Bird of a Nest - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Eyeri was quiet that evening. Not withdrawn but certainly tired from his day. Fetmar had him curled in his side and was gently poking him into eating. Ryraso smiled sadly and leant into Tai'ray as Aw'endo and Nel'os chatted away happily. Dyn'ad was discussing with Fetmar what to do next with the noble younglings, and how Fetmar had coped when his assistant had left suddenly
Fetmar had grinned at that question. The noble younglings were easy to deal with compared with the soldiers he had dealt with the army it seemed. Aw'endo complained at how Fetmar had picked on him and Fetmar teased him back. It was all light and happy on the surface. It was only when someone looked closer that the cracks could be seen.
Tai'ray arm wrapped around Ryraso and rubbed Ryraso's thigh slowly. "Easy," Tai'ray sent over the link so everyone wasn't distracted from the fragile happiness. "Everything is going to be fine," he promised.
"Fetmar's being protective of Eyeri," Ryraso thought not quite idly but letting Tai'ray hear his train of thought about the state of them all in the room. "But his eyes are annoyed. Eyeri didn't eat today, I suspect. It will be why Fetmar is making him eat everything on the plate intend of just a small amount. Fetmar will be frustrated at Eyeri for forgetting to eat. Eyeri will be embarrassed as he was nervous so it won't have crossed his mind at all.   I didn't tell Pol'ar to make sure Eyeri ate because I didn't want to give him more reason to doubt Eyeri's stability."
There was a heavy sigh from Tai'ray, shifting Ryraso slightly in how they were sitting. That was a fair concern on all involved. "I'll tell Iss'vine. She'll give some story that we are trying to socialise Eyeri with his peers more and want him to join in their lunchtime. Aw'endo will enjoy having him there," he promised.
"Aw'endo, who is feeling lonely with Cai'ress gone," Ryraso added, looking at how his son was clutching to Nel'os and trying to have two conversations at once. He looked happy here surrounded by his family but in his body language were signs of desperation. Nel'os was holding him lightly but any signs of him letting go had Aw'endo looking slightly sad and resigned, his wings slumping slightly. Nel'os seemed to react to his wings and didn't stop holding Aw'endo, ruffling his feathers gently.
"Don't," Tai'ray asked gently. "I get enough feelings about that matter from Nel'os and the court gossips," he grumbled unhappily.
"Was only stating facts, Tai," Ryraso replied, his lips twitching slightly. "He's lonely without his ally. I wonder if having Fetmar teaching his class will help." he mused, turning his head and kissed Tai'ray's cheek as he felt Tai'ray's own issues swell in the link between them.
"Who knows. We'll just have to see," Tai'ray shrugged. Tai'ray nuzzled Ryraso, eyes looking at his sons. His eyes drifted onto his mates, at how Nel'os wings were drooping and how Dyn'ad shoulders were tense. Settling back into being Royal again was hard for him too. The adjustment from soldiers to rulers was not easy for them all.  They were all going to have to be careful.
"Oh yeah. Ry, I spoke with Zaro," Nel'os hummed, falling down next to them. "You're right. He's a sweetheart and he's getting himself in dangerous circles," he mused. "I'll have mine surround him best I can. I don't exactly have a lot of people to trust but there are a few."
"You have my thanks," Ryraso said almost ritually, relieve filling his chest.
"It is not needed," Nel'os smiled and kissed his cheek softly. Ryraso caught Nel'os hand and squeezed gently. The look Nel'os gave him was almost heartbreaking. Wariness and love mixed together. Ryraso leaned out of Tai'ray arms to kiss Nel'os more firmly on the lips. Nel'os kissed back, following Ryraso as he pulled away. Nel'os ended up in his lap as they parted, cuddling in his lap.
Later that night, as they crawled into the nest, Ryraso found himself shifting to the side. Or at least as far to the side as he could get without clearly separating himself from them. He turned over and closed his eyes, curling into the soft sheets. He still didn't feel himself. His body felt all out of whack and his mind wasn't much better.
Maybe Pol'ar's offer to get him some help wasn't the worst in the world. As much as he wanted to get back to work, he could acknowledge he needed some time to recover.
Dyn'ad growled in the background. Not an angry growl but a lustful growl. He could feel faint movements and found himself smiling softly. He lay sleepy, listening as Tai'ray started to murmur sweet loving words to Dyn'ad. Telling him to relax and let Tai'ray take care of him for now. Dyn'ad grumbled before letting out a moan of delight. It was good. With all the stress Ryraso had put Dyn'ad through today, he needed some pampering.
His own body started to react, though he was too deep in his floating state to really do much about it. As the sounds continued, Ryraso felt as himself grow hard. A hesitant hand ran over his hip. Ryraso forced his eyes open and look over his shoulder.  Nel'os was there, looking nervous and worried.
Ryraso turned over and kissed Nel'os again deeply and yanked him close. He pressed against Nel'os. Hands moved over his skin expertly pressing on tense muscles, teeth nippled in sensitive spots making him moan and pleasure rolled through them. It finished with Ryraso tangled in Nel'os' arms and legs, Nel'os gripping on to him tightly. Ryraso nuzzled him, looking back at Tai'ray and Dyn'ad who were still interlocked in their own passions. Smiling Ryraso settled in Nel'os arms and kissed Nel'os again lazily.
"I love you," Ryraso smiled, feeling almost drunk on emotions. Flesh pressed against each other, warm in Nel'os' embrace, he felt oddly happy. It was only a temporary thing but it was there. He fell to sleep surrounded by his loves.
Which made it a shame when yet another nightmare invaded his dreams.
This time he was surrounded by feathers. Black and grey things scattering over the ground. He could hear the similar screams of battle singing from the edges of his awareness but he was in no battle. He was in an open room. Inai sat sobbing in the centre of the room, blood streaming from his back as wings now grew on the man's back. Isst's dead body lay nearby. Inai looked up at him, his eyes now red but pupils the distinct slit that was k'nairi. His blonde hair was matted with blood and the brand of the D'mar was singed into the man's forehead. Recently done by how it was shining.
"You did this," he hissed, "You!" Inai shifted, screaming as his hands changed. Morphing from human to k'nairi. Claws breaking out of his skin, with more yet blood pouring from the man. He moved towards Ryraso, limbing looking more like a monster than either human or k'nairi. Claws moving to slash over him.
Ryraso dived out of the way, turning back around to face him again. Only the scene had changed. He was in a forest. Bird song surrounding him. Wiljam sat at a table drinking tea next to Cai'ress. A strange scene, something Ryraso knew even within the dream. Wiljam looked up at him and smiled sadly. "Have you made your decision yet?" he asked, passing Cai'ress a freshly poured cup of tea.
"There is no decision to be made," Ryraso commented softly, stepping forward and slowly taking a seat. A cup of jasmine tea appeared in his hand and he sipped on it.
"You have always loved them," Wiljam said softly. "Certainly more than you ever loved me." The second sentence was said with bitter scorn, Wiljam's soft eyes turning harsh and cold. "It is why we could never work. As much as I would have liked us too."
"I loved you," Ryraso admitted. Words he had never told Wiljam while they were together. Wiljam had said them once or twice but Ryraso had never been able to. That hadn't meant he hadn't felt the feelings though. "I still do. I wish I had been braver."
"And yet," Wiljam moved forwards, cupping Ryraso's cheek gently but the look in his eyes was anything loving. If anything it was a little wild. "You chose them over me. And now you're letting another be heartbroken," he whispered into Ryraso ear. "You should just disappear before you cause more pain and suffering." Suddenly pain expanded from his chest. Ryraso coughed blood spilling from his lips. He looked down and found a dagger in his chest. Wiljam had stabbed Ryraso in the chest.
Ryraso looked up and over at Cai'ress and realised what was wrong with this image of him. Cai'ress' wings were gone.
Dyn'ad was holding him when he woke up, all three of his loves looking at him worried. Ryraso able to hear the last echos of his screams in the room. He panted and gripped onto Dyn'ad, tears running down his face. The taste of iron on his lips.