by J. C. Owens
Torin grasped his face, stilled his words.
“You are the spitting image of the former king. Your hair, your eyes. Have you ever looked at Amadan and considered his body type? You are an exact duplicate. In all our searches we have found no trace of your birth elsewhere. There are too many coincidences to ignore. Amadan feels, as do we all, that you are his brother.”
Aidan stared at him, lips working soundlessly for a moment.
“I have a name.”
Torin nodded, tears rising at the expression of wonder that shone from Aidan’s face.
“A real name, a last name.”
Torin nodded, unable to speak for all he felt. This gift, above all, would let Aidan move forward into who he could be.
“I love you, Aidan Telan Ameris,” he whispered, drawing him into his arms. “I loved you then, I love you now, prince and all.”
* * *
Aidan stood, stretching, walking away from the others. He groaned, trying to work the stiffness out of muscles held still too long.
The murmur of voices faded in his consciousness as he rolled his shoulders, wandering aimlessly through the vast royal library.
On the far side, lit by two windows, he paused.
The massive portrait of the royal family hung in a place of honor. He stepped closer, reached up to touch the youngest child’s face.
“I don’t know if I am truly you,” he whispered, “but I will do all I can to honor your name. Always.” He stepped back, looked at the former king and queen with choked emotion. “I hope I am your son. I hope you would have been proud of who I have become.”
An arm slid around him and he leaned into a broad shoulder.
“How could they not?” Amadan’s voice held no doubt. “Come. This is the past. We need to move into the future, you and I.” His brother guided him across the library.
On the massive easel, the paint was barely dry on the last portion of the painting.
Aidan stared, a smile breaking free. “It’s beautiful.”
“I know I am,” Amadan stated, straight faced. Aidan elbowed him.
The king rubbed his ribs, looking over his shoulder. “Control your husband, Torin. He is abusing me.”
“You deserved it. Keeps you in line.”
Amadan huffed as Torin stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Aidan. He stood there, Torin on one side, Amadan on the other, and admired the official portrait that was to be copied for all of Ceratas.
It portrayed Amadan, sitting on his throne, silver hair braided and hanging over his left shoulder, the end pooling in his lap. His expression was noble, powerful, but there was a hint of humor in the lips, in the glint of his eyes. His right hand lay on the crown prince’s sleeve, in a mirror of the past.
Aidan’s eyes traced his own features, fascinated. The young man who looked back seemed strong, vibrant, his slim body leaning against the throne, as though he wished to be closer to his brother. Green eyes held a depth of knowledge, an understanding of pain and joy both. The silver braid lay over his left shoulder, a silver bead prominent at its end as it spilled down over his hip.
His right hand was raised up to his shoulder, to lay over the hand of his husband, linking them.
Torin looked magnificent, proud and tall, as though he stood over them both in protection, his expression fierce with love.
Their relationships frozen in time.
Torin kissed him.
“Together, my prince. Forever and always.”
~ About the Author ~
Writing has always been of the utmost importance to me, often a means of expressing frustration, anger and grief during terrible times in my life. It was also there for the joys and triumphs, a faithful companion through it all that never failed me. I do indeed love to write and have over twenty books sitting idle in my computer, waiting… I started off writing under the name of J.C. McGuire, with three historical books, “My Name is Aelida” Book 1 & 2, (a two part novel of Arthurian Briton and the strength of a woman in a world where men rule and her ancient bloodline is more important than her happiness. These books have been re-released as a four part series with Etopia Press), and “Shadow of the Sun”, a very emotional novel of Alexander the Great and his lover Hephaistion. Done from Hephaistion’s viewpoint, (we all know that he dies in the end) it was the hardest thing I have ever written. I still get tears when I read it. I still love all of those books and actually read them as if someone else wrote them!!
“Shadow of the Sun” got me into the male/male genre and I began to write under J.C. Owens. I enjoy writing of the beauty of men loving men, plus the conflict in what a person thinks they want, versus what they truly need to become themselves.
I love to hear from my readers and always appreciate suggestions and comments for future books. Sharing a love of reading and good, hot sensuality between men is always a cause for celebration!
Discover more about J. C. Owens here
http://www.jcowensauthor.net/
~ Coming Soon ~
Betrayal
~ Also by J. C. Owens ~
Taken
J.C. Owens
Kidnapping the brother of a mob boss was madness... If only it had stayed that simple.
It had all gone wrong. Sent as a mercenary to kidnap Kirith Martinelli from his tropical island home, Landon finds himself on the wrong end of a job gone bad. But there's more to Kirith than meets the eye--and he's taken Landon as his captive. Kirith makes Landon an offer he can't refuse: stay with him for three months—until he tires of Landon's body--and then Landon may go free.
Fearing his own criminal family more than the man before him, Landon agrees. Three months will buy him enough time for his brothers to lose his scent, and freedom will be his. But freedom has a steeper price than Landon bargained for. He can't ignore the sadness and loss behind his captor's beautiful eyes, and Landon finds himself wondering if three months will be enough—for either of them...
Out of the Darkness
Taken Book II
J.C. Owens
Can a heart learn more than just violence?
Enzo is “the Martinelli,” the head of the Martinelli family drug empire. He has known very little softness in his life, only the love of his younger brother and his niece. But when fate leads him to rescue a brutalized young man, he finds he cannot let the young man go without trying to help him. It’s his chance to do something good for someone who desperately deserves it, a distraction from the mafia life or murder and intrigue. But he wishes the submissive young man would quit fawning and calling him “master.” While he’d love to take the young man up on his sexual offers, Enzo’s tastes run to the darker side, and that’s the last thing the young man needs.
Chase Connors hasn’t known love in a long time, maybe not ever. As a slave to a sadistic master, he’s learned to get what he needs with sex. He doesn’t understand why this new “master” has been so generous—bringing him to live at Tanglewood, his vast family estate, sending him to college, and showing him affection—when to everyone else he’s hard and distant. The only way Chase knows to thank him is with his body—but Enzo appears to be straight, if his pregnant girl friend is any indication. But when Chase sees Enzo kissing another man, he knows he has a chance to win over the dominant Enzo. Seeing his chance, he stalks Enzo on his own turf—a nightclub called Dark Whispers—and gives Enzo a show he simply cannot refuse. Until someone else comes gunning for the Martinelli, and a horrible explosion destroys everything…
Wishes
J.C. Owens
Sex slave to an alien culture...
Lt. Auri finds his job aboard the diplomatic cruiser both frustrating and exhausting, but he's determined to prove himself to his new captain. Despite the diplomatic importance of their mission, Auri is wary of the catlike Felinians, who have a reputation for enjoying human company, willing or not. But when he's ordered to witness the signing of the trade papers with the Felininans, Auri never imagines that he's about to be betrayed.
&nb
sp; Sold into an alien culture, Auri finds himself the newest man in the Felinian leader's erotic harem. Kanar claims him as his "mate," but Auri longs for freedom. Though his feelings for Kanar begin to grow, Auri stubbornly refuses the Felininan and the other men of his harem, leading to loneliness and grief. But how can he open himself up to his captor, and to the love of more than one partner?
Wings 2: Dominion of the Eth
J.C. Owens
The collar would stay, for Rylis would never free Tamrin...
Childhood memories of the Eth did no justice to what Rylis Tanyan would encounter in the depths of the Teeathun forest. But what he had treasured before had betrayed him, and now he must fight to escape the confines of the forest and his feelings for Tamrin, the Eth whom he'd loved long ago...
J. C. Owens Writing as J. C. McGuire
The Ascension
My Name is Aelida Book Two
J.C. McGuire
One woman’s secret could see Britain fall forever...
Born in exile, Aelida will witnesses the rise and fall of kings and fight for her people’s very existence. For she holds a great secret… Only one man knows of it, and he will do anything to possess it—he who has brought about her family’s destruction, he who brought about the death of all Britain held dear…
The Gloaming
My Name is Aelida Book Two
J.C. McGuire
Born in exile, Aelida will witness the rise and fall of kings and fight for her people’s very existence, for she holds a great secret…one that could see Briton’s greatness return…or fall forever.
Having had her son taken from her, Aelida escapes Tintagel…only to fall into the hands of the High King’s enemies. Will he come for her, or will she die at the hands of those who hate him?
The Conquered
My Name is Aelida Book Three
J.C. McGuire
If Aelida believed that telling her secret would bring peace, she was sadly mistaken. Britain stands on the edge of destruction, and those who struggle for her survival can only do so much, even for the daughter of King Arthear.
For the man Britain fears and hates most stands waiting. Watching. If he sees weakness and betrayal, then Britain’s champion—her High King—will fall, and with him will fall all hope…
The Triumph
My Name is Aelida Book Four
J.C. McGuire
If Aelida believed that telling her secret would bring peace, she was sadly mistaken. Britain stands on the edge of destruction, and those who struggle for her survival can only do so much, even for the daughter of King Arthear.
For her people, Aelida will endure anything, even the touch of Britain’s most hated enemy, the murderer of her father. With all else gone, Britain’s Queen is the last hope of a nation.
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