Page 54 of Up In Flames
But Aranren didn't want to go through the ward. Instead, he thinned it, drawing back the veil of mist to make the barrier transparent. An army stood on the other side of the window, men armed with swords and covered in steel. The Wraith Lords. I stared at them without emotion. They had once been my friends, but they wouldn't understand me now. That lack of understanding might turn us into enemies.
They shouted and pointed, then four men raced over to stand directly before the window. My old lovers. I thought I might feel something when I saw them. But my heart was empty of them now. The bonds that had once connected us were so faded that I couldn't feel them. Maybe they were gone.
“Ember!” Xaedren shouted and slammed his fist on the invisible barrier.
Rath gripped his shoulder and drew him back, but even as he did, Taroc and Keltyr came forward, both of them snarling.
“You evil son of a bitch!” Keltyr shouted. “What did you do to him?”
“I've done nothing,” Aranren said. “Death has opened Ember's eyes. He understands now.”
“Understands what?” Taroc asked, his tone deadly and his stare locked on me.
“The world,” I said. “Life. Death. Love. And I know you won't understand me now. I'm so sorry, but I can't be with any of you now.”
“What?” Rath swung around, stepping as close as he could, even laying his gloved hand on the ward. “Say that again, Ember. Look in my eyes and tell me you don't love me.”
I met his stare. My lips parted. Nothing came. Frowning, I cleared my throat and tried again. No sound emerged. Not a single syllable.
“Ember?” Aranren asked, his fear lashing against me.
“I'm all right,” I said to him. “It's just residuals.”
“Residuals,” Rath repeated scornfully. “Our love is eternal. Nothing Death does can destroy it. Whatever it has done to you, Ember, it can't take our love away. And we will never stop fighting until will free you.”
“You'll fuck up, Corrupter.” Xaedren punched the ward, and it rippled like water. “He's stronger than you know. Death is no fucking match for my Ember!”
“He is not yours any longer, Wolf,” Aranren pulled me in against his side. “He's mine now.”
I felt Ara's need and went into his arms as if we had coordinated the maneuver. My hands slid up his chest as my old lovers shouted and slammed their fists on the ward. But their fury faded into the background when I met Aranren's ice-blue stare. And then my eyes closed and the delight of his kiss consumed me. I kept kissing him as his hands undid my robe, sliding it halfway down my back. The shouting grew worse, then became a roaring.
I glanced over to see Taroc bashing at the ward with his sword. His eyes were glowing and the blue scales at his temples had spread down his cheeks and across his forehead to forma mask. I'd seen him like this before, but I couldn't remember when. Then Ara turned my face back to his, and I forgot all about Taroc. As we kissed, the roaring stopped.
Shadows swept Ara and me away, back to the fortress. When I opened my eyes, Aranren and I stood on the topmost floor of a tower, only a low wall separating us from the drop. A conical roof perched atop slim columns, protecting us from the weather without impeding the view. I sighed and snuggled into my lover's arms. A light snow had started to fall, but I couldn't feel the cold.
Aranren cast my robe aside, then gently moved me to lean over the wall. A cushion formed beneath my arms, padding the stone so I could lay my face upon it. But I didn't lay my face down. I lifted it and looked over my shoulder to enjoy the sight of Aranren casting aside his robes, then spreading my cheeks.
The fear had left him. Only lust rode him now. Lust with a sprinkling of love.
Aranren slammed into me even as something slick coated my channel. I cried out and gripped the padded wall, bliss sending me back into my beautiful world. Here there was only pleasure and power. And Aranren.
Lifting onto my forearms, I pushed back into his thrusts, taking him as deep as I could. My legs were spread in a powerful stance and my back arched. Before me spread our lands, rolling meadows and small spots of trees cloaked in snow. Soon, all the land on Varr would be ours. We were more than two men deeply in love, we were also the most powerful mages on the planet.
Together, we would bring peace to the world at last.
Chapter Thirty
I tore into the hunk of meat with my teeth. Juices flowed down my chin. I didn't care. Another bite. Another. I ate as voraciously as I fucked, taking all the pleasure life could offer me. This was how people should live—reveling in every delight. Consuming. Taking more. I grabbed a slice of warm, buttered bread and shoved it in my mouth. The flavor burst through me, giving me an erection. Everything gave me an erection lately.
How long had I been with Aranren? Only a few weeks. Yet, my life had changed so utterly. We woke up and made love, ate breakfast then made love, had dinner and fucked. I was looking forward to bending him over the dining table and driving into him while we had our dessert.
Around the hall, our soldiers stood, awaiting our next command. Aranren left every few days to take them to whatever city or village Death wanted to target. Sometimes, he took our living soldiers, like these. Other times, it was the reanimated dead. There was a method to it, but I let him and Death handle that. It was their plan. I was just there because I believed in it and Ara. And because I wanted to fuck him.
I growled, swinging my head to look at my lover. Aranren ate more delicately than I, but with just as much relish, savoring every bite. Licking his lips, he reached out and slid his hand into my lap. With a flick, he had my robe open. I grunted as hestroked me. After a few seconds of this, I flung away his robe entirely with my magic, then gripped his eager cock and stroked him with my greasy hand. Aranren enjoyed the attention for a few minutes, but then wiped his mouth and slid under the table, easing out of my grip.
Just as one of the soldiers set a cake down before me, Aranren started to suck my cock. I spread my legs and draped his hair over my thighs, creating the perfect picture. Aranren's eyes rolled up toward me, full of bliss. I grinned at him and set one hand on his head as I reached for a fork with my other. Feeling like a fucking god, I ate my cake and got sucked off at the same time.
“Enough,” I finally said and shoved my chair back.
