This (as with all the Intermezzi) takes place during the year between "The Phoenix Key" and "Deliver Me". You must read "The Phoenix Key" first to understand what's going on. These Intermezzi are not required reading for the main story.

These intermezzi are also to provide a relatively stress free enviroment for Trey and Ivan to play around in (because I know the main stories can get a little overbearing at times). Its also a good place for me to make them have interesting sex scenes (because hey those are the best parts of the story!) *laughs manically and notices Trey trying to escape. Pounces on him, ties him up, and throws him back to the tsars* Bad key! Go to Ivan's room!

Trey chewed nervously at his bottom lip as he stared out the span of windows overlooking the clearing and forest beyond at the back of the palace. An army of people swarmed about below him, shouting orders and curses as they worked to shape a hodgepodge pile of wood and colored cloth into a series of small stages and seats for May Day.

For Ivan’s birthday.

He sighed and rested his forehead against the cool glass. He hadn’t even known that the spring festival was also his master’s birthday. That piece of information had come from the servant Aubrey who had come in earlier that day all rosy cheeks and smelling of crisp air. Trey had inquired about all the noise he heard and Aubrey had informed him with a barely concealed grin of the impending festival. Trey had jokingly commented that it seemed a lot of effort for such a small festival. Aubrey had stared at him like he was daft.

The people weren’t coming to celebrate winter’s end. They didn’t do that until the first day of summer when crops were well underway and the threat of floods didn’t hang over their head. They were coming to shower their brand new tsar with gifts for his first national birthday celebration.

And Trey hadn’t known at all.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Trey blinked and turned, forcing a small smile for the fourteen-year-old boy. “I’m fine, just wonder how a man with little means gives a tsar who is going to get hordes of expensive things a gift for his birthday.”

Aubrey cocked his head, considering as he deposited his load of clean sheets and beginning the task of stripping the old ones off the bed. “Well, that’s all he’s going to get, you know? Things. I’ve seen plenty of royal birthdays and I’ve even helped catalogue the gifts these last few years for Vislav’s own birthdays and I know for a fact that most of the gifts aren’t even looked for again after they’ve been acknowledged. I suppose that means they don’t mean anything. In fact I doubt the tsar will get much of anything he’ll really like.”

Trey frowned slightly. “I don’t understand.”

Aubrey spread his hands. “It’s like with my family. There are ten of us and my mother was born on the Winter Solstice so she gets a whole horde of gifts all at once. I think she’d love all the gifts she gets but she gets so many that certain baubles and such that she would normally have treasured at any other time kind of get buried under the pile of things we all get her. So my father stopped getting her things and started giving her a different kind of gift.”

“What kind of gift?” Trey asked, drifting closer.

“Well, he snatches her away for dinner, takes her out on the town. Pampers her like a tsarina all night and . . . well, you know.” A faint blush crossed over Aubrey’s nose and he busied himself with collecting the discarded clothes on the floor. “She says it’s her favorite gift.”

Trey sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Its hardly a gift if Ivan takes it every night.”

Aubrey smiled softly. “But it will be a gift if, for just one night, it is given,” Trey stared at him and he laughed, “We asked our father once how he managed to beat all our gifts by just doing what they always do. He said it was all in the presentation.”

He was left speechless as the servant drifted out with his burden. All in the presentation? He flushed slightly. It would be something different from all the other gifts. He just wasn’t sure he could survive the humiliation of it.

“Please!” Trey begged, staring up at the grey eyed guard.

Byely glared down at him with his usual impassiveness. “No. No one comes in or you go out without the tsar’s consent.”

Trey resisted the urge to growl. “If Ivan consented to it he’d know and it’s supposed to be a surprise!”

He received a sniff. “Ivan doesn’t like surprises.”

“That’s beside the point! Its his birthday, he has no choice!” Trey snapped.

Byely ignored him.

With an exasperated grunt Trey whirled and stomped back into the bedroom where he flung himself down on the bed.

“Didn’t go well, I take it.”

He peered out from under his arm at the servant who was arranging his dinner on the table. “No, and now he’s going to go running off to Ivan to tattle on me.”

“Oh my, we can’t have that.” Aubrey said.

“I don’t see how to stop him.” Trey grumbled, pushing himself up off the bed and over to the round table. He sniffed at the assemblage of food, finding himself without appetite.

“I could tell the tsar that you wanted to attend the festival. It would explain why you wanted to see the clothier without ruining too much of the surprise.”

Trey snorted. “You think he’d let me go to the festival? Not with all those people milling about.”

Aubrey gave him a patient smile. “I rather think he would just because of all those people. Oh it would be unseemly to have you at the actually presenting of gifts and gathering of boyars but afterwards when they all move outside for the bonfire and party that those of us who are commoners have been invited to? I think he might be swayed to allow you to that. After all, what is the May Day celebration if not one of fire and pleasure?”

Trey dipped his head to hide the flush on his cheeks. He hated being reminded that everyone knew what the tsar’s personal firebird was used for. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea after all . . .”

Aubrey paused at the door and gave him a wicked grin. “I fear it’s too late for that,” he said casually, “I’ve already expressed your great desire to go. And I’ve sent your measurements to a very . . . creative clothier who outlined an interesting outfit for you that is almost finished and will be here tomorrow, just in time for me to get it fitted and touched up for the festival. The tsar will be very surprised, I think. Just try to appear surprised and grateful when he tells you since he thinks it is his idea to let you attend the festival and that it would be a wonderful May Day gift.”

Trey stared at him incredulously. “You what? When?” He froze, his mind connecting bits of information. His eyes narrowed. “Why do I get the sudden impression that you’ve just set me up?”

Aubrey blinked at him innocently though his smile said otherwise. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating. I’m just looking out for my master’s best interest.”

Trey snorted. “You’re looking out for your best interest.”

“You’re right. This birthday ceremony is going to make him cranky and I have no wish to tip toe around a cranky tsar. What better way to make him appreciate the day of his birth then by helping his favorite person in the whole world give him a most satisfying gift?”

“And how long have you been planning this?” He inquired, picking at the food on his plate absently.

Aubrey waved a hand lazily. “Oh, months.”

Trey sighed.

“I don’t think I can do this!” He hissed, hands tugging at the layers of fabric that made up his shirt.

Aubrey gave him a bland look and swatted at his hands. “Of course you can. It’s too late to go change now. Besides, you’d never get that paint off your face without that soap and I’m not giving it to you till tomorrow morning. Now stop fidgeting before you tear something!”

He sighed and let his hands fall to his sides. He felt too conspicuous in all the bright reds, oranges, and yellows that made up his clothes; too exotic with the golden highlights that had been brushed onto his eyelids and into his hair; and too bare with the translucent fabrics that had been designed to all the colors of the layers beneath blend through.

He felt ridiculous dressed up, like some foreign entertainer. Or a firebird, his mind added caustically.

“You look fine. He’ll love it!” Aubrey urged, “Besides, everyone is dressed up in every color of the rainbow. Believe me, you’re much more tastefully dressed then most of them. At least your body parts aren’t falling out of your outfit.”

Trey glanced down at his partially bared chest and over at the servant pointedly. Aubrey just shook his head. “We had to show off the necklace somehow.”

He snorted, reaching up to touch the heavy golden chain about his neck. The largest ruby he’d ever seen, not that that was saying much since he didn’t have much experience with jewels, hung suspended against his chest. What looked suspiciously like wings extended upwards from it and bore a series of smaller rubies up to his collarbone where it gave way to the chain that curved behind his neck. He wondered where Aubrey and Ivan’s other household members had found it. Probably in the stash of Vislav’s other cast off presents.

“That’s our call, go!” Aubrey hissed in his ear shoving a box in his hands and, before he could change his mind, he found himself shoved out of the dark corner they’d lurked in while Ivan acknowledged the presents of people of common blood and into the a sea of people who all turned to stare at him.

Swallowing back his sudden panic he straightened his shoulders. He told himself that no he didn’t look as ridiculous as he felt he did and that when he got out of this Ivan was going to have find a new servant because his old one was going to turn up dead with a pair of scarlet pants wrapped around his neck, and took the first step towards the slightly raised dais where a pair of emerald eyes were staring at him with a shocked expression.

Ivan had to remind himself to breath before he passed out from lack of oxygen. Or shock. Or desire. Or one of a million things that suddenly made his blood run both hot and cold as he watched his slave walk towards him.

Firelight flickered off Trey’s clothes, making the shirt dance with all the colors of living flame. It made Ivan want to reach out to see if the cloth was really as soft as it looked. He had to tear his eyes away from the almost too tight pants, glad for the long sleeveless vest that hung down to the heels of Trey’s black boots lest he had to kill those who stared at Trey’s back and got a view of something that was explicitly his.

The only thought he could formulate as Trey reached the edge of the dais and bowed deeply was that his slave was most certainly not wearing the outfit that he had approved for Trey’s Mayday clothes. The next thought that managed to permeate his brain was the wonder of how long it would take him to peel those sinfully tight pants off those wonderfully muscled legs.

He shook himself sharply and had to transfer the log of the night’s scheduled events to his lap. He was only barely aware of the man in charge of delegating the servants’ duty giving the required words about his birthday and gesturing to the box in Trey’s hands. The man finished his speech and Ivan forced himself to smile and thank him for the gift. He gestured and Trey approached him, head down. He could see the bright red flush that stained the bridge of his slave’s nose and cheeks and how it deepened with every step.

It was so out of place with the bold outfit that Ivan couldn’t repress a short laugh. Trey started and stared at him a moment before looking down at the ground in complete mortification. Ivan sighed and reached out to take the box. As he did he cupped the pale hands and pulled them forward until Trey glanced up at him nervously.

“Chin up,” He murmured, “you carry your colors much better than this group of aging peacocks and hens. Be proud of it.”

A hesitant smile blossomed. “Thanks.”

He turned the box over to a waiting servant and tugged Trey towards the small settee that had been set up for him next to the high chair. He forced himself to concentrate on the next group of well wishes that had approached him and not on the way muscles flexed and cloth highlighted the body underneath as Trey sat. He tried desperately to ignore the scent of cinnamon that his slave had brought with him and the way something glittered in the red curls whenever Trey turned to look at something.

Finally one of the servants drew his attention to the time and he called the audience to a close. Standing he accepted the torch from Byely and lit the first of a string of bonfires that had been strung across the kingdom, singling the start of the May Day celebration. He smiled patiently as a cheer went up and his people toasted him. They began to break into groups and the musicians moved in to set up for their performances, giving him a few minutes of peace.

He sat and turned to face the man next to him. Trey pretended not to notice his searching gaze but he could tell from the way he sat that he was all too aware of it.

“Well . . . this is certainly a surprise.” He drawled unable to resist reaching out to touch the shirt. It wasn’t as soft as it looked but he was distracted from his disappointment by the discovery that there were layers under the yellow hued one his fingers touched.

That endearing flush returned as Trey tried to shrug casually. “It is . . . unique.”

Ivan smiled and leaned over the arm of his chair. “I like it.” He whispered.

Golden eyes stared up at him to gauge the truth of his words and he couldn’t resist sparing a leering look. Trey laughed nervously and leaned back away from him slightly before a determined look passed over his face. He breathed in deeply as he leaned back in. Ivan watched curiously as Trey peered up at him through red lashes. “I’m glad.” He murmured seductively.

Ivan sat back blinking. Before he could reply to the strange change in demeanor the musicians on the floor reclaimed his attention. He reluctantly turned away from the enigma at his side and pretended interested in the dancers.

Food came around and he glanced down at the man at his side. “Have you eaten?” He asked.

Trey shook his head negatively and Ivan waved over a tray. Light caught the necklace about his slave’s neck and he reached out, gently lifting the pendant to the light to see it better.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before.”

Trey shrugged. “Aubrey brought it with the outfit. I don’t know where he got it.”

“Aubrey hmm?” He released the pendant with a brush of knuckles against the bared flesh that earned him a barely concealed gasp of breath. “So there are layers to this surprise then?”

Trey muttered something that could have been ‘You have no idea’ before he shook his head and glanced back up at him with a shy smile. “Do you really like it?”

If there hadn’t been so many people watching him Ivan would have reached and chased away the self-consciousness that always seemed to plague his firebird with proof of his approval but he was forced to satisfy himself with a warm smile and a brush of his hand against the bright red curls. “Yes.”

He was relieved to find Trey not so nervous after that. His slave even ventured down off the dais with him to stand near the bonfire that blazed up to the heavens and to watch the maypole dance. He partook in a few cups of wine, though Ivan was careful to keep an eye on just how much drink was passed to his slave’s hands.

The night wore on and the nobles drifted back to the palace to get away from the cold and common people. Trey was fascinated with watching the twirling dancers as they moved through steps performed for hundreds of years to celebrate May Day and Ivan didn’t have the heart to pull him away from it so he staid at the outdoor party as well, watching Trey watch those around him.

He was warmed to see the smiles come so easily to the man’s face. When a girl, who was probably well past drunk to have gotten up the nerve to approach them, caught Trey’s hand and urged him to join the dance Ivan had nodded at the hesitant look his firebird had given him. He watched as Trey moved through the dances he’d just watched, laughing when he misstepped and they both nearly toppled to the ground.

Ivan felt a sense of melancholy drift over him as he watched his firebird flit through the crowd. He looked so natural moving through the group, smiling freely at those he passed and sparing everyone who approached him a moment of his time. He looked vibrant. Confident. Alive. Ivan shuddered and turned away to deny the sudden wonder if it was right to keep such a creature trapped within four walls and alone.

“Ivan?”

A hand touched his arm and he blinked, staring down at the breathless man next to him. Trey peered up at him worriedly and opened his mouth once he had caught his breath.

“I must not have heard you call. Are you angry with me?”

He realized he was nearly to the back entrance to the palace without having noticed he had moved at all. Trey must have had to run to catch up to him. He forced a smile and a small wave as though brushing the thought away. “Not at all.”

Trey’s hand rested over his where he gripped the handle of a goblet so tight his knuckles were blanched white. Ivan sighed. “I am just tired. It’s been a long night.”

The man next to him hesitated a moment but before he could inquire Trey caught his wrist and gently kissed his knuckles before prying the metal from his fingers. “Then let us retire.”

He wordlessly allowed himself to be herded down the hall. It was true that he had had a bit too much to drink and he was bone weary but that didn’t stop him from wondering. He hadn’t called his firebird to him when he’d left yet Trey had come anyway. It warmed him a little and helped to chase away that nagging worry. Trey had been watching for him, even if Ivan hadn’t noticed.

And, Ivan observed as he was divested of his shoes and robes and urged up onto the bed where strong hands began working the tension out of his shoulders, Trey was acting decidedly odd. He promised to wonder more about it later, at the moment the circular motion being kneaded into his back was just too blissful to interrupt.

He must have drifted off because the next thing he was aware of was a firm hand manipulating his shoulder and no memory of having removed his boots and agreeing to whatever oil was making his skin smell like spice.

“I thought you didn’t like cinnamon.” He mumbled, trying to get up the energy to move traitorous muscles that had turned to jelly on him.

Trey did something with his hands that made his back crack and Ivan groaned at the sensation. “I don’t.” Came the short reply.

He was about to say something else but a pair of lips touched the back of his neck, sending a jolt through him that vaporized any train of thought he’d been following. He felt his hair pushed to the side with a gentle hand and a series of kisses began to trace his spine. Each one was like a physical blow that sent his mind reeling and his body trembling.

He should stop this. He needed to stop this, to take control of it. But he couldn’t formulate the necessary thought to protest let alone move. Hands brushed his sides and the kisses went lower. Teeth grazed the skin of his lower back and he couldn’t stop the slight whimper that escaped him. Was this how Trey felt night after night? So helpless? So trapped in pleasure?

To his relief his slave stopped, hampered by the waist of his pants. Hands ran up his sides to circle around and come back down his spine, making him shiver and gasp. He heard Trey chuckle softly from above him right before he felt a broad chest press against his back and a comfortable weight pressed him into the mattress. Warm breath caressed his cheek right before a tongue plunged into his ear, making him yelp in surprise.

“That tickles!” He complained, trying to pull away.

Trey murmured and buried his face in his neck, making him hiss in pleasure as a hot mouth teased his flesh. “Do . . . not . . . mark me.” He hissed through hitched breaths as teeth grazed his skin between searing kisses.

Laughter rippled over his skin. “Would serve you right after what you do to me on a regular basis.” His slave commented dryly but obligingly moved over to harass the curve of his shoulder.

Ivan snorted and tried to move. To his relief Trey rose up slightly, allowing him to roll over onto his back before sprawling out across his chest and stomach. He arched in surprise as his slave attacked his chest, teasing flesh with teeth and tongue. Desperate to find some reprieve in this new assault he buried his hands in Trey’s hair and tried to push him off. His firebird, however, had other plans for he went back with the push, weakening Ivan’s hold on him and right back down where his tongue delved into his master’s soft navel and tore a startled cry from the tsar. Strong hands held his hips still when he tried to wriggle away and he nearly gave himself a concussion when he tossed his head back against the pillows, narrowly missing the ornately carved headboard.

“Trey,” he gasped, clawing at the covers, “stop . . . for the love of the gods stop for minute before I pass out!”

Trey pulled back and his eyes were full of gleeful sadism. “If you insist.”

Ivan didn’t have time to wonder at the look for Trey stopped as he had promised but only long enough for him to yank off the long black pants and leave Ivan completely naked. Ivan yelped indignantly and somehow managed to escape the hands that snatched for him as he rolled off the bed and backed away, gasping for lost breath.

Trey pouted and stretched out on the bed, one hand coming up to play about the golden necklace on his bare chest. Ivan had to look away to get his thoughts in order.

“What has gotten into you?” He demanded.

A lazy smile replaced the pout, making his firebird look like he’d just eaten every last bit of magical fruit in the orchard and knew damned well he had gotten away with it. “It must be the fires of May Day.” He murmured, his hand slipping lower and making Ivan feel fires of his own flare up.

Ivan glared at him, waiting for the real answer.

Trey sighed and his hand fell away. “I wanted to seduce you for a change. Now stop ruining my grand plans and get back over here before I lose my nerve again!” He snapped, patting the edge of the bed.

Ivan stood his ground with a frown. “Seduce me? Why?”

“Because you’re always doing all the work. I thought that since it was your birthday I’d do all the work and let you relax. Sort of like a . . . birthday present.” Trey murmured, looking down at the coverlet where he had begun to trace half formed patterns with his finger.

Ivan felt his suspicion drain away and he laughed softly, moving back towards the bed. Trey stared up at him as he sat, cupping his firebird’s cheek and kissing the open lips.

“Maybe I like doing all the work,” he whispered, ghosting a kiss over the long scar that ran the length of Trey’s brow, “maybe I like you just as you are.”

Trey smiled shyly. “I tried.”

“And a very good try it was at that.” Ivan murmured, pushing his firebird back against the mattress and leaning over him for another stolen kiss. “You’re still my favorite birthday present,” he promised as he unlatched the necklace and dropped it over the side of the bed, “no matter how many times I get you.”

Trey chuckled and nudged him lower. “Then start unwrapping! This present is getting uncomfortable.”

Ivan laughed and obliged, stripping off the heavy vest and hunting for the ties on the multicolored shirt. He contemplated the pants for a moment. “I do believe this present needs a bow.”

Trey flushed brightly. “Not on your life.” He hissed.

With a chuckle Ivan worked off the pants. Satisfied with his present he stretched out, wrapping the warm body in his arms and shifting until he found the correct fit. They both hissed as their erections touched and he couldn’t resist grinding against his slave’s body. Trey gripped his arms and with a wicked grin Ivan set about taking his revenge on the pale skin.

He had to admit as he stroked the sensitive skin of the underside of Trey’s arm that his firebird took the stimulation far better than he had. He drifted lower and licked teasingly along the hot length between his slave’s legs, reveling in the keening cry it tore from the man. Cupping the heavy sacs he took the cock in his mouth, swallowing the thick length. Trey’s choked sobs urged him on and he set an unforgiving pace that sent a tremulous orgasm ripping through his slave’s body.

He pulled away at the last moment, milking the white semen across the tensed stomach. When the cock in his hand shuddered its last he rose up over the trembling form, catching the trembling lips with his own. Trey opened to him and he delved deep into his slave’s mouth until the cries softened and the trembling still. Pulling back he stared at the strong stomach. Golden eyes watched as he reached down and smeared the offering across the pale flesh.

“Mine,” Ivan hissed, capturing his firebird’s attention, “now and always. Mine.”

Trey shuddered and nodded in acknowledgment of the claim. With a dark smile Ivan reached over to the table to gather the vial of oil that had been used on him. Trey’s eyes fell closed as he tried to still his breathing but they flew open with a gasp when a pair of fingers entered him. Hips cantered to allow them to slip deeper. Unable and unwilling to wait any longer Ivan pushed Trey’s legs wide and knelt between them.

His entry was more impatient than normal but Trey recovered quickly, clasping his forearms as was his wont and throwing back his head in pleasure as strong strokes reawakened the fire within him. Ivan attacked the bared throat, biting and nipping as his baser instincts demanded. The cries that escaped his slave drove him furiously and he lost himself to need and dominance.

“Mine,” he growled, marring the pale skin with a sharp bite and a harsh sucking kiss, “submit to it!”

Trey keened and thrashed underneath him. “Yours!” He panted, arching up in desperation to do something to reach the peak he was being driven towards. “Always yours.” He promised.

Ivan shuddered and drove in deep, spilling himself and marking his slave in a way as old as the earth itself. He felt the heat between them loose itself as well and he collapsed fully onto his firebird, trusting the stronger man to bare his weight.

He dozed, allowing his body to sort itself out before demanding anything of it. He felt a hand in his hair, gently stroking the black strands and eliciting a purr from deep within his chest. The hand came to rest on his shoulder and pressed him firmly against the skin on which he lay. A heartbeat sounded strong and steady underneath him and he let it lull him to gratified sleep.

It had been a most satisfactory birthday indeed.