Dark Rain

by J. C. Owens

  “Don’t mock him.”

  “It seems you have a defender, my prince.” The humor in the Shadow’s tone was marked.

  Prince Taldan grunted under his breath, leaning close to Raine to carefully wrap the bandage round his chest tightly.

  Raine flinched, catching his breath once more before he leaned forward ever so slightly and inhaled deeply.

  “Do you know you smell good, as well?”

  There was a choked sound from the Shadow, and several of the people close behind the prince seemed to stifle grins before looking away.

  Their sense of humor seemed wildly inappropriate. One would have thought that the prince’s closest people would be those who respected him the most.

  One would have thought…

  * * *

  Taldan

  Taldan managed to catch the young man as he turned utterly boneless and began to slide out of the chair. At least the bandaging had been finished, the ribs supported.

  With a sigh of regret that his quiet, peaceful night had turned into this debacle, he gathered the now unconscious Lord Raine up in his arms, careful to position him in a way that would put the least amount of stress upon the two cracked ribs he had discovered.

  Those around him seemed stunned into silence, and no wonder. He refused to touch others in any manner, apart from those within the harem.

  For him to voluntarily reach out…

  A feeling of discomfort rolled over him, and he almost ordered Weis to take the young man before he shook the foolishness off.

  He would see Lord Raine to his room and ensure that he was watched over before he would seek his own rest. Not that he usually slept. He rarely did. His mind was too full of thoughts, plans, images—all of which often meant he had to rise to write notes or draw diagrams. Sleep was a waste of time in his opinion, and if he could find a way to never need it again, he would be perfectly content.

  Unfortunately, his body was merely human and had accompanying human frailties.

  Weis held the door open, and Taldan stepped into the hallway, not surprised to see Naral looking exhausted and tousled, striding toward him with several guards in tow.

  His friend glared at the unconscious form in Taldan’s arms. “What in the hells? What fresh plan have he and his brother come up with? I swear—”

  Taldan clicked his tongue in disapproval, silencing Naral instantly.

  “This is not the time. Wait for me in my office, and we will discuss what has happened. In the meantime, I want the older brother to be confined to his room. There is the question of charges of assault being laid, and I want him secured.”

  Naral’s eyes widened slightly before he nodded, lips tightening as if to hold in all he wanted to say.

  He marched off in the direction of Lord Parsul’s assigned rooms, and Taldan turned in the opposite direction, toward where the candidates were being housed.

  Raine was no weight at all, and Taldan frowned. The young man had been painfully thin when they removed his tunic, ribs in sharp relief beneath his skin and the number of scars seemed far more than normal for a healthy man who had not lived a life of strife.

  Or had he?

  Taldan gritted his teeth. Memory of Lord Parsul’s sneers, the vicious words and even more vicious actions remained etched in his mind’s eye.

  There could be no reason, ever, for such actions. And to a sibling…

  Distaste rose, his determination for change coming to the fore. The empire’s own history was littered with such atrocities among the ruling class. Murder, abuse, imprisonment, torture. All to be emperor.

  His own father, at eight years old, had seen his sire killed by his older brother when the man inherited the title.

  Taldan’s lips thinned. Anrodnes had come far under his father’s rule. Taldan would take it further. Law, order, culture, economic growth. A way of life that led to exploration, discoveries, learning of a higher order. Human nature was a burden, an anchor that held back all he wanted to achieve, but with time, he would make others see what was so very clear to him.

  It would be his life’s work.

  He glanced down at Lord Raine. The young man’s head nestled against his shoulder. He looked absurdly young, almost painfully innocent, tousled black curls framing his thin face.

  No one and nothing would get in the way of his plans.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Raine

  Raine woke with a splitting headache. His first attempt to open his eyes resulted in a pained moan and his hand shielding them from the sunlight that streamed in through open curtains.

  Surely he hadn’t been so foolish as to meet his friend Ranner at the tavern again. The last time…

  He tried to roll away from the light and yelped at the sharp pain the motion instantly brought.

  His eyes flew open, harsh memory coming instantly to the fore.

  He was not home, not anywhere familiar.

  Disjointed images floated through his mind, and he moaned again, this time from sheer unadulterated embarrassment.

  Surely not. Surely he had not forever shamed himself by letting his tongue loose under the influence of medication.

  That had forever been of particular amusement to his friends, who never lost an opportunity to write down his ramblings and read them to him the next day.

  Gods.

  Could he just die now? Quietly. Simply. Without any further mistakes or misunderstandings?

  His hero, the man he admired more than any other and desperately wished to emulate, had seen him at his absolute worst.

  Being submissive to Parsul’s tirade, accepting it as he always did.

  Having the prince have to rescue him, tend to him.

  Then the icing on the cake. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he flushed painfully. Had he really commented on how good the prince smelled?

  He put an arm over his face, quite prepared to spend the day, or even the rest of his life hiding in the room.

  A knock on the door had him pulling the covers over his head.

  His faint hope that they would not enter was broken as the door swung open and Isnay entered, a servant on his heels with a tray of food.

  “Good morning, my lord. The High Prince sends his greetings and will be along shortly to check your condition.”

  Raine shot up, acting before thinking, then swayed alarmingly as pain shot along his ribs. Isnay tutted, catching him swiftly and propping him up before stuffing pillows behind him in support.

  When he could breathe again, Raine glanced at the other man pleadingly.

  “I’m fine. I’m sure any other physician could check me over. His Imperial Highness does not need to bother himself…”

  “His Imperial Highness insisted, and one does not argue with him. Not to mention he wants to speak to you about the events of last night.”

  Raine’s shoulders drooped. Of course his actions would be seen as scandalous. His comments had been anything but respectful.

  Isnay smiled and patted his cheek. “I am referring to your brother’s actions.”

  Raine froze, emotions sweeping through him he hardly knew how to handle.

  Isnay saw his reaction and continued. “Your brother has to answer for his own behavior. We do not tolerate any physical abuse within the palace. Not to mention that Anrodnes now has laws across the country detailing protection for all citizens.”

  “I’m sure my brother will apologize to His Imperial Highness. There need not be any unpleasantness over this. It’s a small matter, easily fixed.”

  Isnay stared at him, for once looking completely out of sorts, before he gave a sound perilously close to a snort. “Tell His Imperial Highness exactly what you just said. I can’t wait to see his reaction.”

  Raine shivered at the thought. “I can apologize as well. The prince does not have to be caught up in this.”

  The door swung wide, and Taldan strode into the room, the two ever-present Shadows in his wake.

  “The prince gets caught up in what he wishes,
” Isnay commented drily before turning to bow to the man in question.

  Raine gathered his strength, attempting to sit up straighter in order to show appropriate respect to the prince…

  “Don’t. Stay where you are.” Taldan’s curt tone made Raine freeze in place. So used to obeying commands, he stayed motionless, wide-eyed.

  The prince laid an array of medical items on the side table. He turned to face Raine, a brow rising as he noted Raine’s unnatural position and stillness.

  “I meant don’t bow. You are allowed to breathe.”

  Isnay made a choked sound and turned away.

  Raine shot a concerned glance his way before trying to relax back into normality. He was suddenly terribly self-conscious, not knowing what to do with his hands until he clasped them together, the white knuckles clearly giving away his tension.

  It was the best he could do at the moment.

  He almost bit his tongue as the prince pulled forward a stool and sat upon it at the bedside, reaching to unwind the bandages that braced his ribs.

  Raine could only stare at the silver head, fingers slowly clenching in the bedcovers to overcome the ridiculous need to touch.

  What in the gods’ names was wrong with him? It was like he had a death wish when it came to this man.

  He sucked in a harsh breath as the prince’s fingers brushed against his bare flesh. The prince paused in his ministrations, looking up and regarding him with a cool blue gaze.

  Raine flushed, heat coursing over his form. He swiftly lowered his eyes in respect, but it was far too late to cover up his admiration and hero worship.

  There was a moment of silence while Raine clenched his teeth, trying to remain perfectly still, perfectly obedient.

  The prince resumed his movements, and moments later, cool air swirled over Raine’s chest, making him shiver.

  Long, fine fingers gently probed his ribs, and looking down once more, Raine was taken aback by the amount of bruising that had appeared overnight.

  He was used to bruising, but his brother had never gone this far as to actually crack his ribs. Even back when his brother came into power after their father died, he had been planning for just this eventuality: using Raine as a candidate for the future High Lord Emperor’s bondmate. Never let it be said that his brother wasn’t forward thinking.

  Albeit with a cruel twist.

  Raine blinked, then paled as a thought intruded on his embarrassment. Parsul had gone much further in his abuse this time. Was this some plan of his? To bring Raine to the prince’s attention? If so, it had succeeded.

  But his brother, always so sure of his superiority and cleverness, had clearly lost his mind if he thought that the imperial prince would not see through such a ruse.

  Yet it had come to this, with the prince personally tending to him.

  It made Raine feel dirty and cheap.

  “I thank you, my lord, for your kindness. You do not need to tend to me personally.” His quiet voice shook a little.

  The capable hands paused in their task, and the prince met his gaze with calm force. “You were attacked in my home. Therefore I will tend to you as needs be. Is that clear?”

  Raine nodded, shrinking into himself. He went back to quietly admiring the man. He caught the tail end of an emotion, just under the cold surface of the prince, worry about the ascension, love for a concubine…

  The prince’s head jerked up, and he stared intently at Raine as though feeling the intrusion.

  Raine swallowed hard and glanced away.

  The prince returned to his ministrations, and Raine was careful to not look at him again.

  * * *

  Taldan

  Taldan finished wrapping the thin chest, checking the fit, asking the young man to breathe. It was clear it had helped by the look of relief on his patient’s face.

  Those brilliant green eyes were like clear windows into Raine’s soul.

  Taldan could not remember ever having encountered anyone who appeared so guileless, and that in itself roused his suspicions. He was quite sure that he had felt the young man delve into his thoughts, though that should be impossible.

  He leaned back and tidied up the supplies he had brought, letting himself have time to think. It would be so easy to catch Raine out, show what was truly beneath the surface. It would mean one more person off the list. One less he had to consider.

  Turning back, he leaned closer, effortlessly catching that green gaze and holding it with will alone.

  “So you are interested in architecture, not to mention infrastructure.”

  Raine sent a single glance of betrayal toward Isnay before nodding, the flush still decorating his skin.

  “I am, Your Imperial Highness. I am sorry if that seems convenient or self-serving in this circumstance, but it is true. As the youngest son, I will not be able to make a difference through politics or power, but I can find ways and means to improve Odenar.”

  Those green eyes finally rose to meet Taldan’s fully and there was a determination in the depths that seemed counter to all he had previously displayed.

  This boy, because he was little more than that in age, seemed full of things that were hidden, secrets that perhaps even he did not fully understand. The oddest thing was, the young man’s gaze seemed to imply he knew something about Taldan… Something even those in the room with them would not know… Once again, he wondered what he had felt, whether Raine held some talent for empathy, or something greater.

  “Tell me then. What is it that you would most like to ask me?” He waited for the coy return, the foolish question that would no doubt be the primary thought in Raine’s head showing he had only a child’s knowledge of the subject.

  “I know that you had begun trials on earthquake-resistant buildings,” Raine said eagerly. “The information I have is years old, and it is difficult to get books sent into Odenar. I have come up with some ideas of my own, but if you have done more along these lines, I would be very grateful if I could read them over, see if I am correct in my assumptions and trials.”

  Taldan blinked, taken aback. This was not what he had assumed at all.

  “Trials?” That seemed most unlikely of all the things Raine had said.

  Raine’s fingers clenched together. “I do not have the knowledge that you possess, Your Imperial Highness. Nor the mind that enables you to piece things together so quickly and so definitively. I just built small models out of different materials, then tried shaking them. I know it is anything but scientific, but it was all I had at the time.” There was a pained defensiveness in the soft words.

  Taldan was silent for long moments, watching, waiting for something that would give him more information about this young man. This all sounded too good to be true. An inquiring mind, a need to see improvements in his country for the good of the people. It was all so similar to what he was, what he believed in.

  It was not possible.

  He rose to his feet abruptly. “I shall send you my notes. They are not compiled at this time, but with a bit of digging, you might find what you are looking for.”

  He had no intention of sitting and discussing his findings. That was for those who were truly in need of his aid, not some backwater boy who was attempting to manipulate him into…

  What?

  He didn’t know, but he needed to leave this room. Now.

  Without another word, without waiting for a response, he swept from the room.

  He had work to do, and nothing was to be gained in the present circumstances. At the moment, he could not legitimately claim that Raine should be on the list of “unacceptable.”

  Forcefully and with some difficulty, he managed to shut out the encounter and move his mind to more important matters.

  Later, inside the privacy of the harem, Taldan let his head hang, feeling a sense of shock at his own actions. Never before had he been so overwhelmed by lust, by sexual need that overrode all sense. He was always in control.

  A gentle hand cupped his cheek,
raised his head. Hredeen looked into his eyes and gave him the gentlest of smiles. “You’ve met someone. Someone who roused need in you.”

  He jerked back, out of range of the touch, sliding to sit on the edge of the bed. His breath sawed in and out of his lungs, his body trembled with the force of his orgasm. It had been like no other in his life, uncontrolled, wild, everything that he abhorred and sought to eradicate from his nature.

  He flinched away as Hredeen put a hand on his arm and gave him a reassuring squeeze, then forced himself into stillness, shocked at his reactions. This was not him. He had fought his whole life to become the perfect heir. Now he would become the perfect emperor.

  Where, in the name of all the gods, had this come from?

  Hredeen could not be right in his assumption. Much though he admired and respected his concubine’s insights, this time, he was wrong.

  He glared at his hands. His fingers were trembling almost imperceptibly. This was not acceptable.

  Taldan closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, then let it out slowly, drawing upon a technique the Shadows had taught him. A way to cast away outer thoughts and return to inner strength and calm certainty.

  Breathe.

  In time, his heart slowed, his near panic was averted into cold control once more.

  When he opened his eyes and met Hredeen’s concerned gaze, he was able to calmly return it.

  This time, he could accept the gentle touch, did not flinch away. It made no sense why he had panicked before.

  His trust in Hredeen was absolute.

  The concubine said nothing for long moments, simply stroking his face, letting the gentleness and contact soothe his nerves.

  His nerves. He was not a creature of anxiety or emotion. This all made no sense.

  Perhaps this bondmate nonsense was affecting him more than he was truly comprehending. It had always been annoying that despite his great intelligence, his ability to parse out things that others could not or would not understand, that emotion, the true human frailty, was something that escaped his complete understanding. The academic viewpoints could not completely mesh with the reality of emotion. True knowledge that he hoped would lead to utter control had escaped him time and again.