Love and the Stubborn

by Xenia Melzer

  Love and the Stubborn

  By Xenia Melzer

  Gods of War: Book II

  All is fair in love and war. By now, Renaldo has found out the hard way how utterly stupid this statement is once you’ve met your match. And Casto won’t give an inch in their ongoing war for love.

  After a tumultuous start to their relationship, Renaldo and Casto seem to have finally reached calmer waters. But just when Renaldo starts getting comfortable and thinks he can relax, things get out of hand again. His old enemy, the Good Mother, is dangerously close to defeating the divine brothers by reaching out to what is most dear to him. Casto still clinging to his stubborn pride is all the plotters need to drive him and Renaldo apart. Burdened by the secrets of his past, Casto fights with everything he’s got not only to save his life, but also to secure his future happiness. Facing the destruction of everything they have built together, Renaldo and Casto must choose between pride and love.

  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Map of the Continent

  Map of the Wolf Mountains

  Ki’t

  1. Thunderstorm

  2. Orgy

  3. Wolfstan

  4. The Charms of Winter

  5. Retaliation

  6. Battle

  7. New Beginnings

  Treason

  1. Noran

  2. Noemi

  3. Love’s Death

  4. The Mines

  Awareness

  1. The Veil of Tears

  2. Homecoming

  3. Truth

  4. Divine Wrath

  Heyday

  1. Mercy

  2. Proposal

  3. Reconciliation

  4. Trapped

  5. Presents

  Exclusive Excerpt

  More from Xenia Melzer

  About the Author

  By Xenia Melzer

  Visit DSP Publications

  Copyright

  To my parents. For everything.

  Map of the Continent

  Map of the Wolf Mountains

  Ki’t

  1. Thunderstorm

  DAMON WAS alert when he entered the shady shed. Elwan and Sindal, the two former overseers, who’d hated Casto ever since their degradation, approached him slowly. The priest couldn’t suppress a satisfied smile. Those men’s hatred wrapped around his shoulders like a warm cloak.

  “Damon, what do you want?” Elwan was terse. It was late, and they still had some work to do.

  “I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not interested in anybody besides yourself. You’re here because you need something, so spill.”

  “Elwan, I can’t say I’ve missed your bluntness. But if you must know, I need your help. You do know Casto, don’t you?”

  Sindal spat out, “As if you don’t know. What do you have to do with him?”

  “Well, I guess you could say I’d like to teach him a lesson.”

  “Forget it. We’ve already tried, and look where it got us.”

  Elwan sounded gruff, so Damon treated him to a bright smile, which didn’t fail to annoy the slave. “That, my friend, is because you two are as dumb as the day is long. I, on the other hand, have a perfect plan.”

  A dangerous glint sprang to life in the men’s eyes. It hadn’t been a wise move on Damon’s part to disgrace them, but he hadn’t been able to withstand temptation. Now he could feel their hatred bubbling up, swallowing their every sensible thought. It was exactly how Damon preferred his minions—easy to manipulate because they were oblivious to everything else around them.

  “And what kind of plan do you have in mind?” Elwan sounded sly, on edge.

  “It’s easy,” Damon said soothingly. “I want you to see to it that Casto gets delayed tomorrow noon.”

  “No chance. He’s always punctual for training.” Elwan had immediately understood what Damon was aiming for, a fact that didn’t escape the priest. As much as the former overseer was consumed by hatred, he wasn’t stupid.

  “It has to be something pressing. Something he can’t ignore. He’s still riding that brown mare, Nirena, isn’t he?”

  “The loopy one? Yes. Although not even the Holy Mothers understand why.”

  Damon acknowledged the answer with an innocent smile. Finally his constant surveillance of the blond pest would pay off. “What would happen should she escape from her stall? Of course, it would be an unfortunate accident, but once she’s outside….”

  “Casto will try to get her personally.” Elwan grinned broadly. “That we can arrange.”

  “So I can count on you?”

  Sindal and Elwan shared a long glance. From their own painful experience, they knew what kind of risk they were about to take. Because one thing was for sure, should the Angel of Death ever find out about this, they would be denied a quick, merciful death. But the hatred burning in their chests enticed them to give in to Damon’s plan.

  They hesitated for one more moment, and then they nodded. “Yes.”

  Damon bowed to the two slaves in mockery. He hadn’t thought they would deny him, but he was still surprised how easy it had been to win them over. “It’s a pleasure to do business with you.”

  CASTO WAS about to go to his daily training with Renaldo when he became aware of the racket in the stables. He turned around just in time to see Lord Wolfstan’s brown mare racing at breakneck speed toward the fields with her eyes rolled back so that only the whites could be seen. It had started to thaw during the last few days, so the ground was frozen over and extremely slippery. At the pace Nirena was setting, she could break her legs in no time. Experience had taught Casto that she was too crazy to slow down on her own. Once she started sliding, it would be too late, and Lord Wolfstan would lose his most valuable horse.

  Casto gave a shrill whistle and Lys appeared at his side. They followed Nirena and finally, after more than half an hour had passed, managed to corner her by one of the paddocks. It took even more time until she calmed down enough so that Casto could take her back to the stables.

  This time he closed the door himself before hurrying to the training hall. He knew he was awfully late. Renaldo didn’t like waiting, and Casto half expected the demigod to be gone when he reached the training hall. Given how cranky Renaldo had been that morning, Casto secretly hoped he wouldn’t be there.

  Unfortunately, Renaldo was waiting for him, and he didn’t look happy. With his right hand, he gripped the handle of the training sword so hard his knuckles turned white. “Where have you been?”

  For once Casto realized that it would be wise to apologize. At this point, it didn’t pay to ponder why Renaldo was so angry. Casto could either try to soothe the man or risk yet another argument. As much as he enjoyed fighting with Renaldo, he just didn’t have the energy. So he bowed to the enraged Angel of Death. “Please forgive me, my lord. There was a problem at the stables, and I couldn’t leave.”

  “A problem at the stables? How interesting. Straighten yourself!”

  Casto obeyed immediately. The Barbarian’s tone was icy, his countenance had become unreadable, but Casto felt instinctively that Renaldo was angrier than he’d ever seen him before. He felt his own anger rise in response and almost challenged Renaldo before he reminded himself that he didn’t want that. At least not today.

  Renaldo tossed him a sword with more emphasis than was strictly necessary, and while Casto was busy getting into position, he charged.

  If Casto had ever had the illusion of being able to meet Renaldo on equal grounds in a fight, it was shattered. The Angel of Death was playing with him like a predator with its half-dead prey.

  Renaldo drove Casto through the hall,
time and again dealing him humiliating and painful blows while accentuating each one with an angry reprimand.

  “You have to be punctual for training!”

  “Nothing is more important than your training!”

  “How dare you let me wait?”

  On and on it went, the blows as well as the scolding coming in accelerating succession. After an especially nasty blow to his knee, Casto snapped. He managed to parry the next strike out of sheer anger. His voice cracked in fury. If the Barbarian wanted a fight that badly, he could have it. “I said I was sorry! I apologized! But I had no choice!”

  “Of course you had a choice, but as always, you preferred to deny me.”

  “That’s not true!” Casto wanted to say something more, but at that moment, Renaldo disarmed him with a flick of his blade. Renaldo pushed him against the wall, stabbed him painfully in the ribs with the tip of his sword, and looked at him coldly.

  “Today was your last training session. I want you to get out of my sight, you ungrateful, arrogant little prick. Get lost, now!”

  Casto couldn’t believe the Barbarian was sending him away. He snapped back with all the ferocity of a rabid dog. “As you wish, Barbarian! I really hate you!”

  Trembling with rage, Renaldo watched the retreating shape of his slave. Suddenly a crackling noise caught his attention. The heavy wooden sword in his hand was burning to ashes with a blazing flame. Cursing in the tongue of the Ancients, he tossed the blistering remains to the ground, his gaze fixed on the inferno he’d just caused with his fury. There was no doubt; since he’d met Casto, his powers were getting out of control. The last time he’d unconsciously flamed something when he got angry had been shortly after Ana-Isara had taken his and his brother’s hearts. But his slave threw him so off-balance that he was no longer able to contain the powers inside him.

  Once again he pondered if it weren’t better to get rid of Casto—or at least to discipline him in a way that would teach him his place.

  Renaldo sighed. A beating wouldn’t tame the capricious blond, rather the opposite. And selling him was simply out of the question. The mere idea of somebody else’s hands on his slave’s flawless skin made him even more furious than Casto’s behavior had. He would have to find another solution for this dilemma.

  CASTO HAD barely left the training hall when he started to realize what a grave mistake he’d made this time. His anger faltered, paving the way for a despair so dark it threatened to consume him completely.

  Crestfallen, he went to Lys, who greeted him reproachfully.

  “I know, brother. Please, let’s ride. I’m afraid it’ll be the last for quite a long time.” Even to his own ears, Casto sounded beaten.

  During their ride through the Valley, Casto couldn’t stop blaming himself.

  How could he have been so stupid? The powerful Angel of Death, the most feared warrior on the continent, had agreed to train him. It was an honor only a select few had ever enjoyed and certainly wasn’t normally bestowed on a mere slave. In his arrogance he had taken this generous gift for granted—and even worse, trampled it underfoot. There was no denying it; he owed the Barbarian a sincere apology.

  Given how furious Renaldo had been, Casto wasn’t sure whether it would be enough. He didn’t want to think about what would happen to him should Renaldo decide to sell him. It was difficult enough for him to obey Renaldo; he wasn’t able to imagine doing the same for another master.

  Glumly he returned to the stables with Lys, said his good-bye to his friend, and lurked back to his master’s chambers. Renaldo wasn’t there, which gave him the chance to prepare for his apology. His deed had been so ignominious he wouldn’t be able to get around a beating. Sighing deeply, Casto sat down on one of the lounges and waited for the return of the Barbarian.

  When Renaldo entered his chambers, Casto got up from a lounge and knelt with his head bowed demurely. But Renaldo was still furious and not in the mood for games. “I told you to get out of my sight! What do you want?”

  “Begging your forgiveness, Master. My behavior was inappropriate and lacked respect. I’m truly sorry.”

  “And you think that fixes it?” Renaldo’s voice was pure acid. Deep inside he could feel his flame blazing again, and the urge to hurt Casto was almost impossible to suppress.

  “No, of course not. You’ve been so generous as to make me your pupil, a grace I took for granted. That alone was wrong, as well as my delayed appearance and my reaction to the punishment you meted out. I’m fully aware that my insolence can only be expiated with blood.”

  Upon those words, Casto held up the leather whip with which Renaldo had punished him after his escape from the Valley.

  Renaldo was rendered speechless. He’d never seen Casto so humble, a sure sign of how serious he was about his apology. Against his will, Renaldo felt himself forgiving the young man. Casto’s behavior had been so unacceptable that he had to atone. With his mind now clear again, Renaldo took the whip from Casto’s hand.

  He threw it into a corner. “We both know that a whipping will only enhance your defiance. I’m really disappointed, Casto. I’d thought a highly civilized person like you would know better how to behave.”

  Casto lowered his head even more but didn’t say anything.

  Renaldo went on. “I want you to go to your room. At the moment I’m too angry to make a decision. I’ll tell you tomorrow what I’m going to do with you.”

  In the oppressive silence following those words, Casto got up. His shoulders were slumped, and he was far from his usual, overbearing self. All the proud defiance Renaldo loved so much about him was gone. It took all of Renaldo’s willpower not to hug and comfort his slave.

  CASTO STOOD in front of the bed he hadn’t slept in since he’d spent his first night with the Barbarian. He felt empty and exhausted.

  Renaldo’s disappointment had been like a knife in his chest that a cruel torturer slowly twisted. He was able to deal with Renaldo’s anger in an offhand manner since he wasn’t afraid of him like everybody else, but the mere idea that Renaldo could think ill of him made his stomach turn.

  Casto hated himself for making Renaldo’s opinion of him so important, but there was also no denying that he’d gone too far this time. No matter what else the Barbarian might be to him, as his mentor, Casto owed him respect and obedience.

  Frustrated, he slumped on his bed. Even in Ummana, where every one of his teachers had been a monster, Casto had always shown perfect manners no matter what he thought about the people entrusted with his education. Renaldo, of all people, who’d been the first to teach him without trying to break him at the same time, had become the target for his ingratitude. Casto couldn’t escape the insight that it was only just if Renaldo should decide to sell him. What use did Renaldo have for a slave like him anyways?

  IN THE middle of the night, Renaldo startled in his sleep when Casto screamed.

  He sighed, remembering those first months when Casto had woken covered in sweat every night. Since Casto started sharing Renaldo’s bed, the nightmares had stopped, and even when he got restless sometimes, all it took to make him sleep peacefully was for Renaldo to caress him soothingly.

  Renaldo had hoped the evil dreams were banished, but now it seemed that only his presence had kept them at bay. He wondered what horrors Casto had endured that they should follow him so far as the Valley.

  The scream came again, high-pitched and wailing. Then Casto started talking in a tongue completely alien to Renaldo’s ears. He knew it wasn’t the language spoken in the area where they’d found Casto, but he was unable to connect the quick, melodic stream of syllables to anyplace on the continent. It sounded a little like Ummanian, but he wasn’t sure. Renaldo had never bothered to learn the language of the merchants. Ummana was too far away from the Valley to justify the trouble, and those who came the long way into the mountains were usually fluent in four or five different tongues.

  Without making a sound, Renaldo got up and went to Casto’s chamber. The youn
g man was kneeling on the furs, whimpering like a lost child. His azure eyes were wide open but apparently blind. He was fast asleep.

  Renaldo approached him slowly so as not to startle him. When he reached Casto, he hugged him gently, pressed him back into the covers, and tried to lull him with soft words. “It’s all right, my own. Shh. Everything’s fine. It’s just a bad dream. Relax, I’m here.”

  A last, desperate whimper, then Casto snuggled against his master with a sigh and slept on peacefully. Once Renaldo was sure the nightmare was banished, he returned reluctantly to his own room. Whatever it was that afflicted Casto so much had to be the reason for his stubborn behavior, his arrogance, and the way he always pushed his master away. But as long as Casto didn’t confide in him, Renaldo wasn’t able to help. The secrets surrounding Casto stirred Renaldo’s interest more and more, but Casto had to tell him of his own free will. Should Renaldo try to force him, things would most definitely end in tears and misery.

  THE NEXT morning, Casto waited nervously for his master to call him. He’d had a bad night. In his dreams he’d been back in Ummana, a helpless victim of his father’s schemes. Just when his sire had started to humiliate him deeply again, the Barbarian had showed up and saved Casto in the same way he’d done during Casto’s escape from the Valley last year. Casto still was less than happy that Renaldo could follow him into his dreams, but last night he had been glad. He didn’t know what he would have done without Renaldo’s help.

  As if he’d sensed that his slave had been thinking about him, Renaldo appeared and beckoned him to the main room. “Casto! Come here!”

  The young man hurried to his master, his gaze demurely on the ground. For once, Casto knew it was better to yield. He knelt down, waiting for Renaldo’s verdict and already mentally prepared for his master to sell him.