Alliance (3 page)

“So Seran definitely has another with him.” Ryneq sighed, finally pulling out a chair and settling heavily onto the worn wood. “I was hoping the one in Alel had been lying.” His eyes felt heavy, his whole body ached from being on Fimor’s back for most of the day and night, and Ryneq knew that everyone around the table probably felt exactly the same. Maybe he should have left this until the morning after all.

“Unfortunately not, Sire.”

“What about the guard patrols?” Ryneq asked, looking at Nysad who sat next to Eldin, a streak of dirt down the side of his face, and his black hair stuck to his head in several places. “Anything new to report?”

Nysad shook his head. “No change, Sire. There’s been no attempt to cross the border since Seran’s army started to arrive, and no sign they even come near it to scout out our defenses.”

Ryneq nodded. Seran should have attacked already. If the witch was anything like the other, she would know Torsere had no magical protection yet. There was only one reason he could think of for Seran to delay. “He hasn’t got all his men here yet.” He shot a quick glance over to Nykin, and from the look on his face, he’d come to the same conclusion. Ryneq let his gaze linger for a moment longer. Nykin looked exhausted, and Ryneq had the sudden urge to just grab him and take him back to their quarters.

“Sire, if Seran is waiting for the armies of both Athisi and Rodeth to arrive, then that will hopefully take a few more days yet.”

“Agreed.” Ryneq sat back in his chair and shook his head. “I never thought I’d actually be hoping for
more
enemy soldiers to be camped on our borders. But we need all the time we can get. Okay.” Ryneq clapped his hands, startling a few around the table. “There’s not a lot we can do until the elves arrive, so I don’t see much point discussing anything further until we’ve all had some sleep.” He stood up, noting the relieved smile on Nykin’s face. It had been far too long since they’d been in their own bed. “Please help yourself to food and wine before you retire for the night, or what’s left of it.” He gestured to the heavily laden food carts, then pushed back his chair and stood to head over to them.

A few tired sighs sounded behind him, followed by the scraping of chairs and hushed voices as everyone got up to follow his example. Ryneq had begun to fill his plate with meat and bread when Nykin appeared at his shoulder.

“Hmm… that smells good.” He leaned a little closer into Ryneq’s space, reaching over to grab some for himself. “Don’t take too long to eat it, though. I can hear our bed calling.” He whispered the words low enough for only Ryneq to hear as he took a roll and placed it on his plate. Ryneq smiled as he watched Nykin turn and walk away.

They’d come a long way in the past few weeks. Nykin was nowhere near as reserved and quiet as he’d been when Ryneq had first met him. But, then, Nykin had been a dragon rider in his army, and Ryneq his king.

Their imprisonment in Risvery had been the beginning of their relationship, and although Ryneq would never be thankful that they’d had to go through that—Nykin had almost
died
—he wasn’t naive enough to think they’d be where they were now if fate hadn’t forced them together. The announcement ceremony and their time together in Alel had stripped away nearly all the power imbalance, though, and Ryneq hoped Nykin had started to feel more like his equal than one of his subjects.

Nykin looked up, as though feeling Ryneq’s eyes on him, and raised an eyebrow when he saw Ryneq hadn’t moved from the food table.

Ryneq felt tired and hungry, his nerves starting to fray at the edges with the way their hands were tied. His kingdom sat poised on the edge of all-out war, with nothing to be done until the ships arrived from Alel. That wouldn’t be for another day or more yet, though, and Ryneq needed something to take the edge off. His gaze slid down Nykin’s body, and judging from the way Nykin’s leg bounced under the table, Ryneq wasn’t the only one feeling that way. Besides, who knew when they’d get the chance to be together again once Seran had all his men assembled?

He smiled at Nykin and reached for another roll to add to his plate. Just because he was as eager to get back to their rooms as Nykin didn’t mean he couldn’t eat first. After a day’s traveling with little food, his stomach felt empty.

Nykin turned to talk to Eldin and set down his plate on the table. He adjusted the collar of his rider’s jacket, loosening it enough to show off the barest glimpse of his collarbone, all the while deep in conversation. The sliver of sun-kissed skin looked incredibly tempting, and Ryneq imagined putting his mouth all over it. He glanced around the room. Everyone looked more relaxed in his presence than he’d ever seen them before—a testament to just how tired they were.

Selene and Lerran had taken their seats again, and Ryneq decided to join them. Lerran had had the privilege of riding a dragon—something that usually only a born dragon rider got to do—and Ryneq wanted to know what Lerran thought of it all. He’d have Eldin gently remind Selene that just because it had happened once didn’t give her free rein to take Lerran out on Kalesh whenever she pleased. But that could wait until later.

They both looked up when Ryneq pulled out the chair next to Selene and sat down. He stretched a little in his seat, sighing at the satisfying crack in his spine before smiling to put them at ease. “Riding a dragon all day is somewhat different from riding a horse, is it not, Lerran?”

Lerran laughed softly and nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. And far less comfortable. I fear my back will be protesting greatly by morning.” Despite his words, Lerran appeared to be unaffected by their journey.
He sprawled easily in the chair, showing no signs of discomfort
whatsoever.

He sat closer than necessary to Selene, and Ryneq noted the way their thighs brushed under the table. He had to admit they made a striking couple—their dark hair almost matching in shade, and Lerran’s fine, elven features made him as easy on the eye as Selene. But Ryneq worried about what lay ahead for them after this was all over. He refused to consider the possibility that either of them might not make it out alive. He’d lost enough people to Seran already, and he didn’t plan on losing any more.

“I wanted to thank you again, Your Highness.” Lerran’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “I realize that letting me ride with Selene went against all of your traditions, and I am greatly honored to have had the experience. It was….” His blue eyes were suddenly ringed with purple, and Ryneq felt the gentle press of magic along his skin. Selene gasped beside him, and then the feeling was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Lerran’s eyes were back to normal, but his cheeks were flushed. “Forgive me, Sire. My magic is a little hard to contain after being in such close proximity to Kalesh for all that time.”

Ryneq, although no stranger to elf magic, was rarely on the receiving end of it. “I understand. There’s no need to apologize.”

Lerran smiled his thanks. “Her magic is old, and more than a little overwhelming. But being up in the air surrounded by it was the most amazing feeling.”

Selene beamed next to him, her hand placed proprietarily on Lerran’s thigh, and Ryneq suddenly felt as though he was intruding on something. He needed to find his own lover—for he had no doubt that’s what Selene and Lerran were now.

Ryneq poured a goblet of wine and finished off the rest of his food, listening as Selene told Lerran a little more about the history of dragons in Torsere. “If you’ll excuse me.” Ryneq nodded to them both and made his way over to where Nykin talked animatedly with Eldin, gesticulating wildly as he spoke. As Ryneq got close enough to make out their conversation, he wasn’t surprised to hear Nykin describing in vivid detail the treehouses of Alel.

He placed a hand on Nykin’s shoulder, stopping him midsentence. “I’m sure Eldin would appreciate this a lot more after a few hours’ sleep, Nykin.” He squeezed his fingers, pressing the pads deep into Nykin’s firm muscle and trying to convey his meaning. Nykin hesitated for just a moment, but then he was clapping Eldin on the arm and promising to tell him everything in the morning.

“Get some rest while you can, Eldin,” Ryneq said, stepping back as Nykin rose from his seat. “I fear things will not be quiet for long. We’ll reconvene in the morning.”

“I will. Good night, Sire, Nykin.”

Ryneq allowed Nykin to lead the way out of the hall. The soft leather of Nykin’s pants clung to his hips and his ass, accentuating the tight muscle underneath. Ryneq managed to keep his hands to himself until they were out the doors and halfway down the passageway to their rooms, but he soon got tired of waiting. Only the royal quarters were off this passageway, so it was highly unlikely they would be seen. He grabbed Nykin’s arm, spun him around, and had him backed up against the cold stone wall before Nykin had a chance to take another step.

“Gods, Nykin.” He had one hand on the wall by Nykin’s head, and the other gripping Nykin’s hip far too tightly to not hurt. Ryneq rested his forehead against Nykin’s shoulder. He should be too tired for this, but his cock was already starting to fill; the feel of Nykin’s firm body against his was more than enough to get him hard. He rolled his hips and smiled in satisfaction at Nykin’s answering gasp. “I’m tempted to just take you right here.” He kissed along Nykin’s throat, licking the soft scratch of stubble.

Nykin laughed, quick and breathless, as he tilted his head to the side and slid his hands up around Ryneq’s shoulders. “Well you are the king, after all.” Nykin tangled his fingers in Ryneq’s hair, pulling sharply and making him hiss. “It’s your prerogative to use the palace as you see fit.”

A curl of want settled deep in Ryneq’s belly. “You will be the death of me, Nykin.” He fisted his hands in Nykin’s jacket and kissed him. He’d intended it to be short and playful, a precursor to dragging Nykin down to their rooms, and the sudden intensity of it took Ryneq by surprise. Nykin’s grip on him was verging on desperate, the kiss was harsh and needy as Nykin moaned into his mouth.

“Don’t joke.” Nykin eventually pushed Ryneq’s head back just enough for Ryneq to see him clearly. His lips were red and looked bruised, and when Ryneq ran his tongue along his own, they felt much the same. “Not about that. Ever.” He held Ryneq’s gaze and breathed deeply. “Not after everything we’ve been through.”

They’d gone from teasing to deadly serious in the blink of an eye, and Ryneq struggled to catch up. But he understood, could feel the tension rolling off Nykin where their bodies were pressed together. He’d thought they could forget it all for just a little while. Forget about Seran and the witch and the inevitable fight for their kingdom. But he’d been wrong. They needed to acknowledge what lay ahead for them all, to recognize just how precious this time together was. And they were wasting it.

“Come on.” He stepped back and dragged Nykin away from the wall, then paused briefly to kiss him once more before heading down the passageway. He didn’t need to look behind him to see if Nykin had followed; their footsteps echoed along the empty space, bouncing off the old stone surrounding them.

Ryneq felt a new surge of energy rush through him as he entered their rooms. He waited for Nykin to close the door behind them before yanking at his shirt and jacket, impatient to get them off, and let them fall in disarray all over the floor. The laces on Ryneq’s boots were all tangled, and he cursed, a colorful string of words filling the room as he struggled to get them undone.

“Hey.” Nykin laid a firm hand on Ryneq’s bare shoulder, stilling his movements. “Slow down.”

His tone was gentle, as though soothing a wild animal, and when Ryneq looked up and met Nykin’s eyes, he let the laces slip through his fingers and slumped down onto the edge of the bed. The want and desperation in Nykin’s gaze had Ryneq’s heart pounding, but it was the fierce determination in Nykin’s expression that had stopped him.

“Let me.” Nykin sank to his knees, the sight alone enough to make Ryneq’s breath catch. His fingers were sure and swift as he undid Ryneq’s boots, then tossed them to the side once they were loose. He didn’t waste any time ridding Ryneq of his pants—peeling them down his legs, then letting them fall to the floor. Nykin must have found some renewed energy too, because his movements were just as urgent as Ryneq’s. The need to get naked just as strong, but not so rushed that it would be over before they had time to enjoy it.

Ryneq leaned back on his elbows, unashamed to be so bare and exposed while Nykin remained almost fully dressed. His cock lay thick and heavy along the crease of his thigh, and he licked his lips as Nykin’s gaze lingered over it. “If you don’t get those clothes off right now, Nykin, I swear by all the Gods….”

Nykin’s shirt, already half-unbuttoned, fell open a little when Nykin stood back up. The skin beneath looked smooth as velvet, and Ryneq ached to feel it under his hands. “You know”—Nykin undid the rest of the buttons and trailed his fingers down over the flat plane of his stomach, then let his hand rest over the fastening on his pants—“we really should wash after such a long day in the saddle.” He shrugged, letting his shirt slip off and bunch at his wrists before tugging it off. “I’m all dirty.” He waved a hand over his bare torso, raising an eyebrow when Ryneq’s cock stirred in response.

“Later.” Ryneq smirked. “I think it’s pretty obvious I don’t care.”

From the way Nykin hurried to kick off his boots and pants, he didn’t care much, either. He stumbled a little in his haste, muttering, and Ryneq laughed as he pulled him up and onto the bed next to him.

They lay facing each other for a moment, the smile slipping from Ryneq’s face. Neither of them spoke, the tension returning, so heavy in the air Ryneq could almost taste it. He couldn’t stand that distance between them any longer and leaned forward to slip his hand around the back of Nykin’s neck and draw him in.

Ryneq slid his thigh between Nykin’s as they kissed, forcing him to move onto his back. Nykin’s lips tasted of spices and red wine, while the heady scent of sweat and leather filled Ryneq’s senses as he broke away to nuzzle at Nykin’s neck.

The warmth of the two of them pressed together made them hot and sticky. Ryneq braced himself on his forearms and rolled his hips, eliciting broken moans at the friction it created. Nykin spread his thighs wide, allowing Ryneq to move easily in between. With Nykin’s arms and legs wrapped tightly around him, all that strength holding him safely in its grasp, Ryneq felt everything drift away until it was just him and Nykin.