Alliance (4 page)

He began to move, little thrusts of his hips. His cock brushed up against Nykin’s with each tiny movement, and the spikes of pleasure curled around in his belly, pulling everything tight. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed this until now, but his initial burst of energy had run its course, and the softness of their bed reminded him how tired he was. Ryneq needed to be inside Nykin, to fuck him hard and fast until they both collapsed, but his aching body was beginning to protest, the muscles in his arms already starting to give out.

He sighed, reluctantly giving in and shifting to lie on his side again. Nykin went with him, one hand resting on Ryneq’s thigh and keeping them pressed together.

Ryneq opened his mouth to apologize—this wasn’t at all how he’d imagined this moment going—but before he had a chance, Nykin’s mouth was on his, kissing him deep and wet. Nykin worked his hand between them and wrapped his fingers around them both, making Ryneq groan. He let Nykin ease him over onto his back, smiling into the kiss as Nykin straddled him, still stroking them with long, lazy pulls.

Ryneq had wanted to take control, to show Nykin that he could still take care of him, still protect him, even though the odds were stacked against them. But he realized now, with Nykin above him looking so strong and self-assured, that wasn’t what Nykin needed at all. He wanted someone to fight alongside him, to show him that they were stronger together. Nykin didn’t need looking after or protecting. As a dragon rider, one of many brave soldiers in Ryneq’s army, he could take care of himself.

Ryneq relaxed into the sheets, letting Nykin take charge, because maybe this time Ryneq needed him to. There would be enough decisions for Ryneq to make tomorrow, and every day after that until this was over. For now, he was going to lie back and let Nykin do what he wanted.

“Finally,” Nykin whispered, drawing back to meet Ryneq’s gaze. The light from the lamp made his eyes shine brightly, their deep blue reminding Ryneq of the Nalvaq Sea on a sunny day. Nykin took hold of Ryneq’s wrists, guiding them above his head until they lay flat on the pillow. “Leave them there.” He shifted a little as he sat back up, his cock dragging over Ryneq’s, and he laughed at Ryneq’s strangled moan.

Nykin leaned over to the bedside table, and Ryneq let his eyes fall closed, focusing on the feel of Nykin’s firm thighs on either side of him. The constant weight of him kept Ryneq anchored in the present, preventing his mind from drifting to other less pleasurable places.

“Hey.” Nykin cupped his cheek, his palm warm and rough. “Not falling asleep on me, are you?”

Ryneq felt Nykin’s hand press into the pillow next to him, and he snapped his eyes open. It took him a moment or two to find his voice, because Nykin was braced over him, one hand disappearing behind and…. “
Gods,
Nykin…
no, not asleep.” It came out more like a growl, and Nykin grinned down at him.

“Good.” He licked his lips and shuffled forward a little until he was positioned right over Ryneq’s cock.

The sight was so incredibly hot, and Ryneq wanted to touch, but Nykin had told him not to move, and for some reason he didn’t want to disobey. With one hand guiding Ryneq inside of him, Nykin slowly lowered himself. Ryneq hissed as he pushed inside, the tight warmth enveloping him making his eyes roll back as he struggled to keep his gaze focused on Nykin’s.

“You can touch,” Nykin gasped out, his expression tense. “I want you to touch.”

Ryneq had his hands on Nykin’s hips before he’d finished speaking, guiding Nykin down onto him until Ryneq was buried deep inside. His fingers dug into Nykin’s skin as he fought the urge to lift Nykin up and drag him back down again. Nykin’s cock was hard and left a trail of precome as it rubbed against Ryneq’s stomach every time Nykin leaned forward. He let go of Nykin’s hip to run his thumb through the stickiness, watching Nykin’s eyes darken as he sucked his thumb into his mouth and moaned at the taste.

Nykin grabbed his hand and dragged it up to his own mouth, then rolled his hips just enough for Ryneq to feel it as he licked Ryneq’s thumb. Nykin rose up and down, sucking Ryneq’s thumb all the way in at the same time.

“Nykin.” Ryneq gritted his teeth, one hand holding Nykin tight and helping him move. He met each downward movement with a thrust of his hips, and the dual heat of Nykin’s mouth and body sent waves of pleasure through him all the way down to his toes.

He wouldn’t last long, pressure already building low in his belly, and the sight of Nykin—head thrown back and lips parted on a silent moan—pushed him closer to the edge. He licked his hand, reached for Nykin’s cock, and smeared spit and precome all along the length. There was nothing soft or gentle about the way Nykin fucked himself on Ryneq, and Ryneq’s pace was just as brutal, wanting to get Nykin to the edge with him as fast as possible. He twisted his wrist, sliding his thumb through the wetness at the head, and Nykin cried out as he came, the sound muffled as he bit down hard on Ryneq’s hand.

The sharp spike of pain shot through Ryneq as Nykin clenched around him, and it was too much. Ryneq thrust up sharply, pulling Nykin against him as his orgasm crested.

Nykin collapsed on top of him, his head resting on the pillow as he sucked in a ragged breath. “Now we can sleep,” he muttered, and Ryneq laughed softly, burying his head in the crook of Nykin’s neck and holding him close.

“Yeah.” He helped Nykin climb off him and gently arranged them in a more comfortable position, pulling Nykin into his side. “Now we can sleep.”

N
YKIN
WOKE
before Ryneq. He leaned up on one elbow, taking the rare opportunity to just look at his king. Without all the worries of the kingdom marring his features, Ryneq appeared young and carefree, as he should, considering he was only twenty-five. He was beautiful—although probably not a word Nykin would use in front of him. Long black eyelashes swept over sharp cheekbones, and his dark hair fell in disarray over the pillow. Nykin played with the ends of it. It felt thick but surprisingly soft.

“Morning.”

Nykin startled. He’d been too busy studying the rough-looking stubble on Ryneq’s jaw to notice that his eyes were open. “Good morning.”

Ryneq reached up and curled one hand behind Nykin’s head, and pulled him toward him for a kiss. It was a soft brush of lips, nothing like the ones they had shared the night before, but Nykin’s chest filled with warmth at the touch.

“We should get up, get something to eat. I suspect it’s going to be a long day,” Ryneq said, drawing back a little.

Nykin kissed him again, a little firmer this time, but pulled away with a sigh before he started something they didn’t have time for. He moved to sit up and felt a slight stickiness between his thighs. When he tugged down the sheet, revealing Ryneq’s stomach, there were flakes of Nykin’s dried come stuck to his skin, and Nykin scratched at them, his lips curving up into a small smile. “I’d suggest we wash first. As much as I love seeing you like this, I doubt anyone else would appreciate it.”

Ryneq laughed, pushing Nykin’s hands out of the way and sitting up. “Good point.” He climbed out of bed and turned back to grab Nykin’s hand. “Come on, then.”

Nykin let himself be manhandled off the bed, enjoying Ryneq’s playful mood and knowing full well it would be gone as soon as they left this room.

T
HEY
DRESSED
and ate a leisurely breakfast in their rooms. Even though she’d rarely joined them in their room, Nykin still felt the gaping hole of Cerylea’s absence. She’d always made a point of including Nykin and making him feel like a part of their family, and they’d gotten a lot closer since the announcement ceremony. He missed her laughter and her quick wit, and from the look on Ryneq’s face as they sat down to eat, he felt it too. Only more so.

“You know,” Nykin said, breaking the silence and reaching for a chunk of bread, “you have Cerylea’s link stone. You could contact Prince Morkryn and see how she’s doing. In fact….” He paused, waiting until he had Ryneq’s full attention. “You should probably do that anyway. I’m sure Cerylea’s worried about you too.”

Ryneq set down his knife and sighed. “Yes, you’re right.” He scrubbed a hand over his eyes, all the lightheartedness from before now gone. “I’ll do it when we’ve eaten. I want to get a look at Seran’s army if I can, see what we’re dealing with. Maybe I’ll get Nysad to take me out with the next patrol.”

Nykin’s heart lurched at the thought of Ryneq going anywhere near Seran and his witch, especially without the protection of the elves this time. He still had his sword, but Nykin knew from experience that the only way Ryneq would get close enough to use it was if the witch was already incapacitated.

The sun chose that moment to come out from behind the early-morning clouds. It shone through their wide balcony doors, warming Nykin’s back, and he idly thought what a beautiful day it was for flying. “I know how you can get a good look at Seran’s army,” he said, smiling as the idea formed in his head. “Eldin has been successfully running dragon rider patrols, with no trouble from the witch. I can ask Fimor to get the necessary information from Eldin’s dragon, Vashek, and I can take you up for a look. What do you think?” Nykin took a bite of his breakfast while Ryneq remained quiet, obviously thinking it over.

He didn’t say anything for what seemed like forever, and then he pushed his chair back and got up to go look out at the sky. Nykin quickly followed after him and stood close-by but not touching.

“You don’t have to. It was just a suggestion.” Nykin laid a hand on Ryneq’s shoulder, gently urging him to turn around and meet his gaze.

“No, it’s a good idea. I just….”

“What?” Nykin pulled a little more forcefully on Ryneq’s arm until they were facing each other.

“I’m the king, Nykin. I should be out leading my army, showing them I’m not afraid. You know I find it hard to sit back and wait.”

Nykin’s expression hardened. “Do you not consider the dragon riders part of your army? That riding with us wouldn’t prove you weren’t scared?” he hissed, moving out of reach as Ryneq tried to grab his arm.

“No, that’s not what I—”

“You think we choose to hide up in the sky where it’s
safe
, because we don’t want to put ourselves in danger?” Nykin walked back toward the door, shaking his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. He was angry and hurt that Ryneq would ever think that about him. He’d suggested using Fimor to patrol because he wanted to keep Ryneq from dying—he was the king, after all, and he shouldn’t put himself at risk unnecessarily—not because he was scared to face the witch. If Ryneq got caught out on patrol, Seran would kill him, and Torsere would be lost without him.

Nykin didn’t want to be in the same room as Ryneq anymore. He needed to get out of there as quickly as possible before he said something he might regret. “If you’ll excuse me, I have things to take care of.” He turned on his heel and pulled open the door.

“Nykin, wait.”

Ryneq was still calling his name as Nykin slammed the door shut behind him, the thick wood making a satisfying noise that echoed along the passageway.

Nykin fumed all the way up the steps to the Eyrie, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. He had never, not for one moment, considered that being a dragon rider was taking the coward’s way out, but like it or not, Ryneq had put a seed of doubt in his mind, and that probably hurt more than anything.

“Nykin.” Selene called his name, sounding bright and cheerful, and Nykin groaned as he paused halfway up and waited for her. The last thing he wanted right now was to talk to someone who sounded even remotely happy.

“Selene.” He managed a small smile, but judging by the way Selene’s expression changed, she wasn’t fooled. “What are you doing up here so early?”

She nudged him in the shoulder as she brushed past him. “It’s not that early. Lerran and I have been up for hours.”

She blushed slightly when she realized what she’d inferred, but Nykin didn’t have the will to call her on it. Nor did he want to find out just how well she and Lerran were getting on, even if it made him a terrible friend. This thing with Ryneq had shaken him more than he realized, and he wanted to go lick his wounds in peace.

“Hey, are you all right?” She whirled around and stopped in front of him, forcing him to halt his steps and look up at her. “I basically just told you that I spent the night with Lerran, and you said nothing. Not one word.”

Nykin hadn’t meant to tell her, but the words were out before he could stop them. “I had a fight with Ryneq, and I left.”

“You left?” She raised her eyebrow.

“I walked out of the room while he was still talking because I couldn’t stay and listen to what he had to say.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip, obviously uncertain how to answer, and Nykin understood her hesitation all too well.

They were in a difficult position. Had Nykin been in a relationship with anyone else, he would have told Selene everything, and she would have cursed and moaned with him. No doubt throwing in a few threats of violence for good measure. But it wasn’t just anyone; it was the King of Torsere—her king and ruler—and Nykin wouldn’t put her in that position. Besides, he could hardly tell her what Ryneq had implied about his dragon riders.