Royal Blood Complete Series Box Set

by August Davies

  Aiden shrugged off his hand. “There's nothing left for me back at Icebor. I don't care how dangerous it's going to be. My parents are out there...”

  Darkan interrupted Aiden with a kiss. He believed it was the only way to keep him from talking anymore.

  Aiden's eyes shot open at the shock of what just happened but he quickly settled into Darkan's lips. He smelled like a man and that only excited him more. His arms wrapped around Aiden and his hands pressed against his back. Their tongues danced lightly together and Aiden moaned.

  Darkan broke away and began walking back to the camp. “I'll let you come with us.”

  Aiden stood there, dazed and confused. He'd never felt anything like that before. His whole body tingled from his ears all the way down to his toes.

  He returned back to the camp to the smell of cooked eggs. The Rangers sat around the fire and ate their breakfast in silence. The impending mission was a lot to think about even for a group as experienced as the Rangers of the Old Forest.

  They knew they might not all come back from this.

  Belim handed Aiden a plate with a big smile. “Made special just for you.”

  “Thank you so much,” he replied. Aiden sat down next to Darkan and took a bite of eggs. The flavors lit a fire in his mouth. His eyes grew big and he realized how hungry he actually was. His plate was clean in seconds.

  Darkan stood up and poured water on the fire. “Gear up,” he ordered the group.

  Each Ranger gathered their weapons while Belim packed the provisions.

  Farondil looked at Aiden who was just standing there. “He's not coming with us.”

  Aiden stood his ground. “Oh yes I am.”

  “Darkan, this is not a mission to bring civilians with.”

  Darkan nodded. “I agree with you, Farondil. But he has made it clear that he will follow us no matter what.”

  Aiden nodded to Farondil.

  “Then we tie him to a tree and leave him until we get back,” Farondil replied.

  His blood boiled in his veins. “You wouldn't dare,” Aiden said.

  Darkan shook his head. “Aiden will come with us and I'll be responsible for him. My decision is final.”

  Farondil knew better than to argue any further.

  Garel approached Aiden. “You're going to need a weapon.” He handed him a silver dagger.

  Aiden gripped the cold steel in his hand and remembered his mother handing him a knife in the kitchen. He couldn't be hide anymore. He'd have to protect himself.

  Garel showed him some quick moves with the dagger. Aiden mirrored his movements, pretending to slash his enemy's throat. The thought of killing another human being was foreign to Aiden but he'd have to come to terms with that soon enough.

  “All right, Rangers. Let's show those barbarians who the Rangers of the Old Forest are,” Darkan announced.

  The Rangers cheered together.

  Aiden stowed the dagger in his belt and joined Darkan's side as the Rangers set off.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Rangers of the Old Forest made their way through the trees until they came to the village of Icebor.

  The place was completely deserted. Dead bodies were frozen in the streets waiting for a proper burial. Aiden wanted so much to dig a grave for each and every one of them.

  But that would have to wait. His parents were in danger and needed his help.

  “Demorac, see if you can salvage anything from the village before we go across the river,” Darkan said.

  Demorac nodded before slipping into the shadows.

  “Belim, use your nose to find us some more food.”

  “Already on it, Darkan,” he replied, smacking his belly.

  Aiden stepped in front of Darkan with his fists clenched. “You're stealing from my village.”

  “I know how you feel but there's no one left here. They're dead now and they won't be coming back. We need everything we can get our hands on if we're going to rescue your parents.”

  Aiden didn't have anything to say. He knew Darkan was right.

  But it still didn't make it right.

  The Rangers collected any spare weapons and provisions until they couldn't carry anymore. Belim found some packed dry meats that would save them time from hunting during the mission.

  Aiden and Darkan stood at the river and looked across at the rolling green hills. The sun was almost at the height of the sky.

  “What lies beyond the hills?” Aiden asked.

  “The barbarians,” Darkan replied.

  Aiden put his hands on his hips. “You don't think I already know that? I meant what exactly is beyond?”

  Darkan turned to Aiden and held his hand. He felt a surge of adrenaline flow through him. He couldn't help but blush. “Honestly, I don't know.”

  Aiden was swimming in the thought of kissing Darkan again. His closely shaved face against Aiden's. He shivered with excitement and then remembered that he was in a conversation.

  “But I thought you were a Ranger? Don't you guys go out scouting?”

  “Only within the kingdom boundaries. We're expressly forbidden to pass beyond the hills. King Uzmar didn't want to start a war with the barbarians.”

  “Well it looks like he's going to have one now.”

  Darkan laughed. “I think you're right about that.”

  The rest of the Rangers joined them at the river. “We're ready, Darkan,” Farondil said.

  Darkan stepped first into the cold water of the river. Aiden thought back to when Hugo saved him from going all the way across. He had no idea what pulled him into the river that day but now he was finally going to cross it.

  Aiden followed Darkan while the Rangers joined the ranks behind him. The Junti River wasn't particularly big or powerful. It only took a few minutes to make their way to the other side.

  Aiden laughed. “I can't believe the whole village was so scared of this tiny river.”

  “They weren't scared of the river but of what lies beyond it,” Garel reminded him, pointing into the direction of the hills.

  Aiden sobered up and looked at the green hills. The bright blue cloudless sky made the place look peaceful. How could anything bad come from here?

  The Rangers moved to the grasses of the hills and began their ascent. Aiden marveled at the view behind him of Icebor. He wasn't very high up but he could see everything: his home, the market square, and even the castle further away.

  “A beautiful sight, isn't it?” Darkan asked.

  Aiden nodded. “I never appreciated it before. But from up here, it looks like a magical land.”

  They continued up to the top of the hill and the anticipation of what was beyond grew to a peak. The wind blew faster up there as the grasses flowed beneath their feet. They had no idea what to expect. The barbarians tribes could be right over the ridge.

  Darkan was the first to reach the top. Aiden watched from below as Darkan dropped his bow and sat right down on the grass. That wasn't the response he expected.

  Aiden crested the top of the hill and saw for himself. Miles and miles of green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. Not a barbarian was in sight. All those years of living in fear were for nothing.

  Aiden sat down next to Darkan and their shoulders touched. “It's beautiful on this side too.”

  Darkan nodded. “The barbarians tribes are not as close as we thought. This trek might take a lot longer than I thought.”

  Aiden stood up, smiled, and offered his hand. “Then what are we waiting for?”

  Darkan gladly accepted his help and Aiden heaved him up. He looked at his Rangers. “It looks like the barbarian tribes are not as close as we thought. But keep your eyes peeled. They could be close by...watching us.”

  Belim nodded and tightened his grip on his warhammer.

  Garel slapped his hand on Darkan's back. “Looks like were going to have a real adventure.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Aiden was the first down the hill, running and letting gravity do its wo
rk. Even though he'd never stepped foot here before, the place seemed familiar. Like he was destined to come here.

  It just felt right.

  Farondil joined him and examined the ground.

  “What is it?” Aiden asked.

  Farondil ran his fingers through the dirt and smelled it. “The barbarians definitely came through this way.”

  “Will you be able to track them?”

  Farondil laughed. “Tracking loud and sloppy barbarians will be easy work. Defeating them will be hard.”

  Aiden nodded and they continued on.

  The group of adventurers conquered hill after hill with no end in sight. Farondil followed the tracks with no difficulty. The green seemed to go on for eternity. The sun set over the land and night fast approached.

  Darkan sat his pack down at the base of a hill. “This should be a good place to make camp for the night.”

  Aiden was exhausted from the day's travel. His feet ached, his back ached, his entire body ached. He brushed his sweaty hair and sat down on the soft grass. He looked at each of the Rangers and they looked no more tired than when they first started the journey.

  “We're not stopping because of me, are we? Because I can go on,” Aiden asked Darkan.

  “Of course not. It's not safe to travel in the dark. It wouldn't be good to be ambushed by a tribe of barbarians or whatever else lies in these lands.”

  Aiden saw his logic but thought he was still lying. There was no use arguing when he was so exhausted.

  Demorac approached Darkan. “Sir, I'd like permission to scout on ahead. I can follow their tracks and maybe find their camp.”

  Darkan looked out at the expanse of hills. “It's too dangerous, Demorac. We're not familiar with these lands. I'm going to need everyone of you when we go up against the barbarians. But you can take first watch tonight.”

  “It would be my honor, Darkan.” Demorac slammed his chest with his fist.

  “Anyone hungry?” Belim bellowed.

  Aiden felt the empty pang in his stomach. “I could use a little food.”

  Belim smiled. “Wonderful!” He unwrapped some of the dry meats from Icebor.

  “Remember Belim, we don't know how long this journey will be so ration the food,” Garel said.

  “Of course. Of course. But we need our sustenance to get through the next day of endless hill climbing.”

  Farondil began gathering sticks and brush from the surrounding area to make a fire. Aiden sat down on a flat rock as the fire was started with the strike of a stone.

  Belim handed out the pieces of beef jerky to each member. Aiden chewed the tough meat, the strands of fat getting stuck between his teeth.

  “Not bad,” Belim said.

  Demorac stretched a piece of meat with his teeth as hard as he could until it finally snapped. “Could be a little better.”

  “Tomorrow we can hunt for some game if we don't come across the barbarians,” Darkan said.

  The thought of eating rabbit or even deer made Belim's mouth water. Aiden yawned and warmed his hands near the fire.

  “We should all get some rest because we set out again at dawn. Demorac will take the first watch and I will the second,” Darkan said.

  Aiden took out a bedroll from his pack. He placed it close to the fire and lay down, staring up at the stars in the sky.

  Darkan set up next to Aiden, laying so close they could almost be mistaken for partners. Aiden felt the heat emanating off Darkan's muscular body. His fingertips tingled as he remembered the kiss from before.

  “Legends say that each glowing orb in the sky is a god watching over us,” Darkan said.

  “Seems a little chaotic with so many different gods watching over us all at once.”

  Darkan chuckled. “You're probably right.”

  Aiden turned his head to face Darkan. “Do you think we're going to find my parents tomorrow.”

  “I don't know. I thought the barbarians bordered our kingdom but now it seems that intelligence was wrong. I promise, I won't rest until we find them.”

  Aiden smiled and fell blissfully asleep.

  Darkan looked back at the stars. He never expected to meet anyone such as Aiden. He watched Aiden's mouth slightly open as he exhaled. He was fascinating. The sky of light was beautiful but nowhere near as bright as this man before him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Aiden woke up with a fright. His hand reached out and touched the empty bedroll next to him. He jumped up to find Darkan sitting at the top of the hill before him.

  Aiden looked around at the other sleeping rangers. It was still night and only red embers remained in the fire.

  He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around himself. He trudged up the hill until he joined Darkan. “Couldn't sleep?”

  Darkan watched as Aiden sat down next to him. “Actually it was my turn to watch.”

  Aiden tried to blow warm air into his freezing cold hands. “See anything out here?”

  He looked out at all the green hills. The giant glowing sun began to crest over the horizon. “It was a very quiet night.”

  Aiden shivered and Darkan put his arm around him. Aiden instantly felt warm and safe. He leaned his head onto Darkan and could hear his heart beating faster than normal.

  Darkan lifted Aiden's head by the chin and looked him in the eyes. “You take my breath away, Aiden.”

  He couldn't hold himself back any longer. Aiden reached up and kissed Darkan. His arms enveloped Aiden immediately and pulled him further in. Their tongues touched and Aiden inhaled sharply at the injection of pleasure.

  “I can't stop thinking about you,” Darkan whispered between kisses. He kissed Aiden's neck and nibbled gently.

  Aiden closed his eyes. The fire between his legs was impossible to ignore. “Become one with me, Darkan. I need you.”

  The two didn't bother taking their clothes off. The cold was too much. Darkan laid Aiden into the grass of the hill. They locked eyes and communicated that it was time without saying a single word.

  Darkan fumbled with his dark brown pants until they were brought down around his knees. Aiden's eyes grew big at the sight of Darkan's manliness.

  Darkan looked down at himself and smiled. “Never seen another man naked before?”

  Aiden blushed. “I imagined it would look similar to mine. But this is so much bigger than I thought.

  Darkan grinned. “I'm not an average specimen.”

  “Apparently not.”

  Aiden bent over and stuck his ass out for Darkan to take. Darkan placed his hands on Aiden's hips, his fingers clenching his skin.

  Aiden's body was finally ready. Darkan kissed his back as he entered Aiden. He gasped as Darkan filled hun completely.

  “Oh my gods,” he said.

  Darkan pumped in and out, his every muscle straining. “You feel so good, Aiden.”

  Aiden dug his fingernails into the grass from the sudden burst of pleasure. He wanted to live in that moment forever with Darkan.

  Darkan slid his slick cock deeper and deeper. Aiden moaned loudly and Darkan shushed him.

  “Don't want to wake the others,” he said.

  Aiden nodded and closed his eyes, focusing on every sensation. Darkan slapped Aiden's ass and Aiden had to bite his bottom lip to keep from screaming.

  The pleasure was building within Aiden. He'd never felt anything like it before. He didn't know what was happening to his body but the ecstasy finally reached its peak.

  Darkan sensed what was about to happen and shoved his fingers into Aiden's mouth as he detonated around him. Aiden's body bucked and quaked beneath him as he orgasmed.

  It was all too much for Darkan to handle. He pounded into Aiden as he released his seed, his orgasm so intense that he couldn't keep from screaming.

  For a moment, they were one.

  The fiery pleasure finally died down and Darkan collapsed next to Aiden. Both were sweaty, exhausted, and out of breath.

  Aiden stared at the stars with his chest heaving up and dow
n. He could feel Darkan's stickiness spilling out of him.

  “Is it always that good?” he asked.