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Chapter Text

Ever since Lestat was twelve years old, he’d been in love with Alpha du Lac.

He and his brothers had attended a parade dedicated to the new young alpha. His convertible had driven through the shouting crowds, and he’d given waved in an imperious manner, luminous green eyes watchful and shuttered.

Lestat had gone into the wood afterwards, both to think of the Alpha and to escape his brothers’ constant bullying. He’d lain on the ground, pine needles digging into his back, the smell of wet soil rising up around him, the sounds of the woodland animals everywhere.

There he’d reached inside of his pants and gripped his cock, and then slid a finger into his leaking, clenching hole. He closed his eyes as he thought about the Alpha looming over him, slim, strong body holding him down as he slid his cock inside of Lestat, as he claimed him as he should.

As he imagined the Alpha fucking him, bright eyes never leaving Lestat’s face, he reached a dizzying climax. Afterwards he’d let tears stream down his face, knowing that there would never be another Alpha who Lestat would want as much. Need with every part of his body.

His soul.

//

When Lestat was fourteen, he went into his first heat.

It was a terribly lonely, painful experience. His mother had given him toys to use, but she had been little help otherwise. Gabrielle de Lioncourt, of the once great de Lioncourt coterie, had little interest in child rearing. She was a tracker, keeping the borders of the territory safe. Lestat knew that she cursed the fact that she had not only been born an omega, but a woman, too, even though she was the best tracker in their territory, and probably, many others.

When he had his next heat, at the age of seventeen, as heats for unmated omegas only came every three to four years, he found some solace with his omega friend, Niki.

It was Lestat’s first sexual experience with another, and he found that he liked it. Really, really liked it. Above the sexual pleasure, Lestat enjoyed the closeness provided. He liked holding Niki in his arms afterwards, and having Niki hold him.

But then it all went to shit.

As if Lestat’s life couldn’t get any worse than it already was.

//

When Lestat turned twenty, he was kidnapped from the Nawlins territory.

There’d been talk of a rogue Alpha kidnapping, and possibly killing, male omegas with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Alpha du Lac had ordered extra patrolling on the borders, and that all omegas who fit the description must abide by a strict curfew.

But Lestat had never been good at playing by the rules. He’d always detested being told what to do, a trait he’d inherited from his mother.

And so, he and Niki had sneaked into the woods and gone to their usual spot, a small cave near the river. They’d taken each other in different positions, reaching their mutual several times, until they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Neither of them had meant to stay out so late, and had only meant to sleep for an hour or two.

It was whilst they were asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms, the inky curtain of night thickly pulled across the forest that the rogue alpha took Lestat.

He awoke in his arms, being spirited across fields and woods and mountains he did not recognise. They came to a decaying castle, set upon a desolate landscape, the mountains rising a deeply bruised purple in the distance. It was clear that this had been a once great coterie, but now the land was barren, winds howling as a weak sun rose behind those imposing mountains.

The alpha, tall and dark haired, with a skeletal face and long, protrudent limbs, laid him down on a cot covered by a scratchy brown blanket. The cell was cold and damp, years of decay evident on the walls. Lestat shrank into the corner of the cot, trying to escape the long fingered hand with jagged nails that reached out towards him and brushed his tangled blonde hair from his tear streaked face.

“So beautiful,” came the deep, rasping voice, almost like what one would expect from a charnel house. “I hope you survive, lovely one…”

As the monstrous creature turned away, Lestat could hear him whispering, like moths rubbing their wings in the dark, “…lights going out in your blue eyes. Like all the summer days are gone."

And then the dungeon door slammed shut behind him, and Lestat turned to the wall and sobbed brokenly.

//

Gabrielle told him that when they found him, after tracking and searching for four months, that he was completely comatose.

He just kept repeating, “…lights going out in your blue eyes. Like all the summer days are gone."

It wasn’t until Alpha du Lac came into the filthy, squalid cell that Magnus had left him in, that he’d roused for a few minutes. Lestat remembered that, the way Louis had run cool, gentle fingers down the side of his face, before picking him up bridal style and carrying him from the cell.

The castle had been deserted when they’d taken Lestat away, but there’d been no sign of Magnus. Only a letter, leaving chests full of riches for Lestat, in the same room that a pile of corpses lay.

All of the corpses looked exactly like Lestat.

//

“What did he do to you?” Gabrielle asked, as she bathed Lestat of the fifth that had accumulated on his skin during his incarceration.

Lestat frowned, staring into the cloudy water, finally whispering, “I do not remember, mother.”

Gabrielle, never one for much talking, did not pry, and Lestat was glad of it. He had not lied when he’d said he could not remember. Everytime he tried, it was too much. A terrible pain bloomed out from his mind, blocking any attempt to recall Magnus’ actions and motives.

All he could recall was terrible, searing pain, utter agony that took hold of his entire body. Sometimes there’d been tenderness, too, gentle, cold hands touching his skin, but his mind revolted from recalling the details of that, too.

Dr Fareed Bhansali, who had come from the Dubai coterie, came to see him three times a week.

“It’s normal not to recall details after a traumatic event,” he explained kindly, gently checking Lestat’s rapidly healing wounds. “The mind takes much longer to mend itself than the body.”

“What if I never remember?” Lestat asked, bright blues eyes large, and Fareed thought, not for the first time, how lovely the boy was.

“Then so be it,” Fareed smiled reassuringly. “Sometimes it’s best to leave things in the past so that you can start again.”

Lestat liked the thought of that, and felt happier after Fareed’s visit, even if there was still a gnawing feeling in his stomach at the thought of never recovering his memories of that time.

He hadn’t gone in the woods again for weeks, not since he’d been brought home, but now he felt that it was safe. And he so wanted to run, to be free, to have the feeling of insouciance before he’d— just of before.

The night was beautifully clear and still as he walked. He could hear owls hooting in the distance, and nocturnal creatures rustling in the undergrowth. A full, golden moon shone overhead, and the stars were brilliantly bright passed the canopy of trees overhead. Lestat felt at peace with his surroundings as reached the clearing, a feeling that had been foreign to him for months.

Then he heard it, a low, ominous growl, and he knew that the peace had been illusion. For a moment he thought about just standing there, waiting for the danger to pass, but he refused to be the victim again, to let another monster take him, and perhaps kill him this time.

He turned and ran with the supernatural speed of his species, but the creature that was following him ate up the distance with ease, smashing into the earth.

Fuck this! Lestat screamed in his mind, struggling with all of his strength against the weight on his back, pulling up chunks of soil and grass with his fingernails.

Suddenly, he was flipped onto his back, the air knocked out of him; but he refused to stop fighting, clawing at his attacker’s face, his fangs bared as he fought.

Then he was pinned down and bright green eyes stared down at him, and a familiar voice commanded from between giant fangs, “Stop, Lestat.”

Chapter Text

Louis was not ignorant of Lestat de Lioncourt’s existence. It was impossible for him to be. The de Lioncourts were notorious in Nawlins. They had once been the rulers of the territory, but madness had run rampant in the family, bringing it to its knees.

Lestat’s father had been an aggressive, violent alpha who Louis’ own father had had to put down in order to stop him from wreaking havoc. Gabrielle de Lioncourt had not shed a tear, instead it seemed she was rather pleased with being alone; and she was probably even more pleased by the fact that she had not had to kill her husband herself, which they all knew she was very capable of if the need arose.

Her three surviving sons, as there had been seven of them, with three dying in infancy and the fourth having died quite similarly to his father, were utterly wild and unsupervised. It was not uncommon to see them running through town, three quarters feral. By the time they reached eighteen, one had been exiled from the territory due to trying to challenge Louis’ authority, and the other had perished due to being tricked into drinking corpse blood after failing to settle a debt.

Lestat, however, had seemed very different. Tall, with porcelain skin, sky blue eyes that looked paler or darker depending on the light, and almost waist length, golden hair. There was a wild passion about him, yes, an untamed strength that echoed Gabrielle’s, but also a tenderness, a yearning for love that reminded Louis of himself.

Louis had to admit that ever since he’d seen Lestat at the parade, celebrating Louis’ coronation after the sudden death of his father, he’d wanted Lestat terribly. He’d never felt the covetous desire he harboured for Lestat with any other omega, even Armand, who was a far more suitable match due to his bloodline and connections.

It was due to his position, his duty to his territory, which was one of the largest in the Americas, that Louis did not act on his hunger (both literal and figurative) for Lestat. And if he drank from human donors who resembled Lestat, then he did not scrutinise this too closely, or he may just fold, and then where would he be? An alpha did not have the time, or the ability, to indulge in such personal inclinations. An alpha married in order to strengthen the power base of the coterie. Nothing more. Nothing less. It had been like this with his mother and father. They had felt very little, if any, love for each other. Everyone had known that Louis’ father had had many mistresses and paramours, but they had not threatened the position of Florence du Lac, and position was all his mother cared for.

Louis felt very little passion for Armand, even though the omega was beautiful and cultured, and the ward of one of the most power alphas in Europe, Marcus de Romanus. When they were intimate, Armand did everything right, everything he was supposed to. He was perfectly submissive, always ready to service every need that Louis even hinted at; but that’s all it was, a service. Louis knew that like him, Armand desperately wanted another, the nonconformist alpha, Daniel Molloy.

Daniel had joined the coterie only a few years before, having come from a coterie further west. It was extremely rare for divorces to occur within coteries, but Daniel had been divorced not once, but twice. He had fathered two daughters, an omega and an alpha, but he had minimal contact with them, leaving their upbringing to his first wife and her second husband. Louis felt that this was a wise choice, Daniel was not exactly the paternal type, but the decision had made Daniel somewhat of a pariah.

Louis valued his frankness, however, his ability to analyse situations with accuracy. Louis could see that as a very young man, Daniel had been impulsive and addicted to adrenaline, but now, in his late thirties, it was clear that he had calmed down, even if he had settled in a kind of cynical bitterness.

Although Louis continued to stay well away from Lestat, he was furious when he discovered, via the grapevine that Lestat was involved with Nicolas de Lenfent. It boggled him that Lestat, bright and lively, was involved with a morose omega who only seemed to care for poetry and melancholic violin playing. He wanted to draw up a new law that banned unmated omegas from being sexually involved, but he knew there was very little basis for such a law, and Daniel gave him a long, knowing look when he even suggested implementing it.

So he continued to want—oh how he wanted— Lestat from a distance.

Then news of a rogue Alpha had reached them. It was all over the emergency communication lines between the coteries surrounding their territory, even the European coteries seemed concerned.

Then their concern made sense, because the rogue Alpha was not some young vampire on the loose, mad from bloodlust, but a very old and powerful member of their kind. Magnus. The leader of a once great coterie.

The specifics around the decline and eventual extinction of his coterie were clouded in layer about layer of myth and supposition; but there was talk of demonic deals and worshipping of dark spirits. The kind of magic that had been banned across the global coteries for centuries due to bloody sacrifice.

For the first time since he’d become alpha of the Nawlins territory six years before, Louis felt almost afraid. None of his immediate predecessors had dealt with this kind of threat. He could not find any evidence of any du Lac Alpha dealing with a threat of this magnitude. There some old writings of the de Lioncourts facing off against a necromancer of sorts, but it was fractured, parts missing, and those that remained mired in contradictions.

Louis, therefore, relied on modern technology and laws to protect those under his care. He had Daniel issue strict instructions for a curfew, especially for young male omegas fitting the physical description of Magnus’ victims, and Gabrielle led increased patrols on the border, but she was not so arrogant as to over estimate the abilities of the trackers. She was a canny woman, understanding that Magnus was a centuries old creature who could outsmart almost all other vampires, except perhaps those even older than him.

Louis tried not to obsess over the possibility of Lestat being taken, as he was the perfect physical representation of Magnus’ victim profile. There was no other omega as beautiful as Lestat, Louis had to make sure that he was protected.

Then he found out that Lestat had sneaked into the woods with that annoyingly gloomy omega, Nicolas de Lenfent, and been kidnapped by the very rogue alpha Louis was trying to protect him from.

Louis went ballistic, demanding his council explain to him how Magnus had penetrated into their territory and then disappeared unobserved.

Santiago whispered something to Sam, who was standing next to him at the meeting. Santiago and Sam were also trackers, although Santiago preferred spreading pernicious gossip to actually doing his job. His usual arrogant posture was evident during the entire discussion.

“You got something you wanna say, Santiago?” Louis asked, voice deathly calm, the rest of the council exchanged quick glances.

Santiago quirked a brow and cocked his hip, his usual theatrical stance, “I’m just rather confused about why we’re expending so much time and energy on a lowly, whore de Lioncourt omega. We all know that he’ll hardly be missed.”

Complete silence hung in the air, everyone either staring at Santiago in utter disbelief or watching Louis as he slowly walked towards the tracker.

“I don’t think I heard right,” Louis replied, tone still warningly calm. “I thought I heard you questioning your coterie alpha’s decisions.”

Santiago doubled down, pushing his shoulders back, “I’m merely pointing out that we have far more pressing concerns, such as Anderson’s coterie.”

Louis slowly smiled and then he laughed, and after a beat, Santiago joined in, utterly unaware of the nature of Louis’ laugh. He was soon dispelled of any confusion when Louis’ hand shot out and he squeezed Santiago’s throat until there was a low crunching noise and blood began to seep out of the other vampire’s mouth.

“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are!” Louis roared, eyes acid green as he lifted Santiago off of the floor. “But I do not tolerate disrespect! Not from anyone! And certainly not from you!”

He flung Santiago across the room, sending him smashing into the wall, which caused plaster to fall off in chunks.

“Listen to me very fucking carefully,” Louis slurred around his extended fangs, his posture like that of a predator ready to attack. “When I give an order, I expect it to be followed. Do I make myself clear?!”

Sounds of acquiescence were heard around the room, most of those present not meeting Louis’ eyes.

“My lord,” Gabrielle stepped forward, bowing slightly, then looking him directly in the eye with that strikingly blue gaze, the twin of her youngest son’s. “I would like permission to lead the search for my son.”

“Denied,” Louis husked. “I will lead the search. Daniel will be in charge while I am away.”

Gabrielle bowed again, but Louis could not place the expression that flashed in her eyes as she stepped back.

//

The search for Lestat was gruelling and slow. Days washed into weeks and weeks transformed into months, as they followed the trail, masterfully concealed, left by Magnus in his flight from the Nawlins territory to his own.

The land between the two coteries became more and more alien, desolation creeping in, a wasteland that Louis had only heard in tales from his Mee Maw had told he and his siblings when they were children. Tales of demons made flesh, worshippers of darkness and magics that obfuscated all lore known to vampire or mortal.

Death bled across the landscape, and Louis began to wonder, in his heart of hearts, if they would find Lestat at all, never mind alive and sane.

The trackers began to speak of turning back, there were unsaid, but inferred, opinions that perhaps Santiago had been right in his assessment. An omega from an infamous family was not worth all of this hardship.

Louis would not hear of turning back, but he could sense the discontent growing amongst the trackers, except for Gabrielle, who seldom spoke. Her tracking was exceptional. She was like the vampires from old who had understood the wilderness, the pitilessness of nature.

It was thanks to her that they finally came upon the castle which Magnus occupied, like a great, swollen spider in its web.

When they entered the dilapidated structure, it smelt of death. Louis imagined that it was what a long shut crypt smelt of; but there was not only the odour of death long come, but also recent victims. The stench of rotting bodies, both maggoty and nauseatingly sweet, rose up to meet them as they descended into the bowels of the castle. Louis felt the almost overpoweringly intense need to vomit, but he pushed it down, although he knew that the others were experiencing the same urge.

Torches guttered in the icy cold dungeons, moss and damp weeping from the stone walls. Louis followed the overpowering vileness of decomposition, and there, on a filthy cot, was Lestat.

Louis’ heart clenched with relief, but when he realised Lestat’s horrendous state, fury and despair mixed to form an acrid taste in his mouth, blooming up from his oesophagus like bile.

Layers of grime covered that beautiful, pale skin, and the sunshine hair was matted and tangled with thick dirt, too. Blood, some fresh and some dark with age, coated the inside of those lovely inner thighs. He could not see Lestat’s face, and terrible fear washed over Louis at what he might see.

Then, Gabrielle said, “Look,” and following her motioning hand, Louis saw the source of the revolting odour of death. There was a veritable pile of bodies, young male omegas with blonde hair, blue eyes and pale skin. Lifeless blue eyes stared out at him, insects crawling over the gelatinous eyeballs. The corpses were in different stages of decomposition, with some putrefying, and others in the relatively early phase. Bloody bones were also scattered amongst the heap of limbs, which resembled fractured dolls, tossed aside by a particularly recalcitrant child. The fury intensified inside of Louis, burning hot and clear in his stomach.

“Alpha,” one of the other trackers said, rousing Louis from his rage, and he turned back to Lestat, curled on the cot in the corner.

He approached the bed with slow, even steps, not wanting to startle the young omega. But he needn’t have been overly concerned, as he realised that Lestat was comatose, his blue eyes staring blankly at the wall in front of him. A seemingly meaningless phrase tumbled from his mouth over and over again.

It was only when Louis gently turned him over onto his page, tracing the edges of that filthy, but still gloriously beautiful face that the blue eyes filled with their familiar light.

“Louis,” Lestat whispered, and Louis had to repress a shiver at the sound of his name in that deep, accented voice.

Then, seemingly aware that he was safe, Lestat fell into a deep state of unconsciousness, body going limp in Louis’ embrace.

“There is no sign of the rogue alpha,” Gabrielle informed him as they exited the cell turned mausoleum, her tone strangely flat. “We have searched the entire castle.”

Louis nodded curtly.

“We were only able to locate a letter,” she continued.

“A letter?” Louis frowned.

“Yes, Alpha. A letter bequeathing Lestat all the riches of the castle, and it is substantial, truly a king’s ransom by the looks of it.”

To Louis, the thought of touching any material possessions that the monstrous Magnus owned was unspeakable; but he knew that he could not deprive Lestat of… something. Something that could act as a kind of compensation, although he knew the term was wholly inadequate and weak.

A part of him also longed for the de Lioncourts to rise to their once great status, surely now that Lestat’s father and brothers were gone, it was possible. But he pushed the thought away. If course it wasn’t possible.

His feelings for Lestat most of all.

//

The journey home only took a week because they knew what path to follow, and no longer needed to follow up leads that sent them into proverbial brink walls and blind alleys.

Lestat only gained consciousness sporadically. Sometimes he sobbed brokenly at memories that he could not explain, only quieting when Louis went to him, allowing the young omega to cry into his chest or neck. Soothed by Louis’ alpha scent.

Louis’ hatred for Magnus grew and festered with every moment. He had never wanted to kill another man so badly, but he knew that when he found Magnus, he would bathe in his blood.

When they entered the Nawlins territory, and Gabrielle took Lestat home to fully recuperate from his horrific ordeal, Louis had to stop himself from seeing him. It would be too obvious if he paid him visits. He had rescued an omega who was Louis’ responsibility because he was part of his coterie, nothing more.

It was a lie, though. Louis knew that. His dreams were filled with the sound of Lestat’s voice, his scent, the spun gold of his hair. All that pale, perfect skin bare beneath his gaze and hands. He imagined the sounds Lestat would make as Louis fucked him hard and deep.

He imagined what it would be like for Lestat to carry his child. His children.

Armand could not understand why Louis was not interested in his advances, always making excuses about being tired or working late.

Louis was tired of the charade between them. He knew that Armand and Daniel wanted each other, but that Daniel hadn’t indulged out of loyalty to Louis. What a hollow thing loyalty could be, Louis mused. But he was too much of a coward to release Armand fully and allow them to be together. His mind was a library of confusion, roiling over his desire for Lestat which haunted him.

Then his annual rut came, but this time it was the most intense it had been since he had first reached maturity. He had to get away before he hurt someone, or worse, killed them.

//

The woods had always been a place of refuge for him, but since becoming Alpha, he had had little time to frequent them.

Now he ran through them like a wild beast, fangs full extended, like small tusks in his mouth, curving over his bottom lip, they were so long. He was completely naked, cock engorged and dripping as he sprinted through the trees and across the damp earth, the moon looming above him in the sky. A silent witness to his savagery.

Then he heard it, the sound of a familiar heartbeat, the irresistible scent of lilac, lavender and something else, something deeper, something that he wanted to sink his fangs into and drink until he was sated. Blood drunk.

His cock throbbed as ran towards the source of the sound and smell. When he saw Lestat, tall and pale, like an ivory god in the moonlight, his inner beast keened with want, and then yowled in outrage as the object of its need turned and ran.

Without thinking, Louis pursued, easily catching up in his heightened state of being. He didn’t mean to collide with Lestat so forcefully, but the omega did not give in, fighting for his life, thrashing and scratching and screaming.

Louis turned him over, and good God, that scent. He inhaled, letting it permeate his olfactory system. The desire to breed Lestat then and there was almost irresistible. The thought of burying himself inside of that tight, wet heat was like a fever dream of needwantmine.

But his higher functioning brain somehow won the struggle, and he pinned Lestat to the ground and said, “Stop, Lestat.”

Chapter Text

When Lestat was little, he wanted to play with the other children in the Nawlins territory. He wanted to run with them, and play baseball and hopscotch. All the carefree games of childhood.

Instead, he was called “Dirty de Lioncourt” by the other children. He turned away on his little chubby legs, heart cleaved in two by rejection, by his need to love and be loved being a futile endeavour.

This was the first time Lestat came face to face with Louis de Pointe du Lac, the future Alpha of the Nawlins coterie.

Whilst he turned away from the makeshift playground occupied by the other children, he walked straight into a solid, lean body. Looking up, he was met with inquisitive, bright green eyes, fringed by inky black lashes.

“You okay, petit?” the voice was soft, soothing, spreading a sensation through Lestat that he could not understand.

Lestat nodded, long lashes spiky with moisture, “Yes, Alpha. I am sorry for bumping into you. It will not happen again.”

Louis smiled, the side of that full, firm mouth tilting up in an endearingly affectionate way.

“Ain’t a problem, but you look upset. Been cryin’. Were the other kids mean to you?” those green eyes looked at the distant buzz of children playing together, without Lestat.

Looking down, Lestat shrugged, “It does not matter.”

Two fingers tapped under his chin, making him look up again, “Ain’t nobody got the right to make you feel unwanted, you understand? You are a part of this coterie. You belong here.”

Lestat had never forgotten that. The way that Louis had been the only older member of the community who had shown him any kindness. Who hadn’t called him names or turned away, pretending not to see the casual cruelty of his peers.

So even know, when he was pinned beneath the Alpha, green eyes swallowed by black pupil, fangs the longest Lestat had ever seen, he did not feel as afraid as he should have.

In fact, he didn’t really feel afraid at all.

He reached up to touch one of the fangs, index finger sliding down the thick shape, and a thrill went through him. His centre clenched and pulsed, and he could feel slick being pushed out of his body and onto his underwear. The smell rose and mixed with that of Louis’ own aroused scent. Lilac, lavender, citrus and fig infusing and blanketing them both as they remained pressed to another, Louis bracketed by Lestat’s long legs.

Louis closed his eyes and inhaled, and then slowly, almost hesitantly, ground his cock down into the soaked material of Lestat’s jeans.

He hissed, and Lestat thought it must have been at the abrasive feeling of the seam, and the sodden denim covering Lestat’s entrance. He could feel his underwear and jeans sticking to him, his leaking cock adding to the heady slick.

“Lestat,” Louis slurred, both from arousal and the almost prehistoric size of his fangs. “ Lestat.”

Lestat whined, trying to rub himself more against Louis’ dick, whilst pulling at the hands that were clamped down on his wrists. The forest floor was wet beneath his head and back, the smell of soil and trees adding to their combined scent. The night was sticky with heat, and Louis was covered in a sheen of blood sweat. Lestat wanted to lick it off. He wanted to lick his cock, choke on it.

“ S’il te plait, mon Alpha,” Lestat whined again, pressing his heels into Louis’ upper asscheeks, trying to get him to press against Lestat completely. “ Je veux que tu me baises. Baise-moi fort. ”

Louis growled, low and feral in his throat, and Lestat could feel it vibrating through that long, strong body. It scent a thrill through him. His own cock strained in his underwear, a damp patch growing and connecting with the slick oozing out of him.

He felt so lust drunk that he moaned without thinking, “ Daddy, please!”

One of Louis’ hands, the nails longer now, even more crystalline looking than usual, gripped Lestat’s chin, pressing at his jaw so that his mouth was forced open.

“Say it again,” he ordered, voice hoarse.

Lestat stared at him for a moment, his heart pounding at the thought that he had misstepped, and for some reason the thought of being punished by the Alpha made him unbelievably excited.

“Daddy,” he breathed. “Please.”

Louis growled, then he said, “Open your mouth wider.”

Lestat complied immediately, and Louis spat directly in his mouth. His eyes rolled back in his head at the sensation, loving the way it felt on his tongue.

“Swallow. Now,” Louis ordered, and Lestat complied, loving the way it felt to have Louis’ fingers digging into the soft flesh of his face and jaw.

“I’m not gonna fuck you,” Louis said.

Lestat’s eyes flew open at that, and he felt tears gathering. Of course the Alpha wasn’t going to fuck him. What a stupid fool he was to think that someone like Louis would degrade himself with Lestat. Louis had always been kind to him, but that didn’t mean he thought Lestat good enough for anything more than some non-penetrative rutting.

But then his jeans were being undone, and roughly pulled down with his underwear, before being thrown over Louis’ shoulder to land on the ground a few feet away.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Louis explained. “I—I wanna make you feel good.”

“Louis,” Lestat hiccuped, as the Alpha lifted his legs up by the thighs.

Then he gave an involuntary little shout as Louis licked a broad stripe over his hole and balls, his huge canines brushing over the sensitive skin, sending electricity firing up Lestat’s spine. He dug his nails into the damp earth as Louis began to lick him like a man who hadn’t drunk water in a week, lapping up every drop of slick.

“So fucking sweet,” Louis slurred, sounding almost drunk. “Sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. Gotta—“

Then the broad, wet expanse of his tongue was working its way into Lestat’s hole, forcing him open, filling him and pushing against his inner walls. He couldn’t help it, his body seized as he’d been shocked, bowing as he painting his belly with come.

A cry of “ Louisdaddyalpha!” escaping his lips as Louis continued to eat him out, slicking covering his mouth and chin, some running down along the column of his throat.

Suddenly he pulled back and then climbed up Lestat’s body before plunging his tongue into Lestat’s mouth. His own flavour and Louis’ flooded his mouth, and he could feel his cock filling with blood again, as Louis’ own dick rubbed against it. When Louis pulled back, he got his hand around his and Lestat’s penises, squeezing them together.

“Such a big cock for an omega,” Louis marvelled. “Want you to fuck me with it, baby.”

For a moment Lestat thought he was hallucinating. This had to be a fever dream. One moment he was pining for Louis and now the Alpha— the Alpha of Nawlins— was telling him to fuck him? An omega fucking an Alpha was unusual, but an omega fucking the coterie Alpha was utterly beyond anything imaginable.

While Lestat was still mesmerised by the idea of getting his dick inside of the man of every masturbatory fantasy he’d had for almost a decade; Louis gathered some of Lestat’s copious and coated Lestat fingers with it.

“This way I won’t go too far,” Louis explained, moving so that he was presenting his heavenly ass to Lestat. “Come on. Get me ready, honey.”

Lestat scrambled onto his knees, his cock fully hard now and swinging as he knelt behind Louis. He hesitated for a moment, fingers hovering near Louis’ tight, dark hole, but then the Alpha pushed himself backwards and the tip of Lestat’s finger slid past the clutching rim. Clasping one slim hip in his big hand, Lestat slid the rest of his finger, up to the first knuckle, into that very tight heat.

“Oh,” Louis whine growled. “Yeah, cher. That’s it. Fuck daddy’s hole with your fingers.”

He marvelled at the sight, at the way Louis’ back arched as Lestat drove his finger in out of that clenching entrance.

“Add another one,” Louis instructed, looking at Lestat over his shoulder, long line of his back gleaming in the moonlight.

Lestat did as he was told, working his middle finger in along with his index finger, watching as Louis’ body opened further for him. He was feverishly hot inside, and so tight that he could not help it as he moaned at the sensation.

“Another,” Louis panted, working himself back onto Lestat’s fingers, while squeezing at his own cock.

Even in this position, Louis was rather forceful in what he wanted, but Lestat liked it, fed off of the thought that they were simultaneously dominating each other as they coupled.

Finally, he added a fourth finger, spreading them wide, making Louis shudder as he pressed against those silky walls. Lestat could feel his mouth hang open as he watched Louis’ hole flex around the intrusion.

“Fuck me now,” Louis husked. “Like this. It’ll be easier. Get you nice and deep, too.”

Lestat pulled out his fingers and then reached behind him, scooping up more of his slick, using it to coat his rigid dick, which was also wet from pre-ejaculate.

Then he pressed himself against Louis’ flushed hole, letting out a shaky, nervous breath. What if he didn’t satisfy Louis? He only had Niki as a partner, and while they’d always found pleasure in each other, Lestat had nothing to compare it to.

“Lestat,” Louis breathed, hand reaching backwards and gripping Lestat’s upper arm. “ Prends-moi.”

Taking a deep breath, Lestat pushed forward, and his eyes almost rolled back in his skull at the sensation of such heat and tightness. He had to push forward slowly in order not to climax too soon, but also because even with preparation, Louis was incredibly tight around his cock. The sounds the Alpha was making added to his need, layering upon one another in such a way that when Lestat was buried in Louis to the root, he had to still again and regain his composure.

“Ah, fuck,” Louis groaned, rolling his hips almost experimentally. “Feels so good. Move for me, Lestat. Fuck your Alpha.”

Lestat’s gums ached with the desire to bite the nape of Louis’ neck as he withdrew halfway, and then drove his cock forward. As he thrust, he shifted until Louis let out a gasp, and Lestat could feel the head of his cock connecting with that bundle of nerves deep inside of Louis.

Louis pressed his hands into the ground, long nails gouging out rich soil as Lestat found the right pace. Their balls slapped together, the wet sound of Louis’ hole and Lestat’s cock, mingling with the nocturnal sounds around them.

Lestat reached around, gripping the long cock hanging between Louis’ wide splayed thighs. What he lacked in thickness, Louis made up for in length. While Lestat’s own cock was eight inches erect, Louis’ was at least three inches longer, and Lestat near salivated at the thought of having it buried inside of him. He could feel the fat knot swelling, growing in his hand, and he imagined it stretching his insides, keeping Louis’ spend inside of him until it took. Like a seed in the ground.

Curling his hands into the damp dirt, pressing it into his palms, Louis let out feral sounds of pleasure as Lestat sped up his thrusts. Then he pushed back and lifted his upper body so that he was impaled on Lestat’s cock, taking Lestat’s hand with his own dirt covered one, he placed it at his bared throat. Lestat slowly squeezed at the long line, feeling Louis’ thumping jugular, and once again his gums throbbed at the thought of not only biting him, but drinking from the Alpha. Taking Louis’ elixir inside of himself. Using it to nourish himself. To nourish their—

Louis suddenly clamped down on his cock, a ragged cry escaping his lips, which were parted over his saliva slick fangs. Come sprayed up his stomach and chest as he ground himself down onto Lestat. A handful of uncoordinated thrusts later and Lestat coated Louis’ inner walls with his release, working his hips in circular motions as Louis gritted his teeth due to oversensitivity; although his cock was still half hard.

Turning his head, Louis licked into Lestat’s mouth. The sensation of kissing around Louis’ fangs was strangely titillating, almost like kissing some wild creature of the woods around them.

Louis eased off of him, and Lestat couldn’t help but swallow deeply at the sight of his seed running out of Louis. Then he was being picked up and carried like a bride on her wedding night. Louis sprinted through the forest until they came to a small cave, where a creek bubbled across rocks and pebbles.

The cave was cool and dark, but Lestat could see perfectly well due to his vampiric vision. Bats hung from the ceiling further within the cave, but he didn’t mind. They were kindreds of a sort after all.

As Louis laid him down on the cave floor, he made to turn away, but Lestat gripped his shoulders and shook his head. Those large green eyes, even more luminous in the darkness of the cave, the pupils having shrunk somewhat after Louis’ finding some release, searched Lestat’s face.

“Where are you going?” he asked, hands sliding inwards to cup the sides of Louis’ neck.

“I—“ Louis closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. “I was going to run.”

“Away from me?” Lestat frowned.

Louis’ expression told him all he needed to know.

“Don’t,” he softly pleaded, pressing so that Louis brought his head closer, their lips almost touching as he continued. “Stay here. With me. J'ai besoin de toi.”

“Tu ne sais pas ce que tu demandes, ” Louis moaned, his hard cock touching Lestat’s. “I’ll hurt you.”

“ Non. Jamais,” he sighed, licking Louis’ bottom lip.

The action seemed to trigger something in Louis, as he pushed Lestat’s mouth open, fucking his mouth with his tongue so savagely that one fang pierced Lestat’s lower lip. His blood welled up and spilt into Louis’ mouth, causing the Alpha to moan again and worry the opening with his tongue.

“Tastes so fucking good,” Louis said, raking his hands down Lestat’s chest and stomach.

“Alpha,” Lestat pleaded, sliding his feet up the backs of Louis’ calves.

Louis stared at him for a long moment, blood and spit glistening on and around his mouth and chin. He looked like some untamed vampiric ancestor, the ones who had roamed continents a thousand years ago, praying on humans without compunction. It should have terrified Lestat, but it only added to his desire, which he showed by pushing his wet ass downwards and against the almost purple cock below it.

“ Daddy, fuck me,” he was desperate, even more than he had been before, almost mad with need.

A low rumble rose up from Louis’ core and his hand closed around Lestat’s throat. For a moment he thought Louis was going to deny him, punish him, but then he snapped his hips forward, and buried himself inside of Lestat until his semi-swollen knot.

Lestat screamed, nails digging into Louis’ wrists, and came all over himself and the Alpha’s hands. This didn’t deter Louis, who began to fuck Lestat so hard that the omega’s back moved back and forth across the ground.

Louis was so deep, all the way up to the neck of his uterus, pounding against it so all Lestat could do was take it, eyes half open and drool dribbling from the side of his parted lips.

He felt like he was being thoroughly used, the rapidly inflating knot pushing against his rim, trying to force inside way so it could lodge in his insides. He wanted it so bad that tried to push himself down against it, but this only caused Louis, who could only concentrate on carving a place inside of Lestat, to grip Lestat’s hips so he was unable to move.

He realised that he was crying, red tears streaming down his temples and into his hair, from now overwhelmingly wonderful it felt. All he could think about was somuchsomuchsodeep on a loop.

That was why when Louis bit him right over his jugular vein, fangs burying so deep, he could only respond with a sound of surprise and need, eyes rolling back and another orgasm, this time mostly dry in regards to his cock, but causing slick to  out of him. Louis’ knot popped passed his rim and buried itself snugly between his rippling inner walls.

Seed, hot and thick, filled him until his belly was distended, the skin feeling slightly stretched and tender. It just seemed to keep pouring into him, stuffed so deep, coating his womb.

Please let it take, he thought blearily, his consciousness beginning to soften at the edges.

His arms slid from around Louis and then fell into a warm, deep hole of sleep.

Chapter Text

Louis stroked Lestat’s hair back from his face. That beautiful face, peaceful in sleep, long lashes fanning out on those high cheekbones, full, pink mouth slightly parted.

What the fuck had he done?

He’d forced himself on the poor boy, and the worst part was that’s he’d thoroughly enjoyed it. But he knew it was deeply wrong. Lestat had undergone a terrible ordeal, and Louis had been entirely insensitive to that, letting his rut addled brain take over.

While Lestat seemed to return his desires, there was no way of knowing if it was because Louis was not only an alpha and Lestat an omega, but because Louis was the Alpha. Lestat was young, emotional, passionate, clearly starving for love and care. Louis knew that Gabrielle de Lioncourt was anything but a caring mother. Much like Louis’ own, she seemed to hold an ill conceived contempt for the burden of motherhood. And there was something strange in the way she regarded Lestat, but Louis could not quite place it.

Lestat frowned in his sleep, no doubt dreaming of something troubling, and so Louis lay down and drew him into his arms. He knew he shouldn’t do it. He should take him home, and endure the rest of his rut alone, but he was too weak. He wanted the boy all to himself. He wanted to be inside of that body again, have Lestat inside of him. Drink that rich, divine blood, feeling it course through him.

He wanted Lestat to bite him in turn, but that would be the ultimate act of claiming, and somehow he felt afraid. Afraid to give himself over in such a way.

Just as he was about to pull away and run into the woods, perhaps feed on a bear or deer, those gorgeously vivid blue eyes were gazing at him as if Lestat didn’t expect any of this to be real.

“Louis,” he murmured, and he couldn’t help himself, he leaned down and licked into that full, warm mouth.

Louis adored how strong Lestat was, how big his shoulders were and how muscular his legs, those defined thighs that were spreading and welcoming Louis between them. That thick, long cock that had gone so deep inside of him, and intensified the waves of pleasure that he’d felt this entire rut. His mind was fast becoming fogged, and that was why he slid his hands under those high, tight asscheeks and drove into Lestat again. He let out a high, loud cry of ecstasy, nails scouring the flesh of Louis’ back as they established a frantic rhythm.

Golden hair fanned out around Lestat’s head, framing his beautiful face. His eyes were half open, staring into Louis’ own, his slick pink mouth open in an o as Louis took him fast and hard. It didn’t take long for his knot to inflate and nestle inside of Lestat, ensuring that his release did not escape once again. Lestat writhed as Louis stripped his cock, squeezing and twisting, until Lestat painted his own and Louis’ stomachs in come. Then Louis turned them on their sides, Lestat’s leg hiked over Louis’ waist.

They were both silent for a long time, but it wasn’t awkward. Louis had never felt like this with Armand. Armand always made sure that if Louis knotted him, it was from behind. He also never seemed to want Louis to hold him for long periods of time, preferring to get up and shower soon after they had sex.

Lestat, however, stroked Louis’ cheek, neck and shoulder, seemingly mapping out the feel of his body. He kissed Louis’ lips with tenderness, and a little bit of shyness, too, which Louis liked very much. He hummed in contentment when Lestat t changed their positions so that Louis was on his back, and Lestat was straddling him, languidly grinding himself down on Louis’ knot.

Louis sat up, hands sliding up the narrow waist and broad upper back, kissing along Lestat’s collarbones and throat. They both orgasmed again, but it was slow and good, different to the frantic sex of before. More like lovemaking.

When his knot deflated, he slowly pulled out. Lestat hissed slightly, and Louis moved down his body, gently pushing his thighs apart to inspect his entrance. It was a dark pink, still slightly stretched, the rim wet with slick and come. Unable to resist, Louis kissed over the tender flesh, then licked at it until he could work his way passed the muscle. Lestat moaned, hands cupping Louis’ head, fingers sinking into his hair.

“So good,” Lestat sighed, barely rocking his himself against Louis’ questing tongue. “ Oh, yes, Louis. Just there…”

He couldn’t have stopped even if he’d tried. The combined taste of them was addictive, he had to have all of it; and so he licked and sucked until Lestat was letting out deep moans, fingers massaging Louis’ scalp. Lestat came again with a low groan, thighs shaking.

Louis kissed him, lips covered in their shared presence, which Lestat eagerly licked away.

They held each other for a while longer, even though Louis’ mind kept telling him that he should end this, his body and instincts had decided that Lestat was his.

Lestat finally said, “What will happen after this? After we leave here?”

Despite that deep, rich voice, Lestat sounded terribly young and unsure.

Louis knew he should end this once and for all, but instead he found himself saying, “You’ll come live with me. As one of my omegas.”

Lestat looked at him with such openness, such trust, but when he said “one of my omegas,” he could see something in that bright blue gaze dim slightly.

“ Bien sûr , Alpha,” the boy replied, but his gaze had dropped to Louis’ chest.

He stroked the silky hair again, loving the way it felt beneath his fingers, and once again he spoke without really thinking, “Don’t ever cut your hair, okay? I want you to keep it long.”

Lestat looked at him again, this time with a slight frown, but then he smiled, slow and small, “As you wish, Alpha. I just want to please you.”

Louis’ heart clenched at that, and the way that Lestat really seemed to mean it.

“We need to hunt,” Louis said, abruptly withdrawing his hand from Lestat hair and sitting up. “I took quite a lot blood from you and our—activities— must have made you feel tired.”

A flicker of—what was it? Hurt?— seemed to flicker in those unusual eyes again, but Lestat only nodded and sat up, too.

When they both stood, Louis realised that they were both covered in blood and slick and semen. Although his hindbrain wanted Lestat to remain covered in his spend, he squashed the feeling.

“We need to bathe first,” Louis explained, taking Lestat’s hand in his, trying not to dwell on how right it felt.

Lestat dutifully followed where Louis led him to back to the creek that they had crossed many hours before. The water shone almost silver in the early evening, and as Louis looked at Lestat’s long, thick hair, he saw that the gold had turned lighter, too. The pale skin looked utterly gorgeous as Lestat washed himself with the cool water, and Louis wanted to tackle him into and fuck him all over again. Thankfully his rut lacked the burning mania of early, and he was able to control himself, although he did not stop himself from looking.

When they were both cleaner, they ran between the trees again, two utterly agile hunters. They eventually came across a large male bear, and through well coordinated teamwork, were able to take the animal down and drink their fill. Once again, something primal sang within Louis at the sight of Lestat’s lower face covered in fresh blood; and this time he could not resist pining the omega down and fucking him deep and hard as they shared slick, bloody kisses.

After washing off the blood in the same creek, they returned to the cave to talk.

“So I will live with you, Louis?” Lestat prompted, the shyness from earlier beginning to fade away, although he still showed Louis respect as his Alpha.

“Yes,” Louis nodded, as he and Lestat worked together to make a small fire. “You’ll have your own quarters, as my other omega, Armand has.”

“I know Armand very little,” Lestat replied after a few minutes, staring into the now lit fire. “I have spoken to him and his guardian, Marius.”

Louis was surprised by this, and he asked, “I wasn’t aware of that.”

“Oh yes,” Lestat nodded, as if Louis ought to have known. “The de Romanus family is one of the original families, like the de Lioncourts. As is my mother’s clan. As I’m sure you are aware.”

“But when would you have had cause or an opportunity to speak with Armand and Marius?”

Those cerulean eyes were entirely earnest once more as Lestat explained, “It was not long after my father died, and Marius visited the territory to electorate your father naming you his successor. Marius wanted to see if my mother needed anything. She told me much later that he offered to take me as his ward as he had done with Armand, but she turned him down.”

Louis frowned, “I wasn’t aware of any of this.”

Shrugging as he poked the fire with a stick, Lestat rejoined with, “Only my mother and I knew of it. And I think perhaps your father, but I am not sure.”

After that, Louis stared into the fire for quite some time, trying to understand what Marius’ motivations would be for wanting Lestat to be his ward, and why his own father had not shared this with him, when he knew Louis would be leader of the territory one day.

He belatedly realised that Lestat had gone to sleep again, curled up on his side, resembling a Botticelli angel all grown up. His long curtain of hair lay across his shoulder and chest, catching the flickering glow of the fire. Once again Louis felt that tightness around his heart, the desire to keep Lestat close to him. Always.

There was a fear, too. That fear he had felt earlier when he had balked at the thought of Lestat tasting his blood. He had never shared his blood with Armand, either, but it was not for the same reason. The fear of being utterly naked, flayed open and seen right to his very core, did not exist with Armand. He knew, however, if he ever allowed Lestat to bite him that he would be hopelessly lost, and he could not afford to fall into the other man in such a way.

He had to protect his heart.

//

The next night, they left the cave. Although Louis’ rut had not finished, it was far less urgent now, like a low simmer. This did not mean, of course, that he would not need to still slake his desires, but at least he could be slightly more clear headed.

Lestat spoke much of the way, and whilst Louis did not usually enjoy a lot of conversation, he had to admit that he enjoyed Lestat’s descriptions of things and his humour, too. It was clear that Lestat was very intelligent, and felt everything extremely deeply. Unlike Louis, he was not one to mask his emotions very easily or often, if at all. Louis almost envied him the ability.

When they reached the du Lac compound, Daniel was the first to greet them, raising an eyebrow at their matching state of undress. Those sharp blue eyes showed Louis that Daniel was very aware of what had transpired, not only in regard to the physical intimacy.

Then Armand appeared, dressed in a burgundy satin shirt and black slacks, dark curls perfectly styled. His face was a perfect mask as he took in first Louis, and then Lestat. His pale brown eyes took on deep notes of amber and yellow, but he did not comment; choosing rather to instruct one of the staff to bring robes for them.

Once he had kissed Lestat, for longer than he intended in front of Armand, Louis told him to follow a staff member to his new quarters. Lestat looked at Louis and then Armand and back at Louis, but he’d eventually followed said staff member.

Thankfully it wasn’t until he and Armand reached Louis’ room, that the latter almost hissed, “What, may I ask, beloved, is going on?”

Louis ran a hand down his face, suddenly feeling utterly exhausted.

“Do we have to do this now, Armand?”

He could tell that Armand wanted to scream, wanting to probably pound his head in, but of course, as always, he didn’t do any of that. Instead, he lowered his eyes, making himself look small, even though he had a few inches on Louis.

“I just want to know where I stand, Alpha,” was the reply, something almost fragile in his tone, although Louis recognised it was still tightly controlled.

“Lestat is also my omega now,” he sighed, sitting down on the bed. “I can’t send him back to his mother. It wouldn’t be right.”

Armand’s face lost all expression, became a well worn mask, “As you say, Alpha.”

“Armand, it doesn’t mean our relationship has to change. You’re still my first omega.”

“Of course,” was the reply, but it sounded hollow. “I apologise for questioning you. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

“Come here,” Louis motioned with one hand for Armand to sit beside him on the bed.

Armand complied and Louis kissed him softly on the mouth, “You’ll be nice to Lestat, won’t you? Make him feel welcome? He’s had a terrible time of it. He needs your help.”

That direct, tiger’s eye coloured gaze dropped to those elegantly long fingered hands, and then back to Louis again, as Armand said, “Whatever you wish, beloved.”

Chapter Text

The scream was ripped from his throat like something alive, clawing its way into the night. Magnus’s face had been so vivid—his touch everywhere. Tracing Lestat’s ribs, sliding under his arms, mapping his stomach, thighs, back. Invasive. Inescapable. His mind pulsed with sigils he couldn’t comprehend, symbols that had carved agony into his skin like burning slashes when they’d first appeared.

The bedroom door flew open, handle banging against the wall. Louis stood silhouetted in moonlight for a heartbeat, then crossed the room and climbed onto the bed. He wore only small boxer briefs, his tall, slender body on full display. Lestat’s breath caught—terror and desire pulsing through him in equal measure, heat coiling low in his belly despite the nightmare’s grip.

“Lestat,” Louis whispered into his tangled hair, “what’s the matter? Speak to me. Did you have a nightmare, baby?”

Nodding, Lestat opened his arms, and Louis pulled him forward so they were flush from chest to pelvis. Lestat clung to him, greedily inhaling the strong scent below Louis’s ear.

“I—” His voice cracked, hot tears spilling onto his cheeks. “It was so real, Louis. J’étais terrifié.”

Louis stroked Lestat’s bare back, his hands wonderfully warm and firm against Lestat’s cooling skin, chasing away the phantom chill with every touch. “Ain’t nothing to be afraid of now. Je ne te quitterai pas.”

Lestat moved his head back so their eyes could meet. “Do you mean it?”

Without hesitation, Louis nodded, wiping the tears from Lestat’s cheeks with his thumb. “I couldn’t leave you even if I wanted to. I feel this—pull.”

Lestat leaned forward, pressing his lips against Louis’s. Louis opened immediately, and their tongues slid together—slick, searching, desperate. Lestat felt himself growing wet, couldn’t suppress the needy gasp that escaped between their mouths.

The wind outside picked up, leaves hitting the window. Lestat jumped and pulled away, eyes shining with tears.

“Let me get you something to help you sleep,” Louis murmured, stroking his knuckles down Lestat’s jawline and neck.

“Louis—”

Louis kissed him again, just a soft press of their lips, a gesture of reassurance.

“I ain’t gonna be long,” he explained as he slid off the bed. “Just stay there.”

Lestat bit his lip but didn’t argue, drawing his legs up and resting his chin on his knees.

“Even now, you shake like a child.”

Armand stood in the doorway, dark curls spilling over his shoulders. He wore a loose sleep shirt, one smooth, dark shoulder exposed. He walked into the room, moonlight catching the unusual amber of his large eyes.

Lestat’s mouth trembled, but he lifted his chin. “You would, too, if you had the memories I do.”

Armand sat on the bed, too close to the other omega, and tilted his head with predatory curiosity. “How lucky then that you have a strong alpha to comfort you in the night. And not just any alpha, but the coterie alpha.”

Frowning, Lestat said nothing, willing himself not to cry in front of this unsympathetic man.

Armand traced patterns on the duvet, his tone deceptively casual as he continued, “So convenient that you were in the woods during Louis’s rut. Ill-advised, but convenient. You really are very clever, aren’t you, Lestat?”

Lestat ground his teeth, anger replacing fear. “I could hardly have known Louis would be going through his rut, and also out in the woods.”

Armand hummed, raising that amber-eyed stare to Lestat again.

“I wonder.” He smiled, but it was sharp, like a knife’s edge.

Before Lestat could reply, another voice spoke from the doorway. “Leave him alone, Armand.”

They both looked toward the door, where Daniel stood. He’d clearly been working late, which was not unusual for him, as he was still fully dressed in his daytime attire.

“I was merely checking on—”

“Skip it.” Daniel’s tone brooked no argument, his expression hard. “Let’s have a chat while I walk you to your room.”

Armand straightened, shoulders pulled back as he stared at the alpha. For a moment, it seemed he wouldn’t comply, but then he stood.

“Good night, Lestat.” His voice was saccharine, but his eyes brightened with malice. “Sleep well.”

Lestat only stared back mutely, stomach tight with tension.

As they left the room, Daniel grabbed Armand’s upper arm and almost dragged him down the hall.

“Stop tormenting him, Armand,” he ground out. “He’s a fucking kid.”

“A kid who managed to trap Louis between his legs,” Armand hissed, shaking off Daniel’s hand—though the touch made his skin hot and his heart pound.

Those pale blue eyes turned flinty, and Daniel backed him against the wall, hand flat beside Armand’s head, caging him in. “You’re the one who’s acting pathetic. What are you going to do next, piss on Louis?”

Armand tried to turn his head away, but Daniel gripped his chin so firmly it hurt. “Don’t you dare think you can ride that kid. I will destroy your little schemes so fast. Save us both the hassle and back the fuck down.”

Despite his vulnerable position, Armand met Daniel’s gaze with stubborn directness. They stared at each other for a long, heated moment, bodies pressed so close that the rough fabric of Daniel’s jeans dug into Armand’s bare thighs. Armand could feel Daniel’s breath on his lips, could smell coffee and paper and something darker, more primal beneath.

Armand almost fell over when Daniel stepped back.

“Remember what I said.” His voice was cold, but his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.

Armand was hard as he watched Daniel stalk down the passage back to his office.

He barely registered the cold wall against his overheated skin, too consumed by the ghost of Daniel’s grip on his chin, the press of denim against his thighs. When he finally pushed off the wall and headed to his room, his legs felt unsteady beneath him.

//

When Louis returned to Lestat’s room with a cup of steaming hot chocolate, the omega was still hugging his legs, cheek resting against his knees.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, setting the cup down on the bedside table nearest Lestat. “Couldn’t find the milk—had to search for a fresh bottle.”

Lestat looked up at him with those emotive blue eyes, like pools in his exquisite face. Louis couldn’t resist slipping under the covers and pulling Lestat down with him so they lay on their sides, facing each other.

“Tell me what you need,” Louis breathed in the addictive scent from Lestat’s smooth neck. “I’ll give you whatever you need. Whenever you need it.”

“Closer,” Lestat whispered, sliding his hands up Louis’s stomach and chest. “Make me forget.”

Louis couldn’t suppress a low, primal growl as he kissed Lestat, filling his willing mouth with his tongue, hands sliding beneath Lestat’s sleep pants, cupping his bare, firm ass. They ground against each other, making Lestat whine into the kiss.

The moonlight spilled across the bed, casting them in silver as Louis pushed Lestat’s pants down, leaving him bare.

Pulling back, Louis said, “If it’s too much, I’ll stop. I’ll never force you. I want you to feel pleasure. All the pleasure I can give you.”

“Don’t stop,” Lestat begged. “Stay closer.”

He kissed down Louis’s neck and chest, nuzzling into the dark curls there, inhaling his soothing scent.

“Baby,” Louis groaned as Lestat pushed Louis’s boxers down so they were both completely bare. “I don’t know—”

“Want to forget,” Lestat sighed, hooking his leg over Louis’s hip, sliding them against each other. Their cocks pressed together, and Lestat shuddered, rolling his hips to increase the friction. “Want to feel only you. Taste only you. Smell only you.”

“Fuck,” Louis grunted, pulling Lestat on top of him as their hips rolled in sync.

Their breathing synchronized, ragged and desperate, as their bodies moved together in the silvered darkness.

“Feels so good. So soft but also strong and hard. So beautiful. So perfect for me.”

Pleasure built in Lestat’s lower belly, spreading through his limbs to the soles of his feet. He could feel himself clenching around nothing, body remembering Louis inside him, craving that fullness again as they chased their mutual release.

“Can’t stop thinking about you,” Louis panted, head pressing further into the pillow, fingers digging into the meat of Lestat’s thigh hard enough to bruise. “About fucking you. Filling you with me. Making you pregnant—fuck, baby, want to see you round with it—”

Lestat’s orgasm was explosive—white-hot pleasure tearing through him. His mouth fell open on a silent cry, eyes squeezed shut, nails digging into Louis’s chest.

Louis let out a low grunt. Lestat felt warmth spill across his stomach, smelt the heady, unmistakable scent of Louis—salt and musk and something uniquely his.

Opening his eyes, he met Louis’s own, the green like emeralds.

“I want that,” Lestat whispered, eyes heavy-lidded. “Want to have your baby.”

“Les,” Louis groaned, pulling him down so they could kiss, wet and slightly rough.

Lestat pulled away, taking in Louis’s blissful expression—how it softened the lines around his mouth and eyes, made him look younger, unguarded. Then he moved downward, uncaring of their cooling come between them, pressing his ear to Louis’s chest. Louis’s heartbeat was strong and steady beneath his ear, a reassuring rhythm after the nightmare’s chaos.

“Rester,” Lestat murmured sleepily. “J’taime.”

Louis didn’t reply, but he held Lestat tighter, cradling his head to his chest like a precious thing.