by Jude Marquez
“I would like for you to bend me over and fuck me against the bed.”
Evander smiled broadly. “Such things are easy to give you,” He said. He urged Alyx off and watched as he stepped off the bed and Evander followed. Evander pushed him down onto the bed with one hand on the center of his back and Alyx groaned. Evander paused and a thought followed by an idea formed in his head. He bent over and Alyx’s body and said, “Should I do or say anything that displeases you, stop me. Are we clear, Alyx?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Alyx said.
“Good,” Evander said. He pushed one of Alyx’s legs up and onto the bed, and was spread out so perfectly that Evander ached with the knowledge of how much trust Alyx put into him.
Evander slipped an arm around Alyx’s waist and lined his cock up with Alyx’s entrance and pushed in, hard and rough, in one go.
Alyx gasped and cursed in his arm.
“Good?” Evander asked and ground his hips against Alyx’s.
“Y-yes,” Alyx hissed.
Evander stopped moving. “Yes… what?” He prompted.
“Yes, My Lord,” Alyx said.
“Beautiful,” Evander said and kissed the back of his neck before leaning back, standing up and putting a hand on Alyx’s back to hold him there. He looked down to see where they were joined and pulled out a bit just to push back in. “Tell me again, Alyx, how would you like me to fuck you?”
“Hard,” Alyx replied.
Evander did not move, only traced the muscles that were flexing under his hands and waited for the appropriate reply. Alyx was smart and a very good student. Evander trusted that he would find the proper words.
A moment later, Alyx said, “Hard, My Lord. I would like you to fuck me hard.”
“Such things are easy to give,” Evander murmured. He leaned forward so that he was draped across Alyx’s back and kissed the back of his neck and wrapped his hands around Alyx’s hips. He sat back and pushed in roughly and Alyx gasped.
But he did not ask for Evander to stop.
So Evander went on, much in the same manner, roughly and listened carefully for anything Alyx might say, for any sign of pain. But Alyx’s gasps turned into intoxicating chants of his name and Evander draped himself over Alyx again, wrapped his arm around Alyx’s hips and reached for his cock. It was hard and hot and heavy in Evander’s hand and he stroked Alyx in time with his own cock and pretty soon Alyx was unable to form words.
Evander pulled out and pushed Alyx onto the bed so that he was on all fours, his head and shoulders pushed into the mattress, his ass up in the air, waiting only for Evander once again. Evander leaned down and licked Alyx's hole and when he heard Alyx gasp and moan and wiggle under Evander's ministrations, he continued to lick and fuck him with his tongue a moment more.
Evander finally sat back and pushed once more deep inside Alyx and used his other arm to haul him into a kneeling position so that he was impaled on Evander. Evander continued to stroke him and Alyx gasped and reached behind him for Evander’s head, ground his ass down on Evander’s cock, the angle perfect now. Alyx came quite suddenly with a gasp and arched in Evander’s arms. His hole clenched around Evander's cock, milking him for his seed, over and over, as Alyx's orgasm seemed to go on forever. It was too much for Evander all at once and he almost fainted with the feeling of it.
Evander was unaware of how long they sat like that, until Alyx leaned forward and all but fell on the bed. Evander followed and unfortunately landed in a wet spot. He didn’t have it in him to move though.
For a long time, they just looked at each other.
“I suppose there are perks to being Crown Prince,” Evander said after a moment and he smiled.
Alyx smiled back and leaned up to kiss Evander.
“More than one, I would wager.”
∞∞∞
Alyx must have drifted off because when he woke, he was alone once again. He got up, got dressed and went in search of Evander or food, whichever could be found first.
He found both in the great hall. Auelina and Gia sat at a table and in the middle of the hall, Gael was sparring with Cade. There was more food in front of Auelina and Gia than either one could eat in a single sitting and as it was, they were both picking at the food on their own plates.
“I hate this,” Auelina whispered and reached for Alyx’s arm. She gripped him like he was an anchor and Alyx didn’t try to dislodge her hand even as he tried to eat. “As though I couldn’t protect myself,” she added.
“I have no doubt that you can,” Alyx said and picked at the roasted meat on his plate. “But it’s not just you that they fight for. And this job, this has fallen to Evander so many times-”
“But it’s Cade that fights,” Auelina pointed out. “I am older and a better fighter-” she cut herself off and took a drink of wine from her cup as Cade ducked away from Gael’s advance. He was a good fighter, quick and light on his feet, brutal when he had to be. He was an interesting combination of his older brothers and Alyx could pick out where he had learned how to fight.
It was only the middle of the afternoon, but it seemed liked Gael and Evander practiced with Cade for hours. The personal guard stood around and Auelina and Gia watched with increasing worry. Langdon showed up shortly after Alyx and offered a few opinions on York’s fighting style. He and Evander spoke briefly and Langdon bowed his head before Evander hauled him into a hug, much to everyone’s surprise.
Evander and Alyx took their dinner in their room and fell asleep to the sound of each other’s breathing.
The next day was no less difficult though there was no sparring. It was a lazy sort of day and if Alyx had known no better, he would have thought that it was the prelude to just another week of ruling the kingdom.
The relaxation was brittle, though. The whole of the court jumped when a servant dropped a jug of wine and it broke on the floor. Evander spent most of the day with his brothers, though he seemed like to keep Alyx at least within eyesight.
The day passed far too quickly for Alyx’s tastes. Before he knew it, people were standing around the great hall and speaking quietly to the three princes and leaving the hall until all that remained were the personal guard, Franco, Langdon, Alyx, Cordelia, and the royal family. Evander sat on the raised dais and his eyes were distant. Gia left first, then Auelina and Cordelia left hand in hand with Elyes, Aldous, Tobey, and Ralph trailing behind them. Gael and Evander and Cade sat quietly. Alyx watched them from his seat at the table.
“I believe I am going to go try to sleep,” Cade said softly.
“See that you do,” Evander said and turned to him. He gave him a smile and stood. He pulled Cade into his arms and hugged him tightly. Alyx turned away when Cade buried his face in Evander’s neck, like a son would with a father. The truth of the matter was that the description wasn’t far off. “I would give the whole of the kingdom for this not to fall to you,” Evander murmured. There was something in Evander's eyes, something that Alyx had never seen before, a look he couldn't read.
Alyx knew that he would never forget the sound of Cade’s sobs.
Chapter Twenty-One
Alyx didn’t sleep that night. Evander had asked for a few moments alone with his brothers and after he came to the room, quickly undressed and laid down. Alyx lay awake next to Evander who was able to sleep without hours of tossing and turning. For a few moments Alyx was furious with him; his youngest brother was going to be killed by his greatest enemy the next day and here he slept.
Then Alyx realized that this would probably be the last time that Evander slept untroubled.
So he held himself still and watched as the sun rose behind a tapestry and only sat up when there was a polite knock at the door and Alyx put a hand on Evander’s shoulder.
“Come in!” Alyx called out.
A servant came in with Aldous and Evander sat up and swung his legs out of bed. She had two mugs of steaming coffee in her hands and Alyx took his, grateful due to his lack of rest.
“I believ
e this is the first time I have come in here since Alyx joined us and you were dressed, sir,” Aldous said. He was attempting for humor but Evander could only summon a faint smile. The servant helped Evander get dressed in simple black trousers, boots, and tunic. Even his gloves were black when Alyx noticed him pull them on. The belt he wore was also black and the only relief was the green on his otherwise black cloak. The servant helped Alyx dress in muted brown and tan and they were off.
Aldous led them down and down, further down the stairs then Alyx had been. He stopped them at a door and let out a breath. He turned to Evander and his eyes searched Evander’s for a long moment. “I could go in his stead,” he said.
Alyx wasn’t surprised by the offer. From what he could tell, Aldous was probably Evander’s best friend, outside of Gael.
“No,” Evander murmured and put a hand on Aldous' shoulder. “It is the job of the royal family.”
Aldous looked away and nodded.
Evander opened the door and Alyx followed him in. There were only three other people in the room; Gael, Ely, and Cade.
Cade was already dressed in his armor. Gael was sitting and watching Cade pace. The room was probably a dungeon at one point, as Alyx noticed that there was only one entrance and there were smaller rooms set back and away from the larger opening that they occupied. The only light came from torches mounted along the wall. Ely stood against a pillar and he looked pale and sick in the light.
“Evander,” Cade murmured when Evander stepped in. Gael didn’t stand and Alyx had to wonder if he was still angry about Evander’s decision.
“Brother,” Evander said softly. He dropped Alyx’s hand and approached Cade swiftly.
Everything happened too quickly for Alyx to realize. Evander struck Cade hard, as hard as he had seen Evander strike anyone, and Cade collapsed at Evander’s feet. Gael was on his feet in a second, but it was too late, Evander already had his sword out and pointed at Gael’s neck.
The room spun sickeningly. Was Evander the spy in his own kingdom?
“You won’t kill me,” Gael said and stepped forward.
“No,” Evander agreed and pointed his sword down, closer to Gael’s dominant arm, the arm that he used the most when he fought. “But I can hurt you and Ely will make sure you do not die.”
Alyx took a step forward and his whole world tilted. He stumbled and fell to his knees. He realized, quite suddenly, that it wasn't surprise that was overtaking him. Part of him expected this. Part of him knew Evander would do this.
Gael looked over at him. “What did you do to him?” He asked.
“A sleeping draught. Jeanna’s,” Evander said. “Paid a servant to slip it in his coffee this morning.”
“Evander-” Alyx choked out and he fell to his hands and knees.
“Ely,” Evander said and nodded to Alyx.
Ely helped Alyx over on his back and placed a cloak under his head. “Don’t let him-” he started to beg. His legs were leaden and his head felt stuffed with cotton.
“I am pledged to the throne and this is what he has asked of me. I cannot refuse him,” Ely whispered.
“To the pillar,” Evander said and Gael circled Evander and Alyx moaned. “Sit,” Evander ordered and when Gael hesitated, considered for a second rushing his brother, Evander ran the edge of his sword against his brother’s arm and drew blood. “I do not wish it to come to injury, Gael,” Evander murmured. “If I am killed, you must be ready to take the throne.”
Gael sat.
Alyx watched through half lidded eyes as Ely tied Gael to the pillar and Evander went into one of the back cells and came out with his own armor. He began to strap it on with Ely’s help and it was only another moment before all that was left was the helmet with the face shield.
Even after Evander stepped out on the field, unless it was York, there would be no way to tell the difference between Evander and Cade. They were almost the same height. They moved similarly and even their hair color was close enough to be near the same.
“Evander, no-” Gael wept and struggled against his ropes. But Ely had bound him tightly and Alyx could barely keep his eyes open. Ely was now lifting Cade and with Evander’s help, they bound him to the other side of the pillar, just behind Gael.
“Hey,” Evander said and knelt in front of Gael. “Father didn’t say many things that were right but he did tell me one thing that was. Take care of your brothers and sister. The king gave me one job. One order that I intend to follow through to the letter. I was never going to let either one of you step out on that field. How could you think I would ever consider it? It’s my duty to take care of the kingdom but it was always my honor to grow up by your side, Gael,” Evander paused. “Remember your promise. Take care of Eros for me. If you can’t ride her, give her to Nicholas. Kiss your babies for me,” he leaned in and kissed Gael on the forehead and Gael leaned into the gesture. “Be good,” Evander whispered at last, before pulling away.
Alyx struggled to keep his eyes open. “You did me the highest honor by loving me,” Evander said and kissed Alyx.
The last thing he felt was Evander’s hand on his cheek.
∞∞∞
Gia and Auelina were seated at the top of the battlement with a clear view of the field below them. Since they had sat down, neither had let go of the other’s hand. Cordelia stood, her eyes on the field. Aldous was next to her and Auelina wondered who would be catching who in the event that one of the princes died.
Auelina refused to follow that line of thinking and listened to the cheer that went up around them as Cade stepped out on the field.
“Where is Evander?” Gia asked.
Everyone turned to look behind them but their attention was drawn to the field once again when York stepped out on the field. His own army cheered.
“Elyes,” Gia snapped. He turned to her. “Go see what is keeping Evander. And Gael,” her irritation was clear.
Elyes turned and made for the stairs.
But Cade and York were not waiting for anyone, even if it was the future king. There was no signal to commence but York ran at Cade. Auelina closed her eyes but opened them once again when she heard a sigh of relief from Aldous. Cade had parried the move but Auelina didn’t understand why he wore the face shield, surely it was making it hard to see out of the periphery-
York went in for another attack, aiming for the side of Cade’s armor-
Auelina stood and went to the edge of the battlement, pushed past Aldous and Geoffrey to get a better view and something caught her eye-
Even as York struck out again and Cade blocked again, thrusted and parried with a sword that looked too familiar in his hands, like he had been using it for years and years on the battlefield and not for one of the very first times facing an enemy-
“Cade is better than I remember,” Geoffrey said and he sounded choked. He watched the fight and he must have known as well as Auelina; these men had fought at Evander’s side for years, had gone into battle with him, had protected his back as Evander had protected theirs. They could spot him in the battlefield among thousands.
York attacked again, overhead this time, and bore into the strike, stepping in close to the man he fought.
“It’s not-” Auelina whispered and gripped Aldous' hand in her own. He didn’t reply.
Evander let one of his hands drop and punched York in the chest and York fell back, rubbing his chest.
“Your Highness-” Elyes panted, from behind them. Aldous and Auelina didn’t turn around. It didn’t matter, they already knew.
“That fool,” Langdon growled. Gael was helping Cade to a chair and his face was already blooming a horrible blue bruise. Alyx stumbled after them with Elyes' arm around him to help him into a chair.
Evander ducked the slashing cut but not the smaller knife that found his shoulder. There was a muffled roar and Evander tore off the helmet and even that gave York pause.
Only long enough for Evander to pull the knife out and bring his sword up to block the next
hit and the next and the next. York was pressing his advantage and when Evander swayed a little, his arm and shoulder no doubt aching from the knife and the continually brutal hits he was blocking, York swung a leg up and into Evander’s stomach.
Evander crumpled to the ground at his feet.
“No,” Alyx moaned, next to Auelina.
She put an arm around his waist and hauled him upright. “Stand up,” she told him. “We are De Loughreys. We don’t kneel.”
“I can’t watch this-” Alyx hissed. He was pale and shook under Auelina's arm.
“You can and you will,” Gael said from his other side, helping Auelina support him. “Our king is down there and you will watch to make sure that he is not cheated, that whatever the outcome-”
“That it is what it's supposed to be,” Cade finished when Gael began to choke on his words.
Evander did not go down easily. He traded blow after blow with York, his blood sliding down his elbow and causing his grip to loosen on his sword.
It was that small thing that let York knock it from his hand, and then knock Evander down. As Evander pushed himself up once more, his face bloody and bruised, his shoulder bleeding now more than ever, and looked up to the battlements. His entire family was up there and they were haloed in the light of the sun and if this was the sight he went out on, then he could settle for that.
York circled him until he stood behind Evander, his sword out.
“Sweet little prince, only ever playing at being king,” York murmured. “Evander De Loughrey, saddest story of all the almost-kings.”
Evander closed his eyes and listened. He listened for the drawback of York’s sword and waited a second, just one small second, and there was the sword whistling through the air, cutting for Evander’s neck, to lay the future King down, for the fall of the house of De Loughrey.
He ducked, turned, screamed as he used one of Alyx’s blades he had tucked away in his boots to stab York up through the jaw with one and then through eyeball with the other.