A Bond of Three (5 page)

Feyar is there.
He knew without a doubt, though how that knowledge came to him was unclear. He simply felt it, as surely as if Tanish had seen him with his own eyes. The thought was both a comfort and a sorrow to him.
But how do I know this?
Feyar’s presence was a tangible force, a bright point of light that pierced through Tanish’s perception.

What would I give to have him by my side at this moment, as a declaration of our love for each other?

Tanish bowed his head as a wave of sadness rolled over him. It could not be so.

The chamber fell silent, and all those assembled stood as the king entered, making his way through those gathered, his staff in his hand. Tanish raised his head to watch his father’s slow progress, his steps careful and measured. When at last the king was seated upon the throne, the people took their seats and gazed expectantly at the younger man who appeared at his side, dressed in the blue robe of a scribe. He unfurled the parchment in his hand and went to stand by the window, where all below would hear him. His voice rang out, loud and clear.

“His Majesty, King Feolin, declares that in seven days’ time, there shall be a national holiday, in honor of the arrival of King Beron and Queen Vasha of Vancor. His Majesty wishes his people to extend a hand of friendship to the royal visitors throughout their stay, to welcome them with open arms, and to show them every kindness and courtesy.” The scribe rolled up his scroll and then bowed low to the king.

The air was suddenly alive with the rumble of voices as those assembled within the chamber and outside began to discuss the visit excitedly. Tanish glanced at his father, who watched the proceedings thoughtfully before beckoning Tanish to him. Tanish approached the throne and sat on a stool at his father’s feet, and those closest to them withdrew to a respectful distance.

Tanish noted the lines across his father’s brow, his pallor. Tanish bowed his head before speaking. “So they are coming.”

His father nodded. “Their envoy arrived this morning. King Beron informs me that they will be accompanied by their offspring, Sorran.”

Tanish frowned. “Is that how the message was worded? Offspring?” The king nodded. “Sorran,” Tanish mused. “I have never heard that name before.”

“Nor I,” added his father. “King Beron is eager to forge an alliance between Vancor and Teruna. I shall be spending a great deal of time with him as we seek to work out how we might bring this to pass. Your task shall be to occupy their daughter.” He peered intently at Tanish. “I expect you to be attentive and to bear in mind at all times that this girl may one day be your bride.”

Tanish stared at him in dismay. “Then you have made up your mind, Your Majesty.” His heart sank.

King Feolin gave an almost imperceptible glance toward the trellis where Tanish knew his lover still stood, hidden from view. “And when you are married, your queen by your side, that will be an end to it,” the king continued.

Tanish caught his breath as his father’s words sank in.

I am to lose Feyar, the man I love. He bids me put aside my lover as though he were a garment that has outlived its purpose.

And there was nothing Tanish could do.

For one brief moment, Tanish wanted to throw himself onto his knees before his father and confess all that Feyar meant to him.
Father was young once. Surely he can remember how it feels to be in love. He would not bid me cast aside Feyar if he knew the depth of my feelings for him.
Except he knew in his heart that such a union would never be countenanced. Feyar was
Seruan
. And the consequences of such a declaration would be catastrophic for him.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Tanish whispered, suddenly feeling as though his limbs were leaden.

King Feolin regarded him for a moment before nodding. He pushed down heavily on his staff to help him rise to his feet. When he winced, Tanish got up from the stool and offered his father his arm.

“Lean on me, Your Majesty.”

His father patted his arm. “You are a good son. You will do your duty.”

Tanish took his father’s weight and helped him from the chamber, acknowledging the nods and bows of those assembled. The looks of concern did not escape him. All knew the king was not a well man.

And one day I will have to lead them. With a queen by my side.

The thought left him empty and cold.

T
ANISH
STOOD
on the stone balcony beyond his window and gazed down at the city. The night was quiet, with only the gentlest of breezes stirring the trees around the enclosed garden below, where he loved to sit and think. He could hear the faint trickle of water from the fountain. Normally the sound would soothe him, but not tonight. Moonlight bathed the city in its bluish hue. Tanish could not take his eyes off the scene below him, although the sight made his heart sore.

Two strong hands slid around his waist and held him.

Tanish leaned against Feyar’s wide chest, letting his presence wash over him. His scent was both comforting and arousing. Tanish closed his eyes and sighed.

“What is it that holds your attention, my
corishan
? You did not hear me approach.” Feyar’s warm breath tickled his ear.

Tanish twisted to kiss Feyar on the lips before taking his hand and leading him to the edge of the balcony. “Look down into the street beyond the palace wall. What do you see?”

Feyar peered into the darkness, brows knitted. Then he sighed. “Ah. A pair of lovers, walking hand in hand.”

Below, the two young men walked slowly, one leaning against the other, their hands clasped tightly, unaware of their observers.

Tanish nodded. “They are free to love one another,” he said softly.

Feyar took his hand and held it. He said nothing.

“I had a moment of weakness today,” Tanish confessed.

Feyar released his hand. He stood behind Tanish and wrapped his arms around him, resting his chin against Tanish’s shoulder. “Tell me, my
terushan
.”

Tanish sighed heavily. “I wanted to tell my father that I love you.” Almost instantly he felt Feyar freeze. Tanish swirled around to face Feyar. He held that beloved face in his hands and stared into Feyar’s eyes. “Be at peace, my
corishan
. You know I would never do anything that would bring you pain.” They both knew the consequences. At least if Tanish were married, Feyar would still dwell in the
Seruanal
. Painful though that prospect might be for both of them, it was better than banishment.

The tension in Feyar’s body eased. “Forgive my reaction,” he whispered. “I know you would never put me in harm’s way.” He kissed Tanish on the mouth, and Tanish stroked his soft beard, his fingers tracing the features he loved.

“You heard my father’s words today.”

Feyar nodded. “Did he speak more of King Beron’s daughter?”

Tanish forced out a harsh breath. “I am to
occupy
her for the duration of their stay,” he said bitterly. “And he bade me remember that she may one day be my bride.”

“
May
?” Feyar’s gazed bored into him. “Then it is not certain this marriage will take place?”

Tanish groaned. “I only know that it is in my father’s mind to find me a consort, and that she is of royal blood.” He didn’t want to think about it.

Feyar became still. “Let me ease your troubled spirit, my
corishan
. Let me love you, while time is on our side.” He grasped Tanish’s hand and led him into the bedchamber.

Tanish pondered on Feyar’s words. “While time is on our side,” he echoed. He came to a halt at the foot of the bed, tugging Feyar into stillness. Cold spread throughout his body. “My father may bid me marry, but he cannot force me to love her or share my body with her.” He snorted. “She will have no part of me. Not one caress, no words of love, nothing. And though she share my bed, there will always be a chasm between us, for—”

“Hush, now.” Feyar stopped his words with a kiss. “Do not let such thoughts intrude on our time together.” He kissed him again, only this time with more passion.

Tanish moaned into his kiss. “No gentle lovemaking tonight, my
terushan
. Take me. Make me know I am yours, body and soul.”

Feyar let out a heartfelt groan and pushed Tanish down onto the bed with a low growl. “You are mine.” He reached through the folds of Tanish’s robe to withdraw his bare cock, already stiffening. He leaned over and licked across the head, gathering the sweet nectar from the slit.

Tanish arched his back and hissed.

Feyar knelt on the bed and placed his hands on Tanish’s thighs. Slowly he unfastened Tanish’s robe and pulled it aside to leave him bare to his view. He rolled Tanish’s lower body up off the bed. He spread him wide to reveal Tanish’s entrance and then lowered his head to bathe it with his tongue.

“Oh yes.” Tanish was breathless with desire as Feyar licked him around his entrance, pushing now and again at the tight muscle. He loved it when Feyar did this. Many times Tanish had been brought to orgasm by Feyar’s talented tongue.

Feyar broke off from his adoration. “Want you,” he growled.

Tanish sat up and pulled his robe free of his body. He tossed it to the floor and then rolled onto his belly, kneeling on all fours, spreading his legs wide, bottom tilted in offering. He knew how much Feyar loved to watch his cock disappearing into Tanish’s body. “Then have me. Now,” he ordered.

With a loud groan, Feyar spread Tanish’s cheeks and drove back in, pushing his tongue insistently inside.

Tanish shuddered and dropped his head to the bed, clutching the sheet beneath in his fists. “Please, please….” The words of entreaty burst out of him.

“I love it when you beg me,” Feyar said, panting.

Tanish groaned with urgent need when he felt Feyar’s cock, hard and hot, against his entrance.

“Oh, my
terushan
, I cannot be gentle. Not tonight. My need is too great.”

Tanish knew that feeling only too well. His body burned to feel Feyar inside him. “Then forget what I said and fuck me,” he ground out. “Fuck me hard. Let me feel you for days after this.”

Feyar gave a low cry and thrust into him, burying his shaft in Tanish’s body.

Tanish howled and pushed back, forcing Feyar even deeper into him. “Oh.” He shivered. “You are so hard tonight. I feel every inch of you inside me.”

Feyar pulled out until only the head of his cock remained inside, and then he shoved back in, forcing the breath from Tanish’s lungs. He set up a punishing rhythm, slamming into Tanish, the slap of their flesh together an erotic sound in the chamber. Tanish groaned and met every thrust, eagerly chasing the orgasm he knew was imminent.

“You were made for me,” Feyar said through gritted teeth as he fucked Tanish with long strokes.

Tanish felt electricity dance along his spine, his balls tingling, body singing to the melody Feyar was creating within him. Then all too soon he felt Feyar’s cock swell within him, and he knew his lover was about to release. “Fill me, my
terushan
,” he begged. “Let me feel your heat within me.”

Feyar howled and released deep inside him, and white light exploded behind Tanish’s eyes as he spent himself onto the sheet below, his shaft pulsing out his seed in hot ribbons. He cried out, giving himself up to the sensations that overwhelmed him: Feyar’s scent surrounding him, rich and earthy; the noises Feyar made as he covered Tanish with his body, chest damp with perspiration; the feel of Feyar’s cock as it twitched inside him, expelling the last remnants of his release.

Tanish collapsed onto the sheet, breathing rapidly, Feyar heavy against his back, his breath harsh in Tanish’s ear. His body ached, and his heart sang to be reconnected with Feyar.

“I love you,” Feyar whispered. “I will always love you.”

Tanish’s heart soared at hearing the words, not that he needed to hear them. He knew Feyar loved him, knew it with every single cell of his body. It was the one constant of his life, the one certainty that kept him strong, kept him grounded.

“I love you. You are my
corishan
, my
terushan
.” He spoke the words that only he and Feyar used, words he’d discovered years ago in a text about ancient Teruna. He said them because they were true.

Feyar was his heart. His love.

Chapter 4

S
ORRAN
LOOKED
out of the window of their carriage at the passing scenery. “Are we out of Vancor yet, Mother?” He could see fields dotted with wild flowers, a river in the distance, and farther off, blue-gray mountains capped with white. It was the first time he had left the kingdom, and everything was so new. The rumble of the carriage as it was pulled along by eight horses had faded into the background, as had the thunder of hooves of the accompanying guard. It was also Sorran’s first experience of traveling in the royal carriages, and he had been amazed at their size. His mother’s carriage was about six feet across and perhaps ten feet in length, and high enough that Sorran could stand easily. Pillows and cushions covered the wooden floor, and there were windows on two sides. Sorran had slept curled up in a nest of cushions, rocked by the carriage’s motion.