Page 50 of Reforging Onyx

Onyx scowled at Dominic. “Fine. But I’m not taking your stupid lessons in the meantime,” he retorted. “So you can stop bothering to bring those people around, because I’m not going to do it.”

His heart was still racing. He’d come so close to offering himself for something that should’ve been his by birthright, and in the wake of it, he was keenly aware of that fact. If Dominic had presented that as an option, he might have agreed to it.

It wasn’t a comfortable thought.

Dominic smiled. “No,” he replied simply. “I was thinking about fish for dinner? Or did you have some other preference?”

“I don’t care.” Onyx turned and stalked off to the other side of the room. He was agitated, and he couldn’t calm himself down. He just wanted some peace and quiet, some time alone. Why was that so much to ask? Why wouldn’t Dominic just leave him alone? “I want to go to bed in the crate. Not with you.”

Dominic leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs as he considered Onyx. “Very well,” he said after several long moments. He gestured to the crate.

Onyx hadn’t meant right then. He was restless and wanted to pace, and he was hungry. Getting into the crate right away meant he would have to be almost completely still, he’d have to skip dinner, and he wouldn’t be able to let off any sort of steam. His brow creased as he thought his way through it.

“Not yet,” he replied. “After I eat. Fish, or whatever, I don’t care.” But he would sleep away from Dominic, no matter how uncomfortable it was or how poorly he’d sleep after getting used to sleeping in a comfortable bed.

Well, he had to just suck it up. He’d gotten spoiled. If he wanted space, he’d have to get un-spoiled.

“No,” Dominic stated, a hint of irritation in the words. “You can go now, or you can sleep in the bed. I grow weary of your obstinance, Onyx.”

Onyx glared at Dominic. “And I grow weary of you completely,” he snarled. “Fine. Whatever.” He stalked over to the crate and got inside, even though he was already unsure of whether he’d made the right choice.

No dinner.

Discomfort.

But he’d have distance from Dominic for the first time in too long, and that had to count for something.

Dominic watched impassively, getting up from his chair only after Onyx was inside to latch the door shut and lock it.

Onyx got as comfortable as he could within the crate, closing his eyes. He’d just sleep early. He’d wake up early, too, and he’d be bored, but distance from Dominic would make it worth it.

At least, that was what he thought until the abrupt lack of sound from the room led him to open his eyes — and he saw nothing. He jerked up as much as the crate would allow, calling out into the unnatural darkness, “Dominic? Dominic, I didn’t do anything!”

Nothing.

“Dominic!” he tried again. “I’m sorry, okay?” He didn’t know what he was apologizing for; he hadn’t done anything wrong. At least, he didn’t think so, but obviously Dominic disagreed. Dominic going straight to this spell without pausing to even hint at spanking him first meant he was seriously pissed.

Onyx didn’t even know why.

Was it because he wanted distance? Did it really upset Dominic that much that Onyx wanted space between them? Fuck.

He tried to sit quietly, tried to close his eyes and put his hands over his ears so he could block out the lack of sound from the outside, but it didn’t help. None of this did. It only made it more apparent that he was missing his basic senses, and he bit back a whimper as the moments continued to pass. He wanted to sleep. He needed to sleep.

But he was hungry, and he was panicking, and he started pounding on the bars of the crate. “Dominic! Let me out! I’m sorry! I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry. Please, I’m sorry!”

“You wanted time alone,” Dominic’s voice came through the spell. “And so you have it. Go to sleep.”

Disbelief filled him, momentarily overriding the panic. He’d told Shane that Dominic was needy, and he’d never been more sure that he was right. Dominic wanted Onyx to go to him, and the fact that he wanted time alone, and space, was obviously criminally offensive to the older witch.

He took several deep breaths as he sought to calm down. He wasn’t going to let Dominic get to him like this. He wasn’t.

He stopped begging, pulling himself together with one uneven breath after another. He hated it. He hated it so much, but he didn’t beg again. He went quiet, and even though he had no idea how long Dominic would leave him like that, even though tears were still running down his cheeks, he stayed that way.

In time, he cried himself to sleep.

Onyx woke abruptly, unsure of what had woken him but instantly aware of the fact that there was still nothing but the solid feel of the crate all around him. No sight. No sound. Nothing.

He shuddered, despair already starting to creep into him again as he realized that Dominic had left the spell up for… how long? He didn’t even know how long he’d slept, and there were no signs of daylight creeping in.