Blazing yellow eyes met his own in, what he could only describe as, a penetrating stare. There was none of the previous thoughtfulness or inquisitiveness the fae's tone held when their conversation started, they stared into his eyes as if they hoped to blind him from the intensity of their gaze.
In the face of such scrutiny, he couldn't stop himself from flinching away (not that the fae allowed him to go far). Even if he didn't have much of a choice in the matter, this was now a significant breach of etiquette and was sure to make His Lordship angry if he were to see.
And he would see.
So long as it involved him, nothing escaped His Lordships eyes.
Opening his mouth, he hoped to warn the other fae of that before their…interactions…could go any further. Unfortunately, before he could get a sound out, clawed fingers dug into his cheeks with a roughness that matched the hold on his jaw.
It opposed the placidity of their voice though, strangely enough.
"But I can think of other things that would suit you better." The fae murmured. Their claws dragged down his cheeks as they spoke, sending unpleasant tingles racing across the rest of his face. And they didn't relent until their fingers were moving away entirely, leaving his jaw to wrap around his neck.
The hold wasn't tight, but it still felt like a warning.
Don't move.
Don't run.
Don't. Ignore. Me.
"In my humble opinion, red would be a rather fitting color for you-"
"And who, may I ask, wanted your opinion?"
He had to bite his lip to keep the relieved sigh that wanted to escape to himself.
Thank goodness!
His Lordship was finally here, and everything would be okay now.
The other fae looked up at the interruption, finally freeing him from their inspection. Their grin remained set in place, but he could see a tightness pulling at the corners of their lips, sending out a ripple of wrinkles along their cheeks. It gave them a slightly manic look.
"Edward," the fae purred mockingly, as if it wasn't already insulting enough that they forwent His Lordship's honorable title and used his 'name' without permission, "how wonderful to see you again. It's been far too long since we've stood before one another."
Without having to look behind him, he could tell that His Lordship was glaring. He could feel it burn into his back even when he wasn't the recipient, and he had to wonder how the rude fae could still stand under its assault.
"I imagine so." His Lordship agreed, his own hands reaching out to disentangle him from the other fae's hold. Once free, he was swiftly pushed behind His Lordship, shielded by both his robes and his body. "It must have been, for you to be acting so callous with one of MY humans."
The familiar sensation of His Lordship's magic, which surged outward to accompany those words, was a reprieve for his frayed nerves. It surrounded him in a protective hug, practically sinking into every inch of his body and effortlessly shielding him from the pressure of the other fae.
He didn't know what it was about His Lordship's magic that felt so-so…so grounding. It wasn't as if it was particularly warm or cold. It wasn't being unleashed in relentless waves that oppressed everyone who came into contact with it. Nor was it something he thought he could ever get used to, given that magic didn't come naturally to humans. Especially magic wielded by one of the most powerful fae in the Seelie Court.
His Lordship's magic just…was.
It was there, and being there bore undeniable results.
Every time His Lordship was around, every time his magic reached out to envelope him in its power, it was the safest he had ever felt. It was a barrier between him and the outside world, one that allowed him to move freely in its grasp even as it kept everything else out.
Closing his eyes, knowing it was finally safe to do so, he ran towards that feeling. He let himself lean against His Lordship's back physically, and spiritually, he clung to the magic that wove them together.
If he truly was bound by collar and chain, then he was clutching that damn chain for dear life.
"Now, now, Edward, no need for that. I was just having some fun. He IS quite the pretty little thing." The other fae's words, while grating, no longer had much else of effect on him now that His Lordship was here to protect him. "Surely, you can understand the temptation?"
"I do. And I've even fallen for it, if you haven't noticed." His Lordship growled low in his throat. Not loud enough to draw the attention of the room, but vicious enough to remind anyone who did hear him of his sparse tolerance for nonsense. "Why else would I claim him, hm?"
He shivered as the force of His Lordship's magic became heavier with that claim.
The chains that bound him became tighter and tighter, securing him but never choking him.
The tingles were going to come back at this rate. Not the revolting ones he felt with the other fae, but the…the-uhhh…
The less appropriate ones.
The ones His Lordship would dote on if they were alone, and would punish him for if he displayed himself so publicly.
Lord help me-
"Alright, alright, you've made your point."
He opened his eyes at that, just in time to see the other fae's hands rise up in a position of surrender. Their expression twisted into something hideously displeased; eyes narrowed until they were practically slits, nose scrunched up tight as if they were fighting off a sneer, and their lips were downturned into a heavy frown. Their magic had also receded until it was as untraceable as the air, posing no hint of challenge or threat to the Lord of the Veiled Garden.
Interesting.
A good choice, obviously, but it was still interesting that another Lord would give in so easily.
Unless-
Maybe they're a lesser Lord?
Not that it really mattered, in the grand scheme of things, but it would explain why he couldn't identify any heraldry colors in the other fae's outfit.
Huh…a lesser Lord challenging His Lordship?
It was such a ridiculous notion, and yet here it was, potentially playing out right in front of him. Honestly, were it not for the fact that he was in the middle of their dispute, he might just count this entire thing as a 'dinner and a show' scenario.
And not the kind he'd want to participate in ever again.
"Good." His Lordship didn't yield, not in the continued onslaught of his magic and not in his tone. His words remained gravelly and low, clearly still not appeased by his opponent's begrudging submission. "Now, get out of my sight before I do something drastic."
The other fae offered a curt nod, then turned on their heel and disappeared into a nearby crowd of fae, almost like they were using their audience as a curtain—a smokescreen—to keep His Lordship from following.
…whew!
Now, they were alone again. Or, as 'alone' as they could get during a banquet.
They were alone, and they were okay, and he could breathe-
"That was far too brazen for my liking, sweet boy."
His Lordship turned to face him mid-exhale, movements much more controlled and poised compared to the other fae's. His normally dark brown eyes were now pitch black, with vein-like patterns protruding around the outlines, similar to a mask. His lips were also pressed into a thin line. Not quite the angry frown he was entitled to after that encounter, more so a subtle challenge.
A wordless dare to anyone who could see him: anyone else care to try me?
Followed by a promise: you won't like what happens if you do.
"Of course, my Lord." Regaining his footing, he bowed momentarily, an acceptable sign of sincere submission. When he looked back up, he tilted his head: "Is-is there…is there anything I can do to…to soothe…your displeasure? Now that it's over?"
His Lordship arched a brow. "In front of all of these witnesses? Certainly not. If anyone else were to see you like that, I'd have to gauge out their eyes."
He spoke nonchalantly, uncaring that any of the surrounding fae could have heard him (or actually cared) and taken that threat as a blatant challenge to their honor and power.
"And then," His Lordship continued, leaning closer to whisper his next taunt, "I'd have to punish you for taking what is MINE and displaying it so thoughtlessly. That doesn't sound like something that would make me happy, now does it?"
…uh oh.
Shoulders curling inward and back rounding in a slight hunch, he quickly shook his head. Speaking demurely, he responded: "No, my Lord, it doesn't. Please, accept my apology. I-I wasn't trying to steal from you."
His Lordship straightened, brow lowering back to a neutral position.
"Of course not." His Lordship nodded sharply. "Because you know where you belong, don't you?"
No words were truly needed in response, not when the answer was so certain that it might as well have been added to the laws of the universe. In fact, he wondered if it was a rhetorical question.
Could it be? My Lord never jokes about how he sees me, and he never misses the opportunity to assure me that I have a greater purpose NOW compared to the life I lived before…
After a few seconds of deliberation, he opened to answer His Lordship anyway so as to not risk annoying him (better safe than sorry): "At your side, my Lord. Always at your side."
His Lordship smiled, wide and delighted. A reward for his cooperation.
"Good boy."
A hand came up to tenderly cup his cheek. When he leaned into it, eyes closing briefly to properly savor the care His Lordship freely bestowed upon him, he felt—not saw, not heard, but felt—something materialize around his throat. It was cooler than the heat his body naturally produced, so he knew it wasn't a phantom sensation his mind conjured up to cope with what the lesser fae Lord had done to him earlier. It was also more tangible than still air; not even the scorching atmosphere of the Ash Lands or the frigid drafts of the Glacial Marshes had felt so heavy.
That left only one option. One that he probably should have seen coming. What, with his own use of the analogy and all that.
"Come, dear one." His Lordship's hand slid from his cheek, the pads of his blackened, clawed fingers leaving behind invisible brands as they made their way to his neck and its new accessory. "Let us enjoy the rest of the banquet. When we return to the Veiled Gardens, then you may tend to me."
Biting his bottom lip, he fought to keep his whimper at bay as His Lordship tugged at the newly formed COLLAR. The attention sent a wave of molten heat to his lower belly, inviting a new barrage of pleasurable tingles and shudders to overtake him.
Goodness, if he lasted long enough to return to the relative privacy of His Lordship's realm, it was going to be because a miracle was at work.
A miracle, says he!