"So you have returned," Nighteagle said, looking at the man walking between the two sentries that had caught him returning to camp.

"I swore I would," Ari said with a frown.

"Leave us and finish preparations," Nighteagle said to his men with a wave of his hand. "Here, keep yourself ready for me." Nighteagle tossed a small jar at him.

The man caught it and opened it as anger spread over his face. Nighteagle dodged the jar as it flew back towards him. The man snarling at him.

"I’m not your whore," Ari growled.

"Suit yourself, but if you don’t you will be the one to suffer most, because I’m sure not going to care one way or the other. Get some sleep, we will leave at midday. You may ride in the wagons with my children," Nighteagle said with a smile, starting to leave the tent only to find the man stepping in front of him.

"I will not ride in your wagons," Ari said firmly.

"You will do what I tell you," Nighteagle said with a frown.

"No, I will not let you humiliate me. I know very well only women and small children ride in your wagons, those you consider weak. I will not do it, bastard," Ari retorted angrily.

"You will. I will not give you a horse," Nighteagle said, his anger rising at the impertinence of the man.

"You will or you will kill me."

"Don’t tempt me," Nighteagle growled.

"I will not do it," Ari said his eyes flashing.

Suddenly Nighteagle’s temper snapped at this man who wanted a precious horse given only to warriors of the horse clan. He had no idea what he was asking for, this foreign White Demon who argued with him. No one had ever dared argue with him in years. He found his large hands pressed against the pale white neck of the man in front of him. Anger at this man’s defiance exploding within him.

He glared down at the ice blue eyes that held no fear as he choked the man. Instead of struggling the man only glared at him as he made small gasping sounds. Watching those bright blue eyes he saw more than anger flash through them, the unmistakable glow of desire. Nighteagle shoved at the man, sending him to the floor as he coughed and gasped for air even as Nighteagle pushed him to his knees, ripping his pants down to expose his ass.

Opening his own pants before the man could gain his bearings Nighteagle pushed himself into the man. Ari cried out in pain as Nighteagle thrust repeatedly into him, enjoying the man’s cries. Reaching around he was surprised to find the man hard despite his cries of pain. Nighteagle began to stroke Ari as he continued his brutal acquisition of the man under him. Then Ari bucked back against him, grinding his ass against his invading organ even as he felt a hot stream of liquid fill his hand. Nighteagle tensed, feeling the power of his own orgasm rock him to his core.

Ari collapsed on the floor as Nighteagle looked down at his hand, panting. Lifting the white covered hand he stared at the liquid even as he felt the man turn over and face him. Looking down at the angry blue eye he brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them, tasting for the first time the seeds of a man. Closing his eyes in perverted pleasure he licked his fingers clean.

Shuddering at his actions he opened his eyes to see the man staring at him with unreadable blue eyes. He felt his whole being tremble at that gaze, as he wondered if this man truly was a demon who had enscrolled him.

"You will ride with me, but you must care for your horse as you would your child. If you do not I will give you to all of men to gang rape before I behead you," Nighteagle said in a deadly tone as he glared down at the man.

Ari nodded as Nighteagle rose, tying his pants and leaving the tent. Outside he stood in the sunlight, shaking with his encounter. He had never felt this way about another man. He had enjoyed mounting any man he defeated, proving his superiority over them and humiliating them by forcing them into sex, but this man, this White Demon, was different.

He knew once he gave the man his sword back it would only be a matter of time before he defeated Nighteagle. This man was his equal, but more than that this man was him. He sensed it, that the man was only truly alive when he fought. Ari craved to be dominated, to find someone to take him to the limit of his abilities. Every time Nighteagle hurt and made him surrender in some form, the spark of desire lit within both of them. Nighteagle shuddered, thinking for the first time in his life he had met someone that matched him completely and totally, and he was an enemy.

The other Lords of the horse clan had already voiced their concerns over Nighteagle taking the man as a captive. It was unheard of to take captives beyond a day or two and one as dangerous as the White Demon was foolhardy. Not to mention it stepped on the boundaries of honor to treat a warrior of such skill the way he was. Fucking a defeated member of the clan was one thing, but actively taking a foreign warrior as a bed slave was another. The other Lords believed that the man should be killed honorably and were more than a little upset with Nighteagle, although no one dared to voice his objections too loudly. Yet having tasted the man he knew one thing, he could never let this man go.

"This is StarShine," Nighteagle said, handing the reigns to Ari.

Ari took the reigns and walked up to the gelding, holding out a hand to the horse. Sniffing him, the horse looked at him placidly as Ari scratched him vigorously. The horse butted his chest in appreciation and Nighteagle watched in approval.

"Mount up, we are leaving. Here this is yours," Nighteagle said, handing Ari his sword.

Ari took the sword in surprise, looking at Nighteagle, puzzled.

"You can’t defeat me without a sword," Nighteagle said mildly, mounting his stallion.

Ari said nothing as he mounted up, wincing in pain. It was going to be a very long day, Ari thought sourly. He couldn’t believe that Nighteagle had given him his sword back. It now meant that he could attack the man at anytime. As they rode Ari thought about it, his mind wondering when would be the best time.

As the day wore on Ari’s pain increased, as did his anger. He hated riding and the pain it was causing. He felt frustrated by the events that seemed to flow around him. He knew it was foolish, but before he could stop himself he unsheathed his sword and looked over at Nighteagle, who had already responded to his threat.

Steel clashed against steel as Ari swung his sword at Nighteagle. They exchanged blows until his horse reared in panic at the noise surrounding him, and unseated Ari even as the men around them began to laugh. He felt Nighteagle’s foot step on his wrist as he looked up to see open anger in the man’s face.

He felt Nighteagle’s knee connect with his head and he fell backwards as the men laughed and cheered around him. Disoriented by the blow he didn’t realize until he felt Nighteagle’s rigid organ impale him that the man was fucking him like a dog in front of his men. He cried out in pain, feeling no pleasure at this third violent entry into his body. Between the rough sex and a day of riding Ari could only feel intense pain and humiliation at what the man was doing to him. The jeers of the men made his face burn in humiliation as he felt Nighteagle finish, pulling out of him with disgust.

"You are a fool, I thought you were better than this. Only a fool would attack a Horse Lord mounted. You risked injuring your horse for a battle you could never win. Get up and mount your horse. You will not dismount until we are done for the day. Remember this as you ride, anytime you are defeated among us you will be mounted like the bitch that you are," Nighteagle said with disgust as he turned away from Ari, and his men shouted and clapped.

Ari stood up slowly, raising his pants and picking up his sword. He looked around to see his horse’s reigns in the hands of a smirking warrior. Taking them without a word he mounted his horse stiffly, feeling pain blossom inside of him. He carefully kept all emotion off of his face, determined not to let any of the men laugh further at his pain and humiliation. Nighteagle was right, he was a fool, he had let his impatience overrule his better judgment and he had paid the price for it.

The rest of the day went in a daze of pain and fatigue. He had very little sleep and the multiply blows to his head in the past two days had left him disoriented. When Nighteagle finally called halt for the day he slid off the horse, barely aware of his surroundings. He mechanically groomed his horse until he felt a feather light touch on his arm.

"Come, Starfall will take him away. Nighteagle has asked me to care for you," said a small, delicate woman with a huge bulging belly.

Ari let the woman lead him to Nighteagle’s tent and watched as she left and brought food and water. As he ate he felt a little of his strength return, and he studied the woman kneeling on the ground in front of him, her eyes downcast. She was so very small and delicate looking, with copper skin and light brown, short hair. She was like a fragile doll that could easily be broken.

"What is your name?" Ari asked.

"I am Graysparrow, Nighteagle’s second wife," the woman said softly.

"His wife? And he asked you to attend his bed slave?" Ari said, incredulously, knowing if he had even thought of asking Gislia to attend Strum he would have ended up with a knee in his groin.

"You are not his bed slave, or any slave. You’re a fallen warrior of great strength. Nighteagle favors you, already he fights to see the clan recognize you so you may ride as one of us," Graysparrow said quietly.

"As one of you? I’m Iolair, I will never be a Horse Lord," Ari said dismissively.

"You ride one of our own. There is no place for you except as one of us. Nighteagle knows this as does everyone," Graysparrow said.

"As one of you? He fucked me like a dog in front of everyone," Ari said bitterly.

"As he did with Starfall, Nightwolf, Greyhawk, and many others. Any who would challenge Nighteagle faces that humiliation of submission," Graysparrow replied.

"You mean it is common among your people to do that?" Ari said in disgust.

"You lost to him, everyone loses to him. It is his right to demand anything from the loser. Nighteagle uses sex to punish those who would challenge him, now few challenge him," Graysparrow explained.

Ari remained quiet, finishing his food as he thought on the woman’s words. He could see the twisted logic in Nighteagle’s actions. His relationship with Strum had been frowned upon because no young could be produced, but sex between the same gender was not taboo among his people, where women were considered equal. To suggest being on the receiving end of sex was degrading would get a man castrated by the women. Here, where they viewed women as second class clan members and weaker, the stigma of being fucked like one would be powerful and humiliating to a warrior. The risk of enduring what he had to a member of this clan would be a powerful deterrent to challenging Nighteagle.

"Thank you for the food," Ari said when he was finished.

"You have been hurt," Graysparrow said softly, looking up at him with doe-like eyes.

"I have been hit in the head one to many times, it has made me disoriented," Ari replied.

"Yes, I have herbs for that, but you have been hurt elsewhere as well," Graysparrow nodded.

"I’m fine," Ari said, blushing slightly, realizing what the woman meant.

"You are not fine, I know the damage Nighteagle can do," Graysparrow said, shaking her head and frowning.

"You’re his wife, I guess you would," Ari said in disapproval, thinking of the man hurting this gentle woman.

"No, I am his wife and he treats all of us with gentleness and respect. He took Raindance as his third wife because he knew of my feelings for her," Graysparrow said with gentle disapproval at Ari’s assumption.

Ari’s eyes widened in surprise at the implications of the woman’s words. It was obvious that once again he had misjudged the man who would allow his wife to love another.

"He wants me to see to you. He is concerned for you and the damage he has inflicted on you. He has never cared before about the other men, but you he does," Graysparrow added, looking directly at Ari.

"What do you want to do?" Ari asked finally.

"I must clean you and apply some herbs to help the pain," Graysparrow answered.

"No, I can’t let you do that. Besides, why would Nighteagle allow his wife around me and do something like that for me?" Ari asked suspiciously.

"I’m already pregnant, you could not sow seeds within me. Besides, you have honor beyond reproach, you would not disgrace yourself and me. I was the one that tended you after the battle and saw that you were ready for my husband, something he has never concerned himself with before you. Allow me to tend you, please let me ease your pain," Graysparrow pleaded softly.

Ari looked away from the woman, feeling confusion at her words. What was he to this man? He thought he was a slave, but obviously that wasn’t the case. Graysparrow truly seemed to care for her husband and he could tell she was trying hard to get him to accept her offer for Nighteagle.

"Very well," Ari sighed.

Graysparrow smiled gently and got up. She returned with towels, warm water, and a small box. Ari removed his pants and got to his knees for the woman, leaning down and spreading his legs, feeling his face turn bright red. The woman worked quickly but gently, occasionally stroking his back as if to calm him. The death of his people, the parting from his son, Strum’s death, the humiliation of the day’s failed attack and rape, and now being naked and vulnerable before this kind, gentle woman finally undid Ari, and he felt tears roll down his face. He felt Graysparrow move around in front of him and pull him to her small chest as he sobbed in her arms. He felt broken and defeated as he let the woman stroke his jagged short hair and croon softly to him.

Ari’s tears had finally stopped when Nighteagle entered the tent to see the naked White Demon curled in his small wife’s lap. It was obvious that the man had been crying and he noticed the bloody water and towels. Looking at his wife he noticed her shake her head slightly, indicating it wasn’t his injures that was bothering the man.

He watched the man quickly move away from his wife, looking up at him with confusion. He looked so very worn and pale. Graysparrow gathered up everything and left the two of them alone. Nighteagle looked at the man, knowing that there was no way he could use him again in the condition he was in. Reaching down he gently touched the jagged line of his shoulder-length hair, only for the man to jerk away, his eyes wide and confused.

"Sleep my White Demon, and rest for tomorrow," Nighteagle said, pointing to the bed of cushions and pillows before leaving the tent.

It was late into the night when he returned to find his captive curled on the bed, fast asleep. Nighteagle stripped out of his clothes and lay down next him, curling his body next to the sleeping man and wondering again what he was doing. Yet the warmth of the body next to him soothed him as he fell asleep.

It had been a week since he had unwillingly become a captive of Nighteagle. He rode with the man during the day and listened as he talked about his clan and his dreams for them. Ari in turn found himself drawn to the man despite the fact he shouldn’t be. He was extremely bright and articulate, with the ability to draw Ari out of his anger to ask questions. As he listened he found that Nighteagle was a mirror of himself. Both leaders of warriors, both young and skilled, and both with a preference for men over women.

Nighteagle never spoke of it, but he could see the man’s gaze that hardly ever looked at his beautiful wives, but lingered on the most handsome of his men. Yet strangely enough, the man had not touched him once since the brutal rape in front of his men. He knew that Nighteagle had injured him, but he was surprised that the man had done nothing since then. Every night he had fallen asleep only to wake in the morning to find the very naked man curled around him.

Graysparrow continued to bring him food and medicine each evening, also spending time with him. Although the woman wasn’t a warrior, he sensed beneath that gentle exterior lie a strength that could match any of the Iolair women’s. She had proven to be a source of much information about Nighteagle. Through her he began to understand the man more clearly, and his motives. Just like Ari, Nighteagle thrived in battle, and because of that continued to look for even more powerful opponents. Graysparrow suspected the real reason Ari was brought along was because deep in his heart Nighteagle wanted someone to push him to greater heights. A partner who could help him surpass his own limits, who could potentially defeat him.

Ari had not tried to attack the man again, never being able to find a time when they weren’t riding or sleeping. Nighteagle spent all of his time with the Lords of the clan, ten other men who once ruled over individual branches of the horse clans, now united under Nighteagle. As soon as they dismounted the man disappeared, leaving Ari alone until Graysparrow came to him. It frustrated Ari to no end, but he knew eventually he would find a way to beat him.

Ari was surprised when Nighteagle returned early to the tent. Reaching out, he grabbed Ari’s arm, roughly pressing his lips to his own. Ari struggled against the man, denying his access to his mouth as he grabbed Nighteagle’s long hair, pulling the man’s face away from his own.

"Kiss me," Nighteagle growled fiercely.

"I will never kiss a man that holds me prisoner," Ari spat, jerking away from Nighteagle.

"You kissed me the first time," Nighteagle growled, grabbing Ari’s wrist and pulling the man to him again.

Ari answered with his fist, hitting Nighteagle on the side of his head, breaking his grip to spin and kick the man full force in the ribs. Nighteagle grunted in pain, clutching at his ribs, glaring up at the man. Ari planted himself firmly, waiting for the man to come at him. He was surprised at the strength of the man’s charge, pushing him back. Nighteagle hooked his foot, spilling Ari to the ground, and followed him quickly, sitting on his stomach and pinning his wrists together. Pulling out a thin rope from his belt pouch Ari felt his wrists being tied together, the rope biting into flesh.

"I have always wanted to ask you why you have rope scars around those wrists," Nighteagle said when he was finished.

Ari remained quiet, glaring up at the man, noticing that the rope that bound him wasn’t rope but a thin, flexible wire. The cool metal bit into his flesh as he tried to break it.

"Was it that man, what was his name? Did he do this to you?" Nighteagle asked seductively as Ari bucked, trying to dislodge the man from his mid-section.

Nighteagle leaned down trying to kiss him, but Ari bit his lip hard, causing him to draw back, cursing. Nighteagle roughly tossed him on his belly and pulled down his pants as Ari felt the powerful blow of a thick piece of stiff leather hit him.

"Stop it," Ari shouted, twisting, trying to get away from him.

"No, you don’t," Nighteagle said, pressing his knee into Ari’s back without missing a beat.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ari demanded as he winced in pain.

"Exactly what you want," Nighteagle hissed, throwing the strap aside and reaching under Ari to find the man half erect.

"That teacher of yours did this to you, didn’t he. It made you excited didn’t it?" Nighteagle whispered in his ear as he pulled on Ari’s balls, making him yelp in pain.

"Answer me."

"Yes, damn you, but that doesn’t mean I want you," Ari growled struggling.

Nighteagle went around to the front of the man, gazing intently into his eyes as Ari stood on his knees before him, glaring. He sank to his knees, grasping the man’s erection, stroking it slowly, watching Ari’s face closely.

"You lie," Nighteagle whispered, bringing his wet hand up to Ari’s mouth, showing the man the evidence of his lie.

"I hate you, you are the enemy, you keep me captive, and take away my honor," Ari hissed.

"And I excite you," Nighteagle replied, twisting the man’s nipple between his fingers.

"What about you? Why do you keep me? Fuck me and get it over with," Ari retorted.

"I want you, you excite me beyond all belief. I don’t deny it, White Demon, I have done things with you I shouldn’t," Nighteagle whispered, his eyes glowing. "I want to do more, I want to do things to you that would make my men look at me in disgust. Just as I have defiled your body, you have defiled my soul, White Demon."

He watched the man’s breath quicken as he continued to play with his sensitive nipples. His gazed lowered to the red, throbbing erection that bobbed, leaking. He heard the man moan despite the look of anger in his face. He wanted to hear it again, he wanted to hear this man’s pleasure. Leaning down, he put out his tongue tentatively, licking the leaking shaft, even as Ari arched toward him, his defiance gone for the moment.

What Nighteagle was doing was taboo beyond anything, yet he couldn’t stop himself, too lost within the man’s moans of pleasure as his tongue swirled around the head of the hot organ. He drew the man into his mouth, sucking greedily even as he moved his tongue on the hot organ, tasting the salty liquid with pleasure, and Ari groaned above him.

Unable to bear it any longer he pulled off the man and went behind him, stripping his clothes off. Pushing him down roughly he sank into the man slowly, savoring the man’s tight grip. Instead of riding Ari to completion as fast as he could, he fucked him slowly, reveling in the man’s moans of pleasure. He had never felt such raw emotions pouring out of him. He wanted this man, he wanted everything about him to belong only to Nighteagle. Growling in pleasure he heard Ari cry out loudly under him as he bucked against Nighteagle, clamping down hard on his member. The man shuddered under him, spilling his seeds into Nighteagle’s waiting hand, even as he let go of his pent up desire with a groan of pleasure.

Nighteagle licked his hand and pushed Ari onto his back, to take the softening member into his mouth even as Ari looked down at him in surprise. The greatest of all the Horse Lords lapped at his organ greedily. Ari closed his eyes and moaned not in pleasure but despair. He had given in to the demands of his body, and let Nighteagle take him without a fight. The man had been right, he had wanted it. He couldn’t deny it to himself. Nighteagle was the enemy, but he was also a man. A man with strength and intelligence that stirred Ari’s very soul.

It was obvious that the man felt the same for him. He knew now from his talks with Graysparrow that what he was doing was beyond taboo. For him to even be here in Nighteagle’s tent was frowned upon, if anyone knew what the man was now doing he would be in disgrace. The only thing that held Nighteagle’s honor intact was everyone assumed that Ari was being taken by Nighteagle, to humiliate Ari.

This man had destroyed his people, but he had also spared them. He had given them what they wanted, glorious death in battle. Ari didn’t know what to do now. He couldn’t bring himself to admit that Nighteagle was more than an enemy. Not yet, maybe not ever.