#a bit low on whump but setup for a whole lot of whump to come

[faewhump]

Unseelie Pet: 17. Chapter

Alex is struggling with his confusing feelings towards Malachi, when suddenly he’s presented with an almost suspiciously perfect opportunity. 

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Content warnings: dehumanisation, drugging (faerie food), mentions of torture, mentions of noncon, dubcon touching (not sexual), dubcon kiss, captor bonding

Tagging: @galaxywhump @castielamigos-whump-side-blog @slaintetowhump @whumpsideblog @thewhiteraven73 @frnkieroismydaddy @u-n-o-f-f-i-c-i-a-l

At first Alex had been horribly embarrassed about his lapse – he’d sworn himself to not let Malachi kiss him ever again, but then had initiated a kiss himself. And it hadn’t stayed at one kiss, he had basically made out with the Fae while sitting comfortably in his lap. He would have loved to put the responsibility for his actions solely on the faerie food but had to admit that even in his clearest moments the memories were strangely pleasant.

He had expected Malachi to gloat, after all he had told him a while ago already that this was only a matter of time. Instead he didn’t even mention it once, and he didn’t try to pressure Alex into anything else either. It seemed almost like he was waiting for him to take the next step again. Alex didn’t understand why the Fae didn’t just take what he wanted, but at the same time he was very glad that he didn’t.

Although, the thought of being intimate with Malachi didn’t horrify him nearly as much anymore as it had originally… In general the Fae had turned out to be a lot different from what he’d expected. He had expected to be locked away in a dungeon to be starved and tortured as he had been before. But instead Malachi had given him a luxurious room, beautiful clothes and more than enough delicious food.

He visited him basically every day, took him outside on walks whenever the weather allowed, let him choose books at leisure, played chess with him and talked to him like a person. He also bathed, fed and petted him, and just showered him with more affection than he had ever received in his entire life. Another thing Malachi loved doing was dressing him up in lavish outfits, making him sit in front of the vanity mirror for ages until he was happy with the make-up and jewellery.

No, it truly wasn’t what Alex had expected. He had expected to be treated like nothing but a piece of meat to be tortured and abused, but instead Malachi treated him more like a mix between pet, dress-up doll and companion. For better or worse Alex couldn’t shake the impression that maybe, Malachi actually did care about him. He hadn’t picked him at random, but because he’d wanted him specifically. He’d wanted him for years and because of his personality, not just his looks.

He said he loves me, Alex thought, stealing a glance up at Malachi as he followed him along the forest path. And faeries can’t lie, so it must be the truth.

The Fae looked as gorgeous as always, causing Alex’s stomach to flutter. Sometimes he really damned the circumstances under which they’d met, if only it weren’t for those… It wasn’t just Malachi’s looks that he liked, as he’d learned from their conversations about books and philosophy, he was also highly intelligent and eloquent. And while some of his perspectives and opinions were simply strange to Alex, they never failed to make him think and enjoy the discussion.

They came to a halt inside a cavern formed by large flowering bushes. There were white and soft pink blossoms all around them, and Alex couldn’t help staring in wonder.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Malachi said. “I had these Rosa corymbifera planted a few years ago, haven’t they just turned out lovely?”

Alex nodded; this probably was the most beautiful place Malachi had shown him so far. A light breeze moved the branches above, causing white flower petals to rain down on them. Malachi stepped closer to Alex and gently removed a petal from his hair, the end of the leash wrapped casually around his other hand. Alex looked up at the Fae, suddenly noticing how close they were.

His floral perfume mixed marvellously with the sweet scent of the rose blossoms, and Alex couldn’t help leaning in further. Unable to resist any longer, he stretched up and kissed him. Malachi’s lips parted willingly, and he answered the kiss with the same unhurried softness as he had before. He slowly wrapped his arms around Alex, holding him gently as Alex’s hands rested against his chest.

“Good boy,” Malachi murmured when Alex broke the kiss. “You’re so lovely, my beautiful darling.”

Alex blushed and looked down; he didn’t know how to deal with this situation. It was wrong, he shouldn’t kiss the man that held him captive, shouldn’t like the way he complimented and praised him. And yet there was a warmth inside him, filling him, making him wonder how this feeling could not be right. As if he sensed his uncertainty, Malachi loosened his hold and stepped back.

“Let’s go and have some tea, hmm?” he said and led Alex back the way they’d come. “I asked my cook to prepare strawberry tart for us today. It’s your favourite, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Alex confirmed quietly, not quite trusting his voice yet. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, my sweet.”

Alex followed Malachi along the winding path, his thoughts still dwelling on the sweetness of the kiss earlier, when a metallic flash suddenly caught his attention. A couple of yards ahead, hidden amongst the fallen leaves at the side of the path, there lay an iron nail. In this moment Alex realised that this was the very opportunity he’d been waiting for all this time.

It was a well-known fact that if there was something able to break a faerie magic, it was iron. Some other poor human must have taken iron with them as a means of protection and had lost this nail. Alex hadn’t seen it on their way to the rose cavern, and Malachi seemed oblivious to it even now. Within the split of a second Alex made a decision.

Pretending to stumble over a stone he fell and grabbed the nail tightly. Malachi was at his side immediately, soothing him and making sure he was unhurt before he helped him up. Alex accepted his fussing without complaint, assured him that he was fine and able to continue walking without aid. Seeing how concerned the Fae was over just a small fall almost made him feel bad for the iron nail he hid within his clenched fist.

Once they were back in his room Alex obediently knelt upon his favourite sitting pillow and quickly slid the nail underneath it when Malachi looked away. As promised the Fae fed him a delicious piece of strawberry tart and even allowed him to take sips from his teacup while they talked. The hidden nail was a constant buzz in Alex’s mind, and he tried his best to act all unconcerned and cute to avoid rousing suspicion.

“When will you come visit me tomorrow?” Alex asked, pretending to ask for Malachi’s schedule out of clinginess instead of planning his escape.

“Around three in the afternoon, probably.”

“Why so late?” Alex whined. “Can’t you come earlier?”

Malachi stroked his head apologetically. “Sadly there is a very important Court meeting tomorrow morning, and you know how long those usually take.”

Alex continued to sulk, and it was almost humbling to see how well his strategy of playing nice paid off – Malachi didn’t become suspicious but only enjoyed Alex’s supposed clinginess. First the iron nail and now the important Court meeting tomorrow, it was almost too perfect. Maybe destiny was finally repaying him for all the bad luck he’d had before. If everything went as planned, he would be safely at home in less than twenty-four hours, and yet there was something at the back of his mind that continued to bug him.

After breakfast on the next day Alex retrieved the iron nail from its hiding spot under the sitting pillow. This was the moment he’d been waiting for so long; his chances couldn’t be better than now with Malachi and most of the other faeries busy at their meeting and the tool he’d found – and yet he hesitated. How would Malachi react when he came to visit him in the afternoon, only to find the room empty? Would he be angry? Worried? Or sad?

Guilt rose in Alex, despite all the Fae had done to him, he didn’t want him to be upset. But he had to leave, right? This was the chance, he had to take it, he wanted to be free and away from Malachi… didn’t he? Tentatively he looked down at the iron nail in his hand, suddenly not feeling all that sure anymore. What Malachi had said at the beginning was true, in the human world he was relatively poor and had to work hard to make a living, while here he was surrounded by luxury and taken care of.

He shook his head; he couldn’t think like that. The important difference was that in the human world he was free, while here he wasn’t. No matter how kindly Malachi treated him compared to others, he still held him captive against his will, forced him to obey and hurt him whenever he resisted. Let alone the effect the constant faerie food and manipulation had on his mind – Alex saw it clearly, if he didn’t escape now, he probably never would. This was his last chance.

Steeling himself Alex raised the nail to his neck and pressed it against the golden collar. Immediately the spell Malachi had laid upon it disappeared, and the collar sprung open. He carefully placed it down on the pillow, then stood up. Next he used the iron to nullify the spell that kept the door closed, before making short work of picking the lock with the nail. Looking around the room one last time he regretted that he didn’t have any paper or ink to write a farewell note to Malachi, then he slowly opened the door.

After making sure the corridor was clear he smoothly slid out of the room and followed the route he had laid out. As expected the palace was mostly empty, and the only servants around didn’t seem to pay him any mind. His throat felt weirdly unprotected without the collar around it. There was no way the guards would open the main gate for him, and so he didn’t make his way to the entrance hall but instead to the first-floor window he’d climbed in the night he’d snuck into the Court.

Dropping down to the ground he found it hard to believe that he’d actually made it this far, now the only thing between him and freedom was the forest. He quickly collected himself, then briskly walked into the direction he knew his village to be in. His heart raced, this had been almost impossibly easy, and he kept on throwing looks over his shoulder, half expecting to see Malachi behind him. But there was nothing chasing him, so far his escape hadn’t been noticed.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from behind a tree ahead, blocking his path.

“Well, well, well,” Darerca said, grinning. “Took you long enough.”