Rhane’s gaze wavered. He was clearly taken aback by the demon’s actions.
At the same time, every instinct in his screamed to burn the place down to destroy the Rubber Demon and Kael along with it.
But reason whispered at the back of his mind. The demon’s presence alone made such an action surely impossible, and beyond that… there was no immediate reason to do it. Kael was already deep enough in trouble, and the Rubber Demon had shown no needless bloodlust.
To everyone’s surprise, Rhane slowly and reluctantly nodded.
- Patrol, we’re withdrawing. Take Jensen with you.
Two soldiers stepped forward, lifting the unconscious Legion member and carried him off with practiced efficiency. Rhane lingered a moment longer, giving Kael a long, meaningful look from the entrance.
Then he turned and left.
Kael was now alone with the Rubber Demon.
The Rubber Demon then fixed his green-glowing gaze on Kael.
- Kael.
That was all he said in his melodious voice, yet an indefinable shiver ran down Kael’s spine. He did not know whether his escape from the orders was a blessing or if he had merely stumbled into something far worse.
The Rubber Demon began to move toward him, slow and deliberate.
Kael staggered back a few steps, but the demon continued forward, unstoppable.
His muscular frame filled Kael’s vision as he closed the distance, then halted directly in front of him. The demon leaned in, his green-lit gaze traveling over Kael’s blackened, rubbery skin. For a moment, he seemed to smile, just barely, almost imperceptibly.
Slowly, he reached out and touched Kael’s altered skin with his index finger. The contact sent a strange, pleasant tingle through Kael’s sensitive rubber skin.
The Rubber Demon was smiling gently.
Without warning, he seized Kael’s hands and pinned him firmly against the stone. Kael cried out in surprise.
The Rubber Demon’s presence filled the space with an unspoken dominance. He pressed Kael firmly against the wall, closing the last of the distance between their bodies.
The black rubber body pressed against Kael. The boy’s breath caught.
The Rubber Demon’s body was impossibly solid yet elastic, his chest broad and warm, radiating a steady, controlled power. The contact was suffocating not because it hurt, but because it left no room for doubt.
The demon released Kael’s limp arms and slowly brushed along the boy’s jawline, placing his hand on his shoulder and gently, almost caringly, gripping his neck. Kael felt the touch as intimate despite its intent. It wasn’t violent, but controlling, corrective, aligning. He felt his breathing gradually settled from ragged to even.
Kael gasped, his lungs suddenly feeling too small for the air he drew.
The pressure returned. The Rubber Demon’s chest was broad and unyielding, rubbery muscle pressing into him, compressing breath from his lungs. The material was slick like oil yet resistant, a dense elasticity that pushes back when touched. Every inhale squeaked faintly.
Kael’s hand rose slowly, involuntarily. Carefully, almost pleadingly, he brought it closer to the Rubber Demon’s body and finally touched it. The black rubber was incredibly smooth and pleasantly warm. Kael ran his fingers over the surface, then dug them into the Rubber Demon’s huge, strong chest. The rubber squeaked softly as it compressed, then rebounded to its original shape.
His hand could feel the bundles of muscle beneath the black skin. The runes flared up across the Demon’s form.
The demon’s hand continued to roam over Kael’s body. His rubber fingers smoothed along Kael’s arms and chest, his neck and jaw, then traced the boundary where Kael’s human skin ended and what he was becoming began. The hand then returned to Kael’s neck, squeezing it once more, firm and possessive.
Then something unexpected happened. The demon’s strong rubber arms closed around Kael, pulling him into a crushing embrace. Kael’s face was pressed into the demon’s strong, soft rubber chest, his feet lifting slightly from the ground.
The hug carried what words could not. Power, possession, belonging, and care. The grip was tight, overwhelming, forcing the last breath from Kael’s lungs. For a moment, he thought he might faint, but then the pressure eased.
The demon slowly released him, and the intimate moment ended.
The Rubber Demon gave Kael one of his rare smiles, then turned and left without a word. Kael stood alone, stunned by what had happened. And then… something else happened.
Beneath his black rubber skin, the inactive runes lit up with green light. Kael could feel them... tightening, closing. He couldn’t quite define it, but it felt as though boundaries had been set and limits had been finalized.
He looked down at his left arm. Active green runes now glowed across his biceps, shoulder, back, and chest, the markings seamless and complete.
The sensation had changed as well. His arm felt compressed, tense, swollen with unfamiliar power. The runes pulsed steadily.
Kael didn’t know exactly what this meant for him, but at the moment, he didn’t care. He was still under the influence of the demon’s strong, slender form… his touch…
Kael exhaled slowly, gathered himself, and turned away.
He walked on unsteadily, heading back toward his camp.
