[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
do is wait. Why don t you stay here with him?
I want to, Vanlyn said quietly, but I can t. We need to attack while the enemy is
still disoriented.
Highness. Rasleigh spoke up. I could stay here with him.
Vanlyn whipped his head around. You? Why?
I figure it s the least I can do.
Lahn twisted around and looked at him. You ve done quite a bit. Don t discount
your assistance to us.
Rasleigh s jaw dropped, and a flush stained his cheeks. Thank you.
Vanlyn looked first at one then the other. Now what was going on there? Thank
you, Rasleigh. I d appreciate it. Yet he wondered how wise it would be to leave his
former lover with his current one?
* * * *
Vanlyn supposed he should get some sleep, but he couldn t. He stayed by Dane s
side as night slipped into the early morning hours. He knew he would be no good to
anyone if he didn t get some rest. Marcelyn had brought in a bedroll for him and had
offered to sit with Dane, but Vanlyn had refused. She said he was being pig-headed. He
agreed.
Vanlyn was sitting on the side of the pool, his bent legs immersed in the water, lost
in his own musings. It was only until he heard someone clearing their throat that he
realized someone had joined them.
Vanlyn twisted his body around to find Rasleigh at the entrance, holding a tray in his
grasp. The scent of food reached him, and despite his stomach reminding him loudly that
he d not eaten all day, Vanlyn was certain he wouldn t be able to take a single bite.
I know you haven t eaten, Rasleigh said. A farmer brought some lamb stew.
Vanlyn drew in a deep breath and moistened his lips. Thank you. Why don t you
come in?
Rasleigh moved carefully towards him as he balanced the tray. When he was next to
Vanlyn he set it down on the floor. No change? he asked gently.
None.
I m sorry, Vanlyn.
Vanlyn sighed again. Thank you.
Rasleigh made no move to leave, and Vanlyn didn t have the capacity to be unkind.
So how have you been?
He smiled slightly. As well as I can be. I just wish& He didn t finish. He instead
rubbed his hands across his face. Argent told my father everything. It was decided that I
needed to be cured of my affliction, so it was arranged that I would marry a magisteri s
daughter.
You re married?
Yes. Rasleigh went down on his haunches. And I have a son.
No jest? Vanlyn found he was pleased for the man.
He s four. Also Rasleigh. He grinned sheepishly. Yes, I know, pretentious of me
but& Rasleigh didn t meet his eyes. She s a good woman. I couldn t lie to her. I told
her everything. He looked up, his expression fierce. But I ve never been unfaithful to
her.
Good, Vanlyn said.
It was Rasleigh who released the breath this time. Vanlyn, I
The soft moan pulled Vanlyn s attention away. Dane grunted in his sleep, his brow
furrowed. Vanlyn figured he was in the throes of a nightmare. Vanlyn pushed himself off
the rim and moved towards him. Dane?
Dane s eyes opened, unfocused at first. Vanlyn saw when coherency filled them,
Vanlyn?
Oh gods, Vanlyn moaned. You stupid ass! How could you& Damn it, I don t
think I ll ever forgive you.
Vanlyn embraced him, careful if he might be in pain. He drew back and kissed him
deeply, until Dane muttered in protest. Van, where are we?
A safe house outside of Synnove, Vanlyn said.
Why did you& You shouldn t have
Not a word from you, Dane Tanderes, or so help me&
Dane managed a small grin, then his eyes tracked to the left. Vanlyn, who is that?
Vanlyn had completely forgotten Rasleigh was in the room. He felt a flush at his
cheeks at the awkward situation. He s
Nobody, Rasleigh said, his voice empty. I m nobody. He straightened away and
turned.
Rasleigh, wait.
Rasleigh, Dane s brow furrowed again. Yes, I remember now. In Vanlyn s
dreams. You re older, but it is you.
Rasleigh kept his back to them. So you re aware of me.
I m aware that you nearly ruined Vanlyn s life, you son of a bitch.
Dane!
No. Rasleigh turned to face them finally. Your Dane is correct. I should have
never& He sighed again. I m not sorry we were together. I loved you, Vanlyn, but I
am sorry that you had to bear the brunt of your family s wrath alone.
It s all in the past, Rasleigh, Vanlyn said.
Rasleigh glanced at Dane. Indeed it is. And he left them alone.
* * * *
You re a stupid ass!
Dane sighed. So Vanlyn has told me.
You think this is a jest? Marcelyn asked.
No, of course not. Dane didn t blame her, her anger, or Vanlyn his for that matter.
His love had moved aside and allowed Marcelyn full opportunity to vent her ire. Lahn
had come earlier and was now letting their people know he had regained consciousness.
Now Vanlyn sat on the edge of the pool. He didn t speak, and to Dane s dismay, he
looked disappointed. Dane wanted to tell Vanlyn he d not made the decision to leave him
trapped in the manor lightly, that he just couldn t stand to see Vanlyn at the mercy of his
father and brother, and certainly not at the mercy of the necromancer. But Dane knew
none of it would matter. Vanlyn felt betrayed. It was the last thing Dane had wanted.
He was exhausted from his encounter with the Mallan. There would be a reckoning
there. Mallan had made him aware of every agonizing moment of the torture. His body
was intact, but he fought a silent battle against the nightmarish visions that taunted him.
A shudder raced across his skin.
There is something else, isn t there? Vanlyn spoke up. Something beyond the
physical. What else did he do to you?
It was as unexpected a question as Dane had ever heard. He opened his mouth to
protest, to tell Vanlyn that everything was fine, but he realized if he did if he lied to
Vanlyn again everything they had would be over. Mallan laid a curse upon me. My
mind is filled with visions of the torture and other memories. I can no longer merely turn
them aside as I did.
Vanlyn climbed into the pool, made his way over to Dane, and gently embraced him.
I m sorry, love. What can I do?
Oh, Van, Dane said. I missed you so. I m sorry for what I did.
Hush. Vanlyn kissed him. I understand why you did it, but if we are to be
together
I know. Never again, I swear to you.
Now tell me everything that happened.
Dane nodded once. He didn t hide anything from his love. He told how he d gone to
the enemy camp and immediately been taken by Aelden s men. Aelden demanded to
know where Vanlyn was. Dane refused to tell him, so they gave Dane over to Mallan
with the threat that, if he resisted, innocent people would be tortured and killed.
Mallan didn t ask me anything about you or anyone else for that matter. Dane
tightened his embrace and buried his face in Vanlyn s hair, reacquainting himself with
the younger man s scent. To him it was all a sadistic game for his own pleasure.
I know, Vanlyn said. I saw.
You did?
Vanlyn then told him about his joining with Gypsy and acting as their spy. I wanted
to kill him for what he was doing to you, but Gypsy s instincts took hold, and we
escaped.
She was right, Dane said. If Mallan had caught you and killed Gypsy, you would
have&
The thought was too much. Tears pooled in Dane s eyes, but he kept them at bay.
You ve changed so much.
I? Vanlyn pulled back.
Dane smiled slightly. When you first came to me, you were so shy and meek and
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]