The Gift

**I changed around the tags a little, mostly just some tweaking. Thought I would add a small warning to the beginning of this chapter. This story is not a harem, but that does not mean that the main characters will not have multiple relationships. The progression of this chapter was foreshadowed in previous chapters. The relationships within this story are part of the storyline and things that I won't change.

Now, hopefully you all enjoy this extra chapter.**

They continued discussing strategy until well after dark. They briefly touched on Caine's spies within the city. Caine was leaving them where they were currently situated to help him keep an eye on the nobles in the city. It would give them a heads up if another insurgence was started, though none of them expected it to occur any time soon after Gavin's display.

"You two should get some rest."

Caine said when he saw Gavin yawn. They had a long day ahead of them, starting with Caine making an official announcement to the city in the morning. Xanthe stood and excused herself. Gavin stood and started to make his way to the door. He turned to look at Caine when he realized the other wasn't coming.

"Aren't you going to get some rest, too?"

"No." Caine stood and moved to Gavin's side. "I still have too much to do, it'll be much later before I get any sleep. I can escort you to our new living quarters."

Caine opened the door and motioned for Gavin to go. Gavin had the urge to hold hands as they walked through the castle. He still isn't certain about their relationship, outside of the more obvious aspects of Caine claiming ownership of him. He also felt that hand holding was a little juvenile when it came to Caine.

"I am proud of how much you've improved. You've come a long way in such a short time."

Gavin felt his cheeks heat up from Caine's words.

"I just decided that I wanted the power to make my own choices. Maybe a little motivated by revenge."

Caine stopped walking and stood in front of the door to their new quarters. It was where the previous Lord of Dreymore had lived before his untimely demise. Caine moved into Gavin's space, his hand caressing Gavin's face.

"So long as you never forget that you belong to me, you can do anything, have anything."

They kissed and it was filled with unspoken desire.

"Are you sure you want to stay up while I'm in bed alone?"

Caine chuckled, "No, but as your ruler I still have things to do. I have faith that you can survive one night. After all, you managed six nights while training."

"I was focused on training then."

They stayed together like that for a moment longer before Caine broke the connection and stepped back.

"I have to go now. Tomorrow will be busy and your duties will expand the further we go, so enjoy these quiet moments.

"Remember to continue to seize your moments instead of sitting on the sidelines like you were."

Caine turned and walked away, leaving Gavin confused about his parting words. He understands what was said, but now is an odd time to say something like that.

Caine is such an enigma to him. His words say one thing, his actions another and then he goes and contradicts all of that. Still, none of that stopped Gavin from smiling as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Gavin!"

He heard his name shouted a moment before a body slammed into him, arms tightly embracing him. Recognition dawned on him, quelling his first reaction.

"Riley?"

He looked down to see a head of brown hair pressed against his chest. At the sound of his name Riley gave himself over to tears and he began to sob uncontrollably.

Gavin led him to the large bed and had Riley sit down, sitting down next to him.

"Talk to me. Why are you in here? Are you ok?"

The moment he sat down Riley was on him again, wrapping his arms around Gavin as he continued to cry. Gavin gave in and just let Riley hold him. He rubbed Riley's back and did his best to comfort him.

Several minutes passed before Riley's body stopped shaking from his sobs. It was still more time before he released his hold on Gavin and sat back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"You didn't do anything to apologize for."

Gavin reached out and wiped the tears away. "You obviously needed to get it out."

"I-I know that you're with them now, but it was a relief to see someone I knew."

"Why are you in here?"

Riley looked down at his hands. They were clasped together so tightly that they were mostly white.

"He sent me here."

That's when the lightbulb in Gavin's head went off. This is what Caine had been talking about. Gavin had a good idea of what was going on and realized that Caine had at least partially lied about working.

Gavin laid his hand on Riley's as he tried to reassure him.

"The first time I saw you I thought you looked so cute. Something about you made me want to hold you and protect you.

"I have the power to do that now. I won't let anyone hurt you, I promise."

Tears began to flow as Riley started to cry again.

"You can't guarantee that. Demons are evil, cruel creatures."

Riley looked at the mark on Gavin's chest then back down at his hands.

"I know what that mark means. You're as trapped as I am."

Gavin understood where he was coming from. In his short time here it was made clear that those living on the surface fear demons. Propaganda that had been pushed a thousand years ago to rationalize the crimes of Edicia.

If he hadn't spent time with Xanthe he would have continued thinking the same thing. Getting to know how the demons actually are changed a lot of his thinking.

"This is just a formality. It doesn't take away my choices, my position or my ability to protect you."

Riley shook his head, "Why would the hero want to protect me? Especially after what my sister did?"

Gavin put a hand on either side of Riley's head and moved him so that they were eye to eye.

"Because you're someone worth protecting."

Gavin took his chance and kissed Riley. No more sitting on the sidelines. Whatever the consequences he wasn't going to just wait for things to happen.

Riley's face was red when Gavin ended the kiss. He couldn't find any hints of anger or rejection, only confusion and possibly hope.

"Joelle said that a hero wouldn't be interested in someone weak like me. Even if I was a prince."

Damn that woman. Gavin felt his anger rising and tried hard to suppress it. He didn't want to scare Riley.

"I don't see someone who's weak, Riley. You're sweet and caring. You're also incredibly cute on top of that. Why would a prince even look at a simple hero like me?"

This time it was Riley that initiated the kiss. Gavin moved and they fell back on the bed.

"If you give me a chance I'll make sure that you never feel weak or useless."

"I'm scared."

"I know, and it's ok. I'm here to protect you, no one among the demons will harm you. That much I can guarantee."

The face that looked up at Gavin was full of uncertainty, lost, eyes bright with unshed tears.

"Will you stay with me?"

"As much as I can. I have a position that will keep me busy. You will be with me as much as possible, and when you're not I will make sure that you're in a safe space.

I lost my chance to be with you before, I'm not going to let a second chance slip away."

Gavin kissed him, a hand moving under Riley's shirt to caress bare skin.

"What if he comes back?"

Gavin smiled. It wasn't a rejection, merely fear that Caine would walk in on them. Gavin had a feeling that they had plenty of time.

"You don't have to worry about that. Focus on me, on this moment."

Then Gavin proceeded in helping Riley focus.

*******

At some point during the night Gavin felt Caine get into bed. It was a strange feeling for Gavin, laying between the only two people he's ever been intimate with. The only two people he's ever cared about, not counting family. Where did that come from? I care about both of them?

It took spending time with Riley for him to realize that he cared about Caine. How is this possible? Can one person truly care about more than one?

Gavin snuggled in closer when he felt Caine's arm laid across him, Riley moved with him.

The three of them lay like that the rest of the night. Caine was the first to wake up, even though he had been the last to bed. With the powers that come with his title getting a full night's sleep isn't necessary, he just prefers it. It is his quiet time after all.

"Have you seen the bathroom yet?"

Caine whispered in Gavin's ear when he felt him stir.

"No, this is as far as I made it."

"Come check it out. He's in a deep enough sleep that he won't wake up any time soon."

Caine got up from the bed, Gavin followed him a moment later. Before getting up he made sure to tuck the blanket around Riley so that it still felt like he was being held.

The bathroom was nearly three times the size of Caine's in the demon's dimension. It had a sitting area, a small table with a vanity mirror and stool. Clothes were hung up on one side. A shelf stood next to the bath with a plethora of soap options.

What was truly mind boggling was the size of the bathtub. It could easily fit two grown men with room to spare. They found this fact out when they got in after filling it up.

"It must be nice to be rich and have a title."

"Mmm, it is. I've been rich, still am in the other world, and have a title. You get the best of everything.

"Lower demons are in better shape than humans, though. All of my people have proper housing and running water. Most villages don't have running water. Hardly anyone on the first level here has running water."

Gavin felt it was ridiculous that the social classes were treated so differently. Caine grabbed a bar of soap and tossed it to Gavin.

"How about we pretend that you are actually my slave and you wash me?"

Gavin snorted and 'accidentally' dropped the soap in the water.

"Oops, the soap was too slippery. I might need my Masters help retrieving it since I'm so clumsy."

"I think someone needs to be reminded of their place."

"I'd like to see you try."

Caine laughed and moved to Gavin, who tried to hide his smile.

Half an hour later, their bathing finished, they got out and dried off. Caine was in the middle of drying his hair when he stopped moving.

"I think your prince is about to wake up. You should go to him, I doubt he wants to see me first thing in the morning."

Gavin laid his towel on the tub and moved to the door.

"Thanks."

"Just remember that I'm doing it for me. Every time I give you a gift I get extra attention in return."

Gavin chuckled, "So you're spoiling me so that you get better sex? You really are a bastard."

Gavin didn't believe it, but neither did Caine.

Riley was not awake, but he was in the midst of a nightmare. Gavin knew this because his body was restless and he kept crying out. Gavin crawled into bed and pulled Riley close.

"Shh, it's ok."

Gavin spoke softly while stroking Riley's hair, comforting him as one would a child. Riley opened his eyes and looked around in confusion before his eyes landed on Gavin. Riley's face grew red when he saw Gavin.

"I'm sorry…"

"Why are you apologizing?"

Riley looked away, his arm tucked close to his body as if he were trying to make himself smaller.

"M-my nightmare woke you."

"You didn't wake me, but even if you had I wouldn't be upset. It was just a nightmare."

"It's a s-sign that I-I'm weak."

Gavin planted a gentle kiss on Riley's forehead. He was at a loss as to what to do, outside of beating up who ever had done this to Riley.

"A nightmare just means you're human. We all get them sometimes."

Noise from the bathroom caused Riley to jump, his eyes moving to look.

"I guess that's a good segue way. That's Lord Caine in the bathroom. He and I share our space."

Riley looked at him with wide eyes.

"You already know I wear his mark, our relationship is a bit more intimate than that. You don't have to fear him. Caine was the one who told me about how easy it is to return to my world."

"The Demon Lord? Why?"

"Why not? I don't need to control him in that way. My methods are good enough."

Riley's body started to tremble at the sound of Caine's voice. Caine walked into the room and tossed a shirt and pants on the bed.

"I brought your clothes, figured I'd save you a step."

"Thanks. Since I'm being allowed to wear a shirt I'm assuming that today will be official?"

"We have breakfast in half an hour with all the captains. An hour after that I begin addressing the city, one level at a time."

While they were talking Gavin was trying to calm Riley. Caine was making sure to maintain eye contact with Gavin and not look at Riley, he's worried that one look will cause the prince to faint.

Caine lets out a loud sigh. "Would it help if you wore Gavin's mark? We have strict laws about possessions and no one would touch you. That includes me."

"I can do that?" Gavin gave Caine a puzzled look.

"Of course. The slave mark was invented by humans so there are no racial limitations. The mark was created to be strong enough to enslave demons."

Gavin looked down at Riley. He was worried about how fragile the other looked right now. He had vastly underestimated the fear that humans had for demons.

"Would you like that? I can vouch for the effectiveness of the mark if you need some reassurance.

"Remember, I won't do anything to hurt you and I won't let anyone hurt you."

Riley nodded his head, "O-ok."

He seemed to think about it for a moment then spoke up. "Will I-it hurt?"

"It might, but only a little."

Gavin looked up at Caine. "How do I do this?��

"Think about the symbol that you want to use. Don't make it too complex or you'll struggle to draw it. You will need to use your blood to do it."

Caine pulled out a dagger and carefully moved to the side of the bed, the daggers hilt held out.

Gavin took the blade and made a cut on his finger. He knew what he wanted, he would use his twin blades, crossed within a circle. Caine walked him through the words of the spell as he drew the symbol.

Once it was drawn it lit up and caused more than a little discomfort for Riley.

"Now everyone will know that I'm protecting you."

Riley relaxed, but he stayed in Gavin's arms and kept his eyes on Caine.

Caine took a chance and looked at Riley. He needed to get something across and refused to baby the prince.

"I'm not going anywhere so you will have to get used to seeing me around. If you can't get used to it I will give you your own space.

"Do you understand?"

"Y-yes."

"Good. Do you have anything to wear? I expect that you will join us for breakfast."

"I c-can put my c-clothes back on that's here."

Caine shakes his head and rings the servants bell.

"No, that won't work. That's only doable if you're out traveling. We have options here."

There is a knock at the door and Caine goes to answer it. Gavin smiled down at Riley and caressed his cheek.

"He comes off harsh but he's really not that bad."

"I want a dress casual outfit for Prince Riley brought here immediately. Before the end of the day I want all of the Prince's belongings brought here."

"Yes, sir."

"Now."

They could hear the maid leave and Caine shut the door.

"I'll never get used to the way humans react."

"I'm sure a part of you enjoys it."

Caine snorted and moved to stand next to the bed and next to where Gavin is sitting.

"You should help the prince clean up, his clothes should be here soon."

They kiss, both are smiling when they part.

"I'm off to check in with Xanthe. Breakfast in the dining hall at sunrise, don't be late."

Gavin was shifting Riley so that they could get up when the door closed, signaling that they were alone.

"There is a small basin in the bathroom that you can use to wipe down. We won't have enough time for you to properly wash."

Riley nodded and followed him to the bathroom. While Riley was washing up Gavin got dressed. The knock at the door came just as Gavin pulled on the last boot.

The maid from before was at the door. She barely looked at Gavin before handing him the clothes and scurrying off. Her face was filled with fear when he did catch sight of her face. I understand what Caine meant earlier. I am apparently looked upon the same as a demon.

Not that he could blame them, he had completely massacred twenty odd men single handedly.

When Gavin turned around he found Riley standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

"How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted."

Gavin laid the clothes out on the bed and motioned for Riley to come closer. He helped Riley get dressed.

"You like him?"

"Caine? Yes. He's done a lot for me, helping me with my magic and fighting skills."

Gavin ran his fingers through Riley's hair once he was dressed. Riley looked so lost and he wasn't sure if he could say anything to help him.

"I like you, too. Demon society is different from what you're used to. They're a lot less judgmental and far more accepting.

"Just because I like Caine it doesn't mean I can't like you just as much."

He pulls Riley in for a hug, not really sure what else to do.

"I will protect you, you will stay with me as much as possible. With my mark no demon will harm you. I can't make the same guarantee about humans. What I can guarantee is that I will kill any human that dares to harm you."

He moved Riley's head so that they were eye to eye when he said the last part. He wanted to make it clear that Riley was safe with him.

It had the desired effect as the corner of Riley's mouth lifted up in a smile. His eyes warmed and his cheeks turned a shade of pink.

"I believe you."