Divided (93 page)

At last, Ryo reached Lady Avyon, slowly staring at her.  She
extended her hand, gradually, weakly, and oddly enough, she looked a little
like she worried he might reject her.  Then, he took her hand and kissed it
softly.  She smiled.  He turned to Veyron, then.  “I accept,” he said
definitely.  Veyron nodded his approval, and Ryo led Lady Avyon slowly up the
stairs.  Calis and Lee exchanged a glance of approval, and then Lee offered an
encouraging grin.  Calis found that words deserted him, though, when he really
needed them.  It had all seemed so easy up until now. 

His mouth opened, and then it closed again, and he was sure
that he was never going to get these words out.  A glance at Taeru, and his
mind and heart were spinning so fast that he knew he had no choice, though. 
“I… but… I do ask… I do have… one small request, in return…”  Why did that
sound so pathetic, Calis wondered?

“And that is?” Veyron asked.

Taeru.  The boy who had nearly died—had died—saving Elyst
from certain destruction.  The boy that was capable of everything except taking
care of himself.  And the boy that Calis had fallen utterly and irreversibly in
love with.  The one that he knew he couldn’t live without.  The two phases that
Calis had been without Taeru had been painful, even knowing that he would see
him again.  The waiting had been an ache that he couldn’t rid himself of, even
as he focused himself on repairing the torn lands of his city.

Taeru had been forced to go back to Cathalar, though Calis
didn’t think he was entirely opposed, by his sister and brother.  He had
apparently been welcomed back with more than open arms, and Calis was glad,
though he hoped Taeru hadn’t become too comfortable.  He wanted Taeru to be
happy, and if he was happiest surrounded by his family, then Calis wanted
nothing more than for him to be here.

However, that would cause Calis a large deal of anguish.  He
would just have to hide that fact from Taeru, though, and find as many reasons
to come to Cathalar as he could.  Cathalar was such a lovely city, it only made
sense that Taeru had come from it.  It suited him, truthfully, though nothing
would ever match the flawlessness that was Taeru Lassau completely, and Calis
knew that.  Lying in that grove, kissing Taeru as the boy regained
consciousness to the onslaught of questions of how he was still alive burned
through Calis like an endless flame.

The Magisters had done that, and Calis knew that, thinking
back on the words in his head.  Taeru was alive because he had paid the price
for the Magisters’ failing, and now he was back.  Now, he was alive, and he was
still everything Calis wanted and needed.  He was irresistible, inside and
out.  From his infinite blue eyes, messy, black hair, and small form to his
charm, his innocence, and his selfless courage—he was what Calis needed.  That
was why Calis had to make this request.  To Taeru and to his father. 

Calis drew breath, as his thoughts renewed his desire to
speak the words.  His eyes were glued to Taeru, those dimples appearing on the
boy’s cheeks, and Taeru regarded Calis with a skeptical smile.  “I… request
your youngest son’s freedom… I… ask… for your youngest son.”  His words caused
a hot red to rush to his cheeks. 

Veyron’s eyes turned to Taeru, and Calis couldn’t help but stare
right along with him.  Taeru had every right to refuse, and Calis wasn’t sure
he wouldn’t.  Perhaps he would stay out of some sense of duty, or perhaps he
would be too embarrassed to do anything.  After all, they were both men.  Calis
didn’t know, but panic and nervousness pulsed through him as he stood there,
watching those curious blue eyes and bright red cheeks.

“Taeru?” Veyron asked softly, and the room hushed as they
waited for Taeru’s response.  Aela was staring at him, her eyes wide with
anticipation, and Ryo had the slightest of smirks on his face.

Finally, very reservedly, Taeru nodded his head in assent. 
“I want this, Father.  More than anything.”  His words were so powerful,
though, and they even broke through Calis’s tension and forced a smile onto his
face.  “If you will have it.”

Veyron turned to him, and the brown eyes burned with
admiration as they appraised his son.  He offered a nod, but then he held up a
hand.  “Taeru, you should know that you are always welcome here.  The man your
mother conceived you from was my brother.  He begged for a son before he died,
even knowing that he was ill, and that he wouldn’t be able to care for it.  He
wanted the son.  I authorized it, because I loved my brother.  And I promised
him that you would always be my son, and you always will be, Taeru Lassau.  You
have the same right to this kingdom as any member of this family.”

Taeru blinked, and Calis could tell that he was fighting
back tears.  Calis could feel an absurd partiality developing for Veyron as the
man spoke to his son.  His son—because Veyron had never considered Taeru
anything but.  With a quick nod, Taeru nodded.  “I am not running away again,
Father.  I just want to be with Calis.  I want more than anything to be with
him.  I… I need this.”  His cheeks burned.

A smile touched Veyron’s lips, and he nodded his head. 
“Well, his devotion to you is not anything that I can question.  It is
unorthodox, but I have never been able to stop you from doing what you wanted,
and Calis seems to be just as stubborn.  Go, and I will expect to see you
periodically.” 

Taeru offered a quick bow, and he turned to Ryo, who brought
him into an immediate hug.  The older boy muttered something that Calis
couldn’t hear, mostly because his heart was pounding so loudly in anticipation
that he was nearly deaf.  Happiness was threatening to collapse Calis on the
throne room floor of this castle.  Every dream, every hope, every desire that
he’d ever had felt as though it were rushing to him, filled and brilliant.  If
happiness could kill, then he would probably be the murderer of everyone in
this room.  His lips trembled as he waited, legs shaking.

Next, Aela ran to her brother and threw her arms around
him.  “You’d better come back, Taeru,” she said, and there was a snap in her
voice.  “If I don’t see you soon, then I will hunt you down,” she said. 
Stepping forward, a hand snagged Aela around the waist and pulled her away from
her brother.  Leif Firenz.  Another man who had nearly been a casualty of
Aleia, and had only survived due to Ryo’s dedication to making that so.  At the
moment, he cradled Aela affectionately.

Taeru smirked.  “I don’t doubt it.  You did it once,” he
pointed out. 

Then, his eyes flashed up to Leif with dangerous amusement. 
“After all, now that both of my siblings are getting married.  I’m sure I will
be forced to endure countless festivities.  And if I miss them, there will
probably be horrible repercussions.”  Aela giggled, and then she smirked when
she glanced towards Calis. “Take care of my sister, Leif.  Though, I don’t
think I have to tell you that.”

“Absolutely not,” Leif agreed amicably.  “You ought to send
someone to take care of me, though—since she is completely mad.”  Taeru
laughed, and he nodded his head, apparently sympathizing with Leif’s plight. 
Aela snarled indignantly and halfheartedly pushed Leif away from her.  He
didn’t go far, though, and Aela lifted her head and kissed Leif’s jaw with a
gentle smile. 

Stepping back, Taeru turned to look at Calis.  His cheeks
were a soft red, and his eyes were burning with desire that nearly matched
Calis’s.  Like his brother, he took the first step without much certainty.  He
was just staring into Calis’s eyes, and the two of them were the only two
people in the room.  Every step, Calis’s heart pounded a little harder against
his chest, by the time Taeru neared him, he was sure that it would burst free. 

Desire, need, craving, all of them crawled up his body and
caused him to quiver with exhilaration.  His teeth bit together, and slowly, he
reached a hand tentatively out to Taeru Lassau.  After the next step, Taeru put
his hand in Calis’s, and Calis pulled him the rest of the way, kissing him,
passionately, keeping him off the floor without much effort.

His body caught fire, burning embers of passion enveloping
and blotting out the world around him, except the perfect creature in his
arms.  The taste of him was the same, delicious and addictive.  But, Calis was
quite sure that he wanted this boy more than he ever had.  Taeru threw his arms
around Calis, and his lips pressed back against Calis’s—deep and ardent. 
Calis’s fingers pressed further into Taeru’s back, clinging.  “I missed you,”
Calis whispered when they parted, lips only a hairsbreadth apart. 

“I couldn’t tell,” Taeru said absently.  As if challenged,
Calis pulled Taeru to him another time, pressing their lips against one another
as heat bubbled into the air around them. 

When they parted again, Taeru had an incredible grin on his
face, and he shook his head in warning.  “You still taste like cinnamon,” Calis
muttered thoughtfully.  Taeru flushed, and he offered another glare, though he
couldn’t seem to get the grin off his face.  Calis pressed his lips against
Taeru’s temple “I’m never letting you out of my arms again, you realize that?”

“That’s going to get inconvenient,” Taeru said helpfully. 
Calis laughed.

With quite literal cheers, they were escorted back to their
carriage.  And Calis found it impossible to keep his eyes from Taeru Lassau. 
He truly was the most remarkable creature Calis had ever laid eyes upon. 
Positively brilliant.  “So, where are we going?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Calis said.  “I thought we might
want to hang around Cathalar for a little bit.  You can show me around your
homeland.  Though, I can already say I’m not surprised you’re from here…
everything here seems lovely, though nothing quite meets your standard.  But,
well, you’ve got to start somewhere.”

Taeru laughed, and Calis leaned forward and kissed one of
the dimples that appeared in his cheek.  Taeru frowned and shoved him, then he
somehow ended up in a fit of laughter.  “By that logic, it would make very
little sense that you were from Telandus.  No offense,” Taeru breathed.  Calis
wrapped his arms around Taeru, gently.

“Oh my,” he said teasingly, “are you flattering me, Taeru
Lassau?”

“Perhaps,” Taeru said thoughtfully.  Another sly smirk made
its way onto his lips.  Calis had never seen Taeru look so carefree, so happy,
and he wanted nothing more than to keep Taeru this way forever.  And he would. 

Calis’s eyebrows rose in mock amazement, and then, unable to
keep a straight face while Taeru was smiling, he smiled as well.  “That is
going to get you
so
many places,” he promised.  Taeru flushed.

“Well, if you two children are quite finished flirting,” Lee
snapped.  They both glanced at him, half interested and half amused.  “We ought
to see about getting some land here.”

“Logical as ever,” Calis mumbled as he rolled his eyes. 
Once again, he kissed Taeru on the temple and took a breath.  “Are you alright
with staying here?”

A flash of red hair interrupted Taeru, and a young girl
found her way around Lee’s arms.  A sight that Calis was still growing
accustomed to, though, Calis thought he’d done a better job of adjusting to it
than Lee had.  In fact, Lee flushed even then, glaring down at Katt with an
annoyed expression.  Nothing compared to the one that he’d displayed when she’d
sworn she’d known who he was since she’d first seen him, though.  And he still
didn’t believe her.  Calis wasn’t sure he did either.  He supposed it didn’t
matter, though.  She liked Lee, and that was a mystery in itself.

Another girl stepped forward, staring at Taeru with soft,
sweet eyes.  The two girls had accompanied Lee and Calis this sun, so excited
to finally go see Cathalar.  Alyx had recovered quite a lot, but she had deeply
missed Taeru.  She moved forward and hugged him, and Calis reluctantly released
him for a moment.  “I missed you,” she whispered.

Taeru’s eyebrows furrowed, and Calis could see that familiar
pain coming across his lover’s face.  “Alyx… are you staying here?”

“Yes,” Alyx answered cheerfully.  “I am.  Apparently, blonde
hair is much more of a phenomenon here than over in Telandus.  Men can’t seem
to keep their eyes off me.”  She flicked her hair, and Taeru smiled in spite of
himself. 

The pain didn’t leave the blue eyes, though, and his smile
weakened.  Calis wasn’t sure who had been hurt worse by the loss of Alyx’s
family.  “I’m glad, Alyx.  I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy, Taeru.  Mom would have wanted me to be here…
Aitken would have loved it.  But… they would want me to try and be happy, and
you… they are probably beside themselves with this.  The prince of Telandus
himself!  And not the ugly one.” 

Calis smirked at the reference.  “I can make a life here,” he
whispered.

“And if I stay?” Taeru asked tentatively.

Alyx laughed, and she leaned forward, kissing his cheek
gently.  “That would make me happier than anything.”

He laughed, and he quickly turned to glance at Calis. 
“Then, I suppose we’ll stay in Cathalar for a little while.”  Calis nodded his
head.  Secretly, he was just glad to see the relief on Taeru’s face.  Though,
he was legitimately a little excited about staying in Cathalar for a bit. 

“You two are going to have your hands full, now that we’re staying…
Aela is going to start trying to insist on a wedding for the two of you.  I
should go tell her at once!”  Lee offered cheerfully.  Katt laughed, and she
nodded her head at the two of them.

“Do not!” Taeru snapped.  “Give me a moment’s peace!”

Calis shook his head, a grimace twisting across his
features.  “Love, if you are so opposed, then this battle might be a more
difficult one than facing Aleia.”

“So long as you’re there,” Taeru said.

Calis took the small cheek in his hand, leaning down so that
his lips were just hovering over Taeru’s.  He had so much to make up for—so
much to show Taeru, and he had plenty of time to do it.  What Tareth had done,
what Lavus had done, and what Aleia had done, Calis would spend an eternity
making sure those things never crossed his small lover’s mind again.  And he
saw nothing but pleasure in that.  “I love you, Taeru Lassau,” he whispered
softly.