Bound Gods #11 short excerpt (Patreon)

This excerpt will go out in the newsletter on Tuesday (Oct 4). This isn't a happy moment for Jessie.

Marud did not want him.

Three days in the protected wing in Sanctuary with only Oliver to keep him company, Jessie held some hope it was all a mistake. Marud would change his mind. Maybe that's why Alton kept Jessie there rather than escorting him to where he would live from now on.

The Doxie wing.

But even as Jessie followed Alton down a sunlit hall, the world around him a blur, the idea still refused to process. The man in front of him, his voice, static. And Oliver's hand, a formless mass wrapped in Jessie's numb fingers.

Alton opened one side of the large double doors. Young men wandered up and down the next corridor. All of them were naked except for cock cages, butt plugs and glittering bracelets, anklets, thin golden chains wrapped around their waist, and the occasion clasp in their hair.

Beautiful faces turned in Jessie's direction. These boys didn't even come to his shoulder.

“Jessie?”

Alton inclined his head in the direction of the hall.

More curious faces appeared from the rooms lining the walls.

“Master Jessie?” Oliver tugged on Jessie's hand. For some reason, the weight holding Jessie in place broke and he followed Alton inside.

“You're room is this way.”

His room.

One not shared with Marud.

Because Jessie had been thrown away in favor of bloodshed.

And not just the death of dangerous people who meant to harm Jessie, Marud, or Doxies, but innocent lives that had the potential. The if. The might. The possibility. Marud would never give them the chance to choose a different path. He would never give them a chance to correct their mistakes.

No, the god would just crush their bones and tear apart their flesh.

He would decimate millions.

He had decimated millions.

Alton said something Jessie missed. He blinked several times. “I'm sorry, what?”

“You may keep your clothes for a few more days but you'll be expected to dress appropriately after that.”

The laugh slipped across Jessie's lips before he could stop it. Dress appropriately?

Alton smiled a little. “Depending on who is assigned to training you, your apparel may vary from the others.”

Because another god would take charge of Jessie. A god he did not know and did not want. The tremor started in Jessie's legs and made its way up his spine. His teeth chattered despite clenching his jaw.

Oliver tightened his hold on Jessie's hand.

“For now, Oliver can stay with you here in the Doxie wing.”

“Wait...where else is he going to go?”

Oliver had no family and turning him back out into the streets wasn't just cruel but a death sentence. And Jessie owed Oliver his life.

“I'll arrange for him to have his own room here.”

“I was ordered to stay with Master Jessie.” Oliver even managed to lift his chin. But after putting himself between Jessie and Marud, Jessie was sure the man could look anyone in the eye.

“And Marud is no longer in charge of Jessie.”

“But I don't want to leave him.”

“The time between a Master trainer and a Doxie are their own.”

Which meant Oliver had no place. Jessie's heart skipped and his throat tightened. Was everything from the moment of peace and happiness in his life going to be taken away?

“Marud made him...” Jessie swallowed several times. “Oliver's addicted.”

Alton raised an eyebrow. “For how long?”

Jessie shrugged, “A few weeks.”

“If it's only been weeks, I can give him an inhibitor and he'll be able to quit the ambrosia.”

“But what if he can't?” Marud had promised denying Oliver of the nectar would be torture.

“We'll cross that bridge when it's time. Until then Oliver will be given his own quarters and allowance and depending on his skill set, possibly a job.” Alton looked at Oliver. He stepped closer to Jessie.

“But he's my friend,” Jessie said.

Alton put a hand on Jessie's shoulder. “I promise, no harm will come to him. And when time allows you will be able to visit.” Alton led Jessie and Oliver to a room near the end of the hall. The quaint space had a welcoming bed, beautiful view, private bath, and brightly colored rug.

Jessie already hated it.