Chapter Seventeen

Wishbone wondered if Terefar could tell what had changed. He knew that the wathara could ignore anything that didn't fit into a servant's comfortable world, and envied him the ability. If Wishbone used to feel that Terefar was a lesser companion than Senjian, he changed his mind. Terefar was skilled and above all calm. Bedding him was satisfying and restful, though when Senjian was present he made sure that Wishbone stayed as submissive as possible to the wathara. Wishbone didn't mind.

Bedding Senjian, on the other hand, was intense and exquisite and a lot of work. Wishbone did not make the shih-aan submit too often. In spite of his threats, he would watch the pressure of conflicting need build up in Senjian. Every time they entered the bedroom there would be a flicker of eye contact and often a sigh of disappointment from Senjian before he tore into Wishbone like a starving dog. And then, when he stopped expecting it, Wishbone would order him to his knees.

There was a purpose to Senjian's actions now beyond gratification or revenge. He seemed to have decided that if he would be kneeling to Wishbone, then Wishbone must be better trained. Senjian demonstrated how he could have escaped the ties that Wishbone had made that first night with little effort and promised to do exactly that if Wishbone did not improve. Embarrassed, Wishbone learned and then practiced on his own. The next time he bound Senjian, the shih-aan was not able...