Chapter Thirty
AFTER THREE DAYS of overseeing Netyere’s nobility let loose at a never-ending feast where wine and spirits flowed freely, Killian was itching for something to do.
He felt like he was on a high, and being stuck in one room, following a step behind Fyar all day was driving him crazy.
He was more than ready for the hunt to begin.
While the nobility partied, the palace staff made the final preparations. Readying the horses and the packs for what would be a long four days in the forest.
Six of the eight healer’s apprentices would ride along on the hunt, as would many of the King’s Guard. Extra protections and safeguards in case of emergency, but they were under strict orders not to interfere with the lords’ kills. No matter the circumstance.
There was a nervous energy humming through Killian as he made his way towards the infirmary wing, stopping periodically to chat with members of the Guard he met on the way.
Nothing was amiss. He’d had them on high alert with Lyra skulking around freely.
He made sure someone was always watching the prince. Discrete and from a distance.
Lyra was the perfect guest.
Kade was where Killian had learned to expect him on his sporadic visits to the infirmary, the station closest to the door, his back turned while he chatted quietly with his fellow apprentices. Not all of them seemed to be present, a few stations noticeably empty.
Pausing in the doorway, Killian watched silently for a moment, appreciating the ease and comfort in the way Kade existed in this space. He really was meant to be a healer.
The casual chattering ceased immediately once the apprentices caught sight of Killian hovering. It was the usual occurrence, not many in the palace dared to approach the Captain of the King’s Guard without a reason. It meant he was left blissfully alone by many a blubbering palace servant.
Hokda, hovering over an apprentice as they mixed herbs, groaned loudly. “What?”
Killian arched an eyebrow. “Well, well, aren’t you just glowing. Feeling better, Hokda?”
Hokda glowered at him as Killian grinned.
The last time Killian had seen Hokda, he’d been crawling out from under a banquet table, bleary eyed and still roaring drunk.
The healer had stumbled around a bit, searching for the exit, before ultimately giving up.
Hokda had then crawled his way across the hall to demand that Killian escort him to his room.
It was the most vulnerable and weak Killian had ever seen the healer, and it was delightful.
He was going to hold this over Hokda’s head forever.
“I need a word with you about tomorrow’s hunt,” said Killian.
Waving a hand dismissively, Hokda grunted, “In a minute.”
Killian pursed his lips, but seeing no way around it, he folded his arms behind his back and stepped to the side. One step towards the station closest to the door, though he made sure to keep plenty of room between him and its occupant.
Kade had straightened at the sight of Killian, his eyes brightening and a wide smile beginning to spread across his face before he’d caught himself and tried to school his expression to something akin to neutrality. It wasn’t half successful.
Coughing, Kade asked, “How are you?”
Killian bit back a smile of his own, and nodded. “Well. And you?”
Kade shrugged. “Alright.”
There was a stretched minute of silence in the room as Killian and Kade stared at each other, neither quite knowing what to say. They had parted ways just that morning, with a kiss before going off in opposite directions.
“It’s been an easy morning so far,” said Kade, fidgeting with his sleeve a bit. Apparently, he was also feeling the shift.
“Don’t jinx yourself,” Killian warned lightly. “Or else you’ll be stampeded.”
Inclining his head, Kade let out an small laugh.
The conversation—if it could be called a conversation—fizzled out, and in its wake there was another long pause.
Porthos and Taiga exchanged glances over Kade’s shoulder. Unsure of the unusually stiff and awkward atmosphere.
“Are you prepared to ride along on the hunt tomorrow?” Killian asked, grasping at straws for anything to say. “You were chosen, yes?”
Kade seemed grateful for the opportunity to fill the silence. “Oh. Yes. As prepared as I can be, I guess. I don’t really know what to expect. I don’t think any of us do.”
“You’ll do fine. Keep out of the way. Let the lords do the fighting, and don’t get gored. Simple.”
“Simple,” parroted Kade. “Right.”
This was awful. Short, clipped words that seemed more likely to be exchanged between strangers than so-called brothers.
Had Killian really forgotten how to talk to Kade when not in the safety of their room? In just three days?
Gods help him.
Killian was suddenly hyperaware of every word that passed between them in the presence of others. Prying ears and prying eyes that could pick apart their interactions and catch anything strange. Lives had been ruined over less.
Stuck, neither of them had seen Hokda slink over until he stood directly beside them, in the meter wide space they had left between them. Hokda’s eyes were pinging back and forth between Killian and Kade, confused and assessing.
“What’s wrong with you?” Hokda asked, baffled. Then, he suddenly brightened, clapping his hands excitedly. “Did you fight?” The healer wilted when both Killian and Kade both answered with a resounding no. “Then what is this? Why are you being weird?”
Killian shook his head, faking confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Fucking Hokda.
Kade cringed when Hokda’s piercing, inquisitive eyes turned on him alone. He dealt with it by simply turning away and getting back to work.
Hokda clicked his tongue and put his hands on his hips, leering at the two. “You so fought.”
Killian closed his eyes and turned his face towards the ceiling. “Fine. You caught us. You’re right, as always, oh great one. We fought. Can I speak with you in your office now?”
Hokda didn’t look impressed. “Will you tell me what you fought about?”
“Why are you so curious?”
“Because I’m sure it’s killing you on the inside that you fought with your precious baby brother, and that brings me endless joy.”
Killian leaned in close to Hokda and whispered, “You’re sick in the head.”
Hokda sneered. “I don’t want to hear that from you.” Then, he turned on his heel and started towards his office, waving Killian along with him. “Well, come on then, let’s get this over with so you can stop wasting my time.”
“I’m going to kill him someday, I swear it,” Killian grumbled under his breath. He turned to Kade, hesitating before following Hokda, and mumbled. “I’ll see you later.”
Kade gave him a grim smile and a nod.
The heat of the fire flickered across Killian’s sweat slick skin, the light flickering as darkness pooled at the edges of the room.
He hadn’t bothered with the oil lamps when he’d returned after his bath.
Fyar had released him early since he’d need to report for duty near dawn, hours earlier than usual.
The hunt was nearly upon them. Just a few hours until they’re let loose.
Kade had already been waiting for him, folded on the floor in a loose robe that split down the middle and slipped off his shoulder, exposing his entire upper body in the most tempting way, with a spread of food in front of the low burning fire.
His nose in a book to pass the time. He was stunning. The picture of domestic peace.
They had shared a quiet meal, though Killian’s eyes had been overwhelmingly drawn to the pert pink nipples on display the entire time. Salivating. Things had quickly devolved from there.
Killian flexed his fingers in the meat of Kade’s hips, his grip bruising.
He could feel Kade’s legs trembling, the muscles in his thighs fluttering as Kade braced himself against the slow, torturous way that Killian teased his insides, giving just enough to push closer to the edge but not nearly enough to summit.
Killian had Kade on his knees with his chest to the floor, his back arched almost painfully. The distracting, perfect pink nubs dragged on the rug with each of Killian’s thrusts, growing more and more sensitive from the constant friction.
It wasn’t enough for Kade, Killian could tell by the way the younger elf was squirming around, trying to shift his body into the right position so Killian could hit that perfect place inside.
“Killi, enough,” Kade panted, turning his head so he could meet Killian’s eyes over his shoulder. “Stop teasing.”
Tipping forward, Killian plastered himself to Kade’s back, using his weight to pin the other elf down further.
Their hips were flushed as Killian ground himself deep into Kade’s stomach.
“I’m not teasing. It’s called being gentle, which is what I thought you wanted. We wouldn’t want to break you so soon.”
“I’m not that fragile,” Kade snapped, shoving backwards to try and buck Killian off. “Move.”
Feisty.
Killian wanted to see more, so he stopped moving all together. He couldn’t help but grin against the back of Kade’s neck as the other elf let out a long, frustrated whine.
Kade glowered.
Clicking his tongue, Killian chided, “What am I going to do with you? You’ve already become so needy. So desperate.” He ran his nose along Kade’s jaw, inhaling deeply. “Ask me nicely.”
A shiver ran down Kade’s spine, and he bore down on Killian, tightening deliciously around his cock. Killian hissed at the waves of pleasure it sent racking through his body.
And then, Kade dared to hesitate. The seconds ticked by. Agony for both left wanting. A silent war inside the younger elf’s mind, before finally, he surrendered. Lashes fluttering closed, Kade begged, “Please. Killi, please. I need more. Give me more.”
Killian’s answering smile was all teeth. Sharp and dangerous. “Mmm, could be better. You’ll learn.”
Wrenching back, Killian set a pace that he knew would be difficult for Kade, long and deep and hard. Pulling out until just the tip of his cock was left stretching at Kade’s rim before bullying his way back in one snap of his hips.
Peering down, Killian’s eyes were locked on where they were connected. On where Kade’s body opened so beautifully for him. Under his touch. His direction.
Kade jerked in surprise when Killian dipped his hand between Kade’s cheeks and ran a teasing thumb over the sensitive skin of his rim.
Keening, Kade hid his face in his arms, his mouth dropping open at the sudden onslaught of feeling. But he didn’t complain. He urged Killian on with soft gasps of yes yes yes and please.
Killian didn’t like Kade hiding away. He wanted to see it all. He wanted to see Kade’s face.
Hooking his elbow under Kade’s knee, Killian put him on his side, slipped further between his spread thighs, and propped one of Kade’s legs on his shoulder.
“There’s my lover,” Killian purred. “So fucking perfect.”
Kade’s eyes were red-rimmed and glassy as he blinked through tear soaked lashes.
Growling, Killian bent forward and licked the stray tears from Kade’s cheeks.
Reading Kade’s body, the way it twitched and clenched around him, Killian knew the younger elf was close. He reached down to grip Kade’s cock, pumping him with the same rhythm as his hips as he pounded into Kade’s spot.
Gasping, Kade reached out for him blindly. His nails like talons, sure to have broken skin.
Locking eyes, Killian said, “I’m here. I’m here. Don’t look away. Just keep looking at me. That’s it. That’s it. Perfect.” Killian felt high. He was close too. “Come for me.”
Kade obeyed.
Pleasure surged through Killian’s body when he too tumbled over the edge after just a few more ruts of his hips, driven over by the delicious way Kade’s body squeezed him. He fucked his way through his orgasm, emptying himself deep in Kade’s warmth.
Lowering himself to the floor, Killian wrapped his arms around Kade and pulled him close, nuzzling into the back of his neck.
The room was filled with shuddering gasps as the two struggled to catch their breath.
After quickly cleaning them up, wiping off the sweat and come with cool towels, Killian wrapped them loosely in a thin sheet so Kade wouldn’t catch a chill, and laid him carefully on his back, his head propped comfortably in Killian’s lap while Killian leaned against the sofa.
Killian ran his fingers mindlessly through Kade’s hair, enjoying the feel of having him close.
Kade leaned into the touch, purring like a pampered kitten. His eyes drooped, glazed and distant. Sleepy and sated. Satisfied.
They both knew they should go to bed soon, but neither could bring themselves to move. Too comfortable where they were.
Until Kade broke the silence. “I’m hungry.”
Killian snorted. “Seriously?”
Kade turned so he could look up at Killian, his eyes warm and filled with mirth. “I want dessert.”
“Such a sweet tooth.”
Fluttering his lashes, Kade smiled up at him. “Please.”
Killian rolled his eyes, and pressed a lingering kiss to Kade’s forehead before moving to stand. “You don’t have to beg now. I’ll get you your dessert.”
Pleased, Kade stretched his arms above his head and wrapped himself more in the sheet, gazing up at Killian with soft, loving eyes.
It was enough to melt Killian right then and there. He dipped back in, this time for a proper kiss. It was messy and a little off since they couldn’t stop smiling.
Killian felt the first stirrings of something wrong as he was finishing pulling on his shirt. An itching, burning sensation from the inside of his throat, as if he’d swallowed acid.
Killian choked, his hands flew to his neck, the burning beginning to spread. He stumbled onto one knee.
“Killi?” Kade’s voice was distant. Frantic. Worlds away even as he knelt next to Killian, first checking his pulse and then his temperature. “Killi, what’s wrong? What’s happening?”
The enil.
Killian’s bonds.
Fyar.
Killian needed to get to Fyar. He needed to get up. He needed to move.
Why couldn’t he move?
Move, goddammit.
The pain swelled, it felt like every nerve ending in Killian’s body was had been raked over hot coals, and it was only getting worse. He knew what this was, and he knew he didn’t have much time.
Raging at his body, Killian forced himself to his feet, ignoring the way his body screamed. He pushed forward.
“Killi, stop.” Kade matched Killian step for step. His hand on Killian’s back to help steady him. “You need to lay down and let me figure out what’s wrong. Killi.”
If he went down, Killian knew he wouldn’t get back up again.
Killian turned and gripped Kade tightly on the back of his neck. His eyes imploring, hoping he could convey the urgency of his message even as he choked on nearly every word. “Get Hokda. Tell him it’s Fyar. Tell no one else. Go. Now.”
Throwing the door open, Killian didn’t look back. He took off at a sprint through the empty halls towards the royal quarters. Praying for Fyar to hold on.