Once Kurt got past the gates to L'auhe, finding the inn wasn't difficult.

A covered wagon full of young human women and men and led by three Sidhe was not the kind of thing that simply escaped one's notice, even in a city like L'auhe. It had taken few enough coins in the right palms for Kurt to find himself at the proper destination.

The thing now, of course, would be finding Blaine.

Kurt walked inside, finding the place dingy and dirty, with a decidedly unfresh smell. The middle-aged human man at the front desk eyed him critically.

"You wanting a room, son?"

Kurt smiled as he approached him. "Actually, I'm looking for someone. I thought you might be able to help me."

The man turned his gaze from Kurt and began shuffling some papers. "I'm not in the business of putting my hands in other people's dirty laundry. Folks come here, they get their privacy. I'll offer the same to you if you want a room."

Kurt sighed. "This is really very important. I have reason to believe that a dear friend of mine might be here against his will, and I very much need to find him."

The man frowned. "We don't tolerate slavery around here, son. Our Sidhe are free. You should know that."

Kurt pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, giving himself a moment to just breathe.

"All right, look," he said sharply. "I'm not an idiot and I know that three Sidhe came in here with a group of humans under compulsion. You probably stuck them in your dirtiest room for triple the rate. Now you can tell me what room they are in or I can burn your absolutely disgusting excuse for an inn to the Gods-blasted ground."

On these last two words Kurt's eyes flashed like lightning, causing the innkeeper to blink rapidly before his vision came completely back into focus.

"Second floor, fourth door on the left. Room 12," he said quickly.

By the time he had finished speaking, Kurt was already at the base of the stairs.

Kurt found room 12 and pounded desperately on the door.

"Who is it?" Came a calm, sweet woman's voice with an elfin accent.

"Housekeeping," Kurt answered through gritted teeth.

"Oh, I think we're all s-"

Kurt pulled the dagger from his belt and picked the lock with practiced ease before flinging the door open, almost hitting a beautiful female Sidhe in the face.

Kurt scanned the room desperately. The woman was there with a male Sidhe – oh, and he was definitely the one with the power to compel, that much was clear from the way the eight or nine humans in the room were gazing at him.

None of whom were Blaine.

"Where is he?" Kurt demanded.

"I'm sorry, but who are you looking for?" The male Sidhe asked smoothly.

"You know exactly who I'm looking for. Where is he?"

The two Sidhe exchanged baffled glances.

Oh no.

Had he been following the wrong people? Was Blaine somewhere else entirely? Kurt felt panic rise in his throat. What if Blaine really was gone? What if he was never going to find him? What if-

"No...just give me a minute...please..."

The plea was just loud enough to be heard in the hallway. And the voice was unmistakable.

Kurt whipped around, hurling himself at the room across the hall. The two Sidhe from room 12 advanced on him quickly, and Kurt pulled out his dagger and held it before him defensively, while he slammed the backside of his body against the thin, cheap wood of the door to the room that held Blaine.

Kurt burst through the door backwards, stumbling to the floor, but managing not to drop his dagger. He scrambled to his feet with incredible speed and turned to the bed.

Blaine was pinned beneath a handsome male Sidhe with cold eyes. The man was more or less frozen with shock, staring at Kurt.

They weren't naked yet. But they were close.

It took a moment before Kurt could even speak. He stared at Blaine, unsure of whether he should scream or cry. Blaine stared back at him, his eyes thick with the clouds of compulsion.

And then they flickered slightly. "Kurt?" He asked, his voice small.

"Blaine," Kurt groaned, choking back a sob. He then turned his eyes to the man on top of Blaine.

"Get off him," he snarled.

"Or what?" The man sneered. They were on the second floor of a human-made structure, and there was no water for washing or drinking in the room. There were no candles or lamps burning. There were no plants or earth, save for what little their boots had tracked in.

The three other Sidhe wore looks of smug triumph. There was no anchor to be found.

Kurt reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass jar. It was swirling with fire threaded with streaks of blue.

His own essence.

"Or I'll fucking kill you," Kurt responded evenly.

The man leapt off of Blaine like he was made of hot coals. He looked at Kurt nervously as he edged his way out of the room. When he got to the door he flat-out ran. The woman had already left, probably the second she saw the jar.

Blaine sat up, staring between Kurt and the Sidhe that compelled him.

Kurt turned to the other Sidhe beside him.

"Let him go," he demanded.

The man looked at him, his lips curling into a slight smile. "No."

"Do you want me to-"

"I'm not afraid of you," the other Sidhe cut in. "I know what this boy is to you and he isn't just your pet. And if you make a single move that looks like you are going to uncork that, I will destroy him."

Kurt felt his blood run cold.

The man had him.

Because there are only two people who can break a compulsion. The person under compulsion and the Sidhe that had done it. And until the compulsion was broken, the Sidhe who had compelled Blaine had the power to snap his brain like a twig, to drive him permanently and irreparably insane.

Kurt swallowed hard and moved toward the bed, placing the jar back into his pocket.

"Blaine," he said softly, "please come with me."

Blaine's eyes darted to the other elf. "But...Sir...I'm with Sir now, Kurt. He loves me."

The other Sidhe smiled comfortably, making no move to stop Kurt from moving closer to Blaine.

Because clearly he didn't think he needed to.

Kurt sat down on the edge of the bed. "No, Blaine, he doesn't. He's controlling you."

"No one is controlling me, Kurt. I chose this." There was a resolute edge to Blaine's voice that surprised Kurt.

"Blaine, you want to go to Khryslee, remember? You want to be free. To be yourself. That's so important to you...you aren't meant to be someone's pet."

Blaine looked away. "I'm staying with Sir, Kurt. Please leave."

Kurt stared at him. He didn't seem to even be fighting it. Why wasn't he fighting it? Where was his spark?

"I believe the boy asked you to leave," the other Sidhe said.

"I believe this man is in no position to know what he wants," Kurt snapped.

"You know, he's telling you the truth. He did choose this."

Kurt snorted.

"I'm perfectly serious. He knew exactly what he was doing when he looked into my eyes. It was as if he wanted to give up control. Easiest conquest I've ever made, to be quite honest."

Blaine had shifted his position on the bed, and was now sitting with his back against the headboard and his knees up against his chest. He wasn't looking at either of the Sidhe.

"Blaine," Kurt said. "Please fight this."

Blaine didn't look at him.

The other Sidhe sighed loudly and strode over to Kurt, grabbing his arm roughly.

"All right, I've had about enough of this. The boy won't want you unless I tell him to want you. So I believe we've reached an impasse. Unless..."

Kurt turned to look at the man as he jerked his arm free.

"Unless you would like to discuss a fair price."

Kurt's jaw dropped. "I'm not going to buy him from you!"

The other Sidhe laughed indulgently. "Well, I don't see why not. You're looking to obtain, I'm looking to trade. And it isn't as if you can't afford him. He's already told us what you are. The only thing to settle is how much essence-"

"He's not property!" Kurt screamed, eyes flashing. "I won't treat him like property. I wouldn't ever do that to him."

Kurt turned back to Blaine. "Blaine," he said desperately. "Please. Please fight this. You're strong, I know you are. I don't understand why you won't fight this. I want you to come with me. Please come with me!"

Blaine murmured something into his knee.

"Blaine? What-"

Blaine lifted his face and looked at Kurt through the clouds in his eyes. "You don't love me," he said simply, his voice like the very sound of heartbreak itself.

Kurt stared at him. He swallowed hard.

"That's not true, Blaine," he answered softly.

And then Kurt saw it. The flicker in his eyes, the lick of fire parting the clouds.

"Kurt," he said, his voice shaking. "Do you...what do you mean?"

"He means he's trying to manipulate you," Sir said shortly. "Blaine, look at me."

Blaine ignored him. He continued to look at Kurt.

"Do you love me, Kurt?"

Sir lunged. He threw himself between Kurt and Blaine, taking Blaine's face in his hands and staring at him hard.

"Blaine, listen to me. I love you. I'm the only one that loves you. This man betrayed you, and you can never forgive-"

Blaine gave a whimper of pain, twisting to free himself of Sir's grip. Kurt pulled the other man off of Blaine and shoved him from the bed, hard. Both Sidhe jumped to their feet.

"Get out," Kurt snarled.

The other Sidhe laughed. "Or else what? I believe we already had this little discussion. If you so much as-"

Kurt punched him. Hard. In the throat. The force of the blow sent Sir to the ground, gasping, and Kurt whirled around, grabbing Blaine's hand to pull him off the bed.

"Blaine, we have to go. Now. Please."

Blaine held his hand, but resisted the pull. He stared into Kurt's eyes.

"Do you love me?"

"Blaine we have to-"

"Do you love me?"

Kurt tried to keep his breath steady.

"It doesn't change anything," he said.

Blaine's eyes were almost completely clear. "I didn't ask if it changes anything. I asked if you love me."

Kurt's heart was pounding so hard he was sure it could be heard across the city.

"I love you."

Blaine blinked once, and the clouds were gone.

Kurt heard Sir struggle to his feet behind him. Without breaking eye contact with Blaine, Kurt reached into his pocket and took out the glass jar of essence, fiddling the cork with his thumb.

There was a pause. And then the sound of footsteps rapidly disappearing behind them, as the other Sidhe fled the room.

Because clearly, he had seen Blaine's eyes too. And he knew that it was over.

"Kurt,", Blaine choked out, his eyes filling with tears, "please tell me you meant that. Please tell me you weren't just saying it to break the compulsion."

"I meant it, Blaine," Kurt said, his gaze and his voice both pulsing with intensity.

"Say it again," Blaine whispered.

"I love you." Kurt reached for Blaine's hand, and Blaine responded by squeezing so hard Kurt was surprised he didn't break his fingers.

Blaine's face broke out into the most radiant smile Kurt had ever seen. "Say it again."

Kurt couldn't help but laugh. "I love you!"

Blaine was laughing too. "Say it-"

Kurt pulled Blaine to him and kissed him. Blaine responded by throwing his arms around Kurt's neck and surging forward, causing Kurt to fall backwards and Blaine to land on top of him.

It was a long time before they broke away, kissing each other like their lives depended on it, like it was more essential to their survival than gravity or air. Kurt reached his hands up to cup Blaine's face, pulling back just far enough to whisper it again against his lips.

"I love you, Blaine."

"I love you, Kurt."

They fell back together, crying and laughing and kissing, neither one sure how long it lasted because time itself seemed like a trivial detail in the face of the joy they were feeling.

When they finally did pause to get some air, Blaine frowned.

"Kurt...the others."

Kurt looked up at him uncertainly.

"The other humans...they're planning to sell them. We have to help them."

Blaine leapt to his feet, his legs promptly failing him. He fell to the floor in a heap.

"Blaine!" Kurt knelt beside him.

"Sorry," Blaine mumbled, looking embarrassed. "I'm just a little dizzy...I guess I haven't really had much to eat or drink for awhile."

"I don't imagine you did," said Kurt, his brow furrowed. "They probably fed you as little as possible to keep you alive and used the compulsion to keep you from passing out."

"But Kurt, the others, they..."

Kurt pressed the bottle into Blaine's hand. "If anyone comes back here and tries anything with you, use this. And...don't look them in the eye."

Blaine dropped his gaze to the floor, looking ashamed. "I'm sorry, Kurt," he whispered.

"Don't, Blaine. Just...I'll be right back. I love you."

With those words, Blaine looked up and met his eyes again. "I love you too."

He closed his eyes as Kurt left the room, feeling like he was spinning. He was overwhelmed with emotion, incredibly lightheaded, and he had never been this thirsty in his entire life.

What had he done? He had let himself fall under another's control, he had let other people touch him. People that weren't Kurt.

But Kurt loved him.

Kurt loved him.

And even if they couldn't be together...

No. Blaine wasn't going to think about that right now. He had time to figure out why Kurt didn't believe they could be together, time to figure out a way to make it work regardless.

Because he loved Kurt. And Kurt loved him. And what could be more important than that?

Kurt returned to the room a few moments later, his heart heavy with guilt. The three Sidhe and the rest of the humans were gone. They had left the inn, taken the wagon and, according to the few people he talked to that had seen them leave, they were heading out of the city.

They weren't going to find them.

Kurt had thought about it countless times. About all the Sidhe that were still enslaved while he had managed to go free. About all those that he and Blaine hadn't saved, because they were so focused on getting Kurt to safety.

He knew how it felt to be the one that had achieved freedom, even though he didn't deserve it any more than the rest of them. And now Blaine was going to know what it felt like too.

Kurt didn't want Blaine to know what it felt like. He didn't relish having to tell him that his captors had escaped. That justice would not be done.

It was a sad, hollow feeling. And it was laced with guilt, because Kurt couldn't reign in the emotion that permeated him even more deeply.

Joy.

Because he had found Blaine. He had reached him. And even though he probably shouldn't have done it, it felt amazing to be able to tell Blaine that he loved him. It was as if a tight metal band had finally been removed from around his heart, and he was finally and completely alive.

When Kurt reached him, Blaine did not look good. His eyes were closed, his breathing was shallow, and his skin was unnaturally pale.

Kurt knelt down and picked him up.

"Kurt," Blaine muttered. "The others..."

"They're gone, Blaine, I'm sorry. But I've got you. I'm going to take care of you. Just...it's all right to sleep now, okay?"

Blaine murmured softly against his chest, and slipped out of consciousness. Kurt kissed his forehead gently and carried him out of the room, because he and Blaine were not going to stay in a filth-hole like this. Kurt was going to find them a half-decent Sidhe-run inn.

And maybe they would just have to stay in L'auhe for a little while. Because they were definitely going to need some time to get properly re-acquainted.

Definitely.