"You cannot enter the dining hall," a guard declared curtly, blocking Gabe's path to the grand room where vaisas gathered for dinner.
Gabe stopped, frowning. "Why not?"
"There are orders from above," the guard replied, his tone dripping with condescension.
"What kind of orders?" Gabe demanded, his voice rising slightly.
The guard rolled his eyes, regarding Gabe with a disdain that felt cutting. "You know the rules."
Confusion turned to a dawning realization. "What rules?"
"Only vaisas currently in active service are allowed to eat during regular hours. You'll have to wait until the others finish."
Gabe staggered back as though struck. The weight of the words hit him harder than he'd expected. He had seen retired vaisas, the old, the injured, the unwell, regulated to scraps and off-hours dining, but he had never thought he would be subjected to the same treatment. The stigma of being declared "useless" was a stain he had always feared.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed toward Orwen's office, his pulse hammering in anger and disbelief.
Reaching Orwen's office, Gabe pushed the door open without knocking. His frustration left no room for decorum.
Inside, Orwen was on his knees before one of the palace's security heads, his face red. The man in uniform scrambled to adjust his clothing, hastily buttoning his jacket while avoiding Gabe's wide-eyed stare.
"What is wrong with you!" Orwen bellowed, standing abruptly, his face a mask of fury and embarrassment.
"What's wrong with me?" Gabe retorted, stepping out of the doorway to let the man bolt past him, sparing only a quick, judgmental glance. Gabe's face burning with embarrassment. He knew that engaging in relationships outside those approved by the administration was a punishable offense. He could recall at least a dozen cases where Orwen had banished or even handed over a Vaisa to the authorities for violating the enclave's strict rules. Yet here he was breaking those same exact rules he had punished others for.
"You shouldn't have barged in like that!" Orwen snapped.
"And you shouldn't be breaking enclave rules!" Gabe shot back, ignoring the heat in his cheeks from witnessing such a scene.
Orwen's glare was icy. "Careful with your tone, Gabe. Everyone knows how you supposedly bewitched that beast, coming back without so much as a scratch. It's witchcraft, I'm sure of it. That's why the beast cursed you, didn't he? You used your tricks to control it, and now you're paying the price for your deception."
Gabe froze, his heart pounding. "What are you even talking about? I've never left these palace walls. Where would I even learn 'witchcraft'?"
"The way you wormed your way into the King's favor with your little request for knowledge, it's obvious you've been dabbling in things you shouldn't."
Gabe clenched his fists, his voice rising. "I didn't choose the Minotaur to fight the Alphas for me! No one questioned such an absurd ritual when it was happening. You're in no position to accuse me of anything."
Orwen's expression flickered with guilt before he straightened, regaining his composure. "This isn't about that. You're no longer in active service, and resources shouldn't be wasted on you. You'll eat with the retirees from now on."
Gabe's chest tightened at the words. "You're throwing me away like I'm useless?"
"You're lucky to still be here, Gabe," Orwen said coldly. "Don't..."
Gabe had heard enough. He was too angry to talk to Orwen right now. He turned to leave without listening to him any longer.
"Don't walk away from me when I'm speaking!" Orwen snapped, grabbing Gabe's shoulder and yanking him back with such force that Gabe lost his balance and collided with the sharp corner of Orwen's desk. The pain was immediate, shooting through the tender skin of his chest and radiating across his body.
Orwen froze, his hands flying to his mouth in shock, as if he couldn't believe what he had just done.
Gabe held his chest, sifling a scream that threatened to break out. There was no point in crying over such things when no one was here to sympathise for him.
"I thought you were my friend, Orwen," Gabe said, his voice trembling as tears welled in his eyes. He had no family; the enclave members were his everything. Orwen especially. He was like a big brother to him.
Gabe had always believed the enclave was a sacred place, a belief drilled into everyone there. But now, cracks were forming in that illusion.
"You're expendable, Gabe. We all are," Orwen muttered, his voice cold and detached. "It's better to follow the rules and stay quiet. That's the only way to lead a peaceful life. Always remember that."
His words stung but there was very little he could do. Gabe sighed before standing up and walking out, each step measured to hide the pain blooming across his chest. As he made his way back to his chambers, he pressed a hand against the growing bruise, the sting a painful reminder of how powerless he truly was.
***
"Why so gloomy, my dear?" the King's cheerful voice interrupted Gabe's thoughts, pulling him out of his distracted reading.
Gabe had arrived at the sunroom nearly half an hour early, with nothing else to occupy his time. He sat beneath the towering statue of the Goddess Deroraki, a symbol of wisdom and power. On his lap lay the book they had used in their last session, open to a section detailing the palace's taxation policies on the working class. The absurdly high rates had stirred a growing anger in Gabe.
"Your Majesty," Gabe said, standing and bowing deeply. "I brought the economics book from the library. I was reading it and...I have a few questions."
"Hmm..." the King hummed, settling beside Gabe with an elegance that felt almost predatory. He leaned back lazily, his eyes scanning Gabe from head to toe with deliberate leisure. Gabe's heart began to race, his pulse hammering in his ears. Every nerve in his body tingled with an acute awareness of the King's proximity, his composure shaken under the weight of that casual yet piercing gaze.
"First, you'll answer my question," the King said, his tone deceptively light but commanding.
Gabe gulped, his throat tightening. He wasn't sure what the King might ask, but honesty seemed his best option. "There's a rumor..." Gabe hesitated, biting the inside of his lip to steady himself. "The first Alpha I served died under mysterious circumstances, and now everyone believes I've been cursed...that the Minotaur cursed me."
"I see…" the King said as if he wasn't surprised by it. Perhaps he was not; after all, he was the one who suggested using the Minotaur. Maybe Gabe could ask him if there was any truth behind those claims.
"I am so sorry to hear that," The King sighed mournfully. "I wish I could help you," the King said, placing his palm on Gabe's cheeks. Gabe closed his eyes, relishing in the tender touch. "But unfortunately, there are certain rules that even the King can't break, can he?" The King's voice grew huskier, and the tips of his fingers traveled down to the collar of Gabe's peasant shirt.
"What's this?" the King asked, his voice shocked. Gabe tensed before his eyes shot open, and he placed a protective hand on his chest and pulled back. "It's nothing." He wasn't ready to tell the King there was more to his sadness than the mere rumor.
The King's eyes narrowed, a muscle on his jaw ticking.
"Come here," the King said, all the sweetness vanishing from his tone. The sound stern. Lashing.
Gabe frowned, not sure what the King wanted. He slid closer to the King on the marble bench, coming shoulder to shoulder with him, even though the King's shoulder was much higher than his.
"Not here, I meant here," the King said, patting his thigh.
Gabe looked at it, then at the King, unsure if he was joking.
"Don't make me ask again," the King gritted. His expression scary. Demanding compliance without question.
Gabe had wondered if the King was always humorous and easygoing. Obviously not. And Gabe could see it now: the hard set of his jaw, the dark eyes, and his tensed shoulders, which were so different from his usual laid-back demeanor.
Gabe stood with wobbling feet, his heart thudding even harder if that was possible. He hesitated before sitting on Deroki's thigh. His breath hitched at the feel of solid muscles underneath him. On his lap, he realized just how small he was compared to Deroki.
With both hands clenched on his lap, he kept his eyes downcast as he tried to put as little pressure on the King's lap as possible, but it was impossible, considering he was practically sitting on him.
The King's hand undid the ties in front of Gabe's shirt. It came undone on the front, exposing the yellow and blue bruises.
Gabe wasn't bold enough to look Deroki in the eye to gauge his reaction to the sight. He could only make himself more anxious, thinking the worst.
"Who did this to you?" the King asked, his voice like thunder.
Gabe jumped, clenching his fists tighter. "It was an accident…"
"Who, Gabe?"
Gabe didn't miss the fact that the King used his real name and not some endearment. He had come to like the King's many endearments, but he decided he liked the sound of his name the best. It sounded so familiar, like he had heard it so many times before.
"Orwen. But he didn't mean it. I stumbled."
The King's shoulders slumped. "Okay. I believe you," he said. But the easy way he believed Gabe's words, felt as if he said for the sake of moving on from the topic rather than actually believing Gabe.
"Did you put ice on this?" he asked, his fingers coming back to touch the tender flesh. The simple touch raised goosebumps all over Gabe's body. His nipples beaded, his hands shaking slightly.
"I don't have free access to the Kitchen facility anymore, Your Majesty."
"Of course," the King said, his fingers caressing his chest almost absentmindedly. "I will have to ask one of the maids to supply you with ice. And some balm."
"That won't be necessary, Your Majesty. I will be fine."
"I insist. This doesn't look good on your pale skin."
Gabe gasped when the King's fingers brushed one of his nipples.
It had to be an accident. Had to be. Why would the King, who had the best vaisas at his service, would want to touch Gabe? But Gabe's body didn't know that. It reacted like a treacherous friend going against him in the most precarious situation.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Deroki asked, his voice a sensual whisper.
Gabe couldn't form words. Couldn't move his lips if he wanted to. He was still reeling from the accidental touch. His nipples were now so hard they could poke a hole through his shirt. He wore it tight enough. Gabe shook his head. Perhaps a little too hard.
"Are you sure?" the King asked. Gabe nodded.
"Lower your pants, let me make sure," the King demanded.
Gabe squeezed his toes, his face heating. There was no way he could lower his pants and show the shameful evidence of his arousal to the King. What would the King think? That he was showing such concern for Gabe and here he was thinking sexual thoughts about a god..no less.
"I'm fine, your Majesty," Gabe managed to say.
"Have you examined yourself in front of the mirror? How can you be so sure?"
Gabe was panicking. He didn't want to horrify the King with his hard-on.
"Don't make me wait, love…I am an impataint man."
In any other circumstance, those words would almost be sexual in nature, but Gabe knew the King was merely concerned for him.
Gabe grabbed the tie of his pants and undid it; he hesitated as the pants loosened.
"Lower it," the King ordered.
With shame taking all over his body Gabe raised slightly before lowering his pants down his feet.
Gabe closed his eyes, too embarrassed to see or know what the King thought of the bulge under his white shorts.
He shuddered with pleasure when the King's hands ran up and down the length of his legs.
"Open," the King whispered before pushing his palm between his legs and spreading them wider. It looks good to me," he said, running his hands along the inner side of his legs, grazing every so slightly on his crotch, right where his balls were. And the said balls were turning very blue right now.
The King had to see the twitch of his cock at the slight touch. He had to be blind not to...but if he did notice it, he didn't say anything.
Gabe felt something touch the tip of his cock. He opened his eyes in surprise, but there was nothing. Except for a wet spot created by his cock. He must be imagining things now, thanks to his heightened senses.
God, the embarrassment.
"You can wear your pants now," the King said.
Gabe didn't waste time pulling his pants up and tying them tightly. He closed his shirt with the same haste and sat beside the King, leaving a significant distance between them.
The King looked amused by it. The earlier hardness vanishing replaced with his usual cockiness. But Gabe felt anything but amused. The King must think of him as a horny loser.
"Enough with role-playing a doctor. Let's start our lesson," The King announced.