Carrick closed his eyes as Russell's lips met his. "I wanted only to serve Sparta. I would happily have died for it. I was an honour to have been chosen. I did everything I could to be worthy of that honour." He mused fro a moment. Looking back,to have lived as a slave would have been intolerable. But then we Spartans have a history of dying before ever submitting."
He entwined his fingers with Russell's where they lay on his leg. "Mm. privilege without responsibility breeds only indolence. In Sparta only the heir to the throne was exempt from the agoge. Obviously werecubs and young witches were trained separately from humans, but was no less harsh an education for them. At least humans are born knowing their role is to obey orders."
He finished his glass of bloodwine and looked down at their joined hands - how Russell's sun darkened skin contrasted with his own pale fingers.