by Megan Derr
Table of Contents
Come to Me
Book Details
Dedication
Part One
Part Two
About the Author
Come to Me
A Black Magic Short
Megan Derr
The roles of High Paladin and High Necromancer do not allow for much free time, even less where they might spend it together. When they do finally obtain some time to spend with each other, Sorin and Koray find there are still doubts and fears between them that will take more than time to overcome …
Book Details
Come to Me
Black Magic
By Megan Derr
Published by Less Than Three Press LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.
Edited by Samantha M. Derr
Cover designed by Megan Derr
This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.
First Edition February 2014
Copyright © 2014 by Megan Derr
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 9781620043318
Dedication
To Chantal and Brenda because they asked,
and they always brighten my day
Sorin hummed as he left the castle and headed across the southern yard, past the blacksmith and the armory, in search of his errant lover. Those with whom he'd spoken had said they'd seen Koray headed this direction, but Sorin had yet to spy a single gray hair.
He wanted Koray, damn it. He had been buried in meetings and battles and more meetings for a very long fortnight, and every time he'd had a moment's respite, Koray had been somewhere else. Sorin was tired of it. He wanted Koray, a good deal of privacy, and to be left alone for at least a full day, preferably two. The person who threw a stone in those plans would not enjoy what happened to them.
The sound of Koray's voice made him pause. Sorin could barely hear it, though from what he caught of the tone, Koray seemed angry, or at least displeased. Damn. He remained still until he heard it again, then looped around the building where the priests and cooks stored all their herbs and spices, minus those that were valuable enough they needed to be locked up.
Rounding the building, Sorin caught Koray's voice again—and Neikirk's. He still could not understand the words, though he thought he caught his name a couple of times. Sorin picked his way through careful rows of shrubs and trees, a fragrant garden bound for soups and poultices. He pushed through some tall bushes covered in dark blue and white flowers, poised to speak but stopped as he took in the scene before him.
Koray and Neikirk sat with a large basket at their feet, bundling together various herbs and setting the bundles in the basket, so they could later be hung to dry. But the herbs were largely forgotten as they talked, heads bowed toward each other, voices pitched low. More fascinating still was the dark flush to Koray's face, at odds with his intent look, the determined set to his jaw. What was Koray discussing so secretively with Neikirk that he would not discuss with Sorin?
He was being stupid. Koray would be the first to tell him so. For all he knew they could be discussing him. He had heard his name, after all. But what about him would leave Koray so red-faced?
Well, better to ask than eavesdrop. He might be slow to learn, but he did learn. Sorin stepped closer, smiling as they both looked up. "There you are, necromancer. I was hoping for a word with you." He stared when Koray's face reddened further. "Is … something wrong? Should I go?" The disappointment was crushing, left him aching, but if Koray had other plans, so be it. He tried not to dwell on the fear that Koray had not missed him nearly as much. What if Koray hadn't missed him at all?
Before Sorin could depart, Neikirk laughed and stood, sharing a look with Koray that Sorin could not interpret. "I am supposed to be meeting with my alchemists soon, so your timing is excellent, High Paladin." He squeezed Koray's shoulder in parting, nodded at Sorin, and then slipped away.
Sorin closed the few steps between him and Koray, curled his hands over Koray's shoulders, and bent to kiss him. As ever, the scent of incense clung to Koray, mingling pleasantly with the spicy-sweet taste of him. His mouth was warm, pliant … and distracted.
The seed of worry Sorin had been trying to ignore grew into a full-fledged tree. Sorin drew back and reached out to trace Koray's brow, brush back a loose strand of pale gray hair. "Are you well, necromancer?"
"I'm fine," Koray said, scowling at him. "What did you want?" He looked down as he said it, speaking more to Sorin's tunic.
Sorin swallowed against the hurt and disappointment. "Nothing important. Nevermind. I am sorry for intruding upon your day, necromancer. I'll leave you to whatever you were doing." He spun around sharply and stormed off, barely aware of everything around him as he fled.
So it was finally happening. Nearly a year since they had first met, not quite a year since they had returned from Navath. Koray was finally growing bored of him. Why shouldn't he? He was High Necromancer, with all the power and status and wealth that position entailed. So very far from the man who had first arrived at the castle and changed everything. He could have anyone. Why should he settle for remaining with his first lover?
How long had Sorin willfully been ignoring the signs? He scrubbed a hand through his hair, feeling stupid that he had gone to pains to clean up, pull on a nicer set of clothes, and brush his hair out until it looked respectable for once. Whatever. There was always work to do. He would retrieve his armor and weapons and resume his duties.
Once back in his room, however, he could only stand in the middle of it feeling lost. Sorin scowled at the meal that had been laid out, which he had been looking forward to sharing with Koray. It would have been the first leisurely meal they'd had in some time. He could smell Koray's favorite mulled wine; his stomach growled at the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread. He had even managed to sneak away long enough to slip into town and obtain a box of the sweets Koray liked so much. He had worked hard to ensure this one day was theirs … and Koray had been too distracted by thoughts of something else to even kiss him properly. Someone else? The thought made him physically ill.
He tensed as the door opened—and winced when it slammed shut. "What in the name of the Goddess was that about?" Koray demanded. "You came to find me only to flounce off in a snit? Why?"
Sorin glared at the fireplace. "I sought you out because I've scarce seen you this past fortnight and I missed you. I wanted to spend the day with you, here in our room. We have everything we need to be comfortable here for hours, and I gave orders to the entire castle that we're not to be disturbed save for emergencies."
"But?" Koray prodded when he fell silent.
"But a demon would kiss me with more interest than you showed," Sorin said, misery growing as he finally voiced the problem. "I know when someone wants to kiss me, necromancer, and when they are simply doing it to have done."
"Yes," Koray said bitterly. "I am well aware how much you know about kissing. I've heard of nothing else the past few weeks. Every goddess damned lord and lady in this place loves to regale me with all that you've done to and with them."
Rage, sharp and white and hot, cut through Sorin as he imagined slicing apart every last damn interfering bastard. That they would dare convince Koray that he could do something as contemptible as behave unfaithfully. "Are you accusing me of infidelity?"
"What—no! Stop being stupid!" Koray said, fingers twitching, likely with an urge to throw something at Sorin's head. "I'm saying that all your former paramours are more than happy to ask me if
I have done one thing or another with you. They love to explain in alarming detail all the things they've enjoyed with you. Things I have certainly never been approached about. Every time they bring it up I have to insist it's none of their business—which it's not—because I can hardly admit I do not even know what they're talking about! That I have never heard of the things they describe!" His anger broke like a dropped plate; he stared glumly at the floor when he said, "I finally broke down and asked Neikirk to explain what they were talking about because apparently I'm not—you don't want to do any of those things with me that you did with them." Sorin had never seen him look so sad and lost. He wanted to kill every last bastard in the castle who had helped to put that look there. Including himself. Koray's voice was barely audible when he added, "I always want to kiss you, but all I can think anymore is how boring I must be compared to the rest of them."
Storming across the room, Sorin swept Koray up and swallowed his startled protest with a bruising kiss. He kept moving until they struck the wall, shifting so that he pinned Koray there with his body, sliding his hands down to grab Koray's thighs and spread them wide, wrapping Koray's legs around his hips while he continued to feed at the mouth that was only one of many things about Koray to which he was hopelessly, happily addicted.
He drew back only when they were both panting and his lips throbbed. "Koray, we have had this discussion before. Not once in all these months I have known you have I ever felt bored in your presence."
Koray's long fingers pulled at the edges of Sorin's collar, trailed up to flutter along his cheeks. A scowl overtook his face as he muttered, "Then why must I hear about all these things you've done from other people, things you did with them but never even mentioned to me?"
Sorin sighed, leaned in to kiss the corner of his mouth, and then slowly set Koray back on his feet. "It did not occur to me to mention them. I can imagine what they have been saying, and I would wager my armor that they are exaggerating a great deal. They probably also did not mention I usually do such things at the request of others. My own tastes are much simpler." He cupped Koray's chin, ran a thumb over his lips. "That aside, I am an idiot and accustomed to you telling me exactly what you think. I am used to the man who regularly announces to the entire castle that I have rocks in place of brains. It is easy to forget there are some things you won't say, even to me when we are alone. But you can say or ask me anything, Koray. You—you could have come to me before you went to Neikirk. I'm sorry you didn't know that."
Cheeks going red again, Koray turned from his touch and muttered, "I was trying to be less ignorant. I thought if you did ever bring the subject up then at least I would not seem completely stupid. It is extremely annoying to know that children around here seem to know more about … certain matters than I, and people keep asking what you see in me."
"Why is everyone being so rude to the High Necromancer?" Sorin asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why have you not slapped fines on all of them? The nobility love nothing half so much as they love their gold. If you want to silence them, hit them where it hurts: in their purses. If fines don't work, throw them in a cell for a couple of nights."
"I … I can fine them?"
"Yes," Sorin said, hating himself all over again for the shadows that filled Koray's face anew. Why did he always feel so inadequate where Koray was concerned? Goddess above, some days he did not know why Koray continued to put up with him. "Fine them for being disrespectful, for sowing disorder, for whatever you can think of, really. They've no business behaving that way. You should have told me sooner, told someone. I will drain their purses and toss them in the moat!"
Koray's frown deepened, his shoulders hunching, voice low as he said, "I've only spoken to Neikirk about it. I don't think he knows about the fines either. We … he and I are not like you and Cerant. Clearly everyone is aware of that."
Sorin leaned in to kiss the top of his head. "I'm sorry. I should be teaching you all of this instead of assuming you've learned it or will grasp it as we go along. Though honesty compels me to admit Cerant would be a better teacher. I'll speak with him."
"I do not care most of the time. I am slowly figuring all of this ruling a country business out," Koray replied, resting his head against Sorin's chest, fingers curling into his tunic. "I just wish they would stop reminding me they were far better and more experienced paramours."
Sorin laughed—grunted when that got him smacked. "More experienced, maybe, but you are better by far." Koray looked as though he wanted to believe that, but could not. Sorin brushed his mouth with a soft kiss. "I am furious with myself for having been oblivious to all this nonsense going on right in front of me, but I do not need to have been privy to it to know you have probably been oblivious to something."
Koray jabbed him again. "I have listened very carefully, My Lord High Paladin, to every word they speak. I could repeat every word back to you precisely as they were said to me. I've missed nothing."
Fighting a smile, warm fondness unfurling in his chest, Sorin replied, "Necromancer, you have probably been so focused on the lurid tales they are spinning, you've failed to notice that at least half of them are trying to seduce you. I will eat my tunic if I am mistaken. They have been telling you of their prowess to tempt you into their beds."
"That's stupid," Koray replied flatly, staring at Sorin's chest, cheeks still burning.
Sorin smiled at the top of his head, threaded his fingers through the hair at his nape, and gently tugged Koray's head back. "Stupid? I assure you it is quite the opposite, or have you forgotten that you are the primary reason necromancers are coming to be respected rather than reviled? That you are the first High Necromancer the kingdom has ever known. Everyone regards you as fearless, mysterious, and every day I have to discipline or terrorize soldiers who discuss your beauty a little too lewdly and loudly for my taste." He kissed Koray again, nuzzled against him, smiled fondly as he drew back. "You call the High Paladin a nitwit twenty times a day, but he still comes running every time you crook a finger because he is utterly besotted. You're the only lover I've managed to keep longer than a month. Of course they want to seduce you. They want a taste of what has me so enthralled."
"You are a nitwit," Koray muttered, face as red as the apples he loved to eat. He looked away, then slowly dragged his eyes back up. "I don't actually think you're stupid, you know."
Grinning, Sorin replied, "You think I'm a spoiled brat, entirely too accustomed to being in charge, and prone to acting before thinking. None of which is untrue, especially where you're concerned." He waggled his eyebrows. "But I like when you call me stupid."
"Because you've been hit upside the head too many—" Koray grunted as Sorin cut him off with another hard kiss. Sorin made a soft, pleased noise when Koray bit his bottom lip and shifted his hands to cradle Koray's face, deepening the kiss, sucking on Koray's tongue, enjoying every moan fed to him, loving the way those long fingers clung tightly to his tunic, the way all of Koray's shyness melted away once he stopped overthinking.
Sorin let go of Koray's face to wrap his arms around him and hoist him up. Koray grumbled momentarily, but it turned into approval when he was drawn back into another kiss, digging his fingers into Sorin's hair as he enjoyed the new angle.
He scowled anew when Sorin dropped him on the bed, only slightly mollified when Sorin crawled on top of him—and glared when Sorin sat back on his heels. "Why are we stopping?"
Sorin gave a slow grin. "What stories exactly have been told to you? What have you been asking Neikirk about?" He laughed when Koray turned red again. "You'll tell him but not the one you should be doing those things with? If you wanted to do them, that is."
Koray dropped his gaze to Sorin's chest, barely relaxing his clenched jaw enough to speak. "I don't care if he laughs at me."
Smile slipping way, Sorin replied, "I would never laugh at you, least of all for not being well-versed in the sexual antics of a bunch of spoiled brats who have never known what it's like to be starved and b
eaten their entire lives. If there's something you want, all you have to do is say." He leaned down and held Koray's face between his hands again, kissed him softly. "I'd jump off a cliff for you."
"Because you're stupid," Koray said. "Why anyone made you High Paladin is beyond me. All that heart and strength isn't good for much if you're too empty-headed to know what to do with it all."
Sorin's grin returned. "Insulting me is not going to distract me from this conversation. What stories have they been telling you?"
"It doesn't matter," Koray muttered. "I don't want to do— I want to hear about this stuff from you, not them. I hate the way they smile and smirk as they tell me everything they've done with you. The way they pat my arm or shoulder like I'm a sad little kitten."
"They've been touching you?" Sorin was going to kill them all, because it was one thing to harass him with their licentious stories, but to touch him when it so clearly made Koray uncomfortable … "I'm going to remove every last one of their damned fingers—" He broke off as Koray covered his mouth with one hand.
"Stop it, My Lord High Paladin. Patting my arm and my shoulder all day is nowhere near the realm of the kind of touching you do."
"That is not why I was angry." Sorin held him fast and rolled them so that Koray was sprawled atop him, long braid spilling over one shoulder to coil beside Sorin's head. He skimmed his hands down Koray's body, cupped his ass, and leaned up to press a brief, firm kiss to that addicting mouth. "I think we're both unhappily aware my jealousy is my least appealing trait. I was miserably resigned, in the garden, to the fact that someone else had made you realize you could do much better than me."
"Be quiet."
Sorin kissed him again. "I'm still waiting for you to tell me what stories were whispered to you."
"I'm not telling you because now you're going to be insufferable," Koray retorted, sitting up and bracing his hands on Sorin's chest.
"Mm," Sorin agreed cheerfully. "I can start guessing if you're not going to tell me. Lord K was fond of faux phalluses, especially the one made of jade." Sorin's grin widened as Koray's face flushed, and he captured Koray's hands as he smacked Sorin's chest. "Lady L likes to put her men in silky garments. Lady K prefers being tied up."