Hyacinth, Scarlet - Fire of the Four Seasons (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (2 page)

“Alexei! Alexei, where are you?”

Alexei lifted his eyes at the sound of his sister’s voice. His hand slipped, and his hammer narrow
ly
missed crushing his fingers. Cursing his own carelessness and Eva’s bad timing, he called out, “In here. What is it?”

Eva peaked inside the room and scrunched up her nose. “Why must you be in such dirty places whenever I need you?” she asked. Today, she wore a beautiful blue outfit
that
complemented her azure gaze and white-blond hair to perfection, but as always,
was
far too light for the freezing weather outside.

“Because I have work to do,” Alexei drawled out. He’d been slaving to fix the barn for the past few hours, but it
did
n’t bother him. Taking into account the harsh weather outside, he’d allowed himself the luxury of a small torch here. As long as he
did
n’t have to withstand the cold, he accepted whatever task his parents gave him.

Predictab
ly
, the torch prevented Eva from even coming inside. She enjoyed low temperatures, and often went out in the freezing cold with nothing more than a light dress on. But sun and fire seemed to scorch her. For this reason, she spent all of the sunny days inside in her room, which she always kept chil
ly
. All the while, Alexei hated to go out in the cold. For this reason, Alexei
had
never been able to play with his twin outside or spend too much time with her at all.

Still standing in the doorway, she arched a brow at him. “Well, are you almost done?”

Alexei considered his rep
ly
. He
did
n’t have much left to do, just to wrap things up here. But after
that
, he’d have liked to cuddle up in front of the fire, perhaps with a cup of mulled wine.

His decision
was
taken out of his hands when his father came in after Eva. “Ah, Alexei, my boy.”

Igor looked around Alexei’s handiwork and nodded. A feeling of pride swelled in Alexei’s chest at his father’s approval. “Excellent job. I know you’re tired after this, but we need some goods from the market. Would you go fetch them?”

Alexei nodded, relieved. “This is what Eva wanted?” he asked, surprised. He’d expected something more unreasonable. His sister often frustrated him with her foolish, arrogant requests. Alexei loved her, regardless, and he
did
his best to comp
ly
whenever he could. They remained twins, after all, even if the similarities between them were few at best.

“Yes,” Eva answered, “but I needed to tell you to get me some violets while you’re out. My room looks so barren all of a sudden.”

“Violets?” Alexei repeated in surprise. “In January? Can’t it wait for a couple more months?” And since when
did
the barrenness of her room bother her? Eva always wanted things clean, spotless, and she
did
n’t particular
ly
like plant life of any kind.

Eva just smiled at him. “You’ll do this for me, won’t you, Alexei? I know merchants from different lands always bring flowers to the market.”

Alexei’s heart melted, and he nodded. Of course, his father agreed to Eva’s request as well. How could he not? Eva
was
their little princess.

A few minutes later, armed with a shopping list and a purse of money, Alexei readied himself for departure. He’d cleaned up and changed his clothes. He’d also taken a weapon along, just in case bandits made their appearance. Alexei
did
n’t fear them. In fact, he feared very little, with the exception of the cold, perhaps. He hated winter with a passion. Usual
ly
, he enjoyed going out, but with such chil
ly
winds seemed to drive all life out of him. Still, his father
had
asked and Eva wanted her flowers, so he couldn’t exact
ly
refuse.

Alexei got on his horse and, bracing himself, rode off. Their home lay a good distance away from the village. They
had
a bit of land, which they cultivated when the weather allowed it. Neither he, nor Eva wanted for anything. It made for a good, comfortable life.

As he galloped, heavy snow fell around him, shielding his vision in a curtain of white. Alexei focused on his goal and steadied himself. He would not allow some harmless flakes to defeat him. The renewed determination brought a warm glow coursing through him, casting away the chill.

He reached the village without incident, and he set about to purchase the items his fami
ly
needed. Spools of thread and fabric went in his bags first, then a perfume. Everything
was
for Eva, Alexei realized. Why
had
she even come to point out her need for violets?

Feeling irritated, Alexei finished his tasks and went about to seek the flowers. People gave him odd looks as he asked, but in the end, they told him he
did
n’t have a chance of finding violets here. It seemed to be getting colder and colder, so Alexei resigned himself to failure. Eva would have to be satisfied with the rest of her presents.

However, upon his return, the first thing Eva asked about
was
the flowers. She met him in the hall of their home and gave him an anxious look. “Well,
did
you get them?
Did
you get the violets?”

Alexei shook his head. “I’m sorry, Eva. I
did
n’t find them.”

For a few seconds, they just stared at each other, then Eva rushed off. “Mama,” Alexei heard her say in the next room, “he
did
n’t buy me violets. I want my violets.”

Alexei sighed, readying himself for a session of nagging. For whatever reason, Elga always preferred Eva over him. His mother stepped into the hall, a frown on her face. “I asked everyone,” Alexei said before she could even begin. “There are no violets anywhere.”

“Sure
ly
there’s some other place you can look,” Elga replied. “Go on now. You can’t disappoint your sister.”

Alexei desperate
ly
waited for his father to show up. Igor always took his side in these unreasonable debates. Alas, this time, Igor
did
n’t make his appearance. “Well? What are you waiting for? Go,” his mother insisted.

“But, Mama, where am I to find violets in January?” Alexei asked.

“Go to the forest,” she suggested. “I hear there’s a grove at the very edge. Folk say flowers grow sometimes, in spite of the cold.”

Alexei gaped at her. How could she ask him to brave the icy winter through a peril-filled forest, all for a whim of his sister’s?
Did
she not love him at all?

Disheartened, Alexei nodded and obeyed. What else could he do? When his mother decided something, no one but Igor could make her change her mind, and even Igor
had
a difficult time.

He set out one more time, this time riding in the opposite direction. He knew his way there well, as he often went to the forest to gather firewood or fruit. Of course, this
was
the first time he’d actual
ly
come here during winter.

At last, the forest loomed ahead. Alexei id
ly
noted it looked very different than he remembered it. A few months back, its lush and verdant vegetation welcomed Alexei. Now, the leaves
had
all fallen, and just snow covered the trees.

Still, the woods provided a welcome change to the extent
that
the winds no longer beat Alexei so heavi
ly
. Acknowledging the treacherous path, he rode slower. He
had
no idea where he
needed to go
. Even if he knew these woods well, he’d never heard of the grove Elga mentioned. Other than the vague indications his mother
had
given him, he just followed his instinct and hoped for the best.

Onwards he went for the longest time. Final
ly
, just as he started to consider returning home, he saw something ahead. A grove, just like his mother
had
said. Four tall standing stones rose in the center, the on
ly
change in the sea of white. Alexei could see no flowers, no violets, nothing. His tiredness turned into sheer hopelessness, and a heavy chill started to take over his limbs.

His eyes began to close, and Alexei struggled against the weariness. Unavoidab
ly
, he lost the battle, and his grip on the horse’s reins. He slipped off the animal, and expected falling into the snow, perhaps to his death. Instead, he fell into someone’s arms. “Easy there, young man,” a male voice said. “Be careful.”

Alexei’s vision swam for a few seconds, but as the dizziness faded, the sight
that
met his eyes shocked him beyond belief. The man holding him
had
hair as white as the pure snow and icy blue eyes, just like Eva. The resemblances stopped there, as Alexei felt a very strong and warm male body against him. The chill ran off as if it
had
never been, replaced by pure heat.

“What are you doing here?” another voice said. Alexei looked over his rescuer’s shoulder and caught sight of a second man. Alexei couldn’t be certain, but he thought his eyes and hair were green as grass. Who in the world
had
green hair? The second man lay reclining against one of the stones, his gaze filled with a peculiar warmth.

To Alexei’s surprise, he realized two other men waited in similar positions. The third one gave Alexei an amused look, his bright blond hair and amber eyes seeming to shine in the wane light. “I’m guessing
his sister
is being troublesome again. Isn’t
that
right, Alexei?”

At last, Alexei found his voice. “How do you know my name? And how do you know about Eva?”

The fourth man chuckled, brushing his red hair of his face. His penetrating brown gaze ana
ly
zed Alexei with interest. “We know many things.”

Freaked out, Alexei began to struggle in his captor’s hold. The white-haired man released him, and Alexei immediate
ly
felt the loss. He struggled not to let it show and found refuge next to his horse. “Who are you people? What do you want?”

“I believe we asked you
that
first,” the white-haired man said. “But since we do have the advantage of knowing your identity, we’ll introduce ourselves. I’m Zimah.”

The second man got up and bowed courteous
ly
. “Visnah.”

The blond also shot to his feet and began to head toward Alexei. “
Ly
etah.”

“And I am Ohsyn,” the last man said, also making his way to Alexei. “Now, can you answer the question?”

Alexei realized he
was
being very rude. After all, these men most like
ly
saved him from death. Clear
ly
, they weren’t common people. He
did
n’t know if they were pulling his leg with those names, since he’d never known anyone called “spring,” “summer,” “autumn,” and “winter.” But at this point, anything
was
possible. And Alexei found he felt safe here, in this grove, just talking with these strange men.

“Eva wanted violets,” he replied. “I couldn’t find any at the market, so my mother sent me out here. She said there’s a place where flowers grow in spite of it being winter.”

Zimah hummed, sounding thoughtful. “Time is this way for a reason,” he answered. “Can’t she wait?”

“Apparent
ly
not,” Alexei replied.

Visnah smiled at him. “Well, we can provide the violets easi
ly
enough.”

“But on one condition,” Zimah added.

“What condition?” Alexei inquired, almost afraid to ask.

“Nothing much,” Zimah replied. “We just require a kiss, one for Visnah and one for me.”

Alexei blanched at Zimah’s rep
ly
. “B–but…
That
’s not right.” He shook his head fierce
ly
. He couldn’t do such a thing. For one, they were all male. Not on
ly
that
, but kissing both of them also went way beyond what Alexei
had
ever imagined he’d do.

Visnah looked saddened. “Do you find the thought so repulsive?”

The fearful part inside Alexei wanted to say yes, but he knew it would be a lie. He’d long ago acknowledged his attraction for both males and females. But sodomy
was
supposed to be a perversion. He
did
n’t know if he could accept the thing he’d struggled against ever since he’d first discovered sexuality.

And yet, he found himself shaking his head. “
That
’s not it. I just… I don’t know about this.”

“It’s just a kiss,” Visnah coaxed. “Well, two.”

Alexei looked at Zimah, then at Visnah, and couldn’t help a wave of want. After all, what would it hurt? Eva would get her flowers, and Alexei would experience something incredible. For he
had
no doubt kissing either of these men would be unbelievable. “All right,” he answered. “I’ll do it.”

Zimah gave him an unreadable look. “Excellent,” he said. Zimah blew into the air and the snow around them began to dissipate. Then Visnah bowed his head toward the ground and waved his hand toward it. Flowers bloomed all around them, turning the forest into a green paradise. Violets flourished everywhere, and for a few moments Alexei
was
too stunned to even move. “Go on,”
Ly
etah urged him. “Pick your flowers.”