We waited patiently by the door for Remy to finish getting ready. I was surprised he didn't require Alex and me to bath and dress him. Seemed like it would have been the man's dream. I suppose he just didn't want to mess up our attire, what little there was of it. Like me, Alex had gold bands around his wrist with the same elegant designs. He also sported the gold waist chains, but the gem in his naval was a sapphire that favored his coloring perfectly. A thin coating of oil had also been applied to his skin. In a word, he was gorgeous. I almost couldn't believe we were brothers. How Remy, or anyone for that matter, could have preferred me over Alex baffled my mind. Quick side-long glances at him as we stood next to each other quietly made it difficult if not impossible to keep my erection from growing. I was in equal parts disgusted and aroused. However, desire was starting to edge ahead. I licked my lips nervously, almost wishing for the cock restraint that would at least keep me from coming like an over-sexed teenaged boy. Then I saw Councillor Escalada's leering face in my mind's eye and my erection went limp.

*But then I prefer blonds.* His words came back to me and I went cold with horror. *Surely not* I tried to convince myself. *Remy wouldn't share Alex with that evil bastard.* God, I hoped not. I took my brother's hand then, and Alex gave me a puzzled look. "Nothing," I said, answering his wordless question. I couldn't tell him about Escalada. I was too afraid of what he might do. I knew Remy hadn't given him to anyone, yet. But was he still a favorite?

"I'm pretty nervous too," He whispered and squeezed my hand. He looked over at the bathroom door. Remy hadn't appeared yet. Henri had gone into the bathroom also, once the clothes had been laid out. "I told you what Remy expects. The performances. He's never ordered me to perform, thank God. But I figured it was only a matter of time. Once you were here." Alex looked at me with a weak smile. "But this is our coming out night. He may just make us stand around while the people just gawk and fondle."

Suddenly I couldn't help myself and I blurted out, "Do you know Frederico Escalada?"

I heard Alex's sharp intake of breath and turned my head quickly to see his face. There was contempt and hatred in his eyes. "Yeah. The guy makes Remy look like a saint." Alex looked ready to kill. "He prefers blonds." He said in a very Escalada-like voice. Then he turned his eyes on me. "The bastard came to see Remy in his study one night when I was there. I've been touched by a lot of people in this madhouse, but usually with some kind of appreciation or desire. He looks at you as if he wants to conquer you, to really break you. And he'd use any means necessary. I bet he gets off on torture."

I nodded.

"I swear, if Remy ever promises him he can have me, I'll gut the SOB." Alex hissed through gritted teeth. "I won't give a fuck if they torture me to death. He's NOT getting his filthy hands on me. And he's NOT getting me for breeding either." He paused and he threw a lethal look at the door. "I'll kill Remy for that."

I swallowed. Not even when he mentioned Sinister or the Dark Beast had he sounded this furious. I almost felt pity for Escalada. Heaven help the man if he ever asked Remy for my brother and Remy agreed. And I almost wished that he would ask. I think I would have moved Heaven and Earth for ring-side seats just to see my brother pound the sick leer he'd given me off his face.

We both straightened and went silent when the door to the bathroom opened and Remy stepped out, followed by Henri. He wore a soft white towel around his waist. His thick mane had been braided down his back with the shorter strands framing his face, a few stray locks covering his right eye. Both his eyes glowed as he smiled at Henri and said something in French. He would soon be in his element, a party with most of the attention centered on him and his newest possessions. Remy smiled at us as he went over to the clothing that was laid out for him.

Henri helped him into tight black pants that closely resembled leggings except for the buttons in back. I tried not to look as he dressed, but the muscles of his tighs were etched in the dark fabric and the outline of his cock could be seen. I was slightly mesmerized by the sensual pose he struck as he turned his torso to look back at Henri. One leg was lifted just a hair off the ground and his arms were raised just above his waist. And then he was returning my look with a canny smile. Alex coughed and I turned my flushed face away, embarrassed. Christ! I hated when he knew I was watching him. And he always seemed to know. Especially when I was looking at him with desire.

I shifted my look to the floor and concentrated on the intricate weaving of the carpet, until I heard him approach. When I looked up, I caught my breath. He was stunning. Remy wore a long dark purple sleeveless vest that closed in front with five gold clasps. The fabric was embroidered on either side with black and gold thread. The needlework was exactly like the etching on our bands. His household crest. The vest itself went almost to the floor. The last clasp was fixed just below his groin and the material then parted to form a wide opening in front of his legs. Black and gold thread embellished the rest of the fabric with more intricate designs. Underneath he wore a simple black long-sleeve shirt with a crew neck collar. The collar and the ends of the sleeves were trimmed in a deeper shade of purple than the vest. On his left ring finger was a simple gold band with a beautiful amythest stone. It sparkled as he flexed the hand. He wore soft leather black boots that came almost to his knees and shone so brightly I was tempted to bend down to see if I would find my reflection in them. Strips of leather buckled at the ankles with more gold clasps. It was hard to take my eyes of him and suddenly I couldn't believe what I was feeling: pride. He was my master and I was proud to call him that. I thought he couldn't look any more dazzling than at that moment.

But then he smiled. Not arrogant. Not smug or smartly amused. Just pleased. Pleased in the way we appeared and in the way we gazed back at him. Without even looking, I knew my brother was just as captivated as I was. And Remy knew by our looks that we wouldn't disappoint him. I realized I didn't want to disappoint him either.

I waited for some witty remark from him, something that would dispell the awe I was experiencing. But all he said, as if refusing to break the hold he had on us, was, "Follow me." When he stepped out into the corridor, two guards were standing at attention. Remy beckoned Henri to his side. He bent down close to the boy and said something quietly in French. Henri beamed and nodded vigorously. Then he ran down the hall in front of us and was out the door of the suite before we even started to move after him. Remy watched him go, smiling to himself for a moment. Then he headed off after Henri, motioning for us to fall in step behind him. The guards marched after us all.

We descended into the bowels of the citadel, seeming to walk forever downstairs. I was duly impressed by the vastness of the palace and the refined wealth displayed. Classical paintings and tapestries hung on the walls. Statues of gods and goddesses long forgotten, busts of ancestors on marble columns, and antique vases filled with fresh flowers that had to have cost a small fortune to replace every day. The air of the place screamed royalty. And the man in front who led us bore the title well.

Finally, we reached another ornate wooden door. I'd completely lost my sense of direction. I wondered if this had anything to do with Remy's power or if the time I'd spent in Remy's rooms had completely disarmed me of my ability to analyze my surroundings. It made me nervous, not knowing where I was. I tried not to show it, but my thumb tapped anxiously on my thigh.

Remy punched in a code on the key pad next to the door and it swung inward without a sound. Inside was a small military museum. Glass cases lined the walls with armor and weaponry. I even saw Remy's own kevlar bodysuit on display, along side his trademark bo-staff. The place was dim as you'd see in any museum after closing. The enclosures were lit by track lighting overhead. At the far end of the room was a small glass case perched on a rectangular marble base that stood about waist high. Remy strode to it and tapped an area on the side of the base. Another key pad appeared in front. Another code was punched in and the top of the glass box opened. Remy reached a hand in, retrieving a simple gold circlet and a medallion of gold, hung on a black ribbon trimmed in purple, that was the symbol of his office. He put these on without ceremony and came back to where he'd ordered us to stand. He wore the air of royalty as if born to it. And again, a wash of pride went through me.

We headed back up two flights in the palace and down another long corridor. Towards the end I heard music and the noise of a very large crowd. I glanced at my brother. He gave me a nervous smile and then went back to starring at Remy's head. Just before we reached two massive carved red doors, Remy ushered us into a room to the right of the huge doors. It was a small sitting room. Henri was standing in the middle holding a embroidered box. Walking over to the boy, Remy patted his head and took the box from him. Then he looked at us. "De last of your adornment, pets."

Setting the box on a nearby table, he opened it and pulled out a cock ring and the penile device. I blanched. "Oh come on!" I started to protest. Remy silenced me with a chilling look. Alex said nothing. When I looked at him, his face bore an expression of resigned irritation. Then he stepped behind me. I didn't bother looking back at him. I just scowled at Remy as he nodded. Alex's hands came around to caress my prick. I screwed up my face in humiliation and exhaled.

Remy stepped in front of me to lift my chin. "You're not fully in control, cher." He murmured gently. "People will be touching you intimately. I won't have you wasting your seed on dem. Not tonight."

He placed a soft kiss on my lips and I let out the breath I'd been holding. He took my mouth possessively as Alex worked me to near climax. I broke Remy's kiss, saying breathlessly, "It'll hurt if they grab me." Remy said nothing and pulled me into another heated kiss, snapping the device in place as I neared the edge of release. Tears sprung to my eyes as I dug my fingers into his arms and I fleetingly hoped I'd bruised him.

Then he let me go and stepped back. I glared at him. He reached for a lock of my hair and said, "Dey won't touch you wit' dat on. It's not allowed in public. It's considered abuse." Alex was stroking my back comfortingly when I felt a soft dizzy bliss and smiled peacefully. Remy was easing the discomfort with his power. I leaned back into Alex as my lids drooped and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight.

Our master smiled. "Si beau."

Alex drew away from me then, keeping a steadying hand on my arm so I didn't topple over from the exquisite sensations running through me. He stepped beside me and looked at Remy.

"Touch yourself." Remy smiled and leaned in to kiss my brother. I sighed in pleasure as Alex stroked himself to hardness and Remy snapped a leather cock ring around the base of his erection. Fine gold chains hung from the top of the leather and crisscrossed below the shaft. You had to look close to really see the cock ring. The color had been matched to Alex's engorged flesh. It almost appeared as though the chains were holding the bloodflow in place. I looked at it in wonder and then looked at my brother's face. He didn't seem to be in any pain, so I leaned over to kiss him, drunk on Remy's charm.

"Now Scott." My master chuckled and pulled some of the power away, leaving me more alert, but not in pain. I laughed nervously as I pulled back from Alex. "You behave yourself, cher." Remy finished. Then he reached back into the box and pulled out two gold chain leashes. They matched the chains about our waist. He snapped them on to our collars and said, "I t'ink you're ready now. Come along, mon amours."

Remy led us out into the hallway to stand before the red doors. Henri, who'd stood by unobtrusively as a true valet should, followed us out into the corridor. The massive doors opened in front of us and I was struck by the noise of the room. I wavered disoriented. Thankfully Alex put out a steadying hand again. He wasn't under Remy's spell. I wasn't sure if I should be insulted or grateful. Before I could decide, the leash was pulled tight and I was dragged forward into the uproar.

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