Can't wait for the next chapter? Then please consider joining my Patreon for early access to Abyssal's chapters and supporting me. You'll also find exclusive Abyssal NSFW short stories and art!

Torn Harness

Kai wanted to escape his pursuers who were intent on bathing and violating him, but he ended up running straight into the baths. Dammit; he'd meant to head into the library.



"Oh, come on!" he yelled at the steaming baths that smelled of lavender and the sea breeze.

"Your Highness!" Three sets of feet's footfalls echoed across the vast baths, right behind him.

"I'll bathe by myself!" He ran past the steaming hot pools, the bubbly pools full of lathering soap, the icy cold pools, and then as he was rounding the biggest of all the pools, he slipped on some water at the edge and fell straight in.

It was one of the icy cold pools.

When his head shot out of the water, he saw the three menaces staring down at him with intent.

The memory of his first 'preparation' was too vivid in his mind, especially the vile taste of being violated it left behind.

Never again!

His teeth chattered and he visibly shivered as he growled, "If you touch me again-"

Three sets of hands were on him before he could finish what he was saying.

They fought.

It wasn't pretty.

Kai slammed his elbow into one of the triplets' noses, and then, with no small effort, lifted the identical one right next to him and tossed him away as if he were a sack of potatoes. He splashed back into the pool with a yelp a few feet away.

"Ah! My nose!" Bright red blood proceeded to dribble down the injured triplet's nose and soil the once crystal clear pool.

Kai felt hands trying to restrain his arms, one hand pushing his head down into submission. The lower part of his face was submerged in water,

Kai saw red.

He fought harder.

Rosy water splashed out of the pool. The cheating bastards grabbed him by his damned gold harness, and Kai understood with perfect clarity why they had been designed this way. They were meant to offer a place to grab hold of slaves and pets. How practical and diabolical.

He staggered in the pool as he was dragged left and right like a raging bull being reined in by cowboys, slipping on the slippery tiles. Still, he did not submit. No, not this time.

Another well-placed hit to the nose put the bleeding triplet out of commission. He fell forward and floated face down in the water.

"Brother!"

Angered, the remaining two advanced on him, eyes glowering. They'd finally lost their cool. Usually, this was when people made mistakes.

Unlike their icy masters, the triplets were very much human, with human temperament. All Kai had to do was push the right button to enrage them, and they clearly didn't like their brother being beaten.

"Why, you...!"

It was that dastardly night in the amphitheater all over again. Except this time the sand was replaced by water up to his torso, and there was no gawking audience to cheer on the fight.

Well, except for Marius.

Kai could feel that icy blue gaze on him even without having to turn and see him leaning against a pillar, spectating calmly. He made no comment or move to intervene.

For a brief second, their eyes connected across the distance. His skin pebbled and his heart tripped on itself. Kai loathed that he was made to put on a show for the Conqueror's amusement against his will a second time. He loathed how Marius seemed to be enjoying this.

"What are you doing? Restrain him!" One brother yelled to the other.

"I-I can't! He's too strong...!"

The gold harness tore with a distinctive ripping sound and Kai was finally free. Instead of running -or wading- in the opposite direction, he threw himself at the two with a roar. His blood roared in his ears and rushed through his veins, fueling his rage.

"Your Highness, no please!" Begged one of the triplets.

Kai didn't relent. He had to make a point now so that they wouldn't dare touch him ever again.

"Enough."

The single word echoed in the baths.

Kai's flying fist stilled, just mere inches from the slave's face.

"Leave."

They were gone in an instant, dragging their bleeding brother face-down out of the baths with them. All that indicated there had ever been a fight was the trail of watery blood the triplets had left behind them, and Kai's torn harness floating about his chest.

"That was expensive." Marius nodded at the harness.

"I'm sure you can afford it." Dryly. He was still panting from the exertion.

Marius smiled. He straightened and walked toward the biggest of the pools.

At the edge, he undressed, stripping completely.

Kai stared at Marius' back and couldn't help but admire his perfect physique. Really, how can anyone have such broad shoulders and a muscled back?

His eyes trailed downward against his will-

He averted his gaze quickly, inwardly embarrassed at his... his... He wasn't sure what to call it. Curiosity?

He heard a giant splash. He looked up to see that Marius had disappeared into the water. The biggest pool was clearly also the deepest. How deep?

When next he emerged, his hair was long, floating about him, and his eyes glowed an almost electric blue. A giant black tail arched out of the water and back in again, the black as midnight scales glistening under the blue-white light of the glowing jellyfish.

"Come attend me."

Kai blinked. "What does that mean?"

Marius sighed overly. "Come bathe me."

Kai's jaw hit the waterline. "Are you seriously asking me to come give you a bath? What, you can't wash up by yourself? Are you a child?"

"Either you come to me or I come to you."

"I really do not want to."

"I am not asking."

"I know you're not. God knows you're insane enough."

"Should I summon the slaves again?"

"Ugh."

Kai went to the edge and climbed out of the pool. His gauzy pants clung to his legs, utterly sheer now that they were all wet. Upon realizing this, his face flushed crimson and his heart skipped a beat.

But it wasn't like Marius hadn't seen all that there was to see of him before.

Sighing, he begrudgingly approached the pool, aware of Marius' skimming gaze on him the whole time.

"By that pool. Bring the soaps and sponges." The King made a fleeting gesture to a shelf near one of the farthest pools stocked fully with all sorts of oils, soaps, lotions, brushes, and sponges.

Kai went to the shelf, also aware of the King's gaze on his back, grabbed all that he could, and walked back to the pool. He kneeled by the edge and settled the items down. He was about to jump into the steaming water when Marius said, "Take off those torn clothes. Those are hardly a prince's attire."

"These are hardly a prince's attire, torn or not." Kai shot back, frowning. He already felt quite naked as it was.

Just a few minutes ago, he'd brought up the subject of changing his slave clothes, but Marius hadn't fully agreed.

We'll see. I rather like you in this, he'd said, off-character.

Could he get him to agree now?

Marius regarded him curiously. After a moment, he said, "You are right. Your wardrobe will be changed this evening while we're out visiting your mother.

Kai felt his chest inflate with the success. It was by no means his freedom, but it was a start.

"Now, come." Marius extended a hand out to Kai.

Kai stared at the outstretched palm of his hand, and then his eyes followed the water rivulets trailing down his hard biceps, after they travelled up his handsome dark face to meet the King's own eyes.

Once again, it was an invitation he could not refuse.

Kai straightened, reached down for the hem of his pants and pulled them down.

He was now completely naked.

He dropped into the water, grabbed a soap and a sponge and went to take Marius' hand. As the King's hand closed around his, Kai wondered if he could add 'Bathed a King' to his resume for when he followed in his mother's steps to becoming an ambassador.