Union (22 page)

“No.” Faelon pointed up at the walkways and where they connected to the white outer buildings of the city. “We don’t usually come in this way.” He gestured for Avelor to go up the steps first, then turned to Nykin and Selene. “After you.”

Although the steps were wide, they had no rail to hold on to, and Nykin found himself unconsciously hugging the trunk of the tree as he climbed up. He wasn’t scared of heights—Fimor took him much higher than this—but he felt drawn inward away from the edge. He quickly glanced at Selene behind him, and his eyes narrowed when he saw her doing exactly the same.

“Don’t look so suspicious.” Lerran was behind Selene, and had obviously seen the expression on Nykin’s face. “The steps are enchanted to keep you from falling. There’s nothing sinister about it, I promise.”

Of course they were. Nykin shook his head in wonder, and carried on walking—he would be bursting with information when he saw Ryneq later.

When they got to the top of the steps, Avelor paused and waited for everyone to catch up. Nykin had assumed there’d be a house or at least a door, but he could only see thick, gnarly branches, and the walkway up above them. He looked back at Selene again to check she was seeing the same thing as he was. She gave him a “what’s going on?” look, and he answered with a shrug as if to say “I don’t know.”

“Um… there’s nothing here,” Nykin said, feeling foolish but not really understanding why. All three elves had matching, knowing expressions, and, if Nykin wasn’t mistaken, Faelon also looked a little smug.

“Tsk, tsk, Nykin. Haven’t you learned anything about elves yet?” he teased and gestured for Avelor to continue.

He spoke more words that Nykin didn’t understand and then stepped back a little as the air around them shimmered. The branches and leaves above them morphed into thick, solid wood, curving out and around to form what looked like a large, circular room. It had to be at least two stories high, with an intricately carved door nestled into the trunk in front of them.

Of course they would hide everything with magic. Nykin should have known.

Avelor opened the door with a surprisingly gentle push of his hand and led them all inside and up another small set of steps into a large room. Nykin heard Selene gasp behind him as she entered, and he didn’t really blame her. The place was stunning. It looked a lot bigger on the inside, and Nykin wondered if that was yet more magic at work.

The room was split into two areas—a kitchen and living space, with three large windows letting light flood into the room. The living area consisted of two long seats that looked like they would hold at least three people each. They were full of cushions and looked so comfy that Nykin had the sudden urge to sink right into them. They were placed on either side of what looked to be a fireplace filled with logs, and Nykin looked at it in confusion. They were inside a tree, so how would that work? “Magic fire?” Nykin asked, pointing at the fireplace.

“Not exactly.” Faelon crouched down in front of it, and soon the fireplace glowed with bright orange flames. Nykin could feel the heat almost immediately. “It’s not really fire. The logs are just enchanted to look like it, and give off warmth. He quickly doused the fake flames before the heat became stifling.

Nykin wandered over to the spiral staircase dividing the kitchen and the living area. “What’s upstairs?” He peered up the steps but couldn’t really see anything.

Faelon strode over to stand right beside him, and leaned close to whisper in his ear. “That would be the bathroom and our bedroom, Nykin. I don’t think you really want to go up there.”

Nykin flushed at the thought of that, and Faelon’s soft huff of laughter washed over the back of his neck.

“How do you get water up here?” Selene asked, fussing with the sink in the kitchen.

Faelon left Nykin’s side to go and show her. “It’s piped up from the springs deep under the city.” He pulled on one of the levers, and water flowed out, crisp and clear into the sink below.

“Oh.” Selene grinned and stuck her fingers under it, wiggling them around like she’d never seen water before. “Like the showers in the royal quarters?”

“Yes, exactly.” Faelon turned the water off and handed Selene a towel to dry her hand. “We should really be getting back to city. They’ll be serving lunch soon, and I know that the king’s consort will be expected to be there.”

“If you want”—Avelor stepped up to Faelon, and slipped his arm around his waist—“Lerran and I can take the horses back. You can take Selene and Nykin back via the walkways.” He winked at Faelon and kissed the side of his neck, just under his ear. Faelon sighed, and let his eyes close for just a moment, leaning into Avelor’s touch. Nykin had to check the fire had been put out, because he was suddenly feeling a lot warmer. He adjusted the collar on his shirt and shuffled his feet.

“Yes, okay.” Faelon almost purred, as he turned to kiss Avelor full on the lips. “I don’t want to be late back.” He caught Nykin watching them, and smiled far too knowingly for Nykin’s comfort. “As long as that’s okay with you, Nykin?”

“Actually,” Selene interrupted, giving Nykin a chance to collect himself. “I’d like to ride back with Lerran and Avelor if that’s all right? I don’t think it’ll matter if I’m late for lunch.”

W
HEN
R
YNEQ
arrived back at his room, he fully expected Nykin to be there waiting for him. Ahlyria had taken him all over Alel, and they’d only just made it back in time for a quick change of clothes before lunch was served. He was hot and sticky, the heat already starting to make his skin clammy, and Ryneq wanted nothing more than to strip his clothes off and stand under the shower in his bathroom.

He opened the door and marched in, waiting for Nykin to remark on how late he was getting back. The only thing that met him was silence. The room was empty, and from the look of things, Nykin hadn’t been back since that morning.

Ryneq didn’t have time to worry about where Nykin might be. He needed to get washed and dressed, then return to the queen’s quarters for lunch. He kicked off his boots, followed by his socks, and pants, and finally dragged his shirt over his head, grimacing as it stuck to his skin.

The Stone Palace of Torsere was high in the mountains, and even in summer the air was never this humid. Ryneq wasn’t used to feeling tired from the heat, and truth be told, he couldn’t wait until they got back home. He hung his clothes over the back of a chair and walked into the bathroom.

The shower water was cooler than last time, and Ryneq sighed in relief as it washed down his overheated body. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back, letting the water run over his face. It felt wonderful, and he only wished he had more time to enjoy it.

Ryneq was just about to get out when he felt strong, familiar hands settle over his hips.

“Going somewhere?” Nykin pulled Ryneq back against his chest, his words muffled slightly as he kissed along the top of Ryneq’s shoulder.

Ryneq grinned as Nykin pressed against him, the length of Nykin’s half-hard cock against his thigh. He turned around, cupped Nykin’s face in his hands, and kissed him. “We don’t have time for this, you know.”

“I know.” Nykin rested their foreheads together and closed his eyes. “I just wanted a few moments alone before we have to join everyone for lunch. I missed you.” He sighed and pulled back a little to meet Ryneq’s eyes. “It seems like forever since we had any real time alone.”

“Yeah, it does.” Although they’d only been out of Torsere for three days, with all the planning beforehand it did feel like weeks since they’d had any time to themselves. “After the wedding, we only have to stay for a week, and then—”

“A week? I thought we only had to stay for a few days after?”

Ryneq slid his hands into Nykin’s wet hair and rubbed his thumbs over the back of his neck in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. “I didn’t realize that Morkryn and Cerylea would be shut away together for a week after the ceremony, with no outside contact except for food and drink.” He looked at Nykin, willing him to understand. “I can’t leave while she’s locked away and not say goodbye to her.”

Nykin let out a long sigh but leaned forward to kiss him under the spray. “No, you can’t.” He looked up at Ryneq from under his wet lashes, and Ryneq felt a jolt of arousal deep in his belly. “When we get back to Torsere, though….”

Ryneq smirked, letting his hands slide down Nykin’s chest to settle on his hips. “When we get back, I’m going to get enough food from the kitchen to last us two days and hide away in our quarters with the door locked.” Ryneq traced the pattern of the water with his fingers, and Nykin shivered under his featherlike touch. The thought of being alone and uninterrupted for two whole days seemed really appealing at that moment. “How does that sound?”

“Good.” Nykin whispered, trying to get close to him again, but Ryneq’s large hands tightened their grip on Nykin’s hips and held him away.

“As much as I’d love to press you up against the wall and take your cock in my mouth, we really don’t have time.” He laughed as Nykin groaned and reached down to rub himself, almost fully hard now.

“Such a tease,” Nykin complained, as Ryneq passed him a towel and led him back into the bedroom to get dressed.

“I’ll make it up to you later”—Ryneq ran the back of his hand down the obvious bulge under Nykin’s towel, and Nykin growled in frustration—“I promise.”

They hurried to get dressed in their formal attire again, much to Nykin’s distaste, and were only a few moments late when they arrived for lunch.

L
UNCH
LASTED
nearly all afternoon. Ahlyria questioned Faelon endlessly about where he’d taken Selene and Nykin and what they’d seen. Ryneq watched it all with thinly veiled amusement as Faelon, for once, looked a little ill at ease.

When Faelon mentioned that he and Avelor had shown Nykin and Selene their treehouse, and that he’d brought Nykin back via the aerial walkways, Ahlyria was delighted with him once more. Faelon preened under her praise.

“So, Nykin,” she said, turning her dazzling blue gaze toward him. “What did you think of the walkways? They’ve been around for almost a hundred years, but they never rust or show any sign of wear and tear.”

Ryneq had seen how high up the walkways were when Ahlyria had shown him around earlier, and the thought of Nykin up there made his heart clench. Which was ridiculous considering the storm they’d travelled through on the way here, but he couldn’t help it.

Nykin shifted in his seat, leaning forward to place his arms on the table, and smiled. “They’re incredible.” He turned a little to include Ryneq in the conversation, and Ryneq slung his arm across the back of Nykin’s chair. He wanted to pull him close, to lay his hands on him somewhere, but that would have to wait until later. Nykin’s eyes danced with excitement as he described in detail how solid the walkways had felt and how amazing it was that all the treehouses were connected to the city this way.

Ryneq loved to watch him like that, animated and so full of life. He was still haunted by images from when they’d been Hatak’s prisoners—when Nykin was broken and tortured almost to death. It would take a long while before Ryneq could get those images out of his head, but seeing Nykin as he was now made it a little easier to push them away.

“You should see them before we leave, Ryneq.” He was grinning now, and Ryneq was helpless to do anything but smile back. “I’m sure Faelon and Avelor wouldn’t mind showing you the one they use.” His eyes sparkled with mischief as he made the suggestion, and Ryneq’s arched eyebrow did nothing to wipe the smile off his face.

“We would be honored.”

Faelon had the same expression as Nykin, and Ryneq felt his fingers twitch in slight irritation. The thought of the two of them agreeing on anything still irked him.

He was aware he was jealous of the way Nykin still reacted to Faelon, even though he now knew the reaction was harmless and just a side effect of the elf’s magic. But it didn’t make any difference, Ryneq was possessive by nature, and Nykin was his. But Ryneq was also the king of Torsere and as such, he was expected to be above these things.

So Ryneq let his smile grow wide as he met Faelon’s eyes. “I would love to see it, thank you.”

“Well….” Ahlyria clapped her hands and pushed her chair back from the table. “If you’ll all excuse us, Cerylea and I have a few last-moment wedding plans to take care of.”

Now that lunch was over, everyone left the table after Ahlyria, and Ryneq guided Nykin back to their room. He was tired after waking up early, and the afternoon heat was only making it worse.

As soon as they were inside with the door closed, Ryneq collapsed onto the bed, tugging Nykin down with him.

They kicked off their boots, shrugged out of their robes, and settled up against the pillows. Ryneq slipped his arm underneath Nykin’s shoulders and pulled him closer into his side.

“It’s so hot out there.” Nykin groaned, and rearranged himself so he lay half-sprawled over Ryneq’s chest. Ryneq peered down at him, smiling softly when he realized Nykin had his eyes closed.

Their room was pleasantly cool. The shutters over the windows slanted to keep out the sun but let in the soft breeze that now washed over them. “We can sleep for a while if you like. I have no plans for the rest of the day.”

Nykin hummed his agreement, and Ryneq relaxed fully into the bed. They didn’t often get to do this—lying in bed together doing nothing and in no rush to get up. He ran his hands through Nykin’s hair, now soft beneath his fingers as it started to grow out. Ryneq closed his eyes and let the rhythm of Nykin’s breathing lull him to sleep.

He was almost there, when Nykin’s soft, sleep-heavy voice roused him.

“I’m taking Faelon and the others to see Fimor later,” he said.

Ryneq tensed, his hand automatically tightening around Nykin’s shoulders. He’d been expecting the elves to want to learn all they could from Nykin and Fimor—he had made the offer to them, after all—but the thought of them all together set his teeth on edge.