by Jude Marquez
“So you do,” York surmised. “I won’t bother to ask him if he lives. The Prince and his pet are known throughout the country.”
Evander didn’t reply but Alyx understood suddenly why Langdon was so desperate to go to war against York. There was a history there that no one seemed to know.
“I am done with your games. Tell me what you wanted to say so that I can send you away,” Evander said and looked away. “Both of you sicken me.”
“And miss the introduction of your family?” York asked, feigning hurt.
“Oh but we all know the royal family,” Thomas said and a gentle smile spread on his face. “But the others-”
“Are none of your concern,” Gael snapped.
Evander put a hand on Gael’s arm. Gael sat back in his chair.
“Such a romantic story. The Crown Prince of the country picking up a commoner, taking him in, nursing him back to health-” Thomas murmured, his eyes on Alyx.
“None but the best bards of our time could think of such a story,” York declared. He made a step in Alyx’s direction and Aldous was there before Alyx could blink a hand on his sword. Alyx flexed his arms beneath the sleeves of his tunic, reassuring himself that his holsters were attached to him, as were his blades.
York kept his eyes on Alyx. “Amazing. A common man raised to such a standing in such a short time.”
“You will address me by title,” Alyx said and looked down on them, just as he had seen Evander and Gael. “Marquess of Cerith, defender of the southern border, son of General Reimund, betrothed to the future king,” he paused and looked down at York. “I will give you the luxury of choosing one.”
“Is that so?” Thomas asked. It felt like a challenge.
Alyx didn’t bother to reply.
“Nonetheless,” York plowed on, “A man who has never been to court, who knows nothing of governing, who hid away all his life to escape his responsibilities until he was forced to face them, was able to trap the Prince? Tell me, how well do you suck cock?”
There was a ripple of unease throughout the people gathered and Gabrien drew his sword. Auelina stopped him with a softly spoken word but he did not put his weapon away.
“Do you not speak?” York demanded.
Alyx held his eyes and did not look away. Such things were not uncommon for Alyx to hear, flung from the mouth of his supposed loved ones. It had long since lost its sting and he was no longer ashamed of who he was. He was beloved of Evander, of a king, and knew that nothing could touch him; not their words, not their weapons, not even their insults.
“Have you nothing to say, whore?”
“Let us speak of whores, if that is your wish,” Alyx said and his voice echoed through the hall. He looked down at his tunic and smoothed it out over his legs. “There are rumors that you do not call upon any because there is no price high enough for any person to touch your deformed member,” Alyx looked down at York and tipped his head to the side, studying the other man. He had heard no such rumors but it seemed evident to Alyx that people insulted others only with their own weakness, to divert the attention away from themselves.
York’s face flushed.
“That there is so little to work with, that even paying a woman is a waste of her time. The rumors say that you haven’t pleased a single person in your life. That you are… unable to,” Alyx paused and smiled. “Perhaps you should address your own problems before you accuse others of having what you are simply unable to take. Do that and then you may address me,” Alyx said and kept his eyes on York.
“When you are mine-”
“I won’t be,” Alyx said flatly.
“-you will not find me so simple.”
Alyx turned his head to Cordelia and yawned. “Oh, forgive me, Lady, these things are so tedious.”
“Oh but doesn't the court hear the most interesting things?” Cordelia asked politely and turned to the men and servants, already whispering to each other about the things that Alyx had said.
“We have come with an offer,” Thomas said and York kept his eyes on Cordelia and Alyx. Cordelia shuddered and Alyx offered her his hand. She took it and turned her face into his shoulder. York sneered.
“What is it?” Evander asked, sounding tired of this circus in front of him.
“Single combat,” Thomas said.
Alyx turned to Evander and Evander leaned forward, finally interested in something. “Go on,” Evander urged.
“Winner takes all, loser’s army and forces and-” Thomas looked over to Auelina, “Spoils are handed over.”
“And who will be the combatants?” Gia demanded and Thomas looked to her for the first time. If Alyx read his face correctly, Auelina wasn’t the only one he wanted to get his hands on.
“Naturally I would not expect the Crown Prince to fight, just like I assume he would show me the same respect.”
Alyx and Cade snorted.
“I would ask for his second, as York will stand in for me,” Thomas finished.
Evander looked from one to the other. He was waiting for a trick, Alyx knew. But it seemed like a plain offer. “Leave. I will send word.”
Evander stood, along with the rest of the room and went to Alyx’s side. He took his hand and led him out of the room. Gael and Cordelia were right behind them with Cade escorting his mother and his sister. The escort followed them and closed the doors behind them.
“Can I kill them?” Gael whispered from behind Evander.
“Not yet,” Evander murmured back.
∞∞∞
“I think that it's the best option we have for us,” Gia said quietly. She sat in Evander and Alyx’s room and her eyes were on the fire in the corner of the room. “What do you know of what kind of fighter he is?”
“I don’t,” Evander muttered as he paced the length of the room. He didn’t want to send Gael in his stead. As king, future king, this should fall to his shoulders. A king should rule like a personal responsibility, not something to be shrugged off to his younger brother when he didn’t like what he was offered.
Unless it involved the law and archaic governing. Then Evander would shrug that off to Gael any chance he got.
“Where is Langdon?” Cade asked. “They are brothers. If anyone would know, it would be him.”
Evander looked to Franco who stood and left the room. Evander stopped in front of the fireplace and looked down at the flames. In all things, Gael had been at his side and his second; for the throne, for their father’s misguided parenting, for his opinion, for his friendship. Everyone in the country knew that it would be Gael who would be out in the field fighting York. There was a voice nagging at Evander though and it sounded suspiciously like his father. Evander was the eldest, the leader, he should be the one out there leading and fighting. He was a far better fighter than Gael, always had been.
“Gael can’t do it,” Cade said, almost shouting.
Everyone in the room flinched and then looked to him.
“What are you saying? Are you out of your mind? Of course I can do it. I have to. It’s my duty,” Gael argued. When Evander looked to Gael, he saw nothing but resignation, even as Cordelia clung to him with unshed tears in her eyes. Neither would argue with Evander if he sent Gael down there to face York and his own death. But Cordelia would mourn and so would their child.
“No,” Cade said, “It’s not. Or it’s not just your duty,” he huffed and clenched his hands. He stood up and went to Evander. “Choose me. Name me your second instead.”
Cade faced Evander head on, and looked him straight in the eye. It was a joke among the brothers that though Evander was the oldest and the heir, he was shorter than the other two. Though Cade was barely taller than him, the difference between Gael and Evander was noticeable.
“Why?” Evander asked.
“Because- because Gael is irreplaceable in your court,” Cade said and looked down at his hands. “He knows all the laws, old and new. He negotiates on your behalf. His knowledge cannot be replicated. He has studied a
ll his life to be at your side when you take the throne,” Cade let out a long, shuddery breath. “He is to be a father,” he added softly.
Evander put a hand on Cade’s shoulder. “Your life is worth no less. You are just as as valued.”
“No, Evander,” Gael stood and went to them. “He is too young, too inexperienced. I can do this and beat York.”
“I will not lose this fight, not for us, not for the kingdom. I am better than the guard, the best since you, Evander, Edward tells me all the time,” Cade argued fiercely. There were tears shining in his eyes. “Gael has lost to me over and over. He was not meant for battle, he was meant for books, for a family.”
Evander looked from one brother to the other and wanted to tear his eyes from his head. They were both clinging to this thing called duty and honor and it made Evander want to get on Eros with Alyx and ride away from this madness. It had two brothers fighting to who would go to their deaths.
“Evander, he is a child,” Gael hissed. “He does not understand what he asks.”
“I do know,” Cade insisted. “I know that I could go out there and lose my life at his hands but-”
“But what?” Auelina asked, joining them now.
“But I would have died with honor. My life for yours,” Cade looked to Evander, “And for Gael’s. And for his child.” The tears spilled over and Evander reached out and roughly wiped his face away. Cade only smiled at the gesture. “Is there a more honorable way to go than for my family?”
“No-” Gael growled. “Do not take this from me, this is for me, this is my job, I am written as his second.”
“What is written can be erased,” Evander said softly.
Cade looked up at Evander and Gael turned a betrayed look to him. Auelina wrapped her arms around Cade and he returned the gesture. The anger and betrayal was written just as plainly on her face.
“Evander, you cannot consider this. It is madness, suicide!” Gael shouted.
“You have asked the impossible,” Evander said. “To choose between one brother or the other. You have asked me to kill one of you,” he let out a breath. “I must think as a king and not a brother. I must consider what is best. Who is the best fighter and who can win for the country. Who can protect our throne and our people.”
“This is not-” Gael said.
“It is. They will declare war if they lose. You know it as well as I. Should you fall, and I, there will be Cade, but Cade will be the last to protect Auelina. And your family. And mother. That way is too easy to challenge the throne. Should Cade fall, there will still be you and I left,” Evander’s voice broke. He was not able to think so coldly. He still remembered Cade taking his first steps, the gap toothed smile of the little boy who grew to be such a brave man. “It must be Cade,” Evander whispered and pulled Auelina and Cade into a hug.
Behind their small group, Evander saw Gia turn away and into Alyx’s arms. He wrapped his arms around her and Evander saw that he was not the only one crying.
After a moment, Gael muttered, “Damn you both,” before Auelina pulled him into their hug.
“I will give you a day to rest and ready yourself,” Evander said. “I will send word that you are to fight the day after tomorrow.”
Cade nodded.
“Go,” Evander said to everyone. Cordelia went to Gia and they left first, followed by the rest of the royal family. The escort followed but Evander stopped Edward before he could leave. “A moment, Edward,” Evander murmured.
Edward stopped and looked from Alyx to Evander. Evander waited until the door closed behind the last of them, leaving just Alyx, Edward, and Evander in the room.
Edward let out a sigh. “That was no right choice, son.”
Evander nodded. He leaned against the wall and after a moment, he slid down it and Alyx got a glimpse of the boy who went to war with York, the one who was tortured, who almost died for something he thought was greater than himself.
“Edward,” Evander whispered.
Edward looked down at Evander and Alyx wondered how close they were, how much of Evander’s childhood he had seen, of Gael’s, of Cade’s, of Auelina’s. If it tore at him like it tore at their mother how these children were the first in line to offer their hearts and their minds and their lives to the country that depended on them. How they did it thoughtlessly, instinctively, selflessly.
“What is it, Evander?” Edward asked.
“Between Gael and Cade-” Evander started.
“There was no right choice,” Edward repeated.
“Does Cade stand a chance?” Evander asked, looking down at his hands.
“No,” Edward said unflinchingly. “But neither did Gael.”
Evander looked up and Alyx had never before witnessed such heartbreak in a person’s eyes.
“What do I do?” Evander asked.
Edward had no answer.
∞∞∞
Evander sent word and then locked the door behind Elyes. He went to the bed and began to unlace Alyx’s shirt, first at the collar and then the wrists. He pulled it off and then unlaced his own.
Evander refused to let Alyx help as he undressed both of them. Once they were both naked, Evander pulled the blankets over both of them and pressed in close to Alyx. “I wish that I were born anyone but who I was,” Evander murmured. He kissed Alyx and pulled him close. Though they were naked and Evander had pulled out their favorite glass vial, there seemed to be no rush. “I wish that you and I had met at the market and we built a house together and I made things with my hands and we had coffee together in the mornings. I wish that this war had never come upon us and I wish that things like this just- were not.”
Alyx curled in close to Evander. “If only life were so simple,” he admitted.
“But…” Evander said.
Alyx sighed and kissed Evander’s jaw. “But it is not what we have. And we should not dislike what we do have because at least we have one another.”
Evander rolled over and nudged Alyx’s thighs apart and laid down on top of him. He listened to Alyx’s heart beat for a few moments and felt his touch over the scars that littered his body. “Marriage usually doesn’t start in such ways, I’m told.”
“What, you mean other people don’t murder their stepmothers with the aid of the Crown Prince?” Alyx asked. He hummed and ran his hands through Evander’s hair. “How strange.”
Evander bit his chest. Alyx yelped.
“I am trying to have a serious discussion with you of our future and you mock me,” Evander accused.
“We have nothing but serious discussions,” Alyx said. “Since the moment Auelina and Cade almost ran me down, we have discussed all manner of serious things.”
“What non-serious subjects would you prefer to discuss?” Evander asked and looked up at Alyx. He placed a kiss on the center of Alyx’s chest and worked his hands underneath Alyx’s back.
“Hm,” Alyx murmured and closed his eyes. His mouth quirked up in the corner. “Your cock.”
“My cock is the center of all serious subjects,” Evander replied.
“Already said like such a king,” Alyx said. “Tell me, then, if there is nothing else to speak of, what was your plan when you got us naked and proceeded to do nothing more than cuddle me and bite me?”
“Eager, are you?” Evander said and looked up.
Alyx still had his eyes closed, enjoying the quiet banter. “Always,” He said and pushed the vial into Evander’s hands.
Evander huffed against his chest but took the hint. Alyx was done with talking and maybe that was how it should be. Talking was his entire life and although, despite his expressed wishes, he loved it, there were times when talking was not enough.
Evander explored Alyx’s body with his tongue and his mouth, taking his time to learn every part of him that he could but his own need was too pressing. He pulled Alyx’s legs up and around his waist because he loved the way Alyx clung to him, held him as though he were the only thing that ever mattered, and sank in, slowly.
Evander watched Alyx’s face, carefully, to make sure he didn’t hurt him. There was preparation, there always was, but Alyx insisted on less than what they were used to, because he wanted to feel the way Evander pressed in, that bit of ache that was the perfect counter to all the pleasure. Evander stopped when he was all the way in and stayed there for a moment to marvel at the way Alyx felt around him, at the way Alyx met his eyes without reservation, and how if he could live the rest of his life in this single moment, he would.
Alyx pulled him down and into a kiss and Evander forgot anything about kings and thrones and soldiers and brothers and death. He let himself have this moment, with Alyx, and fell into it completely. He pushed his hands underneath Alyx’s shoulders and flipped them, so that Alyx was on top, straddling Evander.
“This is-” Alyx’s voice broke and Evander noticed the sweat beading at his brow. “This is new,” he said. He seemed to struggle not to move.
“Is it not to your liking?” Evander asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because, good sir, I live to serve.”
Alyx groaned and rolled his hips against Evander and seemed to search out a rhythm. Evander let himself be used, enjoyed the feeling of Alyx using him for his own pleasure, the way his mouth went slack and his head rolled back to expose his neck.
“Here, let me help you,” Evander whispered. He wrapped his hands around Alyx’s hips, stilled him, lifted him just a bit, and began to push in slowly and drop away. Alyx gripped Evander’s forearms and gasped.
“Evander-” Alyx said and he stopped, mid stroke. “Please, I need it-”
“How?” Evander asked and tried to keep his voice conversational. “How would you like it?”
“Harder, faster,” Alyx said.
Evander didn’t move. “Does this position please you?” He asked instead.
There was a fleeting look on Alyx’s face and Evander perked up.
“Tell me,” Evander ordered.
For some reason, Alyx seemed shy, his words clogging up in his throat.
“Tell me so that I might give it to you,” Evander said, squeezing Alyx’s hips gently.