“Could you assist me please,” I asked Sebastian as I exited the carriage. Cavell wordlessly did so and helped Euan to stand on the pavement. I noticed Sebastian was trembling as he gave a hand to carry Euan as far as the front door. Then to my utter dismay, Sebastian returned to the carriage and he left without a word. I felt as though I’d been shot in the chest. Why had he abandoned me on my stoop with this burden? I had not yet thanked my companion for the risks he took to save me tonight. I’d wanted to bring Sebastian up to speed about what had occurred during the initiation ritual—reassure him that I was not untrue. I wanted to explain that the cabal knew nothing of the kidnap and believed Leopold was touring Molly houses to lose himself in pleasure. But Sebastian must have had something more pressing to deal with.
As I had not completed the initiation ritual or engaged in congress with any of the Brothers, I did not believe I was a true member of the Brother’s of the Seed. In the circumstances, this gave me a modicum of comfort. Euan groaned in my arms, and the front door of my home opened to the startled face of Mr. Troy.
“Ask no questions, Troy. Help me carry him upstairs, will you!” I ordered sharply. My valet did so, and once we had Euan prone on a bed in the first-floor spare room Troy went off to search through my wardrobe for pyjamas or a nightshirt for him to wear.
Just when I thought I’d rid myself of this ungodly business, the situation had become more twisted and disturbing. I was now stranded in the most intimate circumstances with the former object of my affection. Euan hadn’t said a word for the whole journey back to my home. He silently submitted when Mr. Troy undressed and clothed him in a pair of my warm Paisley flannel pyjamas.
“Could you possibly make us a pot of tea? He’s frozen to the bone.” I asked Troy as I assisted with tucking Euan into bed.
“Of course, and I’ll bring up a plate of Mrs. Twigg’s fresh scones.”
“That would be most agreeable. Thank you.” Mr. Troy made to leave the bedroom
“Troy,” I called him back. “Not a word of this to anyone, please. My friend is… in a spot of trouble—gambling debts”, I lied all too easily. “He needs to lie low for a while so I can work out how to help him.”
“Understood, sir. You are a kind and generous friend. You can count on my discretion.” He tapped the side of his nose and winked. I would have to give my valet a bonus this month!
I slept fitfully, worrying about Sebastian, Euan, and the ramifications of the events at Exeter Hall, and therefore I sprang to awareness when the latch on my bedroom door clicked shut and footsteps padded into my room. My body was a stone weight and too tired to react, and so if this was a murderer, I was done for! My immediate wishful thought was that no matter his sudden bad mood, Sebastian had longed to sleep beside me. But I should have known better.
“Can I bunk in wi you, Ben, I cannae stop shaking,” Euan whispered. My eyes shot open.
“Euan, for God’s sake go back to bed,” I said in a sleepy rasp. I was not in the mood for his games.
“But…I want to thank you for rescuing me. I never thought of you as the dashing hero but, it looks good on you, Ben!” Euan said sitting uninvited on the side of my bed. I sat up and clicked on my bedside lamp. I had wanted to reserve this conversation for the morning when we were both somewhat refreshed but I knew Euan’s moves and he was seeking intimacy I was not willing to offer. He needed to understand his place.
“Why did you nominate me to join Fratres Seminis?”
Euan looked astounded that I required an answer to that question.
“Ben, it is a dream come true, is it not? The brotherhood is perfect for you—for us. What could be better than a group of intelligent men who know our desires; share our desires? Within the brotherhood, we can express ourselves freely without societal repercussions.” I remained silent with my arms folded across my chest, unable to hide my displeasure.
“The connection one feels loving within a group setting is like nothing I have experienced. All of those warm, writhing bodies, beautiful cocks, and fountains of cum. I love it, Ben, I love it. The only element missing was you.”
There was still a tiny crumb of pleasure inside at hearing Euan wanted me. But his craving was a mockery of love, an affront to the type of coupling I needed. Euan did not know me at all if he believed I would be agreeable to joining the Brothers of the Seed.
“I told Brother Blake that you would be an ideal acolyte. Don’t you see it? We could be together inside one another, and when the ritual is complete, live forever—isn’t that what you always wanted, to be with me?”
I needed to be very careful with my response because I could see that no matter how the Brother’s abused Euan tonight he was still Blake’s man, a slave to his appetites even though his limp prick would not perform. Euan knew that I was the last person to see the Staff before it was stolen and so he would use all of his wiles to discover the whereabouts of the ancient object.
“They were torturing you, but still you are loyal?” I exclaimed, astounded.
Euan laughed off my concern. “Don’t be dramatic. It wasn’t torture. It was merely
