Title: Two Can Play

Author: Henrika (henrika_amanda@yahoo.se)

Rating: NC-17 for explicit sex, BDSM, and some violence.

Pairing: Viktor/Lucian, Lucian/Sonja, and vaguely Viktor/Kraven

Summary: Viktor is tired of being insulted by Lucian and decides to give the insolent Lycan a lesson in manners.

Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters, and I’m making no money from this story.

Archive. My personal site at http://www.oocities.org/henrika_amanda/Index Anyone else, please ask first.

Feedback! Please! Just don’t flame me.

A/N: This story takes place before the war between the Vampires and Lycans actually started. Sonja is still alive, and Viktor doesn’t know of her relationship with Lucian.

Warnings: Slash, het, BDSM, graphic sex… the usual. :)

Chapter 1

Viktor sighed. The damned Lycan was whistling again. Again. The Vampire Lord had believed that his body language and the fact that he had scolded him so many times in the past would make Lucian realize what he could and could not do around Viktor, but no. The obnoxious slave never seemed to learn.

“Lucian, stop your whistling,” the Elder said calmly, not wanting anyone to see how much Lucian’s behaviour really got on his nerves.

The Lycan didn’t stop, though. Instead of obeying the Elder, he continued his whistling even more cheerfully than before. He got a mischievous glint in his eyes when he watched Viktor clench his teeth so hard that his facial muscles flexed under his pale skin. A thick wrinkle formed between his brows, clearly revealing how hard he was fighting not to lose his temper and yell - and God knew what else - at the simple Lycan servant. Lucian had to suppress a chuckle. Provoking Viktor was always so fun, because he knew exactly how to infuriate the Elder. Whistling cheerfully while waiting at his table was a very efficient method. Lucian even kept track of how long it took before Viktor lost his temper. The current record was little over five minutes, and it would obviously not be broken today.

“Stop whistling at once, you filthy, mangy animal!” the Vampire Elder snarled, turning to glare at Lucian with unnatural blue eyes. It was a sign of his fury. Viktor looked like he was ready to bounce up and break the Lycan’s neck with his bare hands. Lucian was pleased with himself. He had done it yet again.

“What should I stop?” he asked.

“Is growing up truly that goddamned difficult?!” the Vampire snapped in reply. “I asked you once - nicely. Why can you not just do as I say, Lucian? Why must you behave in this obnoxious and childish way?”

//Because it gets on your nerves// Lucian wanted to say, but he didn’t. Viktor should be clever enough to have figured that out by himself. Lucian had made a game out of infuriating the Elder, but he knew that he was playing with fire. One day Viktor would truly explode and really punish him.

Reds spots had appeared on the Elder’s cheeks, and his eyes were still flashing. Lucian moved his gaze from Viktor to his daughter - Sonja - who was sitting to his right. The beautiful female Vampire looked back at the Lycan with concern and perhaps even fear in her eyes. Lucian could almost hear her thoughts, her plea. //Don’t provoke Father, Lucian. You have no idea what he can do with you.//

He returned Sonja’s anxious gaze with a confident one of his own and gave her a soft smile. He was in control of this situation - so far. Viktor, although enraged, would not start chasing a simple Lycan around the dining table with so many other vampires watching. It was below him.

Lucian spun around, shaking his head, and headed for the exit at high speed. “Lucian!” Viktor shouted after him. “Come back, Lycan! I am not finished with---”

But Lucian didn’t listen now either, of course. The insolent dog was gone already before Viktor could finish his sentence. The Vampire Lord’s hands were shaking when he brought them up to rub his temples. “Give me a break…” he snarled quietly but loud enough for everyone to hear. “I don’t understand!” he then said, raising his head to glare at the other vampires seated around the long table. “Why don’t you do anything to support me? How can you just let that… lowly creature behave that way? He is harassing me, damn it!”

“You perceive it as harassment?” Sonja carefully asked her father.

“Well, isn’t that pretty obvious?” Viktor snapped back, surprised that his own daughter would question him.

“But it is his character,” Sonja tried vainly, fearing that Lucian had indeed gone too far this time.

“Are you saying that you approve of it?”

“I never said that, but the real question is what you choose to make of it. If you ignore him, he won’t succeed in… whatever he is attempting.”

“This is outrageous!” Viktor growled. “I will show that Lycan who makes the rules here… and what happens to the likes of him if they dare cross me… Right now!”

Viktor ignored his daughter’s pleading eyes and rose from his seat at the table’s short end. Sonja was too compassionate and soft-hearted a Vampire. What the insolent Lycan needed was discipline, not coddling.

“And you… wipe that grin off your face!” he hissed at one of the younger vampires - Kraven - who had the nerve to actually smile at him. Who could possibly find this amusing?

*~*~*

Viktor did not know where Lucian had gone, but he guessed that the Lycan had gone down to the slave quarters where his kind lived, and therefore went to look for him there. The Elder did not often mix with the Lycan slaves: if he required something of them, he would send someone else to take care of his business. This time he felt that he was forced to intervene, though. He had to show Lucian that he was serious.

The Lycans lived in shed-like wooden houses with ground floors and a hearth in the middle. The mere thought of spending time there was repulsive, but he would not give in before he found Lucian and had made sure the Lycan understood his message. The outside air was cold, and Viktor regretted not bringing an overcoat. The thin shirt and beautifully embroidered vest were not sufficient to keep the cold at bay, and the Elder was beginning to freeze. He had to find the Lycan quickly so that he could return to the warmth and comfort of the mansion.

“Lucian!” he called out, knowing that the Lycan’s keen hearing would be able to grasp it. Viktor had no idea in which shed the young Lycan slept. He heard a rustling of leaves and the sound of twigs breaking to his left, and Lucian stepped forth from behind a tree.

“What do you want?” the Lycan asked in a not too friendly voice and even avoided eye-contact with the Vampire.

“Sit down, Lucian. I came here to have a talk with you,” Viktor said sternly, pointing to a rickety-looking stool outside the shed. He did not like Lucian’s pacing while he talked, and besides he wanted to be able to look down at the Lycan.

“I’m not sitting down,” Lucian refused simply and still didn’t even look at Viktor.

The Elder was first too flabbergasted to even think straight. He could only gasp. Lucian had just disobeyed a direct command! And in a quite an insolent way, to be honest.

“Now you sit down, or I will get the keys to the pillory and let you hang there the rest of the night!” he snarled threateningly, his fury growing when Lucian seemed to ignore him once more. The Lycan simply dismissed Viktor’s command with a wave of his hand. He knew that it was a hollow threat.

“You dumb woodlouse!” he called to the Vampire Elder. “Go and do something useful instead of standing there clucking in my ear! It’s not like you belong down here anyway! You could even get lice from being near me and my kind!”

“What?!” Had the Lycan just called him “dumb woodlouse”? “I am not clucking---”

“Yes, you are! That is exactly what you’re doing, Viktor! You cluck like a hen! The sad thing is that you don’t even notice it yourself! Your brain is working too slowly. Have you realized that?”

“Realized what? Lucian, I came here to talk to you about your behaviour, and you have the nerve to insult me? You are to call me Lord Viktor! I am your Master and I can decide your fate anytime I wish! Have you realized that, you dirty beast for a man?!” By now Viktor was so angry that he practically spat out the words. He had to get Lucian’s attention and teach him the lesson he had come here for.

Lucian was starting to get aggravated as well. Viktor’s presence and his angry shouting were not pleasant anymore. It only proved that the Elder was indeed as slow on the uptake as he’d suspected all along, but if Viktor kept persisting… Lucian felt that standing out in the cold bandying words with the Elder was a waste of both their time. Sighing, he finally looked Viktor clean in the eye and approached him until they were less than six feet apart.

“Have you realized that?” he repeated, keeping his voice calm and slow this time.

“Realized what?” Viktor exclaimed, a dumbstruck look on his face.

“That you cannot control each and every situation around you? God, you are so spoiled, Viktor! Have you ever lacked anything at all, or has everything always been delivered to you on a silver platter? Do you even notice anything past the point of your own selfish existence?”

Viktor couldn’t believe what was happening. The Lycan was insulting him, questioning him, virtually driving him into a corner. He had come down here to question Lucian, and now the Lycan - his slave - was questioning him! He could not - would not - tolerate it! He was an Elder, a Vampire Lord, and Lucian was a simple, filthy animal! Although Viktor had to confess that he was at a loss for words and that he’d had no idea that a Lycan could be so… verbal and striking in his statements. Lucian had called him spoiled. Viktor didn’t think of himself in such terms. He had been lucky, that was all. Privileged. He had worked hard to get where he was now. Being a Vampire Elder and Ruler was not so easy a task as the Lycan seemed to imagine.

He did not feel like explaining this to Lucian, however, so he simply raised his hand to cuff Lucian across the face. Although the Lycan dodged his slap. When their eyes met again, Lucian’s were wary and scheming. He clearly expected Viktor to lash out again and prepared to either dodge or parry the blow.

The Vampire Elder snorted. This was ridiculous! He would not spend one more minute arguing with the beast out here in the cold. It was below him. He knew that he could easily overpower the young Lycan, and even slay him, but Lucian’s dodging his cuff had been a bit of a surprise.

Without a word, Viktor spun around and started making his way back to the mansion. He was shaking from the cold by now, and as he withdrew, he could feel Lucian’s gaze in his neck. The Elder was even more furious now than he’d been when he went to confront Lucian. He was also angry with himself for letting the Lycan insult him like that. He should have coerced Lucian into submission! But the dog had not given him a chance to talk, and Viktor had been so dumbfounded that he could only stare. Enraged, he began to suspect if not the Lycan was right about one thing - maybe his brain was indeed working too slowly?

No! Lucian was an animal! He could not possibly outsmart any vampire; especially not a powerful Elder, like Viktor. This time the Lycan had exceeded his previous limits, though. He had insulted Viktor directly, called him names, and not shown a scrap of respect. Viktor could not let such behaviour go unpunished. The next time he got his hands on Lucian…

When he returned to the mansion, Sonja was instantly there to receive him. The look on his daughter’s face told Viktor that Sonja was concerned. The Elder really didn’t feel like answering a lot of questions now, so he motioned to her that he wanted to be left alone.

Sonja ignored her father’s command and went to stand before him. “Wait, Father,” he said softly. “You look aggravated. What happened?”

“What happened? I will tell you what happened!” Viktor snapped, not able to calm himself even when Sonja cringed from his obvious anger. “I went there to talk with that Lycan, actually believing that I could have a civilized conversation with the beast, and he called me “dumb woodlouse”! That is what happened, my dear Sonja. I truly can’t understand your obvious sympathy for those rude, filthy, brutal animals!”

The red spots appeared on Viktor’s cheeks again, and he was practically foaming with rage. Sonja sighed ruefully and placed her slim, pale hand on her father’s left cheek. “That is not excusable, of course,” he said in a low voice. “Rudeness never is. Lucian should learn to respect you. Maybe if I went there to talk to him, perhaps he would listen to me…”

Viktor’s eyes snapped open in pure terror. “What?! Sonja, that is out of question! There is no way in hell I would let you go down there! Not for any reason! Do you understand me?”

The mere thought of what those crude beasts could do with his beautiful, pure daughter - his only child - if she went there alone and unprotected… It was too horrible to even imagine. He had to make Sonja realize that he was serious. He grabbed her chin and tilted her head up, forcing her to look him in the eye. “Do you understand me, Sonja?” he repeated, clenching his teeth.

Sonja lowered her gaze and nodded timidly. “Yes, Father,” she whispered.

Viktor’s gaze and voice were still stern. “Good. You should go to bed. Dawn will come in a couple of hours.”

The Vampiress nodded again. “Yes, Father.”

Viktor even gave her a strained smile. “That’s my lass,” he said, kissing her cheek and stepping aside to pass her. Even though it would soon be dawn, Viktor was not headed to his chambers. The Lycan’s insolence had left him with a lot of suppressed anger, and he needed to give vent to it. Perhaps an intense training session in the dojo could help him calm down.

Sonja waited until her father was out of earshot. He had told her to go to bed, but Sonja had completely other plans.

*~*~*

Lucian was still aggravated half an hour after Viktor’s visit to the slave quarters. While it was amusing to infuriate the Vampire Elder, Viktor’s arrogant, pompous nature had gotten on his nerves. Viktor had come down here to teach him a lesson. He had even threatened to put Lucian in the pillory! The Lycan smiled when he thought back to the childish threat. Viktor had never been able to control his anger, and if something did not go his way, the great and powerful Elder began to act like a child still in the obstinate age.

He thought of going back inside to his sleeping place, but the filthy cottage was already filled with other Lycans, and Lucian did not feel like socializing now. Had any of the others heard his quarrel with Viktor? Probably. He knew that he could amuse his fellow werewolves greatly by telling them about this night’s events, but he did not feel like doing that either. Wrapping his cheap, tattered clothes closer to his body, he started to wander further away from the slave quarters. It’s not like it was much warmer inside the poorhouse anyway. Granted, there was a hearth, but the walls were full of holes and what warmth the fire emitted seemed to escape through those cracks.

“Lucian?”

Lucian spun around when he heard his name being called. And he recognized the voice, feeling both terror and excitement. “Sonja?”

The Vampiress was standing some thirty feet from him, and Lucian was surprised that he had not caught her scent or heard her approach. He’d been too deep in thought, probably.

“Sonja, what are you doing here?” he called back in a low, husky voice. “Has anyone seen you? Did Viktor or anyone else see you leave the mansion?”

Sonja shook her head. “No, Father believes that I am in my chamber.” She approached Lucian. “I… I wanted to see you,” she confessed to her lover. “When I heard about your argument with my father, I…”

When they were close enough to touch, Lucian enveloped the slender female in his arms and held her tightly. He had missed Sonja too, of course. He missed her every second they spent apart. Still, he was concerned. Sonja should not simply show up like this. It was not safe. Even if none of the Vampires saw her exit the mansion, a Lycan might spot, smell, or hear her if she came down here unannounced.

Sonja was cold. Lucian could feel it. She was only wearing a thin, elegant dressing gown and a cloak wrapped around her shoulders, looking awfully misplaced in Lucian’s grubby arms. He kissed her gently, enjoying the sensation of her soft, full lips against his.

“You shouldn’t be here…” he whispered, tracing the curve of her mouth with his finger. “Not now… The sun will rise soon.”

“Not quite yet… Say, Lucian…” She kissed his jaw, enjoying the feeling of his coarse stubble against her cheek. “Is there any place where we can be alone?”

Lucian couldn’t suppress a smile. “You are serious?” he asked.

“You know me, my love. I am always serious,” the Vampiress replied, and she was.

“The stables. Come!”

The two secret lovers quickly sneaked through the shielding darkness toward the stables. Lucian trusted his own hearing and keen sense of smell to make sure that no one spotted or followed them. Once they reached there and slipped inside, some of the horses started tramping and snorting nervously in their stalls. Lucian knew why. Horses were always restless near Lycans.

They continued into a smaller room where the horses’ forage was kept, and as soon as they were inside - and safe - their mouths met in a passionate kiss, and Lucian grabbed Sonja, almost lifting her off the ground, and pushed her up against the wall, letting his eager hands roam her delicate, firm, shapely body.

“Ahh… Lucian…” Sonja gasped between the ardent kisses. She could already feel his hardness against her lower abdomen and knew that it wouldn’t take long before he’d sink it into her wanton heat. She looked forward to that. She did it every time. No one could love her like Lucian did. He was so ferocious, so animal… and still so gentle and caring. He had never harmed her in any way, even in the throes of passion, and only he could make her feel… full, satiated.

“Turn around…” he breathed in her ear a short time later, and she happily complies, placing her hands against the solid wall. Lucian’s fingers started working on the laces of her gown and deftly undid them, baring her back to the rather chilly air. Sonja barely noticed it, though. She was not cold anymore. Lucian’s closeness was enough to keep her hot.

The garment slid down her shoulders and the Lycan gently passed it over her narrow waist and slender hips. Soon Lucian’s hands were on her breasts, squeezing, pinching, rolling her sensitive nipples and making them harden. She moaned faintly when he swept her long, blonde hair back, getting access to her neck, and started placing tender, wet kisses on the side of her throat. His warm breath against her bare skin was unbelievably erotic.

“Lucian… please, don’t keep me waiting…” she pleaded as the Lycan nibbled on her skin. A Lycan bite could have easily killed her, but she trusted him with her life and did not for one second think of the damage his sharp, lethal canines could cause.

Lucian’s hands slid lower, past her belly and hips, and in between her thighs. He could both smell and feel her arousal, which increased his own even more.

“Do you like this…?” he whispered, using his hand to stroke her slick folds and rub the bud right above her nether opening.

“Yes, I do, but… I want the real thing…” Sonja panted in reply, thrusting back against him to really show how desperate she was becoming.

It took Lucian two seconds to remove his own pants and free his throbbing erection. He gave it a brief squeeze and spread the leaking pre-come over the head to ease the entry. He was quite generously endowed, and he did not want Sonja to feel any discomfort, although judging from her body, she was quite ready for their union.

“Alright, my love, are you ready?” he asked, placing himself in a position to enter her.

Sonja’s only reply was an almost imperceptible nod. Lucian did not even have to bend his knees when he finally sheathed himself within her. Sonja was tall; almost his height, and while Lucian was not the tallest of men, he was not short either. Sonja was tall and graceful, just like… her father.

Not wanting thoughts of Viktor to intrude this loving, passionate moment, Lucian forced the image of the Elder from his head. He thrust into the Vampiress, stroking, caressing, and fondling her body with his hands. Sonja was a very responsive lover, and Lucian loved that part of her. His mouth sought out her neck again, and he kissed her soft, unmarked skin tenderly, not wanting to leave any marks.

They came together in a joint climax and moaned their pleasure into each other’s mouths, afraid of being too vocal in case someone was close enough to hear them. Lucian emptied himself within Sonja’s depths and continued to thrust until no more of his essence remained to be spilled. He leaned heavily against Sonja’s equally drained body and withdrew himself from her when he had regained enough strength to stand up steadily.

“Oh, Lucian… That was wonderful… You are wonderful…” Sonja sighed happily and turned around to look her Lycan lover in the eye.

“Wonderful, yes…” Lucian replied, not referring to himself. “What can I have done to have deserved you, Sonja?”

“You love me, and I love you. That is all that matters,” the Vampiress smiled and leaned forward to kiss Lucian. “But I have to go. The sun will rise soon, and…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “…and besides, Father might want to visit me. Oh, Lucian, I fear for you, sometimes. Have you any idea what he might do to you if he found out about us?”

“Oh, I am not that ignorant!” Lucian grinned in reply. “Viktor would surely demand my head on a silver platter!”

“I am serious.” Sonja’s tone was sad.

The Lycan nodded. “Yes, I know,” he admitted, no longer smiling. “But he will never find out, so stop worrying. Viktor is too self-absorbed to notice. Trust me.”

“Did you actually call my father “dumb woodlouse”?” Sonja asked dubiously.

Lucian failed to suppress a snort. “Did he say that?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Oh, well… I may have called him something like that… He came down there to “discipline” me. I suppose that…”

“You could at least try, Lucian,” Sonja suggested, placing her finger over Lucian’s lips and silencing him. “I know how you feel about Viktor, but he is my father, and I love him.”

“I know…” the Lycan sighed. //And I hate to admit it, but the two of you are strikingly similar in some ways.//

Sonja noticed Lucian’s obvious discomfort. “Please, Lucian, help me get dressed,” the vampiress asked, bending down to pick up her gown from the cold floor. Some dirt had stuck to it, but she brushed it off with her hand absentmindedly, not really caring about the garment. She was not exactly short of expensive gowns, and Lucian knew that as well. He helped Sonja by lacing together the back of the dress, having done it so many times in the past that he was now moderately skilled with her clothing.

How fortunate that Vampires do not have the Lycans’ keen sense of smell! Lucian thought as he kissed Sonja one last time before letting her go. The Vampiress insisted on heading back to the mansion by herself, since she feared that Viktor might have discovered that she had disappeared and sent someone to look for her. The sun would rise in just half an hour, so most Vampires were probably asleep, but neither Sonja nor Lucian wanted to take unnecessary risks.

When Sonja had left the stables, Lucian did not want to go back to the cottages just yet. He wanted some time for himself, and this little storage room was the excellent place for some solitude. Luckily there was also a large pile of hay, and the young Lycan settled onto it, enjoying the silence for once. Stretching out his legs and folding his hands under his head, Lucian closed his eyes. Thoughts of both Sonja and Viktor circled in his mind before he finally dozed off to sleep.

*~*~*

Viktor had disposed of his regal-looking clothes and put on his training outfit: tight, black trousers that clung to his hips and his long legs; slim but well-muscled. His boots were black also, and made of soft leather to allow him as much flexibility as possible. The Elder was shirtless.

He could have asked - or ordered - one of the lesser vampires to spar with him in the dojo, but he had chosen to come alone. Viktor was still enraged after the silly quarrel with the insolent Lycan, and he seriously believed that he might go too far and wound - or even kill - his sparring partner, if he had one. It was safest this way. The only one he actually *wanted* to fight was Lucian.

When it was time to choose a weapon, Viktor chose a pair of three-pronged daggers of Japanese design, called Sais. He twirled them in his hands, quite sure that no living being in this world was more skilled than he. The metal felt cool and soothing against the heated skin of his palms. Viktor crouched in a fighting stance, picturing Lucian’s shape standing before him. His hold on the weapons hardened slightly. Now… The Elder lashed out against his imaginary opponent, suddenly regretting that he had not brought anyone here with him.

*~*~*

Kraven watched as the Elder exercised in the dojo, his eyes widening when he followed the older Vampire’s flashing movements. What he saw made his mouth go dry, and he unconsciously licked his lips. Viktor was truly a lethal synthesis of power, grace, and agility. Lean muscles and sinews flexed under smooth, porcelain skin when the Vampire Lord fought like mad against an invisible enemy. It was not difficult to see that Viktor was enraged. Kraven had learned that it was not a good idea to be around the Elder when he was like that, but despite this he could simply not take his eyes off Viktor. Pretty certain that Viktor had not spotted him, the young Vampire sneaked closer to his Sire. He was not going to reveal his presence; he just wanted to watch the Elder… for yet another while.

Suddenly Viktor spun around in a flash of movements, and a fraction of a second later one of his Sais pierced the wall only a good inch left of Kraven’s head. The young Vampire was first too shocked to do anything. He did not even notice the weapon before it whistled past his head and hit the wall with a sharp clang. Had Viktor just…?

Breath still caught in his throat, Kraven lifted his gaze. The Elder was facing him with his right arm still outstretched. Viktor was smirking.

“You should know better than trying to sneak up on me, Kraven,” he said. “I thought it was obvious that I came here because I wanted some time for myself. Now, why are you here?”

Kraven opened his mouth to reply, but he couldn’t think of a proper answer. Should he tell Viktor the truth; that he had seen the Elder head for the dojo and followed him just to… watch him? No, that wouldn’t do. Still, he definitely owed Viktor an explanation.

“I… I…”

Viktor snorted patronizingly. “You should be happy that my aim is nearly perfect.”

Kraven swallowed. It was true: a few inches to the right, and the Sai would have pierced his forehead instead. Viktor began to advance toward the nervous, younger Vampire, casually spinning the remaining Sai in his hand.

//Oh, no - he is coming towards me!// Kraven almost panicked. He tried to come up with a reasonably good excuse to leave, but he already sensed that Viktor would probably not let him do that in any case.

A thin sheen of sweat from the exertion covered the Elder’s bare upper body, and when he approached, his scent became obvious. The usually neatly combed, blond hair now hung in unruly tresses around his face. Kraven tried to avert his eyes before Viktor caught him staring as well. The black trousers hung low on Viktor’s hips, displaying a flat stomach with well-defined abs.

“So, Kraven…” the Elder spoke, “…since you are here, would you mind sparring with me?”

The young Vampire believed that his heart would stop there and then. Had Viktor just asked Kraven to spar with him? That… he couldn’t do it! It was plain suicide! Even if he would survive the match, he would not get away without at least a few broken bones and countless bruises.

“Umm, my Lord…” he stuttered, his face redder than the excited Elder’s. “I don’t think that… well, I am not a warrior, like you…”

“Oh, come on…” Viktor pressed. He pulled his Sai from the wall and inspected it to make sure the metal had not been damaged. “I won’t be too harsh… unless that is what you want?”

Kraven tried to control his ragged breathing. Was that an… innuendo? The younger Vampire couldn’t be sure. Was Viktor merely teasing him, or…?

“Now, come on,” the Elder repeated sternly. The playfulness was totally gone from his voice, and Kraven realized that Viktor was not making a request but a demand. He had to do as his Lord said.

“Alright… I will spar with you, Lord Viktor…” the younger Vampire almost whimpered, unsuccessfully trying not to shake when he went to get himself a weapon. What he chose would not matter. His chances to win this match were equal to zero. Assuming that the most conventional of weapons - a plain sword - would do, he approached his sire with slumped shoulders. Kraven was not a fighter at heart, and he only had a rudimentary knowledge of martial arts. Weapons had never interested him in the first place. Now Viktor would maul him. It was so unfair…

The two duellists positioned themselves in a combat stance. The young Vampire’s half-hearted attempts at fighting both amused and irritated Viktor. He disarmed Kraven with a quick flash of his Sais without the slightest effort, and an accurate and well-directed kick to the chest sent the pale, raven-haired beauty headlong into the wall. Placing the pointy tip of his weapon under Kraven’s chin, Viktor forced the younger vampire to meet his gaze. He smiled triumphantly, even though this had not even been a real fight.

“You really should practice some more, Kraven,” Viktor said, clicking his tongue. “That was a poor performance. I expected more from you.”

Kraven groaned from the pain in his ribs. After beating him nearly unconscious, Viktor was disappointed in his lack of fighting skills? “My Lord… I am no warrior…” he whined miserably, hoping that the Elder would take pity on him and let him go.

“No, I can surely see that!” Viktor laughed. “This “match” was laughable!”

They were very close now, and Kraven could feel the heat of Viktor’s tall, slim frame against his own. The Elder’s warm breath washed over his face. This was a very bad occasion to become aroused, and he knew that. The young Vampire had desired the powerful and haughty Elder for some time now, although he had not dared to reveal his feelings since he feared Viktor’s reaction. He was one of the lesser Vampires and not worthy of an Elder’s touch. Besides, he was considered hedonistic by many, and Viktor would surely not want a lover who had been touched by so many others.

“What is the real reason you came here this night, Kraven?” the Elder asked with a sharp edge to his voice. He could feel that the younger Vampire had the beginnings of an erection, which confirmed his long-time suspicions. Kraven desired him - Viktor - sexually.

“I… I… I came here to… watch you…” Kraven stuttered, not daring to meet the Elder’s icy gaze. Viktor needed no more hints, did he?

“I see,” the Vampire Lord replied curtly. “Well, if you desire me, I certainly can’t blame you for your tastes…” He grinned. “…but despite your favourable appearance and rumoured skills between the sheets, you are not much of a challenge… anywhere,” the Elder pointed out condescendingly. “And I am rather fond of challenges.”

Kraven tried to swallow his grief and disappointment. Viktor did not want him. He was clearly too… uninteresting.  

“Then who would be a challenge, my Lord?” he asked quietly, hoping that Viktor would not take offence.

//Lucian//

“Mind your own business,” the Elder hissed coldly, finally dropping the Sai he had been holding to Kraven’s chin. Although not wanting to admit it, he realized that Kraven had touched a sore spot. He exited the dojo, leaving the hapless and dumbfounded younger Vampire behind. He did not even look over his shoulder. Kraven was simple-minded snob, and while the boy was beautiful, he failed to hold Viktor’s interest. Lucian would be a true challenge. Both inside the dojo and in the bedchamber.

Viktor wiped his sweaty body with a damp cloth and changed back into his regular clothes. What he needed right now was a relaxing, hot bath. He really needed to focus on other things than Lucian right now.

Chapter 2

Lucian woke up to the feeling of someone - or something - nuzzling his face. Disoriented at first, he wondered if Sonja had returned while he was asleep, but the scent - he quickly realized - was definitely not hers. He opened his eyes and the shock from what he saw made him cry out sharply, frightening his “visitor” which was nothing more than a goat that had somehow gotten inside the stables.

“Arrghhh!” Lucian scrambled away from the furry animal that had brought its muzzle uncomfortably close to his face and received a hurt look from the goat in return. The poor thing was probably just looking for something to eat.

Last night’s events returned to his memory. He had fallen asleep in this room, and he was still left in the stables. Lucian sat down on the floor and a chuckle escaped his lips. He turned his eyes back to the goat. “My wish has finally been granted, it seems! Viktor has shown his true self!”

He laughed at his own joke and imagined what the Vampire Lord would do if he’d heard it. He almost wished that that were the case. Viktor certainly needed to hear some more things about himself!

“I’m sorry, my little friend,” the Lycan said, addressing the goat. “It was wicked of me to compare you to Viktor!”

*~*~*

Despite repeated attempts, the Elder could not get Lucian off his mind. He soon had to confess that the young Lycan was indeed the one he desired at the moment. Kraven had tried to avoid him as much as possible since the rather awkward revelation in the dojo not long ago, and that suited Viktor perfectly. He could see the hurt, rejected look in the boy’s eyes whenever their gazes met, but it did not concern him. He didn’t need the young vampire fawning over him. Viktor did not want to become yet another one of Kraven’s “conquests”. He had enough of those already.

Lucian, on the other hand, was now on the Elder’s own list of conquests. The unruly Lycan also needed a lesson in manners, and Viktor was determined to give him one. He had to have Lucian. He just had to…

At times the urge was so strong that he simply considered searching out the Lycan and dragging the animal to his chambers by force. At other times he wondered what he hell he was really thinking. Did he actually want a Lycan for himself? Viktor knew that it was not at all uncommon that male Vampires took Lycans - both male and female - as “personal slaves”, but it rarely happened among higher ranked Vampires, and he was an Elder! Oh, Viktor knew that his power and authority would stop anyone from questioning his decisions or choices no matter what he did, but there would be gossip, and… He had always considered Lycan “pleasure slaves” to be in horribly bad taste, and virtually the whole coven knew this. Still, he wanted Lucian more than anything, and he would have him.

Viktor waited for an opportunity to carry out his plan. Knowing the young Lycan’s nature, he was quite certain that Lucian would try to provoke him again. Only this time, he would not take the bait. This time, he was prepared for it… with a little surprise of his own.

The opportunity came when it was Lucian’s turn to wait at his table. As predicted, the Lycan soon began to whistle - an act performed simply to awake the Elder’s fury. Viktor hated the sound of it, but he was strongly determined to keep his face and his voice impassive and unaffected throughout the evening. Sipping at his blood, he just smirked at the Lycan occasionally, secretly enjoying Lucian’s puzzled countenance. The aggravating noise stopped eventually, and Viktor inwardly sighed with relief. His first victory this evening.

When Viktor gazed at his daughter, he could see that Sonja was clearly relieved that he had not overreacted and had a tantrum, which, unfortunately, had already happened too many times in Lucian’s presence. He just gave Sonja a reassuring smile that hopefully did not betray his true intentions. His pure and innocent child would surely be shocked if she found out about her father’s plans for the young Lycan, and Viktor did not want her to see him like that. He had to be relatively discreet.

The Elder waited patiently, like a predator lying in wait. He followed Lucian’s movements with a reserved but vigilant eye. He was seemingly impassive, and only the rapid beats of his heart revealed his true interest in the Lycan, although they were too faint for a human - or Vampire - to grasp.

Viktor deliberately stayed at the table longer than any of the others so that he would get the opportunity to be alone with Lucian. He noticed that his new, odd behaviour was making the Lycan uncomfortable, and that knowledge boasted the Elder’s self-confidence even more. He just hoped that Lucian would not ruin anything by darting off by impulse, like he had done the previous time. That would ruin not only Viktor’s plan but the entire atmosphere.

Lucian waited for Viktor to exit the dining hall so that he could start cleaning up the mess the Vampires had made. Why did the Elder stay when all others had left? His behaviour had been strange all evening, and Lucian could not figure out the reason for it. If something major happened within the coven, the Lycans were not slow to find out about it.

“Lucian…” Viktor spoke in an icy voice. He rose to his full height and approached the Lycan slave, who currently had his back to him. The Elder noted that he was at least two and a half inches taller than Lucian. Good. Being able to look down at the other man, he could use his obvious advantage even more efficiently.

“What do you want, Viktor?” Lucian asked saucily, turning around to find the Elder standing less than a feet from him.

Viktor clicked his tongue. This was just the response he’d been hoping for. Lucian’s manners had not improved. He still didn’t respect Viktor the least.

//Well, that is something I will change this night…//

“What I want? That, my dear Lycan, I will show you shortly.” With that, he took Lucian’s upper arm in a vice-like grip and started dragging the flabbergasted Lycan slave out of the room, heading for his own chambers. Lucian was too dumbfounded to fight back or even to object. It seemed like he was letting the Vampire Lord drag him almost voluntarily.

“What… what are you doing…?” Lucian finally managed when noticing that he was being led deeper into the mansion, to unknown places where Lycan slaves weren’t ever allowed. What was the meaning of this? His inner alarm-bell went off, and his animal instincts warned him, telling him to break free from the Elder’s steel grip and just run… because whatever awaited him, it was probably not to his benefit.

Viktor did not answer the Lycan’s question but simply smiled smugly. Lucian was not entitled to ask any questions, so he would just pretend he didn’t hear them. He would not even be allowed to speak before Viktor gave his permission!

Once they reached the corridor with Viktor’s private quarters, Lucian was decidedly nervous. The Elder did not loosen his hold on him for one second, because he feared the Lycan would run away. Instead he opened the door to his bedchamber and roughly shoved his prize inside, causing Lucian to stumble and almost lose his balance.

Lucian looked around the large, luxurious room where Viktor had taken him, and the realization hit him. This was Viktor’s personal bedchamber. Now, this was certainly not what he had expected. What was he doing here?

“Why have you brought me he---”

He did not make it further, because Viktor slapped him across the face with an open palm. It had been totally unexpected, and although it wasn’t even hard - at least not by Vampire and Lycan standards - it stunned Lucian.

“I have had enough of that attitude of yours!” Viktor declared, his voice stern and icy. “You need a lesson in manners, insolent Lycan, and I will give it to you. Inside this room, you will not call me anything but “Master” or “Lord Viktor”. You will not ask any questions, you will not defy me, and you will not even speak unless you’re spoken to. Have I made myself clear?”

The Elder grinned at the staring Lycan, trying to decipher the look on his face. Was Lucian scared? Angry? Defiant? Stunned beyond belief? Well, whatever it was, it was not glee. Viktor already felt triumphant. His plan was working.

“I asked if you understand, Lucian?”

The Lycan nodded, and Viktor could see obvious hesitancy and - to his joy - fear in Lucian’s soft, greyish eyes. The little Lycan would not make trouble this time, obviously. Finally he had understood who was in charge at this place. Or had he? Now was the time to really test Lucian’s nature…

“Now, Lycan… take off your clothes,” Viktor commanded with a wry grin.

Lucian’s eyes snapped open at once. “What? Why?” he asked blatantly, either forgetting or ignoring Viktor’s earlier orders. The Elder slapped him once more, and like the previous slap, it wasn’t hard but only a reminder of their roles. Lucian regarded Viktor with a mixture of wariness, fear, and curiosity. Why did the Vampire want Lucian to undress? Was Viktor going to whip him? He could tolerate that, supposedly… Lycans healed quickly, even when they were not transformed. But it didn’t explain why the Elder had taken him to his private quarters.

Viktor’s grin broadened when the Lycan finally obeyed his orders and started removing his tattered rags. The Elder tried not to show the anticipation he felt. He had seen Lucian shirtless, but nothing beyond that. Now he would, and he couldn’t deny that he was curious.

Lucian undressed slowly, trying hard to make it look like something he did every day. He was all but modest among his fellow Lycans, but the thought of Viktor seeing his naked, exposed body… It was a trifle daunting, but it was also… exciting. Lucian was suddenly very confused. Why did he find this exciting? Viktor was about to punish him. He had absolutely nothing to be excited about… or did he?

The Elder’s intense, critical gaze passed over Lucian’s now bare body. It surprised Viktor a little that the Lycan was still standing up straight and looking directly at him. Lucian did not seem all that uncomfortable. At least not yet. Although taking in the sight of the naked Lycan distracted the Vampire. Lucian’s body was… well, gorgeous. He did not look very imposing with his clothes on, but now when they were gone, it was obvious that the Lycan was definitely no weakling. He was broad-shouldered with well-toned muscles; probably the result of a lifetime of hard work. Lucian also had a lot of body hair - a trait not shared by Vampires. Then Viktor’s gaze reached the Lycan’s sex, and he could not help but gasp. Although soft, Lucian’s cock was impressive, and the Elder could not wait to take it in his hand, or… somewhere else.

When Viktor took a step towards him, Lucian expected another slap and reflexively raised his arm to shield his face. It was a huge surprise when the Elder instead tangled his slim, pale hands in the Lycan’s brown, unruly mane and leaned forward to kiss him. It wasn’t a real kiss; Viktor only grazed his lips against Lucian’s, but it was not at all difficult to understand the Elder’s intentions now.

“Viktor! What are you---” Lucian huffed, trying to back away, but Viktor did not let him. The Vampire’s hold on his hair became painful.

“What did I tell you about speaking, slave?” the Elder snarled softly. “I will show you what I’ll do - don’t worry. Now come!”

Lucian was obviously very inexperienced in this field or simply just unwilling. It would not be half as fun if he had to force the Lycan; Lucian was clearly quite strong, fast, and very able to fight back. And if truly enraged, he might even try to bite Viktor, and that was a risk not even the Elder would take. A Lycan’s bite would kill him within hours.

He took a somewhat softer hold on Lucian’s arm and started leading him toward his own king-sized bed. The Lycan did not fight him: it was a good sign, and the Vampire’s confidence grew yet again. He gently pushed the naked Lycan down onto it, wanting to appear firm but not harsh. Lucian’s body was tense, but he did not actively resist Viktor, only stared at him with both fascination and dread. The Elder noted that the Lycan had indeed very large eyes.

Viktor quickly produced some strong, unyielding rope from a drawer in his bedside table, intending to tie the baffled Lycan’s hands to the bedposts. Lucian was not the first one to be tied down with them, although his previous “victims” had all been Vampires. But when Viktor grabbed his right wrist, Lucian pulled his hand back, trying to rise from the bed.

“No…”

The idea of being tied up and entire at the Elder’s mercy no doubt frightened the young Lycan, and Viktor realized that he had to try and calm him. Placing a steady, firm hand on Lucian’s softly furred chest, he pressed him back down.

“Uh-uh… Now just comply, and everything will go smoothly, Lucian,” he said, trying to sound reassuring, although he couldn’t help smirking. Lucian opened his mouth to speak but closed it again when the Vampire put a finger over his lips. Was he truly mad, letting Viktor do this with him? The Elder could kill him, scar him, mutilate him… He should try to escape while he still had the chance! Still… he didn’t resist. Although tense, he allowed Viktor to tie to wrists to the bedposts, securing him with ropes he could probably not break in his human form. When the Elder was finished with the procedure, he stood up, giving Lucian a fanged grin. The Lycan frowned confusedly. What were Viktor’s intentions? He was not just going to leave Lucian here, was he?

“Now you’re not saucy anymore. Right, Lucian?” Viktor asked sardonically, truly enjoying the sight before him. He was already aroused and could feel his member straining against the leggings that had begun to feel far too tight. His heavy outer robe probably concealed it, but he wondered if it was still obvious to a Lycan’s sense of smell. Well, in either case, he was not going to stay dressed for much longer.

Lucian watched as the Elder began to disrobe. He gaped in shock. No, this couldn’t be happening… Viktor was taking off his clothes! First went the regal outer robe, then the smooth, dark blue silk shirt, and last the Elder removed his black velvet trousers, stepping out of them together with his boots. Lucian couldn’t help but ogle the now naked Vampire Lord.

Viktor’s complexion was very pale, and his body was virtually hairless. He was slender in build but also well-muscled, his physique betraying centuries of intense combat training. Long, shapely legs, smooth skin, blond hair, blue eyes, high cheek-bones… To Lucian’s dismay, Viktor really reminded him much of Sonja. But why wouldn’t he? Sonja was his daughter, after all. A part of him. It was very evident that Sonja had inherited her height, graceful, delicate body structure, noble features, and ashen blond hair from her father. The vampiress was really just a younger, female version of Viktor.

Lucian could feel a blush slowly spreading over his face, and the place where Viktor had slapped him burned vehemently. He couldn’t deny it. He was getting aroused, and the Elder was the cause of it. Lucian felt both confused and embarrassed. Here he was at the Vampire’s mercy, and his body betrayed him in such an obvious way? He had only desired Sonja like this until now. Besides, Viktor was not only a Vampire, he was also… male. While quick sexual releases between male Lycans were quite common, Lucian couldn’t remember that he had ever even glanced at another male that way. Viktor was the first exception, apparently.

“Well, well… What do we have here?” Viktor cooed quizzically and moved back to the bed, straddling the bound Lycan’s equally nude, prone body. Lucian shuddered beneath him and Viktor could feel a mixture of fear and arousal radiating from the Lycan. The Elder reached behind him and gripped Lucian’s half-erect cock in his hand. Raking his sharp nails over its sensitive head, he laughed at his “victim’s” terrified countenance.

“Do you like this, my little Lycan?” Viktor asked. “Hmmm? Do you want me to continue?”

Lucian opened his mouth to say that this was outrageous, but all that escaped his lips was a soft moan of pleasure. Viktor’s hand manipulated him to full hardness, skilfully fondling, rubbing, and pressuring just the right spots. But only moments before Lucian was about to spurt, Viktor withdrew his hand.

“What the…?!” The Lycan bucked up against him, fighting his bonds, but Viktor only smirked at him.

“Not so soon, Lucian. I took you here to punish you, after all… And I will do that.”

Leaning forward without moving off the Lycan’s stomach, Viktor reached into his top drawer. Lucian shivered when he saw what the Elder was holding. It was a small, beautifully sculptured silver dagger. Noticing the Lycan’s terrified expression, Viktor laughed patronizingly. “No, my dear Lycan. I will not use this to pierce your heart. I do not wish you dead… yet, anyway. But you really do deserve some pain after all that you have put me through.”

Lucian turned his face away when Viktor grazed the dagger against his chest, the silver burning his skin. It truly burned! It felt like he was back in the pit filled with stinging nettles he had fallen into as a cub. Or worse. And he could hear Viktor laughing! Lucian’s rage grew. He bucked up violently, intending to throw the Vampire off him, and almost succeeded, as he caught Viktor off guard. His eyes turned unnaturally blue and his fangs grew out, scraping his lips. Baring them, he snarled ferociously up at the creature sitting astride him. Viktor was still laughing! How could he laugh?! If only Lucian could break the bonds… Although he was painfully aware of the fact that he still had an erection.

“My poor Lucian…” Viktor sighed melodramatically. “Not a very high pain threshold… Do you want me to stop?”

“Yes…!” Lucian growled, unable to manage anything more eloquent. He could grow fangs and claws even without the full moon but never anything beyond that. He regretted it at this moment. Viktor seemed to need a “lesson in manners” himself!

“Alright, I’ll stop. I wouldn’t want you to faint from me,” the Elder teased, but he put the dagger away, and that was all that mattered to Lucian. “And now when I think about it… there are more pleasurable activities waiting for us.”

Viktor leaned forward, stretching out his body along Lucian’s, and brought his face close to the Lycan’s. The contact felt unbelievably erotic to him, and he flicked the tip of his tongue over Lucian’s nose. The unnatural blue had dissipated from the Lycan’s eyes, and he seemed calmer again.

“Have you ever lain with a man, Lucian?” Viktor purred, rubbing himself against the bound body beneath his. “I can imagine that you’re quite popular among the Lycan bitches, hmmm?”

“Not only Lycan bitches…” Lucian smirked back, coldly assuming that Viktor was clueless in this matter.

Viktor mocked surprise. “No? So you have rutted with mortals, as well? Quite impressive… But never with a Vampire?”

“Umm, no…” Lucian murmured, and to his chagrin, he began to blush again. It was a lie, of course, but Lucian knew that if Viktor found out about his relationship with Sonja, he would give the Lycan something more than a lesson in manners.

“Awww… Well, let’s try to make your “first time” a memorable one, then…” the Elder grinned, letting his breath wash over Lucian’s face. He still smelled of the blood he’d drunk not too long ago.

“What will you do?” Lucian asked, still wary of the Vampire. If Viktor took out the silver dagger again, Lucian would simply try to break the ropes and flee. He might be a slave, but he refused to be the victim of the Elder’s sadistic bedroom games. Viktor could save that for his fellow Bloods.

“Why so terrified, little Lycan? I am not going to kill you, just rut you.”

Lucian’s body tensed at the Elder’s words. Viktor was going to… bugger him? It wasn’t as bad as silver, but it would cause him pain, no doubt. On the other hand… he was also curious about it.

“It will hurt, won’t it?” he asked shakily, hating to show Viktor how anxious he was.

“That is entirely up to you,” the Vampire replied coolly. “I will be considerate.”

Pulling his nails over Lucian’s muscled, hairy chest once more, Viktor finally rolled off the Lycan. He reached into his bedside drawer, and this time he picked up a small, crystalline bottle containing sweet, fragrant oil kept for occasions like this. Unscrewing the lid, he poured some into his own palm and smeared it onto his fingers. Lucian was regarding him questioningly, and Viktor smirked back knowingly.

“I must prepare you, or we could end up hurting each other,” he explained. “Now, spread your legs for me.”

When it did not happen quickly enough, Viktor parted the Lycan’s thighs with his hands and pushed his knees up to gain access to his rear entrance. Lucian immediately tensed when the Elder probed him with a finger, and a stifled groan sounded from the bound man.

“Relax,” Viktor ordered, using his most authoritative voice. Obviously it had an effect, because the muscle didn’t flex all that much when he inserted a second finger and started scissoring them within the Lycan’s tight, previously untouched channel. He took his time before he deliberate sought out “the spot” inside Lucian’s body and gave it a brief nudge.

Intense jolts of pleasure shot through Lucian’s nerve endings, propagating through him like electricity. What had Viktor done to cause *that* sensation in him? For a split second he suspected that the Elder had used witchcraft.

“Are you still hesitant, Lucian?” Viktor asked teasingly, withdrawing his slicks fingers. “I can stop if you want…”

“No!” Lucian called out reflexively. “Please, don’t stop… whatever you did…”

The Vampire Elder grinned deviously. “Oh, really? I can’t believe how wanton you have become within just an hour…” He clicked his tongue. “But I will indulge you, my dear Lycan.”

Viktor quickly smeared the oil onto his own erection and lifted Lucian’s legs over his shoulders, leaning over the other man. Despite the mind-numbing pleasure he had felt when Viktor had manipulated his body earlier, Lucian couldn’t help but feel slightly apprehensive. While Viktor’s pale shaft was quite long, the girth was not as impressive. Fortunately. Perhaps he would be able to cope, after all.

Their sweaty, aroused bodies were rubbed against one another when Viktor finally penetrated Lucian. The Lycan grunted in pain when the head of the Elder’s cock slid past his guardian muscle that fought hard to force the intruder out. Viktor, however, was pushing forward slowly but relentlessly until he rested fully sheathed within Lucian. For the Lycan’s sake, he stayed still for the first fifteen seconds, or so. A certain amount of discomfort was inevitable; he could clearly remember his own first time, which had been with his fellow Elder Marcus centuries ago. The trick was to relax. He breathed the word in Lucian’s ear, not commandingly anymore but seductively.

When Lucian’s breathing had become a bit less erratic and his inner muscles had released their spasmodic grip of Viktor’s cock, the Vampire began to thrust slowly. The oil made it easier, but much still depended on the recipient. The Elder did his best not to hurt the Lycan and hoped that Lucian would indeed get some pleasure out of this. He had to try aiming for “the spot”. Lucian’s response would tell him when he’d found it.

The initial pain and discomfort faded once he was able to relax, and to Lucian’s surprise, the Vampire was gentle. Then suddenly Viktor rearranged their positions, changing the angle and depth of his thrusts, and the Elder’s cock brushed that special spot within him that made him see starbursts behind his eyelids.

The Lycan cried out - howling almost like a true wolf - and thrashed beneath Viktor, once again fighting his bonds. This time, however, it was not from pain or anger… It was ecstasy, bliss… Viktor chuckled softly and really tried to hit it again with his next thrust.

“Did you like that, little one?” he whispered in Lucian’s ear. “Hmmm? You want more?”

After a few more seconds of absolute bliss, Lucian had been reduced to an incoherent, sniffling, whimpering creature that could think of nothing except the pleasure he was given by the Elder. Oh, how badly he wished he could free his arms and touch Viktor! His body was so close, touching the Lycan’s own, but still so…unattainable. He wanted to touch the smooth, glistening skin, run his hands through the fine, blond hair… He wanted to know if the Vampire’s body felt as perfect as it looked.

Viktor’s thrusts became harder and faster when he neared his climax, and he buried himself in Lucian all the way to the hilt only to pull out again almost entirely. The Lycan was panting as heavily as he when the Elder finally came inside the hot, willing body of his servant, releasing the pent-up frustration he’d built up since he started coveting Lucian.

When Lucian felt a flood of warmth in his bowels, he realized that Viktor had spent himself. The Vampire fell on top of him, momentarily drained, and Viktor’s half-open mouth ended up just at Lucian’s exposed throat. Despite what they had experienced together, the Lycan tensed up. What if Viktor bit him? That was a death sentence. Perhaps now that the Elder had had his fun…

Lucian then became aware of something else. Viktor had come, but the Lycan’s needs were still unfulfilled. His rock-hard erection lay squeezed in between their bellies, practically screaming for attention. Would he even be allowed to touch himself?

Finally Viktor rose and simultaneously pulled out of the Lycan’s body. Lucian groaned wantonly, regarding the Vampire with an imploring look. The plea was obvious on his face. //Please, let me come…//

Viktor wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and took a deep breath. What should he do now? Lucian’s body was not sated, and the Lycan was practically begging the Elder to give him release… From one point of view, it was tempting just to cut Lucian’s bonds and throw him out while he was still hard and wonderfully aroused, pretending that this never happened. On the other hand… Viktor did not want it to end so soon. He had Lucian here, after all; tied up and craving his touch. No, the Elder did not want to end this so abruptly.

He leaned over the bound Lycan again, bringing his mouth to Lucian’s chest and the aching, red welts caused by the silver dagger. Viktor passed his tongue over them and received a shudder from Lucian in return. The Vampire smirked up at the Lycan.

“How badly do you want release?” he asked.

“I… I… Oh, please, Lord Viktor!”

Viktor first response was a raise of brows; Lucian had never called him by his title before. Doing so now had to mean that the Lycan was indeed pretty desperate. The Elder moved lower, licking and nibbling furred skin on the way, but when he reached Lucian’s erect shaft, taking the tip between his lips, a tremor passed through the Lycan’s strong body. Obviously he did not fully trust Viktor.

“You… you will not bite it off, will you?” Lucian asked in a trembling voice when he felt the Vampire’s sharp, deadly fangs scrape against his sensitive manhood.

Viktor grinned, pulling back so that he could speak. “Well, do you want me to bite it off?”

“No! I mean… of course not… I just want… Oh, I don’t know…” Lucian groaned, letting his head fall back on the pillow. It was just impossible to be coherent with Viktor’s mouth around his…

“You don’t trust me. Right, Lucian?” the Elder asked, although it was a statement rather than a question.

“No, I guess I don’t…” the Lycan replied truthfully. //And I am pretty sure that you would not place a tender part of yourself in my mouth, either.//

Viktor withdrew from his captive’s still hard cock, knowing that Lucian had his reasons to be wary. Perhaps they could try something else, which did not include fanged mouths…

Lucian regarded Viktor’s contemplative countenance with growing frustration. Why couldn’t the damned Vampire simply use his hand to bring Lucian to release? Why must he torment him?

Without a word, Viktor reached for the bottle of oil again. He would impale himself on the Lycan’s cock just to know if it felt as good as it looked. The Elder could see no harm in it. They were both males, after all, so he needn’t fear a blending of their species. It had been a while since he’d gotten some internal massage and somebody had touched his sweet spot.

Pouring a generous amount of oil into his hand, he slathered the substance over Lucian’s erection. The young Lycan first gave him a puzzled look, but when he realized the Elder’s intentions, his eyes widened in pure astonishment. “Are you… I mean, will you…?”

“Yes,” Viktor said with a smirk and brought down one hand to smear some oil around his own rear entrance. “I am, and I will. Why? Do you object, Lycan?”

Lucian had once made a vow never to do this with anyone but Sonja. Although this was different, supposedly. Viktor was a man, and he was Sonja’s father. A Vampire Elder. And Lucian desired him. Beyond words.

“No… I don’t object…” he breathed.

Viktor smiled and moved on top of the Lycan again, squatting, and grabbed the heated, hard shaft, guiding it to his own entrance. It stung a little when he started lowering himself onto it - Lucian had quite a generous endowment - but he did not let any discomfort show on his face.

“Ahh…” Viktor panted when he was finally filled with the thick, pulsating cock. It was stretching him out, although in a good way. His own arousal flared to life once more, and a pleasant, tingling sensation spread from his nether regions into his entire body. The Elder bared his fangs and breathed through his teeth. It took him a few seconds to adjust to the girth, and then he began to ride the Lycan.

Lucian had to bite down on his tongue to stop himself from crying out when the tight heat of the Vampire’s flesh engulfed him, cradling his aching, swollen member. Viktor’s eyes were closed and he was grimacing. Was it from pain, pleasure…? Lucian was not sure which, but unless Viktor moved soon, he would thrust up into the slim, pliant body himself.

They moved together for a few minutes, both revelling in their own little world of ecstasy. Viktor sensed how badly Lucian wanted to get rid of the bonds so that he could touch the Elder, but Viktor wanted to make sure he stayed in control despite having the Lycan’s flesh inside him. He would *not* let the beast pin him down to the mattress and fuck him that way!

The Vampire was riding him expertly, and Lucian felt he was not going to last long. Vampires in general seemed to have that effect on him. He chuckled at the irony of it, hoping that Viktor would not ask why he was laughing. The Elder did not even seem to notice it, and Lucian’s pleasure exploded in an orgasm that once again made him see starbursts. Viktor seemed to feel it, because as soon as Lucian had emptied himself, the Elder slumped forward, sliding off the Lycan’s softening cock.

Lucian glanced at the Vampire. “You didn’t… Not this time…”

Viktor gave him a wry glance. “No, I didn’t,” he confirmed. “I may be powerful and enduring, but I am no machine.” The Lycan grinned at this, and Viktor reached for a cloth to clean them both with. Lucian’s seed smeared all over his bed would not do. When he was finished, he also finally untied the Lycan’s hands.

Lucian rubbed his sore wrists, red and aching from the struggling. He suddenly felt very self-conscious. What was he really doing in Viktor’s chambers? The Elder surely expected him to leave now and would not cast another look upon him. He was a Lycan, after all. A slave. Not even close to Viktor’s equal.  

“Shall I take my leave?” he murmured, averting his eyes from the Elder’s.

“You are free to leave,” Viktor replied, “although you may also stay, if you want.”

“Stay? Here?” Lucian asked, as if Viktor had just asked him to jump out through the window.

“It’s your choice. There are a few hours until sundown. I will try to get some sleep before facing the night.”

“I would… like that,” Lucian heard himself say.

The Vampire grinned at him. “Fine. I am trusting you to see I don’t get any sun,” he said, nodding at the thick, dark curtains that covered the window. They were clearly designed not to let in even a ray of light. Lucian was mildly surprised. Did Viktor imply that he trusted the Lycan?

“I will see to that.”

“Good. Sleep well.” The Elder crawled in under the bedcovers and pulled them up to his chest, turning his back to Lucian. The Lycan longed to touch him now that his hands were finally free, but he feared Viktor’s response. The Elder clearly wanted to be left in peace now, despite the fact that he had invited Lucian to stay. Pawing at him was not a good idea.

Sweeping his gaze over the large chamber - bigger than the cottages ten or more Lycans shared daily - Lucian felt very lost.

*~*~*

For a long while, Lucian just lay still, listening to Viktor’s deep, slow breathing. There was no doubt that the Elder was sleeping. He had fallen asleep almost instantly after curling up. The Lycan smiled. Perhaps he had tired the Vampire out? They had certainly shared some wild moments. Lucian still had a dull ache in his backside, but it didn’t really bother him. The pleasure he’d experienced was well worth it. Many a time had he turned his head to look at the sleeping Elder.

Viktor looked strangely vulnerable when unclothed and asleep. Not regal, not haughty, not menacing… Lucian suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to touch the sleeping Vampire. Despite having been intimate with him, he had still not touched Viktor with his hands. If he was careful, he could do it without waking the other. He just brought his hand close, letting it hover a few inches above the Elder’s bare shoulder. A few seconds later he lightly brushed the exposed skin. It was smooth, soft, and quite cool. Viktor’s body had not been cool when they had sex. It was probably because the Vampire needed to drink again.

Lucian passed his fingers along the curve of Viktor’s neck until he reached his hair. The blond tresses were truly as soft as they looked. As soft as Sonja’s. Taking this one step further, Lucian leaned forward to smell Viktor’s hair. The scent he caught was lavender. The fragrance filled his nostrils, and he inhaled deeply. Viktor, like all Vampires, bathed often to keep himself clean. Lycans did not have that advantage.

There was a sudden hitch in the Elder’s breathing, and Lucian tensed. Had he awakened him? But Viktor showed no signs of waking up, and his even breathing returned. Lucian continued to touch the beautifully sculptured body of the Vampire Lord along his spine and down underneath the covers. He caressed Viktor’s rather sharp, angular hipbone, his long, firm outer thigh, and from there back to his flat belly. The Elder’s scant tuft of pubic hair brushed Lucian’s hand. Definitely crossing the line, he closed his fingers around the now soft cock. Pressing up close to Viktor, the Lycan buried his face in the hollow of the Vampire’s shoulder and neck, taking in his scent. He was just about to lick Viktor’s pulse point when the Elder gave a distressed grunt and reflexively jerked away from Lucian’s touch.

Viktor woke up to the feeling of something warm and solid pressing up against his back and a wet tongue tracing his neck. He did not immediately remember Lucian’s presence and started, attempting to get away from whatever it was, touching him this intimately.

“Forgive me…” Lucian said at once and lowered his eyes guiltily. “I… should not have done that.”

Viktor breathed out, half-relieved, half-aggravated. His memories from the day before instantly returned. “You scared me,” he confessed. “What were you doing, anyway?”

“I’m sorry, I simply wanted to… touch you…” the embarrassed young Lycan explained, still too ashamed to meet Viktor’s gaze. “It was wrong. I crossed the line, I know.”

Now Viktor smirked and reached out to grab Lucian’s jaw, tilting his chin up. “Well, you certainly could have waited until I woke up, but other than that I see no harm it in, little Lycan. So, tell me… how did I feel under your hands?”

“Your skin… is very soft,” Lucian replied tentatively. His own tanned, partially furred body was a sharp contrast to Viktor’s pale and smooth one. “And I like your hair. It’s so much finer than my own.”

“Would you like to touch me again?” the Elder purred, leaning closer to the Lycan.

“I’m not sure if…”

“Oh, come on. I am awake now, after all. Touch me.”

This time it sounded more like an order, and Lucian was quite happy to comply. He moved closer to the Vampire and passed his hands over Viktor’s long, elegant neck, which the Elder exposed to him in a gesture of trust.

“Don’t you have to… be somewhere soon?” Lucian asked in a low, husky voice as his hands roamed Viktor’s naked flesh ardently.

“Well, not for another hour or two. We have some time. Let’s use it.”

Viktor did not wait for Lucian to reply but flipped the baffled Lycan onto his back and bent down to take his hardening cock into his mouth. He simply had to taste it; Lucian would have to start trusting him.

“Wait…! What are you…?” the Lycan called out, but his body betrayed him yet again when his cock quickly pulsed to full hardness in the Vampire’s sensuous, fanged mouth. Viktor was obviously skilled at what he did. But even though his body had no complaints, Lucian’s mind was not as certain. A very sensitive and important part of him was currently in the mouth of a creature that could kill him with just one bite. And accidents could happen, even if the Elder would not bite him intentionally.

“Viktor… Perhaps you shouldn’t… Ahh… It feels so…”

Sonja had never done this to pleasure him, and now Lucian realized what he’d been missing. He might even ask her to try it the next time he saw her. It was… it was simply divine! He could not ask Viktor to stop, not now… not until he had…

“Are you still afraid I’m going to bite you, Lucian?” Viktor suddenly asked, letting the Lycan’s erection slip out of his mouth.

“Erm, no… I just… Well, yes, a little,” he finally confessed.

“Would you feel safer if I put my trust in you as well?”

“Umm, what?” Lucian asked confusedly.

Viktor smirked. “Would you mind doing the same for me?”

“You mean… oh? I… I guess so, but I’m not sure I could do it well.”

“I’m sure you’ll learn quickly,” the Elder said with a shrug of his shoulders and moved to lie beside him, head to foot, offering his own erection to Lucian. He was not at all anxious that the Lycan was going to bite him, but Lucian still seemed wary of the Elder, and this was - according to Viktor - the best way to reassure him.

When he once again felt the heat of Viktor’s mouth engulfing his cock, Lucian assumed he should do the same for the Vampire. The idea didn’t really disgust him; he had used his tongue and his lips to pleasure Sonja a few times, but Viktor’s anatomy was still quite different from hers. He tentatively grabbed the long, slender erection and closed his lips around the round, pink tip. The Vampire’s body responded, trying to push further into Lucian’s mouth. What Viktor was doing to him again felt heavenly, and the Lycan did his best to mimic the Elder’s expertise. He truly hoped that the Vampire Lord was enjoying this as much as he.

They came almost in unison; Lucian first, shortly followed by Viktor. The Lycan felt slightly overwhelmed when the Elder’s hot, salty seed flooded his mouth, and he gulped, trying to swallow as much of it as possible.

Both the Vampire and the Lycan stayed in the rather awkward position until they had recovered enough strength to move steadily. Viktor was the first to disengage and sat up in the bed, panting and brushing his tangled hair back.

“You are indeed a fast learner…” he murmured. “And I wish I had time to teach you more things. Alas, I don’t at the moment. I must get ready.”

Lucian wasn’t quite sure if Viktor was talking to him or to himself, but then the Elder rose from the bed and padded toward the door leading to an adjacent chamber. “I must try to wash your scent away,” he explained. “We Vampires do not have your heightened senses, but I can’t exactly appear in public reeking of you, can I?”

He grinned at the Lycan’s indignant countenance and opened the door to the room where his bath water from yesterday still stood. It was cold now, and he should order his servants to remove it, but it was all he had at the moment.

Viktor lowered his entire head into the water, finding out that it was nearly freezing, but anyhow it felt refreshing. Gasping for breath, he snatched a towel and wiped his face and his hair. Hopefully the smell of Lucian was mostly gone from him now. Oh, well… It was not like he had to explain himself to anyone, but Viktor disliked gossip and wagging tongues. If he took new Vampire lovers, no one cared, but a Lycan…

Wait - what was he thinking? Lovers? Lucian was a slave, not a lover! A lowly Lycan!

He berated himself for thinking such absurd thoughts and strode back into his bedchamber. Lucian was still sitting on his bed, naked. Viktor glared at him, suddenly irritated.

“Get dressed!” he ordered.

Lucian was hurt by the sudden change in Viktor’s mood. The Elder sounded harsh, even cold.

“Yes, I will…” the Lycan sighed and moved to pick up his rags from the floor. Dressing went quickly for him, and he could have the pleasure of watching Viktor, whose intricate clothing process was much slower. It was almost a shame to see Viktor slip into his stiff, formal Elder’s attire and cover his well-toned, supple body. He also took time combing his wet hair, making sure it stayed slicked along his scull. Lucian preferred the way he looked just after they’d had sex; flushed with the blond tresses hanging around his face. Now the regal-looking Elder was back, and Lucian felt very cheap and insignificant next to him.

When Viktor was finished making himself presentable, he turned to look at Lucian and noticed the young Lycan’s discomfort. He softened; Lucian had done nothing to deserve his sudden coldness. They were still inside his private chambers, and no one could see them.

“Do you still think me a dumb woodlouse?” he asked half-jestingly. The offensive nickname only amused him now.

The Lycan shook his head. “No… I am so sorry I called you that… It was disrespectful.”

“Yes, it was,” Viktor agreed. “But you’re forgiven. You should learn to control your temper, Lucian. But then, so should I!”

He smirked at his own statement, and Lucian smiled too. “Do you still want to put me in the pillory?”

“Erm, no… If you misbehave again, I will punish you in a very different way.”

The Vampire Lord winked playfully at the Lycan, who lowered his gaze, slightly pink about the cheeks. “I won’t misbehave…” he murmured.

Viktor raised his brows but did not make any sarcastic remark as Lucian had expected. “Alright, I must be sure no one is around to watch you leave my chambers,” he just said and carefully opened the door to the corridor, sticking his head out.

The hallway was empty. Not many ventured to the Elder’s private quarters without being summoned, but one could never be too careful. Those who did were mostly servants coming to check if their Lord needed anything, but no one dared to enter Viktor’s chambers without knocking. Of course, Sonja came by occasionally to pay her father a visit…

The coast was clear. Viktor nodded at the Lycan, and Lucian obediently approached the door, but before he reached there, the Elder grabbed his shirt and forcefully pressed him up against the wall, catching the Lycan by total surprise. Viktor gave a predatory grin and claimed Lucian’s lips with a rough and possessive kiss.

“Hmmpff…!” Lucian objected when Viktor abruptly cut off his air supply. He had definitely not expected this, but just when he was about to return the kiss, the Vampire withdrew from him.

“I would like to do this again, Lucian,” he stated matter-of-factly without any mockery or sarcasm in his voice. “I would like that very much…” The Elder lowered his voice into a hiss and looked deep into his Lycan slave’s large, beautiful eyes.

“I would like that, too…” Lucian whispered, surprised at the fact that he meant it. He would sleep with Viktor again if only the Vampire Lord would have him.

“Good,” the Elder said coolly. He could not show the Lycan how fervently he really desired him. That would give Lucian too much power over him. “You may go now.”

Lucian nodded, and Viktor stepped aside to let him pass. He would have Lucian again… very soon.

Chapter 3

Days passed into weeks, and Viktor’s infatuation - he now considered it to be that instead of an obsession - with the young Lycan did not abate. It bothered him, but at the same time he was too intoxicated to care as long as Lucian came willingly to his bed, to his embrace. And Lucian seemed to feel the same way about him. They saw one another privately at least every other night, and their moments of passion were wild and breath-taking. Viktor taught the young Lycan everything he knew in the arts of sex, and soon Lucian was a stranger to very little. The Elder had not yet let the Lycan mount him except when Viktor himself sat astride him to ride his erection, but he believed it to be just a matter of time. The Vampire Lord was not used to giving up control, but he found it extremely hard to deny Lucian anything, and mounting Viktor was one of the Lycan’s highest wishes.

Lucian was not really sure what to think of the huge changeover in his life. Only a few weeks ago he had despised Viktor with all his heart, and now it seemed he couldn’t get enough of the Elder. He waited every day for Viktor’s subtle hints that he wanted Lucian in his quarters, and whenever Viktor approached, his heart began to thud like mad in his chest.

The only thing that suffered was his relationship with Sonja. He had seen the Vampiress a few times since he’d started the illicit affair with her father, and even though they had promised never to have any secrets from each other, Lucian couldn’t induce himself to tell her. The news would devastate Sonja. He was sure of that, and besides he feared the consequences. He was pretty sure that his heart still belonged to the Vampiress despite his burning desire for Viktor. What he had with the Elder was lust, nothing more. He wanted them both, and now he had them, but he was also aware that the wrong decision could make him lose either, if not both. Father and daughter. Fate was not without a sense of irony, it seemed.

Viktor realized one night that having sex with the Lycan was not all he craved anymore. He wanted to fight him as well. Lucian had many a time proved himself to be extraordinary among Lycans, and the Elder was really curious of the potential the day-creature’s body truly possessed.

He had made up his mind. He would take Lucian to the dojo for a sparring match. Hopefully the Lycan would comply without difficulties. Only a few Vampires willingly agreed to spar with the Elder.

He found Lucian outside one of the storehouses, busy chopping wood. Despite the cold, the Lycan was bare-chested, muscles bulging and flexing under tanned, partially furred skin when he swung the axe with amazing accuracy. His state of undress made Viktor shiver. Obviously Lycans did not feel the cold the same way Vampires did.

Lucian’s nostrils flared, and he turned around to regard the Elder. Viktor knew that he had already been identified.

“Oh, it’s you,” Lucian grinned, casually dropping the axe. “So, what can I do for the high and mighty Lord Viktor?”

Viktor snorted at the attempted joke, even though he was used to them by now. “Come with me,” he just said.

“And what will you do with me?” the Lycan smirked and winked suggestively, his eyes full of mischief. Viktor couldn’t help grinning. This night’s activities would be a little different from what Lucian had in mind.

“I want you to come with me to the dojo. I would like to duel against you.”

The grin faded from Lucian’s face and his eyes widened, regarding Viktor as if the Elder had gone raving mad. Then his facial expression started to change again, and the grin returned, as did the look of excitement in his eyes.

“You mean… Oh, Viktor, you have no idea how badly I want that! Can we do it right now? This very night?”

Viktor was taken aback by the Lycan’s immediate and genuine response. He had not expected Lucian to agree so readily. It seemed like the pup was over-confident about his own abilities. The Elder grinned back.

“Yes, this very night is what I had planned, Lucian. We can head there right now, if you are… finished with your work.”

Lucian stretched out his arms above his head, still smirking. “With your permission, my Lord, I will deal with this later.”

“You have my permission to do that,” Viktor replied sarcastically and smiled smugly at Lucian. “Shall we?”

“Oh, I can hardly wait!” Lucian picked up his discarded shirt and put it back on, although he didn’t bother buttoning it. Now when he was no longer working, he could feel the coldness of the air around him. Viktor, however, seemed chilly even though he was wearing both an overcoat and leather gloves. Vampires. Lucian shook his head absently and started following the Elder, making sure he stayed a few steps behind. He was not Viktor’s equal, so for the sake of appearances, they had to do this.

Viktor was slightly hesitant about taking Lucian to the dojo, as no one had ever brought a Lycan there before. If someone spotted them, they would probably think that the Elder had lost his wits.

“This place looks… fancy…” Lucian remarked, looking around the large, rectangular room with a very high ceiling. “Is this the place where you Vampires… exercise?”

“Yes,” Viktor replied. “But I must change my clothes first.”

Lucian raised one eyebrow. “You need clothes?” he asked cheekily, mocking surprise.

Viktor snorted. “Well, I figure that I must wear *something* or my appearance will be too distracting for you. I suggest that you remove your shirt and your shoes. It gives you more flexibility.”

Lucian did as the Elder suggested when Viktor disappeared into an adjacent room to retrieve his exercise trousers. He was tempted to follow the Vampire and watch him undress, but in a way Viktor was right: a sight like that would only work as a distraction. He did some stretches to warm up in the meantime, and a nice, tingling feeling of anticipation spread through his nerves. He was genuinely looking forward to this “match”.

Viktor’s combat skills were almost legendary, but Lucian had never seen the Elder fight, so he was curious to discover how many of the rumours were true. Lucian himself possessed heightened strength, speed, and agility even when he was not transformed, but although he had been in quite a few fights and been victorious in most of them, he did not have any real martial arts or weapon training.

His confidence slipped just a notch. Well, at least he had greater body weight to his advantage. If he could only get on top of the Vampire, he would pin Viktor down and not let him budge. Although Lucian was well aware that the Elder’s slender body was much stronger than it looked…

Viktor appeared again, clad only in his tight, black training trousers that did not leave much to the imagination. He too was barefoot. “Shall we begin?” he asked the Lycan, who seemed to be deep in thought. “Assuming you still want to do this?”

Lucian grinned back, eyeing the Vampire from head to foot. “Oh, I am quite looking forward to this. How do we fight?”

“Just some hand-to-hand combat without weapons until I see how skilled you are. I don’t want you to get hurt,” Viktor replied.

“How presumptuous,” Lucian retorted.

Viktor snorted and rolled his eyes. “Presumptuous? Oh, please… You don’t seriously think you will stand a chance against me, or do you, Lycan?”

“You seem very confident about yourself… you scrawny Vampire,” Lucian teased, thinking it might benefit him if he made Viktor lose his temper and his focus. “Shall we make a wager?”

“What sort of wager?” Viktor asked, frowning.

“Well, if I win this match, you will give me something.”

“What do you want?”

The Lycan smiled deviously. “Hmmm, let me see… There is one thing that I want from you, and I’m sure you know what it is. If I win, you could let me take the upper position next time we meet in your chamber.”

The Elder smirked back at the Lycan. Lucian’s attempts to get him off balance would not have the desired effect. “So, you wish you fuck me?” he asked, clicking his tongue. “Isn’t my riding your shaft enough?”

“No,” Lucian replied truthfully. “I am a man. I need to be on top sometimes.”

“Then go rut with a Lycan bitch,” Viktor sneered.

“I don’t want a Lycan bitch. I want you.”

“Alright,” Viktor said nonchalantly, crossing his arms over his chest. He was so confident that he would triumph that he could promise the Lycan almost everything. “It’s a deal, then.”

“Yes, it is!” Lucian agreed, suddenly wanting to put Viktor in his place more than he wanted to admit. //If only I can get him down on the floor…//

The two natural born predators began to circle each other slowly, vigilantly… They had been born a Vampire and Lycan respectively, so neither knew what it was like to be human and weak. Viktor seemed so relaxed, so confident… Lucian’s confidence dropped further. If the Vampire fought as well as he fucked, he was in deep trouble.

The Lycan stopped the circling, balling his fists and poising himself in a fighting stance. Viktor immediately did the same. The quizzical expression was gone from his face, leaving only a stern, hard look.

Lucian lashed out, aiming at Viktor’s head and upper torso, but the Elder blocked all his blows with ease and finished by hitting Lucian across the face with his right hand and then over the temple with his left, bringing the Lycan down to his knees.

Everything happened in a blur of movements, and Lucian was shocked that Viktor had beaten him that easily. He had expected the Elder to be good, but not *that* good… Well, to hell with it. This was only round one. He must try to stay focused.

Quickly Lucian jumped to his feet and poised himself again. His head hurt a little from the punches, but he didn’t care. Viktor was already waiting for him, a smug look on his beautiful, noble face. It was like he didn’t even expect the Lycan to fight back… but Lucian would show him.

Lucian jabbed at him again, and Viktor dodged the punch and counter attacked, although this time the Lycan managed to parry the blow and leap away from him. Viktor hated to admit that he was impressed. He was an accomplished and well-trained warrior, almost 800 years old, and Lucian was a young Lycan with nearly no training.

They held each other’s eyes and started to circle one another again. “You are holding back!” Lucian exclaimed, a deep frown furrowing his brow.

“Yes.”

“Don’t.”

//Alright. Then I won’t.// Viktor thought to himself. //Suit yourself, you dumb little Lycan!//

This time it was Viktor who struck first, leapt up and spun around in the air, directing a vicious kick to the side of the Lycan’s neck. Lucian did not have a chance to either block or dodge it. When he landed gracefully on the ground, he immediately swung his leg around in an arc, hitting Lucian squarely in the gut. The dazed and unprepared Lycan was shoved back several feet by the powerful blows. Where the hell had Viktor learned to do that? The kick to his stomach had felt like a sledge or worse! The air was knocked out of him, and he was forced to sink down, clutching his abused midsection.

“You asked me not to hold back,” Viktor said while he waited for Lucian to recover. The kicks had probably proved fatal to a mere human, but to a Lycan they were just hard blows.

“That’s right, I did,” Lucian growled, getting to his feet once again. His face was red from both anger and exertion. Viktor had brought him down twice! He was starting to get enraged. He couldn’t help it. This had begun to feel humiliating. He shouldn’t have underestimated his opponent. There was a reason Viktor’s fighting skills were all but legendary, after all. Still, he would not concede. Not as long as he had something to give.

“Come on, bloodsucker. I’m ready!” he spat, bracing himself for what was to come next. Viktor swung his foot at the Lycan again, attempting to shoot his heel straight into Lucian’s flank from the side, but to his surprise, Lucian caught his ankle this time and shoved him backwards before aiming a series of hard punches at him from both directions. He lost his balance momentarily and managed to block the first two blows, although not the third. The Lycan’s hard fist hit him clean across the face, connecting with his jaw sending him back several steps.

Damn, but the Lycan hit hard! Viktor bent over, grunting in pain.

Lucian’s first emotion was pure triumph, and he even shot the staggering Vampire a gleeful look. He had done it! The Elder was almost down! Then he heard Viktor’s pained moan and saw him clutch his aching jaw, and a strong feeling of guilt replaced the triumph. He had hurt his lover.

“Viktor, I am sorry,” he said, reaching out for the Elder.

Viktor met Lucian’s gaze and even managed a strained smile. “No, do not be sorry,” he said. “That was a good punch. You hurt me, but the pain will teach me how to block that punch the next time you throw it. I am not as frail as you seem to think.”

Lucian looked down and murmured something unintelligible. Yes, he admitted that Viktor’s slim build was deceiving. He simply could not fathom the strength and speed hidden in the Elder’s long, lean limbs, graceful torso, and muscles smaller than the Lycan’s own.

“So, umm, you still want to fight?” Lucian asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.

Viktor straightened up and cocked his head to one side. His jaw still ached dully, especially when he spoke, but it was nothing that would hinder him in this fight. Lucian’s neck and ribs were probably even sorer. “Certainly! Just because you managed to sneak in one punch doesn’t mean you’ve won over me,” he said.

Lucian hesitated a few seconds before poising himself again. This was becoming less amusing by the minute. He did not want to hit Viktor anymore, because he was afraid to hurt him, but he also did not want to lose the fight. In Lucian’s opinion, losing a match to a Vampire was almost as bad as losing one to a female. He was beginning to realize that he had to physically overpower Viktor to win, since he did not possess the Elder’s technique.

Bam! Viktor’s right foot connected with his head, and Lucian lost his balance, almost falling down on his rear. He had never even seen that kick coming before it hit him, and the Lycan cursed himself for letting down his defences. He could not - would not - let the Vampire win simply because he was wary about striking him!

A low, animalistic growl erupted from Lucian’s throat as he moved closer to Viktor, senses at full stretch. He was angry now, and although he knew that it was never a good idea to attack in anger, the rage fuelled him. Lucian didn’t really think ahead when he pounced on Viktor, managed to get his arm around the Elder’s neck, and flexed his muscles, intending to slam Viktor’s face straight into his knee.

He did not get that far. Almost at once his right wrist was in the Vampire’s iron grasp, and Viktor twisted his arm up behind his back. Lucian attempted a clumsy attack with his free arm, but the Elder grabbed that wrist as well, locking both his arms in a vice-like grip. The Lycan squirmed, but there was no breaking free.

“You silly Lycan! I have over 700 years of training!” Viktor hissed in his captive’s ear.

“Yes… but no one taught you to fight dirty!” Lucian spat back, stamping Viktor over the foot with his full strength. The Vampire howled in pain, and like a true Lycan, Lucian seized the opportunity when it was presented.

Viktor couldn’t grasp what went wrong. Suddenly it was like a stone from the sky had fallen on his foot, and the next second he was knocked to the floor, where he landed prone on his back with a grinning Lycan on top of him.

Lucian pinned Viktor’s body beneath his own and caught the Vampire’s wrists, drawing them above the Elder’s head before Viktor could do anything to defend himself. A triumphant and lecherous grin formed on his face. Viktor was wriggling against him, vainly trying to dislodge the heavier Lycan, but even the Vampire’s strength wasn’t enough for that. Lucian doubled his efforts and firmly pinned Viktor down. He definitely had the edge now.

“You lost!” the Lycan stated smugly and brought his face closer to the Elder’s. “I hope you remember our deal.”

Viktor bared his fangs and hissed, his body bucking up against Lucian. Damn, the Lycan was strong! “’Lost’?!” he snapped. “I did not! You cheated! This was not a fair fight!”

“Fair fight or not - I have you pinned beneath me on the floor, don’t I?” Lucian sneered. “I won!”

Lucian inhaled the enraged Elder’s scent, savouring it. Viktor was hot and flushed from the fighting, and his body was bare except for the tight exercise trousers. So was Lucian’s own, and he was beginning to respond to the contact. He watched Viktor clench his teeth. The Vampire looked ready to tear out somebody’s throat if only given the chance.

Viktor’s squirming became uncomfortable when he felt Lucian’s obvious arousal through the two layers of clothing. “I will not concede,” he said stubbornly. “I won the match. You cheated, you filthy, mangy animal!”

The Lycan softened a little; Viktor’s pride had just gotten a serious scrape. And no matter how sweet the taste of victory was to Lucian, he did not want to fall out with the Elder. Especially not because of a mere trifle like this. “Alright, shall we call it a draw, then?” he suggested. “You’re right - maybe I did cheat. You won the fight above ground - I won this.”

Viktor still felt obstinate, but it was a reasonable compromise. “Alright, let’s say so,” he reluctantly admitted. “Will you let me go now, or are you planning on keeping me here all night?”

Lucian grinned again. “Not all night… but for a little while, yes!”

He bent down to place a kiss on the Vampire’s lips, not daring to release Viktor’s wrists just yet. Viktor was still angry and might attempt to throw him off. The Elder, however, did not turn his face away, although he did not return the kiss either. “Not here, Lucian…” he said after a few seconds of hesitation. “Someone could come…”

“I’ll know if they do. I can hear them… smell them…”

“Still…”

“Shhh, Viktor. Trust me.”  Lucian slowly released his hold on the Vampire’s wrists, almost expecting Viktor to punch him across the face for daring to pin an Elder to the floor, but no punch came. Instead Viktor gently snaked his long arms around Lucian’s neck and drew the Lycan even closer before bringing their mouths together. The smell of his arousal quickly reached Lucian’s nose, and the Lycan smiled to himself. He wondered if Viktor remembered their wager and if their deal was still valid in case of a draw.

Draw, my ass! I won! Lucian thought, but he did not bring up the subject again now when he had Viktor aroused and willing. When the kiss finally ended and Lucian drew back, he could see that a purplish bruise was forming where he’d hit Viktor earlier. He traced the welt lightly with one finger, detecting a slight swelling as well.

“I think I bruised your flawless face,” he said.

“I could have guessed that…” the Vampire sighed. “Damn! I heal quickly, but what shall I say if somebody asks? There isn’t a Vampire in this coven who would dare punch me, let alone bruise me. That is the reason I wanted to fight you, Lucian. I knew you would fight back!”

Lucian couldn’t help laughing. “Are they all really *that* afraid of you?” he asked incredulously.

Viktor nodded. “They are indeed. And they also know that I am quick to anger, so landing a punch to my face during a sparring match could be a death sentence!” he joked. “It is fortunate for you that this was an unarmed combat, or I would probably have carved you up!”

“Where have you learned to fight like that?” Lucian asked, still awed at the strength, speed and accuracy of the Elder’s punches and kicks and the feline grace of his flips. It was nothing one learned over a night.

“I was trained by masters… for many, many years,” Viktor replied. “I found myself liking it so much that I was strongly determined to become the foremost warrior in this world, and I have been a consummate practitioner of the martial arts since.”

The Lycan smiled. “That may be, but you have more to learn yet, Viktor,” he said. “You have never learned to fight on the ground, have you?”

“True, because I have never needed to fight on the ground,” the Elder admitted truthfully. “And you would not have gotten me here if you had not cheated!”

Unlike the Vampire, Lucian was very used to wrestling matches, as it was a common way for Lycans to fight between themselves. Viktor’s inability to make a counter attack when Lucian pinned him down had been a proof that the Elder was indeed clueless.

Leaning forward, Lucian licked Viktor’s neck just over the great artery, feeling the quick, steady beats of the Elder’s pulse against his lips. “Of course I cheated - I’m a Lycan!” he murmured between the gentle love-bites. Viktor’s only response was a suppressed groan, and Lucian was encouraged to move further down. Enjoying the salty taste of sweat on the Vampire’s body, he took Viktor’s left nipple between his teeth, feeling the bud tighten into a hard pebble.

“We really shouldn’t… not here…” Viktor tried, but he knew that he would not go beyond that to stop the Lycan’s  advances. He had been lost the moment Lucian kissed him.

Moving down along the Elder’s body, Lucian covered the lean, well-toned belly with kisses. He took joy in hearing Viktor’s strangled moan when he dipped his tongue in the Vampire’s navel, already pulling the waistband of Viktor’s trousers.

“Let’s get these off, shall we?”

The Vampire had no objections and even raised his hips to aid the Lycan undress him. Viktor let out a sigh of relief when his erection finally sprang free, no longer confined within the tight garment. Lucian pulled the trousers all the way off, threw them away, and teasingly licked the tip of the Elder’s pink shaft. Viktor’s hands tangled in his brown, curly mane and urged him to take more. “Oh, Lucian… yes…!”

The Lycan’s fellatio skills had improved remarkably in the past few weeks, and Viktor no longer needed to worry about accidental biting. He had to suppress the urge to wrap his thighs around Lucian’s head when the other’s hot mouth finally engulfed him, taking him in almost to the base. At this moment Viktor did not care if someone would come and see them. All he cared about was the agonizing burn between his legs that needed satiation. His hands tugged at Lucian’s hair until it surely became painful for the Lycan. But Viktor couldn’t help it. He needed something to hold on to, and all he could find was the Lycan’s mane.

Lucian pulled back when the initially gentle pulling of his hair became rough and some hairs were jerked out with their roots. “Aiii! Viktor! Stop that!” he growled, reaching up to pry the Vampire’s fingers loose.

“What…?” Viktor murmured, aggravated. “Don’t stop…!”

Lucian smiled wryly. “Keep your hands off my head. I am too young to lose my hair, especially this way.”

“Whatever… as long as you continue…” Viktor said with a frustrated moan, but he did withdraw his hands, stretching out his arms on the floor instead.

Lucian smirked and lowered his head to the Vampire’s crotch again. He nibbled at Viktor’s hard cock without taking it into his mouth and continued from there to the Elder’s tight balls, lapping at the wrinkled, sensitive skin. The skin of Viktor’s scrotum was slightly darker than the rest of his pale body. Lucian didn’t stop there either. He spread Viktor’s legs further apart, almost raising the Elder’s bottom off the floor and exposing his puckered entrance.

Viktor tensed. What was Lucian doing? He didn’t seriously think that…? The Vampire yelped in surprise when he felt the Lycan’s warm, wet tongue against his nether opening. Lucian was actually… Viktor didn’t know whether to feel honoured or grossed out. How could Lucian want to taste him down there? No one had ever performed this act on him before. It was…

The Elder had to confess that it was very pleasurable, and all doubts were erased from his mind. He melted in no time, and his tight entrance relaxed, opening like a rosebud. Lucian’s tongue continued its skilful ministrations, and Viktor could only revel in the sensation and gasp.

Circling the small, crinkled hole with his tongue and lips, the Lycan waited until it was ready to be probed. When he finally speared Viktor with the tip of his tongue, the Vampire was practically begging for it, moaning out his pleasure and thrashing despite Lucian’s attempts to keep him still. The Lycan took a firm hold on the Elder’s slim hips, pinning his lower body down. Lucian’s own erection was throbbing vehemently in his trousers, but he coldly ignored it. He would only focus on Viktor now.

The Vampire Lord roamed his hands over his own over-sensitive and stimulated body; pinching his nipples, caressing his stomach, and occasionally reaching down to stroke his now neglected cock. Not that it mattered much. What Lucian was doing to his orifice was good compensation.

“Can I put my fingers in you?” the Lycan suddenly asked, pulling Viktor out of his reverie. “Only my fingers,” Lucian quickly added.

“Oh, I… alright…” Viktor breathed in reply, too wound-up to object. What the hell. What was done to him now felt so damned good that he would not let a stupid thing like this spoil it. And if Lucian found his sweet spot…

A finger slick with spit gently breached the Elder and began to move within him. Lucian was happy with the development so far. He knew what Viktor’s insides felt like, but every time they had done this, he had lain beneath the Vampire and had no choice but letting Viktor control each and every move. The Elder also always prepared himself; Lucian’s fingers had never really been near this place before. Although Viktor had touched him like this many times, so he knew where to look for “the spot” within the Vampire. He could feel it with his finger; a small, spongy nub located behind the rectal wall, but Viktor’s reaction was enough to alert him that he had indeed hit it.

The Elder’s eyes were closed, but behind the eyelids, his eyes had taken the colour of ice-blue. He barely noticed it when Lucian added another finger, and then a third. All that existed to him was the ecstasy derived from the Lycan’s hands.

Lucian’s mind raced; he most desperately wanted to pull his fingers out and replace them with his cock, but there were certain… obstacles. Even if Viktor, dazed as he was, agreed to it, they had nothing more than spit to use as lubricant, and that might not be enough. Lucian could end up hurting the Elder.

So he restrained himself, circled and rubbed that special place inside the Vampire’s body, and brought Viktor to a body-racking climax without even touching his cock. The Elder’s creamy seed landed on his own chest and stomach and quickly began to cool in the rather chilly air.

Viktor lay still for over half a minute, panting and waiting for his pulse to return to normal. His limbs felt heavy all of a sudden, but he still lifted his hands and buried them in Lucian’s thick mass of hair. He had climaxed completely without manual stimulation. It was uncanny. Although Lucian had not even attempted to use anything beyond his fingers. It puzzled Viktor a little. The Lycan had been so eager to get on top of him, and this had been the perfect opportunity.

“Come here…” he panted and tugged lightly at Lucian’s hair, trying to pull him up for a kiss.

“Wait… I will lick you clean first…” the Lycan replied and began to lick the pearly drops of semen from Viktor’s crotch and torso. Luckily the Vampire had nearly no body hair, or the task would have proven difficult. Viktor’s cock had flagged, and the Elder was too spent to sustain another erection even though the Lycan used his mouth in a most provocative way. When he was finished, Lucian crawled on top of his lover, straddling his hips and bending forwards to kiss him. He held his hair back with one hand and hoped that Viktor would not mind the taste of his own essence.

“Oh God, Lucian…” Viktor’s head fell back and he smiled blessedly. “That was wonderful!”

Lucian grinned down at the flushed Vampire. “I’m happy that my Lord is pleased!”

Viktor could feel the hard length of Lucian’s erection against his stomach. Then it occurred to him: the Lycan had pleased him but not himself. In fact, Lucian still had his trousers on.

“Why didn’t you…? I mean…” Viktor began, nodding knowingly at the Lycan’s groin.

Lucian didn’t know what to answer. Sure, he could have taken his cock out and relieved himself, but for some reason he didn’t think that was what Viktor was asking.

“I thought that… I had nothing to ease the way with, and besides…” He bit his lip and looked down. “…it felt like I would have taken advantage of you.”

“Taken advantage of me? Oh, please!” Viktor snorted, not knowing whether to laugh or feel offended. “I am not exactly a blushing maiden, Lucian!”

“No, you’re not,” the Lycan agreed, and a new grin formed on his face. “So, do you want me to do it now? I’m still hard and ready!” he half-joked, grabbing himself through his trousers.

Viktor seemed to take him seriously. “What? Now? No, we have to head back. It’s not long until sunrise. Besides, I’m tired. I really have to rest. You certainly know how to tire me out, Lycan!”

Lucian chuckled. “Fine. Some other time, then. Don’t forget our deal.” He jumped to his feet and went to collect Viktor’s trousers, handing them to the naked Vampire still sitting on the floor. Viktor accepted the garment with a weary hand and started the cumbersome task of pulling the trousers on. It was difficult, as he didn’t yet feel steady enough to stand up. The Elder didn’t bother buttoning the last two buttons. All he wanted now was to get to his chambers, curl up in his large, comfortable bed, and sleep all day. He sighed heavily. Lucian was standing up, waiting for him. Viktor didn’t like having someone look down at him. His height mostly allowed him to look down at others, and he was used to that.

Suddenly the Lycan stretched out his hand to the Elder, offering him help getting to his feet. Viktor regarded the proffered limb with a frown. He was exhausted, but not *that* exhausted!

When Lucian noticed Viktor’s obstinate expression and unwillingness to accept the hand, a mischievous idea blossomed in his mind. He bent down in the blink of an eye and scooped the Vampire’s body into his arms.

“Your carriage has arrived, my Lord Viktor!” he grinned.

“Lucian…!” the Elder exclaimed. “What are you…? Put me down!” He objected at first, but the silliness of it all amused him. Viktor flung his arms around Lucian’s neck, and a deep, rumbling laughter erupted from his throat.

The Lycan couldn’t remember hearing Viktor laugh ever before. The sound of it was like music to his ears. “Whereto, my Lord?” he asked in a mock-formal voice, although it was difficult to stay serious. He held it back simply because he risked dropping Viktor in case he burst out laughing.

“That way,” the Elder informed him, pointing to a door which was not the exit. “I must change back into my regular clothing before we leave.”

Lucian obeyed his Lord’s command and headed to the door carrying his prize. He noted that Viktor was a bit more substantial than Sonja, but he did not weigh much in the Lycan’s arms.

“So… do you wish to spend the day with me?” the Elder inquired, playfully nuzzling Lucian’s neck and bearded jaw. “Only to sleep, of course,” he added. “I don’t have energy for anything more right now.”

“How could one decline such an invitation?” Lucian replied, and they both smiled when he finally lowered Viktor to the floor. The bruise on the Vampire’s face had already started to fade.

*~*~*

Kraven’s natural brown eyes turned clear blue with fury as the watched them from the entrance to the dojo, partially hidden behind the heavy door. Viktor was lying on the floor, stark naked, with a Lycan’s - a LYCAN’S - head between his splayed thighs, pleasuring him in the most intimate way. The beast was using his tongue on the Elder, licking him in places that not even Kraven would touch with his mouth.

The younger Vampire’s fury grew by every passing second. The sight before him made him nauseated, but at the same time he could not turn his eyes away. Viktor had rejected him for THAT?! A beast? An animal? A Lycan?

What did that filthy creature possibly have that he, Kraven, did not? Suddenly it was all so clear to him. This was Viktor’s new, secret lover with whom the Elder spent nearly all his free time behind closed doors! What was happening before him in the dojo was an act between experienced bed partners. It was not a tentative first-time. Viktor and the Lycan seemed to know each other’s bodies perfectly.

When the beast replaced his tongue with his fingers, Kraven seriously believed that he would vomit. The next object going inside Viktor was probably the Lycan’s cock, he concluded. What was the slave’s name, again? Lucius? No, Lucian.

The young Vampire did not know whom to hate more - the Elder or his filthy Lycan pleasure slave. Had not Viktor always looked down upon Vampires that used Lycans to satisfy their sexual urges?

What a hypocrite! Kraven had to suppress a snarl. Letting the enraptured couple hear him would not do. Well, he hardly needed to worry about Viktor, but the Lycan’s senses still were razor sharp.

Viktor apparently did not even bother being discrete! He had brought the Lycan to the dojo. As far as Kraven knew, no Lycan had ever been allowed in the dojo before. The Elder was breaking his own rules, and now he lay there, moaning and crying out like a wanton whore from the beast’s ministrations. Kraven clenched his teeth so hard that his jaw began to ache. He would not tolerate this. He felt beyond disrespected. Somehow he would get his revenge on Viktor. Somehow…

He watched the Elder climax and how the obedient Lycan lapdog licked every drop of seed from Viktor’s body. He watched the Vampire Lord’s beautiful hands affectionately playing with the animal’s long, tangled mane. He watched them kiss. Viktor was *kissing* a Lycan. This simply could not be true, and yet Kraven knew that it was.

He wanted desperately to leave, but he was bound to see where this went. Kraven didn’t know what hurt him more - that the Lycan got to have what he didn’t, or that Viktor seemed so… happy. The Elder was happy. He even laughed merrily when the animal picked him up from the floor and playfully swung him around in his arms. Viktor never laughed. This was not the same Viktor who ruled the coven with his iron fist. This was… someone else.

Tears threatened to seep from the young Vampire’s eyes. Why not him? What could the Lycan offer Viktor that he couldn’t? He just couldn’t understand, and it was consuming him from the inside. It was not fair. The Elder would pay for this.

Viktor had very few weaknesses, and Kraven knew this. Sonja was one of them, and she was quite an attractive Vampiress, but if he touched the Elder’s daughter without his permission, Viktor would carve out his heart and feed it to his dogs. It was not an option. His second weakness seemed to be the Lycan. Lucian. The idea repulsed him, but Kraven was sure it would be effective. He could try to seduce Lucian and lure him away from Viktor. Yes… he would do it. He would teach Viktor what it was like to be rejected and pushed aside. Soon…

Finis