EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2017 Elizabeth Monvey
ISBN: 978-1-77339-403-9
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To a wonderful friend and writer, Jacey Holbrand.
DARK JOURNEY
Sequel to Dark Rider
Elizabeth Monvey
Copyright © 2017
Chapter One
“You should have made a portal.”
Alisander’s gaze met Cax’s a second before he gave an eye roll, smiling to soften the look. Cax smiled back. Hark had been complaining from the moment Cax said they would ride broolhorses back to Vermundir.
“The broolhorses are fine.”
“We’ve ridden for five days straight. A portal would’ve been instantaneous. How is this an effective use of our time?”
“Quiet, Hark. You complain too much. We’ll see the guild towers day after tomorrow.”
“We’ll be exhausted day after tomorrow. What harm would it be to make a portal?”
“I thought you realized Mercenaries live simply. I don’t use my abilities except for emergency purposes.”
Hark snorted. “If I had your ability, I’d be traveling all over the place.”
“Ah, but if you get used to comfort, you become soft.”
Hark simply harrumphed.
“Well, I am used to living simply,” Ali murmured. “I was born a servant after all.”
“You were always more than a servant to me,” Hark said softly.
“Perhaps.” Ali shrugged. “Does not matter anymore, I suppose, because here we are.”
“Yes, here we are. Like always, you’re correct.” Hark crooked his finger. “Come here.”
Ali smiled as he urged his mount forward. When he pulled even with Hark, the larger man leaned down and kissed him on the mouth.
They pushed onward, heading east until the sun started to descend on their backs. They found a small clearing that was ideal for camping and pitched bedrolls around a small fire pit. Hark decided to hunt, leaving Cax and Ali behind to relax and mind the fire. The evening came with a gentle quietness as the sounds settled around them like a comforting blanket.
“Do you think Hark will pass the test?” Ali asked softly as he stared into the fire.
Cax hesitated in answering.
“I see,” Ali murmured.
“No, you don’t,” Cax said. He sighed. “If the test is about strength and fighting skills I have no doubt of Hark’s ability to triumph. But I question whether or not his mental resolve is firm, and should the Guild decide to test that part of him … well, I’m not sure if he would pass.”
“You talk about his addiction.”
Cax nodded. “A thirst like that never truly abates.”
“And what will happen if he fails?”
“That I do not know.” Cax rubbed his eyes, trying to hide the emotion the simple question had evoked. It was something he had asked himself, and he couldn’t answer, because the life of a Mercenary was the only thing he knew. It was the only thing he wanted, besides Hark and Ali by his side. How could he choose one over the other?
It did no good contemplating that scenario now, however, and Cax pushed the issue from his mind. Vermundir was still a good day away, and right then, he needed something to ease the lingering fear in his gut. He smiled at Ali and crooked a finger.
“Come here, lover.”
Ali’s eyes widened. “Here?”
“Here,” Cax said firmly.
Ali scooted around until they faced one another, and excitement caused Cax’s blood to heat and his cock to harden.
“Strip,” Cax ordered, his voice a bit thick with desire.
He saw the answering need in Ali’s face as the younger man obeyed, taking off his clothes slowly, driving Cax a little crazy. When he was naked, Cax laid him down, and the firelight cast dancing shadows upon his fair skin. He nipped and licked his way down Ali’s stomach and thighs until he’d reached his destination. Gently, he took the thinner cock in his hands and explored, first the base, then the balls, cupping them in his palms. Cax couldn’t resist temptation and licked.
Ali groaned, and his hips bucked.
Having his lover come undone was the best aphrodisiac. Strength flowed into Cax at the knowledge that his partner trusted him enough to let loose his inhibitions. Taking a firm grip around the base of Ali’s cock, he pumped the shaft as he sucked the head into his mouth, lavishing the large head like it was ambrosia to savor.
“You started without me,” Hark murmured as he came to stand behind Ali.
Cax pulled off Ali long enough to say, “You’re next.”
Returning his attention to his lover beneath him, Cax stroked the cock a few times until pre-cum leaked steadily from the tip. Cax used the flat top of his tongue to capture the juice, loving the salty essence.
“Come for me, Ali,” he murmured.
He pumped the shaft, gripping tighter at the base and easing up as his traveled to the tip. Moments later, Ali cried out as his orgasm hit. Cax milked him until Ali’s body completely relaxed in a boneless heap and a contented smile graced his lips.
As Cax rose, he licked the few hits of cum from his fingers. Most of it had landed on Ali’s stomach. Then he pointed to Hark.
“I want you.”
Hark gave him a little smirk, excitement flaring in his eyes. Cax rose and stripped his own clothes. He took his dick into his hands and slowly caressed the hardened flesh as Hark watched appreciatively.
“Turn around.”
Hark did as instructed and braced himself against the tree. He spread his legs. Cax stepped up behind him and grabbed a handful of hair, pulling Hark’s head back.
“You are mine, aren’t you, lover?” Cax whispered in his ear.
Hark moaned his acquiescence as Cax ran a hand over Hark’s ass. He grabbed hold of Hark’s hips and pulled him back, enough for Hark to bend over a little.
“Where’s your oil?” he asked, then nipped the earlobe.
“In my pack,” Hark said breathlessly.
“Get undressed.”
Cax left him long enough to find the oil, noticing Ali lay on his side, head propped up on his hand, watching them with an indulgent smile.
“You want to join?” he asked.
Ali shook his head. “I’m enjoying the show.”
Cax winked. Hark had undressed in minutes and resumed the position Cax had left him. He ran his hand down the muscled back, over Hark’s hip, and down the firm ass. He poured some oil through Hark’s crack, letting it run down the crevice and circle around the tight rosette. Setting the oil aside, he took his cock in hand and ran the tip up and down, coating the crown in the oil before he pushed against the wet opening. Hark exhaled sharply with a rumbling groan.
“Are you all right?”
"Yes," he mumbled a bit breathlessly, and that was all Cax needed as he drove his entire length deep inside Hark’s body.
Hark cried out and tensed beneath him for a moment. Both men groaned at the penetration, and Cax leaned his head against Hark’s back.
"Of all that’s holy," Cax managed to utter through clenched teeth. He battled desperately to hold back his orgasm.
"Is that so, lover? Then brace yourself."
Grabbing Hark’s ass securely with both hands, he rocked with hard thrusts, fast and deep.
Both grunted out their lust, and it didn’t take long for the tingles to race up and down Cax’s body. He wouldn’t be able to hold back for too much longer. Already his legs trembled. Too much emotion, too much pleasure and a gigantic wave of sexual electricity unleashed, throwing his body into spasms.
Hark was right there with him, his body convulsing as they cried out their completion.
Chapter Two
“I need to be quicker,” Ali said again for the hundredth time as he took careful aim with the bow, lining up the small apple along the taut string in his line of vision. They had stopped for lunch, and like the previous few days, Ali practiced with the bow Cax had given him.
“You need to concentrate,” Cax replied mildly from behind him. He leaned with his back against a tree, arms folded in front of him and ankles crossed in a completely relaxed pose as he studied Ali’s stance and form with a critical but practiced eye.
Ali blew the bangs out of his eyes. “I’ve been practicing technique for the past four days, and that includes two days of irritating summer showers.”
“Learning the bow will take years,” Cax reminded him. “Right now, you have to learn to trust the weapon. With trust comes speed.”
Ali curled up his lips as he let the arrow fly. It sailed straight … and completely missed the apple it had been intended for, hitting the tree next to it dead center, instead of the log the apple rested upon.
He stood with one hand on his hip, head cocked in a thoughtful manner, lips pursed as he chewed his bottom lip, staring at the trajectory of the arrow that managed to always stray to the left.
“The positive thing I want to point out is that your arm has gained confidence because the arrows are flying true.” Cax pushed himself from the tree and walked over to where the arrow landed. “As long as we’re fighting apples I think we’ll be okay.”
“Perhaps if I stood to the left, into where the arrow is going, my aim will correct itself,” Ali suggested thoughtfully.
“Go ahead and try it,” Cax replied as he yanked the arrow from the tree and stood back, taking careful safety measures to stand far back from the usual trajectory.
Ali pulled another arrow from the quiver and took careful aim once more, this time turning his body left and into the direction of the off-center aim.
“He’s standing sideways.” Hark’s deep voice boomed in the stillness of the small meadow.
Ali flinched, and the arrow disappeared somewhere in the tall grass beyond his target practice.
“See? Stand angled but not turned around,” Hark replied as if he had solved all the problems.
“Why don’t you go take a long walk way over there?” Ali pointed to an area far away in the opposite direction. Frustration boiled in his tone.
Hark frowned at him. “I’m just trying to help you.”
“Shoo,” Ali said as he waved him away.
Hark opened his mouth to say something, but Ali held up a finger to his lips in a “shh” gesture, so he only gave a grunt before turning to march away, off to the right as he made his way back to camp.
Cax smothered his chuckle. Ali sighed and turned back to the target, turning his body once again into the direction of his aim to try to correct it. Cax watched closely as he kept both eyes open to line up his target and released the string. Unfortunately, the turning into his deficit overcompensated drastically, and the arrow made a wide arc to the right, heading into the direction that Hark had just taken. Cax winced as a surprised yell of pain came from the path.
“Well,” Cax said. “That didn’t work.”
“Oh no, what did I do? I could have killed him!”
“I don’t believe this!” Hark yelled as he stomped back to them. “You shot me! You bloody well shot me!”
“I certainly didn’t mean to,” Ali said. “I’m so sorry.”
“At least he didn’t have any true strength behind it,” Cax replied soothingly. “He’s just starting out, Hark. It’s awkward for him. Turn around. Let’s get a look at it.”
Hark glared at him as he reached behind toward his buttocks to yank the arrow out of his flesh, the tightening of his lips the only sign of any pain. He held it out to Ali, the bloody metal tip shining bright red in the sunlight. Ali tentatively took it back.
“You don’t compensate bad aim by turning into it,” he forced out through clenched teeth.
Cax thought if he ground them much more they would grind apart but wisely kept silent.
“You should probably wait until I’m gone before trying again.”
Ali nodded as Hark spun and stomped away.
Cax looked down and saw the ripped pants and bloody hole in Hark’s buttocks and had to slap a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
****
They reached a cliff overlooking a beautiful but well-traveled valley where a wide river dissected it, cutting off the path they needed to travel from the course they had no choice but to follow.
“Looks deep,” Hark said skeptically. “Are you sure we can safely cross it?”
“There is a bridge, but it lies too far out of our way,” Cax replied. “It would mean more days sitting in your saddle. Not sure if your ass can handle it.”
Hark narrowed his eyes. “My ass is fine.”
“I know it is, but I was referring to your superficial wound.”
“Drop it,” Hark grated through clenched teeth.
Cax smiled. He really loved teasing the solemn man.
“What’s going on over there?” Ali pointed down the bluff, near the river’s edge, where a huddle of people stood around two wagons. There were roughly twenty people total, not including the couple of children running around the center of the group that were focused near the back of one a wagon.
“Natives,” Cax replied.
“If you make a portal we could help them out,” Hark said.
“No more talk of portals,” Cax warned mildly.
“We aren’t going to leave them like that, right?” Ali asked. “Aren’t they in our way?”
“Like I said, that is the narrowest point to cross the river,” Cax replied.
“Yeah, well, have you actually been looking at the river?” Hark shot back. “It’s a little swollen. There’s no longer any exiguity here. It’s all now one big mass of moving force.”
“Are you saying this is beyond the great Lord Hark’s capability?”
Hark glared at Cax. “I’ve said no such thing, and if you suggest again I am a coward, you shall be feeling the sharp edge of my broadsword.”
As he stomped down the hill, his broolhorse walking docilely behind, Ali maneuvered his own mount closer to Cax.
“You tease him unmercifully.”
“Hark needs a little teasing to lighten his perpetual soured disposition.” He winked before spurring his own animal on to follow.
“I tell you,” Hark said as they all approached the wagon and its owners. “Natives aren’t going to want our help. They’re solitary travelers. Loners. Saw them all the time at the market in Eyvindar.”
A man broke from the assembled group of people and walked as quickly as he could through the slick muck, waving his arms frantically.
“Please,” he called out. “Can you help us?”
Cax snorted. He slid off the horse and let Ali take the animals off to the side to wait safely in the shelter of trees as he and Hark set about taking a look at the stuck wheel. With the steady influx of rain in the north, the water level had risen to overflow the bank and cause it to race out of control in a current that would be too strong to walk through. He instructed men to cut some wood and use it under the wheel for leverage as others guided the oxen forward. With some steady maneuvering, the wagon finally pulled free from the suction of the mud pit.
“All right!” Hark yelled, getting everyone’s attention. “Let’s try this again and get all of you safely across now.”
Cax sat back and let him do all the planning. Hark would be driving the first wagon through, followed by the second wagon and then the provisions. Ali helped a few other women tie the children into the second wagon, a cover free cart that had sturdy wheels and barred sides. They would get wet, but the open back reduced the chances of danger by holding the children in place with ropes easily slashed if the wagon should falter. And to make sure nothing would happen, Ali jumped in the back to ride out the crossing with them.
Cax brought up the rear.
The first set of broolhorses started out through the strong river, entering hesitantly yet determined to make it over. They were followed by the first wagon in which Hark steered and maneuvered with surprising dexterity. His strength kept the team in line and the oxen less panicked, even though their heads bounced nervously in the swiftly rising waters.
As Cax watched the second wagon, making sure everything kept moving, a wave came up and hit the cattle, jarring the animals from their purposeful stride. The wagon shook, and just as it began to settle, a floating log hit the wagon, pushing it sideways. Cries erupted as a child catapulted from his seat. Ali immediately swung his butt up on the top rail and hooked his legs over them. Then he leaned out in the water just as the child swept by to grab his shirt.
“Ali!” Cax yelled and spurred his broolhorse forward to help. Another child on the wagon also leaned out to help, and Cax was afraid that child was in danger as well. “No!”
Since Ali was technically backward in the water, Cax could only imagine the feeling of suffocation hitting him hard. At any moment, he would lose his grip and not only would the child be gone with the rapid moving river, but Ali as well. Cax’s broolhorse bucked in protest to the high water, but he pressed on, managing to grab the child at the last second, just when he was ripped from Ali’s hand.
Dark Journey Page 1