Lyrion's Gift [Elven Conceptions 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (9 page)

At least none of the prince’s council was present to witness his humiliation. Aside from two armored guards at the door, and the servants who had delivered him and withdrawn to the back of the room, he was alone with his two former lovers.

Finally, the prince spoke.

“I have reached a decision as to your future,” he announced. “I have decided to send you back to your village. The guards will escort you in the morning. You and Kevris were correct all along—I should never have taken you from your family by force. There are gentler and better ways to woo a man. I ought to have availed myself of them, but it is too late for that now.”

Lyrion could hardly believe what he was hearing. Instinctively his hands went to the center of his tunic. He could feel the warmth of the mark through the fine threads of the fabric. “But what of the heir?”

“What of him? He will be my son wherever you choose to raise him. I intend to live for many years yet, and when the time comes for me to pass the crown, I shall send for him. And I shall not have him brought back here in chains, I can assure you.”

Still stunned, and half expecting the prince’s words to form some sort of trap, Lyrion took a deep breath and bowed. “I would very much like to see my village again—my Da and Fa,” he said. “However, the main reason is that I would like to take my leave of them honorably. As for the raising of the future prince, of course I want him to know his grandparents, and for them to enjoy him when the time arrives. But I think, on the whole, he would be happier and better served to live with you and Kevris—as I know I would be. I can only hope you will allow me to return once my visit to my home is completed.”

Lyrion held his breath as Talek stood, stepped down from his chair, and strode purposefully toward him. Kevris followed, obviously biting back a smile. Lyrion hardly had time to consider what his expression might mean before he felt himself swept up in the prince’s strong arms and crushed against his chest. He did not think he imagined the mark growing warmer as it incubated between their bodies. He wondered if the prince felt it, too.

“I should be honored and pleased beyond all measure to raise the prince in my own palace,” Talek said, stroking his hand through Lyrion’s hair. “And my heart will be honored to invite both of my consorts to raise him along with me. We will have much to teach him—including lessons I myself did not master until it was almost too late.”

“The prince and I have been discussing the future of your village, too,” Kevris said. “We would like to suggest that the enchantment that has hidden them from us for so many years be lowered, at least temporarily, so our communities may reunite as one elven people. Then you—and the future prince—may visit whenever you like.”

“I think that is a wondrous idea,” Lyrion said without releasing the prince from his arms. “My people will hardly believe the things they will see here. Your way of life is, after all, most peculiar.”

“The first step is for me to visit your village in person,” Talek said. “As soon as I can arrange to be away for a suitable period of time, leaving both my father and the kingdom in trustworthy hands, ’tis my plan to accompany both of you to this wondrous place. Lyrion, will you be able to gain us entry?”

“As you know, the territory is hidden by an ancient spell that renders it invisible to strangers,” Lyrion said. “However, I know how to slip in and out and have done it many times. That was how I ended up here, in point of fact. I am certain I can lead you through it as well.”

“Excellent. Then we shall do exactly that.” Talek’s smile grew radiant. “It has been so long since I have been away from the palace. I am quite looking forward to our shared adventure.”

“But what of the…ah…the future prince?” Kevris asked, his gaze flicking to Lyrion’s midsection.

“We must proceed cautiously, of course, and see that Lyrion neither taxes nor harms himself as we travel. We should leave soon, before his condition becomes more advanced.” Talek looked up at Lyrion. “Do you agree?”

“Yes,” Lyrion said, struggling to hold his emotions in check. “I confess, I long to see my village, my family, and my friends again.”

“Come,” the prince said at last. “Let us go and plan our journey to the Forest of Shades. We shall bring Mulciber and Arowan as guards—only them, and not a full army. We do not wish to alarm Lyrion’s people. Additionally, I think it best if I accompany you in disguise, so that we may introduce the idea of amalgamation to your people gradually. What shall be a suitable cover for a prince?”

“Travelers from other enchanted lands occasionally pass through our village,” Lyrion said. “We keep an inn for just that purpose. My dear friend Gregar will no doubt be on duty there.”

“Then that will be our story. We shall say that you wandered from the village and Kevris and I discovered you in the forest. We shall tell your people we considered it our duty to bring you home.”

“That should work well,” Lyrion said. “My people are altruistic and would find that quite believable.”

“Then it is settled! I find myself growing more eager by the moment!” Talek stepped back clapped his hands in excitement. “I also look forward to meeting the two men who created and raised such a son as Lyrion.”

“No doubt we can learn much from them,” Kevris added. Laughing, he stepped forward and joined their embrace.

THE END

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Jade Astor is a longtime fan of male/male erotic love stories and got her start writing paranormal and scifi fan fiction back when such publications were still run off on photocopiers, stapled together, and shipped out to other fans in manila envelopes. Years later, she was delighted to find a thriving population of like-minded writers and readers in the e-book community. When she is not writing, Jade enjoys sculpting, tinkering with computers, and training (and retraining) her small herd of unruly but adorable rescued Chihuahuas.

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