Alex stumbled in the doorway and grabbed onto a piece of furniture to keep from falling. He squinted, trying to bring the room into focus. It looked like his chambers, but he wasn't sure.
A hand wrapped around his arm and dragged him forward.
"Come, Your Highness, lie down for a moment."
Who was that man? He had the impression he knew him, but the dark hair and sharp features told him nothing—
Fuck! He knew him all too well, that bastard!
"Let me go!" He yanked his arm back, grabbed one of his practice weapons, and pointed it at him. "Don't come any closer."
Caleb raised his hands. "Your Highness, you're unwell. You must let yourself be helped."
"You drugged me!"
"Me? And why would I ever do such a thing?"
"I don't know, and I don't give a fuck! Get out of here."
But the nobleman stepped closer and, before Alex could react, he disarmed him. Then he grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the bed.
"You should lie down. I fear the wine was too strong for you and went to your head."
"Don't touch me—"
Caleb shoved him onto the mattress, seized his wrists again, and twisted them behind his back. A stab of pain shot through Alex's shoulder, but the arousal kept growing. His cock hardened between his legs.
This wasn't the right moment. He had to break free, or at least try to scream. Someone would hear him, right?
Something hard closed around his wrists and tightened. Alex opened his mouth to shout, but the nobleman shoved something between his teeth. A gag?
"Shh." The bastard's fingers brushed his cheek, and a stab of pain shot through his abdomen. "Relax. It will all be over soon."
Did he want to rape him? Would he truly dare go that far?
Caleb turned him onto his back, stripped him completely, and tore the rings from his fingers.
Alex growled, a thin line of saliva sliding down his neck. His muscles were numb, and the only thing he could think about was how much he wanted to come. He needed it—the pain was unbearable.
"By the spirits, you're really aroused."
The nobleman grabbed his cock and squeezed. A mix of pain and pleasure flooded Alex. He moaned against the gag and arched his back, hoping it would bring him some relief.
Yet the arousal didn't fade. It kept growing, more and more, until it devoured even the fear.
"Your Highness!"
William's voice?
The bastard turned his head, but a fist struck him square in the face and hurled him off the bed. Alex let out a trembling breath and closed his eyes. For some reason, he knew he was safe.
-----------------
William rushed to the prince's bedside and removed the gag from his mouth and the straps from his wrists. A string of saliva dripped from his lips onto his chest; his gaze was clouded with arousal.
Sven dragged the nobleman to his feet. "What are you trying to do, bastard?"
But Lord Caleb mumbled something incomprehensible and fainted.
"Sven, take him—" A stab in his lower abdomen stole the air from his lungs. "Take him to a cell. Inform His Majesty of what happened, but do not let him enter here."
"But Your Highness—"
"I'll handle it. I have the antidote, but he's under the effects of an aphrodisiac, and I must… calm him down." He looked the captain in the eye. "Do you understand?"
Sven flushed slightly and nodded. "I will make sure you are not disturbed."
He grabbed the nobleman under the arms and left the chamber. William locked the doors, then returned to the prince's side.
"Your Highness?" he called softly. He brushed his forehead. "Open your eyes, please."
His lashes fluttered, then his blue eyes fixed on William. "W-Will?"
"Yes, it's me. You are safe. You don't need to worry anymore."
"It hurts…"
"I know. I can feel it."
"I'm sorry…"
"I have the antidote. Can you drink it?"
The prince nodded, and William helped him sit up. He pulled a vial from his pocket, opened it, and brought it to his lips. He watched him eagerly drink the entire contents, then helped him lie back down and sat by his side.
"Will it pass?" the prince asked in a faint voice.
"Yes, but you must calm down. The antidote takes time to work, and remaining in this state too long harms your health."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"You will if you refuse to let me help you." William caressed his cheek. "Please, I need you to give me permission."
Alex drew a sharp breath, moaning. "All right, but don't hurt yourself."
"I promise."
William kissed him. The prince shivered and tensed beneath his hands, pain and pleasure surging through the bond. He came, but he remained erect and rigid. This wouldn't do—he was far too sensitive for intercourse.
William caressed him again on the chest and between his legs, brushing him with the tip of his tongue and kissing his burning skin. With every touch, the prince came, and a stab of pain sank its teeth into William's belly. There was nothing pleasant left in it for either of them; it was only a cruel torture.
"Your Highness, are you well?"
"I'm better…" His Highness gave a faint half-smile. "Sorry, I let my guard down."
"It's not your fault." William kissed him, stroked his tongue with his own, and nibbled his lip. "Don't think about it."
He kept stroking him. Each time he made him come, the arousal receded, and the intervals between one climax and the next grew longer. The antidote was taking effect.
Finally, the prince came for the last time, and the arousal that lingered along the bond faded. He was soft again, his sun-kissed skin smeared with semen. The sheets were no better.
William got off the bed, fetched clean blankets, and covered him. Then he sat beside him.
He stroked his cheek. "How are you?"
"I'm better, thank you. I'm sorry if you had to do something so humiliating."
"It wasn't humiliating. I like to touch you and hear you moan, though I'd rather not see you drugged and hurt." He kissed him. "Now rest. The physician will come to check on you shortly."
"Can you stay with me?"
"Of course. I'll only step away for a little while."
He tucked the blankets more securely around him, reached the door, and turned the key. He stepped outside, and the king cast him such a piercing look that William stiffened.
"Your Majesty." He bowed. "His Highness is resting at the moment. He will be better soon."
"Sven told me. It is fortunate that the two of you are so closely bound."
William cast a glance at the captain but said nothing.
"William," the king called him back, "did the count's son… violate him?"
"I don't think so, but at the moment the prince is not in a condition to speak." But he hoped with all his heart that the monster had not gone that far.
"Lord Caleb is in a cell," Sven interjected. "He seems terrified."
The king frowned, and anger flashed in his eyes. "Good. For a crime like that, there is the gallows."
"What must I do, Your Majesty?"
"Inform the queen and interrogate the bastard. I want to know why he did it, and whether anyone else is involved."
Sven bowed and withdrew. The king shifted his gaze to William.
"May I see him?"
"You are the sovereign, Your Majesty. You do not need my permission."
"But he is my son. I don't want to make him uncomfortable." He sighed. "Is he hurt?"
"No. But he was under the effects of a very powerful aphrodisiac, and calming him was not easy."
The king looked at him in silence, and William did not avert his eyes.
"I see," said His Majesty. "I would still like to see him."
The mage nodded and led him into the prince's chambers.
The king looked around, his eyes moving from the sword abandoned on the floor to the sheets stained with semen. Then he approached his son's bedside and stroked his cheek.
"He truly cannot stay out of trouble."
"They targeted him, Your Majesty."
"We argued only a few hours ago. I told him he must marry Ballard's daughter, but he refused." He withdrew his hand and turned to William. "He's in love with a man, but he needs an heir."
William lowered his gaze. Should he say something, or would he be considered rude?
"He thinks I hate him," the king went on, "but that is not so. I understand him, and I truly would like to see him happy, but having a child is the one duty he cannot refuse."
"His Highness only needs time."
"Nothing will change, I know it. He is like my father. He loves you and will accept no compromise."
William's eyes widened, and he jerked his head up. "What?"
"My son is an open book. He cannot hide his thoughts." The king sighed. "I should never have summoned you to court. All of this is my fault."
"Your Majesty, I—"
"Give him up. Convince him to marry Ballard's daughter. For the good of the kingdom."
"I can't—"
"This is not a request, Master Traver." The king's gaze grew sharp as a blade. "It is an order from your sovereign."