Lord of the White Hell Book 2

by Ginn Hale

  Kiram shot a pleading look to his sister Dauhd but she just raised her hands in a helpless shrug. Next to her Siamak stood, looking amused. But Majdi appeared troubled as he studied Javier, clearly understanding that this must be the Cadeleonian he had taken up with.

  After a few niceties the majority of people moved on. They wanted to meet Javier but had no idea of how to engage him in a conversation of any depth. For his part Javier smiled but kept his responses short and polite. Soon only Hashiem remained.

  After Kiram made the introduction, Javier studied Hashiem briefly and then gave him a hard smile.

  “You sent the candied fruit,” Javier said and Kiram translated his response, since Hashiem didn’t speak any Cadeleonian.

  “Early in the winter, yes.” Hashiem looked just a little nervous. Kiram wondered if he was thinking of the poem he had included with the gift.

  “It was a little too sweet for someone like Kiram, but then you probably don’t know his tastes quite as intimately as I do,” Javier commented and Kiram almost choked on his mulled wine.

  “Kiram was kind enough to share a little with me and it was delicious. Thank you so much for sending it,” Kiram offered as a translation. Javier stepped on his foot. But Hashiem smiled broadly and clapped Javier on the shoulder.

  “Kiram and I were discussing Cadeleonian pair dancing just before you arrived.” Hashiem stepped a little closer to Kiram and touched his hand. “Now that you’re here we really ought to perform one.”

  “Hashiem wants us to have a Cadeleonian dance in your honor,” Kiram translated.

  “That’s not exactly what he said, is it?” Javier raised a dark brow. “He said your name.”

  “He’d love to,” Kiram told Hashiem and Javier stepped on his foot a second time.

  While Hashiem went to the musicians to arrange the music, word spread through the room that they would be having a Cadeleonian pair dance in honor of the Lord Tornesal. Javier moved close to Kiram with an annoyed expression.

  “Who the hell am I supposed to dance with?” Javier whispered.

  “Well, I’m standing right here,” Kiram pointed out. Javier looked shocked and shook his head.

  “That girl there.” Javier indicated Dauhd. “She’s a relation of yours?”

  “My sister,” Kiram said. “Dauhd.”

  “She resembles you a little.” Javier studied her for a moment longer and Kiram felt a sudden flare of jealousy, seeing the way Javier’s expression softened. “I’ll ask her to dance,” Javier decided and then he strode across the room to do just that, leaving Kiram holding both their drinks.

  When Hashiem returned, Kiram drained both his and Javier’s mulled wine and then set the cups aside.

  “Thank you for arranging the dance.” Kiram smiled flirtatiously, hoping that Javier would notice. If he did, he gave no sign of it. Out of the corner of his eye Kiram watched Javier lift Dauhd’s hand and politely kiss her fingers.

  “It was no trouble at all.” Hashiem’s words brought Kiram’s attention back to his own dance partner. “To be honest,” Hashiem’s voice dropped and he stepped even closer to Kiram. “I had the ulterior motive of claiming you for myself on the dance floor.”

  Kiram had to stop himself from laughing at the husky confession. Did Hashiem really think he hadn’t known that?

  “I’d be glad to dance with you.” Kiram took Hashiem’s hand. “Though I should warn you that I really haven’t ever participated in a Cadeleonian dance before. I’m going to be pretty bad out on the floor.”

  “Don’t worry.” Hashiem squeezed his fingers. “Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine. You’re far too handsome a young man to fault for a few missteps.”

  Kiram found the assurance a little annoying, since he would have preferred a few instructions. But he still followed Hashiem onto the dance floor. His mother gave him an encouraging smile and Siamak nodded at him as if he’d made a very good choice. Javier and Dauhd partnered only a few feet away. The mulled wine rolled in Kiram’s stomach, reminding him suddenly of the night he’d gone to the Goldenrod.

  Other couples quickly filled the space. Some were pairs of men and women, a few of women and women, but most were eligible young men making the most of each other’s company and Kiram’s party. Kiram saw the confusion in Javier’s face as he took in the pairs of men all around him.

  Then the woman leading the musicians announced that they would play the quaressa and music filled the air. Kiram concentrated on the footwork that Fedeles had shown him. Left foot out, back, and then a little kick. He was a taken off guard as Hashiem slid his arm around his back and pulled him so close that their faces almost touched.

  “There is no need to look so startled, Kiram,” Hashiem whispered in Kiram’s ear. His breath was hot. “I know that you haven’t had many suitors but I will be gentle with you.”

  Kiram would have rolled his eyes, but the combination of Hashiem’s foot crushing his toes and the sight of Javier lifting Dauhd to his chest rendered him watery-eyed with pain and flushed with anger. Hashiem seemed to take this as a sign of desire or consent. He pressed against Kiram and sighed contentedly against his neck.

  Across the dance floor from them, Javier predictably displayed his physical prowess, spinning and lifting Dauhd easily in time to the music. Dauhd stared wide-eyed at Javier. Kiram knew exactly what she must have been feeling: a giddy thrill of exhilaration in the grip of Javier’s touch and attention. The thought enraged him. He wanted to lunge out and slap Javier, once for flirting so obviously in front of him and a second time for toying with his sister.

  As the dance drew to a close, Javier glanced to Kiram with a smug smirk, as if he expected Kiram to be impressed with his performance. At the same moment Kiram felt Hashiem’s hand slide up to catch the back of his head. Kiram didn’t evade him, but instead when Hashiem thrust his mouth over Kiram’s, Kiram kissed him back.

  Hashiem’s tongue pushed between his lips and Kiram recoiled, offering Hashiem a coy smile. All around them members of Kiram’s family looked on in approval. Hashiem’s mother was beaming.

  Javier’s smile vanished. He exchanged a few words with Dauhd, bowed curtly to her, and then strode from the room.

  Kiram watched his retreating back for a moment, then looked to Hashiem. “I think I’d better show Lord Tornesal the way to the water closet. Please excuse me.”

  “Certainly.” Hashiem offered Kiram an indulgent smile and released his hand.

  Kiram rushed after Javier, catching him near the front doors.

  “Where are you going?” Kiram demanded. Despite his annoyance, Kiram hated the thought of Javier leaving.

  Javier spun on him with that cold, controlled expression that Kiram so disliked. “I’m returning to the Grunito house. I’m their guest after all and it’s getting late.”

  “You plan to walk across the city in the dead of night, during a rainstorm, wearing nothing but my brother’s silk clothes?”

  “No,” Javier snapped. “I am going to fetch Lunaluz and ride to the Grunito house.”

  “You’re going to ride him through the rain in the dark?” Kiram stepped between Javier and the tall double doors.

  In response Javier raised his hands and a searing white light blazed up from them. Kiram scowled at the blinding flare until it faded.

  “You don’t know where the stable is,” Kiram said and he leaned back against the doors and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “On Briar Street. Your sister told me.”

  “Yes, but you don’t know where Briar Street is.” Kiram couldn’t keep from grinning in triumph.

  “It can’t be that hard to find,” Javier replied. The haughty disdain of his expression shifted nearer to petulance, which Kiram thought was more human and, in a way, charming.

  “Even if you do find it, the place will be locked up by now and I’m sure the Grunitos will all be sound asleep by the time you reached their house.” Kiram tried to sound reasonable. “You might as well stay the night here.”


  “I can’t.” Javier shoved a lock of his hair back from his face and Kiram couldn’t help but momentarily think that it was getting long for Cadeleonian style though it suited him. “There aren’t any wards in this house. I can’t sleep here.”

  “Are you joking?” Kiram lowered his voice. “You don’t need wards to sleep, Javier. I’ve slept with you for months without a single ward between our bodies and I’m fine.”

  Javier frowned down at the floor and Kiram knew that the absence of wards wasn’t what troubled Javier. But he also felt certain that neither of them were ready to argue about what had happened on the dance floor, so he addressed the excuse Javier offered him.

  “Where were you planning to sleep when you arrived here?”

  “I didn’t plan anything,” Javier admitted and frustration played through his voice. “I just wanted…I just came. I didn’t think about it, but I should have. I should have realized that you had friends and family here. That you wouldn’t be alone.”

  Kiram almost asked why Javier had imagined he would be, but then he realized that it was because Javier himself was so isolated. He wouldn’t have been prepared for family or friends and certainly not for a crowded Haldiim celebration. “Everyone feels honored to have you here.”

  “Even if I smell like a beast and look like a corpse?” Javier arched a brow.

  “Auntie Fahad aside,” Kiram said. “Even she warmed up to you once you had a bath and a change of clothes. They’re not all perfect people, but if you give them a chance most of them will treat you very well. There’s certainly no reason for you to leave in the middle of the night.” Kiram stepped forward and took Javier’s hand in his own. “I know this is all foreign for you but it can be fun. Stay here with me.”

  Javier tensed and Kiram thought he would pull away but instead he jerked Kiram to him and embraced him tightly.

  Kiram leaned into him, returning his strong grasp. Javier’s entire body relaxed against him. He bowed his head and rested it on Kiram’s shoulder. Neither of them spoke.

  Music drifted from the ballroom, as did the soft noise of conversation and laughter. Kiram drew back from Javier just enough to look at his face and see both his confusion and desire. Kiram kissed his lips and Javier kissed back with a desperate hunger.

  Then a door somewhere slammed and Javier bolted back. Vashir wandered into the hall, glanced at the two of them, and then disappeared back into the ballroom. Kiram didn’t release Javier from their embrace though he saw the blood drain from Javier’s face. Kiram waited long enough for Javier to see that nothing was going to happen, to realize that this was not the Sagrada Academy.

  “We’re not who he was looking for,” Kiram said.

  “No?” Javier’s tense grip relaxed slowly.

  “He’s presently engaged in a romance with the twins. I’m not sure if he’s with one or both of them and I don’t think he’s sure either.”

  Javier smiled at this.

  “I want to show you the apple cider dance,” Kiram said. He stepped back but kept hold of Javier’s hand.

  “Does it involve actual cider?” Javier asked.

  “No. But you get to spin until you nearly fall down.” Kiram grinned. “It’s fun, I promise.”

  “Will I have to watch that man, Hashiem, kiss you again?” Javier asked suddenly serious.

  “No,” Kiram assured him.

  “I’ll stay. Lead on.”

  Kiram led him back to the ballroom. He held Javier’s hand until they reach the threshold and then, feeling how tense his fingers were, he released him. It was enough just to have him stay for now, Kiram realized.

  They took part in a number of traditional Haldiim dances and several songs as well. Kiram coached Javier in the words and he picked up the tunes quickly. Neither of them were gifted singers but in the atmosphere of warmth and welcome it hardly mattered. As the evening passed into night, and the youngest children began to fall asleep on scattered pillows, card tables were brought out, which allowed Kiram’s father to show off the deck of cards Kiram had brought back from Zancoda.

  Javier and he stayed on dance floor with the younger adults. They hardly touched more than each other’s fingertips, but every time Kiram noticed Javier’s eyes on him he felt the sudden urge to display himself as he never had before. He drank in Javier’s movements as well, feeling as if every flex of muscle was for his benefit alone.

  By the time the midnight bells sounded, a fine sweat shone on Kiram’s hot muscles and his entire body seemed to tremble between exhilaration and fatigue. A lively flush colored Javier’s skin and the bare muscles of his arms bulged from his excess of lifting and spinning Kiram’s nephew and nieces during the spider dance.

  As guests took their leave, Kiram dutifully thanked them for coming and wished them each a good night. He embraced Hashiem but eluded the other man’s attempt at a parting kiss. Once the last guests departed, Kiram raced back to the ballroom where he had left Javier to watch his family play out their final game of cards. He caught Javier’s hand and announced that they would be rooming together.

  Kiram’s mother and father just nodded, not even seeming to hear him, their attention focused on the game. Kiram could see at a glance that Siamak was on the verge of winning a nice sum in coins. She wasted no more than a cursory wave on Kiram. Dauhd, on the other hand, raised her brows questioningly but the mulled wine had slowed her enough that Kiram managed to pull Javier out of the ballroom before his sister could comment.

  He rushed Javier up the stairs despite Javier’s statement that there was no point in hurrying.

  “You’re just getting old and tired,” Kiram teased.

  “Well, I have been riding for six days straight,” Javier replied. “But if I thought there was a reason to rush up here I would.”

  “There’s my bed,” Kiram whispered. He pushed the door to his bedroom open.

  “And your brother,” Javier added.

  Kiram scowled at Majdi. He stood in the middle of Kiram’s large bedroom with several pinstriped pillows and two quilted blankets at his feet.

  “What are you doing here?” Kiram demanded.

  “I’m sleeping in your room. Auntie Fahad’s taken my bed and Auntie Easham and Vashir have the two guest suites.” Majdi looked past him to Javier. “Didn’t Lord Tornesal tell you?”

  “I didn’t get the chance,” Javier replied, “because I’m so old and tired.”

  “Very funny.” Kiram dropped down onto the corner of his bed and pulled off his shoes. “Javier and I get the bed,” he told Majdi.

  Majdi glanced to Javier and nodded.

  “Well, come in, Javier.” Majdi defaulted to Cadeleonian for Javier’s sake, then belatedly he asked, “Do you mind if I call you by your given name?”

  “Not at all.”

  He strode into the bedroom and sat on the bed very deliberately, watching Majdi intently as if expecting some attack or accusation. Majdi simply spread his blankets out over the pillows and stretched out on top of them. Kiram purposefully flipped back his own blankets and fluffed his pillows as if somehow these actions would reassure Javier.

  “There’s water in the basin if either of you want it.” Majdi pulled off his vest and then his pants and then rolled his blanket around himself. Kiram didn’t miss how quickly Javier averted his eyes from Majdi’s naked body.

  “Is there anywhere else that you could sleep tonight?” Kiram asked in a quick whisper of Haldiim.

  “Maybe,” Majdi replied. “Tell me something first. Does Uncle Rafie know about you two?”

  Javier’s entire body tensed and his expression locked into cool disdain but he said nothing. Kiram flopped onto his stomach and stared down at his brother from the bed.

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because someone should warn the two of you about how dangerous this romance of yours could be.”

  “We’ve been warned.” Kiram couldn’t help the exasperation in his voice. Why did all his relatives think he was an idio
t? “And yes, Rafie told me about his failed affair with a Cadeleonian—”

  “Your uncle had an affair with a Cadeleonian?” The information seemed to shock Javier out of his rigid composure.

  “Yes,” Kiram answered. “It was when he was young and the other man got frightened and confessed about it. He accused Rafie of seducing him and Rafie had to flee to Yuan until the warrant for him expired.”

  “Ten years,” Majdi supplied. “He had to live in exile for ten years.”

  “I won’t do that to your brother,” Javier spoke each of the Haldiim words carefully. “I swear.”

  Majdi nodded then looked to Kiram. “You know Mum wants you to settle with Hashiem, right?”

  “No,” Kiram replied. “I had no idea because I’m an imbecile and I’ve been living in a pickle jar for the last two years.”

  Majdi rolled his eyes, then glanced to Javier. “He’s a smart ass, you know.”

  “I’ve had reason to suspect as much,” Javier replied.

  Majdi sighed. “Well, I’m not Mum and I’m pretty certain that there’s a couch that’s a lot more comfortable than your floor, so I’ll be going.” He stood, gathering his blankets around him. “If anyone asks, I never knew anything about this. The two of you have a good night.”

  Majdi lumbered out of the bedroom and then disappeared down the stairs.

  Javier stared after him as if unable to believe what had transpired. “Did your brother just give us…”

  “The go ahead? Pretty much.” Kiram closed and locked the door, then bounded back to the bed.

  “His blessing was what I was about to say.” Javier spoke with such a tone of quiet wonder that it gave Kiram pause. He suddenly realized that such approval would be unheard of—utterly unimaginable—in a Cadeleonian household.

  “We probably shouldn’t waste it.” He drew Javier into his arms.

  The sex was fast, their hands gripping and working with a rough desire that staved off exhaustion only moments past its climax.