Ice Wind's Bride Chapter 1 - Ice Wind's Bride Silva woke up with the worst hangover he could remember

since hed first tasted alcohol. Squinting at the sunlight-speared ceiling, he struggled to recall exactly what hed done to merit the shattering pain engulfing his head. Hed been at the Captains wedding, he could remember that. Then hed seen Bey at the festivities afterwards, been challenged to a beer swilling contest, and then Nothing. What had happened after hed tried to outdo Bey? Had he even won? Silva's ability to think collided with a wall of pain almost before he finished the thought. He even heard the collision: a rather squelching, sickening thud that made his stomach roil. Or perhaps that was just the hangover. In either case, it just wasnt worth it to try and recall last night. Hed find out what had happened when Bey started ribbing him about it, anyway. Silva closed one eye, his face twisting with concentration until he finally recognized the familiar ceiling beam riddled with dart holes. He was in his own room, then. So, whatever hed done, he wasnt lying in some alley with his possessions and his gold just a memory. Considering that hed ended up in just such a situation the last time hed woke feeling this bad, Silva thought some concern was justified. He smiled through the pain as he remembered. The thieves who had rolled him in the gutter that time hadnt lived long enough to enjoy his unwilling generosity. The guardsman whod accosted him after hed dispatched the bastards had completely agreed with his reasoning. Actually, Bey had invited him to join the Varlan city-states guards at that point, if Silva remembered right. But that had been, eh, two years ago? Had it really been that long since hed been this drunk? Surprising, considering how often Bey and he went out drinking. He sat up slowly, the soft sheet slipping from his naked body, then gripped his head with both hands as it threatened to roll off his shoulders and take the rest of him with it. Deep breaths, that usually did it. A few deep breaths and then one big heave off the bed to get him started for the day. With a last shaky inhalation, Silva swung his legs over the wooden framed mattress and let himself flop gracelessly to the floor onto his hands and knees. He braced himself as the room spun around him, his head hanging down, his eyes closed. Do not vomit. Do not vomit. Youll only have to clean it up because Bey would rather die than clean anything, let alone that. Do NOT vomit! Silva repeated his mantra as he somehow managed to push to his feet and drag himself across the floor. As he reached the small basin and the pitcher of water hed thankfully left from the night before, he leaned against the wall, hoping that a little more time would keep his stomach from rebelling. Pouring water into the basin, he splashed some on his face, the cold soothing his aching head. His silver hair hung in damp strands along his cheeks by the time he geared himself to look in the polished mirror hed paid so much for. The last time hed been sotted enough to pass out, Bey had shaved off his left eyebrow and half of his beard. Then the man had taken advantage of Silvas hangover in the morning to hurry him out the door without once looking at himself in this very same mirror. Bey had laughed until his sides hurt over that one, the juvenile idiot.

Not for long, though. Silva figured hed been granted an adequate revenge when the both of them had gone out that night. Bey had never seen him without his beard. He hadnt realized that Silvas shaven face was rather unique without its covering of hair. If Silva could recall right, Bey had called it the most beautiful, girly-ass face hed ever seen, and the sight of it had only made him laugh harder. He hadnt found it quite so funny, however, when every last woman in the bar ignored Bey in favor of Silvas newly exposed visage. Bey had sulked about it for hours before Silva had managed to cajole him out of it, and in his typical fashion, hed decided that he was the one whod been wronged by Silvas shearing. Silvas beard had long since grown back in, but now that hed spent the evening with Bey, drunk enough to make himself an easy target, he was wondering what had happened. It would be an honest to goodness miracle if hed escaped last night unscathed by Beys humor. Taking one last, deep breath, he opened his eyes and looked into the mirror at his smoothly shaven face. Silva sighed, running his hand over the silky skin of his jaw. Why does he always have such a fascination with my facial hair? Now hed have to grow it out all over again. He hated that scruffy period when it merely looked like hed forgotten to shave for a few days. Not that he actually enjoyed wearing a beard once it was grown in, either. Silva found the irritating thing itchy in the extreme, but it hid his face. According to his youngest brother, father was still looking for him, so he needed every advantage he could conjure up to stay hidden until the old man finally caved. His hair didnt seem to take to dye, and he didnt want to permanently scar himself, so he needed the damn beard! Blowing out his cheeks, he rubbed his hand over his face again before looking up to stare glumly into the reflection of his own eyes, blue and clear above the dark tattoo under his right eye. He didnt have a tattoo under his right eye. Hasanids purple cock! Trembling fingers went up to his cheek, touching the new black design embedded in his skin. I did not do this. I did not DO THIS! Silva rubbed furiously at the delicately rendered sword whose haft started on his cheekbone while its blade mimicked the curve of his eye as it sloped underneath it. This cant be happening. Cant be. I must be dreaming. Thats it; Im dreaming. Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming. He slapped himself in the face and winced at the sting and the resulting nausea from the blow. How could I do this?! He splashed more water onto his face and continued scrubbing at the mark without effect. How could I be this much of an imbecile? I cant A pitiful groan from behind him stopped his frantic mutterings instantly. Turning with extreme care, partly due to fear and partly due to the fact that he thought hed throw up if he moved any faster, he looked at the blanket covered lump still in his bed. The covers shifted as whoever was underneath let out another decidedly masculine groan. Swallowing heavily, Silva shuffled over, looking for anything that might be lying outside the covers to give him some clue as to who was trespassing in his bed. It would be all right if Silva had passed out before having sex. If hed merely had some sexual

excursion, hed survive that as well. He could shuffle his sex partner out of the room as quickly as he could and get to the nearest tattoo hut after his shift. They should have a spell to get rid of itif hed only had sex. He would never ask for another thing in life if the person in his bed had joined him after hed been tattooed. That wasnt too much to ask for, was it? Standing by the side of the bed, he paused and looked down at his nude body quickly. Dried semen covered his cock and he grit his teeth. So, he hadnt passed out before hed taken a partner. Please let it be some sordid little tryst with a complete stranger, someone who had no idea what the tattoo meant. With a quick jerk, he pulled the blankets down and stared at the handsome young man lying on the bed. Nude beige limbs curled up into a tight ball at the sudden loss of warmth. Black hair tangled around the mans shoulders and over his waist, mixing with the light sprinkling of hair across a tanned chest. One lean arm started searching vainly for something to pull back over himself, and when nothing was recovered, a familiar broad face turned from the pillow to glare up at Silva with squinting eyes as blue as his own. Gimme back my covers, Silva. Im way the hell too fucked up to deal with any sort of shit today. Unable to move, Silva simply stared at the small black tattoo of a sword on the mans left cheek. Hey. Silva. Covers, now, or Im making you pay for the next night out. You always make me pay for the next night out, cheapskate, Silva responded automatically, finally able to look at somewhere other than that face. He couldnt stop his eyes from skimming down broad shoulders and a slim waist until he was looking at the rather taut ass revealed by his companions fetal position. He felt a bit flushed as he noted the trail of something that had dried in between two round, muscular globes and along the backs of nicely formed thighs. He had He had How could he have? and hed done it with BEY! Bey was going to kill him. Then again, maybe not. When it came to sex, Bey never ceased to surprise him with the variety and frequency of his encounters. And Bey had flirted with him quite a bit when theyd first known each other, so maybe he wouldnt mind? Silva ran the idea through his head as Bey grumbled to himself and finally snagged the blanket. In seconds, Bey was a brownish gray lump in Silvas bed, still mumbling under his breath. Cant believe I didnt wake up with Gweneth. Was so sure Id get her last night; bridesmaids are supposed to be horny, dammit. Bet you brought me here when we were going to have a go, didnt you? Big prude, you are, Silva. Never mind. In this mood, Bey was much more likely to attack first and feel guilty later. Which meant theyd fight, and theyd both end up bruised and bloody. And on top of that, Silva was

going to have to find some way to get these tattoos off, soon, or they were both in more trouble than he would wish on his worst enemy. Although, if he'd ever wanted to do this on purpose, there really wasnt anyone else in the world that he would have chosen. He simply didnt have the option of choosing anyone right now, and still, hed been so drunk that hed gone and done this. Silva had to take care of it before he endangered Bey. First, though, he had to tell Bey what it meant. Bey, uh, what do you remember from last night? The covers moved slightly, just enough for Beys big aqua eyes to peer over them suspiciously. What, did you shave my eyebrow, too? Pretty pathetic, Silva. Im not some pretty boy who cant take a little shaved hair. He started chortling hoarsely as the covers dropped down and revealed his broad smile. The way you carried on, it was like Id killed your first born. Best damn prank I ever pulled. I never knew you were so vain. Silva sighed. Hed never told Bey that vanity had nothing to do with it. If they couldnt remove the two marks, though, he might not have a choice. Bey would need to know what was going on or he wouldnt be able to protect himself adequately. Bey, Im quite serious. What do you recall from last evening? Pushing himself up slowly at Silvas tone, Bey scrunched up his face ridiculously as he tried to remember the previous night. Silva was hard pressed not to smile, even with how serious the situation was. How Bey had made it as far as he had with such an open face was something that had puzzled him ever since hed known the man. WellI saw you at the bar after the wedding Yes, Im aware of that. Bey glared. Hey, youre the one asking. If you already know, whats with the questions? Silva sighed at his own impatience. My apologies. Youre absolutely right. Go ahead. Ill hold my tongue. Bey humphed and started chewing at a nail as he thought a bit more. He smiled suddenly and looked at Silvas face. I wanted you to go shave off your beard again. Looks like I talked you into it. He started laughing his low, grumbling laugh that seemed two octaves too low for his body. Got your girly face on again now. Althoughyou wanted me to do something for you before youd do it Bey rubbed his temples as he tried to remember For me? Silva had assumed hed been the one seduced in their encounter, even if he had ended up on top. Had it been the other way around? Had he been the one to pursue Bey? That couldnt be right. There was no possible way that hed asked Bey for sex in exchange for shaving himself. What had it been, though, if not that?

What the hell did you ask for? Beys voice was soft, rhetorical. We had to go somewhere for it, I remember that much, butdammit, I cant remember anything else! Bey squinted up at him. So what the hell did we do? Silva cleared his throat. Well, have you looked at where you are? Bey looked around, his face puzzled as he saw his own bed on the opposite side of the room. His eyes rounded comically as he finally realized where hed been sleeping. Looking down at his body, he saw his relatively clean cock and started breathing in highly dramatic relieved gasps. Oh, you so almost got me, but youll have to get up a bit earlier in the morning to pull the wool over my eyes. Youre learning though! Stripping me and tossing me in your bed? Im almost proud of you. Bey chuckled and shook his head, groaning as the movement brought back his headache. Silva was tempted to leave it be, but Bey really needed to know this. Bey, it isnt a joke. And, I dont think youre looking at the correct, um, end. For evidence, that is. Bey stared at him until Silva started to flush, the rosy color vibrant against his pale skin. Silva gestured to his own cock and Bey followed the movement, staring when he saw the remnants of Silvas previous night on his skin. Bey stared for another minute as he tried to process the information before his eyebrows rose to his hairline. He slowly reached around and ran his hands over his ass, groping himself, and winced at what he found there. I dont believe it. Bey grumbled, still touching himself intimately as though he couldnt quite believe what he was feeling. There is no way we were that intimate, because if we were, I would damn well top you. You did not take me in the ass, Silva! Ithink I did. We did not get drunk and do each other last night! The painfully loud yell had both men wincing and holding their heads. The evidence would seem to contradict you. Silva finally managed to respond. Buthow? Youve never liked men! And Ive never fucking bottomed! Dammit, I dont let people in my ass, Silva! Why the hell would I let you in there? Silva swallowed at the shocked, angry look on Beys face. His mind raced. My girly-ass face was irresistible? Bey stared at him in silence before he snorted out a laugh. Bastard. Relieved, Silvas muscles unwound. If Bey was laughing about it, theyd make it through this without a fight. Im sorry, Bey. I honestly dont remember what happened. Bey waved his hand at him. Forget it. If we were too drunk to remember it happening, then it didnt happen. Sides, whats a little sex between friends, huh? His lips went up in a sensuous little smirk and Silva shifted, his muscles tightening in reaction to the smile as much as the words.

Well, there is one other thing that you need to know about Yeah? Bey pushed off the blanket, shoving himself to his feet and stumbling over to Silvas washbasin. Silva growled before he could stop himself. Bey, why are you using my water? You cant expect me to remember to fetch my own water when Im drunk, can you? Ill bring you in some new water tonight. Thats what you always say. Silva shook his head in irritation. He watched as Bey bent over and splashed water on his face, completely oblivious to the fact that he was exposing his backside to the person who had, as best they could tell, been inside of it just hours before. Silva stared at the long tanned legs, tight flanks, and smooth slope of Beys back as the mans shoulders rounded while he scrubbed. Theyd been nude in front of each other on a daily basis, almost since theyd first met, yet suddenly, Silva felt uncomfortable looking at Beys naked body. He was seeing Beys face in his mind, flushed from arousal with his mouth open as he moaned. He could feel that sleek skin under his fingers as he gripped heavy thighs and thrust into something hot and gripping. He wanted it to be imaginary details, brought to mind by the thought of making love to Bey. Seeing the faintest of bruises on the inside of Beys thighs as he bent over again to scrub further, however, Silva didnt think it was just a fantasy. Which made it that much worse. He might have admired Beys looks, and enjoyed him greatly as a friend, but as a lover? Hed never even considered it. Bey was too much of a philanderer to take seriously that way, and Silva always took lovemaking seriously. Bey stood and turned, grinning already as water droplets streamed down his tan throat, slid over his chest, and began to drip down the ripples of his stomach. Silva looked away and cleared his throat. Bey, you should look in the mirror, he finally got out. With bleary eyes that still somehow sparkled, Bey turned back around and peered at himself. Huh. Is that a tattoo? Ill be damned. Blunt fingers poked at his cheek. Hmmmm. A sword, eh? Never seen one like that. Turning his head back and forth, Bey looked at it from different angles. He raised his eyebrow in an inquiring look, furrowed his brows as though he was furious, then pursed his lips before Bey interrupted him. Bey, I know Im going to regret asking, but what are you doing? Just checking if it changes into anything. Id hate to be scowling at some drunken idiot or making up to some barmaid and not realize the tattoo is changing into a cock or a tree or something. Silva closed his eyes to try and persuade himself that Bey was making any sense whatsoever before he stared at him again. Bey, thats ridiculous.

If youd seen what Berylls tattoo looks like when he bends his arm, youd understand. Trust me. Dont think thats going to be a problem with this one. Actually, he looked at it carefully. it looks kind of sexy. Bey Bey looked back at him and finally noticed the matching mark on his cheek. Oh, so we got matching tattoos, huh? Is that what has you wound so tightly? Dont worry so much about it. Its just a tattoo. Completely worth it if it got you to shave off that ugly bush of a beard, in my opinion. Silva stared at him, not speaking, and he sighed. Silva, its not an issue. I dont care, all right? Its not a theatrical tragedy to have tattoos. Orsorry, is the tattoo bothering you? I suppose if you love your looks so much that a little shaving is a drama, then a tattoo is practically earth shattering, huh? Bey smirked at him, his voice light and mocking. Silva knew he was trying, in his own emotionally challenged way, to ask how Silva was dealing with this. Its not that, you delusional - A knock at the door interrupted him. Hey, you two alive in there? No! Weve died and our decomposing bodies are gonna haunt your sorry ass for eternity, Shaan! Of course were fucking alive, idiot! Bey yelled back. You were both so fucked up when you came in last night that I figured Id better check! Your shifts coming up. Thought Id return the favor from the last time I drank myself into the ground! Bey and Silva looked at each other and started heading for their clothes. We appreciate the gesture, Shaan. Our thanks, Silva said smoothly. Anytime! Silva could hear Beys muffled voice as he pulled on the gray-green tunic with the blue Varlan crest. Horny bastard. He was just being thoughtful, Silva said. Why Bey thought everyone and their mother was attempting to flirt with one or the other of them, he could never figure out. Sometimes he wondered if Bey had some special place in his brain that was solely concerned with intercourse, twenty four hours a day. He couldnt think of how Bey still functioned and came up with so many sexual scenarios, otherwise. Pulling his head all the way through the tunic, Bey looked at Silva as he grabbed for the heavy breeches they both wore for the cooler autumn temperatures. He smirked again before he spoke. How do you know I wasnt referring to you, with that prissy little thank you? I know you would never refer that way to the person who might purchase you a meat pie on the way to West Gate, considering weve already missed breakfast. Bey went a little green, making Silva really think about the rich tasting, greasy dumplings they often ate, and he felt a little green himself.

Thats all right. Keep your generosity today, Silva. Really. Um, yes. Lets skip it today. A little water sounds just perfect. Bey finished pulling on his leather reinforced vest and tapped his foot as he waited for Silva to finish braiding his hair. He opened the door, and as Silva walked ahead of him, Beys hand snuck out and slapped his bottom. Silva startled, tripped his way out the door, and only just managed to catch himself on the other side of the hallway before his head cracked into it. Bey walked by him with a laugh. Cmon, lover boy. If were late, you know the damn captain will nail our hides to the wall this time. He wont care if we spent the night exchanging fluids or not. Silva looked at his retreating back and blinked. Bey was awfully pleased with himself for someone whod found out hed played the bottom for the first time in his life. His reaction to their intimacy had gone so much better than Silva had expected, it made him regret that Shaan had interrupted him, honestly. Perhaps things would have gone just as well once hed told Bey what the tattoos actually meant, if he could have continued while Bey was in such a good mood. Now Silva was going to have to bring it up later, and there was no guarantee that Bey would respond so calmly to a second surprise; there was actually a good possibility that Bey would beextremely ticked off. Perhaps Silva should make sure they found someplace isolated before he let him know they were married.

Chapter 2 Princess Bey watched Silvas ass as it walked ahead of him. The tip of a long silver braid flirted with the mans buns in a fascinating pattern. Sway right, sway left, and one small bob, right in the middle of his bottom as though daring someone to try and touch him there. What did Silva do when he walked to make it move like that? It had been the same ever since Bey had known him, and it never ceased to fascinate him. Hed even played with the idea of trying to get up close and personal with him, just because of that damn come-hither braid. Until hed gotten to know him. Good friends were a hell of a lot harder to find than a good roll in the hay. Still, it was kinda pathetic that hed had a chance to finally take that creamy ass and ended up on the bottom. Although he imagined hed gotten some good groping in. Hmmm, had to check on that. Was he dead yet? No? Then hed groped that luscious ass, no question. Damn. Hed bottomedthat was gonna take a while to come to terms with. Silva had been inside his ass. Theyd gotten naked and sweaty and hed taken a pounding. Hed been fucked by the citys pretty boy. Bey snorted. Okay, he was over it. Huh.

That really HAD taken a few seconds longer than normal. He jogged to catch up as Silva waited for him by the melon vendor. Are you all right? Silvas voice was quiet as he began walking again. He barely looked at Bey. The man was such a girl sometimes. He might be funny as hell when Bey was beginning to get pissed off, but when Silva thought something was seriously wrong, he always pulled his quiet, worried act. Reminded Bey of an old girlfriend of his, except not as annoying. Maybe it was because, between the two of them, Silva had the better ass. Bey? Are you listening? Im hanging on your every word, Princess. Silvas eyes narrowed. Swineherd. Ice Queen. Bey smiled and waited. Lecher. And proud of it. Silva shook his head as Bey began to whistle. It tickled him that Silva couldnt seem to stop himself from that one insult, every time. As though Bey gave a damn about what people thought, unless he was trying to get into their pants or under their skirt. It was his time, his dick, his business. And his pleasure to keep an eye on his partners ass. He dropped back, pretending to look at a small fruit stand, and watched Silva walk ahead. Time to watch the braid some more. The thing was such a cock tease. If it could just sway back and forth, it wouldnt be a problem, but that little tap against Silvas ass always had him aroused. He swore hed had better fucks since hed met Silva than any time before the man had popped up in town. Perpetual arousal made for fantastic sex. He should thank him for it someday. He whistled for a while more, enjoying the view as they finally drew up to the gate. The current shift, Gora and Ton, were laughing like the dumb asses they were, no surprise there. Always talking some poor idiot into drunken idiocy or spreading the latest gossip. Or giving him shit. Woooo, its the love birds! Congratulations, Silva, Beys finally made a man out of you! Are you sure you can still walk, Silva? Not feeling too sore today, are you? Bey didnt bother to get over his surprise. He simply walked up and bitch slapped the both of them while Silva stiffened up like a quarterstaff. Bey knew the mans cheeks would be bright red; he really was the most uptight prude about shit like this. Poor guy. Two years, and Bey still couldnt get him to lighten up. Although if these two idiots knew about his little playtime under the sheets, then it was a given that everyone knew about it. Maybe that would be enough to finally have Silva calm his ass down. There was only so long one could be perpetually embarrassed before realizing that it was a complete waste of time and energy. This could be good for Silva.

Come to think of it, this could be good for Bey, too. How many of these assholes had been trying to get into Silvas pants since hed come to town? And Bey was the one whod done it. Well, had it done to him, but hell, first time for everything, right? How many women and men were going to be coming up to him for a what was it like talk now? Since he couldnt remember a damn thing, it wasnt like hed be betraying any confidences to make up something. Describing what it had been like to get a piece of Silvas ass was a good way to get a little more ass of his own, if he added enough salacious details to get the listeners properly hot and horny. Life for Little Bey was gonna be damn good for a while. Preparing to gloat about it all, he made the mistake of looking to Silva again. The mans pale skin was a miserable pink, his hands still and frozen by his sides. His entire body trembled with tension, if you knew what to look for. If you didnt, he just had on his snotty bitch face and looked like he was about to let you have it, ever so politely, of course. Bey sighed. If it was this bad now, Silva was going to go into a coma if everyone thought Bey had taken him in the ass til he begged for it again. Damn. That would have made such a great fuck story, too. Silva was going to owe him big for not lying his ass off. Silva can walk just fine, you morons. Me? Im feelin a little sore. Youd be surprised what my little ice princess has hidden in those pants. Gora and Ton, having regained their feet, stopped laughing. Youre gonna catch some flies that way if youre not careful. Bey noted, snorting to himself when both their mouths closed with audible snaps. Silvas face turned a shade of red that wouldnt have looked out of place on a whores lips as the two guards focused on his crotch. Entertainment value, he really shouldnt have discounted it. This was definitely more fun than claiming hed topped his little Silva. Gora was the first one to start shaking his head. I dont believe it. Its always the shy ones that are surprise you, Bey said, shrugging. Besides, lets be honest, who wouldnt want a piece of my ass? Have you looked at it lately? He turned to let them have a gander, smacking it with one hand. Firm as hell and tight as a vise. Ask Silva. He knows all about it by now. Guards eyeing him skeptically, Bey gestured over to Silva. Poor guy was sputtering incoherently, his eyes stuck to Beys backside before he tore them away and stared at his fellow guards. He started shaking, just enough for Bey to notice, and Bey grinned broadly. Maybe Silva remembered more from last night than Bey did. As Silva continued to stutter, Bey considered it. If it had been good enough to rattle him that noticeably, then maybe they should try it again. Bey covertly ran his eyes down Silvas body while Gora and Ton stared at it as well. No one could deny that the man was sexy. A little taller and a bit leaner than Bey, Silva was extremely easy on the eyes. Easy on the ass too, probably, considering how little discomfort Bey had.

Licking his lips, Bey thought about it seriously. Theyd already done it once, so that horse was already out of the barn. Would one more fuck really ruin their friendship? One more time, and hed have a chance to grab onto that damn braid as he took his friends virgin ass. And if Silva didnt have a virgin ass, Bey would eat his damn sword. The man wasnt called the Ice Princess for nothing. He didnt even agree to sex with women until his hand was practically incapacitated from overuse; hed never fucking done it with a man. Until now. Huh, that might make Silva Beys first, real virgin.who was STILL a virgin. Bey closed his eyes and wondered what the hell it had actually been like, being taken. Had they done it on hands and knees? That didnt seem like Silvas style facing each other, that was more likely. He probably held onto Silvas hair as they did it, too. The stuff was like freaking silk, and hed have to be drunker than was physically possible not to have touched that when they screwed. When hed been screwed. Odd, hed never thought having someone fuck him that way held any appeal, but an image of looking up into Silvas face and being penetrated by the prissy princess was actually kind of hot. So you two really did it? Ton asked tentatively, looking at Silva. Hey, I just said so, didnt I? It was sad how little faith his fellow guards had in his veracity. Truly sad. Well, yeah, but Gora paused, looking at both their faces. Shit, you really did do it, didnt you? I never thought youd go through with it, Bey. Bey got the sudden uncomfortable feeling that they werent talking about sex anymore. There was no way that Gora was doubting that Bey would have sex, especially with someone attractive like Silva. It would be like wondering if there was enough air in the sky today. Okay, what the hell are we talking about now? You and Silva Gora paused again, looking at their faces as he fiddled with the scabbard of his sword. Me and Silva what? Bey Silva reached out and put a hand on his shoulder and Bey slapped it away. Quiet, Princess, Im dealing with big people stuff now. Silva scowled darkly and Bey looked at the delicate sword drawn so precisely on his cheek. Youre talking about the tattoos? That it? I just never thought youd actually get married. Silva maybe, but you? Gora finished, shaking his head. Youd be the last person I would have thought whod do it. His ears were still drunk. Had to be. I didnt get married. Beys voice was flat and definitive. There were some rumors that just

werent funny. Youve got the tattoos, though. Ton put in. His voice was quite a bit more irritating than usual, today, wasnt it? Maybe if Bey kicked him in the throat it would fix that. Tattoos, yes. Married? I dont know who was smoking what when they told you that, but I wasnt smoking a damn thing. Gora said. You told me yourself. Beys blank stare was all the couple needed to start grinning again. You dont remember, do you? Ton said. Yes, a good kick to the throat; definitely called for. Of course I remember. I was just shitting you. Obviously. I dont think so. Gora smirked as he watched Silvas barely noticeable flinch. We were on High Street and you two came stumbling right by. Said the Princess had agreed to get his beard shaved, but he wouldnt do it unless you got a wedding tattoo with him first. Bey fingered the skin under his eye, itching it slightly. Wedding tattoo? You mean like some of the fucking tribes do? Ton and Gora shrugged together. I guess. What the hell do I know? You were drunk off your ass, the both of you. It wasnt exactly a good time to ask complicated questions. Well obviously you misunderstood, because theres no way Id get some primitive wedding tattoo just to get rid of a pox-ridden beard. My beard was fine. Silva finally recovered enough to say, his voice almost grim. Gora shook his head at Bey, ignoring Silva. Weve all heard you spout off about that beard at least once a week, Bey. I think youd try to ass rape a cat to get rid of it, if you were puking drunk. Bey nodded. They had a point. In fact, he thought he vaguely remembered these two weasels daring him to ass rape a panther the last time theyd gotten sloshed together. Thank God hed passed out before that fiasco went anywhere. Cat rape, maybe, but thats a whole different thing from getting married. Silva shaved his beard, Gora pointed out. And you both have matching tattoos, Ton finished. So? Im missing the point where that somehow makes us married. Or any sort of reason why Silva would ask for something like that in the first place. He said he needed the beard to stay single, Gora said, shrugging at Beys blank stare. I told

you; you were fucked up. Were not married, assholes. Ton and Gora made disbelieving noises, but he could tell they werent entirely convinced he was wrong. They might be titillated by the idea, but no one would take a ridiculous rumor like that seriously, not for long. Theyd give him seven flavors of shit over it, yeah, but actually believing it? Unlikely. Marriedwhat idiots. Silva and he had obviously gotten roaring drunk, done some stupid shit, and then gone back to their bunks and fucked like ferrets. Get back to your beds and get some sleep so you can start using your brains again. Ton and Gora smirked at them and finally left after a few more taunts. Bey turned to Silva as they took positions by one side of the Gate. Silva shifted slightly and Bey sighed. Dont worry about it. Your pristine reputation as Miss Priss isnt in danger. Silence, and then Theyre wedding tattoos. Bey didnt even look at him. Fuck no, they arent. Those types of things are always on the hands and feet, anyway. Not in some of the northern tribes. Bey snorted. The only tribes up north that might have some lame ass wedding tattoo on the cheek are those elemental fuckers with thesilver hair. Bey slowly turned and looked at him. Tell me youre not one of the elemental fuckers, Silva. You really need to say that. Right now. Id be lying, Silva said quietly, glancing around first. Oh, you are fucking SHITTING me! For Gods sake, keep your voice down, Bey! Youre a freaking mmmnnnbm. Bey glared at Silva over the hand that had clamped on top of his mouth, and with a warning snarl of his eyes, he bit him. Silva yelped and yanked his hand back. Dont fucking do that again, Silva. Bey looked at him, watching the twitch of his eyelashes and the slight thinning of his lips. Fucking son of a bitch, the man was serious. He itched at his cheek again. These were some sort of wedding marking? Silva had fucking talked him into marriage. Bey swung out at him and Silva leapt back with a short hop. Bey, this isnt the way to umph. Silva bent over, gagging, as Beys leg pulled back from his stomach. Bey leaned down to look into Silvas pale face.

You wanted to say something, Princess? Youre an infantile little wretch, Silva gasped out, and Bey smiled. This wretch is gonna kick your ass, sweetheart. He suddenly found himself flat on his back in the dirt, Silvas hand loosely around his throat. I was inebriated and so were you, Bey. His voice was still a bit choked. Youre just as much to blame for this as I am! Bey squinted up at him. Oh yeah? Just how drunk were you last night? I didnt even know how it had happened until those two imbeciles told us about it. Is that drunk enough for us to avoid fighting about this any further? Silva asked stiffly. Fuck. Yeah, yeah. Let me up, already. Silva stepped back and Bey got to his feet, dusting himself off. Damn, I think Im gonna puke. And you always get the dust all the hell over me. He watched Silva rub his stomach and he smirked. Just a little. So Princess, we get the damn things off, and Ill be fine. Shit, these tattoos cant possibly be legal here, anyway They are, Silva informed him, turning away to stare menacingly at a couple of teenage punks whod been gawking. The two cringed and hurried through the gate. It was part of the codes in that addendum 15 years ago. If youd ever bothered to read your own countrys laws every once in a while, youd know that. Bey angrily kicked the four-foot thick gate with his foot and yelped. Ow! Fuck me! I think I already did, remember? The cautiously dry tone had him chuckling. Assand dont make a comment about asses. So. Were married. Just gotta go get the damn things spelled off again after shift, right? It wouldnt be that bad. Come to think of it, the tattoos HAD gotten that damn beard off. Worth it just to keep Silvas face all prettied up. Iyes. Im sure well be able to rid ourselves of them soon. Im sure. Silva had that little pucker between his eyebrows that meant he was fretting about something, but if he hadnt said what it was, Bey wouldnt be able to get it out of him without a hell of a lot more trouble than he felt like going through when he was still this hung over. Good. Then its just like the fucking; dont remember it, didnt happen. I hope so, Silva muttered quietly, and Bey shook his head. He itched under his eye again; maybe he was getting hives. Not that it mattered, if they got them off right after shifts end. At least with tattoos, it was easy to take care of. Would have been a hell

of a lot worse if theyd found a justice to do them up right. Those damn things took forever to cancel. Tattoo, theyd be in and out of a hut in no time flat and be done with it. He itched again. Hives, he just knew it. Maybe Silva could give him a quickie afterwards to make up for it. I am never getting drunk with you again, Princess. I have told myself the same thing more than once. Yeah, but Ive got more will power than you do. ### Bey slammed open the door to their room and Silva caught it before it snipped closed on his face. Very slowly, Silva opened it back up and closed it with a soft, controlled click. He turned to find Bey pacing back and forth across the room. Bey- Dont fucking talk to me right now. Bey continued storming around the room, his eyes avoiding the spot Silva stood on as though it burned him. We have to figure out Silva rocked back and smoothly slapped aside the kick Bey aimed at his head. Bey, this wont help the situation! I told you to keep it shut! We need to Silva grunted as Bey leapt at him and had a forearm over his throat, pinning him to the wall. Beys face was tight. Dont fucking push me right now, Silva. Not now. Just back the hell off. Yourethe onepinning me, Silva managed, and Bey shoved off of him and continued to pace. He didnt laugh. Silva stood very still and didnt move from the wall. He couldnt think of anything he could do to make this better. His own drunken thoughts on marriage and the beard, those he could comprehend in a twisted sort of way. If he didnt have a beard, it was harder to stay hidden. If he didnt stay hidden, then his father would most definitely find him and marry him off to StormFrost, after an epic-worthy beating. Stubborn goat. If father would have managed to put the smallest amount of flexibility in his thinking, everyone could have been happy with the results. Now, the two who should actually be together had been kept apart for two entire years, all for the stubborn pride of someone who couldnt accept change even if it sat on his own beard. Silvas eyes moved with Bey, watching his black hair flow down his back in a long tail that fanned out and snared his arms every time he turned. When Bey glared at him with one icy sweep of his

eyes, Silva turned his face away. What could he say? He knew they were both drunk last night, and stupid enough to do anything at that point, but he still felt as though it were his fault. He was the one who had decided to put his own concerns over Beys and suggest a wedding. He was the one whod kept track of everyone from home that he should hide from or avoid. Which meant that he was the one whod known exactly where to go for a knowledgeable tattooist when theyd decided to wed, Hed been hoping theyd simply gone to the nearest hut and had it done. A quick examination from a reputable tattooist had shown that to be the vain pipe dream it actually was. Their artist had known what he was doing. There was no way to rid themselves of the tattoos. The design had no flaws, the needles had been magicked, and the bonding spell afterwards had sealed it to their skin. It would be invulnerable to needles, spells, or injury. Silva could scrape half the skin off his face, and when it scarred over, the mark would still be dark and visible. Bey had almost attacked the tattooist when hed wished them congratulations, but Silva knew hed eventually calm down. He still didnt have a good grasp of why some things kept Bey angry for days, and why others lasted mere seconds, but he knew that Bey eventually recovered from practically everything. Hed never seen him hold a grudge. Bey had never been married, though, and hed been very vocal with his opinion on that particular institution. Something designed to keep a person in one bed, with only one other? Hell on earth for someone of Beys proclivities. Silva didnt know how long it would take Bey to recover from being suddenly put into such a position, even if Silva wouldnt dream of trying to enforce Beys monogamy. Looking at the sage colored pants, tight against his round, muscular bottom, Silva felt a small twinge. He couldnt remember the act, but it had been on his mind all day. Sex with Bey. Something hed probably never experience again, now that they were tied together like this. Hed not experience it again with anyone else, now, either. Whether he was drunk or not, hed known what the consequences would be if he married with this particular bond. Hed made a vow, and hed keep it. He wouldnt sleep with anyone but Bey. There was no way Bey had understood what had been happening, though. Silva couldnt ask him to give everything, and everyone, up for him. It was going to be bad enough when he had to ask Bey to leave with him. The bonding spell, the last step of the wedding, always forced both partners to reveal their real names at the moment it completed. The tattooist was, as Bey would put it, one of those elemental fuckers. Hed know the gold being offered for knowledge of Silvas whereabouts. Silva was quite certain information about himself, and his new bride, were already on their way to father. It would take at least two weeks to make it up to the edge of the territories and back, if not longer, but that wasnt nearly long enough when it came to hiding from fathers men. He knew; hed needed months to plan it properly the first time. Silva focused on Beys legs, strong and compact, pushing him forward as he walked in strides that were more like controlled leaps. He always looked like he was on the edge of dancing, even when he was furious. At any bar or tavern, he almost always WAS dancing with his newest lover. Silva swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. He didnt want this forced on his friend, but thinking of Bey with his usual lovers was bringing up a hurt that he just hoped he could hide

successfully. The Bond of the Sword was sacred, used only in cases where the couple had sworn complete fidelity and loyalty to one another. His own wedding to a neighboring prince would have been less restrictive, most likely the Bond of the Dagger. He couldnt believe hed asked for the sword. He had to have known Bey would rather die than be tied into this type of relationship. Silva couldnt justify holding him to this type of standard, but the consequences would be extremely painful. The meaning of the Sword was too ingrained for him to dismiss it for himself; even the thought of breaking it made him feel queasy. Thinking of trying to enforce the bond for Bey, however, made him feel even worse. The bond was not one of Beys beliefs. He shouldnt have to conform to it simply because Silva couldnt control himself when he was drunk. Especially as Bey had not only acquired a spouse, hed lost his current position, and his home. Father would be after him as well, now. They would both have to disappear. He winced as Bey started cursing too low to make out the words. He should leave and let Bey vent a bit more before they talked about this. It was going to get much uglier before it was done. He stepped away from the wall and avoided looking at Bey as he headed to the door. Ill return later. Hed just touched the latch when a hand slammed into the door on either side of him. With a quick prayer for strength, Silva took a breath turned to confront Bey. The mans eyes were narrow in his broad face, and he leaned close until Silva could smell the berry leaf he always chewed scenting the air around their heads. They were almost eye to eye; would have been if Bey were just a bit taller. Still, he was angry enough to have Silva feeling that he needed to be very careful at the moment. And where the hell do you think youre going, Princess? Bey Youre upset. We both know it. We should talk about this when weve calmed down. Bey stared at him intently until he shifted. He wasnt going to push at Bey for the moment. It would most definitely provoke a reaction, and likely not a good one. Stillwhat was he doing? Bey was staring at Silvas face, still leaning close, and Silva was mortified to realize that it was turning him on. You didnt answer the question. Where do you think youre going? Warm air from Beys mouth brushed across Silvas face far too gently for such a rough tone, and he ignored the way his body tightened up over it. Out. Yeah? Out where, princess? The Queens Tavern? The Maidens Whorehouse? He practically snarled the words. Its none of your concern, Bey. Just step back and Ill leave. Bey smiled oddly as he continued snarling. I thought we were married, Ice Princess. Seems to

me its all my business now, isnt it? Isnt every damn waking moment of our lives each others business? Every meal, every time we get horny and wanna get laid, every time we wanna do so much as scratch our damn noses. Isnt that right? Silva sighed. Its obvious you need some time alone before we can discuss this What I need is a good fuck. Bey growled, and his hands pulled Silvas head down to kiss him harshly. Silva blinked at him, uncertain what to do. It was good. Beys lips and tongue were sucking and penetrating his mouth, stealing the breath from his lungs. It was slick and hot and hard - and he liked it. Beys tongue swirled over his own and he was surprised to hear a moan coming from his throat. Hed always heard Bey was a fantastic kisser, but hed never thought Bey released his mouth, but not his head, and stared at him. I need a good fuck, and its gonna be you. Bey. Silva took a moment to catch his breath, not fighting Beys hold on his head. Bey always grew more aroused after a little skirmish. You know you dont want to do this. Youre just angry about whats happened and Thats where youre wrong. Im furious about whats happened, but even if I was happy as a little girl with a lollipop, he pulled Silvas head down closer, Id still want your pale white ass. I need a good, hard, sweaty, mind-blowing fuck, and its gonna be you. You got a problem with that, you better talk real fast, Princess. Silva stared at him. Sex, with Bey. No, he said hoarsely. I dont have a problem with that. Bey smiled, his face harsh, and his hands tightened in Silvas hair. Silva wondered what hed just gotten into. Sex with Bey might be a lot more frightening a prospect than marriage with him could ever be.

Chapter 3 Married Bey kissed him again. His lips were hot and wet; Silva would swear Bey had found a way to grope his mouth with his tongue. Bey backed away from the door and Silva followed, still kissing. God but Bey could kiss. Silva had seen him spend over an hour just moving his lips over some man or womans face, but hed never thought just how fantastic he must be at it. All that damn practice, he thought vaguely, pulling at Beys dark hair and plunging his tongue into Beys mouth. It was drawn in and suckled immediately. Fire. His belly was already on fire, burning. His body jolted, surprised as Beys strong fingers suddenly dug into his bottom, pulling his hips close to grind their erections together. He couldnt stop his hips from shoving forward as he let go of Beys head to pull at his clothing. One of the ties ripped and he simply continued, yanking at it without releasing Beys lips until it was dealt with. His hands had access to Beys tanned, sculpted chest and abs and he sighed shakily as he ran his palms over them. Bey was compact, sturdy rather than sleek, and

Silva didnt think hed been so excited to touch someone elses flesh in his life. Bey reached up, yanked his hands away, and ripped at his shirt until he was a bare chested as Bey. With a grunt, Bey pulled Silva close again before he could touch him further. His own hairless chest slid against coarse hair. It made his nipples hard and sensitive, every little hair teasing his skin, until Bey moved away, bending his head and using his tongue to tease them instead. Silva grabbed at him, digging his hands into the heavy mane of black hair. It crackled against his palms and he tugged, trying to get Bey to pull back so he could kiss him again. He yelped as Bey bit him. Bey licked the wound once; Silva was pretty sure it would bleed. I call the shots today, Princess. You already got your turn, Bey growled. He licked down Silvas stomach, made him think maybe his lips were heading to his cock, and then he yanked at the front ties to Silvas pants. Trying to help, frantic to get them off, Silva grunted as his hands were slapped away. Mine. Back off. Silva moaned as his erection was released into Beys hands. His lover pulled his pants down to his thighs, licked the head of his cock teasingly, and then pulled the pants down harshly and shoved. Silva toppled backwards, his knees hitting the foot of Beys cot just before the rest of him followed and he flopped onto his back. His pants snagged on his ankles and Bey growled a moment before he got them free and threw them halfway across the room. Lying on the cot, his calves hanging over the end, he was just figuring out what had happened when Bey practically jumped on him. Beys hips were between his legs, the rough canvas of his leggings rubbing against his member. Bey leaned down over Silva just as Silva reached around Beys back and bucked into him, rubbing himself against the hard bulge pushing at his groin. Bey shoved his face down into Silvas, devouring his mouth again, biting and sucking savagely as his hips slammed against Silvas. His fingers gripped and slid through Silvas hair while Silva hung on tightly. Silvas fingernails were digging into the dark skin as he grunted with the effort of keeping the muscles of his chest pressed against Beys. Bey was so damn hot, his skin slicked with sweat and shining and gorgeously male. He smelled musky and coarse. It made Silva want to suck on his skin and taste the bitterness of it. Bey suddenly shoved him down and away, breaking his grip, and his blunt fingers fumbled with the ties at the front of his own pants. Gonna take you hard, Princess. Bey growled, pushing his pants down past his hips and freeing his own dusky cock. He pushed Silvas legs up towards his stomach roughly, his hand gripping Silvas thighs. Fucking married, are we? Then well fucking act like it. Take you so hard you cant sit for a week. Beys eyes were fierce as he looked into Silvas face. Silva swallowed. His own cock was hard and aching, even the friction of his own stomach against it was too much to bear, but now that it was time, he wasnt sure. He could see Beys erection between his legs, larger than his, darker, and he felt it press against the entrance to his ass. His nerves tightened. He wanted this: hard and violent and throbbing. Bey was so large, though. How much was this going to hurt? Bey, Im not sure AAAAAAAAH! Bey slammed into him with one hard thrust and he screamed. Oh God, that hurt! Burning, slicing pain all the way into his body; it was like being stabbed!

Bey stayed inside him, still watching his face, and Silva bit his lip to keep from crying out again. He could tolerate this. Hed done this to Bey, hadnt he? If the man had taken Silva inside his body, Silva could do the same. He just hadnt thought it would hurt so badly to have someone enter him! He closed his eyes. It had to get better. Men would never agree to bottom more than once if things didnt improve from this point. Bey groaned and leaned forward against Silvas legs. Shit. Fuck. Dammit to hells outhouse. Forgot you havent done this before; dont even know when to relax, do you? Dammit, didnt mean to hurt you like that. You and your tight little ass are gonna fucking kill me, Silva. Beys breathing came in pants as Silva opened his eyes to see his angry, frustrated face above him. Its not too bad, he lied hoarsely. Bullshit. You look like youre getting an arm sawed off, for fucks sake. I totally bungled this. Dammit. Bey started to pull out and Silva pulled at the ends of his hair before he could totally withdraw. This might be the last sex he ever had! It didnt matter if it was painful; he wasnt going to have it end like this! No, you dont have to stop! Ill get used to it. Bey raised one eyebrow at him, obviously surprised, and smiled slowly. The heated look on his face made Silvas cock twitch. Silva, youre out of your mind if you think for one second that Im done with you. That, and youre forgetting who the hell youre talking to. Silva flushed and let go of his hair. Then what Supplies, Princess. Just because I fucked up for a minute doesnt mean I cant make it feel a hell of a lot better. Bey let Silvas legs drop and he moved until he could reach the one poorly made drawer by the cot. He reached inside and pulled out an old glass bottle of rosy colored oil. Now we can play rough and everybodys still happy. Silva watched nervously as Bey poured the oil over his own cock, and then drizzled it over Silvas body as well. He corked the bottle, dropped it back on the table, and then began to rub the drops of oil into Silvas skin. His hands slid smoothly over Silvas cock and balls, rubbing and teasing them until they ached. Silva thought he might even come, and then one heavy finger slicked over his anus and pushed in, dragging the oil with it. Silva tensed, but the intense pain of before was absent. There was a strange, full sensation that made him squirm as Bey pushed his finger in deeper, moving it slowly. Bey watched Silvas face as he withdrew and grabbed the bottle again, adding more oil and tossing it aside. Two fingers pushed in slowly, twisting in ways that caused Silva to shiver. Bey suddenly grinned fiercely and he rubbed something inside that made Silvas eyes widen and his body arch off the cot. Now THAT is what Im looking for. Lets try this again, huh? Silva thought he might be in shock as Bey removed his hand and grabbed Silvas legs again. Bey thrust in just as suddenly as hed done the first time, but the pain was so much less. More full and strange than painful. Bey

leaned over Silvas body and he leered. Now we can have a good fuck. You just lay back and hang on for the ride, Princess. I am gonna blow your little mind. Blow his mind? Silva winced at the slight pain as Bey withdrew and thrust again, leaning so that Silvas legs were up high and wide. He couldnt have controlled what Bey was doing if he tried. His erection was rubbing against his stomach with each thrust, still hard and aching. He reached up, grabbing at Beys head again, and tried to pull him down to kiss those full, wide lips and take his mind from the pain. Before he got there, Bey shifted and the next thrust made him gasp at an unexpected shock of pleasure so sharp it stung. Gotcha. Bey murmured, and let Silva take his head. He kept his hands pressing against Silvas legs as he began to thrust into Silvas body, forcing hard thrumming near-orgasms with each penetration. Silva plunged his tongue into Beys mouth, refusing to let him go as his body began rocking from the force of Bey's thrusts. The pain was washed over with gut clenching pleasure that built, winding itself around Silvas erection, clenching his balls tight. He tried to arch up and move, failed, and finally hung on as his body soaked up the heat and pulsing bursts of lust coming from his ass and his chest and Aaaaaah! God, Bey! Bey, please! Bey! With a hoarse grunt, Bey slammed himself into Silvas body so hard that Silva began to slide up the cot. Silva would swear he felt Bey coming inside his body, pouring into him. Bey reached between them, releasing one of Silvas legs to grab his cock, and he pumped his hips slower in time with his hands until Silva came, crying out against Beys mouth. He thought he might be weeping. Bey continued moving, slowly, his hips gliding now, until Silva and he drifted down. When Silvas breathing softened, he released Beys hair and lay limply draped over the cot. Bey let Silvas other leg drop and pulled out of his body. Scoot up. Youll feel like shit if you leave your legs hanging over the edge like that. Silva opened his eyes to look at him and fumbled his way up until he was fully on the cot. Bey got in beside him and lay sideways, watching as he reached over and played with a stray hair coming out of Silvas braid. That, Bey said quietly, his breathing still irregular. Was fucking worth the wait. Silva laughed softly and let Bey fiddle with his hair as he tried to come to grips with what had just happened. So. That was what bottoming was like. His ass burned, but the rest of his body was so sated and thrumming that he didnt honestly care. He reached up and touched his tattoo gently. Maybe it would never happen again, but it felt right that they had at least one time to remember. The fact that it had been wild and sweaty and painful and amazing seemed so utterly Bey that he laughed again to himself. Youre a very rough lover, Bey, he finally said.

Depends on my mood, Bey responded nonchalantly. Next time, Im gonna fuck you softly for hours until you beg for mercy. Next time? Tentatively, quietly. Well, yeah. Were still friends, right? Bey looked up at him, suddenly uncomfortable and showing it. That didnt piss you off too badly or anything, right? I meanit was just sex. Silvas post-sexual high faded a little, but he smiled automatically. Of course. Just sex. Well have to do it again sometime.

Beys flushed, happy feeling dropped like a stone. Best sex hed had in who knew how long, and this was Silvas response? Hed heard Silva use that tone of voice before, but only when he was giving someone the brush off. He knew hed hurt him in the beginning, but hed thought the end had made up for it. Fuck. Princess, if you dont wanna fucking do it again, just come out and say so. Dammit, it really pissed him off sometimes, how Silva would be so polite instead of saying what he really thought. No, I didnt say that, Silva said quickly. We can do it again. Bey looked at him. Something was off. He didnt know what the hell it was, but Silva wasnt acting right. Well, he was really uptight and all. Maybe he was always this way after sex or something? Hed have to pay attention and see next time. And overly polite responses or not, there was so definitely going to be a next time. That had been way the fuck too fantastic not to repeat. Silvas ass was damn tight, and the way his breath had caught in his throat with every little moan he made was the biggest ego boost Beyd ever had. Silva smelled good, too. Which was weirder than hell, because Bey usually didnt care about crap like that, but Silvas smell had been a total turn on. Kind of cool and minty. Bey rolled closer, plopping his arm over Silvas waist just because he could. Silvas body felt nice, sleek and strong and smooth. Warm. Silva shivered and Bey scooted in a little closer. He wasnt a big fan of cuddling and all that post-sex shit, but Silva was hot enough that he could snuggle without feeling weird about it. Bey, Silvas voice was soft. We need to talk. Bey yawned. Talk away, Princess. Im just gonna fucking pass out, but dont let that stop you. He grunted as Silva pinched his forearm. Ow! Pinching? What are you, a freaking girl? This is serious, Bey! The marriage Yeah, still pissed about that. You should drop it. Bey felt himself starting to get angry again, although not quite as much as when Silva had tried to walk out on him. Marriage, in his opinion,

was giving someone power over you for the rest of your damn life. You married someone, then they had the right to bitch about spending money, drinking, sex, whatever the hell they wanted to. Hed never met anyone he fucking trusted enough to give that power to, and now he was stuck with Silva. But Silva was damn well stuck with him, too, so what the hell had Silva thought he was doing, trying to go out when Bey was still pissed at him? Idiot. He could fucking go out when Bey was damn well ready for him to. He was surprised hed even tried, though. Out of everyone he knew, Silva was the most stuck on marriage. The little priss actually lectured some of the married men when they went out carousing and got too frisky with the tavern wenches. Yet he hadnt been married a full day before hed tried to go out to show off his little ass at some tavern. Hed better not go thinking he had the right to go out on his own, not until Bey figured out what the hell he was going to do. He closed his eyes as he tried to think clearly. There werent that many options. He could ignore the tattoos and pretend it had never happened. He could use his new status as a married man to get some of the women who liked to feel they were stealing someone away from someone else. He couldstay married and act like it was real. He started laughing to himself. When hell froze over. Feeling Silvas skin underneath his hand as his lover shifted, he licked his lips at the other possibility. He could use this as an excuse to screw Silva blind until he was tired of it, and THEN act like it had never happened. Bey opened his eyes to slits and examined Silvas face as the man stared at the ceiling, his forehead crinkling in worry. Silva was damn sexy, his body was tight and responsive, and he was conservative as hell. Bey wasnt sure why the big baby had tried to walk out earlier, but he did know that if he pretended to go along with the marriage, Silva would too. He knew Silva; the mans honor was like a pole perpetually shoved up his ass. Hed completely throw himself into being married. Hed be willing to have sex with Bey whenever Bey wanted. And right now, he thought he was going to be wanting it a whole hell of a lot. It would be a week, at least, until theyd exhausted his sexual imagination. His cock firmed slightly as he thought of what he could do to Silva, and what the man might do to him as well. A few weeks, maybe. And when the sex started to get stale, hed just say it wasnt working out and Silvas honor would be satisfied and theyd go back to the way things were before. That was definitely the way to go. Hed be able to have a fantastic bit of sex and still have his friendship intact at the end of it. And another plus: he could never be threatened by fathers wanting him to marry their pure daughters after this, if he was already married. This marriage thing wasnt too bad at all, now that hed had a minute to look at it more clearly. Bey felt himself getting harder and opened his eyes a little more, letting them trace the contours of Silvas ivory skin down his chest to the silvered hair of his groin and his soft cock lying there. How would Silva taste? His mouth was delicious, his nipples were yummy, but how about

his dick? He wanted to find out. How far could he push this? What kind of marriage did the elementals have, anyway? Was one of a couple the dominant one? He had an image of Silva bound and helpless and caught a moan before it left his throat. Yeah. They had to try that once, whether or not Silva wanted to. He would just look too damn hot all tied up, especially if Bey undid his hair. And if there WAS some sort of role they were forced to assume, it could really work out for him. Maybe he could order Silva to take over cleaning duty or something. God, that would be a relief. He hated cleaning. And Silva wasnt too bad at it, when he exerted himself. listening, Bey? Bey blinked and realized Silva was looking right at him. He wiped his expression clean. What? Bey, pay attention! All right, dont get your corset strings in a knot. Im listening. And thinking of taking him again. Totally clich, but Silva was pretty fuckable looking when he was pissy like this. And it wasnt like they were going anywhere else tonight. Maybe Bey would just take Silvas cock in his mouth and see how long he could make it last before Silva lost it. We have to leave town, Bey. Bey looked at him blankly, barely registering Silvas face as he saw Silva moaning in ecstasy in his minds eye. What do you mean, leave? You want a wedding trip or something, Princess? Bey thought about getting time off and spending a week down south in one of the pleasure baths with Silva. He began to smile lasciviously. I could do that. Silva was already shaking his head. No, we have to leave town for good. We cant come back, Bey. He started to laugh. Fuck, dont be such a little kid. Just because we got married doesnt mean weve gotta go run away with our tails between our legs. You have gotta just get over caring what everyone thinks, Princess. Thats not it! Its not safe here any longer. Now that He stopped and Beys eyes sharpened at the nervous twitch to his lips. Bey pushed himself up with his arms until he was sitting on the bed, looking down at Silva. Silva started to rise as well until Bey pushed a hand on his chest and shoved him back down. Now that what? Silva closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the end of the bed before he spoke. Now that my father knows where I am. Bey blew a raspberry. And here hed thought it was actually something serious. How the hell would he know?

When we got the tattoo Bey rolled his eyes. What, elementals can read minds once you get married? Dont be fucking paranoid. Bey, theres a reward out for me! Once that tattooist knew my name, hed have sent information to my family. Bey smirked. A reward? Well hell, your dads as freaky about life as you are! But so the fuck what? Not like youre a little kid, Silva. He cant put you over his knee or something if he doesnt like who youre fucking right now. Silva sucked in his breath before he spoke again. No, but he could have you killed. Bey stared at him. Well, cant say I was expecting that. He shifted and leaned over Silvas legs until his shoulders rested against the wall. Silvas dear old dad must have a real temper. You sure the tattooist would pass on the info? How much was the reward? Maybe its not worth it. Bey No, honestly, how much? 35,000 gold pieces, Silvas voice was flat and Beys brain stopped working for a few crucial minutes. Long enough for Silva to glare at him, shove him off his legs, and get off the bed. Bey lost another minute just watching Silvas ass and his limp, frazzled braid as he walked to the other side of the room. He gloated at the braid. Ha, gotcha, you silky little cock tease. You tap that ass again and Ill just grab it. He smiled and caught the boot Silva threw at his chest. Im so thrilled you find this amusing. Silva was up on his high horse again: icy and prissy altogether. Eh, calm down. Its not like Im the one turning you in for the money. Although I think you should gimme some kind of reward for that level of restraint. Bey looked at Silvas hips and worked his way up. He gave him a practiced leer. Dont worry, Im willing to let you work it off. He grunted as his other boot almost got him in the face. We should leave by tomorrow. Silva continued as though Bey hadnt interrupted him. Im not going anywhere, you idiot. Your father comes here with some stick up his ass about you marrying a commoner or something Silva froze with his arms halfway into his sleeves. His face flushed. C-commoner? I- I dont know what you- Please, do I LOOK stupid to you? You have better manners than members of the council. Everyone in the guards knows you come from wealth. Were just too polite to ask about it.

Thats ridiculous, everyone has been quite happy to ask about everyones business All right, so maybe I threatened to kick a little ass if anyone got too nosy. Same difference. Thing is, your old man cant do anything here, so stop freaking out about it. And will you stop packing?? Bey got to his feet and started across the room. You dont understand, Silva muttered. Dont forget, my father is one of those elementals you were so blithely discussing earlier. He will take me back, which Ive been damn well trying to avoid since I came here, and if he doesnt kill you outright, itll be Its best not to think about it. Please, for once in your stubborn life, just trust me. Get ready to leave. Not gonna happen, Princess. Sorry, but Im not running away from someones damn father. Bey sighed as he realized Silva was now fully dressed. There went his hopes for the rest of the night. Unless he could sweep his legs and pin him just right. Hmmm. Silva bit his lip before he snorted. I seem to recall you running down Golden Avenue clutching your pants the last time Evas father caught you two together. That was different. The man owns a stable; do you know how many animals hes gelded? What if I told you my father might do the same thing? Id say youre full of shit, but nice try. Bey, you need to leave town! Both of us do! Bey shook his head, drawing closer. Like I said: not gonna happen. But I do have something that might take your mind off of it. Silva had his mouth open to respond when Bey grabbed at him and pushed at the same time, knocking him back onto Silvas bed. Bey, quit being such a juvenile mmmmph. Bey came down onto him and grabbed his hair with his hand as he plastered his lips over Silvas. He plunged his tongue in, burrowing his other hand underneath Silvas tunic and playing with his chest and nipples until Silva stopped struggling and started kissing him back. He pulled back with a smug smile. You can talk to me about leaving later, Princess. After. Panting, Silva tried to push up at him. Bey, we cant be intimate all night! We need to finish discussing this! Hey, we got married, didnt we? Were supposed to be screwing each other every free moment. Its a damn law. Bey! Will you stop it, Bey! Later. Ive got people to do right now. Bey brought his lips back down onto Silvas and he was happy to notice that he didnt hear another word about leaving for the rest of the night.

Chapter 4 - Talking to a Mule We can take two horses over the foothills and- No. Bey didnt bother looking at Silva as they walked their rounds. It drove Silva insane. Well have money. Ive sold my goblet collection to councilwoman Smeethe. Good for you. Buy yourself some ale and get ripped. Or better yet, buy something to tie your mouth shut with, because your voice is beginning to irritate me. Bey pushed himself forward, his stride carrying him along so quickly that Silva had to increase his own pace just to keep up with the smaller man. He would have accused him of trying to run away from their problem, but Bey was always like this when he was irritated. Better they did their rounds twice in half the time than Bey find some other outlet for his energy. Although a good fight might do them both some good. At least it might tire Bey out enough that hed have to listen. I checked with the caravan from Tierna that came in last night. They said both Nor and Tien Si are looking to increase their city guards. There should be no difficulty in Bey muttered something under his breath and turned into a small alley no more than two paces wide. Silva immediately shut up. Hand on his pommel, he followed warily. Eyes peering into the pale, mid-day shadows for what had caught Beys attention, he was completely surprised when Bey suddenly turned and slammed him into a stone wall. With a snarl, Bey shoved his face into Silvas and kissed him sharply, a stunning, blade-hard assault of lips and tongue. Fingers worked the fasteners of Silvas vest, pulling them apart until Silva could feel the harsh fabric of Beys cording against his nipples. And then Bey pulled back and started to yank at the ties to Silvas pants. Silva grabbed his hand and shoved it away. Bey, this isnt the time He swore as Bey simply switched hands. I told you, shut up. Actually, let me do that for you. Beys mouth slammed back down onto his and Silva brought up his arms to shove him away. He couldnt understand why his hands decided to grip Beys shoulders instead. It had to be the mans tongue, he thought, his head swimming. It was more seductive than a professional prostitutes. He moaned faintly as it slipped its way into his mouth, raping him with a gentle touch at odds with the hard pressure of Beys lips. Then the slickness was gone and Silva yelled out as he was spun around. With a quick hiss, his loosened ties were yanked open and his pants were around his knees. Bey! This isnt the time to be He finished on a gasp as Bey gripped Silvas cock with a hard hand. A few strokes later and the man bucked against his body, sliding thick and hot between the cheeks of his ass.

Silva moaned again, his face pressed against the wall. The rough stones of the alley disappeared as his body focused on the heavy thrusting against his backside and how it pushed him into the hard, callused hand around his cock. His determination to get Bey to leave, his anger and frustrating, everything drained away. And then he felt Bey nudging at his body, seeking entrance, and he damned himself for arching back to let him in. He could only gasp when Bey took him up on his invitation. His breath came in sudden pants, expelled violently every time Bey thrust into him. His hands clutched at the wall, scraping at the rounded stones desperately for purchase he couldnt find. There was no finesse, just Beys hips and his cock and the deep, burning ache in Silvas belly and the grip around his cock. He bit his lip rather than cry out as he felt his orgasm hit him so quickly it was shattering, Beys body still slamming into him with quick, jerking snaps. Bey grunted against his shoulder as he finished, pressing his entire body against him, the heat where they joined burning compared to the cool, heavy fabric from their clothed bodies. Silva rested his forehead against the cobbled wall, trying to catch his breath. With a careful shifting, Bey pulled out from his body, and Silva could hear him doing up his pants. The noises from the marketplace slowly came back into focus. With shaky legs, Silva turned around, still leaning against the wall. Bey looked him over, watching his face carefully before smiling. With a sudden cheerful whistling, he turned and started towards the end of the alley. He turned back just before he was out of sight, leering at Silvas half naked body. Told you Id take care of shutting you up. Pretty damn good at my job, wouldnt you say, Princess? An elderly male couple walked by at that exact moment and stared. Silvas attempted growl ended on a yelp as he grabbed frantically at his pants to try and cover himself. One of the old men, a green clad wood-cutter with biceps that were still impressive, turned to look at Bey and shook his head. Deplorable. That is utterly appalling, the old man said, shaking his finger at Bey. Silvas hands flew as he tied his pants hastily, trying to make it out before Bey laid into the man. The lecherous idiot had no shame, and no patience for those who tried to force such a quality on him. Look at his chest! The man pointed as though it was unclear who he might be talking about and his quavering voice lashed out. Its abraded! What were you thinking?! Next time, use that wall over by Noble Commons its got moss on it so you wont scrape his skin. Silva froze half-way down the alley, staring at them with his mouth hanging open as both oldsters nodded decisively. Glancing down at himself to see the reddened skin he hadnt even felt himself damaging, he flushed deeply. He heard Bey choking and thanking the man, snorting as the men muttered angrily to themselves as they left. Boys these days. Cant believe how little concern they have for their partners. In my day we were considerate when we fucked a young man out in public. His partner nodded in agreement while they walked away and Bey started laughing before they were even out of earshot. He looked back at Silva, smirking. I guess I need to apologize. Ill be much more considerate the next time we fuck in an alley.

Shut up, Bey. Silva stomped passed him and made sure to elbow him in the gut and step on his toes as he passed. Bey simply grinned at him after one surprised grunt. You know, were on duty near Noble Commons tomorrow, we could- Do not finish that thought. Silva glared at him as Bey stepped near. Deviate. Prude. Jackass. Sissy. Lecher. Bey grinned broader. And now all my lechery is for you, my delicate ice Princess. Silvas fist shot out and caught Bey by surprise, knocking him into an apple cart. He kept walking as the shopkeeper and Bey began cursing at each other while his partner tried to pull his foot free from the wooden spokes of the cart. Leaving Bey here for his father to find was extremely tempting.

*** Theyll castrate you, Silva said, trying to keep his voice low and still loud enough to be heard over the other patrons at the bar. They can always try, Bey said casually, sipping at his beer with a bored slurp. Dont be so dismissive. Think about this seriously, Bey! What would your life be like once that happened? No sex, ever again. Bey ignored him to look around the bar, his eyes lingering on a young mans ass as the servant bent over to wash one of the nearby tables. Silva felt his heart pound painfully as he noticed it. His own reaction made him even angrier. It wasnt as though he wasnt aware of who Bey was. Sex might have entered their relationship with a sudden, concussive bang, but for Bey, thats all it was. Silva had no illusions about that. Now that his anger had dissipated, it looked like Bey wasnt going to do anything about their marriage but use it to his advantage for a little while, and then hed be off flirting and enjoying himself when he was tired of it. Thats just the way he was. And Silva wanted to ensure that he could continue existing that way, whatever his personal feelings over it were, if only the stubborn pervert would cooperate! Will you pay attention, Bey! This is your cock were discussing here! Im sure you would rather it

be referred to as a sausage, not literally become one!! And you cannot tell me that you would be sitting here so calmly if you truly believed you could lose your cock. Think! What would you do, if you knew someone was coming to cut it off tomorrow! Silva shoved the beer out of Beys hand and it sloshed over the table. Bey turned to look at him finally, his eyes clouding. We need some privacy for this conversation, Bey said darkly. He flipped a coin to bartender, nodding towards the stairs, and got a hand gesture for the red room. Silva composed himself. At least now Bey might listen to him. He centered himself, burying the upset and nerves over the fact that it had been three days already and they were still here. Maybe now he could convince his stubborn bride to remove himself from the immediate area. Bey opened the door and gestured him gallantly inside. Silva eyed him suspiciously Bey wasnt gallant unless he wanted something but he stepped across the threshold. The mans quirks were nothing new, and Silva could give up quite a bit at this point, if only Bey would agree to leave. He regretted his easy acceptance of his friends odd behavior as he was sent sprawling to the floor with a sudden, hard shove against his back. Hearing the door slam, Silva managed to roll over just as Bey straddled his body and pinned him. Warm, heavy muscles sat on his cock and Silva swallowed. He stared into Beys eyes, their pupils huge as they glared at him, and it felt like his heart literally stuttered as it beat against his chest. You wanna know what Id do if my dick was gonna be cut up tomorrow, Silva? This is what Id do. Bey moved his lips towards Silvas and it took everything the silver-haired man had not to moan before they even got there. They needed to leave. They needed to talk. But those lips were like a drug. Bey, we need to When are you going to learn to just shut up, Bey murmured, and his lips came down on Silvas like the wrath of a lustful god.

***

Two more days and two more botched discussions later, Silva was desperate enough to challenge Bey physically. If he could overpower him, he could take the man out of town whether he liked it or not. They had lost too much time as it was, already. He waited until they were off shift, heading out towards the nearest tavern. It was a crowded night, but moonless. A good night for stealth. The dark made it easy to catch Bey unaware, knocking the wind out of him as Silva slammed him into a wall. Bey still managed to catch him behind the leg as they struggled, however, and they both went sprawling. Hands, feet, heads, teeth it was dirty fighting on both their parts. And completely pointless. By the end, neither one was able to do anything but curse at each other through swollen lips, and they had to wait for the

guard on shift to spot them and get them help back to their room. The guards physician confined them to quarters for two shifts, but at least the commander wrote it off as a newlywed quarrel and told them to keep their little spats less physical next time. Watching Bey the next day, as they both walked around like elderly men until they took the powder the physician had left, Silva was reminded of one last option to gain Beys compliance: drugs. He wouldnt have to struggle with Bey at all, if the man was unconscious when they departed. So when his friend went to bed early that night, groaning and whining about what hurt, and where Silva should kiss to make it better, Silva went out and contacted the apothecary for advice. For nearly a quarter of the gold hed collected for their trip, she was willing to sell him two of the more potent herbal sedatives she had. They should keep Bey out for at least a day, possibly longer. All hed have to do was slip it into his morning ale. It shouldnt be too difficult. Bey was always very social at public meals, chatting and flirting with everyone around him. He barely noticed what he put in his mouth. It would be easy.

***

Silva woke up with his mouth feeling like grated paper. Blinking in the faint light of dawn seeping through the window, he tried to remember why. Had he been drinking again? He didnt recall indulging himself. Ever since he and Bey hadBey! His attempt to sit up ended with a harsh jerk as his hands refused to move from their position above his head. He looked up quickly, saw his hands tied to the frame of his own cot, and started pulling. His attempt to move his feet ended as almost as quickly, and he realized they were tied as well. What had happened? Had Father found him?! Where wasThere was a muttered groan near his ear and a heavy arm slid across his nude chest and curled around his ribs to cuddle underneath his back. He could feel the warmth of another body press against his side. One muscled leg flopped over both of his with another deep grunt. Mmmnnnnnh! Silva shook his head as his attempt to call his partner ended up as a strangled, ferocious mutter. There was a gag in his mouth! Something ragged and feathery and he inhaled through his nose and almost sneezed smelling of dust. Bucking his body up, he managed to dislodge the leg across his own but the arm merely tightened. He squirmed, writhing angrily. He knew it was Bey embracing him, but why? His brow furrowed as he struggled with thoughts that still felt heavy and thick. He could remember Bey drinking the doctored ale. It had been ridiculously easy to slip it in. Hed toasted a few minor events, to make sure Bey drank it as quickly as possible, and then what had happened? He squirmed again, trying to get out from under Bey, and stared into irritated blue eyes as the man leaned his head up to glare at him.

Shhhh. Im trying to sleep here, Silva. The dark head flonked back onto the cot and Bey moved in close again, nuzzling against Silvas exposed armpit. He licked the hollow with a light flick and Silva shook wildly. His entire body convulsed. Nnnnnnnhmmmm! Bey chuckled and licked again. I didnt know you were ticklish. Oh, I can have some real fun with this. Silva threw his body against his restraints so hard the cot almost tipped over and Bey grumbled, pulling back. Crap, youd think youd never been tied up and drugged before. What a baby. Silva stared at him as he yawned and sat up. Bey stretched his arms above his head unselfconsciously, scratching under his jaw afterwards. He popped his neck so loudly Silva winced. And then he turned, bracing his body over Silvas and sitting down until his naked ass pressed directly on Silvas member. One hand on either side of Silvas head, he brought his face so close that Silva finally got a good look into his eyes. He honestly wished he hadnt. Bey was looking exceedingly unhappy. Furious might be too strong a word, but not by much. Silva wished he were anywhere but helpless and underneath the man. You shouldnt try to serve a dish you cant stomach yourself, Silva. Dont you know that by now? Bey said quietly. Silva groaned. Damn. Bey had managed to drug his beer somehow instead. The lecher leaned down and licked lightly at Silvas jawline. Silva started to get angry himself as Beys tongue ran smoothly over soft, slick skin. It shouldnt have been smooth; hed been growing his beard back in. The insufferable baboon had shaved his face again. Jnnnmmlldddddnnnn! Such language. I wonder if I should punish you for it. Silvas eyes widened. Beys voice was soft and teasing, but he still looked on the edge of a fight. Silva bit back a yelp as Beys hand moved and he felt a sharp, stinging pinch on the side of his backside. Now, Im going to take off the gag, Princess, and were going to have a nice, long talk. His hands were moving before he finished speaking and Silva worked his jaw around as the filthy fabric was untied and tossed to the floor. Water. Bey raised an eyebrow and sat back, pressing his ass onto Silvas cock and grinding down. Silva closed his eyes, groaning slightly at the urge to thrust that swept over him. Bey, dont be such a degenerate lecher. My mouth is dryer than the Siletti Plains. I need water.

Bey ignored him for a few moments, rolling his hips so that Silvas member was gripped in the cleft of his ass. When Silva gave in and pushed up with his hips, Bey stopped and hopped off with a victorious grin. He brought back a small cup, holding it near Silvas face. Say please. Bey, this is childish. Let me up and- Say please, Silva. You want the water, you can at least show me those manners you always trot out for everyone. Bey took a sip, gulping ostentatiously, and Silva licked his dry lips. He glared at the man standing over him. You are the most irritating, petulant, ridiculous Bey took another sip and Silva shut up. Dont stop on my account. Really. Go ahead. I might get thirsty enough to drink the entire glass by the time youre done, but dont let that stop you. Silva grit his teeth. Please. With a triumphant grin, Bey lifted Silvas head and took another drink. Silva was about to protest when the man sealed his lips to Silvas and let the cool liquid slide in with his tongue, curling around Silvas dry mouth. He pulled back with a frown and rubbed a thumb over Silvas chapped lips. Damn, Princess, you really are dry. Sorry about that. I didnt realize. He held the cup up to Silvas mouth, suddenly all business, and let Silva gulp the entire glass awkwardly. He refilled the cup and repeated it until Silva finally said enough. The stared at each other, both nude and half-erect. Silva pulled at his bindings again, making the cot creak. Bey, let me up. Whatever idea you have in your head, this isnt the way to solve it. Im not trying to solve anything. Im just making certain you dont try to jump me in my sleep, Bey said calmly, sitting down on the edge of the cot and laying his hand over Silvas stomach. Considering you were trying to knock me out, you cant blame a man for being a little wary about falling asleep next to you. Who knows what you were going to do. Silva looked him over carefully. He didnt seem to be joking. You know what I was trying to do. A head shake answered him while Beys fingers circled his naval absently. If I knew, I wouldnt have tied you up. Im assuming something sexual, which I could most certainly accommodate you on, but it could be something a lot less interesting. In that case, youre likely shit out of luck, Silva. You know you shouldnt try that sort of crap with me. Ive been drugged and fucked silly by sneakier men than you could ever be. And besides, your stealth is more like a tiger trying to hide in a henhouse. Silva winced. He was certain he hadnt been quite that obvious, but it had been enough to tip his hand to Bey, obviously. He tugged at his hands again. Untie me and we can discuss it.

Bey stilled and he smiled. Fingers drifted lower, tangling around silver curls. Not going to happen, ice-top. Or maybe I should change that to ice-bottom, considering your position. His fingers wrapped around Silvas cock and gripped tightly, pulling back on the foreskin slightly. Silva tried to twist away. Bey Beys hand released him and slid down further, curling around his balls and burrowing between his thighs. Silva clamped them tight and trapped his hand. Using the opportunity, Bey tickled the underside of his thighs until Silva couldnt help himself and started squirming and laughing uncontrollably. The hand was pulled away with a snort. Most ticklish damn man Ive ever met. Come on, now. Tell Uncle Bey what he wants to know or he might have to put you over his knees, eh? Beys eyes finally lost a little of their edge and they drifted down while his lips twisted in that way Silva knew meant he was thinking of something carnal. On second thought, keep your mouth shut. Dammit, Bey. Curb whatever sexual deviance is coursing through your head, you lecher. That wouldnt do either of us any good. Dont you remember what Diks matchmaker told him? Couples should be completely open with each other. They should share their thoughts and feelings. And Im sure that the feeling in my hand should be shared with your ass as soon as possible. He grinned slowly, hands reaching down for Silvas legs again. Silva snarled. Bey! Do not think you can simply continue on this path without a great deal of pain later. Sure. Youre welcome to return the favor sometime, if you can get me pinned. I can appreciate a good spanking as much as the next man. Bey said it so casually it took Silva a moment to comprehend what hed just said. You- Youre not serious? Of course Im serious. Like I said, you dont serve a dish you cant stomach. Silva shook his head. Well I dont care to serve this particular dish at all, nor to have it served to me! Beystop this. You know why I was trying to- We need to leave. Bey stopped. I knew youd given in too easily on that. We beat each other unconscious! Only once. Bey shrugged. Surprised me that was enough to stop you, but I didnt expect you to try and drug me. Youre not usually so sly. What, did you think you could persuade me while I

was out cold? Dont be an idiot. I have two horses ready to carry the both of us out of here. I planned to have you over a day out of town by the time you woke up! I dont care at this point why you leave, you simply need to! Youll be killed if you stay here, you mule-headed fool! Bey shook his head and sighed, turning as the bells sounded in the courtyard. Ah, time for our shift. Too bad. We could have had some fun. He untied Silva as though theyd merely been discussing their commanders latest mistress and Silva rubbed at his wrists in frustrated silence. He kicked Bey in the stomach as soon as his legs were free, ashamed to admit that he enjoyed seeing the man fall down and dry heave. Still kneeling, head close to the ground, Bey reached out and pulled on the cot, toppling it over. Silva gave a startled shout as he slammed into the wall. Get dressed, Silva, Bey coughed, getting to his feet. Or I really will find a way to spank you, bells or no. We need to LEAVE, Bey. Silvas voice was just as hoarse as he clambered over the wreck of his cot. He thought three of the leg spindles were cracked through. Its been over a week now. Were almost out of time. Bey shook his head as he shoved his legs into his pants. The muscles of his chest shifted and drew Silvas gaze. You are the most exasperating gloom merchant Ive ever met. You dont understand how dangerous- Bey turned, his hands clenched on his hips. Silva, understand this. I dont care how dangerous your father is, or your brothers, or uncles or whoever else is coming for you and your tight, little ass. Im not going to spend my life running. You run and you just end up overlooking the snake in your path or setting off the panther in the underbrush. You warned me they were coming, and thats all you need to do. Im a grown man, and Im on my guard now. If they think theyll be coming after some May boy whos an easy kill, theyll be in for a surprise. Silva stared at him, his stomach sinking. He could see Beys point, why did Bey refuse to see his? Sighing, he watched the man move as Bey walked over and offered him a hand up. Silva took it and moaned as Bey slipped his hand behind Silvas head as he stood and kissed him hard enough to bruise. The musky smell of the mans sweat had his cock swelling painfully again. He could feel his nipples harden against Beys chest as his mouth was rimmed and penetrated for so long that he struggled to breathe. Staring and blinking was all Silva felt capable of as Bey let go. The man licked his lips with a satisfied sigh. Now stop picking at this every damn minute. Were supposed to be married, and youve been so tense we havent had sex since the first damn night. Relax or youre going to injure something. Havent had Silva sputtered weakly. It felt difficult to talk. Havent had sex? Have you forgotten the alley? That was an impulse fuck. Doesnt count. Bey waved his hand dismissively before slipping on

his tunic. Silvas mind recovered, found a little of itself, and his irritation returned along with it. The night at the inn. Frottage is not sex. Silvas eyes narrowed as he caught the clothing Bey tossed his way. Tons party. Two person circle-jerk. The guardhouse. Bey suddenly grinned, leaning against the wall while he waited for Silva to finish dressing. That was a pretty sweet rim job, wasnt it? I never knew you could scream that loudly. Silva flushed darkly. But you admit it was- I never finished, remember? You woke everyone up and they all came over. Silva pulled his tunic over his head to hide a deep blush. Oh yes. Id forgotten, he murmured. But all the times in our room weve- Bey was already shaking his head, counting off on his fingers. Two deep throats youre welcome, by the way one hand job, another rimming, and two episodes of groping to climax. No penetration of either sets of asses. Because Im too tense. Silva said, the irony completely lost on Bey. Yeah. You need to loosen up. I can definitely help with that. Bey smiled again, sending a shiver down Silvas spine. Well deal with your family when they come. Silva could barely nod, but he managed it. He shouldnt be surprised that Bey had his own warped standards for what counted as a sexual encounter, but he still wasnt dropping this. Bey might be right about not running, in a way, but Silva could at least ensure Bey was safe and protected before he confronted his own father. If he used some of his savings and hired enough people to kidnap him, maybe... Past the southern countries, hed have a hard time getting back, and knowing Bey, he likely wouldnt bother. Silva could probably find someone reliable enough to take him there. Hed be furious, of course, and happy to beat Silva bloody if they came across each other again. But Silva knew hed be safe. Traveling back here to find Silva was simply not in his makeup. The man didnt make close connections that lasted across distance; hed lost touch with every man whod left the guard, usually within months. He was always too rooted in his immediate surroundings to worry overly much about what was outside of his influence. Vengeance or friendship werent enough to make him return all that way. If Silva got him out of the way, and then gave himself up to father, Bey should be safe. He grit his

teeth as he realized what that would entail. Hed get a few beatings, likely quite a few if they tried to find out where Bey was, but maybe it was time to stop running and confront the old graybeard. Well. What are you daydreaming about now? Bey stood by the open doorway, watching as Silva stood fully dressed, staring into the air. Silva shook his head, passing him as he quickly walked out the door. Just thinking. He didnt see Beys suspicious look following him as they headed down the hallway.

Chapter 5 - The Braid and the Ass Leaning against the cobblestone wall, his boots tapping the hay bale beside him, Bey thoughtfully chewed on a small piece of straw. He poked at a bruise around his eye while he watched Silva walk up and down the market. Silva paused as he passed. Stop playing with it. Youll only make it worse. Bey smiled to himself. It wasnt sympathy, but Silva was definitely paying a little too much attention to Beys new bruises. Silvas hirelings had been rougher than hed been expecting, obviously. It hadnt had a bad plan, really. Shoved into an alley on his way back from the pub, Bey hadnt been in any state to fight off his attackers. Theyd had him trussed up like a goose when the guard caught wind of it and scared them off. Wasnt that hard to realize Silva had been behind it from the look on his face when Bey had come back that night. Not that the setback seemed to be stopping the man. Bey wasnt sure what Silva was planning now, only that it seemed to involve an unlimited supply of irritating harangues about leaving, and extended stops at the market. And truly sad attempts at sneaking. Bey felt almost sorry for Silva; had he not been bullied enough as a child? It was like the mans guile had been switched with a toddlers. Actually, Bey was pretty sure he knew toddlers who were less obvious in their intentions. Never knew what those little menaces were thinking. Shaking his head, Bey looked on as Silva headed to the cobblers stall, then the tinkers, then one of the more expensive jewelers, andah, finally, the bakers. Bey had wondered how long it would take him this round. Silva turned his body to hide what he was doing from Bey, made his purchase, and stuffed it into the canvas bag tucked into his belt. Bey masticated the dried grass some more, examining the table of baked goods from across the road. Yeah, like hed thought. The pile of journey cakes was smaller again. Silva must have half the bakers stock in his bag at this point. Enough for at least a two-week long trip, and Silva

looked like he wasnt done shopping yet. Only a few places were that far away, without any places to re-supply in between. Cross off Silvas home as an option, and all of them were in the Southern Kingdoms. Heading south, then, were they? Shifting to take the weight off his aching feet, Bey wondered how much longer Silva would be before they headed back to the barracks. It had been fun, watching the man exhaust himself, but Bey was reaching his limit. Hed been planning to go out drinking as soon as the nightlife started. That had been an hour ago. Almost dusk now, the pubs would be so packed Bey could sneeze and his dick would hit something. He shifted his weight again rather than wave goodbye to Silva. It was annoying, but he couldnt bring himself to leave without the idiot. Couldnt move an inch, even though he could be enjoying five different women right this moment, relaxed and petted and propositioned a dozen times before he even ordered a drink. The appeal of company, roast duck, effortless sex, and beer was a faint echo compared to Silvas ass yelling out at him every time the man moved. Guess the saying was true. Family made a man mad, but it took a spouse to make him crazy. Silva turned to speak to a young stable hand and his braid swung behind him, slapping his backside with a playful pat. A flush nipped a path down Beys throat and spread across his chest, tightening his nipples while he stared. The heat didnt quite make it all the way to his cock, but he had plans for that later. As long as he could keep watching that braid, hed wait a little longer. Besides, it drove Silva nuts that Bey refused to leave and let the man shop on his own; teasing Silva was worth a little pain. Bey couldnt be expected to deny himself fun like this when he could come by it. And poking at Silva until he burst out of his ice-queen shell was damn fun. Bey had thought so the first day theyd met, with Silva looking so uptight and snooty. Standing over those dead bodies, his head bloodied, hed looked like an idiot with his hair falling out of his braid, flopping over his eyes in a ridiculous, silver dandelion-fluff tangle. Challenging Bey to mock him without even saying a word. What else could Bey do but invite him back to the barracks? Marriage aside, he still thought that was one of the best decisions hed ever made. Silva glanced at him over his shoulder, frowning. Hoping Bey would suddenly come to his senses? That they could both escape the city amidst snowflakes and rose petals, like some weeping couple in a fairy story? Bey hummed to himself, wondering what Silva would say when he found out they could do just that, any time they wanted. Hed already sought permission for an extended leave from the captain, for both of them. They could leave tonight, if Bey were so inclined.

Except, of course, that Bey had no intention of doing a damn thing, not for a few days more, at least. Silva had no one to blame but himself; he was too damn sexy when he was all fired up and determined like this. Bey wanted to see how far he could push him before his husband snapped. The sex would definitely be worth waiting for. Bey pulled a new piece of straw from the hay bale, tucking it between his lips. Done yet? Almost. I might be a while, though. Why dont you head back? Silva: a marvel of subtlety in his own mind. Nah, Im fine. The views pretty good here; take as long as you like. He turned his head with an exaggerated leer to stare at the potters apprentice one stall over. Her low cut blouse was nearly falling off her teats. Silva stiffened up, his braid smacking his ass again as he turned abruptly to head to the next stall. As usual, Silva completely missed Beys eyes snapping back to him the second he moved, funneling down the lean line of Silvas back to bump up against his ass. Bey smirked. Guess Princesses didnt notice that sort of thing. He looked around and his smile slipped. Too bad other people werent as blind. Another guard walked by with her partner and they both paused to visually feast on the same ass Bey had been enjoying. They caught his glare and shrugged, smiling at him as they continued on. Bey had been running into that couldnt help myself shrug a lot lately. It was beginning to piss him off. He would have thought people would have more discretion when they looked Silva over. There was a proper etiquette to checking out another mans husband in front of him. Bey frowned darkly. The bitches had better not think that hed be as easy to slip around as your average husband. He knew all the tricks. Silva didnt, though. Hmm. Maybe Bey should give in early so they could leave tonight. He watched Silva for another minute, taking in the tight shoulders and snapping pops of his braid as he walked. Sexy. Silva was so frustrated he was spanking himself with his own braid. Bey wanted to do it himself. Drool pooling in his mouth, Bey couldnt stop fantasizing until Silva finally stopped moving and the braid was still again. Oh yeah, that settled it. They were staying a few more days. That braid had a few sexual fantasies it needed to fulfill before Bey would even consider leaving Varlan. Shredding the end of the straw with his teeth, Bey watched Silva head to the cobblers yet again, dickering over a pair of finely tooled boots. Dickering badly. Silva should just let Bey take over the haggling, like he usually did, and spare them all.

He sighed in relief when Silva finally gave up. Spitting the straw out of his mouth, Bey strained his neck to catch sight of Silvas whoring little braid as Silva walked past the fruit vendors without stopping. Next would be the knife merchant, if Bey guessed right, and then the potters again where the apprentice got another leer. Bey waited to speak until Silva was done and had started back across the street again. You should rest before your legs fall off, princess. You should use the few brains youve been given and help me pack to leave Varlan. We only have a few days, if that. Bey smiled back silently as he calculated how long it would take Silva to head to the bakers small counter this time. His groin tightening, Bey noted the sexy roll to Silvas hips even as he shook his head over the drama. If Bey could survive growing up in one of the worst slums in five kingdoms, a small pack of silverhaired nobles sure as hell wasnt going to do him in. And frankly, if they did? Well, thats the way the dice rolled. Hell, Bey hadnt joined the guards to become an octogenarian; a soldiers life was usually shorter than his dick. Speaking of dick, or at least where all dicks would like to be Silvas backside was casually sidling up to the bakers again already. A whispered conversation, another purchase, and there went a new bundle of journey cakes into his pack. When Silva looked like he was going to head to another stall to start the whole dance again, though, Bey started over. Enough was enough. Silva had enough cakes squirreled away for the day. Time to head home, get some food, and have a short scuffle and a long grope. Silva pretended to look at the sesame buns as Bey walked up. Bey snagged two sweet rolls, paid the baker, and handed one to Silva since he knew the idiot would never admit how much he liked the sweet, gooey things. But Silva never wasted food. With a reluctant grimace that couldn't even fool the baker, Silva took a bite. He spoke as soon as he swallowed it. We could leave tonight. Sweet virgins, but the man never gave up. I have plans. And there he went, pole-up-the-ass stiff again. Im sure. How foolish of me to assume that life might be more important to you than debauchery. Bitch. Bey forced his frown into a smirk. Silva glared back. Somehow, the look lost something when the mans cheeks were full of dessert. Although the white glaze had somehow smeared over Silvas chin, and Bey could instantly imagine Silvas mouth full of something else entirely. He really was going to bend Silva over that moss covered wall those oldsters had mentioned, especially if Silva didnt watch that braid of his. Bey paused in mid-step, imagining Silvas bare, white ass highlighted by the deep green softness, those long fingers digging into the grit while his

body rocked under Beys thrusts. The heavy silver braid held taut in Beys hands like a leash Oh yeah. They were definitely visiting that wall. I need to check out the tanners. Bey caught his arm. You need to get your ass moving so we can head back to the barracks, Princess. Silvas lips tightened to flat lines. You need to pull your head from your- He cut himself off and pulled himself free. Silva stared at Bey and sighed. Never mind. Oh no. Please dont stop on my account. Pull my head from my what? It doesnt matter, Bey. Silva turned away and shoved the last of the roll into his mouth. Well, now, that depends entirely on where you think my head is. Personally, Id like it to be buried between your cheeks with my tongue in your ass. Bey could see color spread down the back of Silvas neck. Are you blushing? The color darkened; it looked like the nape of Silvas neck had suddenly come down with sunburn. Dont be foolish. Foolish? Id say brilliantly observant. Youd love my tongue in your ass right now. Silvas entire body went tight as the nearest shopkeeper let out an embarrassed giggle. He glared back at Bey, face bright as he hissed at him. Not only are you an idiot, youre crude and oversexed. Eh, Its a gift. Before you know it, the whole world will be wallowing in my crude yet sexual masculinity. Damn Silva was hot when he was pissy. Silva didnt even a crack a smile. We should leave tonight. No. Tomorrow morning, then. Persistent, had to give him that. Silva, I said Im not going. Not quite yet. Silva rounded on him. Damn you, Bey! I will not stand around and watch you pay for your own stubborn, foolish idiocy with your life! If you dont use the few grains of intelligence you have soon, youre - Bey stepped into Silvas space. Before the man could react, Bey grabbed his head and kissed him. He had one moment to shove his tongue in and taste the sugary inside of Silvas mouth before Silva shoved him back, slamming the bag full of journey cakes against his stomach. Ow. Hed forgotten how rock-hard the damn things were.

Bey rubbed at the forming bruise as he grinned. You know, youre damn tasty when youre lecturing. Silva growled before he turned and stalked down the road. Idiot. Bey followed, admiring his ass. Priss. Stubborn goat. Stubborn ass. Beer swilling sot. Nagging henwife. Silvas hands clenched. Lecher. Bey couldnt stop grinning. As alwaysproud of it. Silva stalked down the road, cursing under his breath, and Bey enjoyed the extra flex to Silvas muscles as he moved. Bey wondered if theyd look just like that when the man thrust, bunching and tight, the braid snapping with every stroke. Bey took a deep breath and looked away to control himself. He needed Wooo, damn. That. Bey stopped, staring as two scantily clad acrobats passed by. Hed seen them on the playbills around town. Before hed pegged Silva, Beys cock would have given it up just thinking about them. Their bodies were sexy as hell, not to mention flexible. Couldnt argue with flexible, not when it was combined with a pair of asses like that. His body turned to track them on reflex. All he got was a trickle of interest, not the usual rush of blood to his groin that they deserved. Someone might as well have dunked his wick in vinegar for all it was reacting. Bey looked over at Silva out of the corner of his eye and caught him wiping something off the toe of his boot, bending over so that his tunic lifted and showed the tight fabric of his breeches where they cupped his ass. Beys cock thickened instantly. One last glance at the acrobats and Bey wrote them off in his head. A good fuck with Silva was a hell of a lot more appealing, to his head and his dick. What the hell did Silva do to get his ass to move like that when he walked?! Bey caught up to him and reached out. He gave Silvas ass a hearty, approving squeeze just as the man stood up, then had to duck as Silva swung out before he knew who it was. Silva flushed anger or lust? and threw him a perfect fuck you glance before walking on. Bey could still feel the weighty heat in his hands as he followed. Son of a bitch but the man had a nice handful of an ass.

That had to be why Bey couldnt get enough of him right now. Hed always had a weakness for a well-made pair of buns. It was the only explanation for Beys ongoing case of severe lust. That and what Silva looked like underneath him. And his voice. The sounds Silva made during sex had embedded themselves in his brain. Shit, they were so tight and repressed until the last second when Silva screamed as he came. Fuck, it went straight to Beys cock. The same cock that seemed to be ignoring the rest of the adult population as well as Bey ignored Silvas whining. There has to be some sort of wicked irony there, he muttered. This really hadnt been what hed expected of a marriage. Silva was supposed to embrace the sex, and Bey was supposed to enjoy Silva embracing the sex. Instead, Bey couldnt think of anything but sex with Silva, and Silva The man called over his shoulder. Dont get too drunk tonight. I dont feel like cleaning vomit off the floor tomorrow. The only marital duty that Silva seemed to have embraced was the nagging. They walked a few more blocks in silence. Bey was wondering whether Silva might respond to fingering or oral better when Silva detoured out to the middle of the road. A racket of young men was too busy wrestling amongst themselves to pay attention to a stooped mother and her little boy walking in front of them. A wail went up as one of them shoved the other and the dumb ass knocked the toddler to the ground. Oh, this would be good. You didnt hurt a kid when Silva was around. Marital lectures were a fleabite compared to the pain of Silva on a protect the children rant. And the man was already in a bad mood to begin with. Silvas gait changed into a deadly glide that should have warned the idiots what was coming. He helped the woman calm her little one, then turned like one of the tigers Bey had seen in a cage once on the coast. Pure, fluid fury. The boys must have been out fishing when they handed out brains, because they brushed him off when he demanded they apologize to the mother. Bey started to grin as Silva sent all four boys into the dirt with a collection of new welts. Just because someone looked pretty didnt mean he couldnt kick your ass. They scrambled to their feet as Silva continued to bitch at them, finally taking off with newly respectful bows. Silva smiled at Bey as he walked back. The stiff anger in his gait was already gone. Bey could understand the feeling. Nothing like a good pansy-ass stomping to get the blood pumping and rid the body of all that pesky frustration and rage. Instead, there was a flow in Silvas step that had his ass rolling like he was asking someone to ride him. Bey had every intention of granting that request. There was a hell of a lot he could do, if Silva was feelingenergized.

The feeling didnt fade as they headed into the barracks. Bey stared at Silva, Silva walked like he knew exactly what Bey was thinking, and the world began to recede until all Bey could think of was his cock and Silvas ass. He moved to let Silva unlock the door, stepping back to get a better look at the silhouette of his body. The line of Silvas back was imprinted into his brain, but he never tired of looking at it: smooth until it hit his ass, then curving out in a tight handful that topped Silvas finely sculpted thighs. The others would have to do without him tonight. Bey was having Silva for supper as soon as they got inside the door. Bey grinned. His husband tasted better than anything the pub had, anyway. And Bey would bet a years pay that Silva looked better covered in oil than their roast duck did. Silva. His voice growled a little. The heat in his groin jumped a notch as Silva looked back and his eyes caught Beys need and reflected it right back. Bet you a gold piece I can make you come before I do. Silva paused, hand on the door handle. What about Ton and the others? Theyll have to worship someone else tonight. Silvas lips slipped and fell into a small smile, but Bey didnt like that his eyes didnt seem completely in tune with the expression. That prudish little mind was thinking too much. What was Silva planning? No gold. Silva paused. If I win, you have to leave town with me for at least a month. Seems like a steep price for an orgasm. Although still worth paying, if it was good enough. Silva stared at him and shook his head. His eyes warmed. Two orgasms in a row, then. Well now, this was going to be fun. Make it two orgasms for two weeks, and you have to follow my orders in the bedroom for just as long, if you lose. Do that, and youre on. The mans pale cheeks flushed, his eyes flowing down Beys body in a way that had Bey harder than an anvil. Damn. Bey was so ready to go off, Silva might actually win this one. Watching Silvas ass flex, he groaned, nearly feeling the taut flesh in his hands again. Lose or win, he wasnt sure he cared. Silva seemed to be of the same opinion. Done, he said hoarsely. He turned back to the door to finish turning the key, and Bey would swear he could see sexiness floating from Silvas body like heat waves over a rocky field. Even pushing the door open was sexy, slow and languorous, until Silvas body froze. Something rustled heavily in their room. Bey took a step forward as the floorboards inside their

room creaked. Cursing, Silva pivoted, his eyes huge as he tried to leap out of the doorway. Run! Silva didnt get a chance to take another step. There was a high-pitched series of rapid pops and a silver dart of movement slammed into his body from beyond the door. Silva! Silva grunted. He twisted, dropping to the floor as he reached for Bey, his eyes blank and glassy. Bey couldn't reach him before Silvas head hit. To arms! Thieves in the barracks! Bey could barely recognize his own voice. The grey lump of Silvas uniformed body twitched once before everything stilled. Bey couldn't see where the crossbow bolt had hit. It had to be deep. And Silva wasnt even trying to drag himself out of the way Bey dove for him. He scooped up the bag of journey cakes from the floor and flung it around and into their room. A man yelled in surprise from inside. As long as it bought him a few seconds to get Silva. The next room was feet away; they could get in and take cover there. He reached under Silvas arms, heaving as he wrapped his arms around his chest. Bey could see his eyes, staring blankly. Silvas body was completely limp; he didnt twitch, didnt scream, when Bey dragged him against the floor. He wasnt dead. Silva was too smart to get killed by some cowardly thieves in their own fucking rooms! Stupid, prissy bastard was tough as hell. You fucking princess, get your pathetic, womanly ass up! What the hell was he doing, lying there with blank eyes? Dirtying his damned, teasing, silver braid on the filthy wood of the hallway floor? To arms, you cock sucking maggots! Thieves in the barracks! Silva hated getting his hair dirty Move, damn you! On your feet! Bey could hear the other men moving inside the room, but he needed more time! A few more seconds to barricade themselves in another room. Then he could call out the window for someone to get their damned, pathetic asses out of the tavern and back here. Then he could find out where Silva had been hit. Dont you fucking dare die, he growled, heaving again, stumbling at Silvas weight. He saw a figure emerge from the room at a crouch and he swore again. Just another foot, dammit! Turning,

he reached desperately for the handle of the nearest door. A heavy crackle made his hair stand on end and Bey gasped as something hot sliced into his spine. His arms lost feeling; Silva dropped out of his grip. Numbness spreading down to his legs, Bey toppled over his lover and onto the floor. His face made painful contact with the wood. His lungs moved, his heart pumped, but Bey couldnt so much as blink. Dammit. Dammit! He couldnt fail Silva like this! If he didnt get up, the bastards would kill them both. Fucking, shiteating assholes! If they fucking hurt Silva any more, Bey would rip off their arms and shove them down their throats. There was more sound in the hallway. Boots tramping, deep murmurs in a language he didnt know, their door closing with a slam. It was loud, no attempt at stealth at all. Bey couldnt move a pinky to make them pay. But even while part of him screamed inside, he could have smiled. Most of the barrack were out drinking tonight, but these bastards wouldnt go undetected. Bey knew hed been loud enough. Someone would come soon and punish the pissswilling bastards whod killed Silva. And Bey. Earlier than hed expected, but he knew he was dying. His spine had been hit hed felt it. Any moment now it would all stop. Everything would fade away and hed find out if the gods had enough of a sense of humor to let him into the eternal garden. Silva would get in, Bey thought, his mind fuzzy. Maybe the gods would even let he and Silva see each other, at least every few years. Or centuries. Silva liked lecturing Bey so much, surely he wouldnt be happy in paradise unless he could still do that once in a while? The thickness receded momentarily as Beys body was tossed off of Silvas. His head flopped over bonelessly and he lay in the hallway, staring at knee height. The back of Silvas head was just visible out of the corner of his eye, but it didnt move. Silva hadnt made a sound since hed been hit. Bey tried to focus. He wouldnt fail Silva in this, at least; Bey would memorize what he could of the men whod murdered them both, and they would meet them again. Everyone had to die some time. There were at least a dozen, with large feet, dressed in cloth that was swirled in intricate patterns of grey and blue, wrapped tightly around their wrists and ankles. One, smaller than the rest, crouched down next to them both. It didnt seem fair that his face had possibly the most beautiful set of features Bey had ever seen. Silver hair was pulled sternly back, leaving the beauty stark and exposed, and the man had the same eyes as Silva. Exactly the same, if Silvas warm azure had been as icy as his hair. This wasnt a thief. It was family. These sheep fucking bastards were Silvas family!

Bey wanted to kill the man and Silva, both. That stupid, stupid idiot. Silva had said his family would try to kill Bey. He didnt say theyd kill Silva. Beys eyes stung and blurred; he would have given anything to be able to blink the moisture away. Dammitif hed known someone would try to kill Silva, he would have stopped playing games and damn well left! Arctic blue eyes examined Silva, the mans rosebud lips curling, and then turned to Bey. So youre his bride. The pocket Adonis looked for a moment like he was going to spit on them both before he stood. Bey felt such rage rising up that he could have choked on it. Silva was dying behind him and the mans last look at him was of such contempt. Bey wanted to see the slug paralyzed, choking in his own blood. He couldnt follow him with his eyes, no matter how hard he tried; he was trapped staring at his boots. But that would be enough. Thick soled, furred along the top, and decorated with beadwork, they would identify the man anywhere, even in the afterlife. A door opened down the hall and the men around them shifted, blocking Beys view. A voice demanded their surrender; swords were drawn. With Silvas body next to him, Bey could only hope his husband was still alive so he could watch with Bey as their murderers were captured. Or killed, if they fought back. The bastards mattered less to him than whether or not Silva was watching. He needed to know Silva was He just needed to know. Bey struggled to move, just his eyes to see if Silva was staring, too, but his body was dead and unresponsive. He could only see the backs of the blueclad legs in front of him. Which werent in fighting stances at all. What the hell was going on? His fellow guard should have been taking care of things already. But now, Silvas family was talking, words too soft for him to make out, and no one was killing them! He couldnt believe he didnt hear metal clashing, screams, the splash of blood against the walls. While Silva and he lay on the floor, dying in plain sight, they were fucking talking. Andwere theyleaving? Those useless tubs! He was going to haunt them until they begged for mercy! Hed help Silva sneak from the gardens and theyd both haunt them. His mind swirled with anger and a thick fog. He envisioned the look on Silvas face when he told him and he changed his mind. It would hurt Silva to know what pathetic shit-pots their fellow guards had been. Better if Bey fed Silvas spirit a load of heroic epic drama, how valiantly theyd been defended, how poorly their enemies had died. Silva loved that shit. Hed eat it up, probably make him almost happy to be in the afterlife. Least Bey could do for getting him killed Bey felt moisture stream across his cheeks, blurring his eyes again. His sight was fading anyway; all he could hear were the bastard men from Silvas family. They should have the flesh flailed from their bodies, their bodies boiled, and the bones ground into-

He realized the boots were back within sight a moment before a hand reached down and closed his eyelids with a touch. The dark made his immobility worse. Bring them. We need to return home quickly. Shivar, get his bride some proper clothes. A deeper voice responded, not as cold but just as uncaring. Will we be here long enough for me to look through their markets? If you hurry. Meet us outside the North gate. I dont want the man uncovered for any longer than necessary. Bey felt himself lifted and he strained to hold on. What were they doing? Theyd said them; did they have Silva? If only he could move. He could tell his mind wasnt going to function much longer, but he repeated the sound of their voices in his head. Bey made the vow to himself again: he would recognize these men, when they came to the other side, no matter how many years it took. He wouldn't forget. And Bey was going to make their souls wish they had led better lives so they hadnt descended to hell and met him.

Chapter 6 Vasha Unconsciousness slowly fading away, Silva moaned with a soft, pained whine. After the first, incautious breath, he moaned again, inhaling shallowly; it was agony to breathe. He loathed the days when Vasha was in charge of training. Silva exhaled through his mouth, clamping his teeth down over a groan, recognizing the deep, tingling ache that radiated through his body from his spine. Hed always loathed this: that first hot pain in the back that meant Vashas Gift had lashed your spine. Again. Their father might admire it, but Silva didnt think anyone who trained under Vasha would agree. No one sane would want to experience this. At least Silvas Gift simply knocked a man flat. One bolt, straight to the chest. It gave Silva just enough time to close in. His youngest brothers Gift killed you outright as your head exploded, and the othercalling Vilars Gift a tickle was probably giving it more credit than it deserved. But Vasha was the only one he knew of who could actually knock a man out without killing him, sending his Gift along the bodys paths like a lightening bolt. It ended training prematurely every time. Vasha would probably claim the resulting pain was more motivation to learn a move right the first time. Silva groaned under his breath again; training today would be hell like this. Reaching back to

massage his spine, he frowned at an extra weight and metallic slithering that accompanied the movement, catching at his arms. An iron-velvet against his wrists that didnt belong. Traveling shackles? What wasThe pain ceased to matter as a rush of memory washed it away. Bey! Silva opened his eyes and tried to sit up, cursing as shackles hindered his wrists and ankles. He struggled to kneel. His clothing had been changed into the loose pants hed grown up with, cuffed tightly at the ankles. The embroidered, long-sleeved tunic was far too familiar as well, cuffed just as tightly at his wrists, fitted close to his waist to flare out over the hips. Trying to kneel with so much extra cloth was almost too much for his Gift-jittery muscles to handle. A blurry look was enough to figure out where he was. Hed seen it every summer since hed turned twelve: one of the quick-to-make tents his family used for any sojourns along the southern border, the large kind his brother favored. Vasha must have been patrolling when he got the news of Silvas marriage. But neither Bey nor Silvas brother were within sight, although three of fathers men stood a few feet away. They were dressed for traveling, wearing their knee-length, blue-gray coats that blended into the snowy shadows, but not the white ones they wore into battle. The heavy fabric was belted securely at the waist. And the hoods werent up yet. They couldnt be too far north, then. Wheres Bey? The demand won Silva a matching set of disinterested blinks. My bride! Where is he? Nothing. Silvas gut rolled and he struggled to get to his feet. What if theyd--? He shook his head to cut the thought away. He refused to believe theyd hurt Bey. Not yet, when Silva wasnt there. His last sight of Bey would notbe that tanned face, tight with fury while aqua eyes stared down with a demand so fierce Silva wished he could have moved, if only to tell Bey that they would get through it. Silva had never seen Bey that frantic, not even when theyd nearly been overrun by a mob on feast day. Silvas stomach rolled again, growing colder. If they had touched Bey, he was going to kill Vasha, brother or not. His voice was hoarse, but at least he was at eye level with them now. Wheres Vasha? What did he do with Bey? When they didnt answer, he started looking around for something he could use against them. A quick survey of the tent proved it was as barren as Silva would have imagined. Vasha thought the only place to store a weapon was attached to you, and he rarely brought anything else. No trinkets from a lover, food, tools, nothing. A small bedroll in the corner of the tent was the only extra, aside from a few woolen blankets underneath Silva, on top of the usual oiled skin to keep

out the moisture. They hadnt even left a cooking spoon near him. He yanked at his feet, frustrated, and then frowned at them when he realized the shackles werent from back home. They were familiar, yes, but the last time hed seen this type, theyd been around a drunks ankles on a Varlan work gang. A similar set were around the embroidered cuffs on Silvas wrists, and both had been quickly and crudely wrapped with fur to keep the chilled metal from biting into him. The three men just inside the opening of the tent watched him impassively. He wished for a moment that they werent as well trained as he knew they were. If he could get his hands on one of their swords, even for a minute, he might have a bargaining chip. Maybe if he used his Gift? The thought died as all three men shifted their stances, clearly reading the change in his own body. I need to talk to Vasha. One of the men raised an eyebrow at him and shook his head was that Nikol? while the others stared at him without expression. At least tell me about Bey. Wheres Bey? He knew Vasha had lashed out at Bey in the barracks, but he didnt know what Vasha had done to him since. And by his tribesmens own rules, he had the right to know. I want assurances that my bride has come to no harm. The men exchanged a glance. I have the right to information about my bride! And they knew it, too. What happened to him? Hasanid above, please let nothing have happened. If you wont tell me, get Vasha so that he can. No one spoke for a moment and then Nikol grunted and nodded to the other men, turning abruptly and pushing the entrance flap out of the way to slip outside. Silva tried to see through the small hole for the brief moment the doorway was open, but all he could make out was a glimpse of pale, drying grasses. The only place with grasses like that were nearly a day out of Varlan. Keeping his stance as straight as he could, weighted down with chains and shackles, Silva tried to stare down the others. They were taller than he was, but that never made much difference when it came to real intimidation. Vasha was nearly a head shorter than Silva, and he cowed everyone in their territory Unlike Silva. His rather clumsy childhood had become legendary, and no one in his tribe seemed to be able to forget it, no matter how skilled hed grown as an adult. Well if he couldnt get their respect while he was chained, perhaps repetition would wear them down before Vasha came. Or at least make them incautious enough to let him know something. Tell me what youve done with Bey.

Silence. I need to know what has happened to my bride. Silva took a step forward, not much of a threat when he had to hobble with the chains between his legs. Tell me. Another of the men shook his head. Vasha gave orders. You can get information from him or not at all. Grinding his teeth, Silva stopped, turned away, and nearly fell over his own feet. He trembled as he recovered his balance, his back aching and stiff. Is it really necessary to keep these on? Im sure were in the middle of camp. And I wouldnt leave without my bride in any case. Theres no need for this. What were they doing with Bey? He studied the tent as best he could, not trying to hide it. Theyd expect him to. He might as well let them see, and hopefully he could find something while giving the impression that there wasnt anything of value to be had. The tent was large enough for five; a lot of room to cover. But as Silva looked it over, he noted the hide near the bottom edges. It looked off, like it hadnt been cured properly. It would be weaker there. If he could get something sharp, he might be able to slice through near the supports, then. But these were tough hides. It would have to be really sharp or it wouldnt get the job done quickly enough. Which wouldnt matter at all unless they left him time alone to try it in the first place. He stood there, trying to think of how he might accomplish it until he heard footsteps coming back. Nikol ducked into the tent and immediately behind was Vasha, a half-head shorter and as icily beautiful as ever, like the favored doll of some kingdoms princess. And on his bad days, Vasha could still make a chill run down Silvas spine. He spoke the moment he straightened after entering. Nikol tells me youre throwing tantrums, Silva. The smooth, oddly deep tenor of his voice was so familiar Silva felt an odd surge of brotherly affection before he shook it off. They hadnt seen each other in two years, and after knocking him cold, those were Vashas first words. Silva couldnt say he was surprised. What did you do to Bey? Hes secured, for the moment. And unharmed. The news was such a relief Silva could feel his insides settling into their proper place for the first time since hed woken up. Vasha didnt lie; if he said Bey was unharmed, nothing short of an act of God would make that untrue. As long as Bey was whole, they could get out of this. Vashas head tilted to the side as he watched Silva. Silvery strands of hair fell over his shoulder. If he were a girl, Silva would have thought it was flirting, but he recognized Vasha in deep

contemplation. Still as scary now as it ever had been. Cold blue eyes stared at Silvas tattoo for another long moment. Getting married was stupid, Silva. His voice was soft. But staying in the city once youd found a bride? Im ashamed. I taught you better than that. And the worst part was, he had. You can insult me to your hearts desire later, Vasha. Where is Bey? You repeat yourself to no purpose. I told you hes well enough. Youll be seeing him in a few minutes, if you behave. He needs to be properly dressed. Dressed? Vasha couldnt mean. As a bride? Vasha didnt bother to answer. Silva swallowed, thinking of Bey dressed like all the brides hed ever seen. And then he thought of what Bey would do if he found out Silva was the one to put the clothes on him. Im not forcing him to wear the veil. Its archaic and insulting. No, its insulting that hes been allowed to leave your home bare-faced for so long. Either you dress him properly or someone else will. Perhaps Shivar. He did pick out the material. Silva remember Shivar, a man almost fanatically devoted to Vasha since they were fostered as children together. And known for being very free with his hands. Hes not allowed near Bey. Vasha raised one eyebrow and his head tilted again. You do not get a choice in who will take over the duty you neglect. I gave him permission to discard the veil, Silva blurted. He clenched his fists as both eyebrows went up. One of the guards snorted under his breath, covering a chuckle. Has your mind been completely lost while you were away? You cant give him permission until hes run the maze. And Silva knew that; father would never do away with that formality, no matter what some of the more modernized tribes might do. He had no idea why hed even spoken. Let him go, Vasha. Hes not involved in this. Vasha took one quick step and slapped him lightly. Lightly for Vasha, which meant it hurt like a kick to the head and dropped Silva to the floor. Silva glared up at him, tonguing the drop of blood dripping from his newly split lip as he stood back up. The urge to lash out was hard to resist, until he felt the point of Vashas small saber against his neck. He froze half-way up, crouching.

Vasha caught his glare and returned it. Watch your eyes, Silva. Silva swallowed and took a deep breath at the familiar admonition. Vasha took insult even if your face was as blank as a gray sky. If your eyes are speaking, he used to say, then you should learn how to keep them quiet. Theyre only speaking the truth. Let my bride go. Vasha dropped his sword, but his words were nearly as sharp. You insult your bride to even ask. I said that he wasnt involved! Of course hes involved. Unlike you, hes a legal adult. He made his choices. Standing fully upright, Silva felt around his mouth with his tongue to see if he had a tooth loose. I am a legal adult, Vasha. And he didnt know of our customs. Youre weeks away from your becoming, still, and you act as a stubborn, selfish child, no matter what these southerners think. Your bride is four years older. He can take responsibility for himself and his actions. Silva must not have hidden his surprise, because Vasha growled low. Marriage to another, and you didnt bother to check if he was of legal age, yet? It didnt matter. Were both of legal age in Varlan. Youre not Varlan, Silva. I am now. Then they are without loyalty, little brother. Their leaders gave you both up the moment they discovered our reason for coming to the city. You should ally yourself more wisely next time. Vashas eyes were colder than ever; he rarely had anything good to say about people outside the tribe. But if they were given up The council gave you something. Silva could remember the voices, just before he faded into unconsciousness, when the other guards had come and for some reason had turned and left Silva and Bey with Vasha. They gave you a writ to take us with you, didnt they? Of course. All it took was a mention of how unhappy some of the tribes would be if they tried to prevent us from taking our under-aged brother and his new bride back home with us. In under an hour, we had those ridiculous, flamboyant papers to show your comrades. Silva couldnt expect a city-state to put a treaty at risk for two people, but his lips still curled in distaste at how quickly theyd been sold back to his brother. A ruling body cant always choose who to sacrifice for the greater good. That doesnt mean I wasnt welcomed there.

Of course you were welcomed. All places welcome another fighter for their battles. But you are still not one of them. You would have grown disgusted with their weakness before long. The absolute certainty in Vashas voice had Silva gritting his teeth. Youre wrong about them. Theyre good people, and I had a good life started. I would be content to stay there. Silva blinked as he heard what hed said, and realized it was true. Hed missed his family, but he really had been happy as Beys partner. Leave Bey alone, Vasha. I may not be Varlan by birth, but Bey is not of the tribes, either. The customs are completely different. He shouldn't have to- He married an IceWind; he should have known that he would be expected to adapt. Vasha looked like he was about to spit on the floor. And he should have done so before we found you. Father will not be pleased that youve allowed him so much freedom in his attire. If hes an adult, then I have no right to tell him how to dress. Or speak, or anything else! Yes, so youve told me before. Wasnt that before you scampered south to avoid the same position? Air hissed between Silvas teeth in an infuriated snarl before he could help it. That was for Vilar, dammit! Then it was wasted effort, because Vilar is still single and awaiting a proper betrothal. And StormFrost is still pledged to you. Because father is too stubborn to release him from the betrothal! Damn that ignorant, hidebound, contentious- Silva choked as Vasha backhanded him again, harder this time. His body twisted as he hit the floor, landing him on his stomach with a painful woosh of air. His ribs throbbed where hed caught himself and the shackles gouged into them. Dont disrespect him. Silva knew better than to give in to his impulse and retort as he wished; he merely got back on his feet and returned Vashas stare with one that he hoped was just as hard. Vasha leaned forward and Silva stepped away, not ready to go down again without at least some attempt at defense, but Vasha barely noticed. He reached up and pushed Silvas bangs from his eyes. Without changing expression, he ran his thumb over what Silva was fairly sure from the pain would soon be a bruise along the side of his face. His voice was barely a whisper when he spoke. Youve been too long among the blind ones, little brother. You forget yourself. Silva grit his teeth, pulling his head away, and Vasha sighed. I told you not to get caught. He dropped his hand and looked at Silva carefully before turning to go. Its a shame you didnt listen to my advice. Silva yelled at him as he walked away. What about Bey? I need to see him. Vasha paused, then nodded shortly. He didnt turn around. You may see him in order to dress

him properly, or you may refuse and Shivar will have the opportunity that you deny yourself. Choose now. Silva grit his teeth. Bey would hate him for this, but right now, hed do whatever he had to do. As long as it got him to Bey. Ill dress him. Vasha gestured for him to follow. Ducking his head as Nikol held the flap up for him, Silva nearly stumbled over his hobbled ankles before he made it out into the grass. He blinked at the brightness, the smell of clean air barely tinged with woodsmoke hitting him strongly. It had been a long time since hed been outside the city. He swallowed and searched the chaos of men and horses quickly, finding Vasha already striding to a tent in the middle of the camp. Silva fell in behind, catching the quick side glances of the men as they walked. Forced to stumble behind his brother, brought back home like a chastised kennel hound, he reminded himself that he didnt care. It wasnt important how humiliating this was. Nothing mattered right now but Bey. He had to make sure they were treating him properly. And Silva had to talk to him; he could only imagine what trouble the man might get into if Silva didnt warn him to keep his mouth in check. If Bey knew what was going on, and what was at stake, then he would bide his time until they could escape. If he didnt lose his temper. Silva wasnt sure that was going to be possible, once he explained that Bey was going to have to wear a veil for a time. Were going to need a miracle.

Chapter 7 - The Eternal Garden? If the afterlife were a betting matter and what wasnt? then Bey would have laid odds against making it into the Eternal Garden. Not that anyone would have taken the bet. Everyone knew Bey was going to hell. He wasnt the sort to take precautions against that sort of thing. And even if hed wanted to try for the Garden, he wouldnt have. Bey had never considered the option available once hed passed the age of eight. There were certain things that couldnt be undone. Or shouldnt be, no matter what price you paid later. So it was a shock to realize hed made it in. He felt bodiless and limp in all senses of the word but a small kernel of warmth inside his chest was reawakening his senses, because Silva was here. Here with Bey. The only place Silva was going after death was the Garden. Uptight, a little prissy, with a code of morals that

shadowed his every move? The Garden for certain. So Bey must have made it. He could smell the man next to him. Bey hadnt even realized how familiar that scent of sweet mint was, but he recognized it instantly. Silva was right next to him. Touching him. What his fuzzy mind couldnt figure out was how theyd ended up together. What colossal fuck-up had landed Bey here? A miswritten passage in the book of life? Maybe hed blown one of the Gods while they were on earth in disguise, and this was the reward? If the gods were going to come down for a good bit of oral, Bey would be all for it. Hell, he could suck cock as naturally as most people ate their suppers. Eat pussy better than the boy whores on the quay. Could be one of the Gods had heard about him. Bey felt Silvas fingers over his stomach, pulling something together over it, and his body tightened. He dropped the pointless concern to focus on what really mattered: Silva the tease. Hed been touching Bey forminutes now? Hours? Silva had moved Beys body around at first, raising his hopes, and then stopped. His hands had skimmed across Beys arms, over his chest, stroked up and down his legs. Theyd fumbled at his groin ice princess obviously still wasnt used to the different set of privates. Bey sure as hell wished he could feel it as more than misty fingers brushing just once over his cock. Silva plus Beys groin was a combination he didnt want to miss. Silvas hands moved up his chest and Bey wondered why those pale fingers werent heading the other way. He felt them brush over his own hand and moved, gripping them sluggishly. It took nearly everything he had, but he pulled it over his groin. Silva shifted, hissing at him. Bey, stop it. Nows not the time. He pushed Beys arm back down by his side. Not the time? They were still together and Silva had been touching him. What better time could there be? Pretty boy better not assume that being in the Garden was going to keep them from having sex. It would be just like him to get caught up on some strange notion of afterlife propriety. Maybe he thought dying broke their marriage contract. All that until death shit to be dealt with. Silva might be thinking the sexual part of their friendship had died along with them. Too damn bad. Bey had made it in with Silva. No way was he wasting that. They still had a hell of lot to try, yet. A hell of a lot. Heat spread across his ghostly, numbed skin. His fingers tingled. He had to touch Silva now.

Bey tried to move again and got another soft hissing in his ear. Control yourself, Bey. You cant do that here. Not yet. Bey ignored him and reached blindly with one convulsive grab. It took all the strength he could muster to latch on to what he thought must be Silvas pinky. His hand fell. With a small grunt, he nudged the small digit toward his dick again. Dont do this, Bey. Not now. You have to control yourself. Silvas pinky pulled free, but not because Bey let it go. It was just too damn hard to hold on when he couldnt even feel where his limbs were. The miniscule effort to tighten his grip diluted the heat in his skin, sucking it away and leaving him numbed and bodiless again. Silva murmured something soothing near his face. Beys mind fogged and a comforting lassitude took over. Hed figure it out. Being a spirit looked like it was going to take some effort, but nothing he couldn't deal with. Silva wasnt going anywhere. Bey lay in the darkness inside his own head, quiet, listening as Silva began to blather. The sound of his voice washed over Bey like heated balm, no meaning to it yet, butcomforting. It felt so familiar. Almost like they were both alive again. Silva was always disgustingly active after a nights drinking while Bey slept in like any normal man would. Strange. If he werent so sure Silva had been killed Bey pushed the sharp pain away. They were both here. Focus on that. Maybe theyd have even more fun now that they were dead. Hed have to test out Silvas ass first thing. See if it was as tight as it had been when he was alive. Go deep in the Garden and find the perfect spot. What would the man look like, spread out among the flowers, all icy skin and silver hair? Silvas voice slipped into his ear, clearer somehow, and broke the daydream. Bey listened, enjoying the bright sound, even though Silva made as much sense as a free tup from a whore. The pain is temporary, and the weakness should pass soon. Its only that youre not made like one of the tribesmen. Itll pass, though. Bey smiled to himself, floating, latching onto the words and letting them slip through the fog in his head. Yeah, he wasnt built like one of the tribesmen. If they were anything like Silva, he had one important advantage. His cock was thicker. Show you, he mumbled. His mouth was as numb as his mind, but he made it move for him. Hed bet they had moss-covered walls in the Garden, too.

Silvas fingers ran over his head, the sensation weak and faded. Shhh. Quiet. The words were close to Beys ear, almost inaudible. Dont speak unless youre spoken to. Act like youve been gagged, Bey. Fool them. And hold on to your temper, understand? Bey thought of Silva when hed been tied up in bed, gagged and naked and hot as hell. He could do gagged again. His cock rose instantly. Lecher. Silvas voice lacked the anger that usually went with the insult. It sounded almost fond. We cant do that right now. Listen. Mmmmm. Cmere. If Silva would just come close and stay there, this would be so much easier. Dammit, youre still floating. Silvas whisper ended on a frustrated sigh, then grew in volume. I am sorry about this. I want you to know that. But better me than Shivar. Bey managed an actual frown. It twisted his face as he felt something settle over his mouth and nose. Like Silva was pulling a sheet up over his head. Like someone was covering up his dead corpse. No. His voice emerged in a pained whisper. You didnt cover up corpses in the Garden; you covered corpses in Varlan. What was Silva doing? Theyd been speaking. Silva knew Bey wasnt dead. Not that Silva could be alive, but Were the priests wrong after all, and hell was trapped in your corpse for all eternity? Maybe Silva wasnt even here. Maybe it was all part of his eternal punishment. No Fabric fluttered against his lips. Shhh. You can curse all you like later. Keep quiet now. Quiet, Bey, understand? Bear with it a while longer. The words were coaxing, not Silvas usual style at all. But he was definitely talking to him. He was there, and he did know that Bey was alive. Nothing made any sense, but Silva hadnt left without him. Silva whispered again. Control yourself when you wake, Bey. I need you to do that for me. Can you remember that? Control. And no talking. Remember. Bey didnt like the note in Silvas voice. He sounded worried; there shouldnt be any worries after a man died, not a man like Silva. What was going on? Cntrol. Yeah, he could control himself. Hed get rid of his numbness and make his body get up. Then theyd take care of whatever was bothering his lover. Bey and Silva together could kick any ass that needed kicking. It didnt matter where they were, they could still do that, just like they had from the moment Silva joined the guards. I cn do that. Good. I-

Youve finished dressing him. Leave the tent. Now, Silva. I need a few min- There was the sound a blade being drawn and Silva cursing. Beys heart pumped heavily, forcing thick blood to move through his veins instead of pooling like molasses in his limbs. He knew that voice. He knew thatthat cock-sucking, son of a whores voice. Silvas brother! The numbing softness over his body lost its comfort and transformed into invisible spiders webs that held him down. He had to get to Silva. He had to make sure that son of a bitch didnt kill him again! Bey could hear the metallic scraping echo dully was another blade being drawn or sheathed? What was that doll-faced bastard doing to Silva? What the hell was going on? The fight to get his eyes open and his limbs mobile dulled the sounds around him, but not enough to ignore completely. Silva cursing, metal scraping against metal, and the heavy sound of fabric shushing against limbs. Light pricked brightly against Beys eyelids. And suddenly there was nothing. Light and sound disappeared. Slva? Bey couldnt hear him! No Hed been right there! Bey hadnt expected to hear Silva talk ever again, not after that shot to the back, but hed been right there. No shrunken pizzle of a man was going to stop that voice again. Not while Bey was with him. With a moan, Bey pried open one eye. Feeling rushed into his limbs and nausea animated his stomach. His eyes took in the world around him with a rushing roar of confusion and pain. Breathing hurt, moving made his muscles bitch like an underpaid whore, and the middle of his back was a hot, throbbing ache. And he was staring up at the underside of a crude, animal skin tent. The afterlife is a tent? Whose insane joke was this? Without Silvas minty flavor, the air smelled like sour sweat, metal, and musty fur. A pile of furs supported Beys back. Weight on his arms and legs turned out to be shackles wrapped with fur. Andwhat going on with his clothes? The clothes hed died in were gone and theyd been replaced withwith the same shit that Silvas family had worn. Long, shapeless pants that strangled his ankles, and a tunic so long that it tangled far past his knees. It felt like he was wearing a damned dress. But even that didnt change the sensation of feeling alive. Bey couldnt understand it. Hed felt himself die. Hed damn well felt it. And Silva as well. Theyd both been hit. But this resembled nothing so much as a Northern tribesmans tent and aged furs. And his body knew the Ive been beaten feeling intimately, down to the taste of bile in the back of his throat.

He stared, trying to get his bearings and figure out how to move again. A few pieces of leather armor were against the side of the tent, looking like they needed oiling. A couple long daggers that required the care of a good blacksmith lay next to them. Mens voices filtered in, interrupted by what Bey would swear was the jingle of a bridle. A black beetle crawled along the edge of the tent looking for a way out. It was all so normal it was eerie. He nodded to himself. So be it, then. If the world was going to act like he and Silva hadnt died, Bey wasnt going to argue. Shackles, he couldnt do anything about those yet. But he could get one of those weapons better a broken weapon than none at all and then hed go get Silva. Taking in a deep breath, he choked and had to spit out a mouthful of cloth. Hed forgotten about that. What th hell is this? He startled as someone actually answered him. Not used to the veil, are you? The voice came from behind. Bey rolled over quickly onto his other side to face it, then sat up. His muscles whimpered in protest. Two lanky silver-haired men stood inside the tents entrance, swords at their sides, with a blue and gray uniform bound tight to their wrists and ankles. Bey looked them over and a slow fury built inside. He knew that uniform. They were definitely at ease, but trained. Their swords looked well cared for. Their clothing was the same as Bey had last seen outside his room in the barracks. Silvas people. Who the hell are you? He needed names. He needed to know who to come after if he couldnt finish them off here. The older one answered him. Fyodar. And Alik here. He grinned after a moment of looking Bey over. And you must be the shy, timid bride Silva was telling us to care for like a tender hot-house flower. Beys eyes narrowed. Either this asshole was trying to get his goat, or Silva had a lot of explaining to do. Wheres Silva, fucker? Alik stiffened. Mind your tongue. Always. I dont use it on anyone who isnt as hot as Silva. Fyodar snorted back a laugh. Aliks body quivered violently. Bey gave the angry man an insulting once over from head to toe, but stopped at Aliks feet. He recognized the silver stitching on the pant-cuff. It had a thread fraying in the middle of one of the

silver whorls. He remembered that one, when hed been memorizing who to go after in hell. This man wasnt just part of Silvas tribe, hed been in the barracks with him in Varlan. Hed helped hurt Silva. If you dont tell me where Silva is in the next few seconds, Im going to have you laid out on the floor and begging for death. Fyodar chuckled. Youd better watch out for him, Alik. Hes a bold one. I cant recall the last time someone had you begging on the floor, unless it was that Frothian flower girl with the huge- Fyodar! Wheres Silva? What have you done with him? Bey nearly choked again on the fabric covering his face as he tried to raise his voice. Dont worry, little bride. Fyodar gestured briefly with his hand, smoothing the air in front of him. I doubt Vasha has beaten your husband. Much. Id be more worried about whats going to happen to Silva once he gets back home. That boy is in for it once his father gets hold of him. Fyodars eyes were a particularly sparkling shade of blue, crows feet framing them. His braided topknot quivered as he chuckled again. Fucking bastard was laughing at him. Where is he! Fyodar simply shook his head, grinning, and Alik glared at them both. They were not going to take Silva from him again, not when Bey could still move. And he didnt have any time to waste; every second Silva was gone was another where anything could happen to him. Staring hard at both men, Silvas warnings finally seeped back into Beys memory, a little too damn late to be useful: be quiet, control yourself. They mixed with Silvas usual admonitions before a battle: be careful, think before you act, wait for the right time. Fuck that. Waiting got you killed. He rolled away from the guards, quickly, and fell off the furs and onto the ground. His entire body throbbed, making it hard to think past the dragging pain in every muscle, but he grit his teeth and kept rolling towards the broken daggers hed seen. The veil fwooshed up on the first roll and halfblinded him with pale gray softness. The flaring bottom of his tunic tangled around his legs. Didnt matter. He knew where he was going. Even if they stopped him, he should have a chance to grab one of the daggers on the far side. He only needed seconds, and theyd been standing like lazy asses by the door. They wouldnt catch him in time. If he could conceal it in all this dam fabric, heOh no you dont, bride. A hand grabbed Beys arm in mid-roll. Son of a bitch! Beys upward kick jerked to a halt as the tunic tangled his legs even further. He got slammed onto his back for his trouble. He kicked out again, blindly, moving his legs together to compensate for the fabric. His stomach muscles almost gave out, but he caught the man in the ankle. A large

body crashed to the ground. Bey swept out with both feet, hoping he could brain him, and missed entirely. Thats when it blurred into the kind of fighting Bey remembered as a boy. Both of them cursing continuously and wrestling over the tent floor. Beys eyes were obscured by the veil, but he didnt care. He tried to keep the man in tight, where sight didnt matter and he could smash against his head with the manacles. But he could feel himself losing ground. Every twist and thrash pulled strength from his limbs like they were sponges being squeezed of water. He couldnt get on top, his limbs were getting sluggish. Someone pinned his legs to the ground and reached for his arms. Stop fighting, bitch. Aliks voice. Growling fiercely, Bey thrashed his head over and bit something fleshy and soft near his face. The other man bellowed. Beys head hit the floor as a fist knocked it to the side. He didnt stop cursing, even when his legs stopped working. Bey could still use his arms. And he didnt have time for this shit he had to get out of here and get to Silva. Fuck. The heavy bastard had all his weight on Beys legs, trying to block Beys doubled fists with his arms, when Fyodar spoke. He hadnt even moved from the door. Need a hand? Fyodar sounded on the verge of laughing. Bey clenched both his fists together and swung up. He couldnt see where hed hit the tribesman, but he felt a good solid connection. Didnt knock Alik off, though. Hes a bit ugh feistier than Id thought Silvas bride would be. Is that why youre on the ground? The voice was closer. Bey had to get free, now! Bey growled and clenched his hands to swing again. He bucked up just as Fyodar came close. Bey swung his arms and connected with air as Fyodar reached down casually and caught them, pulling them to the ground above Beys head. Pinned like a fucking bug on a board. Beys vision cleared as one of them pulled the veil from his eyes and settled it back down over his mouth and nose. He was left staring at Alik. The ugly asshole was glaring at Bey like he was a scuttling roach in need of crushing. Go ahead and kill me. Bey pulled back his lips in a vicious smile, spitting out the veil as it stuck to his teeth. Ill haunt your pathetic ass til you wish youd never laid a hand on me or Silva. What dulcet tones. Fyodar snickered like a damn kid. I wonder what Silva thinks of them.

Where is he!? Bey yanked at his arms and tried to swivel his hips to buck off Alik. Fyodar smiled. Worried, little bride? He blinked as Bey snarled at him. His smile softened as he searched Beys face. You are worried about him, arent you? Now isnt that interesting. You shouldnt let him talk like that. The growl from Alik was just as tight as the mans face. He should be punished. Fyodar shook his head. I know, but Id say this is a bit of an unusual circumstance. I always wondered what Silva was doing. He looked down at Bey and his eyes sparkled. Or who he was doing. Thats disgusting. Its natural. Now help me get the bride secured so we dont have to do this again. Bey struggled wildly as they started moving, but his body wasnt listening to him much at the moment. He felt blown, as weak as the last time hed caught the fever. Alik got off his legs and Beys kick was barely enough to phase him. He squirmed like a wretched worm, cursing viciously as they lifted him into the air and dumped him back onto the furs. Alik held him down while Fyodar fiddled with the shackles at his arms and legs. Bey didnt stop cursing as they released him and headed back to the door. His arms were stretched above his head, his legs held down straight, and no matter how hard he pulled, they werent moving. Craning his neck, Bey could see some kind of spike embedded in the floor, through a seam of the oilskin, with a loop that secured the chain between his arms. The fucking cocksuckers Where is Silva? Hed get out of this. Just give him a few moments alone with them Hes being taken care of properly. Truly. Nothing permanent will happen until weve returned home. Then its in the hands of his father. Fyodar shrugged. Alik smiled for the first time. It didnt go well on his face. Dont think youll be allowed to mouth off like this back home, not in front of the Boyor. Silvas father doesnt put up with that sort of behavior from the familys brides. Bey sneered, which was damn awkward when he had to lift his head off the ground to do it. Youd better pray to your gods I dont get free before we get there, then. Because if you touch one damn silver hair on Silvas head, Ill kill you. I will rip your testicles out through your assholes. Silva said the same thing, I believe, Fyodar said. The killing. I believe his threat had more to do with simple swordplay and intestines. Yours has a bit more flair. The proper anatomical

references are so often overlooked, arent they? Bey couldn't keep his head up to glare at them. It dropped back to the furs and he stared up at the tents ceiling. I will cut off your dicks and fry them up like sausage while you watch, then shove them down your throats until you choke on your own vomit. Fyodar laughed outright. Oh that ones even better. Alik simply looked outraged. His face tightened, and after a soundless sputter, he palmed his own crotch. The only time youd get a glimpse of our cocks is if wed found you out on your own, bride. We would have shown you what a real man does with his dick. Bey would have spit on the floor but the material over his mouth made it impossible. He laughed as derisively as possible, instead. Yeah? You got a real man around somewhere that would have fucked you up the ass for my entertainment? Fyodar laughed as Aliks face flared red; he held Aliks arm to keep him from approaching Bey. No punishment. Vasha really will have your dick for sausage if you touch Silvas bride. Leave him be. And besidesI like him. Hes got a filthy mouth, Alik spat. Thats why I like him. Reminds me of my wife. Bey spouted a few more threats, but they both ignored him. Bastards. Beys hands curled into fists as he stared at the ceiling again. He pulled at his restraints. They cut painfully into his wrists, but he didnt stop. Steady pressure. If he could get that, he might be able to dislodge the peg where it dug into the ground. And then he was going to take them apart. He wanted them beaten and down. He wanted Silva back in here and touching him again. And safe. Fuck. He closed his eyes, turning his head into the furs as he started twisting in his restraints. Dont die on me, Silva, he whispered. Dont you fucking die before I get us out of this.

Chapter 8 - Unexpected Relations Eating slowly, Silva watched Beys veiled face from three tents away. There were too many cookfires the extras usually made bandits think twice about attacking such a large number of men but Silva was happy at the moment that the light was so bright. Even sitting on the far side of the tents, he had a clear view of Beys face. Beys entire body vibrated as he concentrated on successfully placing food in his mouth underneath the veil. It had always looked rather effortless when Silva had seen brides at home

attempt it. One languid hand would hold the veil out, just enough to slip a sliver of food underneath with long fingers. Attempting it with shackled hands must be much more challenging, as far as Silva could tell. Bey was making an utter mess of it, the food staining the veil, the shackles snagging the fabric, and Bey cursing loud enough that Silva could hear him over the crackle of the fire and the murmurs of the men near him. It irked Silva to see him still trapped within the veil. The first day Bey had come out in public, hed yanked it off and tossed it into a firepit. Silva had laughed out loud when hed seen it. Vashas warning to Bey was all it took to make the man wear the veil ever since, however. It made Silva sick with frustration. If Bey broke the rules, Vasha had chosen the most old fashioned way to deal with the situation. He would punish the responsible party: Silva. As Beys husband, he was in charge of punishing his brides behavior, and if he condoned it, he was punished instead. Silva wished he could get close enough to tell Bey not to worry over it. He had no problem with Bey ripping the veil off every night, if he wished. Silva could easily survive a few beatings. He didnt need Bey to go through this simply to protect him from a little pain. Bey snarled as his shackle caught on the veil again and dragged it half down his nose. Alik must have said something because Bey aimed his next snarl at him. Fuck off, asshole, Im putting the piece of shit back on. He slammed his hands against his face to yank it back up to some lopsided parody of its former self. Silva couldnt quite stop a smile, despite their circumstances. Beys temper frayed far too easily. Silva might not have been allowed near enough to speak to his husband in the entire week theyd been traveling, but every time he heard Beys voice snarling curses and threats, it buoyed his spirits. Beys cursing lacked that concentrated fury that came from severe mistreatment; that had been Silvas biggest worry. But Vasha seemed willing to give Bey a much longer leash than expected. Silva might pay the price for every fit of temper later, but at the moment, he didnt care. As long as Bey was safe, Silva could concentrate on other more important things, like getting them both out of here. Beys fury would build up, explode in some spectacular manner like it always did, and between the two of them, theyd find a way to escape. He shook his head. The week had played hell on his nerves. So sure that a docile Bey would fool Vashas men into lowering their guard, Silva had been horrified to hear how badly Bey had reacted when he woke up completely. Their advantage was completely gone. For some reason, the disappointment had passed practically the moment that damn veil had gone up in flames. It was soBey. Why had Silva even bothered to ask the man to control himself? He smiled to himself again as he took a bit of ale. Had to be habit. Hed been telling Bey to get control since theyd met, whether it was gambling, whoring, or brawling. The urge to do so didnt seem affected by the arbitrary nature of Beys decision to actually listen to him. A change in circumstances never changed Bey. But somehow, the man always seemed to come up smelling like roses.

He frowned. If only Silva could use that luck and get Bey out of this situation as well. They were almost out of time. The nights were growing colder, the farther North they went. In another day or two, they would be up in the Northern Reaches and it would be suicidal to try and escape without enough supplies to survive the outside temperatures. Not to mention that right now, they were close to Uncle Pyotrs lands. Going through here was always a risk. Not a good place to travel without enough men to protect themselves from any accidental raiding by Pyotrs men, not since before Silva could walk, when his father and Uncle Pyotr were still on speaking terms. Two men alone, without supplies, would be happily picked off, if not by Uncle Pyotr then by the bandits that lay in wait for easy prey. They were safe, for now. Their current camp was a small clearing shadowed by some truly aweinspiring pine giants, bordered by a riverlet on the East side. Silva knew Vasha had posted men on the outskirts of the trees, likely a few up in them, knowing how careful he was. Men patrolled the camp, working in irregular shifts as they prowled around and between the tents, and a few guarded the horses near the water. There were only thirty or so, at most, but it was enough to keep Silva and Bey trapped. If Silva could get the keys and release his shackles, and if he could overpower his guards tonight, hed still have to succeed in walking across the entire, illuminated run of the tents, as exposed as a nude woman in a church. And then free Bey, and then they could make their way back to Varlan, dodging thieves and relatives, both. But better at night than during the day; at supper was the closest he came to Bey, one of the few times where he could pinpoint exactly where his husband was. He and Bey were tied on their horses during the day on opposite ends of the caravan, with the leading reins attached to a horse one of his brothers men rode. They werent allowed time alone to so much as urinate. Or to take care of other needs, even while in the tent. Silva wondered if Bey cared, or if he touched himself and thought of Silva while his guards looked on. Flushing, Silva turned his eyes away from Beys, out towards where he could hear the snuffle of the horses. Beys dark stare had to be the reason his mind was trapped in an erotic fantasy the last few days. Not that it took much; a few days of marriage, and sex had already begun preying on his mind at all hours. Vasha grunted in disapproval next to him as though hed heard Silvas thoughts. Shivar chuckled on the other side and glanced over at Silva. If you dont stop staring at your bride, he might think you miss him. Once he knows that, its all over for you. Silva didnt both to answer, turning his head the other direction. Vasha reached out to slap him in the back of the head without turning his attention from his own food. Rudeness is for the strong. Grow your balls bigger before you try it, brother, or its nothing but juvenile posturing. Silva turned back to glare at Vasha calmly without speaking. He didnt flinch when Vasha raised

his hand again and repeated the abuse of his head, but he did spit on the ground near Vashas feet after his head stopped ringing. Shivar snorted under his breath. Well, thats definitely growing a pair. Just dont expect to keep em, Silva, not when youre taking on Vasha. Silva tried to ignore them and watched Bey, thinking. Anything he said would be taken the worst possible way, no matter what it was; Vasha always found a way to make him feel weak. His older brother was so much a legend in their family and beyond that it had been nearly impossible not to accept what he said as truth when Silva was young. He wouldnt fall into that trap again. Silva would find a way to get Bey away from here. If he werent so pig-headed and hidebound, Vasha might even thank Silva for getting rid of a problem. Becuase there was no doubt Bey was a problem. Whenever Fyodar was the one guarding Silva, he was happy to share what was going on in Beys tent. Bey was being restrained more than Silva. Fighting more than Silva. Cursing more than Silva. As Silva understood it, everyone was wondering if some mistake had been made and Bey should have topped on their wedding night. Silva scowled at the thought. The fact that his father still followed customs that defined a mans role in his own bedroom frustrated Silva as much now as it had when hed fled to Varlan. A couples sex life should have no bearing on how they lived their lives. Silvas eyes drifted over to Bey again. Beys coat fit tighter around the chest and waist than Silvas did, flaring out over his hips to fall to his knees. Silva could see his over-tunic flaring out from underneath, reaching down to mid-calf. The silver embroidery of Beys cuffs showed below. Silva knew Bey hated the cumbersome clothing, but it had become one of the few positive things since theyd been taken. Silva wasnt certain if Bey had ever encountered the intense cold that they would be seeing up north. At least in brides clothing, Bey might retain more of his own warmth, and not just because his anger was keeping him at a dull simmer. Bey looked up at that moment and saw Silva staring. They both paused in their eating; Bey nodded with a minute jerk of his head. Thank the moon, he wasnt angry at Silva over the veil. Silva didnt know if Bey had learned whod put it on him, but at least he wasn't too angry to cooperate with Silva first. They could come to terms after they fled South. If they could get that far. There had to be a way. Dungeons were escape-proof; an encampment shouldnt be. Although an encampment that Vasha was in charge ofmight be. Silva picked up another sliver of salted meat deer, he thought and choked on it as a soft whistle was carried by one man to the next from the outer edges, warning them. Someone, many someones from the sound of the whistle, had been spotted, and they werent from the camp. Vasha jumped to his feet, gesturing quickly, and followed the sound past the lighted tents and out into the dimness. Silva got to his feet at the same time, stumbling over his chains. The two men who had followed

him to supper latched onto Silvas arms as he tried to head for Bey. Back to your tent, Silva, Nikol said, voice as firm as his grip. Another soft whistle floated in from the opposite end of camp and Beys guards urged him back to his tent, as well. Then another from the water near the horses. Silva listened in dread for anything further, and cursed as the last side of the camp whistled in. Surrounded. And he wasnt with Bey. Silva hissed, yanking at his arms. I need to go my bride during an attack! Not until your becoming, one of the men snapped back. Silva slammed against him with his shoulder, knocking him sideways into another soldier scrambling past to support the men on the outskirts. It didnt free him, though, just came close to dragging them both to the ground until Nikol pulled him upright. Dont worry. We can handle this. Nikol sounded like he meant it and Silva cursed his brother all over again. Vasha drilled his men until they were so confident of themselves it was maddening. There are people on all sides of us. Anyone with an ounce of sense would worry! Silva, you know exactly how well weve trained for this. You act as though its your first raid. Silva struggled again and failed to free himself. Something wasnt right. A raid was one thing bandits were as common as roaches but this felt different. The timing, the silence, the fact that no guard had spotted anyone until they were completely surrounded. It smelled rotten. Just like Uncle Pyotr. And he knew they were as aware of it as he was. Beys tent is near the Northern border. Its more vulnerable than mine. At least let me make sure hes brought closer to the center. Let Fyodar and Alik do their jobs and worry about yourself, instead. Silva cursed at them both as he was half-thrown into the tent. His two jailers for the night stood in the doorway, Nikol facing him, the other facing out, leaving the tent open to follow the movements of the men racing to protect the camp. Getting off his knees where hed fallen, Silva watched with them. It was an eerie night for an attack. The clouds were dark enough that shadows were black, even though the suns light hadnt completely faded from the sky. The men were sprinting to where they could best be of use, soft boots silent on the flattened grass. And the rest of them waited. Nikol glanced out for a brief moment. Holding his breath, Silva braced himself to get past and had to stop as the man drew his sword. I will cut you, Silva. You wont be permanently harmed, but I have a duty and I wont neglect it. His eyes hinted at empathy. Your bride will be protected.

A horn sounded, mournful and low, and noise erupted on all sides: running, the thwup of bowstrings, and almost immediately, the hoarse screams of injured men. Silva twitched, his hand reaching for his side, wanting his old sword. It didnt matter that he was being held captive, these were still his people being attacked. His own brother fighting in the darkness. And Silva was trapped in the damn tent where he could do nothing. And so was Bey, closer to the fighting. Silva could hear the noise flowing down from the North, swelling, far louder than it should have been for a normal raid. Theres too many of them. Nikol nodded at Silvas murmur. Silva persisted. Couldnt they see? Bey will be too close to the fighting. He has to be moved. He will be, if its possible. Fyodar isnt a novice. Hell take care of things. They all stopped speaking as a group of nearly 8 men crept out from between the tents, coming from the West, dressed nearly identical to Vashas soldiers. The other guard flipped his fingers at Silva and Nikol and slipped silently out of the tent. Worries over Silvas escape became irrelevant. The other man would have gone to warn those fighting on the East, before they were taken from the flank. Had these men slipped through the cracks, or were Vashas men so overwhelmed that part of their perimeter was already lost? Silva didnt make a sound, frozen as they both watched the men disappear past another tent. Nikol whispered against Silvas ear. If youll give me your word that you wont try to escape, we can make certain your bride is safe. Silva nodded, relieved. Unless you fall, and then Ill do what I must. Understood. They checked the area, trying to separate the sounds of battle and the stench of spilled bowels from the seeming emptiness in front of them. Had anyone stayed behind to keep watch? Silva couldnt detect anything. Then an outcry from the direction the interlopers departed decided them both and they edged out of the tent. Silvas hobbled legs held him back so much he wanted to rip them off. The sounds of men fighting, and dying, echoed around the encampment. Silver lit up around the tents as men used their Gifts on each other to deadly effect. Minutes later and there was almost no progress. Silvas shackles made everything a nightmare crawl; it was too damn slow! Peering around another tent, he cursed under his breath at the scene in front of him. Hed taken far too long. Vashas men had been pushed back to the inner tents. Unless Fyodar and Alik had passed Silva somehow, Bey was trapped back among Pyotrs men. Silva heard a series of shrill, unearthly screams from where the horses were picketed. Hasanid preserve them, had they lost that side as well? We have to get around, he whispered. Nikol nodded, his eyes scanning the fighters from the

shadows, blade already out. Silva was looking feverishly for one of his own, but while numerous men no longer needed their swords, their bodies werent near enough to retrieve. Nikol passed him his knife; Silva gripped it in both hands. As they slunk around the edges of the fighting, Silvas eyes tried to play tricks on him. Fires light and silver flashes gave everything a slowed, otherworldly look. A pair of shadows fighting one moment, blank darkness the next, and only one remaining shade the moment after that. Another man screamed, falling directly in front of them. Vasha darted by the next moment, snarling, whirling around him with sword and dagger. The relief at seeing his brother still alive spread out from Silvas belly and into his face just in time for Vasha to witness. His eyes caught Silvas as he ripped open a mans belly. He took anothers hand off at the wrist, ignored the screaming that followed, and sprinted into the shadows next to them. Panting, he pulled a corded thong over his head and slapped it into Nikols hand. Nikol bowed his head just as Vasha grabbed Silva around the neck. He pulled Silva in and kissed him briefly on the forehead. Take your bride and get out, Vasha said, voice rough, touching his cheek to Silvas. Head South. Pyotr will expect you to try for Father. He left Silva standing there, stunned, and plunged back into the battle with a wild yell. Silva swallowed once, speechless, and then snatched the key Nikol held out, still attached to the leather cord. Nikol covered them both, guarding as Silva undid his shackles, dumping them on the cold ground next to another body. Reaching down, Silva slid the sword from a still-warm grip. He grabbed the key with his other hand and they both sprinted for Beys tent, trying to avoid confrontation with larger groups that would keep them stationary. And get them killed. Turing a corner, Silva skidded across the ground as his feet hit a patch of slicked down grass that had been churned nearly to mud by mens feet. He fell flat on his back, his hair splashing down in the muck, coated. Nikol crouched down to help him up. It put them both low to the ground, unseen as three more of Uncles soldiers ran for the front line. They looked right over them and he and Nikol held their breaths until theyd passed. He needed to get to Bey the man had to be there. He was tough, and Fyodar was smart. Alik was an unknown, but between the three of them, they had to be enough to stay safe. Safe until Silva could fetch Bey and they left. Another horse screamed its death agonies and a man seemed to scream in response, cursing unintelligibly only to suddenly cut off in a liquid gurgle. Silva gagged, struggling against the urge to go back and take on the men who were attacking in the dark like cowards. Silva glanced back at where Vasha had run and grit his teeth before dashing over the dark ground to Beys tent. The thought of his brothers body, left to rot on the ground without even the proper rites, his men littering the land around him Dammit, leaving was the only thing that he and Bey could do! This wasnt his fight. Not anymore.

Nikol stopped him with a hard jerk on his arm. Theyd reached the tent. It drooped sideways, partially collapsed. The opening was empty, dark inside, and Silvas heart doubled its beat. Had someone already been there, gone after Bey? Veiled, the man would make a tempting target. It had not been nearly long enough since raiding for brides was still permitted, as long as they didnt have the full sword tattoo. And sometimes even that was overlooked, if you had enough power. Nikol had to hold him back from running inside, yanking his braid. Fyodar, Alik, its Nikol, he hissed quietly. Silva saw the glint of a sword being pulled back out of the entrance. His own panic would have impaled himself. Fyodars sword nicked out of the opening and beckoned him inside. Both the swords were up, pointed Silvas direction, the moment he walked in. You shouldnt be here, Silva. Fyodar spoke like a disappointed father. Vasha gave him the keys, Nikol murmured. Were needed elsewhere now. The swords were withdrawn. Fyodar accepted it as easily as he seemed to accept everything else. Hes letting them leave, then? Nikol nodded. Fyodar smiled briefly at Silva. So be it. Take care, Silva. You, too, little flower. Bey growled in response as Fyodar saluted with his sword and disappeared into the darkness. Alik paused, frowning with a glare at Bey before he cursed and followed. Be safe, Silva, Nikol said. Be safe, Silva repeated, returning the mans brief salute before Nikol, too, ran back out the tent opening. Bey blinked, watching Silva start on his shackles with a disbelieving snort, glancing back and forth between the tent door and Silva. You all right? Of course. He finished Beys ankles and stood up to unlock the cuffs around his writsts. So, what, we can go now? Yes. Silva couldnt say anything else. Bey was his priority; this wasnt Beys fight. Once they got out of here. Are you kidding me? Thats all it took to get us free; a fight? The second his arms were free he ripped off the veil and tossed it to the ground. God I hate that thing. Silva looked around the tent for another weapon. Bey grabbed him by the shoulders first. Bey? No bullshitting me now, you really okay, princess? he asked, his voice gruff as he examined the slime coating Silvas face and hair. You look like you mated with a pig in his slough.

Im fine. Slipped in the muck. We need to be gone from here while we can. Yeah. Bey stared another second and then yanked him close, kissing Silva hard, a quick slash of his tongue and lips before he let him go. His face was smeared with the same mud as Silvas. For luck. Silva nodded and they both peered through the door. The sounds of the fight were loud something crackled with fire, more than their cookfires could produce. A horse was screaming incessantly now, and men yelled and screamed as the sickening, thick sound of metal tearing through flesh echoed closer to the tent. Which way? Bey asked quietly. Theyve broken through the line here; Vashas fighting them just South of us, with no battling to the West at all. Bey nodded. They stood, staring as the sounds ebbed and flowed with the wind that carried them. Youre brothers an ass, you know that? Silva nodded, looking out toward the sound. They needed to go. Head West and then South, away from the encampment. Bey sighed, putting his hand on Silvas shoulder until Silva had to look down at him. A real asshole, he repeated. Yes. Hes always beenbrutal. Bey grunted, then sighed. And hes your brother. Sowe go South into the camp, then? He grinned as Silva could only blink at him. Hey, hes an asshole I got dibs on. Cant let some other bastard take him down first, can I? Silva gripped his sword tighter, something mending inside that hed thought already broken. His voice barely worked. Yesthat would be a shame to miss. They both started out of the tent, keeping out of the firelight, moving quickly, an even pace. Bey cursed quietly as his clothing caught on the thistles that hadnt been flattened by their presence yet. First thing Im gonna do to your brother is make him wear this damn dress crap. If it werent so damned cold, Id take it off. Silva leaned down to take another sword from underneath a still figure in their path. He tossed it to Bey just as a small group came out from the shadows a few feet ahead and stopped at the sight of them. Silva thought he recognized one of his uncles sons, Matvey. When the man smiled, he knew he had. The light flickering across the familiar face made demonic streaks of light and shadow across his eyes. Silva. We heard you were being brought back. Matvey smiled and the others spread out around him. His voice was eager. Father wanted to make sure you were properly welcomed. He smirked, free hand edging toward his crotch.

Oh, you did not just make a pass at my husband in the middle of battle. Thats fucking tacky, bastard. All eyes went to Bey as he grinned maniacally and readied his blade. Silvas cousin spit on the ground, turning back to Silva. So you really did wed a Southerner. No wonder your tribe is falling apart. Bey charged before the man finished speaking, yelling as he went. Silva scrambled behind, barely catching a slice that would have landed against Beys unprotected back as he fought with Matvey. Bey was grinning, swinging with a wildness that always seemed out of control but never quite left an opening. Falling apart? More like kicking your pathetic ass! Silvas cousin lost ground. He barely looked over when the man Silva fought made a fatal mistake and took Silvas blade along his thigh. Silva stepped away as the man collapsed and he stepped towards the other soldier with Matvey. He paused as Matvey shifted, backing away. There was a sudden telltale focus to his cousins eyes, glinting blankly from the fire. Bey, duck! Bey didnt even question, hitting the ground just as Silvas cousin swept out with both his sword and his hands. Pale silver spread out from his palms like glass shards, shimmering over the air. Everything they touched exploded with a small, disintegrated puff. No! Silva rolled to his feet, desperately tried to bring his own Gift to bear, but nothing happened. Until his becoming, it wouldnt come more than half the times he called it. Matvey grinned and sliced down at Bey, still on the ground in front of him. Silva swung his blade to block it, protecting Beys head, and he and his cousin strained against each other. Intent on damaging Bey, the other soldier slipped in and swung down. Bey rolled quickly, towards the bastard rather than away, and stabbed up through his thigh and into the meat of his body. Screaming, the soldier fell, tearing the blade out through his groin, splattering Bey as the wound splurted out his lifes blood. Matvey gave one hard shove and Silvas blade skewed to the side. His cousin held out his hands immediately, pointed at Bey. You want your bride to live, hit the ground, Silva, hands on the back of your head. Youll kill us both. No deal. His uncles family had no honor. If he and Bey were going to die, theyd do it fighting. Yeah, fuck you. Bey knelt on the ground, watching the mans hands. Silva could see his mind churning, searching for a way out. Then another dozen of his uncles men came out of the darkness. Bey cursed, spewing words Silva was too furious to even say. Matvey lowered his hands, smiling coldly. Youre not to be killed, Silva. I can promise you that, at

least for a while. Uncle wants you. I told you he heard you were being brought back. He has something special planned for you and your bride, and your brother if we can take him alive. He sneered. Although he didnt know your bride was a southerner. Uncle can rot, Silva said. His cousins eyes shifted to the right and Silva turned as he heard the telltale rustle of grass at his side. He wasnt fast enough; something hit his head so hard he saw stars, dropping his sword. An arm wrapped around his throat, yanking him back, followed by a blade against his jugular. The shattering pain in his skull made his eyes blur. Beys bellowing voice caught at his ear; he tried to struggle. He couldnt let them hurt Bey. Fighting to keep his feet and not slice his own neck, Silva watched as the other men threw themselves at Bey. The man went down hard. Fucking shit! Bey cursed as they wrestled him to the ground, one of the men getting stabbed in the arm before they disarmed him. Barely aware, Silva shook himself as his arms were secured behind his back along with Beys. He had to stay aware. Focus. They were shoved away from the sounds of fighting. Bey bumped into Silvas side on the next push from behind. You okay? he whispered. When he tried to open his mouth, Silva could only moan in response. His cousin gave him a shove that knocked him to his knees. He fell on his face when his balance wasnt good enough to hold himself without his arms. There was a scuffle, Bey cursing and kicking out at Matvey. Picked up by his arms, Silva couldn't turn to make sure Bey wasnt getting himself killed. Bey, stop. Please He nearly fell again as Bey and he were pushed on. Beys eyes glared at every man surrounding them, which grew in number as they passed one tent after another. If this many men were here, and the fighting was elsewhere, just how big a force had Uncle sent after them? And why so many? Bey tried to keep Silva up when he stumbled again, cussing out anyone who shoved them too hard, murmuring words to Silva that he couldnt quite make out over the faint roaring in his head. It wasnt until they faced even more men, with spare horses, that Silva realized they truly werent going to be killed. Rough hands forced Bey and Silva to mount up, tying them to the saddle the same way Vashas men always had, only tighter. Silva didnt think hed be able to feel his hands for too long. The leads were tied to Matveys and another guards horses, and they headed away from the battle, North then East, towards Pyotrs lands. They really were going to be taken to his Uncle. Silva swayed, his eyes seeing double, and prayed he could find a way to get them both killed before then if they couldnt get away. It would be better then whatever Pyotr had planned.

Chapter 9 Pyotr Bey grit his teeth as the man ahead of him tugged at his horses reins again, making the stupid beast sidle left nervously. He swore. If it werent for the gloves in between the damn leather ties and his skin, his restraints would likely have scraped his wrists to the bone. He couldnt keep his seat well enough on the horse to avoid getting yanked side to side, and his wrists showed it. Right now, if every horse in existence ran off and went feral, Bey would cheer them on. If only Silvas family would follow, then the world would be nearly perfect. Bey scowled at the men riding in a loose group around him. They all looked the same, blue-gray hoods pulled up over their heads, faces veiled against the cold. Bey wouldnt be able to tell which one was Silva until he was able to see the mans hands, tied to the saddle exactly like Beys. He was pretty damn sure that every member of Silvas family was an utter asshole. Except possibly Fyodar, at least that bastard had a sense of humor. But so far, Matvey was even more of an uptight little prick than Silvas damn brother, and not half as smart. The uncle couldnt be much better, not if he was this rags father. Bey would like to gut him and watch wild dogs eat them from the inside out. While still alive, if possible. He flexed his hands against his bindings, trying to get some feeling back in them. He didnt know if hed ever feel his fingers again in a place like this. The air was so cold his dick was growing icicles. No one who had any sanity would live where it was this cold. Normal men who valued the vital parts of their anatomy would have taken one step into this region, realized it was as cold as the lower reaches of hell, and turned around to find someplace where trees had real damn leaves instead of needles. These pine trees made him twitchy. Their shape was too sharp and thin, triangular rather than the comforting round softness of the trees closer to the coast. The smell of them stung his nose when it managed to sneak in through the cloth. Theyloomed. Bey had always had the urge to take a man down a peg when he tried that with Bey. It was a bit more difficult when it was a tree, but hed had the unpleasant realization that the urge still existed. Silva had already granted him a smile, when Bey had mentioned his frustration, but that had been the evening after theyd come across the first supercilious pine tree. Silva hadnt smiled since, and thered been nothing but pine for days now. Bey wasn't sure how long theyd been traveling, at least as long as theyd been trapped with Vasha, but the pace was twice as brutal. By the end of the day, Beys legs could barely hold him, not that hed let them know. Any hint of weakness and he was sure hed be paying for it. He was too worried for Silva to give Matvey a reason to incapacitate him. Silva had been nearly incoherent the first day in the saddle, but hed cleared up by the second day. Bey had been almost sure that Silva was going to fall off his horse before he regained his senses and theyd leave him insensible on the ground, no matter what they said they needed him for. It had eaten at him every second, and Bey didnt think the feeling was going to go away any time soon no matter how healthy Silva looked now. Every time they stopped for the night and he was able to see that prissy, blue-eyed glare, it felt like his heart started again for another day.

Once it did, he occupied himself for the rest of the evening by imagining what he was going to do to these tribal scraps of fishbait once he got Silva free and they could get a little revenge. The bastards seemed fixated on Silva. Bey would snap at a guard and get a small slap for it, but Silvas behavior was receiving a lot more attention. Hed taken to glaring at everyone around him, and it had earned Silva quite a few heavy handed gut-punches. Bey marked every one, who had done it and how hard, and exactly where they were sleeping that night. So far, he hadnt had the chance to put the knowledge to use, but he would. They would get out of this. Period. No other option was acceptable. He had to remember that. If it werent so fucking cold, hed be able to remember a hell of a lot more. Bey took a deep breath, cursing as he inhaled a makeshift veil into his mouth along with air that tasted of ice. He couldnt believe that even these bastards thought that Bey needed to have his face covered. Matvey had seemed almost gleeful about leaving the veil off, but one of his men, a baby-faced youth named Zhenya, had torn a piece of rag and put it on Bey before the end of the first day. Seemed to think Bey should be grateful that hed done it, too. Like the dumb bastard had just protected his virginity or something. Considering that everyone had an outer veil attached to their coats, as well, Bey didnt see why he was so special he needed two. And Zhenya had made sure to check their bindings every morning and loosen them if necessary. If it werent for him, Bey thought they might have lost their hands to gangrene, with the bindings so tight the second day. It made it hard for Bey to despise him properly, and that was a constant sliver under his skin. He did not understand Silvas countrymen, but he already knew he didnt want to feel anything positive for them. The tribesmen were just as dangerous as hed always heard; he couldnt afford to view them as anything but the enemy. But he was willing to let Zhenya get up close so he could learn what he could. Bey needed to figure out how the tribe thought and use whatever advantage that got him, before they ran out of time. The little furrow between Silvas brows was a permanent feature now. If Silva was this worried, they were in deep shit and no joking about it. Bey needed to get them out of this mess. If they could figure out why the hell theyd been taken, that would have helped, but so far, no one was talking about it. Silva had passed on what he could in the few moments they had at whatever temporary pit was dug for wastes, or when they were fed, but it wasnt much. Bey couldnt even follow what most of the men around him said. Bey grunted as the horse skittered on a loose stone and his bindings tightened again painfully. He wished a moment that Zhenya didnt tie knots as proficiently as veteran sailors. If only there were a few moments where he could get free, they could have had a chance in the moments when pines obscured the rest of the party. Bey could lead them away and give Silva a chance to free himself as well. All it would have taken was a moment of freedom that he didnt have yet. And a much higher level of skill with a horse than Bey would ever have. How they hell was he going to get them out of this?

He didnt know enough about the damn culture, even if his best friend in all of existence was of the tribes. If Bey had been one to judge the tribe by the one person he knew from it, he would have thought all tribesmen were a pinch too moral, rather uptight, duty-conscious, loyal, and just a little nave. And good warriors. Not that Silva couldnt fight, or that he wasnt good at discerning tactics. Hell, he was usually better than Bey at determining what an enemy was going to do next, when they were in an actual battle as opposed to putting down a riot. But he had a kind ofinnocence. Best way Bey could think of it was how he looked at a person. Silva met you, he was going to assume you werent an ass unless you were proving it otherwise at the moment you met. You betrayed him, hed take you down, but he had that trust, first off. Bey assumed you were a fucking bastard right off, and if you proved him wrong, it was a happy surprise. Bey didnt get a lot of surprises. Silva was probably one of the first. Bey still couldnt get over how Silva was exactly what he appeared to be, aside from his pathetic attempts at sneaking, and even those werent aimed at screwing you over. They might be irritating, but Silva never Bey looked up at the morass of horses between him and his partner, searching for the slim line of the back of his head, unable to pick it out of the sea of hoods. He kept searching as his mind reflected. All the shit that happened, the entire two years theyd been partners, Silva had fought him, pissed him off, and harangued him like a fishwife. But hed never let him down. Bey wasnt going to be the first between them to do so. Hed stay alert and if there was anything, anything, he could do to get them out of this, hed do it. The fact that their staying in Varlan for so long might have led to this. No, fucking dammit. He had let Silva down. He hadnt meant to, but if hed just fucking gone in the first place, they wouldnt be in this damn mess. And Bey really wished thered been enough of a moment for him to let Silva know how much Bey was sorry for that. Maybe let Silva beat on him a bit to make him feel better. Once they were free. The sounds were changing, a low rumble of voices getting louder, and Bey started looking around him again. Through the trees, the horses were gathering; Bey worried at his veil with his teeth. Everyone had stopped up ahead, but it was too early to stop for the day, not with the pace theyd been keeping. Anything new was bad, in a situation like this. His body tense, Bey scanned the faces around him, reading them carefully. No tension, a little excitement. Relaxed for some of them. Damn. They were probably almost at Silvas uncles then. There was a different feel to the excitement when someone was about to catch hell, more vicious than the joy at returning to home

and comfort. Beyd been hoping he could have freed Silva before this. He and his horse emerged from the trees and the man ahead who controlled his reins began to slow. Most of the horses were resting while the men looked them over, but no one was breaking camp. Were they simply caring for the horses, or was something else planned now? Hed use whatever opportunity it provided. A quick check finally found Silva, staring back at him, face set and cold. Prissy bitch face plus something else that Bey rarely saw. Silva wasscared? Bey checked him over, the man holding his horses lead, and then past him where the land plunged down a sharp, sudden cliff. He couldnt see any way down. The tribesman didnt look threatening, no one was talking to Silva, so it must be what lay over the edge that had him spooked. As Beys horse was shuffled closer to Silva, he had a chance to see down into the wide valley. A castle hunched there, cradled between peaks that made the mountains Bey was used to feel like pimples. First pretentious trees, now ostentatious mountains. Silvas home country was damn irritating. He tried to ignore the prickling awareness he felt, up close to such massive peaks that they seemed to block half the sky. He had to pay attention to the more mundane issues of mortals like himself. Matvey the Ass and one of his higher ups were heading over and he thought they were more of a threat than the castle down below, but he couldn't ignore it entirely. Bey tried to halve his time watching them and taking in everything about the area. Silva and he had to know which way to go when they escaped. He had a feeling theyd have to head towards Silvas father, but if that was the way it fell out, so be it. If it would keep Silva safe, Bey would take it. He saw Matvey laugh at something one of his men said, gesturing as they dismounted and came close. The men with him checked Silvas bindings, then the horses: hooves, their legs, how the saddles lay. None had weapons unsheathed; he hoped that was a good sign. Another one headed over to Bey for the same treatment. The men spoke back in forth in their own language. Every word tightened Silvas jaw another notch. His eyes were deadly flat by the time Matvey walked up to him. Grinning, the bastard yanked Silvas head forward by the braid, contorting his body still attached to the saddle. Hey, fucker, what do you think youre- Bey grunted as the bastards little helper yanked him forward the same way. His back was on fire, trying to keep him upright while his legs screamed at the stretch, tied tightly against the horse. He had the chance to look into uncaring blue eyes before he was hooded like some damn hawk, leather coated cloth over his entire head. Silva cursed up a blue streak that ended with the sound of flesh against flesh and a gagging gasp. Silva? Bey raised his voice, nearly sneezing inside the pungent blackness. There was a long moment where the sounds of horses and men were all Bey could hear and then Silvas voice came from ahead.

Im fine, Bey. Dont worry. Well be. Silva didnt speak as Matvey said something in a growling laugh and there was another pained grunt. Well be fine. Silva sounded like he was gritting his teeth as he spoke. Bey was going to kill Matvey if he ever got out of this. When he got out of this. He couldnt say if, because if implied that he was going to lose Silva again, and that just wasnt fucking going to happen. He didnt care who he had to damage, kill, or fuck to get Silva free of this; the man wasnt going to die again. The horses started to move, shockingly nerve wracking when Bey couldnt see where they were going. He didnt know how to adjust his body and felt constantly on the verge of falling off. His ears tried to pick out whatever clues they could. The horses hooves shifted from the almost silent crackling of pine needles to a sharper ting of shod horses on loose stone. After quite a while his horse shifted, heading down slope on a steep angle. Bey clung to the pommel of the saddle so hard that his hands were knots of hot pain after only a few minutes. Knowing there was likely a steep drop to his death if his horse didnt obey the lead attached to it made Bey sweat. He clamped his teeth down over his tongue, then moved the appendage out of the way before he accidentally bit it off. Hated fucking heights, especially when he couldnt see them. Bey ran the valleys defenses through his mind, trying to commit it to memory for later and distract himself from his stomach trying to heave its way back up his throat. Castle first, what had it been? The structure was massive, definitely a castle or keep. Dark stone, probably granite like the surrounding peaks. Set in the midst of mountains on the edge of a sheer drop off on the other side, its squat presence should have blended in, but the giant stone wart sat on the ground and glared at the world around it. Ugly and chilling. If Bey had ever traveled and come across that keep as a place to stop for the night, he would have risked a bedroll by the river instead. They had a big enough river nearby, at least. He couldnt tell just how large it was. The mountains were so huge around here it played havoc with his ability to judge size and distance. But the river came in from the east through the valley, moved past one side of the keep and possibly through it he hadnt been able to see it clearly enough - and plunged over the edge of the escarpment. Bey imagined it would be very difficult to hear anything over the roar of the falls. That was good. Guards that couldnt hear were guards that could allow an easier escape. Once Silva and he got to that point, theyd remember that. But the rivernot so good in that there wasnt really anywhere else to go. There had been small bits of white in the water that Bey was worried were chunks of ice. If they tried to cross the river itself, he didnt see how theyd last for more than an hour or two afterward without freezing. Not without stopping to get warm, and if they stopped, they were dead. The rest of the valley hadnt looked opportune for escape paths, either. The entire backside of the castle seemed, from this distance, to be on the very edge of the drop off that the falls went over. The rest of the area was flatter until it sloped up to the cliff Bey was still descending, but the trees and brush had been cleared for at least a mile surrounding the castle. Maybe more still couldnt

judge the distance. So once he and Silva freed themselves and got out of the keep, their escape routes could be open ground, open ground, sheer craggy cliff, or watery plummeting death. Not much of a choice. Bey nodded, flinching as his horse stumbled before righting itself. He panted heavily inside the hood. Didnt matter. Didnt-fucking-matter. Whatever happened, they were getting out of here. Bey wasnt letting anyone get their hands on Silva. They werent dead yet, and it was only over when youd bled out on the ground and your shade took revenge. Matvey and the rest might have plans, but plans were never certain. The smallest slip-up was all he and Silva needed. He tried not to think about what could happen before the slip-up though. Family always made people a little crazy, and Silvas family seemed crazy enough already. Whatever his uncle had planned for them was probably on the far side of painful and wrong. Bey wished he hadnt seen so much in his life that he knew just how much there existed on that side. Growing up, hed done more, and had more done to him, then he liked to think about during the longer winter nights. Much better to drink and screw and enjoy what you had. Couldnt change the past, and better not to dwell on it unless it made you smile. If only Matveys speech didnt bring Bey an uncomfortable, familiar shiver. In the evenings, the man would sometimes let Bey sit in close to Silva. Hed bring in some of his soldiers to keep guard, including that young Zhenya, and talk to them. He usually spoke in Silvas tongue, saying something that would have Silvas muscles as tight as boards, even if his face looked relaxed and unconcerned. Bey really hoped it simply threats of what was to come. Hopefully, that would involve violence and nothing more. They could both take a lot of hits and bounce back. Beatings, even repeated ones, could be dealt with for quite a while before you couldnt remember anything but the desperate hope to avoid more pain, even if only for a few minutes. Rapehed rather avoid it. His guts churned even contemplating anyone touching Silva, for beatings or rape, but if it didnt prevent their escape, then they could get over it. Thats all there was too it. Survive and escape, or wallow in the pain and die a prisoner; as if that was really a choice. Bey swallowed, remembering his last sight of Silva, struggling while he was hooded. The man was so fucking molestable that he worried Silva would be more likely to be targeted by any lonely, lusting soldiers who were given free reign. Bey could focus it a little more on himself, though. Not a problem. The right word at the right time and hed have Silvas share of beating and gang rape on top of his own. He was tougher than the princess, anyway. Bigger bones. Harder to snap. And if it was something worse? He tried not to think about it. They were still on the horses, not even down from the cliffside yet. They still had a chance. His mind wound itself tight with ideas and worries as the horse finally leveled out what seemed

hours later. The air felt colder in the shadows or the sun was already going down when the sounds changed. Bey clenched his teeth together and shifted his weight in the saddle. He worked hard on keeping his breath even and calm as the horses hooves hit stone blocks and their shoes rang over them. The horses clomped over wood as they crossed what was likely a moat. It echoed oddly against the hood over Beys head. He tried not to panic. So they were in the castle. They could still find a way out. It could be done. It wasnt impossible. The soft puft as hooves cut into packed dirt slid into his ears. Bey tried to pinpoint the sounds to figure out where the gate was located. He could hear a smithy working, but was it to the left or right? Mens voices too many of them. No women that he could hear, yet. A few livestock, cows lowing, poultry, a very irritated goat. The sounds of conversation died down the further they went in. Hushed. He thought theyd been seen rather then overlooked by the crowds and he cursed. Hed rather prisoners were so common that he and Silva were unnoticed. Noticed made it harder to leave. Although it also meant if you could figure out a way to blend in, the residents might not be as used to people trying to escape. He could work with that. Bey went along with getting untied from the horse, stumbling to his knees as soon as he was released and the blood rushed back into places it had been denied for a while. He tried not to grunt, failed, but his pride was salvaged a bit when he heard Silva have the same trouble. If Silva who was a better horseman, even if Bey wasnt going to admit it to his face was having trouble too, then Beys pride had a little bit of leeway. Not that there was a lot of pride in being hooded. He tried to reach up to free his face, but his hands were secured behind his back before he could move them, and his pride dropped another notch. Hooded and naked would have been worse, though. Always good to remember things like that. There were always worse things, right? They werent dead yet. After he and Silva were prodded along for a ways, Bey stumbled again over a shallow beam set in the floor. He thought it might be a doorway into the main hall, from the size of the thing. Heat seeped in under the skirt of his clothing as he stepped onto a harder floor. It felt like stone, with something crushing oddly on top of it. Reeds, most likely. The sound of voices and the scent of food slowly trickled in. Beys mouth watered at the smell of roasted duck. His stomach growled loudly. The man holding one arm snickered. The voices were more reserved, not as numerous, and they quieted almost as soon as the smell of food hit Beys nose. He wished his gloves were off to feel the warmer air and get rid of the chilled near-numbess encasing his fingers. He focused on keeping upright, not hitting the uneven patches in the reeds strewn over the floor. Had to stay up, stay sharp, stay a pain in the ass to see if he could keep Silvas pretty head on his shoulder. Silva could keep it there once he got a weapon, but until then, vulnerable like thishe had to be on his toes. They were stopped with a quick yank. Bey heard Silva next to him, snarling something. A deep voice called out irritably to Matvey, more warmly after Matvey replied, and Silva and he were brought forward again.

Bey cursed as he was shoved down to his knees. Two sets of hands held him down, one on each shoulder. He heard Silva growl, hitting the ground at nearly the same moment. The hood was pulled off. Bey squinted in the light, unable to see for a critical moment, and then the blur in front of him cleared. He glanced around quickly. Hed been right, they were in a main hall. A few large, polished wooden tables filled the empty space. Brilliant tapestries over the walls would have kept out the chill. The tables were filled with polished silver andwas that actual porcelain? He ignored the people. They didnt matter yet. Silva sucked in his breath, his eyes wide, and Bey turned to follow his gaze. Bey wasnt sure what had startled him. The big bastard in front of them, seated on a chair so pretentious with gilt and carvings that it could almost be called a throne? A young page stood on either side, nothing unusual about that. But the man smelled of control. Not that impressive physically, but he had that look of someone who knew he could say die and someone would make it happen. Late middle age, even though the silver hair that all Silvas people had made it hard to tell. Heavy beard, heavy jowls and a stomach to match reinforced the impression of an older man, but it was the odd slackness to one side of his mouth that brought attention to it. Father? Silva whispered. When the mans eyebrows lowered Silva sucked in his breath again. His voice flattened. Uncle. Pyotr smiled slowly with just one side of his face before frowning again. He flicked a glance at the tables beside him. The others in the room, all the family seated at the tables, didnt make a sound. It was eerie. Glancing at them from the corners of his eyes, trying to ignore the two men holding him on his knees, Bey tried to keep his features blank. His knees were already beginning to take on sharp points of pain where they pressed against the floor. It was obviously a large family dinner. Men, a very few women, youths and children, and all were expensively dressed with richer, heavier fabrics in the same style as Silvas family. The blues were deeper, with silver and gold embroidery on the cuffs of tunics and pants. A number of men and women both wore thin shifting veils that concealed everything but hopeless eyes. Their stares gave him a very, very bad feeling. What the fuck was wrong with Silvas uncle? And how bad was it that no one was still saying a damn word. Not a taunt or a whisper. Not even the children made a sound. That was just fucking unnatural. Leave us. Pyotr looked at the tables and they all stood as quickly as possible without looking hurried and left, taking the children away with them. A few of the younger ones whined about still being hungry and were quickly shushed on the way out the door. After mere minutes, the only people left in the room were Silva, his uncle, Bey, and a few of the guards, including Matvey. Pyotr turned his glare on his son as soon as the door to the great hall closed. Wheres Anatoli? He was supposed to retrieve Valeris sons. Matvey puffed out his chest. Hes still searching for them. They were moving so fast, I had no

choice but to attack Vashas camp when we saw them coming North. Waiting for Anatoli would have lost us the chance to take them. So I captured Valeris son. Im the one whos avenged Ivann and Yegor. The older man didnt look impressed, and Matveys chest deflated. You disobeyed my orders? he asked with a deadly soft tone. Matvey shifted uneasily. I had to. They would have escaped Wheres Vasha? Matvey hesitated. He licked his lips nervously. He hasnt been found yet. But half my men stayed behind to make sure he was found while we retrieved Silva. Im sure theyll- So not only did you disobey me by not informing your brother when Vasha entered the lower territories, but you left before youd even insured that we had both Vasha and Silva? The old mans voice was softer than before. Even Bey shivered. Now he could see why Silva had wanted them out of here before they ever saw this snake. He glanced at Silva and his pulse began to beat heavily at his throat. Silva was paler than snow, his pupils mere pinpricks. He returned Beys glance and seemed to grow even paler. Theyll have Vasha soon! Matvey insisted. He took a step towards his father and flinched back as the man roared at him. If Anatoli had been in charge of the raid as he should have been, wed have Vasha already! Pyotr dismissed his son with a contemptuous flick. He turned his attention to Silva, staring at him with a strangely satisfied gleam in his eyes. Bey clenched his fists. He had to get Silva out of here now. Bey tensed his body to try and wrestle free of the men, even if he was half-sure it wouldn't result in anything but his own death, when Pyotr looked at him. Why have you brought me a southerner? Matvey stuttered. I- You wanted Silvas husband. And how would you know what I wanted, Matvey? I happened to That is, Anatoli told me what you wished, to capture Vasha and Silva, and Silvas bride. Pyotr shook his head. Eavesdropping again? I thought Id whipped that bad habit out of you already. Matvey paled almost as white as Silva. His father continued in his smooth, soft voice. If youd had even half the brains of Anatoli, youd learn to lie better. Anatoli didnt speak to you of this, because if he did, he would have told you

that I wanted Vasha, and Silva, and I wanted Silvas new husband eliminated. How else can we protect my dear, under-aged nephew from harm? Silva tensed, and Bey prepared himself. He wouldnt go down without a hell of a nasty fight. Matvey licked his lips again, looking confused. He glanced at Silva and back at his father. Wereprotecting Silva? Of course, Pyotr murmured. He stood up slowly, making his halting way off the throne and onto the reeded floor with his pages following behind like frightened shadows. Valeri has treated Silva shamefully, trying to force him into such an early marriage, and then letting him run off to the South to be taken advantage of by some amoral southerner. Someone soyoungcan hardly be blamed for the flaws of his guardian. Its obvious Silva is in need of protection. A hand reached out and stroked over Silvas cheek. Silva yanked his face away and glared. Im sure the prince will agree, once he receives my letter expressing our deepest concern for Silvas welfare. Anyone would understand our desire to help our own blood once hes come to us, begging for sanctuary. I wouldnt beg you for a scrap of bread, Silva spat. Pyotr smiled benignly and hit him so hard in the face that Silva spat blood onto the floor. Bey erupted furiously, his only thought to tear out the bastards throat, and hit the ground when the men around him leapt for him, pinning him to the floor. Silvas uncle barely spared him a glance. Youre too young to know what you need, nephew. And the prince will make sure that we have the proper means to aid you, when he grants permission for Matvey here to make you his bride. Very self-sacrificing of my son, isnt it? The perfect way to ensure Valeri loses any right to demand your return. Matvey swallowed hard. He looked almost as shocked as Silva. But, father- I told you I had your bride chosen. This will put us in favor with the prince, going so far to do our duty by my nephew, simply to protect him from his own father. Youre out of your mind if you think Ill go along with this, Silva spat, still pale despite the vivid red welt against his cheek. Pyotr smiled and hit him again, waiting until Silva shakily lifted his head back up to glare up at him from the floor. Bey struggled wildly against the bodies pinning him down, unable to break free and beat the fucker unconscious. Youll find were very traditional here. Brides are not to speak unless given permission. Im no bride, Silva hissed. Not yet. Pyotr finally looked at Bey, like he might stare at a snail on a piece of rotting garbage. Toss him over the falls. I need it to look like a natural drowning. Just in case. A familiar high tenor answered. Of course, father. The man speaking stepped from behind Bey. Zhenya? He was one of Pyotrs sons too?

You fucking rat bastard. You fucking touch me and Ill- Another of the soldiers holding him slammed down into his back, knocking the air out of him. Bey could barely breathe as he was wrestled to his feet. Zhenya didnt even have the grace to look ashamed for having acted like he wasnt a complete asshole on the trip here. His face was completely blank. Leave him be! Silva started struggling as well. Bey kicked out, bucking as he was dragged out of the room. Silvas voice yelling his name echoed behind him. Zhenyas men pulled him out of the great hall and into the courtyard. The man started toward a set of stairs leading up the outer wall. Bey could see the spray of the waterfall shooting above it. He thought he heard Silvas voice screaming for him one last time just before the door closed behind them.

Chapter 10 Dead Bey twisted in between the arms of two guards, every dirty trick hed ever learned snapping out at vulnerable toes and groins. Im going to skin you like a rotten eel and pound your insides to fucking jelly! Another three men whod been standing just outside the doors came up. Bey nearly puked as one jabbed him in the stomach before he could do anything else. Save your breath, bride. Youll be the one turning to jelly soon. The large bastard smiled with a nasty grin and Bey wished he had puked, right on the mans embroidered cuffs. This one hadnt been with them outside the castle. He deserved a good first impression. Battling every step, Bey couldnt keep away from the stairs leading up to the wall, and the falls. His eyes caught short, wild glimpses of the inner bailey with every jerk forward. The main hall looming behind him blocked a good third of it, but there were armed men everywhere. Guards at the portcullis, guards practicing in the yard, guards hovering along the battlement. The only place there werent guards were the damn stone steps that were getting nearer no matter how hard Bey fought. The main castle was set up against the back wall with the stairs running in between both like a dark tunnel. Bey couldnt see the stairs where the shadow cast by the huge building draped over them, the shade nearly black this late in the day. As they managed to get him onto the stairs, the dark void swallowed the wide steps like a gaping pit. Bey pulled desperately and whipped his head up so he could see the walls above them. Almost no guards there. And if he couldnt see into the shadows, none of the guards on the wall likely could, either. The perfect time to get free. Snapping with his teeth at the man holding his right arm, Bey turned his neck to scan the wall again. Why were there so few guards on this side? Where were they hiding? Everywhere else had enough guards to fuel a bonfire made of dicks. The roar of the falls sent his nerves jangling with renewed vigor as it answered the question instantly. Backed up against the cliff, the falls pouring over the side near the corner, why would they need guards? Who was going to attack them from this side?

So who was going to stop Bey from getting away from this side? Bey grew more vicious, testing the hold on his arms. They were still tied behind him, but hed deal with it as soon as he was free. Get a sword, cut the bonds. Bey would think of something, because Silva was not going to be left alone with his uncle to be married off like some damsel in distress. The guards grips slipped around his arms, barely keeping him reined in. Patches of ice smeared over the ridges carved in the steps, left-overs from the spray, and made them all slip to the side as Bey kicked out. He tried to breathe in through the veil that was picking up droplets of the icy water filling the air, then lashed out again, nearly catching one man in the balls. They responded with a particularly vicious punch to the head and Bey slumped in their arms. Took them long enough. Silva would have taken a prisoner out at the first squirm. Stumbling, Bey dragged his feet as though dazed. His eyes closed to slits where he could gauge how close they were to the shadows where he could lash out. Lull them a bit, let Zhenya look back at him just like that, thinking Bey was some pathetic May boy who could be subdued that easily. Dumb bastard. Bey wouldnt be subdued if they cut off his testicles. Hed just be pissed enough to make sure no one made it out alive. The guards swore as they slipped on another patch of ice and nearly dropped Bey. His knees hit the ground so hard Bey thought for a moment that hed cracked his knee cap. Another issue to take up with Silvas cousin the second he was free. Zhenya looked back at him from the step above and jerked his head impatiently. Another minute, with Bey limp and moaning softly in a way that sounded almost sexual, and then they were in the shadows between the keep and the wall. The red sunset hitting the stairs a few yards above them glittered off gouts of spray from the falls. But for now, they were in the shadows. Bey exploded. Lashing out with foot at the nearest guards knee, he knocked the man against the wall. Missed the knee, though, Bastard had twisted, avoiding the worst of the kick. Bey shoved himself to the other side, slamming the other bastard into the other wall. He collapsed as some fucker swept his legs. Bey was dragged back to his knees by the first guard, held there to face Zhenya as he knelt down and glared at him. Cease. Now. Fuck you and the bitch who birthed y- Zhenya punched him in the gut. The two guards tightened their grip as Bey sagged, wretching. We dont have time for this! Zhenya leaned in close, hand holding tight to the back of Beys head. His eyes darted behind them back down into the courtyard for a moment. Shut up and listen if you want to live to see Silva again, he hissed. What shit was the silver-haired prick trying to pull now? Kiss my sexy ass, you fuckin- Bey bit his tongue as Zhenya shook Beys head with a short jerk of his fist. Weve got a minute to speak, so listen well or youll end up at the bottom of the falls, southerner.

He glanced behind them again and swore. Directed his next words to the guards. Antons watching. You know how well he can see into the shadows. Get the southerner up. Move slowly, like hes making things more difficult. He is making things more difficult, the guard muttered. The men around Bey dragged him to his feet. With another covert glance behind them, Zhenya dropped back to keep in step; there was just enough room on the wide steps for all of them. The sound of the falls was muted in between the building and the wall, but Beys blood pumped so frantically through his veins that it was like the falls thrummed inside of him. Even dulled, the roaring water was loud enough that Zhenya had to lean in before Bey could hear what he was saying. The bastard twisted Beys arm a little as he did it, adding to the pain. Listen! Were taking you up to the back corner for your execution, just above where the falls drop over the edge. I always allow prisoners the choice to jump unassisted and retain their honor. Youll have a few seconds of freedom before the bowmen assume youre stalling and fill you with steel points. You need to use it. Zhenya was helping him? Bey stared into his face, seeing past the blue eyes and silver hair. Intensity, resolve, anger, but no deceit. All right, then. A few seconds. A few seconds might be all he needed. Once Im free, wheres the best place to- Fuck! Zhenya wrenched his arm up higher, nearly bending Bey over. Fucking asshole! Quiet! Do not try to escape on your own! Look at my cuff. Zhenya released Beys arm into the guards care and put a hand at Beys throat. He tilted his head back and up, aiming Beys eyes at the corner of the wall above him where the light shone. The veil pressed against Beys face and made it harder to breathe. Bey wanted to twisted his head and rip out Zhenyas wrist like a dog for nearly strangling him. Didnt matter if it was a naked, buxom farm maid or a silver-haired fanatic with Silvas eyes: Bey hated being unable to breathe. Zhenyas free hand pointed up to the falls, the inside of his wrist turned toward Bey. The veil loosened a hair. Zhenyas mouth hardly moved as he whispered, Look at it! See this design? Memorize it. The inside of Zhenyas cuffs had a different embroidery than the rest. The heavy silver silk made a blockier design, a squared spiral knot rather than the simple whorls on the rest of it. Bey took a few seconds; he wouldnt forget it or the bruises he was getting from Zhenyas hold. Got it. What would he need it for? Good. The top of the wall is decorated with carvings. When you get up on it, find the section with the same design. Stand directly on the design before you jump off. Zhenya let go of his face and they started up again. Bey growled, struggling again. Jump? From the wall? His entire body broke out in a sudden sweat, nausea curling around his body. They went up another step. Are you crazed? Zhenya growled back. I live with in the same house as my father. Sanity isnt a virtue here, bride. Bey spat at him and Zhenya grabbed his hair again. He pulled Beys head back until pains shot from his neck down his spine. Listen! If you dont want to die, you have to open your

blocked ears and listen! Bey stopped struggling, just long enough for Zhenya to lean in again. Dont jump far from the wall. Theres a ledge about two mens heights below, directly underneath the design that youre looking for. You cant see it with the spray, but its there. Itll be slick, so for the sake of the moon dont scrabble around. If you roll off, youre going straight to the canyon floor. Zhenya was earning himself a beating for touching Bey like this, but still, every movement of his face and body screamed sincerity. Bey tucked away everything that didnt make sense and focused on that. There was a ledge below the wall that he could get to. He trusted his instincts about people enough to believe that. A ledge with a drop that went on forever below it. Beys mouth dried up on him. Jump into the fucking canyon? Back in Varlan, Bey could have predicted the date that would happen: when the eternal gardens withered and died. The same day Bey passed up a blowjob from Silva. Now? Gods save him. Bey stared up at the cloud of glittering spray above the wall and swallowed the bile creeping up his throat. He could do this. If there was no other way, he could do it. But if there was any other solution that Bey could find when he was up on the wall, he was taking it, because jumping into open space was eating at the edges of his sanity. Swallowing, Bey stared into Zhenyas face and superimposed Silvas image on it. Bey was not letting him down again. He would do whatever he fucking had to. Zhenya spoke rapidly as he glanced above them and yanked sharply at Beys head again. Theres a natural tunnel that goes into the mountain from the ledge. There will be an oiled pouch just to the right, inside the entrance. It has a torch and some flints. Make your way along the main tunnel to the area that connects to the castle. Dont deviate. Some of the smaller tunnels branching off wind around enough that youll never find your way out. Ill meet you in the area with the fire, at the end of the tunnel. Theres a small bag with travel cakes and water. I wont be able to bring Silva until tomorrow night. Wait for me. The man still radiated sincerity, but two days? No way that was happening. Silva needed to be out and safe before anyone had a chance to fuck with him too badly. And there might still be a way to get out before they reached the wall. There was almost always a way. They got him moving again with little effort. Bey watched the shadows paling as they climbed, calculating quickly how far he might be able to run before bowstrings sung after him. Enough time to get some shelter behind the castle? If he could just get his arms free Zhenya stopped them one last time; a few of the forward guards were already highlighted by the sunlight above them. Dont try to run on your own. Youll end in a bloody smear. If you have any love for your husband at all, youll trust me and jump. Idont know what condition hell be in by the time I can get him out. If he doesnt have someone to help him away from here at that point, I dont know if hell make it. Bey stared at him. Zhenya had the same hair as Silva, face not quite as thin, eyes not quite the right shape, but blue and piercing. And Bey could hear Silva so clearly, looking at him.

We need to LEAVE, Bey! Bey blinked, scoffing at himself, but he couldnt shake the feeling of familiarity. Zhenya had that same intensity, like he knew what was the right thing to do, and it shook Bey to see it. Zhenya glanced up the stairs and suddenly turned and hit Bey hard in the stomach again. Bey vomited, cursing at him weakly while the guards carried him over the mess. A guard stationed on the wall above laughed and made some comment to another man next to him. Bey hadnt even seen them. Fucking Zhenya. He could have done something else to sell it. The second Bey saw him again, Zhenya was getting a face full of fist. Reminded Bey of why he didnt trust anyone, no matter how sincere they were. Lecher. Nobody but Silva. Sometimes. You fucking princess, get your pathetic, womanly ass up! Dont you fucking dare die! Bey closed his eyes, the hollow pain in his chest fighting for dominance with the nausea in his gut. Always. He trusted Silva always. Stupid ice princess. Bey had to get out of this and get Silvas pale ass away. They were almost out of the shade now, just a few more steps. Struggle, Zhenya said suddenly, leaning in to hiss it loudly just loud enough to be heard over the falls. Anton will be watching. We need a reason it took longer to get out of the shadows. No problem. Bey took a fierce delight in slamming his head into Zhenyas face and jabbing a foot down on the nearest guards instep. They both swore, Zhenya lurching back. Bey got a heavy boot near his knee just as they emerged into the light, along with another painful wrench to his arms. He yelled out hoarsely, swearing at them all. It would look like theyd hit his knee directly rather than just below it. Which still hurt like a mules kick, but he had full use of his leg. Bey fought like a rabid dog as they walked towards the corner of the wall. It had a wide, flat ledge filling the corner and ran along the side, as long as two hay carts. Dragged over, he used the opportunity to swing his head around and look. Was there any other way he could get out of here? Guards lined the side wall. Not good. Another two were at the corner, bows ready. Really not good. Everyone was watching him. Trying-to-fuck-a-rabid-bear-with-a-stick not good. Bey bared his teeth, the roar of the falls loud enough to block anything he said. And then they were at the edge. The wall here was many feet thick, with a sheer drop on either side. There wasnt even a parapet aside from the few feet of overlap where Bey was expected to climb up.

Zhenyas men pushed him at the wall. One sliced through the bindings on his arms. Beys limbs fell to his sides, useless for a few seconds as the guards let go. Zhenya gestured. Up on the wall. They wanted Bey to get up on the damn fucking wall, falls on one side, courtyard drop on the other, ice coating the top in the cold. Not going to happen. Hed get out of here another way. There had to be another way. Looking at the wide, misty expanse of canyon over the edge of the wall, Bey swallowed painfully, his head swimming. The height was breath-stealing. He couldnt move. He couldnt hear anything but the roaring falls. And he couldnt see another way off. There were too many men, and the wall was too icy to successfully climb down, even if the guards all politely shot at squirrels rather than filling him full of holes. Bey shuddered, eyes trapped staring at the canyon. How the fuck was he going to do this? He couldnt stop himself from struggling, cursing wildly when the guards lost their patience and shoved him up on top of the wall. One of them wrapped their arm around his neck as they fought and took the opportunity to growl his into his ear. Trust Zhenya! He could have simply let you die at the foot of the falls, southerner! Bey wanted to fling himself back down and take them all with him off the wall, if he was going to go, and instead found himself on top, just enough room to take a step from front to back. He glanced back at the Zhenya. Jump! Zhenya yelled. It was an order and a reminder, both. Bey turned. He closed his eyes and swayed. The ground was so damned far down he couldnt even see it. He had to take a deep breath, getting a face full of silt-laden spray, and then opened his eyes again to look for the next place on the wall to step. The spray spilled over the wall with every gust of wind, testing Beys balance. It saturated his veil and blinded his eyes until he forced them to ignore the pinpricks of icy water. The canyon loomed, partially obscured by the water, but not enough. Swaying again, Bey took a clumsy step to the side. The wind screamed past in a sudden gust and Bey lost his footing, stumbling to the side another few steps before he caught his balance, white faced and shaking. He stared at his toes, breathing hard, trying to look at the stone under his feet and nothing else. The design caught his eye next to his right foot. A knotted square spiral, turning in on itself, gouged out of the top of the wall. It looked as old as the symbols around it, but it was still easily deep enough to see. He was supposed to jump from here? Bey wrenched his head around to look at Zhenya one last time. Blue eyes focused on him, stray silver hair whipped around his face in the wind. Zhenyas expression was flat and cold. But the intensity it was like looking into Silvas eyes when hed been haranguing Bey to leave. Just before Silvas face had gone slack from his brothers magic, when his blue eyes had been glassy and blank.

Please, for once in your stubborn life, just trust me. Bey snarled, twisting back to stare over the edge into a solid white wall of white, rumbling water. His knees almost collapsed. Zhenya, youd better not screw me, or Ill come back and haunt you until you slit your own throat, he muttered, teeth clenched. He couldn't see anything, definitely not the damned ledge. Just a huge, formless void covered by rushing tons of water spraying into the air. Bey thought of Silva, with his ice princess voice turned on full blast. just trust me. Using every bit of courage Bey ever had, plus some he felt that he must be borrowing from some benevolent god, he jumped. Bey nearly bit his tongue trying not to scream. He fell for a terrifying, disorienting second and slammed against stone. He gouged a furrow along the inside of his mouth as his face hit the stone and his teeth hit the inside of his cheek. Bey spread out, grasping with clumsy, gloved hands at the stone, terrified he was going to roll off one way or another. His heart was still pounding more loudly in his ears than the heavy thrum of the roaring falls when he finally accepted that he wasnt dead. Still alive. Hed been right: Zhenya hadnt lied. At least not to Bey. The question was, why? Shivering - and he was never going to mention that fact to anyone, ever - Bey let his eyes adjust to his surroundings. A dark, jagged hole was to his left, in the wall. Weaker than a starving urchin, he crawled there, clinging to the ledge with his fingers and toes. He didnt breathe easily until he was fully surrounded by the dark. Off the ledge and away from the hideous drop around it. Slumped against the rough stone of the cave, Bey slowly pulled himself back together. He didnt know how long it took him, only that his body was shivering with fine trembles from the cold rather than fear by the time he could pay attention. Bey looked back at the only illumination in the cave: the misty white entrance, turned a golden color now with the sunset. He could see that it had been a natural ledge at one time, the well-weathered surface was familiar, but someone had widened it out and added masonary around the edges. Bey couldn't even imagine how you would keep it dry enough for that to work, right next to the waterfall as it was. But it was easier to hit now. Before, one in a thousand might have landed on it. Now, Bey thought that anyone standing on the design would hit it every time they leapt to their death. As long as the ice coating the ledge didnt have them slipping off into the abyss, it was a pretty sure bet to catch any jumpers. This was not a first time occurrence, obviously. Zhenya must have helped more than just Bey. But so the hell what? It was always easy to tell a few truths to gain trust; everyone and their mother knew that. Oldest cons in the book always involved a little truth to draw in the guileless. Truth didnt mean trust should be given. After all, Zhenya hadnt said anything about what was going to happen after he brought Silva into the caves, only that he was going to. For all Bey knew, Zhenya had a nice little slaving trade

going on here with all the warm bodies who was supposed to be executed. Get a little trust and then make a little profit. Bey could see a set up like that without too much effort. As Bey found the small cache of torches Zhenya had told him about, sealed against the water and easy to light with the flint, his mind ran in complicated circles. He lit the torch and headed into the blackness, leaving the falls behind. What was Zhenyas angle? Bey didnt believe for a minute that it was Bey and Silvas welfare. If hed been all that concerned for their safety, he could have let them go any time on the journey here. More than once thered only been a guard or two on Silva, with the deep woods right next to them. Matvey hadnt kept them apart and in the middle of the camp like Vasha had. There shouldnt have been any issues with overtaking a guard and helping Bey and Silva get away. Two of the men whod dragged Bey up onto the wall had been with them the entire way. Zhenya would have had help with any rescue efforts hed decided on. So why the hell do it now, when it was ten times harder to get out? Didnt make any sense at all, and that had Beys hackles bristling high. He was getting Silva as soon as the castle slept, when the darkness was fuller, whatever Zhenya thought was going to happen. With his hood up and his veil concealing his features, Bey thought there was a good chance he could sneak through the castle without getting caught. The most difficult part would be finding Silva, then finding a way out of this ill-begotten cesspit. Whether Bey had to torture the first guard he saw or follow one around like a sex-starved puppy, hed find out where Silva was. Then they could get out of here. Silva would understand. Neither of them could simply sit and wait for someone to save their asses from the fire. Bey banged his head on the stone ceiling and saw stars for a moment. The entire top of the cave was getting lower the farther he went. Shit, was he still going on the right path? Cursing under his breath, Bey retraced his steps and started making his way into the tunnel again, paying more attention this time. Yes, there were a lot of small paths and passageways leading out, but none of them were as broad as the one he was on. It was just getting a bit tight for comfort. Bey made his way forward carefully, ducking to avoid another concussion from a hanging spike of rock. He had to walk in a crouch at one point to get through. Glad Im not afraid of small spaces, he muttered. Heights were plenty for one man to deal with. The tunnel opened back up quickly, leaving the natural cave behind. Marks from man-made tools gouged the walls now, crudely chipping away the surrounding rock, and after far too long, stone blocks replaced the irregular smoothness of the floor. Bey could hear his own footsteps echo strangely, giving the false impression of another set of feet, following in the darkness. He would have been happier if someone else had been there; hed feel much better with someone to beat on until he could leave. The torch cast shadows that flickered in and out of the passageways leading off to the sides. The blocks went up to the edges and then stopped, leaving the uneven edges of the cavern to take

over again in each side-passage. Bey shivered, feeling a small eddy of air cooling the bare skin around his eyes, and wondered if any of the openings led outside too. It might be worth exploring, very very carefully. If Zhenya tried to betray them, or they were found out before they could get out of the castle, this might not be a bad place to hole up for a while. Bey would need to get some extra food and hide it somewhere safe in here. He shivered again. Yeah, and some damn blankets. He thought of Silva. And an oil. Or lotion. Anything slippery and wet that Bey could use to sink into Silvas body and let them both forget all this shit. It had been over two weeks since Bey had been inside of anything other than his own hand. They needed this. And Silva. Bey would find him, and whatever had happened to him, theyd get him through it. Bey didnt doubt there would be something. Pyotr was too vicious, and life too uncaring, for Silva to come through this unscathed. But Silva was strong, and Bey was going to utterly destroy everyone who had any part in hurting him, no matter how long that took. Knowing your enemies had died, and died badly, was a good way to get through the pain. Turning a sharp corner in the passage, Bey examined where it finally ended. There was a solid door, opened already, leading into a small room that had nothing left of the original cave. It was all tightly fitted blocks of stone. Creeping up on it, torch held in his hand so he could use it as a weapon if he had to, Bey shoved the door open all the way. No one was there. The room was tiny, smaller than Silva and Beys quarters in Varlan. There was a door on the far end, a simple cot to the side with a crude table next to it, and a small bit of food and a jug of water, as promised. The fireplace set into the side wall opposite the cot had a tidy fire burning already with a supply of wood in the wood bin that would last for nearly a week. A sconce in the wall waited to accept Beys torch. All Bey had to do was wait. Yeah, and offer to bend over for the entire guardhouse while he was waiting. Never going to happen. Bey sat down and ate a bite of food, ignoring his nausea and the complete lack of interest in consuming anything at all. He needed to keep up his strength, get warm, and get Silva as soon as he could. Bey could barely stop himself from heading out to find him immediately. But as much as Silva teased him about jumping into the fray, he wasnt suicidal. He needed night time, with most people sleeping. Not to mention the dim torchlight to help conceal his identity until he could get close enough to the people who werent sleeping. And then he could hurt them. Waiting, for a little while, would be better. Wait until dark. While Pyotr and that slug Matvey were doing who-knew-what to Silva. Bey snarled, punching out

at the wall. He couldnt get Silva now. He couldnt. There was no way he could do it right now and not get caught. But letting Silva suffer while he waited, unmolested, in this ridiculous little room, was agony. Vision of Silva ran through his head, one scenario after another. Silva trying to escape and dragged back to be whipped. Silva screaming as they sliced the bottom of his feet to keep him from running. Silva stripped and bound, Matvey forcing himself on him over and over andFucking son of a bitch! He hit at the wall again, breathing raggedly. Bey looked at the blood on his knuckles and hit again. The pain helped him think. The pain made him feel connected to Silva, stupidly enough. Ill make sure they all suffer, he growled. Even Zhenya, if the bastard didnt try to intervene with anything done to Silva. There was no way Zhenya would make Bey believe that he couldnt keep Silva whole, if he really wanted to. Bey finished off the food quickly, chugging a good portion of the water. He stood near the fire, gloves off and coat unbuttoned to help him warm up. Dyring off could wait until later. As soon as he was warm enough to be safe, he wrapped himself back up like a package in his gloves and coat, plucked his torch out of the sconce, and started back to the cliffside. With firelight as his only illumination in the room, he couldnt tell when the sun set. He would need to be at the falls entrance to see the flow of daylight. And he needed to explore. Better if he found a few good hidey holes before he searched for Silva. Certainly better to have an escape route rather than wait for Zhenya like a plump partridge in a cage. If he were Silva, he might hope that Zhenya was as much on their side as he seemed. Bey didnt work that way. One of the few things Bey had total faith in was that people could come up with a thousand reasons to tap into the worst parts of themselves. So, Bey would make plans. Hed hide the remaining water, at the very least, where Zhenya couldnt find it. And then once night had completely fallen, he was going for Silva. He just hoped Silva kept his head so he wasnt too damaged. Bey hated thinking about Silva being tortured or raped so much he still wanted to pound the wall until his hands were jelly, but that didnt make it untrue. But he also knew with Silva thinking Bey had been killed, he wouldnt rest until Pyotr and Zhenya were dead. Bey clamped down on the fear that thought sent flying through him. Silva had never agreed with Bey that there came a time and place where he needed to buckle under and take the hit sometimes. He always fought. Silva didnt understand that moment where you gave up and gave in. He never understood that, no matter how often Bey had tried to pound that point into his head. There were points in life where you ate your principles and did whatever the fuck you had to in order to survive another minute. And then you crawled up off your belly, licked you wounds, and found the person whod knocked you flat and gutted them in their sleep. All you have to do is survive the day, princess. Just dont fucking give up. Bey gave in and slammed his fist into the wall one more time, just thinking about everything that might be done to

Silva. In all the time Bey had known him, there was something about Silva that never tarnished. As much as it drove him crazy, Bey had always admired that a little bit. But thinking of that shine rusting away underneath all of Pyotrs cruelty? Bey couldnt allow that. He fucking couldnt. If Pyotr and Matvey hurt Silva at all, they were corpses. They just didnt know it yet.