Athos rested away from the house again and when he rose, the night decent and ink-black, he didn't anticipate many problems. Then he got to the house and read Agnes' latest note – she'd let d'Artagnan sleep, he'd been a big help with the laundry and cleaning, they'd gone out to shop for smarter clothing for him and had been followed by a couple of Human Red Guards but she and d'Artagnan had lost them on the way home. Should she look into getting d'Artagnan registered for a gun? Or was he already registered? That was an idea to consider. Perhaps d'Artagnan could be trained physically as well.

The trouble started at the end of Agnes' letter. Something had bowed d'Artagnan's mood at some point during the afternoon. Whatever it was, he hadn't talked about it but it'd been noticeable. Athos frowned and spread his awareness out, d'Artagnan was sleeping upstairs. At least he was peaceful there. Athos occupied himself by feeding from the donors that Agnes had scheduled for him and then glamoured them to forget his location. He contacted the local packmaster to mention that Red Guards could be sniffing around and that he and his wolves should enjoy dealing with them.

Athos read through his emails and answered several military enquiries and a couple of biting accusations from the local police nationale. He was used to that and gladly dealt with them - Treville couldn't be expected to deal with complaints all the time. He was Directeur Général for the whole of France's Vampire population and while Paris was his priority, he had to think about the whole country and he couldn't do it alone. The Cardinal thought that the Red Guards should be permitted to help ease that weight more but Treville relied staunchly on the Générals under his command across France while in Paris itself, he relied on Athos, his second-in-command. Athos was honoured to be considered trustworthy and loyal enough for the position. He didn't attempt the work alone either, he had Aramis and Porthos.

Porthos and Aramis wandered into the lounge, having fed on donors themselves and then sent them on their way. Aramis was shirtless and reading something keenly on his iPad. Out of the three of them, he was the most at ease with technology's rapid growth.

"None of Milady's aliases have left the city recently," he announced with weary anger.

Porthos groaned and dropped down onto a sofa. There was blood on his cuff that he was rubbing at with a frown. Perhaps a donor hadn't behaved themselves. Porthos was usually immaculately dressed, he knew how best to clothe his powerful frame. He'd learned how to, wanting to do all he possibly could to ensure that he became one of the King's Musketeers, especially once he knew that Aramis wanted to become one and that Athos held such a position already. He'd more than qualified, his fighting prowess had only increased the older he'd gotten.

"So what's she planning?" Porthos asked. "A coup? Another attempt on your life?"

He nodded at Athos and Athos shrugged minutely. "Both are a possibility. Clearly there's some task she feels that she has to complete before leaving."

As a rule, Milady stayed away from Paris, conducting the Cardinal's business elsewhere and planning how next to skewer Athos. Athos himself often spent time preparing for whatever Milady's next move was. However it seemed that he couldn't ever be as ready as he wanted to be, d'Artagnan's attack had been a surprise.

D'Artagnan. Athos' brow twitched in a frown and Porthos noticed. "Something else wrong?"

Athos handed over Agnes' note. Porthos and Aramis read it simultaneously, Aramis reaching the end first.

"It could be anything or nothing. He grew up in Gascony, Paris must be quite a shock and the King and Queen are interested in him. And a very handsome Vampire with a dementedly dangerous ex-wife has taken possession of him. He's only Human."

Porthos cocked an eyebrow. "Mind you, it doesn't sound like he's scared exactly. He has lived with Vampires before but not like this."

That was true. Athos trusted Agnes' opinion on the matter and she would have mentioned if d'Artagnan was particularly scared or angry. She might like d'Artagnan but her first loyalty was to Athos. Truthfully, she was most viscerally loyal to Aramis since he was the one who'd helped her deal with the Shifters who'd wanted to raise her baby, the baby that they were related to. But since Aramis deferred to Athos, so did Agnes. Athos, Aramis, and Porthos had all claimed her but she was formally employed by Athos since it was his property. Aramis and Porthos also owned property in Paris, but those were kept secret. Every Vampire needed a safehouse or two.

Aramis left to meet up with some fellow Musketeers in town, Porthos went with him; he had a card game scheduled with some Weres. He was the most Were-friendly out of the three of them. Aramis and Athos could deal with Weres professionally but didn't seek out their company, unlike Porthos. He'd fought Weres on a couple of occasions though, Weres who hadn't been as Vampire-tolerant as they'd initially claimed to be. Porthos had emerged victorious and had finished his card game as well. His presence at such games usually strengthened bonds with local packs.

"If he gets too lively, tell us," Porthos warned as he left the room.

Athos nodded wordlessly. Maybe d'Artagnan's mood had been a reflection of how he was adjusting to his new life or maybe he'd only just realised how long Athos intended on keeping him. They'd talked about the possibility of d'Aragnan being turned by one of the three, but it was one thing to talk about that as a far-future emergency-only concept and another to actually face the truth of how long a Vampire's possessive desire could last. Perhaps everything was becoming more real to him now.

Athos buried himself in more emails; Treville had sent him a full electronic file on Général Bonacieux. That would make very interesting and informative reading. Athos sent a quick message to Général Bonacieux, asking how honestly comfortable d'Artagnan was with using firearms. He'd ask d'Artagnan too of course but he liked to get the whole picture and Général Bonacieux was unlikely to sugar-coat anything. As the pet of one of the King's Musketeers, it would be advisable for all their sakes if he was often armed and capable of defending both himself and others.

He was drinking a warm mug of blood and finishing an email to Ninon when d'Artagnan began moving upstairs. Athos paused and then continued with his work. Eventually, d'Artagnan appeared, dressed in smarter jeans and a button-down shirt that fitted him very nicely. Athos looked at him appreciatively; d'Artagnan coloured in response and cleared his throat. The blush suited him. Athos wondered what it was in his own gaze that had caused that reaction.

"Agnes and I shopped. Is this okay?"

Athos nodded, holding out a hand and after a minor hesitation, d'Artagnan stepped forward to accept it. He didn't flinch at Athos' cold touch though.

"When we next visit the King, no jeans."

D'Artagnan nodded and took a seat on the sofa next to Athos but he didn't let any of his body touch Athos. Something needled under Athos' skin. D'Artagnan's behaviour was a puzzle, one that Athos was determined to solve. He sent the email to Ninon, put the half-empty mug of blood down and turned fully towards his pet. D'Artagnan shifted but didn't move back. His mouth pulled downwards unhappily, he'd never looked like that before when talking to Athos.

"You don't want to tell me what's wrong," Athos surmised aloud.

D'Artagnan's eyes widened. Athos held up a hand and d'Artagnan stayed silent. Athos came to a decision and sent a quick text message to both Aramis and Porthos.

"That is unacceptable. So you're going to learn about my property."

He stood up and walked expectantly out of the door. D'Artagnan followed him, obviously bewildered and worried.

"You're not going to punish me?"

"If you don't tell me what's bothering you by the end of the day, then I'll punish you." Athos indicated for d'Artagnan to put on the pair of trainers that he'd obviously left by the front door when he'd come in from shopping earlier. "Did Général Bonacieux ever punish you?"

D'Artagnan looked both stubborn and slightly sheepish as they'd stepped outside into the cool night. "When I was younger, my father always disciplined me, warning me that his punishments were light compared to what the Général would do if she ever had to punish me."

His father had certainly been telling the truth; at least he'd never hidden from his son what Vampires were like. Still, it felt as though someone hadn't been discipling the boy properly. Athos led the way across soft grassy field as d'Artagnan continued his story.

"Then as my dad's job as Constance's day man took up more of his time, I spent more time with Vampires. Constance made sure that I spent time with her and Jacques and her subordinates so that I could experience what Vampires were like."

"I doubt you saw their true natures. The Général's subordinates likely knew they weren't to harm you in any way, no matter what you did."

D'Artagnan was quiet for a moment, then he nodded. He smelled pensive again. "I didn't see it that way, I got to meet monsters up close and personal and none of my friends knew the secret that I did. I liked that."

D'Artagnan looked embarrassed now, Athos could easily imagine him as a much younger boy, stubborn and proud, probably furious when his father's employer wouldn't flash her fangs at someone who'd upset him. Général Bonacieux evidently had a great deal of patience; it was unlikely her husband shared such a temperament.

"Has your view changed now?" asked Athos, coming to a stop at a drystone wall.

D'Artagnan frowned. "Of course."

"What were Général Bonacieux's punishments like?"

D'Artagnan shifted on his feet slightly. "She confined me to her property, sometimes to my room. And once she showed me a Vampire who'd been silvered for disobeying its Maker. She told me that I might suffer just as much as punishment one day."

Athos watched him, d'Artagnan's expression deepening with shadows. Was this what had upset him? The thought of such punishments? Clearly Général Bonacieux's decision to show d'Artagnan such consequences of disobedience had made an impression. It had been a very wise idea. So why did d'Artagnan still think that he could hide things from his Master?

Athos pressed a hand to d'Artagnan's face and turned his head towards him. "But you still disobeyed her."

D'Artagnan tensed but nodded slightly. "I knew she wouldn't ever be that hard on me. She liked my father; I don't think she wanted to upset him after my mother's death."

"Did Général Bonacieux ever punish your father?"

D'Artagnan's eyes flashed. "No!"

"That you know of."

D'Artagnan fought against Athos' grip on him, but Athos held him fast. "She wouldn't have hurt him, she liked him."

"I doubt he was her only household staff and I doubt she never punished them."

D'Artagnan struggled for a little longer and then stopped abruptly, fury rich in the air and digging deep lines into his expression. Athos continued speaking in a calm even tone, as though d'Artagnan hadn't moved at all.

"He might have become her friend, but he was Hers primarily and if he didn't fulfil his role to the degree that she required, she would have punished him, publicly sometimes. She is the Général of Gascony and cannot be seen to allow a Human to falter in her service without suitable punishment."

D'Artagnan looked anguished, Athos didn't soften his grip. D'Artagnan had probably gone through life thinking that he had a superior perspective of Vampires and that his place among them was superior in comparison to other Humans. Who would cross the Général of Gascony if her Human pet misbehaved? Pets were often spoilt and behaved accordingly, but their owners also usually punished them. Being confined to his room was an appropriate punishment for a Human teenager, but if he'd been mouthing off to Vampires, he'd needed harsher treatment. Athos was going to have a long conversation with Général Bonacieux. From all reports, she was a loyal strong Général and someone that Directeur Général Treville approved of, she shouldn't be giving the Cardinal enough rope to hang her with.

"I never saw any marks," d'Artagnan said dully, misery thick in his scent.

Athos released him but stayed close. "I doubt she would have physically punished him. Did he accept Vampire blood for healing?"

"Sometimes, he said he didn't..." d'Artagnan paused, his words highlighted by the salt of tears. "He said he didn't want me to lose both parents."

Athos nodded, not giving d'Artagnan any privacy as he composed himself. Perhaps this was the root of d'Artagnan's mood. Grief didn't disappear overnight, no matter how much the boy might have wished it.

"Why do you think he wasn't punished physically?" asked d'Artagnan abruptly.

"Général Bonacieux valued him; her affection for him has always been unhidden when she talks about him. If your father sometimes took Vampire blood, it was probably for particularly bad injuries gained in the Général's service. She didn't want to lose him or drive him away. She would have punished him by docking his pay, perhaps keeping him from you for several days, sending him on trips to places he didn't enjoy. Just because they weren't physical doesn't mean they weren't painful for him."

D'Artagnan wiped his face and looked considering. "Sometimes I didn't see him for a few days, Constance always said that he was on business for her."

"Her husband probably thought you and your father should have been punished more harshly."

D'Artagnan grimaced. "He's less of a fan of Humans than Constance. I know something happened before I knew them and he thought that if we were Constance's pets, we should be punished properly and that she and he should be feeding from us."

It was probably a good thing for the Général's marriage and for her husband's continued existence that d'Artagnan wasn't living there anymore. Athos glanced across his land, he hadn't allowed a Human to sleep in any of his houses for several centuries and even then, they'd been people his Maker had trusted. He'd never rested in the same house as a Human.

"She trusts you a great deal."

D'Artagnan nodded, his expression revealing that he knew all about the secrecy of resting places and properties bought under different names. "Sometimes I think it's only because she liked my dad so much, like maybe I'm a debt she's still repaying."

That was more than possible. "Your father did die while working for her."

D'Artagnan made a soft noise and Athos let the silence fall for a little while. D'Artagnan's emotions were so raw, he'd clearly been suppressing them since his attempt to end Athos had been foiled. He hadn't lied to Athos since then, but he had kept things from him. That couldn't happen, coups had happened because of pets' deceit.

Athos broke the silence. "If you continue to keep things from me, I will punish you and it will be physical."

D'Artagnan's eyes were wide. "I haven't kept anything-."

Athos wrapped a strong hand around d'Artagnan's throat, holding him just tight enough to make breathing difficult. "You've been angry and upset today and you haven't revealed why. I think you've felt like this in some way since trying to kill me."

He loosened his grip and d'Artagnan rubbed at his throat, grimacing. "Agnes told you?"

Athos looked at him. "She's Mine, her first loyalty is to me."

The silence engulfed them. Athos wondered if d'Artagnan had decided that this was all too much. The idea hurt. If it was true, Athos would allow d'Artagnan to serve out his punishment and then return to Gascony. He hoped strongly that d'Artagnan had other ideas. Athos wouldn't go easy on him though, he had been taught better than that.

"Porthos told me that, for security, he and Aramis don't have male lovers." d'Artagnan chewed his lip for a second. "When Agnes and I were stripping beds down for laundry, she said something about how she can always tell when you've spent the night with them."

Athos' eyebrows rose, his expression sliding into amused. D'Artagnan was jealous? D'Artagnan scowled at the look on Athos' face.

"I haven't been lying to you, but Porthos lied to me."

Athos smoothed a hand down d'Artagnan's arm, watching as his pet twitched a little at the contact as though he didn't want to enjoy it but did anyway.

"Porthos and Aramis used to take male lovers, until one night ended extremely badly."

"How badly?"

In a flash, Athos vividly remembered Aramis covered in blood, the furious call from Marsac's Maker, how it had taken Aramis several years to recover, Porthos by his side and Athos when he was needed.

"Aramis was forced to end one of his closest friends."

D'Artagnan's face dropped and Athos continued. "Porthos and Aramis think that I would be less tense if I had more sex and me joining them for a fuck makes them happy."

"But you enjoy it too."

Athos smiled. Those were better memories. "I do."

D'Artagnan looked confused. "So why aren't you with them all the time?"

Athos was filled with dry amusement. He forgot sometimes the narrowness of a Human's perspective. He wondered suddenly about Général Bonacieux's relationship with her husband. It might explain a lot about d'Artagnan's discomfort.

"They are my brothers in all things, but I have no desire to share their bed every night or even every week. And they don't always want me there either; they have other interests to sate them."

D'Artagnan looked so puzzled that Athos chuckled; he waved away d'Artagnan's offended expression. "Your Général and her husband, they never take lovers?"

"No, Constance was clear about that."

"She also told you how rare such monogamy is among Vampires?"

D'Artagnan sort of shrugged, his expression turned away from Athos. Athos reached out and tucked a strand of d'Artagnan's hair behind his ear. There was an innocence buried under d'Artagnan's lifelong experience of Vampires, it was quite attractive. No doubt Général Bonacieux had found it compelling too and had sought to protect it. An understandable decision, but not the best one, not for d'Artagnan in the long run.

Athos tugged lightly on d'Artagnan's hair to recapture his attention. "We live so long, our expectations of 'relationships' are different. Porthos and Aramis are devoted to one another but they also do not deny themselves what they want. Why should they?"

"They're devoted to you too."

Athos smiled, thinking about the two Vampires he'd come to love fiercely. It was not a bond easily explained, particularly to a Human.

"We are devoted to each other, but that means many different things."

"You're not upset? Or jealous?"

Athos laughed a little. "I'm possessive of what's mine, like every Vampire should be. So little lasts in this world, we hold tightly to the things that remain with us. I am theirs and they are mine, but our hold on each other is not defined by how often we fuck."

He palmed d'Artagnan's cheek, willing the boy to look him in the eye, to truly hear this. "I will not fuck any Human but you for as long as you're Mine."

D'Artagnan looked taken aback and then his fire dulled again. "No Human, so…"

"You will be told many times how much I enjoy solitude. Aramis and Porthos refuse to listen to me though and I share their bed whenever I want to," he paused before delivering news that he was sure would get a reaction. "They hope that you will join us at least once."

D'Artagnan choked on thin air and Athos didn't bother to hide his smile. It was a wonderful thought, d'Artagnan being undone by Aramis and Porthos. What a sight that would be. D'Artagnan blushed but he smelled magnificently aroused. Athos pulled him close and nuzzled at his neck, his fangs running down as he heard the pulse of blood.

"It really is only them?"

Athos pulled back a little to stare at him. "Do I strike you as the sort of person that others seek out for company?"

D'Artagnan laughed and didn't look sorry about it. Good. Athos bit almost playfully at his neck, careful not to break the skin. He enjoyed the gasp he heard so loudly. There was still more to say though.

"I'm assuming the only Vampire attachment you've properly witnessed was the one between your Général and her husband."

"I saw other Vampires with their pets."

D'Artagnan paused then but Athos squeezed him warningly. "What did you see?"

D'Artagnan's words were like a sigh but he didn't stop talking now. He obeyed.