Chapter 11.

Finn woke to stifling heat and turned his head to seek a chill part of the sheet. Noni simply pressed closer, burrowing his face into the Human's neck, and sighed contentedly in a rush of warm breath.

A bead of sweat ran down the small of Finn's back and he squirmed. One of his arms was numb, trapped beneath the feline, and he wiggled his fingers.

"Will you stop." Noni grumbled and settled his weight heavier while squeezing the leg flung over Finn's hip.

The door burst open and they both jolted.

"Get up!" Iadin barked and they scrambled to obey.

Noni's hair was tousled in a black halo and one of his ears was pressed to his temple. The feline blinked hard as he struggled to wake, then focused blearily on Iadin and gasped.

The Zithan was wearing white strips of shimmering fabric intersected across his slender torso and hips, piercings sparkling through. His turquoise hair fell in a glossy cloak to his waist and gold sandals crisscrossed up his long legs.

Finn stared with an open mouth and heard Noni gulp audibly.

"Follow me." Iadin ordered and turned on his heel.

Human and feline exchanged a brief, wide eyed glance before moving.

Noni rolled smoothly towards the edge of the bed and breached the considerable gap to the floor in a liquid jump.

Finn all but fell off the bed, sliding down the sheet and tumbling onto his knees and elbows.

The feline snorted good-naturedly, tugged the Human to his feet and pulled him out the door. 

Iadin was already halfway down the stairs, never turning to ensure his pets followed. Agitation seemed to radiate off the Zithan in palpable waves and his pets rushed to follow. 

They reached the second floor and Iadin flung open the doors to his chamber, heading straight for a stone vanity lined with shelves. He tore into one, pulling out glass vials, as he curtly ordered his pets to bathe.

Noni gave a cheerful yip and ran into the adjoining room, launching himself into the pool. Finn followed more slowly, stepping onto the descending steps and submerging to his shoulders.

He scrubbed at his curls and watched the feline swim in wide circles with a small smile. He finished quickly and left a blissful Noni to his ablutions.

Finn cautiously entered the bedroom and Iadin gestured him closer.

"I'm preparing you for the ceremony." The Zithan stressed the word with a sneer and poured a shimmering oil over his fingers. Finn watched warily as the taller boy oiled up his limbs with a sweet and spicy scent.

"I have to perform alongside my sister. Even though I graduated years ago and, oh yes," he shot Finn a humorless smile and rubbed his hand, harder than necessary, down the Human's side, "it's females only! My mother is cold. And heartless. And vicious."

With each word his ministrations became rougher and strong fingers brushed carelessly over Finn's pierced nipples. He gasped and Iadin slowed, running his hand soothingly over the Human's back.

"And brilliant." Iadin murmured and Finn glanced up at those glowing eyes questioningly. 

"My mother is brilliant. I'll never use forces on my sister again." His lips thinned in a tight smile and he cupped Finn's jaw, angling it to the side.

"Except inside the courts. She's going to wish she'd never tattled." Iadin hissed the last words and pressed his lips against Finn's.

The Zithan's frustration channeled into his kiss and Finn slipped his arms beneath all that glossy hair and responded to every slip of tongue and firm press. He slid his fingers against Iadin's scalp and kneaded gently.

Calm, he thought to himself and the tense body against him. Calm.

Their lips parted with a slick sound and Iadin's face was softer, shoulders noticeably lower. The Zithan's fingertips brushed lightly over Finn's nipples.

"Any pain?" Iadin asked softly.

His piercings still smarted somewhat but the itching aches were gone. Finn shook his head. Iadin leaned down and kissed the Human softly below the ear.

"What about here?" The pad of one gold painted fingertip drew lightly up the underside of Finn's shaft. He shuddered all over and tightened his arms around the Zithan's neck. 

"Hm?" Iadin drawled as a second finger joined the first to steady the smaller boy's dick and a warm, oiled fingertip ran soft circles around the tip.

Finn's ass clenched as he hardened completely and he shuddered out a breath.

"N-no pain." He breathed.

"That's good." Iadin voice was low and warm and his mouth opened against Finn's neck in a wet kiss.

Those long fingers shifted and slid down Finn's length and up again; coating him in oil. 

His mouth fell open and he buried his face in that slender neck and inhaled the rich scent of vanilla and cloves.

Iadin hummed and carefully dipped a fingertip beneath the Human's foreskin - circling gently.

Finn's breath came harder and he felt precum ooze from his tip. One hand lifted from his shaft and a hot palm lightly cupped his hard balls. Finn feverishly kissed the skin pressed to his lips.

"Please." He whispered. He wasn't even sure what he was asking. "Please." He mouthed the delicious skin again, flicking his tongue hungrily and rolled his hips forward.

Those hands had hurt him moments ago - pierced him earlier and left him in unbelievable pain - and now they cradled the most vulnerable part of him.

But the body against him was now inviting and soft. The mood felt gentle, even rewarding.

His assumptions proved right when Iadin's hand massaged lightly before settling on his hip. Finn's balls cooled and tightened painfully at the loss of contact - but the alien pressed him to the floor and parted his legs.

Finn stared dazedly as that beautiful face bent closer and deliberately blew warm air all over him.

Beads of precum ran down his tip and Iadin's peach tongue flicked out to catch them. Finn gasped and squirmed against the cool floor, cock so hard it hurt.

"I want to play with you," Iadin murmured and glanced up beneath turquoise lashes. "But there's no time. So..."

With no hesitation whatsoever the Zithan wrapped his plush mouth around Finn's tip and dipped, taking the smaller boy to the hilt. Finn shouted as he was encased in hot, wet silkiness.

Iadin lifted slowly and Finn exhaled shakily as long hair slid over his thighs. 

A skilful tongue licked over every part of his shaft before Iadin sucked hard. Unbelievably sensitive tugs sparked through the Human's piercings and molten pleasure sang through his veins.

Finn delved his hands into that glorious hair, loving the way it slid cooly between his fingers. Iadin hummed and Finn's toes curled at the vibration.

Hot saliva trickled over his quivering balls and he was done.

"Aaaaahh!" He arched his spine until it ached, fingers tightening as his hips trembled.

Iadin's hands released his legs and Finn immediately wrapped them around the taller boy's shoulders, leaned back on his hands, and milked his cock into that glorious, sucking heat.

Electricity crackled in his fingertips and the release felt so unbelievably good. He panted as his hips gradually slowed - fingers and legs relaxing. 

Iadin lifted, bow-shaped lips flushed a dark peach and a string of saliva briefly connected him to the Human's tip before it snapped. Finn shuddered at the sight and his softening dick twitched. 

The Zithan's eyes were heavy lidded when they swept up; glowing depths a warm honey gold. The taller boy pushed up from the floor and Finn opened his mouth to the kiss. Iadin tasted salty and tart. He tasted like Finn.

The knowledge had him moaning and the lips against his curved. The Zithan drew back and stroked Finn's cheek.

"Who would have thought?" Iadin mused. "And you're usually so quiet."

Finn pushed into the touch and closed his eyes - still riding the wave of the best orgasm he'd ever had. If only it hadn't been over so quickly.

An amused hum sounded before a second kiss brushed over his brow. His sensitive groin was wiped clean and a maroon cloth was wrapped around his hips and sealed with a wide silver band at the waist.

Next silver cuffs were added to his forearms and ankles. Finn sat dazedly through it all and blinked slowly.

The Zithan ushered a reluctant Noni out of the pool and brushed the feline's spine and tail until they shone. A shimmering dust was dabbed over the Ytra's high cheekbones and his white hips were wrapped in a sapphire cloth. Silver cuffs were likewise placed on his slender arms and legs.

Iadin sighed and his brows furrowed, head tilting as if he listened for something.

"Of course, we're late." He muttered and glanced at Finn. "And you smell like sex. That's just how it's going to have to be."

Iadin knelt, folded his pets onto each arm and rushed down the stairs.

The diamond shaped door, that Finn remembered from his first day, opened and they stepped into a massive hallway. His jaw dropped. How these magical doors transported them to a new destination each time he couldn't fathom.

Huge pillars lined the hall and gold spheres softly illuminated the faded murals that covered every surface of the great walls. Gold incense burners shone from diamond shaped indentations and showers of lights twinkled like stars in the dark depths of a seemingly endless ceiling.

"It is the hall of my ancestors." Iadin said quietly and stepped onto the stone floor, footsteps echoing.

The hall was warm but every so often a brush of cold air whispered past and Finn watched the fur on Noni's spine slowly stand on end.

The feline looked past Iadin's shoulder at Finn, eyes wide.

Finn shivered and glanced up at the paintings; taking in the scenes of battle between lithe, blue haired beings. Further down the images morphed into something ritualistic. A few faces were grotesquely distorted, bodies contorted in agony and a chill breeze lifted Finn's curls. 

The feline hissed.

"Quiet." Iadin whispered harshly and glanced reverently up at the walls. "Don't disturb them."

Finn felt goosebumps rush across his skin and buried his face in Iadin's neck. Noni's fingers brushed across his hand and he clutched them tight.

At the end of the hall, Iadin slowed by an alter and placed the smaller boys on the stone floor. Hieroglyphs and scriptures lined the sides of the altar in gold writing and glass spheres ran along the steps.

The Zithan knelt, brushed his long fingers across the alters gleaming surface and kissed it softly. Next, he braced his hands against the floor and pressed his brow to the stone.

Human and feline huddled close and Finn smoothed his hand down the raised fur on Noni's back. The little Ytra gripped Finn tightly and tucked his chilled nose against the Human's neck.

Iadin finished his prayers and stood. As if on cue, the massive stone doors opened.

                                      —————————————————

They entered a glorious banquet hall. Large stone tables overflowed with food on gold platters and a gold fountain spouted a red substance, that was ladled into crystal cups by a Natki; serving the tall, ethereal Zithans that occupied every space.

Huge, billowing drapes of red and blue fabrics veiled secret coves, shimmering with soft lights, and lanterns shone from the ceiling.

Finn stared in awe and Noni gasped out a breath beside him.

"Welcome to the ceremonial banquet." Iadin drawled. His haughty features were blank and serene, but his fingers dug hard into Finn's shoulder.

"Ia!" A voice called brightly and Finn looked wide eyed at the gleaming boy approaching them.

The newcomer's movements were graceful, hips rolling with each step; comfortable in his skin like a dancer. His hair was a deep red, pulled back in a sleek tail that swept to his thighs.

Shining black material wrapped lean hips and the skin, stretched tight across pronounced abs, was a deep gold, as if he had been dipped in liquid metal. His lips and nipples were a red as vibrant as his hair and his eyes were a solid black.

In his golden fingers was a black chain, leading to the collar of a pale shape huddling behind him.

"Emal. What a pleasure." Iadin said with absolutely no enthusiasm.