Marcus gets handed over, but Jack makes sure he's going to be safe

Marcus was still sniffling as he followed Jack down the empty corridors of the castle that had once been his home. The thought of being taken away from the handsome, older man and given back to Lyra felt even more awful after the second session tender lovemaking they'd just shared. The moment when he'd kissed Jack right on the lips as the older man's thick cock filled his aching butt had felt so good he'd hardly been able to breathe afterward. Only now his handsome lover was abandoning him, even worse, handing him back to that awful Lyra.

Inside that little room where he'd given away his first time he could forget all the horrible things that had happened to him. Now he'd left that warm sanctuary, his mind just kept racing over how awful his situation still was. His home, the Castle where he'd spent all his life, was in the hands of these ruffians along with the Kingdom that was to be his birthright. He hadn't seen his Mother and Father since being captured, and he had no idea whether they were even alive. Judging by how much everyone seemed to hate them, he just knew something horrible being done to his parents. Were they being tortured...or ****? Lyra would probably love that.

It was all just too much to take, and he let out another hoarse little sob, tears dribbling down his cheeks. This time, Jack noticed, turning his head to give the young prince a sympathetic look. One of his big hands reached down to grab Marcus' soft little one, giving it a gentle squeeze. The young prince stared back at his handsome lover, his heart all hot and achy. Part of him adored the older man even more for noticing his distress, but at the same time Jack wouldn't do anything to help him! He just wanted the handsome man to sweep him up in those big arms and carry him away to safety. That Jack wouldn't hurt him more than anything Lyra could ever do.

"Remember what I said, alright." Jack murmured, his voice a little rough. As he spoke, his fingers stroked across the back of the young prince's hand, so big and warm. "It'll all be over soon."

"Yes." Marcus sniffled, wanting to be strong in front of his handsome lover, but just now knowing how.

"Come, let's go." Jack pulled him gently forward by the hand. Marcus shuffled after, his gaze on the floor at his feet. At least he was wearing something now. Jack had given him a light little robe after they'd washed each other in the bath earlier this morning. It made him feel a little less scared and **** now he wasn't naked anymore, but he knew the moment Lyra looked at him again with her one angry eye he was going to be cowering at her feet. It still confused him so much that someone as kind and gentle as Jack could be working with a horrible brute like her! He really wanted to ask why, but it felt so hard.

Jack led him by the hand back into what had been his Father's throne room. The pile of treasure from last night was gone, handed out like Lyra had promised. Marcus glanced frantically over the large hallway, searching for the woman he was more afraid of than anyone else in the world. As soon as he saw her, standing over at the far end of the room, his heart leapt into his mouth. She was directing a group of her men who were struggling to lift the King's ornate throne from its place there. Marcus trembled as they managed to carry it, shuffling away with the beautiful chair, no doubt to have it torn apart of sold off. That was his Father's! It was supposed to be his one day! Even when the people remembered who was supposed to be ruling over them and these awful ruffians were finally defeated, how much of his Kingdom was going to be left?

Another gentle squeeze of his hand made him feel a little better, and he shuffled forward after Jack as the older man strode down the hall. Try to be brave, he told himself. He was still a prince. Lyra had taken everything else away from him, but she couldn't take that. As Jack strode up to her, the scary woman raised her head, glancing at him with her one good eye.

"You're late." She grunted. "I wanted you here hours ago."

"Sorry." Jack shrugged his massive shoulders. "Got caught up with something." Still clutching the older man's hand as tight as he could, Marcus cowered behind his big body, trying to keep Jack between him and this horrible woman. He could already feel his heart beating faster, and the cold, panicked sweat prickling across his forehead.

"Is that so?" She raised her eyebrow. Her eye flickered to Marcus, going all cold and hard as it darted over his face. Why did she hate him so very much? "More like caught up in someone." A harsh, barking laugh escaped her lips, sounding like ice cracking. "You really have gone soft. You got my money at least?" She turned back to Jack.

"Here." The older reached down to his belt with his other hand, and grabbed a heavy-looking sack that clinked in his grip as he handed it over to her. She frowned as she took it, weighing it in one hand.

"Fucking hell, Jack, how much is this?" She asked.

"Five thousand crowns, in silver." The older man grunted. Marcus felt his heart skip a beat, a furious blush flooding into his cheeks. That was...a lot of money! Jack...was giving away that much just to help him? The thought made his knees weak. That meant...he had so much less left to pay! He'd be free a lot sooner! He wanted to jump on Jack and kiss the handsome older man right on the lips, but Lyra made him far too scared to do it. Instead he just clutched his lover's hand a little tighter, trying to tell Jack how thankful he was.

"That's got to be nearly everything you have, you fucking idiot." Lyra tossed her hair. Even she looked rather shocked and off-balance. "You know I can't take this, not for the likes of him."

"You'll take it, Lyra." Jack shook his head. "Use it to feed some folks who need it and knock it off his debt."

"What's wrong with you, Jack? Why are you helping him so much?" She snapped. "He's...one of them!"

"You remember what we spoke about last night, Lyra?" Jack replied evenly. "He doesn't deserve to get tortured just because of who his parents are."

"I know alright!" She gasped. "I listened to you, fuck I even told the others when it's their turn not to be too rough with the little shit, but...this, you're practically letting him off the hook."

"Hardly." Jack grunted, sounding rather annoyed now. "He still has fifteen thousand left to pay. Just take the money, Lyra."

"Fine." She snapped, slipping the sack of money onto her belt. "But only because it's you! The brat can rot for all I care!" She gave Marcus another ferocious glare, making the young prince tremble and cower behind his big, handsome lover. Jack was going to protect him, right?

"I know." Jack sighed. "Just...remember what we're fighting for here, right? It wasn't all about ****, was it?"

"Fucking Hell." She kicked the floor viciously. "You still know just how to make me feel bad, don't you? You're right, it wasn't. But that doesn't mean the brat's getting off the hook. Leave him here so I can find his next customer. Some of the townsfolk were talking about forming a peasant's militia for when those noble bastards come to try and root us out. I want you there to make sure it's the real deal. Sort them into those you think can fight, and get them training with the weapons we liberated. I want a iron core of men and women I can trust to stand against a line of charging knights when the time comes. The rest can run supplies or help the wounded."

"Right." Jack nodded. He turned, and his big hand slipped from the young prince's grip. Marcus felt like crying again as he realized the older man was really going to leave him here. He had to be brave though! Jack had already done so much to help him, not it was his turn. He'd be strong...and get through this, until the rest of that horrible, unfair debt was done with. Then...he wasn't sure, but Jack had promised they'd be together, right? "Remember what I told you." Jack murmured, just loud enough for him to hear. "Come find me if anyone hurts you, okay?"

"Yes..." Marcus whimpered sadly. That made him feel a little better, the certain knowledge that Jack was still looking out for him. He sadly watched the older man stride away down the hall, his chest tight and sore.

"Fucking Hell." Lyra spat from behind him. Marcus glanced back at her, feeling a swell of vicious hatred towards the awful woman for tearing him and Jack apart. "That man...he's the best I've got. Shit, he's the only reason we got this far at all. Now he's bleating over a spoiled brat prince. What the fuck did you do with him last night?" The young prince bit his lip, refusing to answer. The last thing he wanted was to spoil the amazing memory of his blissful first time by telling her about it. "Fine, whatever." She spat. "I've got a whole bunch of my comrades who want a turn with you, and they're not going to be paying nearly as much as he did either. You're going to be working off that debt the hard way, you little shit. Follow me." She turned and strode down the hall, towards one of the side doors, her bad leg still dragging behind her. After a moment's hesitation, Marcus shuffled after her, feeling rather like a criminal walking to the gallows. He had to be strong and get through this, just like Jack said!