A/N - This chapter is a little messy and I will eventually get around to editing it. I had to split it into two because I exceeded the word limit!

Chapter 13. 

Amidst the darkness, a blue light shone on the center of the floor and rippled like water. Low and rhythmic music trickled to life. Soft strings accompanied by a steady drum.

The gathered Zithans glittered in the dim light, bright eyes glowing like stars.

Fingertips brushed Finn's hand and he looked down to see Noni crouched beneath the table, blue eyes reflecting briefly in the dark.

"Come with me." The feline mouthed and ducked away.

Finn glanced up at Nizeva and considered his options. He ended up tapping her arm and she looked down, smiling.

"I, um, I have to pee." He murmured and her face scrunched up in surprised distaste.

She released him instantly and gestured toward the opposite end of the hall.

"Go." She hissed.

The Zithans around them leaned away and one of them flicked her wrist in his direction, as if to shoo him from sight.

Finn briefly wondered if urination during a ceremony was some sort of taboo. Then he slid from her lap and ducked beneath the furniture. He spotted Noni's plush tail; weaving smoothly past legs and chairs, before disappearing beneath the veil of a cove.

Finn glanced around, relieved that no shining eyes were focused on them, and followed.

The cove was decked out in luxurious blankets and pillows. A white stone table emitted a glow; casting soft and intimate shadows.

Atop the table sat crystal glasses, full of the red substance from the fountain, and oil lamps glinted from the ceiling.

Noni reached for Finn's shoulders, pushed him to the soft fabrics and climbed onto his lap. Something he hadn't done since Keafule.

Finn looked up and saw the memory reflected in Noni's soft smile.

The feline brushed his thumbs over Finn's jaw, before smoothing fingers around his neck and up into his hair.

Finn closed his eyes and Noni kissed him. He inhaled deeply and some of his tension ease. Noni's lips were soft and his body was lithe and firm.

This was real. There was no confusion. No pain.

Finn pressed his hands onto Noni's hips, pushed aside his wrap, and gripped the perfect globes of his ass. Noni purred, silky tail running over their legs, and rubbed his filling cock against Finn's abdomen.

Their tongues glided slickly, hearts beating close and piercings scraping.

The feline lifted his head the tiniest bit.

"What happened? Why were you crying?" Noni whispered, breath warm against Finn's lips.

Finn gently touched their brows together and watched Noni's glistening, pink mouth as he spoke.

"I'm not sure. I think Emal was in my head. I feel like my memories are missing. Like...like a piece of me is missing." He smoothed his hands over slim hips. "I don't remember anything before Keafule. Not a thing."

Noni pulled back enough to look into Finn's eyes, clawed fingers stroking over his chest.

"A few of the others couldn't remember either. It happened to the difficult ones or those who cried a lot." The feline said.

His fingers paused by Finn's nipple and played idly with his piercing, making him squirm.

"Do you think I'll ever remember?" Finn asked, voice catching slightly.

Noni met his eyes soberly, slit pupils as wide as they could go.

"I don't know. None of the others did." He murmured and cupped his hands over Finn's ribs, guiding him further down, until he was flat on his back against the carmine blankets.

Noni undid Finn's wrap and stroked his thighs. He spread his legs instantly and the Ytra settled between them.

"Your pack, your family, is the most important thing there is." Noni continued and kissed the hollow of Finn's throat. "I'm sure they miss you. I'm sure they love you. As I know mine love me." He pressed another wet kiss to Finn's neck.

"They'd want you to be happy. No matter where you are. You have me, Finn." Noni wrapped his hand around the Human's cock, stroking slowly. "You have me. You're not alone. I'll never let you go." Finn's lips parted at those wonderful, heartwarming words and he pushed up into those slim fingers. Noni smiled.

"We'll take such good care of you." He whispered and tilted his head to breathe warmth into Finn's ear, rough tongue licking gently.

Finn shuddered and reached for Noni's shaft.

"Together." Finn breathed. "Not just me. I want to make you feel good."

Noni stilled, hand squeezing lightly and bringing a small moan from Finn's lips, before his slow strokes resumed.

"Then. Can I have you? Like Liler did?" Noni asked softly.

Finn stiffened and fear iced his veins.

The feline abruptly dipped and took Finn in his mouth.

"Ah!" Finn gasped in shock and curled his fingers into Noni's velvety hair.

Noni's rough tongue lapped over him, before sliding to the tip and sucking hard.

Finn bucked, breath stuttering and his fingers tightened.

Noni lifted and looked up with large eyes and swollen lips.

"I only want to give you pleasure, Finn. I'd never hurt you. I'd be careful. Please?" The smaller boy whispered, thumbing Finn's tip gently.

Finn's cock throbbed and he nodded his head frantically. "Yes..."

Noni's little face lit up beautifully and he sheathed his claws and gathered up Finn's juices on a firm tug, spitting into his hand for good measure.

A fingertip circled Finn's rim and pushed gently. It popped in without resistance and Noni's eyes widened.

"Wasn't Liler your first?" He whispered, watching Finn intently.

Finn bore down on that slim digit. It felt strange. A small pressure. Too small.

"Yes." He repeated and reached down to stroke himself.

Noni's eyes softened, even as he pushed Finn's hand away and replaced it with his own. The rhythm was enough to keep Finn's dick hard, but not enough to be satisfying.

"The way you feel. I could've sworn..." Noni murmured and slipped a couple more fingers in. His finger hooked and reached an area that had Finn groaning and a flood of juices ran from his tip.

Noni shuddered out a breath and removed his fingers to settle on top of Finn. He then reached down and guided himself against Finn's entrance.

The feline pushed slowly and impatience suddenly tore through Finn and he grabbed the smaller boy's ass; jerking him forward.

Noni hissed as he pushed deep and the immense satisfaction, of finally being filled, had Finn throwing his head back and arching his spine.

Noni's jaw was slack, staring at Finn in amazement, even as his breaths quickened.

"Move." Finn gasped, more demanding than he'd ever been, now that his cock was screaming for attention, and hot flesh was buried in his ass.

Noni's eyes slitted and he reached down, pushed Finn's leg up and thrust.

Finn gasped, gripped himself and jerked. Noni was grinding hard and deep, piercings rubbing against that wonderful spot of nerve endings, and pleasure surged up in a wave. Finn spilled and it was pure heaven.

Noni snarled and jerked punishingly into the Human's sensitive body. Bursts of painful aftershocks ran through him and Finn shuddered, gripping the feline's snarling face and tugging him down for a kiss.

He guided that rough tongue inside his mouth and sucked. Noni yipped and warmth burst into Finn's channel.

Finn's kiss softened and he hooked a leg around the smaller boy's hips, squeezing him intermittently through his final spurts.

Noni moaned, hips gradually slowing, before he stilled and panted against Finn's shoulder.

"You make no sense." The feline whispered shakily and Finn blinked down at him drowsily.

"You're gentle. Submissive. But then you take over and challenge me." Noni licked his dark pink lips and Finn kissed them again. They were just irresistible.

"Do you have any idea how angry I am right now." Noni gritted and Finn ran his hand down the feline's silky spine, feeling warm and content all over.

"No." He murmured and hunched his shoulder to grip the base of Noni's fluffy tail, stroking it to the tip.

Noni let out a startled purr and pressed into the touch. Finn pulled the feline closer and kissed over his damp hairline.

"I'm still angry." Noni muttered.

"I love you." Finn whispered in between kisses.

Noni's head jerked up and he looked as though he'd received a slap in the face. "W-what?"

Finn grinned and kissed the corner of that beautiful mouth. He couldn't help it. He wanted to cover every part of the smaller boy in kisses. Mmm. Maybe he would.

"Y-you can't say that. I'm..." The feline helplessly returned the swift kiss pressing to his mouth, before it moved to his cheek.

"I'm still mad." Noni finished and frustrated tears filled his eyes.

Finn cupped Noni's delicate face and stared into those large eyes.

"Why are you mad?" He asked, truly confused.

"B-because I wanted to claim you. Like Liler. I wanted to matter!" Noni sniffled.

Finn stared.

"I tell you, I love you." He said slowly. "And you think you don't matter?" He tilted his head and ran his lips over one silky ear, kissing the tip.

"Noni, if it wasn't for you I don't think I would have survived this place. You saved me. I need you." He said with grave sincerity.

The feline's sniffles quieted and he stared searchingly up at Finn. After a moment his ears lifted and he managed a watery smile.

"I love you too." Noni whispered.

Finn smiled and kissed away the smaller boy's tears, burying his fingers in that soft spine until Noni bubbled with laughter, and Finn's mouth caught that too.

Noni kissed him back eagerly. Sinking against Finn and fitting their bodies perfectly together.

Finn buried his nose in the satiny black hair that now smelled like cloves, vanilla, their combined juices and fur. He breathed deeply and hugged the feline's precious body close. Noni was purring softly.

Perhaps Noni was right. Even if a part of him was missing, maybe he would be okay. As long as they were together.

—————————————-

Quiet giggles woke him and Finn groggily turned his head to see two boys, perhaps a year or two younger than himself.

Their skin was pale blue and dark blue hair was braided down their spines. Black triangular ears sat on top of their heads and dark tails curled around their legs.

Finn gasped and two identical faces, with wide crystal eyes and grey slits, turned to stare at him. Twin Ytras.

He felt the cum drying on his skin and his face flamed. He considered, briefly, actually hiding his face in Noni's hair.

Their ears twitched and they stared for a long moment, before one of them spoke.

"What are you?" He asked, cocking his head.

They were both lovely, with cupid bow lips and high cheekbones.

Finn ran his hand nervously down a sleeping Noni's spine and the twins eyed the movement intently.

"I'm a Human." He answered quietly.

"A hooman." The Ytra repeated and wrinkled his small nose in puzzlement.

The other one had crept closer and craned his neck to look at Finn's piercings. "Did those hurt?"

Finn blanched at the memory.

"Yes." He replied softly.

The Ytra shuddered and his eyes squinted - as if he could see through Noni's white thigh, shielding Finn's crotch.

"Who's your alpha?" The other twin wanted to know.

"Uh..." Finn thought back to the previous few days. "Iadin, I suppose." He finally answered.

The younger boy gasped.

"Lord Ferrer's son? Who's to be the next priest?" He spoke eagerly.

Finn blinked slowly, still not entirely awake.

"I guess so." He answered.

The Ytra exchanged a second look. One of them had begun to look cautious but the second one was intrigued.

"He looks comfortable." He said, eyeing Noni's sated smile.

Finn smiled and stroked gently around Noni's ear and the sleeping boy pressed into the touch.

"Are you hiding in here too?" The boy stage whispered and Finn smiled at him.

"I don't like crowds." He admitted and Noni stretched in his sleep, a purring rumble escaping his throat. Finn felt warmth spread through his chest and brushed a hand lovingly over the black fur.

"Can I kiss you?" The boy asked and Finn looked up in surprise.

The blue Ytra was suddenly leaning into his space. This close Finn noticed his smooth skin had the faintest hint of lilac dusting the bridge of a pert nose and, when he smiled, dimples flashed into view.

The second Ytra gasped and shook his head vehemently, but his brother paid him no mind.

Finn stared blankly up at the younger boy.

"No. I don't even know your name." Was all he could think to say.

The Ytra seemed to mistake his words for a condition and smiled wider.

"It's Rune." He said and pressed a kiss to Finn's mouth.

Stunned, the Human froze and a curious tongue licked his lip for entrance.

Noni stirred against him and sniffed. Abruptly the feline was up and a yowl erupted.

In the next instant the mouth against Finn's was gone and Rune fell back, clutching his face.

Noni stood, teeth bared and tail lashing.

The second Ytra leapt in front of his twin and hissed at Noni, ears flat against his blue scalp.

Noni snarled, flexing his claws and hunched his spine, as if preparing to leap.

"Stop!" Finn shouted, stumbling to his feet.

Noni swung around furiously.

"Stay out of this!" Noni spat and the blue Ytra leapt onto his back. They crashed to the floor in a scuffle of limbs. Hissing and snarling as they scratched and bit savagely.

"Noni! Stop!" Finn yelled, completely horrified.

The feline's only response was a feral snarl, as he tore into the blue Ytra's ear.

Finn's eyes filled with tears and he finally registered Rune sniffling on the floor and crouched by his side. Four jagged furrows ran down the boy's cheek and blood dripped steadily on the floor.

"Are you...?" Finn began to say.

"I'm sorry!" Rune interrupted, tail tight around his waist and eyes pleading.

"For what? Let me help you." Finn reached for the smaller boy's waist.

Rune gripped his wrist and cringed away.

"I didn't know you were pack. I was only tasting. I'm sorry!" The boy wailed, blood running down his neck.

Finn stared, utterly lost. He wasn't an Ytra. Some rule had obviously been broken and he didn't have the faintest idea how to fix it.

A piercing yowl erupted and Finn looked back to see Noni finally had the younger Ytra by the neck. They were both covered in cuts and bites - blood and clumps of fur staining the fabrics around them.

The boy went limp in submission and Noni growled menacingly.

The curtains were ripped aside and Iadin's mother took in the scene with a stony expression.

She gestured sharply and Emal appeared beside her. He took one look at the bloody felines and they both slumped to the ground. Rune still held the Human's wrist in a defensive grip, cowering away.

Emal's black eyes looked at Finn and the world went dark.