A Bond of Three (21 page)

Tanish stepped in front of Malin. “I shall go first with the lamp.” He held it aloft and began his careful descent into the gloom, Malin close behind him, his staff tapping against the stone steps. At the foot of the stairs was a wide room with a low ceiling, lamps fixed to the walls. Tanish used his lamp to light them, and a warm glow filled the room.

All he could see were stone chests of varying sizes, each one covered in intricate carvings. They stood against the walls, on top of each other, filling the available space. In the center of the room was a bare wooden table and an ornate, carved chair.

There are so many of them.
Tanish could only guess at the wealth of information contained within them. “How old are these chests, Malin?”

Malin chuckled. “As old as this palace, though there are some that are older. And this place has stood for many centuries. There could be parchments in these chests that date back to the first rulers of Teruna.”

Tanish caught his breath.
So much history in one place. And who knows how far back they span?

When he grew aware of Malin’s silence, he looked at the older man.

Malin was smiling. “What will you do with all this knowledge when you are king, Tanish?”

Tanish knew
exactly
what he would do. “I would bring scholars here and have them go through every text, documenting what they find, to share it with the people. There must be events chronicled here that have long been forgotten.” He shook his head. “I do not understand why past kings have not made use of the wealth of knowledge they must contain. Surely we can learn much from the past.”

“And what if the texts reveal some dark past? Are some things best forgotten?”

Tanish scowled. “Then we should learn from our past mistakes, as well as our successes.”

Malin beamed. “There speaks the future king of Teruna. A pity I shall not live to see your reign, for I have no doubt it will be a splendid one.”

Tanish’s cheeks bloomed with heat at Malin’s words. Then he stiffened when he heard a faint cry from above. “Someone is calling for you, Malin.” There was an urgent edge to the sound.

Malin raised his head and listened intently. He grew pale. “Something is wrong.”

Tanish darted around the room and snuffed out the lamps before grabbing one and leading the way up the stone stairs, Malin doing his best to keep up. When Tanish pushed open the door and pulled aside the hanging, he heard Sorran’s shout. Tanish stood to one side to let Malin pass into the throne room.

Sorran visibly sagged with relief when he saw them. “The king needs you,” he blurted out.

An icy hand crept over Tanish’s skin. He and Malin went swiftly to his father’s chamber. The king sat on the windowsill, head resting against the stone, his breathing labored.

Malin was at his side in seconds. “How fares Your Majesty?”

Tanish barely caught the whispered words between Malin and his father, but Malin’s reaction spoke loudly. He jerked his head sharply in Tanish’s direction. “Help me get your father to his bedchamber, quickly.”

“Let me help you.” Sorran was at the king’s side, already easing him from his sitting position. Tanish mirrored him, and between them they lifted the king and walked him toward the door.

By the time they entered the corridor, several servants had appeared, their expressions distraught. It was a careful, watchful convoy that helped the king to his bedchamber. King Feolin was pale, his breathing erratic.

Tanish’s stomach roiled as he watched the servants lay his father on the bed. “Malin, this cannot be the end. It is too soon.” All of a sudden he was greedy for more time with his father.

Malin patted his shoulder. “Do not despair, Tanish. I have seen him thus, and yes, his condition has worsened, but I do not think he is at the end of his days. Though my previous estimate now seems a little generous.” His gaze never left the king. “At this moment he is not fully aware of what is happening around him. Go now, both of you. He would be appalled to learn that you saw him thus. Return this evening when he has rested.”

Reluctantly, Tanish nodded. Sorran joined him from the other side of the bed, his face grave. Tanish was comforted when Sorran slipped his hand around Tanish’s.

“Malin speaks wisely,” Sorran added quietly. “Let me take you away from this, Tanish.”

A sob caught in his throat as Tanish gazed at his father, now sleeping, the rise and fall of his chest without rhythm. “Very well.” His voice quavered. He tightened his fingers around Sorran’s warm hand and allowed his betrothed to lead him from the bedchamber, their pace slow. Once outside, Tanish bit his lip. “Oh, Sorran, how he looked.” He could not tear the image from his brain: his father, weak, frail in appearance, so unlike the father he remembered from his childhood.

Sorran stopped him and put his arms around him. Their cheeks pressed together, Sorran’s breath warm against his ear. “Then let me comfort you. Feyar and I shall ease your troubled heart this night. We shall hold you and provide a shield against the thoughts that batter your mind. Let us?”

The image of the three of them in bed, entwined around one another, brought Tanish a small measure of peace.

“Yes,” he agreed, and then kissed Sorran’s cheek. “I would have that with you. When you have bathed, join me in my bedchamber. Feyar will await us there.”

Sorran smiled. “I will be swift.” He returned Tanish’s kiss and moved quickly along the corridor to the staircase that led up to their chambers.

Tanish watched him leave, the knot in his belly becoming looser as he thought of Feyar and Sorran holding him, giving him solace. It was only then that he realized how close he and Sorran had become during the last few days.

He… fits into my life, as though he were meant always to be there.

The thought brought him contentment.

Chapter 15

S
ORRAN
ENTERED
Tanish’s bedchamber and stopped at the sight that met his eyes. Feyar sat on the bed, supported by pillows, Tanish cradled in his arms. The love between the two men was so overwhelming that it made his heart ache. Feyar was speaking softly, stroking up and down Tanish’s spine, and now and again bestowing small, sweet kisses to his forehead and the top of his head. Tanish rested his head against Feyar’s chest, his eyes closed.

Sorran held himself still, unwilling to disturb them.

But then Feyar glanced up and smiled. “Please, join us. You are welcome here.”

Tanish turned his head and held out his hand to Sorran. “Feyar speaks truth. I too would welcome your presence.”

Sorran climbed onto the bed and approached them. He knelt before them, gazing with concern at Tanish. “Your father’s state of health tears at you.” He could see it all around Tanish, the dark flickers of color, mirrored by Feyar.

Tanish nodded. “I have never seen him thus. I know death comes for us all, but I would have more time with him.” His eyes sparkled and he wiped at them. “You must think me so weak, to behave in such a fashion.”

Sorran drew closer and cupped Tanish’s chin. “Not weak, my betrothed. I see a son who loves his father and who fears losing him.” He leaned forward and kissed Tanish on the mouth, nothing more than a brushing of lips. Tanish closed his eyes, and Sorran kissed his eyelids, the trace of his tears damp against Sorran’s lips, then his forehead. “I would not see you in pain. It makes me ache inside.” He spoke the truth. Seeing Tanish in such torment tugged at his heart.

He caught his breath when Feyar brought his mouth to theirs and joined them in one kiss after another. These kisses were of such sublime sweetness that Sorran yearned for more. Tanish put his arms around them both and drew them to him, sighing when the kiss ended. Sorran felt the sigh echo within him.

“Put aside your fears for one night,” Feyar bade Tanish. “Your father sleeps, and rest can only do him good. We have other things to occupy us. I, for one, have a promise to keep.” His gaze met Sorran’s and his eyes glittered. “Unless our shy prince here has forgotten our plans.” Feyar grinned.

Heat raced through Sorran. He could feel the flush rising up his body until his cheeks glowed.

Tanish chuckled. “Oh, I think Sorran remembers.” His face broke into a smile. “And I grow impatient to see how he receives your… instruction.” He rose up onto his knees and moved closer to Sorran until his breath tickled Sorran’s ear. “For when Feyar finishes teaching you, then I shall find out for myself how diligent a student you are.”

A wave of desire washed over Sorran, spreading icy fingers up and down his spine while heat bloomed in his groin. He swallowed and lifted his chin to look Feyar in the eye. “Teach me, then.”

Feyar’s grin widened. “Oh, I like this prince, my
terushan
. See how responsive he is?” He released Tanish and moved over to where Sorran knelt on the bed. His voice dropped. “Remove my robe,
dorishan
.” He locked gazes with Sorran.

Sorran stared at him. “Oh.” He knew the word. His heart soared at hearing it on Feyar’s lips.

Feyar stilled. “You understood?”

Sorran nodded. “You called me
my sweet one
.” He could not hold back his smile as he gently untied Feyar’s dark blue robe and slipped it from his shoulders, revealing the broad, furred chest he loved to touch.

Feyar’s smile lit up his face. “That you are. Your touch is sweet, your kisses sweeter still.” Then his smile changed as a hungry expression stole across his features. “There are other parts to you that are sweet too. And I would taste them now.”

“Oh yes, as would I.” Tanish’s voice was whisper-quiet in the chamber.

That earlier heat spread throughout Sorran’s body.

Feyar pointed toward the door that led to Tanish’s balcony. “Take off your robe and stand in the open doorway. None shall see you, but for what I have in mind, you will need to support yourself.”

Sorran did as instructed, although he wondered about the need of support. The warm evening air caressed his naked form, and he closed his eyes, his arms outstretched to the sides. He heard the soft rustle of fabric and knew the others approached him nude. His cock rose at the thought. He shivered when he felt both Feyar and Tanish stroke his flesh, each kissing his shoulders.

“Tanish shall kneel before you, and I behind.” Feyar’s voice was soft in his ear. “And then we shall begin.”

Sorran waited, hardly daring to breathe, his eyes tight shut once more. When he felt a hot, wet mouth encase his already solid cock, he gasped.

“Eyes open, Sorran. Look down and watch Tanish’s lips around your length.”

He opened his eyes and watched Tanish work his cock. It was the most arousing thing he had ever seen, observing his glistening shaft sliding between those lips, those dark eyes regarding him without ceasing. He moved to place his hands on Tanish’s head, but Feyar stopped him.

“You will need to hold on to the walls,
dorishan
, for what comes next.”

Sorran finally understood when Feyar knelt behind him, spread his cheeks wide with both hands, and pressed his face into Sorran’s crease to kiss his hole. Feyar’s beard was silky against his skin. “Oh, by the heavens.” He shuddered at the feel of them both. He thrust with his hips to fill Tanish’s mouth and moaned when Feyar used his tongue like a cock and penetrated him.

Between them they set up a rhythm of sorts, one that had Sorran’s thighs shaking within minutes as they worked together to send him higher and higher. Tanish reached around him to spread him for Feyar’s tongue, and Feyar took advantage of this to run his hands over Sorran’s body. Sorran cried out at this sensual onslaught as Tanish’s head bobbed over his cock, the sounds emanating from him leaving Sorran in no doubt that his intended was enjoying every second of this.

When Feyar pulled back, Sorran let out a groan of disappointment, only to have the breath leave his body when Tanish released him. Feyar turned Sorran toward him, lifted him into his arms, and carried him back to the bed. Sorran clung to him, body trembling. Feyar lowered him onto the bed, and Tanish moved to stand by Sorran’s head.

“On your hands and knees, my prince,” Feyar bade him. “Tanish’s cock still requires your special attention.”

Sorran complied without hesitation, and Tanish pushed at his lips with his long, wide cock. Sorran sucked the head hungrily but let out a harsh cry when he felt Feyar press a single finger inside him. He dropped his head to the bed and moaned at the sensation.

“I have… never penetrated myself,” he told Feyar with a shiver.

“It will feel strange at first,” Feyar told him, slowly moving his finger in and out of Sorran’s body, making him shudder. “But be patient. Remember that knot of flesh inside Tanish?” All of a sudden Sorran groaned as Feyar touched something inside him. He chuckled. “Ah, there it is.”

“
Ohhhhh
.” Sorran let out a long, drawn-out moan and pushed back, eager for more. “By the Maker, that feels good.” Feyar withdrew and then there were two fingers easing into him, making Sorran feel full.

Tanish stroked his hair and bent low to speak in his ear. “Feyar readies you for his cock. And
my
cock wilts from neglect.” He chuckled and nudged his length past Sorran’s lips. Sorran took as much into his mouth as he could, moaning around the solid column of flesh, while Feyar stroked inside him, sending wave after wave of desire pulsing through him. Feyar moved faster, plunging his fingers deeper into Sorran, and each time he nudged that tiny knot, Sorran felt as if he were on the point of release.