Sky and Storm (Warriors of Vis, Book One)

by Alina Popescu

  Sky paced the room, thinking, trying to find a solution to keep himself sane. Why did Storm have to leave so soon? But would it have mattered if it were longer? Yes, it would, he decided. It would have made it even worse.

  “You’re awake, my lord,” Sera said as she entered the room, her eyebrows knitted together and her eyes roaming over Sky.

  “Yes, I am. Prepare my clothes, Sera.”

  The old woman nodded, her lips twitching. “As you wish.”

  “Wait, Sera. I’ll get my own clothes ready.”

  Sky stormed to the armoire in the far end of the bed chamber which stored most of his clothes. He dug through his belongings until he found what he was looking for.

  “What do you need those for?” Sera asked, shock seeping in her tone. She looked, wide-eyed, at the light leathers and tight shirt Sky had chosen. He’d only worn them once, for a festive hunt organized before his and Storm’s wedding.

  “Do you know if Eagle is feeling better?”

  Sera’s frown returned and she tightened her bony fists. “What do you need him for, my lord?”

  Sky sighed and waved his hand impatiently. “Come on, Sera, just tell me.”

  Sera nodded, her left eyebrow arched so high, it almost touched her hairline. “Much better, my lord. He’s wandering the castle, running from his healer.”

  “Why is he running from his healer?” Sky asked, almost tripping as he tried to pull his right boot.

  Sera shrugged. “Boredom, I reckon. He’s not allowed to train just yet, and he keeps trying to sneak out and join whatever soldiers are left.”

  “Bored, you say…” Sky buttoned up his shirt. “Well, then, this might just work.”

  “What will work, my lord?”

  Sky waved her off. “Don’t worry, I’ll go see him and keep him company.”

  Sky rushed out of his bed chamber and closed the door on Sera’s inquiries. He didn’t have time to explain, he just needed to talk to Eagle, get his plan in motion. It was his only way to Storm, to having him near, always.

  “What are you doing?” Sky asked as he pushed open Eagle’s door. In his haste, he hadn’t knocked, and he’d caught the young warrior with a leg out the window, a long string of sheets pooling on the floor under him.

  Eagle blinked, opening his mouth. No words came out.

  “Well, my lord. Should I afford you the courtesy of telling you, as you’ve been so gentle as to knock on my door first?”

  The weird speech had Sky chuckling. “What does that even mean? Are you escaping?”

  Eagle’s mouth fell open again, a fresh wave of rosy shame coloring his cheeks. He let his head fall and dropped the sheet rope he’d put together.

  “I apologize for not knocking, by the way. I was so eager to talk to you it completely slipped my mind.” Sky gave Eagle a sheepish grin and motioned for him to come back inside.

  With a heavy sigh, Eagle came to join Sky on the edge of his bed.

  “You are bored and I need assistance,” Sky started.

  Eagle quirked an eyebrow and looked into the prince’s eyes, but remained silent.

  “I need you to train me. I want to be as good as Storm’s soldiers.”

  Eagle’s laughter broke the silence that had engulfed the room after Sky’s statement.

  “What’s so amusing?” Sky asked, scowling at Eagle.

  The warrior sobered up fast and cleared his throat. “You’re not joking, then?”

  “No, I’m not joking,” Sky yelled, waving his arms around. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why would I be joking?”

  Eagle shrugged, and relaxed on the bed. “I never thought you had the will or stamina to train as a warrior.”

  Sky deflated at the words. “That was before. I was… Storm and I…”

  “You had issues, the whole court knows.”

  Sky cringed and looked down.

  “No, I didn’t mean to offend,” Eagle said, his voice meek. “I have spent all my life around Storm, I know him. And I know all those rumors about him aren’t true. So why do you want me to train you?”

  “I want to be good enough to join Storm when he leaves for battle.”

  Eagle shook his head, his eyes never leaving Sky’s. “He’ll never let you fight.”

  “I don’t much care if he lets me fight or not.” Sky shrugged and pushed away a lock of unruly hair. In his rush, he’d forgotten to tie it up and away from his face. “As long as I’m allowed to follow him, I’m happy.”

  “Have you considered you might distract him? Cost him his life?” Eagle asked, his eyes burning.

  Sky shook his head. “I’ve seen him fight, I’ve seen how he gets lost in it. Unless he’s looking at me being murdered in front of him, Storm being distracted in battle is impossible.”

  Eagle seemed to ponder Sky’s words. He finally nodded once, and stood up. “Fine then. I’ll train you. I won’t go easy on you because you’re a prince. Or a beginner. And in exchange, you’ll get me out of here before I go insane.”

  “Agreed,” Sky said, grabbing Eagle’s arm under the elbow. “But I am no beginner.”

  CHAPTER XI

  The Shifting Waves

  STORM KNEW HE WAS pushing his horse too hard, but he couldn’t help it. The castle was in sight. The red banners his elite warriors carried were a dirty replica of those fluttering against the tall walls keeping Sky safe. It had been a difficult campaign, exhausting and disgusting.

  The rebels that had attacked Mitas had been vicious. Bodies of children torn apart and scattered throughout the stronghold; women raped and beaten for days, then left to die on the cold stones paving the roads of the reinforced town; houses burnt to the ground, provisions destroyed. It was all Storm hated in waging war. No honor, no humanity. He’d never slaughtered innocents. Never touched women or children.

  They’d taken the stronghold easily. The Dragon and his men knew of the secret tunnels in and out of Mitas. All of Vis’s strongholds had them, just like all the castles and former city-states. Storm had insisted on building them in case of siege. Word had to get out and provisions needed to get in. It also made taking back occupied citadels child’s play.

  Most of those who had taken the stronghold were mercenaries with little useful knowledge, and the true rebels had died while being tortured. No one talked. They spewed their ideas and made accusations, but no one mentioned any leader, any military mastermind pointing them toward their next prey. Whoever the leader was, he was charismatic enough that his men would die for him.

  Something was brewing at the fringes of Storm’s empire, whispers and violent outbursts heralding it. He didn’t like it one bit. Through the years, Storm had conquered, and his father had led. The king wasn’t a loving ruler, but he was fair. Like Storm, his father didn’t believe in starving his people to gain more money. The Crown of Vis was involved in a lot of trading, everything from goods to military services. They made sure all territories they ruled prospered, so that their subjects were happy. They needed the occasional nudge now and then to pay their taxes, but there hadn’t been a commoners’ rebellion in ages.

  Yet what Storm had heard along the way to Mitas… It was disturbing. Governors, noblemen, garrison commanders, they all abused their powers, and their king turned a blind eye. No wonder people rebelled. All Storm needed to discover was who was paying for this uprising. Mercenaries weren’t cheap, not even the sloppy, fat, and drunk ones that had made most of the cohorts holding Mitas captive. Someone had to foot the cost, provide food, weapons, healers. It also baffled Storm that only those ruling over the farthest provinces had succumbed to the desire of being tyrants. Was it because they thought they were too far to face any disciplinary action from the Crown? Or were they easier to influence because they were so far removed from Vis? Regardless of why and how, everything was changing. A wave of dishonesty, cruelty, and violence was making its way through Vis’s territories. If Storm didn’t stop it soon, they’d have to put out uprisings in every province.

&n
bsp; He forced his mind out of the trap it had fallen into and focused on the fast-approaching walls of the castle. Soon he’d be home, in Sky’s arms, and forget all this mess for a while. Forget about the blood and gore and worries about his kingdom’s future.

  Storm flew through the gates, being forced to squeeze through a small opening. Those manning the castle gates weren’t quick enough to open them. Had they been asleep? Or had they misjudged how fast he’d make his way there. No matter, Storm was in too much of a hurry to stop and scold them for their negligence.

  The closer Storm got to the castle, the harder his heart beat. Would Sky be happy to see him? Would the heaven they’d discovered only recently still be there, waiting for Storm and engulfing him in its intoxicating embrace? Or would Sky have reverted to his old self, the one that hated Storm? He shook his head, grumbling at his own lack of confidence and pushed his horse even harder.

  In his rush to make it back to Sky, he almost missed the familiar clang of swords. On the battlefield, they were a constant part of his environment, almost a background noise. Here, they were rare when he was not around. The only soldiers in the castle in the middle of the day were guards or the sick and wounded. The rest were either out with Storm, or training outside Vis’s gates.

  “Is that all you’ve got?”

  The taunt hit Storm like an arrow to the heart. He forced his steed to stop and jumped off it. The moment his feet touched the ground he was running, guided by the clash of swords to the inner yard where he’d executed the rebels.

  It can’t be. There is no reason for Sky to be fighting anyone. Although it had been many years since they’d trained together, the tone of the taunt was so familiar to Storm, he could almost picture the smirk on Sky’s face, the confident walk around his opponent, the decisive hold on the longsword. God, he’d missed seeing Sky like that!

  The sudden flood of memories almost distracted Storm from his purpose: getting to Sky as fast as possible, then kill whoever dared raise a finger against him. Didn’t they know who Sky belonged to? Who belonged to Sky? They must have lost their minds to think they’d survive such an affront to the Dragon.

  Storm reached the yard, out of breath but powered by the rushing blood flowing through his strained veins. Sky was on the ground, his sword up, crossed in a parry with another weapon. A man was on top of him, pressing his own sword down.

  “Yield, pretty boy.”

  It couldn’t be. Eagle? Storm took a closer look at Sky’s assailant. Why was his trusted swordsman attacking his husband?

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Storm yelled, his fists so tight it hurt.

  Eagle looked at Storm over his shoulders, his eye bulging out. He tried to scramble away, but Sky’s sudden grip on Eagle’s arm stopped his retreat. “Don’t you fucking dare, kid! You won’t pretend you won this fight just because Storm interrupted us.”

  “Sky, let him go. I’ll deal with him.”

  “Stand back, Storm. You’re not getting in the middle of our training.”

  Training? What the hell was Sky on about?

  “Storm. Back. Off!” The strangled sound of Sky’s voice hit Storm full on and had him retreating for a couple of steps. To his utter dismay, his cock responded just as fast. Storm would have never guessed Sky’s angry, growl-like order would turn him on this badly. No time for that now, you idiot.

  “Maybe we should stop,” Eagle said meekly.

  “Admit defeat and we will,” Sky said, kicking Eagle off and jumping to his feet.

  “Not on your life!” Eagle charged, his moves swift and precise. Sky parried, side-stepped, and pushed Eagle backward, making his opponent lose his balance. Sky had always been great at taking advantage of the smallest opening. In the blink of an eye, he had Eagle pinned against the stone wall, his sword kept safely away, and Sky’s own weapon pressing into Eagle’s nape.

  “Yield, child,” Sky urged, his tone light with amusement.

  “Fine, I yield.” Eagle dropped his sword and shrugged off a gloating Sky. His eyes darted to Storm, and he froze. Sky followed.

  “Forget about him, I’ll keep him busy. Same time tomorrow morning?”

  They did this on a regular basis? He’d have a word with Eagle and stop this nonsense. Maybe he should do it now.

  Sky’s body encompassing his and closing around him cutting his air and movement interrupted Storm’s train of though. “Welcome home, beautiful,” Sky whispered and planted a loud, wet kiss on Storm’s lips. He smelled of fresh sweat, of combat and armor, and Storm’s cock stirred once more.

  Storm’s body responded before his brain caught up. In a second, he had Sky pinned under him and Storm was kissing him frantically. Like he couldn’t breathe unless their tongues were dancing together and their lips and whole bodies were touching.

  “I missed you,” Storm whispered, pushing his hips forward, in search for that exquisite friction that drove him wild and set him free at the same time. “So much. It’s torture to be without you.”

  Sky wrapped his legs around Storm’s waist, chuckling in between kisses. “I thought I’d go insane without you. I’m glad you’re back.”

  Storm growled and held Sky even closer. “You’ve found your entertainment. Playing with swords with my wounded warrior, running around the yard, pretending you’re fighting.” He only intended it as a joke, but he certainly hadn’t been too fond of Eagle and his swift blade being so close to Sky.

  “I thought we were past unwarranted jealousy, my love,” Sky whispered, turning his face away.

  Storm sighed and buried his face in the crook of Sky’s neck. “That’s not what I meant, Sky. It’s just that…” He pushed himself up and sat on the ground, helping Sky join him. Storm leaned his head on Sky’s shoulder. “I was so afraid I’d come back and things between us would go back to how they were before… And here you were, doing something you haven’t done since we were kids.”

  “You mean swordplay? Oh, I’ve done plenty of that in my father’s house, husband mine. I might have not acted much like it after coming here, but I was always trained as my father’s heir should be.”

  “It still scared me, Sky.” Storm rubbed his eyes. He was getting too emotional and it made him antsy. He forced himself to stay there, talk through it, although every cell in his body yelled at him to go cool off someplace else. “I came back to something unfamiliar.”

  Sky cursed under his breath and grabbed the back of Storm’s head. The kiss was sudden, fierce. It was so intoxicating.

  “Listen to me, you big lump of idiot warrior,” Sky said, his teeth clenched, making his voice sound harsher than usual. “I love you. So much, I go insane when you are not around. I had to keep myself busy, you know? Exercise helps. It helps me sleep, it helps me eat. It makes it easier to preserve my health until your return. I just didn’t want to resort to old habits.”

  Storm nodded, remembering with a shiver how thin Sky had been the last time he’d returned from battle. He wanted his husband safe and healthy, and if training with Eagle or whoever else was available achieved that, who was he to complain?

  “I’m sorry. I’ve lost you before, and it terrifies me that it may happen again. It will take some time to get that irrational fear out of my head, but I’ll do my best, Sky. I promise.”

  Sky bumped his shoulder into Storm’s. “It won’t all be sorted overnight. The more time we spend together, like proper husbands, the easier all of this will be. Whatever else may come, please try and remember that I’ve loved you all my life. I am not about to let you slip through my fingers again.”

  Storm’s fear was gone just like that. All that was left now was his desperate desire to be close to his husband, to feel Sky’s body pressed against his, to smell his scent and get lost in the closeness. Instead of doing that, he was sitting on rather cold stones, tired and sweaty from his mad ride, pouting like a child because Sky had been playing with someone else.

  “I am very much the idiot, aren’t I?” Storm snorted and s
hook his head. He pushed himself up, the move taking more effort than he’d anticipated. Maybe he had been pushing himself too hard to get back to Sky. Storm ignored the strain in his muscles and tried his best to hide the wince every move yanked. He hadn’t felt it while he was riding, but the pain in his muscles was hard to ignore now, especially after having sat down for a while.

  Storm extended his right hand and motioned for Sky to take it. He helped his husband up, trying to appear at ease, cheerful. “Let’s get inside.”

  “Or you’ll collapse right here?” Sky arched his dark gold eyebrow and stared at Storm, his foot tapping the stones in a rhythmic move.

  “Maybe I am a little tired.”

  “A little? Yes, that’s how I’d describe pain at every move. A little tired.” Sky scoffed and wrapped an arm around Storm’s waist. “Come on, I’ll have Sera run a bath for us, then I’ll massage your muscles until everything is loose.”

  “No, thank you. A bath alone will do.”

  Sky sighed theatrically. “Afraid you’re going to fall asleep?”

  “I am not sure I can make it through the bath.”

  “What’s wrong with sleeping, love. Have you sworn off it while you were away?”

  Storm looked into Sky’s eyes, taking in the entwined mirth and challenge in his look.

  “How can I fuck you if I’m asleep, husband mine? I’ve missed you. My cock has missed you. We both need you desperately.”

  Sky laughed and the sound reverberated along the walled pathway to the entrance to the castle. “You will have to wait until after you’ve rested, love. You’ll need the energy.” Sky leaned close and placed a wet kiss on Storm’s neck. “For everything I want to do to you.”

  Storm groaned and stopped in his tracks. He crowded Sky against the nearby wall, pushing his body as close as possible. There were still clothes and light armors between them, so the contact left him unsatisfied. “Speak to me like that and I will forget my weariness. Is that what you truly desire?”

  Sky laughed and Storm could feel the sound vibrating under his lips as he peppered kisses along his husband’s neck. “Oh, Storm. Please don’t make promises you cannot keep. We both know a hot bath with Sera’s oils and a long massage from me will have you sound asleep in no time.”