Kenley Britt Guardians Of The Gray Tower 3 Guardian's Scar

Guardians of the Gray Tower 3

Guardian’s Scar

Guardian Caid Sharsen knows that he is unlovable. A scarred
loner, he believes that his life as a Guardian is all he will ever

have. Edrick Valemont has a reputation as a hedonist. Well-known
for his numerous affairs, he flits from party to party and bed to
bed indiscriminately, with apparently nothing on his mind but

frivolous pleasure.

When Caid and Edrick meet, the heat between the two men is

undeniable. What starts out as a brief affair turns into something
much deeper, but their relationship is complicated by Edrick’s

secret.

Edrick is a spy. Working for Javan, the spymaster, his job is to

ferret out information about Angkeshi sympathizers within the city
of Winterreach. Amid rumors of an attempted assassination, Caid
and Edrick must overcome the scars of their pasts in order to save

their king and their love.

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Fantasy, Historical
Length: 25,927 words

GUARDIAN’S SCAR

Guardians of the Gray Tower 3

Britt Kenley

EROTIC ROMANCE

MANLOVE

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IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

GUARDIAN’S SCAR
Copyright © 2012 by Britt Kenley
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-880-7

First E-book Publication: July 2012

Cover design by Harris Channing
All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

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GUARDIAN’S SCAR

Guardians of the Gray Tower 3

BRITT KENLEY

Prologue

In a medieval world very similar to our own lies the rich and

prosperous kingdom of Emryn. Emryn is located in the FarNorth and
is ruled by King Kelan the Wise. Enemies of the kingdom are many,
but most threatening is the neighboring country of Angkesh, whose
queen will stop at nothing to wrest control of Emryn for herself. The
king and the rest of the royal family are guarded by an elite group of
soldiers known as the Guardians of the Gray Tower. Called simply
the Gray by the citizens of Emryn, it is their sworn duty to protect
with their last breath the kingdom of Emryn and its royal family.
Their strength is unyielding. Their loyalty is unquestioning. Their
dedication unswerving.

Britt Kenley

Chapter One

Caid strolled leisurely through the crowded marketplace,

occasionally stopping to examine something that caught his eye at one
of the stalls that the merchants had set up. It was a cold day, as usual,
but he barely felt the chill. Most citizens of Emryn were inured to the
wintry weather, as it was such a normal part of their lives. He
continued moving from vendor to vendor, his mind on the list of items
that he needed to purchase. As he was examining a dark, metal
dagger, his attention was captured by a couple loudly arguing a few
stalls down from where he stood. The marketplace was busy, and he
probably would not have noticed them, had the man not grabbed the
woman by her arm and pulled her against him very roughly. The
woman pushed against him, obviously trying to free herself. Caid
couldn’t abide it when a man used his superior strength to intimidate
or hurt someone weaker. He was about to move forward and interfere
when the man released the woman and stepped back. Caid continued
watching them as they appeared to argue some more.

When the woman started to walk away, the man turned to stop

her, and Caid was finally able to see his face. Caid felt a jolt of
recognition as he realized that the man’s face was vaguely familiar to
him, but he couldn’t quite remember where he’d seen him before,
perhaps at one of the local taverns or in the training yards. He wasn’t
sure. Caid continued to study the man, trying to jog his memory. The
man’s looks weren’t anything unusual. The only remarkable features
he had were rather heavy eyebrows and a nose that looked like it had
been broken more than once. He had a full beard that partially
obscured his features, and Caid thought that perhaps when he’d seen

Guardian’s Scar

the man before, he had been clean-shaven. Like a tune that hovered
just on the edge of his memory, Caid could not quite grasp where he
knew the man from, and it gnawed at him like an aggravating splinter.
The man began striding away from the woman, and Caid was about to
go after them, following some urge he didn’t understand, when he
heard a voice behind him, which stopped him in his tracks.

“Now, which one of those two tempting morsels has caught your

eye, Guardian? The little blonde female is quite charming, but the
burly, bearded one has his own attraction, wouldn’t you say?”

The slow, husky drawl was not familiar to Caid. He spun around

and met the dark-blue-eyed gaze of Sir Edrick Valemont, younger son
of the Count d’Estro. Caid quirked an eyebrow at the pale-skinned
aristocrat.

“Slumming, my lord? I wouldn’t have expected to see the son of

one of our most wealthy and noblest families doing anything so
pedestrian as strolling through the marketplace. Surely you have
servants to do that for you.”

Caid didn’t suffer fools gladly, and the worthless hangers-on at

King Kelan’s court were some of the biggest fools he’d ever seen. Sir
Edrick was one of the worst, in his opinion. The man seemed to have
made a profession out of being frivolous and doing nothing more
strenuous than lifting a wineglass or pursuing a potential lover.

The other man’s mouth curved upward in a lazy smile that set

Caid’s teeth on edge. “Well, of course, I have any number of servants
at my disposal, but I do so love to rub elbows with the peasantry
every now and again. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Caid, isn’t
it? I thought I recognized you from the king’s court. He’s very proud
of his Guardians.”

Caid bowed reluctantly, constrained by the good manners the

Gray had drilled into him. “Caid Sharsen, my lord.”

“We’ve never been officially introduced. I’m Sir Edrick

Valemont. I’ve seen you out and about before, Guardian. I must
confess, I asked someone who you were.”

Britt Kenley

“I can’t imagine why you would care, Sir Edrick. It’s not like we

have anything in common.” Caid sent the man a stern glance.

The other man’s full lips pursed. “Oh, you might be surprised. So,

which one was it?” He glanced back toward the direction in which the
couple was rapidly disappearing. “Which one stirred your fires, Caid?
The woman? Or the man? Or perhaps both?”

Caid turned his back to the vanishing couple and focused his

attention on Edrick. “Neither, as a matter of fact. I just thought I
recognized the man for a moment, that’s all. I’m not interested in
having my fires stirred, as you so delicately put it. I’m simply picking
up some items that I need.”

Caid felt Edrick’s eyes sweep down his body before he looked

back up, a look of interested speculation on his face. “Now, that is a
shame. Tell you what, let me buy you a drink and perhaps we can talk
about it.”

“About what?”
Edrick grinned. “Fires, and how to stir them, of course.”
Caid paused for a moment. The sexual curiosity in Edrick’s eyes

was unmistakable, and Caid felt a brief shiver of temptation. Most
men were put off by the scar that split his brow above his right eye
and curved a slice down onto his cheek, and he generally limited
himself to paid companions when he found the need for a warm body.
There were a few, however, who found the scar and the man who bore
it dangerously attractive. Apparently Edrick was one.

“I’ll have to pass, my lord. Though I appreciate the offer.”
“Oh, come on, Caid. Surely you have time for one cup of warm

ale. The day is dreadfully chilly, after all. What harm could it do?”
The man sent Caid a flirtatious sidelong glance.

Most of the Gray were somewhat familiar with Edrick. He had

quite a reputation around the palace as a man who spent most of his
time in pursuit of pleasure. Sexual pleasure. Male or female, he didn’t
seem to be too particular, and Caid knew that many of his fellow

Guardian’s Scar

Guardians had spent their time in Edrick’s bed. He’d heard no
complaints.

Sir Edrick was the youngest son of a wealthy man and had

obviously been pampered and spoiled his whole life. For someone
like Caid, who’d had to work hard and long for everything he had,
Edrick seemed like a boy who’d never had to grow up rather than a
man, despite his age.

“I don’t really like to be one of a crowd, Sir Edrick,” he muttered

gruffly, and was surprised to see a shadow of hurt flicker in the other
man’s eyes before it was quickly concealed.

Edrick laughed, though Caid thought it rang slightly hollow.

“Somebody’s been listening to the palace gossips. Don’t you know
that those old hags lie outrageously just to make their little, boring
lives seem more enjoyable. I can assure you, stories of my conquests
have been completely exaggerated.” Edrick winked. “Come, one
drink won’t kill you. We can talk about anything you like.”

Caid wasn’t sure why he agreed to the drink, perhaps it was

curiosity, perhaps it was boredom, perhaps it was the faint stirring of
interest in his cock. Whatever the reason, a few minutes later, he
found himself sitting with Edrick at a small table in a nearby tavern.

Once they’d placed their orders for some ale, Caid leaned back to

study the man sitting across from him. Edrick was very attractive.
There was no doubt of that. His hair was a pale, silvery white-blond
that reminded Caid of an icecat’s fur in deepest winter, and his eyes
were a striking dark blue, an interesting contrast against the pale skin
so common among the aristocracy. It was no wonder Edrick was
rumored to have had a continuous string of lovers since the tender age
of fourteen. Suitors probably fell into the man’s bed with depressing
regularity. Caid found himself tempted to succumb to the man’s allure
himself. He imagined how that pale, smooth skin would feel beneath
his own rough palms. How that pouting mouth with its full lower lip
would taste when covered by his own.

Britt Kenley

The barmaid returned with their drinks, and Caid took a long

swallow of his. As he set the cup back on the table, Edrick caught
Caid’s eye and grinned.

“I can’t believe my good luck running into you at the marketplace

like I did. I’ve been wanting to get to know you for quite a while now,
but you’re a hard man to pin down.”

Caid tilted his head. “I’ve never been much of one for socializing,

and from what I’ve heard, it’s what you excel at.”

Edrick gave a careless shrug. “Yes, I do. Everyone needs

something they’re good at, don’t you think? Mine happens to be the
pursuit of pleasure. The life of the idle rich, I suppose. I was never
trained in anything very useful. What would you have me do? Of
course, I could always ask my brother to give me some sort of job, I
suppose, counting his money or recording boring facts into one of his
ledgers. But then I would be taking work from someone who actually
needs the money. Then I would be criticized for that.” He gave a deep
sigh and shook his head dramatically. “Truthfully, I can’t seem to
win, so I don’t even try. Tell me,” he said, abruptly changing the
subject, “what is it like to be a member of the Gray? It must be very
exciting, all that chopping men to bits with your sword and riding into
the thick of battle to protect king and country and all that.”

Despite the sarcastic delivery, Caid got a glimpse of genuine

interest in the man’s eyes. He felt like he’d just caught a peek at the
real Edrick, and what he’d seen intrigued him. Perhaps he’d judged
Edrick unfairly. It was true that there weren’t many occupations open
to wealthy members of the aristocracy. Older sons, and daughters
sometimes, were trained in running their parents’ estates. Younger
children often went into the clergy. And he had a feeling that the
clergy and Edrick would be a tough fit.

He shrugged. “It’s a job, like any other, I suppose. We get up

early, work hard, eat, sleep.”

“Well, from what I’ve heard, just the training is enough to kill a

weaker man. And I must say that just looking at you, I can tell you

Guardian’s Scar

spend a lot of time in physical labor. I don’t think I’ve ever seen
anyone so well muscled.”

Edrick’s hand reached out and wrapped around Caid’s bicep. Caid

felt a flash of heat surge through him at the touch. He reached down
to grab Edrick’s hand, capturing it against his arm. His eyes bore into
startled blue ones. “I’d be very careful what I touched, Sir Edrick.
You might get more than you bargained for.”

“Perhaps that’s what I’m hoping for, Caid.” Their eyes met, and

Caid could see the arousal just below the surface of Edrick’s eyes.

* * * *

Edrick couldn’t believe his luck. When he’d seen Caid standing in

the marketplace, his gaze focused on that couple, he’d been excited.
He’d admired the Guardian for a long time, having first noticed him at
one of King Kelan’s many state dinners. Caid had been there as a
representative of the Guardians of the Gray Tower.

So different from the other guests, he had attracted attention from

many quarters. In his soldier’s uniform, with his stern, proud features,
he had exuded an aura of barely restrained menace. He had spoken
little, answering questions when asked but rarely offering more than a
minimal response. Edrick had been fascinated.

He studied the man carefully. Caid had close-cropped hair of

some indiscriminate shade of brown and piercing brown eyes that
seemed to see right through a man. His mouth was held in a firm line,
but Edrick imagined that, when he relaxed, those lips would plump
out into temptingly sensuous curves. Caid was tall. Even sitting at the
table, he towered over those around him, and Edrick speculated he
had to be at least six foot five. Not quite six foot tall himself, Edrick
knew that standing next to Caid, he would feel overpowered, and just
the idea made him shiver.

Caid was pure muscle. His arms bulged against the fabric of his

overtunic, and Edrick imagined those same muscles would be echoed

Britt Kenley

in the man’s thighs and abdomen as well. What those arms would feel
like closing around him was a delicious fantasy that Edrick found
irresistible. Caid’s most striking feature, however, was the jagged scar
that branded his right cheek. It had added to the man’s air of danger
and power and made Edrick’s mouth water.

He had wanted to meet Caid that first night, but the man had left

as soon as his duties had been fulfilled. Since that time, Edrick had
caught glimpses of Caid around the palace, and once or twice in the
taverns around Winterreach. But he’d never gotten a chance to really
talk to Caid. Until now.

He knew his own reputation as a pleasure-seeking sycophant

would not endear him to Caid, and he had to admit that, up until a
year ago, all the gossip about him and his lifestyle had been quite true.
But in recent months, he had found his old life boring and
unsatisfying. The constant pursuit of pleasure and the endless parade
of faceless bodies could no longer fill the empty space inside him. He
wanted more. He wanted someone he could love, who would love
him. He longed to find someone who could see beneath the surface to
the heart of the real man. He thought that Caid might just be that man.
Someone of substance. Someone who knew that life wasn’t all parties
and games.

He hadn’t had a lover in months. But he was sure if he told Caid

that, he wouldn’t believe him. He’d been tempted by Lord Javan
when he’d approached him not too long ago, but had realized quickly
that Javan was just using him to make Rom, Captain of the Guardians,
jealous. He and Javan had since become friends, a fact that still
amazed him. In fact, Javan was the only one to whom he’d confessed
his current dissatisfaction with his life.

Javan had suggested that if Edrick was so discontented with his

life, then he should change it, but that was easier said than done.
Edrick had discovered that people preferred it if you stayed in the
same niche in which they had placed you and tended not to like it if
you attempted to stray from that spot. He was becoming frustrated.

Guardian’s Scar

At least Javan had understood. He had even given Edrick a job.

Edrick was now working for Javan as a member of his spy network,
keeping an ear out for any information that might trickle through the
palace gossips at the various parties and nightlife activities that Edrick
had free access to. That work had given him a newfound pride in
himself and a determination to do more with his life than he had in the
past.

He looked again at Caid, who sat stiffly drinking his ale, and

wanted to do something, anything to break through the invisible wall
that he felt existed between them. For some reason, he felt compelled
to become better acquainted with this man.

“Why did you decide to become a member of the Gray?” Edrick

wanted to get some genuine response from Caid but felt like he was
beating his head against a brick wall.

He watched Caid shake his head. “I can’t really remember.”
Edrick was becoming frustrated. “Really? You don’t know why

you joined? I find that hard to believe.” His tone was just short of
sarcastic, and he could tell that Caid knew it.

Caid’s eyes narrowed as they met his. “You want to know why?

Fine. It’s not a pretty story, but maybe you’ll find it entertaining
enough to share with your friends. I joined because there was nothing
else for me. My father deserted my mother when he found out she
was pregnant. When she had me, her family turned her out in the
streets with no money and no assistance. She became a prostitute,
selling her body to anyone who was willing to pay the price. I can still
remember the men who would come to our rooms to partake of her
charms. Sometimes they wanted me as well. I ran away when I was
ten after one of the men offered her fifty coppers if he could have an
hour with me. I could see the look of interest on her face when he
made the offer. She turned him down, but I suspect that there would
have come a time when she did not. I lived on the street. I stole. I lied.
I did whatever I had to do to survive. When I was fifteen, I tried to
pickpocket a member of the Gray. He caught me. He saw something

Britt Kenley

in me, I guess. When he offered me a chance at becoming a Guardian,
I took it. So that’s why. Happy now? Is that the kind of entertaining
tidbit you were looking for?”

Edrick watched as Caid drained his cup and signaled the waitress

for a refill, the brutally frank explanation that Caid had offered
echoing in his head.

“I’m sorry if I struck a nerve.” He didn’t know what else to say.

His own life had kept him so insulated from the type of existence
Caid had just described that it was hard for him to even comprehend
what it must have been like. Though, suffering was certainly not
limited to the poor, as he had reason to know. “You have a lot to be
proud of, Caid. To have pulled yourself out of that kind of life and
made yourself into the man you are today must have taken an
enormous amount of determination and persistence. Not to mention
courage. I can’t tell you how much I admire you for that.”

Caid just shrugged. “And I suppose that I should feel grateful to

have your admiration?”

Frustrated, Edrick leaned back. “No. Seven hells, Caid. You’re a

difficult man to have a conversation with.”

Caid smiled, though it was seriously lacking in humor. “Believe it

or not, I have heard that before a time or two.”

“I’d like to get to know you, Caid. Maybe become friends. More,

even. Is that such a terrible thing?”

“Get to know me? Really? Is that what you want? To be my

friend? Why did I think you had something more…physical in mind?”

When Caid’s eyes met his this time, Edrick could see the desire

flickering in them, and he felt a tightening in his own loins. He
couldn’t deny it. Farking hells, of course he wanted more than
friendship from Caid. But he also wanted more than a quick tumble
between the sheets. At least, he thought he might. Caid interested him
more than any man or woman had in years, but if the only way to get
close to the man was sexually, he wasn’t averse to starting there.

Guardian’s Scar

“And what if I confessed that yes, I do find you very attractive

and would very much like to spend some time alone with you in my
apartments?” He studied Caid’s face as he contemplated the offer
Edrick just made. Before speaking, Caid drained the second glass of
mug the barmaid had brought him and then stood up.

“I’d say, lead the way.”

Britt Kenley

Chapter Two

Caid followed Edrick out into the street, flinging his cloak around

his shoulders before turning to the other man. Edrick was right behind
him, his own coat buttoned securely against the cold.

“Which way?” he asked as they paused at the entrance.
Edrick gestured to the left. “This way. My apartments are in the

palace.”

Caid hesitated. “The palace?”
“Yes. Kelan was generous enough to offer me permanent quarters

there.” Edrick lifted his brows. “Is that a problem?”

Caid paused and then shrugged. “I thought maybe we could find

somewhere a little more private, that’s all.”

“Are you embarrassed to be seen with me, Guardian?” Again a

flash of hurt shone in Edrick’s eyes, and his body stiffened.

Caid shook his head. “No. Of course not. I just prefer to keep my

private life private.”

Edrick relaxed slightly. “My apartments are in the south wing, and

they’re very private.”

Falling into step beside Edrick as he moved forward into the

heavy foot traffic, Caid smiled. “I take it you don’t spend a lot of time
on your country estates. Too boring?”

Edrick chuckled. “Exactly. Things are so much more interesting

here in Winterreach. Parties and such, you know?”

Caid sent a skeptical glance toward Edrick. For some reason, he

wasn’t sure why, he got the impression that Edrick wasn’t being
completely honest about his reasons for remaining in the capital. In
fact, things weren’t adding up with Edrick, and Caid was beginning to

Guardian’s Scar

think that maybe his original perception of Edrick’s shallowness was
wrong.

They had finally reached the palace, and Edrick led him up the

stairs and down the corridor, which led to the south wing. When they
reached his apartments, Edrick opened the door and then stood aside,
gesturing for Caid to enter.

Edrick’s apartments were quite sumptuous, and Caid felt a little

uncomfortable, more used to the rough accommodations in the Gray
Tower. Soldiers were used to making do with the bare necessities.
That certainly wasn’t the case here.

“Let me take your cloak.” Edrick’s voice came from behind him,

and he whirled around, tempted to just get the farking hells out of
there before he got himself in too deep. But when he met Edrick’s
eyes and saw the heat simmering just below the surface, he knew he
wouldn’t leave.

Edrick had his hand out, and Caid quickly reached up and untied

his cloak, handing it over. Their fingers brushed, and Caid felt an
electric tingle shoot through his arm. Edrick tossed it over a nearby
chair along with his own, and then strolled further into the room,
turning to face Caid. “Would you like something to drink?”

Caid shook his head. He followed Edrick, moving close enough to

touch the other man. “No. Nothing to drink.” He gazed down into
Edrick’s eyes and knew he couldn’t wait a second longer to touch the
man whose nearness had been teasing his senses for the past hour. He
lifted his hand and cupped it lightly against Edrick’s cheek. Edrick
leaned his face into Caid’s hand and rubbed his face against Caid’s
palm.

Caid looked down into Edrick’s face and saw a yearning need that

spurred him to action. Bending his head, his lips met Edrick’s for the
first time. He kept the touch light, tentative, wanting to savor the
moment and the feel of Edrick’s soft mouth beneath his own. He
stepped closer, bringing his body into close contact with Edrick’s
much more slender one. He slid his arms around Edrick’s waist, the

Britt Kenley

hardness of his chest pressing tightly against the other man’s. His
thigh slid against his lover’s, their stomach’s brushing together, and
then their genitals, in a moment of heart-stopping intimacy.

Caid moved his hand to cup around Edrick’s neck in a possessive

move, even as his other hand moved lower to gently knead the other
man’s buttocks with slow, languid caresses. Edrick moaned softly and
pressed closer, and Caid at last sank his tongue deep into the moist
cavern of Edrick’s mouth, tasting the ale he’d drunk earlier as well as
the deliciously spicy flavor of Edrick himself. Caid explored his
lover’s mouth with a thorough probing, wanting to learn every nook
and cranny. He moved his head, changing the angle of the kiss so he
could get even closer, deeper.

He breathed in the scent of his new lover as he took the kiss

deeper, the rough rasp of beard-stubbled cheek against smooth-shaven
one an erotic enticement. Finally he stepped back and looked down at
Edrick. His eyes were closed, and his mouth slightly parted. When his
lids blinked open and he looked up, Caid murmured, “Your bedroom,
Edrick?”

Edrick nodded and, without another word, took Caid’s hand in his

and led him down a short hall. He pushed open the door of the
bedroom, and Caid followed him inside, shutting the door behind him
to deepen the privacy of the experience.

Dropping Caid’s hand, Edrick moved silently across the floor,

stopping when he stood in front of a long, oval mirror. His eyes met
Caid’s in the reflection, and then his hands lifted to begin unfastening
the buttons that ran the length of his overvest. Caid watched as each
button parted, until Edrick shrugged out of the garment and tossed it
aside. Only then did Caid move forward to stand behind Edrick, their
twin figures reflected in the smooth surface of the mirror. His much
larger body towered over Edrick’s.

He watched as his own hands lifted to rest lightly on Edrick’s

shoulders, the softness of the silk shirt the other man wore a flimsy
barrier to his touch. He ran his hands down Edrick’s arms, feeling the

Guardian’s Scar

surprisingly wiry strength of the man, and then entangled his fingers
with Edrick’s own. With their hands clasped together, Caid bent his
head. Edrick’s gaze stayed fastened to his own as Caid’s lips explored
the tender, smooth flesh of Edrick’s neck.

He felt Edrick tilt his head to one side, allowing Caid easier access

to the velvety skin beneath his lips. He dropped open-mouthed kisses
up the length of Edrick’s nape until he reached his ear, lightly
clasping the lobe between his teeth and biting down carefully, just
hard enough to send a shiver of arousal through the other man’s body.
He heard his lover groan and released Edrick’s hands, reaching up to
slide his palms beneath his shirt to feel the smooth skin of Edrick’s
stomach. He felt Edrick’s abdominal muscles clench as his hands
explored the delicious warmth. He pushed the fabric higher until he
was able to pull the shirt over Edrick’s head and drop it to the floor
near the already-discarded vest. He met Edrick’s gaze again in the
mirror, then he allowed his eyes to slip down, admiring the slender,
pale body that was being exposed to his eager view.

Then his hands reached to unfasten Edrick’s belt. He knelt down

to remove Edrick’s boots before pushing his breeches past his lover’s
hips and to the floor. Then he stood up and took in the sight before his
eager eyes. Edrick was beautiful, delicate and pale against his own
brawny darkness. His cock stood at attention, slender and long, jutting
from a nest of curls a shade darker than those on his head.

Caid stepped closer, reaching around to grasp that intriguing

hardness in his right hand. He heard Edrick’s muffled gasp as he
began moving his hand up and down the shaft, squeezing and rubbing
it in curious exploration. He pulled Edrick closer, holding the other
man’s gaze as he continued to stroke Edrick’s pulsing cock. His left
hand was not still, sliding caressingly over Edrick’s chest, his thumb
brushing over his eager nipples, hardened with their arousal.

Edrick’s head dropped back to rest against his shoulder, and Caid

felt an uncommon warmth deep in his chest. He released his grasp on
Edrick’s cock and his hand moved lower, cupping Edrick’s ballocks

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in his warm palm. Lightly, his fingers explored the round balls as they
moved in their wrinkled sac. He saw Edrick’s eyes darken with his
arousal and knew that the man would not last much longer. He moved
his left hand up to Edrick’s head, tugging so that his lips were just
beneath Caid’s own.

Then he bent and took Edrick’s mouth in a hard kiss, plunging his

tongue deep. His hand released Edrick’s balls and moved back to
again stroke his pulsing shaft. Faster and faster he moved his hand,
feeling Edrick arch into each stroke. His tongue mimicked the
motions of his hand, and his own hips pressed into the rounded curve
of Edrick’s ass with each movement.

He felt Edrick’s gasping breaths puff into his own mouth as the

other man’s breathing became harsher and harsher, but he did not
break the kiss. He tightened his hand and tugged one last time on
Edrick’s erection, and he felt the warm splash of cum as it shot from
the tip of Edrick’s cock and coated his hand as he continued to stroke
in slower and slower movements. When he felt the last pulse of
Edrick’s orgasm, he lifted his head, his eyes meeting the dark-blue
ones that gazed dazedly into his own. “Perfect,” Caid whispered.

* * * *

Slumping back against Caid’s hard body, Edrick felt almost

boneless. Had he ever orgasmed that hard before? If so, he couldn’t
remember when. He turned around and looked into heavy, slumberous
eyes. His gaze traveled down to the plump curve of Caid’s mouth.
Unable to resist, he leaned forward, pressing his lips his lover’s.
Caid’s lips opened, and Edrick thrust his tongue inside. Edrick
tangled his tongue with Caid’s, relishing the hot, masculine flavor of
the other man’s mouth.

Then Caid pulled back. For the first time, Edrick realized that he

was completely nude while Caid was still fully dressed. It made him
feel vulnerable in a way that he hadn’t in a long, long time. He liked

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the feeling. A lot. A shiver slid down his spine as Caid cast a glance at
the bed and then back at Edrick.

“Lay down on the bed,” Caid’s voice was a husky growl.
Edrick did as he was told, tugging the covers down and then

climbing in and lying on his back. He gazed over at Caid who just
stood there for a long moment, his eyes sliding over every inch of
Edrick’s body. Then Caid licked his hand clean of Edrick’s cum, his
gaze dark and slumberous. When he’d gotten every drop, he began
removing his clothing, tossing each piece carelessly aside as it came
off. Edrick’s eyes hungrily took in the hard muscled body as it was
revealed to him. Caid’s naked torso gleamed in the dim light, strong
and hard. Edrick’s gaze traveled lower, taking in the twin columns of
his legs and the large and blatant erection that stood practically
parallel to Caid’s body. It was a bold statement of Caid’s arousal, and
it sent another quiver of lust through Edrick.

As he’d suspected, Caid was a picture of masculine beauty. The

scar bisecting the right side of the face only added to that stark
beauty, in Edrick’s opinion, rather than detracting from it. It gave the
man a dangerous, wicked edge that Edrick found more than
appealing.

Edrick saw more scars on Caid’s chest and arms, and one

particularly wicked mark on his upper thigh. When he met Caid’s
gaze, he saw Caid watching him with a hungry but guarded
expression on his face. Edrick raised up on one elbow and reached out
a hand to trail it caressingly over that rough-looking mark. He felt
Caid’s body jerk in reaction to his touch, his cock bobbing slightly at
the movement. Edrick raised himself even more and, smiling briefly
up at his lover, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against the scar
on his thigh. He heard Caid groan. Then he was covering Edrick with
his body, pressing him heatedly down into the bed, and his mouth
took Edrick’s in a hard possessive kiss that left no doubt of Caid’s
intentions.

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Their mouths parted and met again and again, each kiss sparking a

burning need in Edrick. When Caid released his mouth, Edrick
shoved against his chest. “Turn over.” Caid allowed himself to be
pushed down onto his back, and Edrick raised up over him. Leaning
down, he touched his lips to the scar on Caid’s face, letting his lips
softly trace the entire length of the mark. He felt Caid’s stillness
beneath him and could sense the man’s shocked reaction in the
tension that filled his body. Edrick’s mouth lingered on the scar while
his hands roamed over Caid’s chest and shoulders, rubbing and
stroking with gentle eagerness. When he felt Caid beginning to relax
beneath him, he rose slightly and looked down into the other man’s
heavy-lidded eyes. Then he began spreading hot, biting kisses down
Caid’s torso, making sure to press his lips against each and every
mark, until he reached the man’s thick rod, swollen with arousal and
need.

He wrapped his hand around the hard stalk and heard Caid’s

guttural, “Farking hells, yes,” groaned somewhere above him. Then
he lowered his mouth and engulfed the head of Caid’s cock, savoring
the taste and heat of his lover’s passion.

He took his time with Caid’s erection. After sucking and licking

the head for several minutes, he released it and kissed his way down
to the base, pausing to allow his tongue to lick over the tracery of
veins that pulsed gently against his lips. Then he returned to the head,
his tongue swirling around the tip, dipping into the slit and tasting the
pre-cum that he found there.

He continued to kiss and lick every inch of the hard rod until he

felt Caid’s hand on the back of his head. “Damn you to seven hells,
Edrick, suck the damn thing before I go insane.”

Hiding his grin, Edrick proceeded to do as Caid had demanded,

his mouth closing over the other man’s cock with smooth expertise.
The hand on the back of Edrick’s head clenched, catching his hair in a
tight grip and tugging almost painfully as Edrick took more and more
of Caid’s cock into his mouth. When he felt the tip touch the back of

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his throat, he paused and took a deep breath, consciously relaxing the
muscles. Then he moved again until his face was buried in the crisp,
dark nest of curls and his throat was filled with his lover’s hardness.
He sucked as best he could. Caid was not a small man, and Edrick
was pleased that he’d been able to take all of him. He heard Caid’s
choked groan of approval as Edrick backed off, almost completely
releasing Caid’s cock, before taking it deep once again.

“Farking son of a Nilerian ass, that feels incredible, Edrick.”
Edrick allowed himself a small hum of pleasure and felt Caid’s

jerk in reaction of the pleasurable sensation. Then Edrick pulled back
and began a shallow but steady motion up and down on Caid’s cock.
For a while nothing but the sounds of sucking and the harsh gasping
breaths of Caid’s pleasure pierced the silence of the room. Then
Caid’s hand tightened once more on his head, and he pulled Edrick’s
mouth free with a soft pop.

“For the Goddess’s sake, stop. I don’t want to release in your

mouth. I need to fuck you, Edrick.”

Edrick nodded, eager to please his lover and almost desperate to

feel Caid’s body inside his own. He rolled over on his back, and Caid
sat up, his eyes scanning the room.

“Where’s your oil, Edrick?” Caid’s voice was tight with need.
Edrick pointed to the elegant table sitting beside the bed and

watched as Caid’s hand closed over the bottle. Caid sat up, looking
down at him with a wicked grin on his face. “Roll over, and get on
your knees, head down on the bed.”

With a grin of his own, Edrick did as Caid directed. He felt Caid’s

body move into position behind him, then the cool feel of the oil as it
was dripped onto his bottom. Caid’s hands massaged the oil across his
rear and into the tight pucker of his anal passage. Edrick moaned
softly at the feel of those large fingers working their way into him,
pressing deep and coating him with the slippery oil. Edrick’s cock
began to swell again at the sensation of Caid’s finger as it stroked
across his prostate gland.

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He began to lift his head from the bed, but immediately Caid’s

other hand was on his neck, pressing him down again. “No. Don’t
move. I want you like this. Bent over and ready to take me. I’m going
to fuck you so hard and so deep you’ll feel like I own you. And I
will.”

Edrick heard Caid’s words growled into his ear. Then he felt a

hard probing against his anal rose, larger…much larger…than Caid’s
fingers had been. He took a deep breath and tried to relax, knowing
that the pain would be much less if he did so. As Caid began pressing
forward, he pushed back, and the head of Caid’s cock slipped past the
anal sphincter and into Edrick’s body. Caid paused for a moment,
allowing Edrick to get used to the sensation of penetration, before
pressing forward again. With a series of slow movements, Caid was
finally deeply embedded inside Edrick’s anal channel. Edrick had
never felt so full, so possessed.

“You ready?” a low voice gasped out the words, and all Edrick

could do was nod.

Caid began sliding out slowly and then pressed in with a long

stroke. Again and again, he repeated the slow movements until Edrick
was pushing back, moving into each thrust. As if that was the signal
Caid had been waiting for, he sped up. Faster and faster, he plunged
his cock deep into Edrick’s welcoming body. Edrick felt Caid’s balls
as they struck against the cushion of his ass with each stroke. The
thrusts became shorter and harder, and Edrick knew that Caid was
near his climax. His own cock bobbed against his stomach with each
rough movement. Then he felt the hot gush of Caid’s release coating
his insides, and his own climax burst from him, dampening the sheets
beneath his belly. Caid groaned out his orgasm with short digs. When
he was done, he pulled himself from Edrick’s body, and Edrick felt
the bed sag as Caid flopped over onto his back. Edrick collapsed
down, uncaring of the sticky cum that now coated his belly. He fell
asleep like that, worn out from the lovemaking.

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When he awoke several hours later, the bed was empty. Caid was

gone.

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Chapter Three

Glancing over the crowd that had gathered for the bonding

ceremony of Lord Javan of Westmarch and Rom, Captain of the
Guardians of the Gray Tower, Caid searched for one particular head
of silvery blond hair. Surely he would be here tonight. Practically
everyone who was anyone was there. It was an eclectic mix of Rom’s
Guardian brethren and Javan’s fellow members of the nobility.

Ever since the night he and Edrick had made love, he had been

unable to get the other man out of his thoughts. And that never
happened to him. Usually Caid forgot his bed partners the minute
he’d slipped from their rooms, but this time with Edrick was different.
He’d found himself subconsciously searching for the man in every bar
he’d entered and on every street he’d walked down. He didn’t know
what it was about the irritating fool, but he wanted…needed to see
him again.

The night they’d spent together had been incredible. Maybe he

just wanted a repeat of the experience. Whatever the reason was, he’d
finally decided that he was going to seek the man out and see if he
would be interested in furthering their acquaintance.

A burst of laughter from nearby drew his attention, and he looked

over at the group of men surrounding Javan and Rom. He felt a
twinge of envy as he watched the two men together. They barely
strayed two feet from one another, and Rom seemed to be having
difficulty keeping his hands off his bondmate, constantly reaching out
to stroke a hand down his cheek or rub his shoulder against the other
man’s. The love the two men felt for one another glowed on their
faces every time their eyes met.

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Caid shook his head. It still surprised him how happy Rom

looked. The captain of the Guardians had always seemed so aloof and
content with his single life. Now it was rare to see him without a
smile on his face, and he no longer lingered overlong in the Great
Hall of the Tower after meals but was always more than eager to head
upstairs to his apartments with Javan’s hand clutched in his own. Of
course, he could still be a son of a bitch on the training grounds. Caid
allowed a grin to shape his lips at the thought.

He lifted his glass as someone called for a toast and then drained it

in one gulp. His eyes once more darted around the room. He had been
certain Edrick would be here tonight. The place was just so farking
crowded that it was hard to find anyone in the confusion. It seemed
like every member of the Gray not on duty must be here, along with
Javan’s friends and family. He’d thought he’d spotted Edrick a couple
of times, but by the time he’d managed to get through the crowd, the
man had disappeared again.

He set his empty glass on the tray of a passing servant and began

shouldering his way toward the exit. This was a pointless waste of
time. He decided that he would leave, and perhaps he would have
better luck finding Edrick on the morrow. The king and his entourage
had already departed, so he was sure no one would miss him if he
slipped out early. He had just reached the nearest door when a voice
behind him stopped him in his tracks.

“Well, well. Caid. I wasn’t sure if I would see you here tonight.

Not leaving early, are you?”

Caid whirled around and met the midnight-blue eyes of the man

he’d been unable to get out of his head. He was stunned at the
relieved pleasure he felt at finally being face-to-face with Edrick,
whom he’d last seen snoring gently in the faint light of an early
morning, his body a limp, satisfied sprawl on the sinfully rumpled
silken bedsheets.

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“Edrick.” That was all he could manage, and he mentally berated

himself. He was acting like some lovesick infant. He forced himself to
speak again. “How are you?”

Edrick’s lips curled up into a mocking grin. “Well, enough.

Though I am quite annoyed with you. Don’t you know it’s considered
very rude to slip away in the middle of the night after sharing such an
exquisite experience? I was quite disappointed when I awoke and
found the bed beside me empty and cold.”

Caid managed a shrug. “I figured you’d be glad to avoid any

awkward morning-after conversation. It’s not as if we were involved
in any sort of relationship, after all. And I had duties that I had to
attend to.”

Edrick quirked a brow. “Well, I wasn’t expecting a request for a

bonding, but it would have been nice to at least share breakfast before
you rushed off to your important duties.”

Caid didn’t know what to say to that, so he just shrugged and

stayed silent.

“So were you about to leave? I thought I saw you eyeing the door

with what looked like eager relief.”

“I was thinking about it. I’ve never been much for parties.”
“Ah, yes. The stoic member of the Gray. Life is always so serious

for you men, isn’t it? Don’t you think you should occasionally stop
and smell the wassin flowers? Let your hair down a little, and just
have some fun. Do you even know how to enjoy yourself?”

Caid sent Edrick a look of exasperation. “Of course.”
“Prove it.” Challenge was clearly written on Edrick’s face as his

eyes met Caid’s. “Come have a couple of drinks with me, perhaps
grab a plate and eat some of this delicious food that has been
prepared. Then we’ll see what else happens.”

Caid shook his head in bemusement, but Edrick took it for a sign

of denial.

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“Oh, come on, Guardian. It won’t kill you to spend a little more

time with me. You might even figure out that you like me, you
know.”

“I know. Fine, Edrick. Let’s go and enjoy ourselves.”
Caid saw the quick look of pleasure that flashed across Edrick’s

face before the other man grabbed his hand and began pulling him
through the crowd, moving in the direction of the tables that had been
set up for refreshments. Their path took them past the place where
Rom and Javan were holding court, and they stopped when Caid
heard his name called out.

Rom smiled at him, his curious gaze taking in their linked hands

before flashing up to meet Caid’s with a look that Caid couldn’t quite
interpret, but he found himself suppressing the blush that tried to ride
up to his cheeks.

“Caid, it’s good to see you here tonight.” Javan smiled at him.

Then he turned to Edrick. “And Edrick. I don’t remember seeing your
name on the guest list.” He quirked a questioning brow at Edrick.

Caid saw Edrick offer Javan a sardonic grin. “I came here as a

guest of Doran Sonclaire. You know I can never resist a good party.”

“Indeed. So are you two enjoying yourselves?” Javan asked.
“As always, Javan, you throw an amazing party.” Edrick and

Javan smiled at one another in a way that made Caid feel like he was
missing something. “Caid and I were just on our way to enjoy some
of the delicious refreshments you have provided.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“Congratulations again on your bonding.” Caid offered his

contribution to the conversation.

“Thank you, Caid. We’re very happy.” Rom smiled at his new

bondmate with an affectionate look before turning back to Caid and
Edrick. “I didn’t know you two were acquainted.” His gaze dropped
again to where Caid’s hand was linked with Edrick’s.

Surreptitiously Caid tried to release Edrick’s hands, but the

stubborn man just tightened his grip.

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“Oh, Caid and I are very well acquainted,” Edrick cast Caid a

wicked glance. Caid glowered in return.

“Really?” Caid could see the interested speculation that quickly

came into Rom’s face. “Funny, Caid, that you haven’t mentioned this
to me before now.”

Caid shrugged. “Some things a man just wants to keep private,

Rom. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”

Rom chuckled. “I’m sure I do.”
They stood chatting idly for a few minutes before Rom pulled

Caid off to one side to briefly talk some Guardian business. Rom was
taking a few days off, and he was having difficulty letting go of the
reins. As Caid listened to his captain brief him again on his
responsibilities, his attention was captured by a short exchange
between Edrick and Javan. He didn’t know what they were talking
about, but his curiosity was definitely piqued.

When Rom had finished speaking, they moved back to where

Edrick and Javan stood. Caid was about to ask Edrick what they had
been talking about when Rom caught his eye and shook his head. He
bit back the question. What was going on? Edrick had looked
unusually serious, and Javan had seemed concerned. Before he could
speculate further, the conversation turned to more general topics.
They stayed chatting with the newly bonded couple for several more
minutes before someone else came up to congratulate them. Caid felt
Edrick tug on his hand, and they said their good-byes to Rom and
Javan.

The crowd had thinned a bit around the refreshment tables so it

didn’t take them long to grab a couple of plates of food. They
snatched some glasses of wine from a passing servant and made their
way to an empty table tucked against a far wall.

As they settled into their seats, Caid allowed his eyes to soak in

the pleasing sight of Edrick relaxing across the table from him. Edrick
met his gaze and said, “I’m really glad that I ran into you tonight. I

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have to confess that I was hoping you would be here. I wanted to see
you again.”

Caid nodded, unable to lie in the face of the other man’s honest

statement. “I felt the same.”

He was rewarded with Edrick’s pleased smile.

* * * *

He hadn’t been lying to Caid. Ever since their night together, he

hadn’t been able to get the Guardian off his mind. He’d thought of
dozens of possible ways to organize a “chance” encounter with Caid,
but Javan had kept him busy ferreting out information among the
nobles and others of their ilk who hung around the palace and at the
parties that Edrick had often attended in the past. Though he really
was no longer interested in going to the balls and soirees, or venturing
out to the brothels and gaming dens, Javan had needed someone with
access to those places, and Edrick, he had decided, was perfect.

So night after night, he’d gone drinking and gambling, dancing

and flirting, until he was heartily sick of it all. But he had heard some
interesting gossip and had dutifully passed every tidbit he heard along
to Javan. Before he’d come to the bonding ceremony, he had stopped
by his favorite gaming den to play a few hands of dacre. While he was
there, one of the other drunken fools at his table had let slip
information that was more than disturbing, and he needed to let Javan
know as soon as possible.

It had been with great pleasure that he’d spotted Caid across the

crowded hall during the bonding ceremony, and he’d been searching
for him ever since they’d moved into the ballroom for the celebration.

He’d been hurt and disappointed that Caid had slipped out without

even saying good-bye or expressing any desire to see him again. But
he thought he knew why. Caid was well-known to keep his rare
sexual encounters brief and basic. That was before he’d gotten
himself entangled with Edrick, however, because Edrick was

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determined that theirs would be more than brief. And much more than
basic.

He smiled as he took a bite from his plate, not really even tasting

the exotic dish.

“So what have you been doing since I last saw you, Caid?

Anything interesting going on with the Guardians these days?”

He saw Caid eyeing him carefully as the man lifted a glass to his

mouth to take a sip of his drink. Then he replied, “Not for me, really,
but I made a trip to Feresa to bring back Lael Monchmart and Gibor
Vane.”

Edrick was surprised. “I’d heard about that. I didn’t realize you

were the one who found them.”

Caid nodded. “The fighting was all over by the time I reached

them, but Lael was in pretty bad shape, and they’d lost their horses.”

“I heard a rumor that it was Angkeshi bandits that attacked them.

Is that true?”

“Yes. It was very strange that they would venture so far in to

Emryn.”

“It wasn’t in Feresa?” Edrick knew that, since Feresa was on the

border of Angkesh, it wasn’t very unusual for border raids to happen
on occasion.

“No. It was in Narda.”
Now Edrick was really disturbed. “Narda? That isn’t good.”
Caid agreed. “There were also signs of some sort of beast working

with the bandits.”

Edrick sat back, not sure he’d heard correctly. “A beast? What

kind of beast?”

“Some sort of large cat. I saw its tracks, and both Lael and Gibor

confirmed that they saw it, though only through the shadows of the
trees.”

“There have been rumors that the Queen of Angkesh can shape-

shift into a cat.”

Caid let out a gruff laugh. “There are all sorts of rumors.”

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“Like what?”
“I’m sure that you heard about the traitor that infiltrated the

Gray.”

“Vaguely.” He actually knew quite a bit about it, but he wasn’t

sure how much of his work with Javan he should reveal to Caid.

“Did you know that he was somehow controlled by Queen

Kalandra.”

“What?” That was something he hadn’t known.
Edrick continued to ask Caid questions, and the more he learned,

the more concerned he became. Now the information that he needed
to pass on to Javan took on an even more sinister meaning. He cast a
glance around the room. Should he seek Javan out and tell him what
he’d learned tonight? He thought it over for a moment and then
decided that tomorrow would be soon enough. Javan and Rom
deserved at least one night together to solidify their bonding. His
information would wait. One day only, though.

He turned his attention back to Caid, changing the subject to ask a

question he’d been wanting to ask for a while. “So why did you really
leave that night without at least waking me to say good-bye?”

“I told you.”
“I know what you told me. I want the truth.”
Caid looked a little uncomfortable. “I don’t know what you

mean.”

Edrick chuckled. “Hmm…I think you were scared.”
Caid’s face went blank. “Scared? Don’t be ridiculous.”
He studied Caid’s face carefully. “I think you enjoyed what we

had together a lot. More than a lot. I think that it scared you because
you felt the same thing I did.”

“Oh, yes? And what is that?”
“Like it was special. Important. Like it was more than just a

casual encounter.”

He finally saw a reaction on Caid’s face, and what he saw gave

him more encouragement than anything else could have. It was a brief

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flash of emotion. He saw fear mixed with a burning desire. It was
quickly hidden, and if Edrick hadn’t been looking for it, he probably
would have missed it completely. But it was definitely there.

He forced himself to suppress the satisfied smile that wanted to

curve his mouth.

“You’re wrong.” Caid’s voice was forceful.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
Edrick took a sip of his drink before leaning forward. “Prove it.”
Caid’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“You heard me. Prove it.”
“And just how do you expect me to do that?”
“Come back to my apartments with me tonight.”
Raised brows punctuated Caid’s surprise. “How would that prove

anything?”

Shrugging, Edrick smiled. “If it’s true and the last time meant

nothing more than a brief physical release, then our repeating the
experience shouldn’t make any difference to you and how you feel.
Of course, if I’m right, and it meant more than you want to admit,
then our coming together again will be something very special.
Something you won’t be able to deny.”

“What the farking hells game are you playing, Edrick? I don’t

know what it is that you want from me.”

“Just the truth, Caid. That’s all.”
Caid sat there for several minutes without saying anything else.

Finally he nodded. “Fine. I agree. One more night. That’s all.”

Edrick felt a great spurt of relief. “That’s all I’m asking.” He

smiled. He knew Caid thought he could keep their coming
lovemaking cold and clinical, but Edrick believed otherwise. The last
time, he had felt something he’d never felt before with anyone else,
man or woman. And he knew that Caid had felt it as well. Tonight
would be even more spectacular. He was certain of it. Once Caid saw
that, he would be unable to deny that what he felt for Edrick was

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nothing more than simple lust. What it actually was, Edrick wasn’t
quite sure. But he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were
meant to be together, and that his feelings for Caid were only going to
grow deeper and deeper.

“Shall we leave now, then?” Caid’s head tilted toward the door,

and his eyes sought Edrick’s.

Edrick nodded. “Of course. Let’s just say good-bye to Rom and

Javan.”

They made their way once again across the room. The crowd had

thinned somewhat, and it was much easier this time to locate the
couple. They were seated at a table up on a dais with the rest of their
family members. Once again, they offered their congratulations to the
happy couple.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Edrick reminded Javan, who nodded his

head.

“I’ll be expecting you.”
They said their good-byes, and then they were headed to the door.

It didn’t take them long to traverse the corridors and arrive at the
apartments in the south wing that King Kelan had given Edrick. Once
inside, Edrick wasted no time with idle chitchat, but led Caid directly
into his bedroom. Caid followed, closing the door behind him and
leaning back against it, arms crossed over his chest.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Edrick?” Caid’s

voice came to him from the shadows near the door. The only light in
the room came from the flickering fire. Edrick struck a fire stick and
went around lighting several candles before turning to face Caid
across the several feet that separated them.

Edrick reached down and began unfastening the ties on the front

of his formal tunic. “Goddess knows.” He could feel Caid’s eyes
following the movements of his fingers as the material parted an inch
at a time. When enough were unfastened, he reached down and pulled
the shirt off his head and threw it to the side. He did the same with the
undertunic.

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Then he reached for the belt that held up his breeches and quickly

dispensed with it. He sat down to remove his shoes before pushing his
breeches down and off, kicking them to the side, so that he stood
boldly nude in front of his lover. His cock was already semihard, and
he reached down to stroke it, hearing a short gasp from the direction
where Caid still remained standing near the door. He smiled as Caid
took a step forward, and Edrick could see that his eyes were eagerly
fastened on Edrick’s motions as he continued to caress himself.

“Damn you to farking hells, Edrick.” Caid’s voice was a harsh

growl.

Edrick smiled.

Guardian’s Scar

Chapter Four

Caid couldn’t take his eyes off of Edrick. The slender beauty of

his body seemed to glow in the flickering candlelight. His hand
stroking his engorged cock cast a near-hypnotic spell on Caid, who
licked his lips and clenched his own hands against the desire he felt to
rush forward and drop to his knees in front of the other man. The
knowing smile he saw curl Edrick’s mouth upward told him that
Edrick knew exactly what he was thinking.

The fact that he wasn’t thinking at all was whirling through Caid’s

mind. He wasn’t thinking when he’d accepted Edrick’s challenge, that
was for certain. He hadn’t wanted to admit that the other man was
right, maybe he hadn’t even admitted it to himself. But the truth was
that there was something to what Edrick had said. He’d denied it, but
he had felt something different when he was with Edrick. Something
that…disturbed him. He wasn’t frightened, but he was wary. He had
been almost anxious after their previous encounter. Not scared. He
wouldn’t go that far. But he had needed to get away from Edrick as
quickly as possible. He’d waited for the man to fall asleep and then he
had bolted.

He had thought that was the end of it, even though he’d had a hard

time suppressing his urge to see Edrick again. It was almost
laughable, the way he was torn between what he knew he should do
and what he wanted to do. And now he had allowed Edrick to
maneuver him into a situation that he wasn’t sure he was going to be
able to handle. He should leave. He should turn to the door and get
out of there as quickly as possible.

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Even as he thought it, he knew he wouldn’t do it. For better or

worse, he would see this night through. He would find out if Edrick
was correct, that what he felt for the other man was more than just
common, simple lust.

He took another step toward Edrick, and then another. Soon, he

stood less than a foot from the man. He gazed into those deep-blue
eyes, frozen with need. Then he felt Edrick’s hands reaching out and
removing his own garments. He moved stiltedly, as if in a daze, until
he too had been stripped naked.

“You’re a beautiful man,” he heard Edrick whisper as his hands

began to caress Caid’s chest, stroking across the scars that marred his
soldier’s body.

Caid laughed somewhat bitterly and shook his head. “You know

that’s not true, or else you’re an idiot. I’m scarred and ugly. I don’t
need false flattery. Save your lies, Edrick. I know how I look.
Goddess knows, I’ve been told often enough.”

Edrick smiled. “I know what you think, but it’s not true. These

people who told you that you were ugly are the idiots, not me.” He
lifted his hand, and Caid felt his fingers smoothing over the scar that
ran across his cheek. “I see the scar, and I see the beauty. I’ve never
seen a more beautiful man in my life, and that is not a lie.”

Caid reached up and caught Edrick’s hand against the hard ridges

of his scar. Looking deep into Edrick’s eyes, he saw no trace of
mockery, no gleam of deceit. The man was telling the truth as he
knew it. Somewhere deep in his chest, something began to crumble.
Some tight, hard place that he hadn’t even realized existed started to
loosen its grip on Caid. He almost gasped aloud at the feeling. He
leaned forward, keeping his eyes wide and unblinking, focused on
Edrick’s, as his mouth closed over his lover’s. They gazed into each
other’s eyes, and Caid felt a stirring in the depth of his soul as his
tongue pushed into Edrick’s heated mouth, and the other man’s
tongue slid eagerly against his own.

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Then they were moving closer, Edrick’s arms sliding up to clasp

around his neck. Caid’s own hands moved to hold Edrick’s waist, his
eyes sliding closed as the passion overtook him. He felt the heat from
the other man’s body against his, their cocks rubbing together with
each breath. Caid released Edrick’s mouth and laid a trail of kisses
across his jaw to his ear. Using the tip of his tongue, he traced the
whirls and caverns of Edrick’s ear, jabbing his tongue into the short
tunnel and then breathing deeply into the dampened interior. He felt
Edrick shiver at the wanton caress. Then he took the lobe into his
mouth to gently tug in the way he knew Edrick liked before nibbling
his way down the side of his neck and lower. Stooping slightly, he
used his tongue to trace whirling patterns around the man’s tight
nipple, which had hardened in arousal.

When his mouth closed over the hard little peak and he suckled

gently, he felt Edrick’s response in the hips that arched toward him.
He turned his attention to the other nipple, giving it equal attention,
and Edrick began moaning his name. Lifting his head, he smiled
down into Edrick’s dazed eyes as they blinked open. “You like that.”

Edrick merely nodded weakly.
“So do I.” He returned once again, torturing the male nipples until

Edrick was groaning and urging him to do more. Then he stood and
pushed Edrick until he fell back onto the nearby bed. Tugging
Edrick’s body so that his legs dangled over the side of his bed, he
pushed Edrick’s legs apart and sank to his knees in the space he had
created. He sent a glance up Edrick’s body until he met the other
man’s eyes, which were wide with eager anticipation. Then he bent to
study the other man’s rampant erection, admiring the tracery of veins
in the slender rod.

He leaned forward and licked a long stroke up the length of the

stalk. He repeated his action again and again until the whole cock
gleamed with the moisture from his mouth. Then he blew lightly and
felt a shiver of satisfaction as Edrick’s hips lifted in reaction. He blew
again before moving lower to give attention to the wrinkled ball sac-

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that hung between Edrick’s thighs. He licked lightly all across tender
skin, enjoying the sounds of Edrick’s gasps and moans as they filled
the air. Then his mouth moved back up to drop more soft kisses up the
flesh of the hard shaft.

“Farking hells, Caid, take me in your mouth before I go insane.”

Edrick’s voice was a pleading groan.

Caid grinned, remembering his own similar reaction to Edrick’s

teasing, and leaned forward, his mouth closing over the head of
Edrick’s cock and suckling gently. He heard the other man’s strangled
moan and felt the thrust of his hips as they tried to force more of
Edrick’s cock into his mouth. But Caid was having none of it. He
pulled back and let Edrick’s cock slip from between his lips. He hid a
smile at Edrick’s moan of frustration. Pressing gently, he moved
Edrick’s hips back into their original position.

“Don’t move,” he ordered when Edrick raised his head to send

him a look of supplication. “I promise you won’t be sorry.”

When Edrick’s head dropped back to the bed, he returned his

attention to the man’s erection. Once more, he took the head into his
mouth and began sucking. Edrick moaned again and a spurt of pre-
cum pulsed from the tip of his cock. Caid savored the taste, enjoying
the flavor of his lover’s passion. Slowly he began taking more and
more of Edrick’s length into his mouth. He could hear Edrick
muttering and gasping from somewhere above him as he sucked him
deeper and deeper.

He’d always enjoyed giving pleasure to his lovers, but this was

something different. He wanted Edrick mindless. He wanted the other
man to give himself totally to this moment and to Caid. He wanted to
own his every thought, his every feeling. He didn’t try to analyze this
need. He couldn’t. All he could do was follow his own instincts, to
push both himself and Edrick as far as they could go. And then push
even more.

He pressed deeper, until the tip of Edrick’s cock nudged the back

of his throat. With a deep breath, he relaxed his throat muscles and

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took the man all the way into his mouth. He could feel the hard rod
slip deep, Edrick’s balls brushing against his chin. Then he pulled
back and began slowly stroking Edrick’s rod in and out of his mouth,
sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, but maintaining that slow,
steady pace. Edrick’s hands reached down to tunnel into Caid’s hair,
grasping handfuls and pulling almost painfully in his efforts to force
Caid to speed up his ministrations.

Edrick’s voice reached him. “For the sweet love of Salara, Caid,

let me come. I ache. Please, faster. I’m begging you.”

At last Caid gave in to Edrick’s pleading. He began to move faster

and faster, using his hand now to tug and tease at Edrick’s balls until,
with a loud cry, Edrick climaxed, sending cum spurting deep into
Caid’s mouth. Caid continued suckling and swallowing until the last
pulse of orgasm had faded, and Edrick’s hands dropped loosely to the
bed.

* * * *

Was he dead? If not, he should be. Seven hells, that was amazing!

He felt movement and opened his eyes in time to see Caid lying down
beside him, his head propped on one hand. The other hand reached
out to trace a light caress around the outline of Edrick’s lips. His
mouth pulsed slightly with his desire to feel Caid’s mouth pressing
against his. He licked his lips, and he saw Caid’s eyes darken, their
gaze focusing on the tempting glide of tongue across flesh. Then he
was there, his mouth covering Edrick’s, his tongue pushing
impatiently inside, allowing Edrick to taste his own passion in Caid’s
mouth.

They kissed with lingering exploration, Caid’s body moving to

cover Edrick’s. The other man’s rampant erection prodded Edrick’s
belly, but when he tried to move so that he could touch it, Caid moved
out of reach. “No,” the other man whispered. “Not yet.”

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They touched and caressed one another for what seemed like

hours to Edrick. Caid slowly built his passion again, kiss by kiss,
stroke by stroke. Not a single inch of his body was left unexplored.
Edrick had never felt so completely consumed by a lover, allowing
Caid to do anything he wanted to him. And he wanted plenty.

At last, he gasped out, “No more, Caid. I can’t take any more.”
He heard Caid’s husky chuckle. “I think you’re lying, Lord

Edrick. I think you can take anything I want you to take.”

Edrick moaned. “But I want to touch you now.”
“Oh, you will. Have no worries about that.” Caid raised his head

and looked around. When he reached out toward the night table,
Edrick knew that he was getting the bottle of tunis oil. He shivered in
expectation of what was to come, longing to feel Caid’s cock
plunging into his ass, stroking them both to ecstasy.

Caid sat up and looked down at Edrick and whispered, “Turn

over.” Edrick eagerly complied, turning his head so that he could
watch Caid. Opening the bottle of oil, Caid tilted it so that a small
stream of the sweetly scented fluid dribbled down onto Edrick’s back.
Then he set the bottle aside and began smoothing oil over Edrick’s
skin, coating him with the slippery liquid. Again and again he tilted
the bottle until Edrick’s back was completely covered, from shoulder
to buttocks. Then his hand moved to part Edrick’s ass cheeks, seeking
and finding the anal opening that lay hidden there. Caid’s slick finger
slid easily into that dark tunnel. Edrick squirmed as he pumped in and
out, adding another finger and moving them in a scissoring motion to
widen the small hole.

“You feel so good. So tight.” Edrick heard Caid’s whisper just

before the fingers were removed, and he felt Caid’s body move to
stretch over him, covering his back with its heavy warmth. Caid
moved, sliding his body up and down Edrick’s back, his cock a hard
rod against his buttocks, sandwiched in the crease of his ass. Moving
with a languid ease, Caid rubbed over and over against Edrick.

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Edrick’s own erection had stirred again and was pressed firmly into
the mattress with each movement.

Caid’s lips found the nape of his neck, and he could feel the moist

pressure of the man’s tongue and lips as they moved gently across his
sensitive skin. When Caid bit down gently, Edrick thought he might
just die of the pleasure. Caid’s arms slid beneath him, grasping him
across the chest. He rolled to the side, pulling Edrick with him, so that
their bodies were spooned together. Then Caid lifted Edrick’s leg, and
he felt the prodding of Caid’s cock against his rear entrance. He
moved, widening his legs to accommodate Caid’s demand, and felt
the hard thrust of a hard cock pushing into him.

He pressed down with his inner muscles to ease the passage, and

Caid’s erection moved deeper until it was completely embedded into
his core. Then Caid began moving, pulling back and pushing forward
in a slow, languid rhythm. His hand gripped Edrick’s hip to hold him
still for each thrust. Harsh grunts sounded in his ear as Caid’s
movements sped up, and he reached down to wrap his hand around
his own erection, which was aching for relief again. It didn’t take long
to bring himself to a second climax, and he moaned with his release.
Caid’s grip tightened on his hip as he thrust harder and harder. He
turned his head and reached back, pulling Caid’s head down to his.
Their mouths met in a wet, hungry kiss, Caid’s tongue thrusting in
time to the movement of his hips. With a choked cry into Edrick’s
mouth, Caid climaxed, his hips grinding against Edrick’s buttocks as
his warm cum spurted out to fill Edrick’s channel.

They lay there, panting for a long time. He could feel Caid’s

softening cock as it slipped from him. Caid rolled onto his back and
Edrick moved so that he could look over at his lover. Caid’s arm was
thrown across his face, concealing his eyes from Edrick’s curious
gaze.

Caid lay there, motionless and hiding for several more minutes.

Edrick waited patiently. At last, Caid lifted his arm from his eyes and
looked up. What Edrick saw there was more than worth the wait.

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Chagrin, and satisfaction, and unequivocal emotion blazed from
Caid’s face. Edrick bent to capture Caid’s lips with his own and felt
the same pulse-pounding need he always felt when he was close to his
lover. This lover. Only this one.

“Well?” he finally asked, when it became obvious that Caid was

not going to volunteer anything.

Caid’s mouth lifted in a small smile. “You want to hear the words,

don’t you?”

Edrick lifted a brow in arrogant acknowledgement. “Of course.”
Caid nodded. “You were right.”
Edrick grinned.
Caid shook his head and reached up to pull Edrick down beside

him. They lay close, entangled in one another’s arms. Edrick’s head
rested on Caid’s chest, his fingers stroking lazily over his skin,
ruffling the hair that curled damply there.

“So where do we go from here?” Caid’s voice came to him in a

soft whisper.

He shrugged. “Wherever we want to go. As far as I know, there

aren’t any rules.”

“Well, then, where do you want it to go?”
Edrick considered the question and decided that honesty was the

best policy in this situation. “I’d like to see you on a regular basis.
Not just for sex, though I definitely want that. And lots of it.” He
tugged teasingly at a curl that was wrapped around his finger and
stifled a snicker at Caid’s wince. “But I also want us to just spend
some time getting to know one another. To learn more about one
another.”

Caid was silent for a beat or two. “I’m not going to any of those

fancy-pants dances and balls that you love so much.”

Edrick smiled. “Not even one or two? If they’re important to me?”
He could hear Caid’s hesitation when he answered. “Maybe one.”

Another pause. “But you’ll have to go with me to sword practice, let
me teach you to fight.”

Guardian’s Scar

“Okay. That sounds interesting.”
He could sense Caid’s surprise at his quick acquiescence.

“Really? No arguments?”

“No. I think that is fair. Getting to know one another is a give-

and-take. There are things I enjoy that I think you might, but even if
you don’t, I’d like you to give them a shot. And the same goes for me.
We both have to put forth some effort or the whole thing would be
pointless. Hopefully we’ll find some things that we both enjoy.”

“What if it turns out that we don’t like any of the same things?”
“Then that will probably mean that whatever we’re feeling for one

another isn’t going to last. But I think you’re going to be surprised. I
believe we’re going to find out that we have a lot more in common
than a first glance would lead you to think.”

“Seems to me that a rough soldier and a pampered nobleman

would have nothing in common.”

“Again, I think you’re going to get a shock. On the surface, I’ll

admit that we don’t seem like much of a match. But dancing and
sword fighting…those are only superficial things. Deep down, I
believe we’re very much alike.”

He could sense Caid’s disbelief at what he had said, but he didn’t

care. All he cared about at that moment was the fact that Caid was
willing to give them a shot. Edrick felt a great sense of rightness, held
close in Caid’s arms. And he would do whatever he had to do in order
to prove to his lover that they were meant to be together.

Britt Kenley

Chapter Five

Caid lay in the bed and listened to the sound of Edrick’s soft

snores. He wondered what the hell he was getting himself into, but he
wouldn’t run this time. Edrick, damn him to farking hells, was right.
He had been running scared the last time. He hadn’t admitted it, even
to himself, but whatever it was that was happening between them was
so powerful, it had frightened him. So he had left in the middle of the
night like some thief. Like he was ashamed of what had happened.
Edrick had called him on it, and he couldn’t help but respect the man
for having the courage to make him face the truth.

He was surprised, more than surprised, at how much he was

actually starting to really like the man. He’d known him, of course. Or
at least of him. Edrick’s reputation around the palace was not exactly
the most pristine. He was well-known for flitting from man to woman
on a fairly frequent basis. Caid couldn’t recall ever hearing of any of
Edrick’s affairs lasting more than a week or two at most. Did the man
really feel something special for Caid? Was it possible in so short a
time? And how did he feel about Edrick? It was all so confusing, and
Caid had never liked feeling out of control. But he needed to find out
what this thing was between them. He’d told Edrick that he was
willing to try, and he hadn’t been lying. Whatever was going on with
them, he couldn’t walk away. Not this time.

Edrick stirred, turning to curl against his side, and Caid couldn’t

resist dropping a soft kiss onto the man’s forehead. Then he closed his
eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The nightmare started the same way it always did, with the pain.

The excruciating pain streaked down his face with the agony of a hot

Guardian’s Scar

poker. And then came the jeering voices. Nameless, faceless voices
taunted and goaded him, turning to maniacal laughs as he struggled
to free himself from the tight bonds that held him down.

Another burst of pain streaked through his chest. Another hit his

leg. Then he felt the pummeling blows striking his ribs as bones
snapped. And always there were the voices whispering and muttering
threats and dire promises in his ear.

He jerked and cried out, waking himself from the horrible

memories that he could never seem to outrun. He sat up and rubbed
his hand over his face, his forehead beaded with sweat.

“Are you all right?” The soft voice beside him was startling, and it

took him a moment to recall where he was and who he was with. He
looked over and saw Edrick sitting beside him, his face the picture of
alarm. He shook his head and stood up, walking over to the window
that was hidden behind a heavy curtain. He pushed the fabric aside
and leaned his head against the icy cold of the window pane, needing
the chill to help drive away the pictures that filled his head.

He jerked when he felt a hand stroke down his shoulder but then

relaxed against Edrick’s slender body as the other man’s arm curled
around his waist and pulled him close.

“What’s wrong, Caid?” Edrick’s voice, heavy with concern,

murmured in his ear.

“Just a nightmare,” he managed to say, his voice gruff with the

earlier effort of holding back his screams.

He felt rather than saw Edrick shake his head. “Not just a

nightmare. That was something else. Won’t you tell me what it was
about? It helps to talk, you know.”

Caid cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Edrick. What would

a pampered aristocrat know about dreams that were in reality a living
nightmare that Caid had survived, though not without his scars. But
the look in the other man’s eyes gave him pause. There were shadows
there that Caid recognized because he’d seen the same thing in his

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own eyes. Shadows that a man got only when he’d lived through one
of the seven hells and made it through to the other side.

“You don’t really want to know,” he finally told Edrick.
“I really do. Here.” He took Caid’s hand and tugged. “Come back

to bed. I’ll get you something to drink.”

He didn’t know why, normally he couldn’t stand pampering of

any kind, but he allowed Edrick to lead him back to the bed and settle
him beneath the covers. The other man fussed with Caid’s pillows so
that he was sitting in a semi-reclining position. Then he moved across
the room to a long table and selected a decanter. After pouring the
golden liquid into a glass, he came back to the bed and crawled in
beside Caid.

“I don’t want a drink,” Caid shook his head when Edrick tried to

press the glass into his hand.

“Drink it, or I’ll have to get mean,” Edrick told him.
Though the words were teasing, the tone of Edrick’s voice told

him that he was dead serious, so Caid chose the path of least
resistance and took the glass, tossing back the fiery liquid in one gulp.
It burned all the way down and helped to warm the chill that had
seemed to permeate his soul.

“That’s good Jaelic whiskey. It’s meant to be sipped, you know.

It’s almost sacrilegious to toss it back like that.” Edrick’s voice held a
twinge of sarcasm, and Caid almost managed a smile.

“Well, I’m just a commoner. I’m afraid I don’t know a good

whiskey from a bad ale.

Edrick’s mouth curled upward, and he reached for the glass,

setting it on the bedside table.

“Now, tell me about the nightmare.”
Caid leaned his head back on the pillows, staring up at the dark

canopy above the bed. He was quiet for a long time, trying to figure
out where to start. Finally he said, “You haven’t asked me about my
scar.”

“Your scar?”

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“Well, scars, really, but the one on my face is the one most people

ask about.”

“Is that what your nightmare is about? When you got your scar?”
Caid closed his eyes, “Yes.”
He felt Edrick’s warmth pressing against his side and his mouth

sliding in a caressing kiss down the scar. “Tell me.” Edrick’s voice
was a persuasive whisper in his ear.

“I was on a routine border patrol in Averin Province. The Gray

don’t usually go on patrol, normally that’s just the army who sees to
that, but there’d been a lot of incursions into our territory, and King
Kelan decided to reinforce the regular patrol with some of our men.
He asked for volunteers, and I stepped forward. It sounded interesting,
and I was tired of being cooped up in Winterreach. I wanted some
action.” He let out a bitter laugh. “I definitely got what I wanted. My
third day on patrol I was captured by what I first thought were
common thieves. I knew they were from Emryn because of their
accents, and they didn’t have Angkeshi features. I figured they were
going to rob me, and I’d easily be able to get away from them. Turns
out that they were in the hire of the Angkeshi.” He shook his head in
disgust. “Can you imagine, Emryn citizens working for those
bastards. Anyway, they started asking questions, and when they
realized I was a member of the Gray, they figured I would be a mine
of valuable information about the king and the palace.”

He paused, needing to gather his thoughts so that he could tell the

rest without breaking down. Edrick must have sensed his difficulty
because he linked his fingers with Caid’s and squeezed lightly, a
supportive gesture that warmed Caid’s heart.

“They took me to a cave where they had set up a camp. At first

they just questioned me, but when I refused to talk, they got angry.”

“They tortured you?” Edrick’s voice held his understanding of the

horrors that Caid must have gone through. Caid nodded.

“It went on for days. At first it was just the beatings. Then they

began using their blades. The more I refused to speak, the

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more…creative they became.” He lifted his hand and rubbed it over
his face. “When they gave me this cut, I thought they’d taken my eye.
I figured I would die soon.”

“Dear Goddess, how did you get away?”
“We patrolled alone, but we would rendezvous with one another

every few days. Luckily, the man that I was partnered with, Merrit
Osik, was a stubborn and persistent devil. When I didn’t show up for
our meeting, he started looking for me. Somehow he found me and
brought reinforcements. They got me out of there, killed most of my
captors, though a few managed to sneak away. When they got me to a
healer, I was in bad shape. My wounds were infected, and they were
afraid that I still might lose my eye.”

“But you didn’t.”
“No. It took a long time to heal, and I had the scar to remind me

of my carelessness in getting captured. Believe me, it was a lesson
well learned. After that, I trained harder and made myself learn as
much as I could about survival and healing. Anything I could think of
to prevent what had happened from ever happening again.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”
Caid shook his head in disagreement. “I was careless. Soldiers

cannot afford to be careless. Anyway”—he shook his head—
“sometimes the memories come back.”

“The nightmares.”
“Yes. It’s been a while since I had one. I don’t know why they’ve

suddenly decided to reappear. Usually something will trigger it.
Something that reminds me of that time.”

“Perhaps all this talk of the Angkeshi has stirred them up.”
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps I can make you forget again,” Edrick murmured, and

pulled him down for a warm kiss. Closing his eyes, he allowed
himself to relax into the comforting passion of his lover’s embrace.

* * * *

Guardian’s Scar

The following day, hood lifted and head lowered to avoid notice,

Edrick surreptitiously entered the rear door of the Gray Tower and
moved carefully up a little-used staircase leading to Javan’s office. A
smile curved his lips, a sign of his contentment. Though Caid had left
early that morning to attend to his duties as a member of the Gray, he
had first awakened Edrick with soft morning kisses that had led to a
sweet and slow round of lovemaking that had left them both weak and
satisfied. Before he had left, he had promised that he would see
Edrick that night, and Edrick was feeling very positive that their
relationship was finally on the right track.

He knocked briskly on the office door, and he heard Javan’s

muffled “Come.” He opened the door and stepped inside. Javan stood
and gestured him in, indicating a chair near his desk.

“Sit down, Edrick.” He waited until Edrick had done so before

looking at him speculatively. “So, you and Caid, hmmm? That’s a
pairing I never would have figured. You’ve surprised me.”

Edrick grinned. “Now that’s something that’s difficult to do, so I

guess I’m pleased.”

Javan chuckled. “Indeed. In more ways than one, obviously. How

serious are you two?”

Edrick shrugged. “We’ve agreed to see where things will lead.”
“For you and him as well, that’s more of a commitment than

you’ve ever had before.”

“I know.”
“Well, I hope things go smoothly, but if they don’t, I want you to

know that I’m here if you need to talk. I consider you a good friend
and want only the best for you. I have a bit of experience with strong,
stubborn warriors, and I can tell you, nothing is ever easy with them.”

Edrick was a bit surprised at Javan’s offer. Their friendship had

been growing as they worked together, despite the somewhat strange
start to it, but he hadn’t realized that Javan looked upon their
relationship as more than just a working partnership. When they’d

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first met, Javan had used Edrick to make Rom jealous so that Rom
would admit that he was still in love with Javan. Edrick had been
disappointed because he had been very attracted to Javan. But once he
had seen how the two men felt for each other, he had stepped aside
with only a faint twinge of regret.

“Thank you, Javan. I really appreciate it.”
Javan smiled. “Don’t look so shocked. You and I are a lot alike.

Even Rom admits it.”

“A high compliment, indeed.” He shook his head ruefully. “I truly

do thank you, Javan. You friendship means a lot to me. I’m afraid I
haven’t cultivated a lot of friends in my life, but I’m glad to consider
you as one.”

“I need to offer a word of warning, as well, Edrick.”
“Warning?”
“You need to keep your distance from Caid as much as possible

when you’re in public. Surely you realize that people tend to be a bit
more careful of what they reveal when there is a member of the Gray
around. Your work as a spy is invaluable, but it would suffer greatly
should people realize just how close you and Caid are becoming.”

Edrick frowned. “I hadn’t thought about it, but I can see that

you’re right. I’ll be more careful in future.”

Javan nodded briskly and then leaned forward, elbows on his desk

and his chin propped on his linked hands. “Now, tell me what news
you have.”

“There is a rumor that an Angkeshi sympathizer in the royal court

has been gathering a group of traitors in Winterreach.”

“What exactly have you heard?” Javan looked surprised.
Edrick proceeded to tell Javan all that he had overheard about the

Angkeshi sympathizer. “One source told me that this person was
letting it be known among certain individuals that there could be good
money for anyone willing to work with him.”

Javan’s gaze sharpened. “For what purpose?”

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Edrick shrugged. “No one is quite sure, though there are various

theories. Some suggest they will try to rescue Nysan Markelich.
Others believe there may be an assassination attempt on the king or
another member of the royal family, perhaps even the heir. Still
another group believes their purpose may be to take out as many of
the Gray as possible, leaving the king and the city vulnerable to
attack.”

“Do you have any idea who this Angkeshi sympathizer could be?

Has anyone mentioned a name or even a description? Is there
anything at all that might point us in the right direction?”

Edrick shook his head. “Unfortunately, the people I have spoken

to either don’t know or are reluctant to say more. I have to be careful
what I ask in order to keep my façade as a partying fool intact.
Perhaps, given time, they will open up to me more.”

“I cannot believe that even the Angkeshi would be so foolish as to

try to take on the Gray, and to stage an attack so deep into Emryn
would be risky and have little chance at success.” He shook his head.

“No one ever said that Kalandra was stupid, so I have to agree

with you on that score. Still, it’s no secret that the Angkeshi have
been becoming bolder in recent weeks.”

Javan sat back. “That is true enough. There have been many

reports from my spies recently of various plots and plans by the
Angkeshi. I don’t like it.”

Edrick agreed. “There are also lots of rumblings about Queen

Kalandra’s magical powers. The people have begun attributing every
bad thing that happens to her. If a child is stillborn, they say the queen
has cursed it. If someone loses at cards, it’s because Kalandra is
causing it. A man went hunting and found a slaughtered deer and
blamed it on Kalandra in her feline form.”

Javan looked disgusted. “I’ve heard some of that myself. People

will believe anything, I suppose, but it distracts us from what we
should be focusing on if we have to combat such superstitious
nonsense.”

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“You don’t believe that it’s possible that Kalandra does, in fact,

possess the power of sorcery?”

Javan stood and stepped over to a side table where a small tin pot

rested. He poured two mugs of red tea and handed one to Edrick, who
sipped it appreciatively. Leaning against his desk, Javan took a long
drink before looking at Edrick. “Truthfully? I don’t know. Rom, of
course, thinks it’s completely ridiculous. He puts no stock at all in
such rumors.” He shrugged. “But he is a man of action. He trusts what
his eye sees, and has confidence in his sharp blade and his strong arm
to guard against all foes. I, on the other hand, am a bit more open-
minded. I’ve traveled much, and I’ve seen things I can’t explain with
logic and reason. Power wielded that has no obvious source. Does
Kalandra have such power herself? That I do not know. What I do
know is that she is dangerous.”

“Even rumors of such power are dangerous because they strike

fear into men and women.”

“Exactly. Whether she has such powers or whether she does not, it

makes no difference because it weakens our position.” He smiled
wryly. “It is almost as difficult to fight gossip as it is to fight magic.”

Edrick nodded. “I hadn’t thought of it in just that way before, but

you’re right. Fighting an unseen enemy is always difficult. If
Kalandra does have some magical power at her disposal, I would have
to wonder why she has waited until now to use it.”

“An excellent question, and one reason why I tend to believe she

does not. She has wanted Emryn for years. Had she command of such
a weapon, she would not have waited this long to attempt to take the
throne.” He took another sip of his red tea, and his look turned
thoughtful. “What worries me more is this rumor of a noble Angkeshi
sympathizer. That, I’m afraid, is a much more believable rumor, and
one that must be more closely looked into.”

“I’ll see what else I can find out.”
“The name of this nobleman would be invaluable.”
Edrick nodded. “But not easy to come by, as I said.”

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Javan turned to sit back down and pulled out some paper. “I’ll put

some of my other men on this. They don’t have your connections or
access to the upper aristocracy, but they might be able to ferret out
some of these other traitors your nobleman may be working with.
Odds are they are among the peasantry.” He made himself a note on
the paper in front of him. “So tell me, does Caid know that you’re
working for me?” His eyebrow quirked up in inquiry.

Shaking his head, Edrick smiled. “No. I swore to you that I would

keep my work for you private.”

“He’s not a fool, Edrick. Rom said that he noticed us talking at the

party last night.”

Edrick shrugged. “I know.”
“If things get more serious between you two, you have my

permission to tell him everything. I trust Caid and know he would not
do anything to jeopardize our work.”

Edrick nodded. Then he tilted his head to study Javan. “So how is

it being bonded to the Captain of the Gray?”

Javan’s face took on a happy glow. “Perfect. Well, maybe not

perfect. The bonding ceremony didn’t change the fact that my
bondmate can be a stubborn ass at times. But there’s just something
about knowing that we’re now pledged to one another that is
very…satisfying. I know that we will argue, and I know that
sometimes we’ll be crazy, but I also know that we’re building
something together that is going to last. And that is a very special
thing.”

Edrick felt a deep pang of envy at what Javan had with Rom.

“You’re a very lucky man.”

“I know.”
“And so is Rom.”
Edrick watched Javan’s flash take on a red tint. “I like to think

so.”

“So why are you here working in your office when you’ve only

been bonded one day?”

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Javan chuckled. “Rom had a few duties to attend to this morning,

but he’s free for the next several days. I swear, that man doesn’t know
how to delegate. I decided I might as well come in and clear up some
work as well. But he should be finished soon.”

Edrick could see the look of anticipation on Javan’s face as he

thought of the afternoon and night ahead. He stood. “Then I won’t
keep you any longer.”

“You’re doing good work, Edrick. I’m glad you agreed to come

and work for me.” Javan laid the quill down that he’d been writing
with and pushed the paper to one side.

“I’m just grateful to you for giving me the chance to do something

useful with my time.”

“I know how difficult it is for someone of our station to make his

mark on the world, Edrick. As I said before, we are a lot alike.”

Edrick nodded and said his good-byes before letting himself out

of the office. It was with a sense of pride and purpose that he strode
down the hall and exited the building. And, of course, he was eagerly
anticipating the night ahead.

Guardian’s Scar

Chapter Six

For the next several days, Caid and Edrick spent a lot of their free

time together. That wasn’t much, however. When Rom had told Kelan
what they had learned, the king had ordered that the guards on the
royal family and the palace be doubled. Caid, like the rest of the other
Guardians, was kept very busy attending to these additional duties as
well as his normal ones. Edrick also was busy.

At first Caid was annoyed that many nights when he was free and

eager to meet up with his lover, Edrick was attending some ball or
party or meeting a group of friends at a gambling den. Caid had no
desire to accompany Edrick to such frivolous pursuits, but he was a
bit hurt that Edrick hadn’t at least invited Caid to join him.

Though he knew he would be bored out of his mind, he had subtly

hinted to Edrick that he would be willing to accompany him to some
of the parties. Edrick had smiled but had told Caid that he knew he
would not enjoy the functions, and he didn’t want to put him through
that. Caid had been relieved but chagrined, especially when Edrick
hadn’t stopped going himself. Caid was rightfully confused since
Edrick had been the one to press for more of a relationship with Caid
in the first place. He thought that Edrick would have been more
interested in being with him rather than partying with his friends.

He hadn’t pushed the matter, though. And the nights when they

were able to be together were some of the most amazing times in his
life. Still, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed with Edrick. His own
schedule couldn’t be helped, but Edrick was free as an urva bird. It
should have been a simple matter for Edrick to curtail his social
calendar a bit in order for them to spend more time together.

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They hadn’t seen each other for the past two days because of

Caid’s schedule. He’d shown up tonight eager to be with the other
man, and of course Edrick was preparing for another night out. For
Caid, it was the last straw. As he sat in his lover’s bedroom and
watched him bustling around to get ready, he became angrier and
angrier.

“You’re really going out again tonight? Despite the fact that we

haven’t seen each other in two days?” He didn’t really need to ask the
question. It was obvious that Edrick was not planning on staying
home from the way he was dressed.

Edrick finished buttoning the embroidered vest he was wearing

and cast Caid an apologetic glance. “Yes. I’m sorry. But I promised
Anstel that I would attend his birthday celebration dinner tonight. He
would be so disappointed if I wasn’t there.”

“He would be disappointed? He would be? What about me? What

about my disappointment?”

Caid watched as a guilty grimace crossed Edrick’s face before he

hid it behind a mask of indifference. “I know you’re disappointed. I
feel the same. But Anstel is an old and dear friend. You understand,
don’t you, Caid?” Edrick turned to rifle through the jewelry in the
cask sitting on a nearby table. He’d just selected a ring and pushed it
onto his finger when Caid stood and started for the door.

“No, I don’t understand. I guess I’m a fool for thinking that you

had changed, Edrick. I don’t have time to play these games of yours.
I’ll see you around.” Caid was furious and hurt, but he wasn’t about to
let Edrick see how much his attitude had wounded him.

He had just put his hand on the doorknob and was about to yank it

open when he felt Edrick’s hand close over his own and heard Edrick
say in a quiet voice. “Don’t go, Caid. Please. Let me explain.”

He was tempted to ignore the request and just leave, but his heart

wouldn’t let him go without some kind of explanation from Edrick.
He turned and gazed down into his lover’s serious face. “What kind of
explanation could you possibly offer, Edrick?”

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The man sighed and turned around, taking a pace or two further

away from Caid. When he turned back to face Caid, he was smiling
wryly. “Well, Javan did tell me that I could reveal the truth to you if I
had to.” He shook his head. “I’m working for Javan, Caid. I’m one of
his spies.”

To say that Caid was flabbergasted by the announcement would

have been a huge understatement. He knew his mouth had dropped
open and that he probably looked like a beached fish. “A spy?” He
finally managed to get the words out.

Edrick nodded, his lips tilting up in a tight smile. “I don’t know

whether to be amused or insulted by your shock. What? Do you think
I’m incapable of doing such work or just that I’m too silly to care
about the dangers facing our kingdom?”

Caid immediately realized that he had hurt Edrick’s feelings and

began to backtrack. “No. Of course not. It’s just that you’ve never
even given me any hints…” Then he halted, recalling the conversation
that he and Javan had had at the bonding ceremony. He had thought it
odd at the time, but now it was obvious what it had been about.
“Seven hells. I’m a fool.”

He heard Edrick laugh.
“So all this time you’ve been going out to these parties, you’ve

actually been working for Javan?”

Edrick nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugged. “When I first started working for Javan, he didn’t

want anyone to know what I was doing. I have entry into many places
that his other spies do not, so he didn’t want to run the risk that I
might be caught. But when I told him about the threat to Kelan, he did
tell me then that if I needed to tell you what I was doing, I had his
permission.”

It struck Caid that Edrick had had his meeting with Javan the

same day that the guards had been doubled. “Farking hell, you’re the

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one who warned Rom about the possible assassination attempt.” He
still was having trouble grasping it all.

“Yes.”
Caid said nothing else, mired in his own thoughts, and Edrick

continued to dress, picking up the jacket he had chosen and pulling it
on. When Edrick began heading for the door, Caid was shaken out of
his dazed thoughts. “Wait. I’ll go with you.”

Edrick paused, turning. “That’s not a good idea, Caid.”
“Why not?” Caid asked belligerently.
“Because you’re a member of the Gray, and I’m a spy. Do you

really think I’ll learn anything of importance with you hovering
around me all night?”

Caid could see his point but still felt he should be there. “You’re

going to try to learn more information about the threat to Kelan?”

“I am.”
“Then I’m going, too. I’ll crash the farking party if I have to. No

one will know that I’m there with you. And I’ll stay far away from
you. I swear. I just don’t like the idea of you in danger. At least I’ll be
there to watch your back.”

Edrick chuckled. “You think I can’t take care of myself at a

birthday celebration?”

Caid shook his head, a grin coming to his lips. “What I’m thinking

is that you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself in almost
any situation.” He recalled the day he had taken Edrick for sword
training. He’d been pleasantly surprised at the man’s skill. “However,
I would worry anyway.”

“And you’re not mad anymore?”
“No. I’m…impressed.”
He could see that Edrick was pleased at the compliment. “All

right then. You can go, but when you get there, don’t approach me, all
right?”

Guardian’s Scar

“I said I wouldn’t.” Caid crossed to Edrick and put his arms

around the man, pulling him close. “I’m glad that you weren’t just
bored with me and regretting our relationship.”

“What?” Edrick’s face bore a surprised expression.
“What else was I to think when it didn’t seem as if you had any

desire to spend time with me? I figured that you had changed your
mind but didn’t know how to tell me.”

“Oh, Goddess, no. Caid, I do not regret it for one second. You

believe me, don’t you?”

Caid studied Edrick’s face, seeing the sincerity shining there. “Of

course I believe you. I care about you, Edrick.” He bent down and
pressed his lips against Edrick’s, which had parted in surprise. The
kiss was lingering and sweet, and when he pulled back, he could see
desire and something else glowing in Edrick’s eyes.

“I care about you, too, Caid. Very much.”
Caid pressed another brief kiss on Edrick’s mouth. Then he stood

back and reached for his cloak. “Go on. You’ll be late for your
friend’s party. I’ll see you there in a bit.”

Edrick smiled and walked to the door.

* * * *

The party was filled with the usual people, and the endless gossip

flowed unceasingly. Edrick kept his ears open. With Caid a stalwart
but distant figure across the room, Edrick made the rounds, drifting
from group to group, sifting through the rumors and the lies, seeking
that one grain of truth that he could pass along to Javan. Even as he
played the part of dedicated hedonist, he never forgot his true purpose
for being here.

Conscious that Caid was observing everything he said or did, he

limited his interaction with the others to light flirting, not wanting to
give his lover any reason for jealousy. After several fruitless hours, he
indicated to Caid that he was ready to leave. The other man nodded

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that he understood, and he felt Caid’s eyes following him as he said
his good-byes to his host and called for his carriage.

When he had once again entered his apartment, he tossed off his

cloak and crossed to the table to pour himself a generous glass of
Isterian brandy. He’d only taken a small sip, when Caid knocked
briefly and entered, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as he closed the
door behind him and caught sight of Edrick.

“Pour me one as well, Edrick. Goddess’s sake, if I’d had to endure

another hour of that endless prattle I’d have cut my own throat. I
don’t know how you stand it.”

Edrick held out Caid’s glass with a grin. “I would probably say

the same thing about those lovely hikes you and the other members of
the Gray make every week to Halsin’s Creek.”

Caid shook his head and tossed back the fiery liquid. Edrick saw

the question in his eyes. “Yes, it’s the real thing. My father has a store
of the finest illegal brandy this side of the Divide.”

“Lucky man.” Caid’s eyes twinkled at Edrick. Then his expression

grew serious. “Tell me, why do you do this? Why work for Javan as a
spy? It doesn’t fit with what I would have expected of you.”

Edrick frowned and crossed to sit in a comfortable chair near the

fire, needing to warm himself from the chilly winter night. “Why?
Because I was born to the aristocracy. Surely you know we’re not all
superficial sycophants, caring for nothing more than our next orgy.”

Caid’s eyes studied him with an intensity that made Edrick

squirm. He knew he sounded defensive, but Caid was touching on a
subject that he never spoke about. “Of course not. But you have to
admit that you do have somewhat of a reputation as a member of the
fast crowd. I’m glad that you’re not that shallow, in fact, I sensed that
there was more to you than surface appearance implied, but it is a bit
of a puzzle. I know there’s something you’re hiding from me. Is it
really that private?”

Edrick leaned back his head, resting it on the high back of the

chair, and closed his eyes. He knew he wasn’t really being fair to

Guardian’s Scar

Caid. When his lover had revealed the events that had resulted in his
receiving the scar on his face, he had opened himself up to Edrick
with an honest and sincere explanation. Edrick owed him nothing
more than the same. He took a deep breath and began to speak.

“You’re right. My life until very recently has been just as

pointless and useless as that of all the others at that party tonight. I
guess it was my way of coping with my past.”

“Your past?”
“You’re not the only one with scars, Caid. Mine don’t show, but

they’re just as real. Just as painful as yours.”

“What scars do you have, Edrick?”
Edrick paused. “I haven’t talked about this in years, and never to

anyone outside my immediate family.”

“You can trust me to keep your secrets, Edrick. I would never

betray you.”

He nodded and continued. “My father has always hated me. I’ve

never really understood why. I have three older brothers, and they’re a
lot like him. Real manly men, if you know what I mean.” He opened
his eyes and shot Caid a wry grin. “A lot like you.”

Caid nodded.
“It seemed like he was always angry at me for something. I was

too weak. I couldn’t fight well. I was clumsy. Nothing I did could
ever please him. His punishments were…severe. And creative. He
never marked me permanently, but he did enough damage that
sometimes I couldn’t even get out of bed. And he hated me even more
for that weakness.” He stopped for a moment, the memory of those
beatings almost overwhelming his thoughts, but he pulled himself
together. “When I was twelve years old, he sent me to foster with one
of his friends. The Baron Lester.”

He saw Caid’s start of astonishment. He wasn’t surprised that

Caid had heard of the Baron. Most everyone had. He was also known
by another name. The Bloody Baron. Tales of his cruelty and
perversions were well-known in Emryn.

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“By the Goddess, why would he do such a thing?” Edrick could

hear Caid’s anger, anger for him, for what had been done to him, and
he almost managed a smile.

“I told you he hated me. I’ve thought about it often, and I truly

believe he wanted me to die.”

“Goddess damn his hide to the seven hells.” Caid growled, and

Edrick’s heart stuttered in his chest as a feeling of aching emotion
streaked through him.

“The first night I was there, the baron raped me. He continued

raping me and beating me when I wouldn’t cooperate for the five
years I lived there.” Edrick rushed to finish his tale, eager to put the
hideous tale of his past behind him. “When I was seventeen, I was
finally called back home to my father. He’d thought that the baron
would make a man of me, I suspect, or kill me. Either would have
satisfied him. But I returned to him a bitter disappointment. I don’t
know what he might have done to me then had not my eldest brother
intervened. Markam persuaded my father to send me to one of his
isolated estates, and I lived my life in relative peace and solitude for
several years.”

He lifted his glass to his mouth and took another sip of the brandy.

“My father became ill a few months ago of a fever he contracted.
He’s alive but incapacitated and weak. He can barely speak and
cannot walk at all. His memory is not good. When my brother sent me
news, I felt…empty. Lifeless. Like I had been cheated of my revenge
or at least of an explanation for why he hated me so. I left Orellion,
the estate I’d been sent to, and sought forgetfulness in wine and
sexual excess.”

“So that’s why the endless round of parties and pleasure.”
Edrick nodded. “I tried anything I could to block out the

memories of my past and the knowledge that for some reason my
father found me…unlovable.” The last word was spoken in a broken
whisper. The tears he’d held back during his recitation threatened to
overflow his eyes.

Guardian’s Scar

Through the watery blur, he saw Caid cross the room toward him.

He reached down and clasped Edrick’s hands, tugging him to his feet.
Pulling him gently into his arms, Caid enfolded him in a tender
embrace meant to soothe and comfort. Edrick let the heat of Caid’s
body warm the cold that seemed to have sunk deep into his soul. They
just stood there as Edrick’s tense body relaxed and melted into Caid’s.

“Your father was a fool and a brute. I wish he were still a well

man so that I could kill him for you. You are not unlovable, Edrick. In
fact”—he lifted his head and looked deep into Edrick’s eyes—“I find
you very lovable. Very.”

Slowly Caid lowered his lips until his mouth was a mere breath

away from Edrick’s own. The bristle on Caid’s cheek scraped against
Edrick’s face in an intriguing caress. His mouth took Edrick’s in a
kiss that was soft and sweet and tender, pushing thoughts of his father
and the baron completely from his head, and filling him instead with
the heat and spice of his lover’s taste. Slowly, oh, so slowly, Caid slid
his tongue against Edrick’s bottom lip before biting down lightly on
the tender flesh and then releasing his mouth to lift his head. Gazing
up into that sultry stare, Edrick felt himself sinking deeper and deeper
under the other man’s spell.

“I’m honored that you shared your past with me.” Caid’s voice

was a low rumble as he dropped light kisses down Edrick’s cheek. “I
know it was painful for you to tell me. It meant so much that you
could open yourself up that much.”

“Do you really find me lovable?”
Caid lifted his head and smiled down at him. “Unbelievably

lovable.” Then his lips closed firmly over Edrick’s mouth in a heated
taking that set him on fire. Caid’s tongue pressed into his mouth to
slide possessively against his own, and Edrick moaned at the exquisite
feel of his lover’s fingers as they threaded their way into Edrick’s
hair. Caid pressed closer, drawing out the kiss with gentle demand.

When their mouths parted, Edrick looked up into the warm need

reflected in Caid’s eyes. Caid took his hand and began to pull him in

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the direction of the bedroom. Edrick followed, his body humming
with the need to be wrapped skin-to-skin in his lover’s arms, the
painful events of his past fading into a distant memory, eclipsed by
his newfound joy with Caid.

Guardian’s Scar

Chapter Seven

A few days later found Caid entering the palace to relieve one of

his fellow Guardians of guard duty. He found Varian standing outside
the queen’s apartments. The other man smiled a greeting, though his
eyes kept up a continuous scan of the hallway to check for any
suspicious activity.

“Good morning, Varian. Anything to report?”
The other man shook his head. “Nothing unusual.”
“Good.”
Varian cast him a speculative glance. “So, you and Edrick

Valemont, huh?”

Caid didn’t say anything, just lifted a brow at his friend and fellow

soldier.

“I have to say I’m surprised. Never thought you’d get caught.”
“I like to think I’m the one that did the catching.”
Varian laughed. “I’m sure you do.”
At that moment, the door to the queen’s rooms opened, and a

maid walked out carrying a tray. Caid studied her carefully. The
female looked nervous, barely managing a hint of a smile as she
looked at the two Guardians before casting her eyes to the floor and
scurrying away. As she moved down the hall, Caid’s eyes narrowed.
Where had he seen her before? The marketplace, that was it. The day
he and Edrick had first gotten together. She’d been talking to that man
who had seemed so familiar to Caid. He knew he’d seen him
somewhere before.

Vaguely, he heard Varian saying something, but a low roaring in

his ears distracted him. He felt hot, and sweat beaded his brow. It

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suddenly hit him. The man was older now, but he was positive he was
one of the Angkeshi sympathizers who had captured and tortured
Caid. The one who’d scarred him.

He reached for the doorknob, shouting at Varian at the same

moment. “Stop her.” He caught a glimpse of Varian’s stunned face
before he shoved his way into the queen’s apartments. Several of her
ladies-in-waiting were sitting around talking. They looked up, eyes
widening, as he barged into the room.

“Quickly. The queen. Where is she?”
One of the girls pointed to a closed door. Caid rushed forward. As

soon as he entered the room, he knew his suspicions had been correct.
The queen lay crumpled on the floor, an empty cup clutched in her
right hand. Moving quickly, he knelt beside her, feeling for her pulse.
It was slow, too slow. He picked up the cup and sniffed. The odor was
faint, but definitely there. Elder Spice. A dangerous poison.

He turned and saw a crowd of frightened female faces peering into

the room. When they saw their queen lying unconscious, they began
crying and screaming in dismay and fear. He caught the eye of the
only girl who looked somewhat calm though pale and worried.
“Hurry, girl. Find a healer and the king. Summon more guards. The
queen has been poisoned.”

The girl nodded and spun away. Caid lifted the queen and turned

her over, thrusting his fingers down her throat in an attempt to purge
her of the poison. He wasn’t sure how much time passed before Rom
rushed into the room followed immediately by King Kelan and the
king’s personal healer.

“Goddess, Lyra.” The king’s voice, filled with despair, rang out.

He ran to his wife’s side and sank to the floor.

Caid moved away, allowing the healer to tend the queen. His gaze

met Rom’s, who nodded toward a far corner of the room. Caid
followed his captain.

“What happened?” Rom’s eyes were dark with worry and anger.
Caid quickly explained.

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“Where is the girl?”
“Here!” Varian’s voice came from behind them. They turned and

saw him in the doorway, his hand wrapped around the upper arm of a
weeping girl. Caid immediately recognized her.

“Bring her here.” Rom barked the order.
Varian moved forward, tugging his reluctant captive with him.

They halted in front of Rom and Caid.

“Speak, girl. Who are you, and why have you poisoned our

queen?”

The girl just sobbed hysterically and shook her head. Caid knew

they would get no coherent answers from her until she calmed down.
Apparently Rom realized it as well.

Rom looked at Varian. “Take her to the cells. Guard her with your

life. No one is to enter until I come to speak to her.”

Caid saw Varian nod, his face grim. “Yes, Captain. I’ll see to it.”
Rom dismissed Varian and looked at Caid. “How did this happen?

Farking hell, I thought we had the royal family well-protected.”

Caid shook his head. “It’s hard to protect against our own people

who have turned traitor. No one had any reason to suspect the girl. I
myself have seen her around the palace several times tending to her
duties.”

Rom sighed and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “We

need to find out who she is.”

Caid nodded. “I’ll see to her.”
Their conversation was interrupted when the king let out a loud

cry of grief. They turned to see the healer shaking his head, a
sorrowful look on his face. He pulled a folded cloth from his robes
and shook it out, using it to cover the face of their queen, and Caid
knew that she was dead.

The ladies-in-waiting began to sob, huddled together in a corner

of the room. Rom moved over to Kelan, lifting him to his feet and
pulling him into a comforting embrace. Caid saw two more Guardians
at the door and moved toward them.

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Pike’s face was hard and fierce. “The queen is dead, then?”
Caid nodded. “Help me get these women out of here, and give His

Majesty some privacy. Then wait for me outside.”

The two men nodded, moving quickly to clear the room. Caid

walked over to where Rom and the king stood. Rom’s hands were on
Kelan’s shoulders, and he was speaking to him quietly. As Caid
approached, Rom looked up. When their eyes met, Caid told him, “I’ll
see that the king is not disturbed.”

Rom thanked him. “Triple the guard. And tell Javan what has

happened. He’ll know who needs to be notified.”

Caid nodded.
“Wait for me at her cell. I want you with me when we go to in

question the prisoner.”

“Yes, sir.”
Caid moved off to do as he’d been told. He still couldn’t believe it

had happened. The queen murdered. And right in the palace. His
thoughts were a whirl of questions. The Angkeshi sympathizer. What
was his role in all of his? And why hadn’t Caid recognized him the
first time he’d seen him? Memories of the days he’d spent at the
mercy of the unknown man and his cohorts threatened to overtake
him, but he brutally shoved them aside.

Now was not the time. Later, he’d be able to think more clearly,

but for now, he had to attend to his duties.

He first spoke to Brax, Rom’s first lieutenant in the Gray, who

was already on his way to the palace having heard the news from
another Guardian. Caid delivered Rom’s orders quickly before
hurrying to the Tower where he would find Javan. The spymaster was
stunned when Caid told him what had happened.

“Goddess save us, poor Lyra. And Kelan.”
“I know. Rom is furious. He said you would know who needed to

be notified and what arrangements needed to be made.”

“Of course. You say you have the girl in custody?”
Caid nodded. “Rom wants me to be there when he questions her.”

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“Of course. Go ahead. Tell Rom I’ll take care of everything.”
Caid said good-bye and then departed, heading to the prisoner’s

holding cell where the young woman was being kept. Varian was
there, standing straight, his arms folded across his chest. His face was
pale, and his eyes held a shadow of guilt and pain.

He looked up when he saw Caid approach.
Caid stopped in front of the other man. “How is the prisoner?”
Varian shook his head. “She’s stopped crying at least.”
Caid reached out to rest his hand on his fellow Guardian’s

shoulder. “And how are you, my friend?”

Varian’s face took on a grim cast. “It’s my fault. The queen was

my responsibility. I let her down. I let my captain down. I let my king
down. I don’t deserve to wear the gray cloak.”

Caid shook his head. “You did nothing wrong, Varian. You

couldn’t have known she was a traitor.”

Varian did not reply, just stood there, his stony expression telling

Caid more than words could of the depth of the man’s guilt. Caid
knew that nothing he said was going to make Varian feel any better,
so he remained silent, standing beside the other man and waiting for
Rom to appear, which he did a few minutes later.

“How is the king?” Caid asked when Rom stopped in front of him.
“Holding up. He had to go and tell his son.”
Caid knew that Aric had been quite close to his mother. Kelan’s

task would not be an easy one, but the king was strong. He would get
through this tragic time as he did everything, with dignity and grace.

Rom stepped forward. “Let’s go talk to our prisoner.”

* * * *

When Edrick head the news, he couldn’t believe it. Lyra, dead?

How was that possible? He’d seen the lovely queen just two days
earlier playing in the palace gardens with young Aric. He was
tempted to rush to the queen’s apartments to find Caid and see what

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was happening, but he realized that would be a mistake. So he paced
the floors in worried thought until finally, what seemed like hours
later, he heard a sharp rap on the door. He rushed to open it and saw
Caid standing there, a look of exhausted sorrow on his face.

Standing aside, he waited for Caid to cross the room and slump

wearily into a chair. He went over to kneel next to Caid’s knee,
leaning his cheek against his lover’s hard thigh. Caid’s hands went
immediately to tangle themselves in his hair.

“You heard?” Caid’s voice was soft and filled with grief.
“Yes. One of the guards told me. I didn’t want to believe it at

first.”

Caid nodded his head and then leaned back, closing his eyes. “No

one did. I think we were all just functioning on reflex.”

“How exactly did it happen?”
Edrick listened as Caid explained the events from earlier in the

day. “One of the maids, you said?”

“Yes. Her name is Vivie Palmor. Do you remember that first day

in the market? The woman I was watching talking to that man?”

Edrick nodded, his eyes widening. “You mean it was her?”
“The man she was with, he was one of the men who tortured me.

He gave me this scar.” Edrick saw Caid’s hand lift to his face.

“You said you thought he looked familiar that day.”
“I finally remembered where I saw him.”
“Did Vivie say why she did it?”
At that question, Caid opened his eyes and met Edrick’s gaze. “It

was the damndest thing, Edrick. Rom and I went to question her, and
it was like she was in some kind of trance or something. She just kept
repeating the same thing over and over. I had to do it for the good of
the kingdom. Then she started crying, and we couldn’t get another
coherent word out of her except for a name. The name of her
accomplice. Tobiah.”

“Tobiah?” Edrick was surprised. He’d heard the name before.

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“Apparently it’s the same man who also was involved in the case

with Nysan Markelich. The man she was with at the market that day.”

“By the Goddess’s sceptre, that’s incredible.” Edrick had only a

vague recollection of what the man looked like. His focus that day
had been on Caid. He recalled dark hair and a tall slender build, but
that was about it.

“Rom believes that this Tobiah is an Angkeshi sympathizer who

uses drugs and some form of mesmerism to gain control of
individuals who are weak-minded. Then he gets them to carry out his
evil tasks and disappears like the wind when they are captured.”

“I know that name, Caid.”
“What? You mean you’d heard about Nysan?”
“No. At a party last week. The man who gave the party mentioned

a Tobiah. Apparently the man had a leather shop here in town, and my
friend had gone there to have a new saddle made for his horse.”

Caid sat up, his face suddenly alive with interest. “Do you know

where this shop might be?”

Edrick shook his head. “No, but I can find out easily enough.”
Caid stood and pulled Edrick to his feet. “Throw on a cloak, and

let’s go. This may be our best chance to capture the man who was
behind the queen’s assassination.”

Edrick hesitated. “Perhaps I should go alone, Caid.”
Edrick could see the comprehension in Caid’s eyes at his request,

but the other man shook his head. “I’m not waiting here while you go
looking for information that could be dangerous just because you’re
afraid someone might see us together. I’ll wear another cloak beside’s
my Guardian’s gray one, and I’ll keep the hood pulled up around my
face so no one will know you’re associating with a member of the
Gray. That’s the best I can do. Take it or leave it, Edrick.”

Edrick nodded his agreement, knowing it was pointless to argue

with Caid on this point.

Quickly the two men grabbed their outerwear and hurried out.

When they reached the stables, Edrick ordered that two mounts be

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made ready immediately while Caid sent a young stableboy to the
Tower to give Rom the news of where they were going and what they
were hoping to discover. Then they were off.

Edrick led the way through the streets of Winterreach to the

outskirts where the party that he’d mentioned had been held.

“Wait here,” he told Caid, who nodded curtly.
Edrick was admitted into the house by a manservant who was

immediately sent to summon his master. Lord Doran Sonclaire
appeared a short time later, looking harried and strained.

“Edrick, by the Goddess, man. Have you heard? The queen has

been poisoned. She’s dead.” He moved forward to take Edrick’s
hands in his. “What is happening? I still cannot believe it.”

Edrick squeezed his friend’s hands and said, “I’m afraid it is true.

And I need your help to find the man who is responsible.”

“What?” Doran looked surprised. “But I’d heard it was a woman

who did it.”

“The woman administered the poison, but her strings were being

pulled by a man named Tobiah,” Edrick spoke urgently. “I believe
you may know where to find this man.”

“Tobiah? The leathermaker? Surely you jest.”
“Not at all. Please, Doran. Where can I find him? Please tell me,”

Edrick beseeched him.

“He has a shop in the Avenue of Foxes.” Edrick could see the

puzzled curiosity on his friend’s face. “It’s the third door down on the
left. You can’t miss it. It has the sign of a rearing horse on it.”

“Thank you so much, Doran. You’ve been a great help. I must go

now.” Edrick turned and began moving toward the front door.

Once Edrick had rejoined Caid and was back in the saddle again,

the two men wasted no time but spurred the horses on until they
reached the Avenue of Foxes. They immediately spotted the shop.
Caid hopped down from his horse and studied the front of the
building. When he moved to follow him, Caid held out his hand to

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stop Edrick from dismounting. “Let me go in by myself. I’m trained
for this, and you are not.”

“But what if he’s not alone?” Edrick did not like the idea of Caid

entering the small shop without any assistance.

“I can handle it. You stay here. If you see any members of the

Gray, tell them what is going on. They’ll come to my aid if I should
need it.”

Caid turned to go, but Edrick stopped him. “You be careful, you

hear? I’m in love with you, and I will be very angry if you let
anything happen to the man I love.” Edrick could see Caid’s surprise
and pleasure at his words. He hadn’t meant to say them, had only just
recently realized the true depths of his feelings for this man. But he
couldn’t let him go into the dangerous situation he was facing without
telling him how he felt. He saw Caid move toward him, and then the
man reached up and pulled Edrick’s face down to deliver a hard, brief
kiss.

“You do pick your moments, Edrick. I love you, too. Now stay

safe until I return.”

Edrick watched his lover move down the street, the warmth in his

chest at Caid’s words not enough to quench the tendrils of worry that
trickled to every part of his body. What would he do if anything
happened to Caid? He sat there braced for the worst when Caid
entered the building. It wasn’t until he saw Caid step to the door and
gesture for him to come that he could breathe easily again. Quickly he
hopped down from his mount and strode down the street.

When he got there, he shot Caid a questioning look. The other

man just shook his head. “He’s already cleared out. I was afraid he
might have. He probably took off as soon as he got word that Vivie
had succeeded in her mission.”

“Seven hells. I suppose it would have been too easy, wouldn’t it?”
Caid shrugged. “He’s not here, but he left some of his personal

belongings behind. We might be able to find out something about him
from what remains. Take your horse and go find Rom and Javan.

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Bring them back here as soon as you can. I’ll stay and start searching
the place.”

Edrick nodded and started to turn. Then he paused and walked

over to within inches of Caid. He reached out a hand and cupped the
man’s scarred cheek. Then he leaned forward and kissed Caid
warmly, his tongue flicking out to slide along Caid’s lips before
penetrating deep. He kept the kiss short but hoped that the other man
was in no doubt about his feelings. When he broke the kiss, he leaned
back and met Caid’s gaze. “I meant what I said, you know.”

Caid stared at him a long moment before nodding. “So did I.”
“We’ll have to talk about that later.”
“Okay.”
Then Edrick turned to move down the street toward his horse.

Once he was in the saddle, he cast a look back at the shop. Caid still
stood in the doorway, a small smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
He raised a hand in good-bye before turning to re-enter the building.

Edrick rode off, a sense of calm and rightness grounding him

despite the seriousness of the day’s events.

Guardian’s Scar

Chapter Eight

The day of Queen Lyra’s funeral dawned under skies heavily

laden with snow clouds, and it was with a sad heart that Caid donned
his Guardian uniform, complete with gray cloak and sword. He made
his way to the palace to join the rest of the Gray whose duty it was to
escort the queen’s body to the Temple of Salara. Edrick, dressed in
somber black, parted from him with a warm squeeze on his arm and
moved to his place with the court nobles. Kelan, along with his son
Aric, exited the palace and took up their position behind the bier that
bore the body of Lyra Rei, Queen of Emryn.

Caid noted that the king looked haggard but stalwart, his hand

holding that of his son, whose red and swollen eyes bore witness to
his earlier tears. Rom moved to the king’s right side, and another man
that Caid did not know moved to his left. From the man’s
resemblance to the late queen, Caid knew that the man must be a
close relative, probably her only brother, as her father had passed
away several years before.

Caid was distracted from his study of the king by the drumbeat

that signaled that the procession was about to move. As the group of
mourners wove its way through the streets of Winterreach, crowds of
people lined the streets to pay silent tribute to their well-loved queen.
It was a testament to the sweet-natured young woman who had been
their queen that so many had turned out to pay their last respects.
Several tossed white snowdrop flowers, known to have been the
queen’s favorite blossom, onto the bier as it passed. Many in the
crowd wept openly.

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When they reached the temple, those in the procession proceeded

inside while the rest of the crowd gathered around as close as they
could get. The high priest rose to speak, reminding all of the many
kindnesses that the queen had performed after she had married Kelan
and taken her place at his side. He told of the expansion of the
Healer’s Guild, which had been a personal project of the queen’s, and
of her support of the opening of schools for the children of Emryn so
that they could have more opportunities.

Kelan stepped to the podium when it was his turn to speak. In a

choked voice he reminded everyone that the queen’s most precious
gift to the kingdom had come in the form of the prince and heir,
young Aric. He spoke of a mother’s pride in her son that made the
other mothers in the room reach to touch or hold their own children.

Evergreen wreaths were then brought forward and laid on the bier

with the queen. Then the priest led the way down the steps in the rear
of the temple to the tomb where the members of the royal family were
laid to rest. A guard stood before the doors. When the priest signaled
him, he moved to unbar the door to the tomb. Lyra was carried inside,
where she was laid gently down, and then the doors were shut and
resealed. Another priest stepped forward, holding a burning torch
which he handed to Kelan. Kelan moved to set fire to a hammered
metal bowl filled with blessed oil that stood to one side of the door.
He touched the torch to the liquid, and it immediately caught fire.
Caid knew that the guard would ensure that the fire continued to burn
for three-and-thirty days in honor of the loss of a member of the royal
family.

Kelan handed the torch back to the second priest, and then he

returned to his place beside his son. The priest spoke the final words
of his blessing, ending with the traditional, “Peaceful rest.” The crowd
that gathered round the tomb echoed the phrase back before it began
to disperse.

After the room had cleared, the Gray were dismissed from their

duties. He moved up the stairs and saw Edrick leaning against a stone

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pillar waiting for him. Edrick offered him a wan smile as Caid
stopped.

“We’ve been invited back to the palace.” Edrick’s voice was low

and expressionless.

Caid nodded. It was traditional for mourners to gather at the home

of the deceased, but when it was a member of the royal family, only
those who were extended an invitation were allowed to attend.
Otherwise the palace would be overrun with more people than they
could handle.

The two men exited the temple and began walking back the way

they had come, retracing their steps until they reached the palace.
Mourners continued to line the streets, though not as many as before.
Most had drifted back to their homes or into the bars to toast the
memory of their former queen. As they began striding up the steps,
Caid saw several other members of the Gray walking toward the front
door.

Inside the palace, the corridors were filled with servants bustling

to and fro. Edrick and Caid moved quickly to the Hall of Gathering
and got into line with the others who were waiting to offer their
personal sympathies to Kelan and the other members of Lyra’s
family. When they finally reached the king, Kelan reached out to
clasp his hand tightly.

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you before, Caid, but I appreciate

all you did in trying to save Lyra’s life.”

“I only wish I could have succeeded, sire.”
“You did all you could. And thanks to you, at least we have the

guilty party in custody.”

Caid nodded grimly, and Kelan turned to the man who stood

beside him. “Teris, I’d like to introduce you to another member of the
Gray, Caid Sharsen. He’s the one I told you about who discovered
Lyra after she’d been poisoned. If he hadn’t acted so quickly, we
would never have captured the woman who committed the deed nor

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learned of the man behind the whole endeavor. Caid, the queen’s
brother, Teris Bas Rillian, Duke of Hawksworth.”

Caid met the eyes of a man who was obviously grief stricken.

There was something in Kelan’s voice when he spoke to the queen’s
brother that Caid couldn’t quite identify, and he didn’t have time to
study it further as the other man spoke.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Guardian. I want to add my thanks to

Kelan’s for all you did in trying to save my sister’s life.”

“I was just doing my duty, Your Grace.”
“Nevertheless, I consider myself in your debt.”
Kelan then introduced Edrick to the man.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Edrick.”
“And I, you. My deepest sympathies on your loss.”
“Thank you.”
A few more seconds of brief conversation, and Caid and Edrick

continued on down the receiving line, offering their sympathies to the
other members of Lyra’s family. Once they’d finished, they looked
around. Edrick spotted Rom and Javan talking to Brax and walked
over to join them.

Rom nodded as they walked up. “Caid. Edrick. Hello.”
“Hello, Rom. Have you told Brax and the others about everything

we learned from Vivie?” Edrick asked quietly.

“It wasn’t near enough,” Caid shook his head.
“This isn’t really the time or place to discuss this,” Javan

chastised them.

Rom nodded. “You’re right. Why don’t you two come by our

place tomorrow night? You, too, Brax, and I’ll tell Gibor and Lael and
a few others. I’d like for us to discuss everything that’s been
happening these past several weeks. I’m tired of us blundering around
in the dark. It’s time for us to take control of the situation.”

Caid agreed. “I think that’s a good idea. We need to lay it all out

and see if we can figure out what the hell is going on.”

The men all nodded.

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“I think I’ll invite Kelan as well,” Javan added.
Rom looked concerned. “Do you think we should? He’s got a lot

to deal with right now.”

“You and I both know he’d be upset if we didn’t include him in

this. I’ll tell him about it, and we can let him decide if he wants to
attend or not.”

Rom shrugged. “All right. That will work.”
“He’ll come. He’s more eager than any of us to put a stop to all of

these attacks. I doubt that he will just leave it in our hands,” Caid
added.

“You’re probably right. I just hate for him to have to revisit Lyra’s

death so soon. He needs some time to grieve and adjust to
everything.” Rom cast a concerned glance toward where the king still
stood in the receiving line.

“Personally, if it were me, I’d want to keep active. Do something

that would take my mind off of what happened. Stay busy,” Brax
spoke up. “The worst thing would be to just sit around with nothing to
do but remember.”

“But he’s got Aric to take care of. And all of Lyra’s family,” Rom

reminded them.

“True. Again, I’ll tell him, and let him decide. Agreed?” Javan

repeated his plan.

Everyone nodded grimly.

* * * *

The next night, Edrick and Caid were the first to arrive at Rom

and Javan’s apartments. Javan greeted them at the door. “Welcome.
Come on in.”

They followed Javan into the room where Rom rose from his seat

to meet them. Though small, the two men had made it very
comfortable with several nice chairs and some artwork on the walls
that Edrick knew were Javan’s contribution. The couple had made the

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formerly rough soldier’s quarters homey and nice. He cast a glance
toward Caid who was saying hello to Rom and wondered if he would
be willing to let Edrick share his single room in the Tower. Edrick
found that he was not averse to the idea of giving up his comfortable
rooms in the palace if he could live with the man he loved.

He was pulled from his contemplation by Rom, who greeted him

warmly. “Edrick. I was just telling Caid how happy I am to see you
two together. Especially at a sorrowful time like this, it is good to be
reminded that there are also good things happening.”

Edrick smiled. “Thanks.”
“I agree, though I fear I may have lost a valuable spy once news

of this gets out.” Javan smiled at them both before he moved to link
his arm through Rom’s, and the couple exchanged a loving glance.

A knock sounded on the door, interrupting the conversation. Soon

the room was filled with friends and fellow soldiers. Lael and Gibor
arrived together appearing happy though somber, followed by Brax
who was accompanied by a strained-looking Varian, and lastly Kelan
entered with Teris Bas Rillian, the brother of their deceased queen.

When they’d all greeted one another and taken a seat, Rom

addressed the group. “I know that this is a very difficult time,
especially for you, sire. First we all want to once again offer our
condolences on the loss of your wife, our queen.”

A wan-faced Kelan nodded. “I appreciate it.” He glanced around.

“I know that you all did the best you could to keep my family safe.
But this enemy is sly and sneaky. We must find a way to answer the
Angkeshi threat.”

“Yes. We must come up with a plan so that nothing like this

happens again.” Rom met each man’s stare with a stern-faced look.
“Some things are already in place. Javan”—he nodded to his bond-
mate—“has directed his spies to become more aggressive in seeking
out information, no matter how seemingly foolish, which might point
us in the direction of this Tobiah person. We have some good leads.
We know his description and his occupation. Finding him has become

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a priority. Additionally, we will seek to learn the identity of this
mysterious member of the nobility who is supporting these traitors. If
we can shut him down, we will go a long way toward eliminating the
threat.”

Edrick nodded his head in agreement, noticing that he was not the

only one who concurred with that decision.

Rom continued. “Also, we are stepping up our recruitment for

Guardians of the Gray Tower. We plan to increase our number by 20
percent by the end of this year. Guards in the palace will continue to
be doubled for the foreseeable future.” He paused. “I know that until
we get the new recruits trained and ready for duty this will mean that
the Gray will have to put in more hours, but I believe that our men
will step up to the challenge.”

He looked at Kelan, who nodded his approval before continuing.

“Most importantly, we need your help in seeking other ways that we
can fight this enemy. I’d like for us to plan to meet again in one
week’s time. That will give you the opportunity to think about
possible actions that we can take against the Angkeshi. We have to go
on the offensive. We have to take this fight to Queen Kalandra
herself.” Rom met each man’s gaze with a stern but penetrating look.
“I’ll be assigning each of you specific duties over the next few days.
Kalandra believes she has the upper hand in this fight, but she is about
to learn differently. The Guardians of the Gray Tower are a force she
has not yet reckoned with. But we must be constantly on guard. Her
spies are many, and they are obviously without morals. To attack a
defenseless woman is a crime so heinous, it makes my blood boil. She
has struck at the heart of us.”

“I will need volunteers to seek out these vermin who prey on our

weakest. This Tobiah person is one of many betrayers whose only
motivation is coin and power. Don’t be mistaken in thinking that he
works alone. He does not. They must be eliminated. We must cut off
Queen Kalandra’s spy network, her eyes and her arms. That is her

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strength. Eliminate that, and we blind her, paralyze her. Then we will
have the upper hand. Then we shall eliminate this threat forever.”

When Rom had finished speaking, a cheer went up from the

crowd. Rom looked at his king and bowed to the ruler, who gave his
captain a nod of approval. Then Rom turned to Javan, who smiled and
took his hand. Caid and Edrick pushed through the crowd and
approached the couple.

“You know whatever you need from us, it’s yours,” Edrick said to

Javan. “You have only to ask.”

Javan nodded. “I know.”
“Believe me, we’re going to take you up on that offer, Edrick.

You and Caid will be invaluable in aiding us in our fight against
Kalandra.” Rom assured them.

“We’re eager to help,” Caid added, pulling Edrick closer. A few

other Guardians came up to emphasize their willingness to do
whatever was asked of them, and the room became louder and louder
as suggestions and propositions were bantered to and fro. Gradually
the crowd began to thin, and the king and Teris left, heading back to
the palace to be with their family.

Edrick saw Rom pull Caid to the side, speaking to him in a tone

no one could overhear. He could see the shocked pleasure on Caid’s
face at whatever it was that Rom had told him. Rom clapped a hand
on Caid’s shoulder and spoke again before the two men rejoined the
others. It wasn’t too long after that that Edrick and Caid said good-
bye to everyone and left as well. Edrick started toward the stairs that
led back to the first floor, but Caid reached out a hand to stop him.

“I thought we might use my room tonight, if that’s okay with

you.”

Edrick was surprised but quickly agreed. When they reached

Caid’s room, Edrick looked around in great interest. The room was
sparse but neat. A double bed took up most of the space in one corner.
Next to it was a small chest. A table and two chairs stood in one
corner and a large cabinet completed the furnishings.

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“It’s not much, I know. Not nearly as nice as your apartments in

the palace,” Caid stated diffidently. “Maybe we should go back there.
I wasn’t thinking…”

As Caid turned to the door, Edrick spoke up. “No. I want to stay

here.”

Caid turned back with a frown on his face, but hope lighting his

eyes. “Really? Because I was thinking…well…”

Edrick watched as Caid struggled to find the right words. “I

mean…Rom told me tonight that he was promoting me to lieutenant.”

“Congratulations! You deserve it. I’m very proud of you.” Edrick

felt like he was missing something.

“Thanks. But that’s not…that is…I’m pleased, of course.” Caid

just shrugged and looked down at his hands as he twisted them
nervously together, and Edrick became even more puzzled.

“Caid, whatever it is you have to tell me, just say it.” Edrick had

begun to get worried.

Caid huffed out a breath. “Well, the thing is, lieutenants get small

apartments, so you wouldn’t have to…that is…I have to live here
because…Oh, farking hell. What I’m trying to say is that I want us to
bond and for you to move in with me, but I’m making a damned mess
of it.”

Edrick could feel the smile creasing his face as he absorbed what

his lover was saying. He looked at Caid, but the other man wouldn’t
raise his eyes from where they were focused on the floor in front of
his feet. He laughed. He couldn’t help himself. At first it began with a
small chuckle, but as relief and love flooded him, it morphed into an
all out guffaw. At that, Caid did look up, his face a thundercloud.
“You think it’s funny?” he said in a harsh growl.

Edrick laughed again, laughed so hard that tears began to stream

down his face. He wasn’t sure why he was laughing. He supposed it
was a combination of relief, and love, and gratitude, and a host of
other emotions that all blurred together into an irrepressible
outpouring of joy.

Britt Kenley

When he finally got his laughter under control, he looked over to

where Caid stood, arms crossed and an expression of annoyed
patience on his face. “I think it’s wonderful,” Edrick gasped out as he
brushed away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. Then he walked
over to clasp his arms around Caid’s waist, tugging the man against
him. “And I would love to live with you here in the Tower, or
anywhere else in Emryn. It doesn’t matter to me, Caid. In a palace or
in a cave. Not as long as we’re together.”

Edrick could feel Caid let out a long, relieved sigh, and then the

other man’s hands were pulling him even closer. “Thank the Goddess.
I farking love you, Edrick Valemont.”

“I farking love you, too, Caid Sharsen.” Then Edrick’s lips were

parting beneath the warm and loving pressure of Caid’s, and he knew
that the scars of his past had faded with the promise of Caid’s love.

THE END

WWW.BRITTKENLEY.BLOGSPOT.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am a fantasy author of male on male erotic romance. My favorite

books have characters who are strong but vulnerable, so that is what I
try to write. I love happily ever afters and believe that, if you try hard
enough, you can achieve it. I love for my characters to have integrity
and honor, something I’m afraid we see all too little of in this day and
age.

I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing

them.

For all titles by Britt Kenley, please visit

www.bookstrand.com/britt-kenley

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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