Tears of the Neko by Taylor Ryan Read Free Book Online

idly around from behind the
large man, and Kayden realized he wasn't a human but another
hybrid. When his eyes rose to the man's face he saw the brown
pointy ears amid the finely cropped mud-colored hair.
    So far he hadn't seen any other hybrids at
the manor, other than the few that were bought with him. And based
on the complaints that the chef had, he had not expected to see any
other nekos in the house. Maybe they were just banned from the
kitchen.
    "A gift for the master, huh?" Ellis eyed the
tiny creature huddled on the wall. He shrugged and walked toward
the male dorm room.
    "What are you up to?" Ysmenia asked Ellis as
she pulled on the leash to get Kayden to move back to the table. He
slowly perched in the chair as she shoved the bowl closer.
    Ellis smiled as he watched the young neko
reach into the bowl for some of the chicken. "Cat nap."
     
    ****
     
    Kayden jerked from sleep at the sound of the
door creaking open. He scented the air as a lamp preceded the man
into the storeroom--lemon and tobacco. He could tell it was the
sandy-haired one called Roman even before his eyes adjusted to the
change in light.
    He'd been locked back in the small storeroom
again after eating, Ysmenia rushing off to help with dinner
preparations. Even with the new shirt and pants, he still shivered
slightly. He never seemed to be warm, you'd think he be used to it.
He guessed it to be late in the night based on the hours that had
passed, and with nothing else to do, he'd tried to sleep.
    But now one of his masters was here. He
sleepily uncurled and moved to kneel in front of the tall man.
    The lamp was set on an empty shelf. "Well, my
little tiger," the voice echoed in the room. "Seems like you are
all alone."
    Kayden gulped, recognizing the anger in the
voice but not knowing what he'd done to cause it. Suddenly, a large
hand gripped his throat and hauled him up, holding him against the
wall. His feet barely scraped the ground, as he felt his air being
cut off. Instinctively, he grasped at the arm pinning him to the
wall.
    "Not so tough without your claws, are you,
tiger?"
    His nails had been cut to next to nothing
earlier, and he felt himself grasping at the arm with the pads of
his fingers. His breathing quickened in panic, sure the man had
come to kill him.
    Suddenly, the man attacked his lips, forcing
entry into his mouth with his tongue. As his breath was cut off,
Kayden gasped and the man gnashed his teeth against his. The sloppy
muscle invaded his mouth, scraping against his fangs. Kayden
desperately wanted to bite down with his small fangs but knew that
would push the man into a worse fury.
    He was suddenly dropped, and Kayden collapsed
onto his hands and knees trying to draw in air. He could hear the
man rustling with his clothes but couldn't think as he coughed,
trying to force away the blackness threatening to take over. When
he felt the man behind him, tugging at his waistband, he hissed
reflexively. Kayden suddenly struggled under the weight of the huge
man, memories of other men forcing themselves on him fogging his
senses.
    "Hold still!" Roman snapped, and Kayden
winced when his head was shoved into the floor.
    "You may be Damien's gift, but you're still a
slave in this household, and you will know your place. And one day
very soon Damien won't be around. And I'll be king."
    The pain of the man's assault on his body
kept Kayden from passing out, even though he desperately wished he
could. Tears streamed down his face as he waited for the man to
leave him alone or just kill him.
    "Now you know who's in charge around here,"
Roman stated as he shoved off of him.
    Kayden lay there, unable to move as he heard
Roman hitch up his pants and leave with the light. Kayden began to
wish that the man had just put him down. If Roman was like this,
how bad would the man named Damien be? He'd nearly died with the
agony and torture the hunters had put him through, he didn't know
if he could go through all that again.
    Suddenly, the light was