by Hurri Cosmo
Tama quickly crawled to his nervous, stomping, neighing horse that backed away from him even as Tama regained his feet and tried to mount.
“Shhhh. It’s me. Thank you for waiting. And I am sorry for falling again. I’m not used to riding such an amazing steed.” He murmured as he soothed the horse, knowing that his attacker was just now coming for him out of the shadows…or was the shadow this time… He looked back. The darkness grew quickly along the ground, a thing alive, like fingers reaching to grab him again, the whispers growing louder. He jumped to Efrin’s back, the shadow just missing his foot as she took off again.
Just as he was seeing the edges of the walls give way to rolling hills, heralding the exit from the pass, a white mist came at him, flying through him with a powerful wind, making the air frigidly cold all around him and almost pulling him with it as it rushed by him. Cold fingers grabbed at him, but this time Tama clung fiercely to Efrin as she galloped toward the flat ground beyond the pass. The scream that the mist let out as it disappeared back into the dark passage was loud and disturbing and made Tama bend low over the horse as it carried them both toward safety.
The kiss was incredible. Tama’s tongue played with Diagus’s, wrapped around it, caressed it. His lips were a holy fire, commanding him to respond, and Diagus did. He pulled that angel body up against his own, rubbing it in all the right places.
Oh, the man was amazing. He had a body that made Diagus think there was no way Tama was an angel. His mouth was hot, a kiss of true wonder. Incredibly delightful. Best he had ever experienced. It jolted his body and his mind, seemingly lighting him from the inside. But it was his angel kissing him so it somehow made sense. Angels could do that, make people glow like the moon or stars.
Especially when those lips of fire began a descent down his neck and chest, teasing his nipples, licking and nipping, while a very warm hand caressed his manhood. Oh! Diagus wanted to spread his legs, give the angel full access to do anything he wanted. But what Diagus wanted more was for that hot hand to explore deeper, go lower, let his fingers roam and probe and sink into him.
Yes! Just like that. Sink deep. Pump just like that. He had never in his life ever wanted a man to take him. He had only ever wanted to do the taking, but if his angel wanted to fuck him, he would not object.
Or maybe that mouth needed to do some more exploring. Except, what his angel was doing with those fingers on his manhood, rubbing, kneading, bringing him to such heights he had never felt before, was perfect in every way. So like angels. Perhaps it was just the fact his angel’s hands were hot, rough, demanding. Whatever the reason, Diagus was going to let go in one of the most explosive orgasms he had ever had.
“Ahhhh. You are my beautiful angel, Tama.”
“Yours, My King?”
“Yes, Tama. You belong to me.”
“But you are to be married, My King. How can I belong to you then?”
“It doesn’t matter. I love you, Tama. I love you…”
Yes. He loved him. Even though he didn’t even know him, he loved his angel. Maybe the reason was because he was dead. He had died and now was wrapped in the endless peace and security and ecstasy of Tama’s angel arms, fucking on a whole other level, another plane. He was truly touching the stars, walking on moonlight, breathing in heaven’s air.
But breathing hurt.
If he were dead, that shouldn’t happen, should it?
“Tama.”
He was gone. Just like that. Diagus had his angel Tama close and kissing those angel lips, his angel’s fingers fucking his ass, and now there was a horse in his place kicking him in the side. The damn thing kicked him so hard he rolled over, gravel and rocks filling his mouth as opposed to Tama’s soft tongue.
He was being pushed and pulled now. Tama’s hands, they weren’t.
“Sire!”
Damn. That was Stomund’s voice. What was he doing in heaven?
Well—clearly, it was because Diagus was no longer in heaven.
Diagus opened his eyes, staring right into dirt. Shit. He spit out as much of the grime as he could, his dream scattering and fading even as he tried to recapture it. It had been such a good dream… He pushed himself over until he was looking straight up into Stomund’s ugly face. Fuck.
“Sire! Are you all right?”
“Right as rain,” he managed to mutter through his teeth, still spitting out sand. Why was he flat out on the ground? Had he fallen off his damn horse? Was he drunk? He didn’t feel drunk. But he had been dreaming… something.
He put a hand to his aching side. Did that shit-for-brains horse of his kick him? Because he remembered a horse doing that and his side hurt like hell…
Hell…
There was something about hell. No, wait. Not hell. Heaven.
Tama!
The king sat up even though the movement shot bright pain through him. He hissed out his distress but maintained his sitting position and scanned the area.
“Where is he?” he croaked out.
“Don’t move so suddenly, Sire, please! And where is who, Your Majesty?”
“Tama! My angel! Damn it! Where is he?”
“Angel, Sire? Tama…Tama was the healer who saved your life. You were stabbed. Don’t you remember?”
Diagus closed his eyes tightly. Remember? Fuck, no. What the fuck happened. Tama was a healer? Not an angel? The man’s face floated in front of him, so kind and loving. His voice was so soothing, mesmerizing. It was like being wrapped in soft fur.
Not an angel.
Wait. Stomund said something about being stabbed. Yes. Those two ruffians who somehow surprised the shit out of him. They had toppled him from his horse and then stabbed him. But he hadn’t thought the cut was deep, although it bled like crazy. Why did it hurt like this?
“Yeah. I remember. Help me up.” Diagus reached out a hand to Stomund, but the man didn’t move in to help. Instead he stepped back.
“Sire, you’re hurt and shouldn’t even be sitting. You might be putting too much pressure on your wound as it is. Do you think you might be bleeding?”
“What are you talking about? Help me up, damn you. Quit babbling like a kitchen maid.”
“But, Sire…”
Diagus huffed at Stomund and instead used his hand to help himself, cursing all the way to standing. Stomund finally helped when it was obvious Diagus wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“So, where’s the healer, then?” He let out a sigh that turned into a moan. Fuck, he hurt. All over.
“Unfortunately, he went on ahead of us. Last night. However, he left us some herbs for your pain. Seems like you could use some.”
Stomund pulled Diagus to the side of the path they were on, his men scrambling to remove debris from where he had been lying. Diagus looked up at several passersby, some hurrying off in one direction and some in the other. Few looked at him and Diagus could tell, when they did, believed they recognized him but hurried on their way nonetheless. He finally looked around him. Where the fuck was he?
“We’re in the pass?”
“Yes, Sire. We left at first light and are on our way back to the castle. We have just started out, only past Ghost Pines, pulling you on that travois.” Stomund pointed to the leftover remains in the path. “But unfortunately, due to the roughness of the road yesterday, it fell apart, dumping you to the ground. Please, sit. Let me prepare this tea for you.”
Diagus glanced at his second-in-command. “Tea? You are going to prepare tea?”
“The healer’s recommendation, Your Majesty.”
“Why did you let him go on ahead?” Damn. Tama wasn’t an angel. He was having some trouble getting used to that idea. He wasn’t dead and wrapped in an angel’s embrace. He supposed on some levels that was supposed to be a good thing. But he hurt. Fuck. He had had wounds far worse than this stab wound, so why did it hurt so bad? Course, it was not the same type of pain he had before. This was less sharp. Still, it was taking everything in him to stand. He finally did as he was told and
sat on the ground. Not a good place for a king to be in case of trouble, but it was either that or fall.
“It was at his insistence. His father traveled to Blade Rain to meet with you. He wanted to catch up to him.”
“How much sense does that make, Stomund? I am here. He knows who I am, does he not?” Certainly, he seemed to yesterday. That had been yesterday, right? Alas, he was no longer convinced what had been real and what hadn’t been. Had those kisses even been real? Those wandering fingers?
“Yes, Sire, he did.”
Fuck. Stupid. Why was he feeling abandoned, like he wasn’t worthy? The feeling was almost as bright and painful as it was when he realized Joron would never be his. And it wasn’t like the man wouldn’t be at Blade Rain when he got there. Stomund just said he only went on ahead.
He had never felt this way. Even with Joron. Yes, Joron had been the absolute light of his life, but Tama… Tama was different. This was different. This was well beyond lust or the need to possess. He felt the desire to fold himself all around his little angel and—just—be.
But it was all futile. How could it matter what he felt, what he desired? He was to be married upon his return to Blade Rain. He wasn’t going to greatly disappoint his brother and cheat on his soon-to-be wife even before she was his wife. The last thing he wanted was the newfound, newly forged friendship the three of them had—Joron, Aric, and him—to be destroyed. He had to let the healer go.
Stomund handed him a cup of water that had forest fragments floating in it. “Really? The healer left this for me?”
“Well…” Stomund cleared his throat. “He didn’t leave any instructions on how it was to be prepared. He probably meant for it to be heated—steeped or something. Whatever it is you do with tea. Except, as you know, no fires are allowed in the pass.”
“Yes, Stomund, I am fully aware no fires are allowed. I am not exactly sure why that law exists, but it is older than both me and my father combined, so there must be some reason.” He glanced up at Stomund. “One that I will not challenge today.” He downed the contents, choking on the dry leaves as they scratched down his throat. He shivered as he handed the cup back to Stomund. “Now where is my horse? I’ll ride the rest of the way.” He held a hand to Stomund who took it this time and helped the man to his feet.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but Tama said the ruffians stole…”
Just then thundering hooves could be heard to the right of them, and they both looked back down the path from which they had just come. “Ahhh. There she is now.”
The great white mare galloped straight to Diagus even as his troops gathered in front of him to stop her.
“NaLav!” he called out, the soldiers who had stepped out into the path to guard their king now stepped aside. The horse pushed her way through to stop right in front of Diagus, her head down, and nosed into his hand, begging to be praised. “Oh yes, you are a very good horse, a very good girl,” he cooed at her as he rubbed her neck and cheeks. Doing a quick examination of her and finding her no worse for wear, he reached up to scratch behind her ear and she leaned heavily into him. “You are so smart to escape and find us.” As if on cue—NaLav did know her master—she stepped back and whinnied, nodding her head.
Diagus turned to Stomund. “Help me up onto my horse, soldier. We need to get back on the road.” He put an air of a jovial mood in his voice that he did not feel. But it befitted his status as king. He needed to put his feelings and needs and certainly his desires to the side. His kingdom came first. If his father had taught him nothing about being a good human being, he did teach him what not to be as a king.
But strangely it was no longer Joron’s face that floated in front of him, encouraging his kingly behavior. His heart was set on an angel. And that angel was going to be at Blade Rain.
Chapter 6
Tama continued into the night and finally stopped a couple hours later. He wasn’t afraid that whatever haunted the pass at night would follow him out. He had seen the shadows recede once he was clear of the walls of the Ice Dragon Pass. But it didn’t hurt to be as far away from that gaping black hole as he could. Finally, he deemed it safe to rest and water the horse. Finding a fast, cold stream beside a hillside of lush grass, he tethered the horse to a small tree, making sure she could reach both the water and the grass. Then Tama built a fire and ate a portion of the meats and cheeses Stomund sent with him. He had been so grateful for it, because it meant he could travel well into the evening and not worry about hunting for a meal, something he hadn’t been all that successful at.
Laying out his sleeping bag, he cuddled in close to the fire. The temperature had dropped significantly at that point, exactly as he had predicted, and he couldn’t help but think about the king. Especially when his sleeping bag still held his fragrance. The big man had to be happy he was with his own people now, out of Tama’s care. Probably even grateful he didn’t have to thank a man who had kissed him. Tama shuddered. It would have been a very different story if the same regiment had happened on them and the king had died.
It had been close.
But the threat continued. He hoped he was able to convey to Stomund just how strange it was that their king had been attacked with Witch’s Bane. He was sure the man had to understand they were still in some danger. But it was no longer his problem. And Tama honestly should be very happy about that.
So why was he so sad?
He needed sleep. After eating his fill twice now, he believed it would be an easy thing to do. He planned on rising early and pushing hard for Blade Rain. He calculated his father had only arrived late today. Tama would be on his heels tomorrow. Not that it would make it any easier to find him. He was very grateful that King Diagus was not there so he didn’t have to worry about that. But where his father would be if he was indeed turned away from the castle after he told them why he was there, he had no idea.
Poor Aydin.
It was so hard to even think about sleep he was so worried about Aydin. Was Beourn feeding him properly? Was he going to make sure Aydin was warm enough through this chilly night? What if Aydin was crying, wanting only Tama’s arms around him, wondering why Tama wasn’t there. Did he think Tama had abandoned him?
Tama’s stomach rolled. Maybe he shouldn’t have eaten so much. He was feeling sick now.
Damn you, father! You should die a thousand deaths!
No. Concentrate on sleep. Not on his selfish father’s inane attempt to obtain something for no work on his part. That was what his father was doing. It was always about the easy way out. Yes, he understood that Beourn was wounded, too. There was so much more to the story of his mother’s death than he would probably ever know. A story that most likely influenced his father’s every sick existence. But it didn’t excuse him for drugging Tama and spiriting Aydin away without his consent. And to do what? Sell him? Peddle the boy like livestock! He felt a tear roll down his face. So much pain. For all of them. At least Kelay no longer had to feel it. She was safe in the arms of God, happy forever.
Arms. Ahhh, to be wrapped in loving arms. When would he ever have that opportunity? It truly was not something he had even thought about before being kissed by a king. Having just learned what a kiss could be, having just experienced what love could hold, he would now have to live the rest of his life questioning whether he could have had more. Knowing what he knew now, he would have to go on as if nothing had ever happened and spend forever only wondering what could have been.
Tama sighed and once again closed his eyes. Best to force all those things from his mind. He might never find love, but happiness would come when he found his father and took Aydin from him. Aydin was his life. He was his everything. He would rescue him prior to the king ever even seeing him and disappear so the man could marry his princess and have a real relationship. Something, as a king, he deserved.
Tama lay still as he willed his mind to calm and finally felt himself drifting, listening to the night music of the animals and bugs and frogs.
Diag
us’s face floated in front of Tama. So close, all Tama had to do was reach out to touch it. Except they were locked together already, Tama’s fingers exploring the depths of the King’s very secret place. Oh! Soft and open and ready for him.
“You are my angel, Tama. My beautiful angel.”
“Yours, My King?”
“Yes, Tama. You belong to me.”
“But you are to be married, My King. How can I belong to you then?”
“It doesn’t matter. I love you, Tama. I love you…”
Tama woke with a start. Loves me? He shook his head and sat. The fire had long since died down and the sun was up and bright.
And he had the oddest sensation of sand in his mouth…
At least he had slept.
Thank God.
Love. The king did not truly love him. It had only been a dream. Tama blushed remembering what his dream fingers had been doing. Had he suckled the king’s hairy nipples? He reached up and touched his lips, imagining that he could still feel the king’s hot skin, could taste him. Love…
Even so, not enough time had passed between them for such an emotion. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The dream had been so real! It was as if Tama could smell the man, he felt so near.
And near he would be if Tama spent time here in this lonely spot. He rose and gathered all his belongings, amazed he had slept past dawn. He was moving slowly.
So. This is what it felt like to have your heart broken? Had Kelay felt this, too? She had been with the man. Intimately. The king obviously had no care for the people he bedded after his own pleasure was taken care of. Kelay was sure to convey that little message. It was part of the reason he felt that Kelay would have been turned away at the gate, even though she did have a very beautiful blue-eyed baby. No one would have listened. No one would have cared.