Ties of Magic (Curse of the Crown Book 2)

by Caitlin Taylor

"You didn't seem affected when I came in."

  "That's because I called for you before it escalated." Akoni stepped closer and placed his hands on Jeffrey's hips. "I might need to chain you to my side."

  "Hmm, that could be interesting. If there are chains involved, I'm in charge. How do you think your nobles will like seeing you on your hands and knees?"

  Akoni leaned in to nuzzle Jeffrey's neck, trying to hide his reaction. The idea was unthinkable, and yet a tingling fizzed in his spine at the thought. Jeffrey's arms wrapped around Akoni, holding him close while he nibbled Akoni's earlobe.

  Akoni moaned. "I don't understand this. I'm so much calmer around you. What are you doing to me?"

  "Hardly anything at all," Jeffrey whispered, licking Akoni's ear.

  "I'm never letting you go again, Jeffrey. You're mine now."

  Jeffrey hummed. "There's a lot we still need to talk about. About how this will work."

  "Hmm, but I also have rebels to deal with. We may need to take it one day at a time for now."

  "This is dangerous, I'd rather--"

  "Shh," Akoni interrupted. "We'll work it out, I promise. Right now, I just need you to hold me."

  Jeffrey huffed but tightened his hold on Akoni.

  ***

  Akoni marched into the training courtyard, his gaze sweeping the area searching for a head of tousled blond hair. He found him at the far end, a sword in his right hand, his left empty. Nimble feet danced across the ground as he swung his weapon with practised ease.

  "Jeffrey, with me," Akoni called, unable to keep the anger from his voice. He stalked past the training men and into the walled-off yard he used for his private training with the marshal. The door remained open as he paced, waiting. Fire burned inside him, searing his veins. It had only been a few hours since the council meeting. Preparing for a rebel attack took careful planning, so did evacuating an entire city. Too many things needed organising, and Akoni's magic strained within him, making every task a challenge.

  The din of fighting carried into the room, faint voices chopped apart by the clanging of weapons. It seemed to take forever for Jeffrey to enter, his expression utterly blank.

  "Close the door," Akoni said.

  Jeffrey did as told, then leaned his back against it, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

  "I summoned you well over an hour ago! Why didn't you come?"

  A muscle twitched in Jeffrey's temple. "I was busy."

  Akoni stalked closer and glared at Jeffrey. "I am your king. When I give you an order, you will obey it."

  Jeffrey's lips curled into a disgusted sneer. "Is that so? Yesterday wasn't enough, was it? Maybe you should have me summoned to your bedroom instead."

  Akoni raised his hand to strike Jeffrey across the face, only for his wrist to be caught in a vice-like grip.

  "I told you I'd not be your lapdog. Do not presume to summon me at will. And by the goddess, get a hold of yourself," Jeffrey snapped and dropped Akoni's hand.

  The fire flared in Akoni. Without a conscious thought, he grabbed the front of Jeffrey's tunic and shoved hard, the action mute since Jeffrey already leaned against the door.

  "Little princeling," Jeffrey sneered. "If you do not control yourself, I will bend you over my knee right here and spank you."

  "Be quiet! I told you I wouldn't let you do that."

  "And I told you I would not be your plaything, relevant only when you had need of me."

  Akoni clenched his fists in Jeffrey's tunic as he sucked in a sharp breath. He let it out slowly and stepped closer, hiding his face in the crook of Jeffrey's neck, whispering, "Do you think I enjoy asking for help?"

  Jeffrey stayed silent, his breath caressing Akoni's neck.

  The fire inside Akoni quietened. "I need you, Jeffrey."

  "I'm coming to see that. Tell me what happened."

  "Nothing unusual. I just...need you near me," Akoni finished on a whisper, the admission hard to make.

  "Like this?" Jeffrey asked, wrapping his arms around Akoni's waist, pulling him closer.

  Akoni nodded.

  "We need to talk about this. What I am to you, what you expect, how this will work. I won't sit around waiting to be summoned by you."

  "I don't want that." Akoni turned his head to look at Jeffrey.

  "Then what do you want?"

  "I want you close to me. As often as possible. At least until we understand my magic better."

  "And how do you expect to achieve that?"

  "You could be my guard again. Officially you left the palace on assignment. Now you've returned, you'd be expected to take that role again anyway."

  "Your guard and your secret lover."

  "Well, I guess that part is up to you. You don't seem to want people to know, yet you don't want secrecy either. I'm not sure what else is left."

  "This isn't exactly an easy situation to be in. I don't know what to make of it. But I'll be your guard. Don't summon me like you do your servants, though."

  "There'll be no need if you're beside me as my guard." Akoni rested his head on Jeffrey's shoulder, breathing in deeply. With Jeffrey's arms around him, the tension in his body weakened, and he relaxed again.

  "Many will not like seeing us together, you do know that, right?"

  "I am king. They'll grouch but they can't do anything about it."

  "Ascending king," Jeffrey noted. "How is he?"

  Akoni flinched at the mention of his father and hesitated. "I've not seen him since that day in the temple."

  "Really?"

  Akoni shrugged and pressed his face into the crook between Jeffrey's neck and shoulder. He laid his hands flat against Jeffrey's chest. "You smell good."

  "Like sweat and sawdust?" Jeffrey laughed.

  "Like spice and freedom."

  For a time they stayed silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Jeffrey broke the silence. "Can you explain how this helps? Because I still don't understand."

  "Your presence makes my magic go quiet. It roars, it burns, it rages. But not when I'm near you. I don't think I understand it either. It just is."

  "Did the same happen to your father?"

  "He never told me anything about our magic. What I know, I learned on my own."

  "Maybe you should talk to him. Maybe he'd be more likely to tell you now."

  "Will you spar with me?" Akoni asked to change the topic. He never wanted to see his father again.

  Jeffrey shrugged. "If you want. I won't be holding back or losing on purpose today, though."

  Akoni grinned and took a step away. "I wouldn't want you to."

  While Jeffrey went to get weapons, Akoni opened the door seeking the marshal, who stood nearby, turning when he heard the door opening. Akoni beckoned him inside.

  "He wasn't going to come, was he? You made him."

  "Yes, Your Majesty."

  Akoni nodded. "I want to train with him."

  "Is that wise?"

  "We will see." Akoni joined Jeffrey in the middle of the courtyard and took a stave from him.

  The marshal stepped between them, facing Jeffrey. "Practise only. You will not strike to harm."

  Jeffrey smirked. "I'll strike only as hard as he does."

  "There are worse punishments than a flogging--"

  "Paul. That's enough."

  The marshal inclined his head and stepped aside, motioning for them to begin.

  Jeffrey didn't wait. Lunging forward, he struck, and Akoni raised his stave in time to parry. At the same time as Jeffrey lifted the far end of his stave to strike, Akoni kicked him in the shin, hard enough so he stumbled back. Using the opening, Akoni pressed forward, striking the end of his stave against Jeffrey's shoulder only to be rebuked at the last moment.

  Adrenaline flooded Akoni's body as they circled each other, striking and countering in equal measure. It had been months since he'd been able to fight like this. Most recently he had spent more time on the ground than anything else. Being able to hold his own again was exhila
rating.

  They continued for what felt like forever, listening to the marshal's correction with half an ear, the rest focused entirely on each other.

  At length, the marshal called them to a stop, both men breathing hard. He took Jeffrey's stave and sent him back. Without warning, he charged Akoni with the weapon raised.

  Akoni countered without hesitation. Their exchange was as hard and fast as that with Jeffrey, neither men giving any ground.

  But the marshal didn't engage long. Only a few minutes later, he stepped back, lowering the weapon.

  Akoni grinned at him. "It's not the weapon."

  "I didn't think so," the marshal replied, eying Jeffrey.

  Akoni drank in the sight of Jeffrey leaning against the wall, one leg propped up, his arms crossed. He only had a soldier's tunic on, his tanned arms and legs bare, showing off strong muscle. Akoni licked his dry lips, desire stirring within him.

  The marshal regarded Akoni with an appraising look in his eyes. "Whatever you're doing, or he's doing, keep doing it."

  Akoni laughed. "I hope he will."

  "May I recommend a daily training session, Your Majesty?"

  Akoni didn't need to think about it. He needed the practise, and it would help him release whatever anger built up. "Yes, I'd like that." He turned to look at Jeffrey, who shrugged.

  "Of course. Whatever His Majesty needs," Jeffrey said with exaggerated formality.

  "On that note," Akoni said and turned to the marshal, "I need you to make him my captain and get him a uniform."

  "Is this a temporary measure, or will I organise for a fitted armour?"

  "Fitted," Akoni said, gaze drawn back to Jeffrey.

  "You're saying that only because you like how I look in it," Jeffrey commented with a roll of his eyes.

  "Definitely fitted," Akoni repeated, grinning.

  ***

  After a long day of planning what to do about the rebels, Akoni returned to his quarters late, Jeffrey in tow. They stopped in the hallway while his guards did a sweep of his apartments. They'd done it for his father, they did it for the queen, and they had insisted on doing it for him. The marshal had been adamant, too.

  When he'd been old enough to realise that he had less guards and that they didn't do the same for him as they did for his father, he'd started doing the checks himself. For weeks, he'd search his chambers until it became too tedious. He carried his sword always and stayed cautious. On bad days he'd sometimes asked his one guard to do a search or to come inside with him. Even that had grown tedious.

  Though, when Jeffrey was his guard, having him close had made Akoni feel better. Not only because of his magic. There was a deeper psychological aspect to it, something that allowed him to relax more.

  To have guards properly inspecting his rooms now was still a strange thing. They didn't take long, a minute or two, no more. They came back out, and Faruk saluted, declaring an all clear. Jeffrey and Akoni entered.

  "I didn't know your guards did sweeps. Your idea?" Jeffrey asked.

  "Paul's." Akoni shrugged and went to let himself fall into the sofa. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. It had been a long day.

  "I didn't see Kieron among your guards. Does he not do night shifts anymore?"

  "I sent him east."

  "You did what?"

  Akoni opened his eyes at Jeffrey's tone, frowning at him. "I sent him on a mission to an eastern fort."

  Jeffrey glared at him. "Are you so jealous of him you sent him back to fighting Livs?"

  "Jeffrey--"

  "Anything to get him out of your way, is that it?"

  Akoni groaned as he rubbed his temples. He was too tired for this.

  "He served you loyally, and this is how you thank him--"

  "I sent him home."

  Jeffrey fell silent, scowling. "Which is it, east or home?"

  "Will you sit and let me explain without ripping my head off?"

  Jeffrey huffed but sat on the opposite couch.

  "One of my nobles was branded a traitor and exiled. I asked Kieron to escort him east as there was no one else I could trust enough to be sure they'd get there without chance of escape. Once he arrived, he was free to go home. They were headed to a fort far north; it'd be close enough to his home. He brought other Clansmen with him. I released them all from service as reward for that mission."

  Jeffrey stayed quiet for a time, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  Akoni leaned his head back again, once more closing his eyes.

  "You've had a long day. You should go to sleep."

  "Will you stay with me?" Akoni turned his head sideways, cracking one eye open to peer at Jeffrey, his stomach knotting with expectation.

  "Is that a good idea?"

  "Better than me setting the palace aflame again. I don't..." Don't want to be alone.

  Jeffrey got up and held a hand out to Akoni, who took it and let himself be pulled to his feet. "Thank you. For Kieron. And..." Jeffrey shrugged. "I'm sorry. I'm a little on edge around you, I guess."

  Akoni gave him a weak smile and nod.

  "Did you hear from him? Did he make it there okay?"

  "He was one of the best crownsguards in years, of course he made it there. They stayed a few days before heading into the mountains. He's been home for days if not weeks by now."

  Several emotions played out on Jeffrey's features.

  "I'm sorry you didn't get to say goodbye."

  Jeffrey cocked his head. "So am I. And yet, he's home. He's wanted that for a long time. I'm happy for him."

  "There's so much I want to change. So many challenges and obstacles. As king it was supposed to be possible to make a difference, and yet..."

  "You are making a difference. It's only been a couple of months. You haven't even completed your ascension yet."

  "People are suffering every day."

  "You can't fix everything at once. Especially not dead on your feet. Come on." Jeffrey tugged Akoni into the bedroom and began to take off his clothes.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Well, since there's no servant...someone needs to help you, no?"

  Akoni slapped Jeffrey's hand away and took a step back. "I'm perfectly capable of undressing myself."

  "Good. Go on then." Jeffrey laughed and leaned against the wall, arms crossed, gaze fixed on Akoni.

  Akoni rolled his eyes at him. "How about you do the same?"

  Grinning, Jeffrey did as bid. Within moments he was undressed, staring at Akoni again. "Looks like you need help after all."

  "Curse you," Akoni said, lips twitching, and took off his clothes.

  He slipped under the sheets, and Jeffrey followed, turning them on their sides and wrapping his arms around Akoni.

  "Dream of water tonight, would you? I'd rather not be burned to a crisp." Jeffrey's body shook with laughter.

  Akoni slapped his arm. "Go to sleep, Jeffrey."

  Jeffrey's arms tightened a fraction around Akoni, and he closed his eyes. Nothing had ever felt so right.

  Chapter 13

  A pre-battle, nervous excitement laced the air. It thrummed with every breath. The movement of hundreds of shuffling feet and shifting men formed a strange silence. Sitting atop his destrier, Akoni surveyed his troops.

  They'd completed what preparations were possible. All the nobles had retreated to their homes away from the city, and many of the lower classes had also gone. Akoni had successfully fooled his council into believing he was leaving once everybody else was out. There was no one left who could have interfered with his plans, yet they'd been cautious. A large part of the city guard had been posted to defend the temple, and most of the populace, who had not evacuated, were hiding within its strong walls. What men he could, he'd taken and marched towards the rebels. While Ignacio had tried to convince him to remain at the palace and observe the fighting from within its safety, Akoni had insisted on leading the men himself.

  Before they'd ridden out, the high priestess had led them in prayer. She'd a
sked Gaia to bestow her favour on the soldiers and begged her forgiveness for waging war on their own. Gaia did not approve of fighting, preferring diplomacy and peaceful resolutions, which had kept Sycania at peace for hundreds of years. But the rebels worshipped a different god, who seemed to have no qualms about bloodshed. Thankfully, Gaia was merciful, and their actions, done in the service and protection of her people, would not offend her.

  Once outside the city, they had lined up. Jeffrey and Paul were on either side of him, his personal guards, also on horseback, behind him. There was a small cavalry unit, the palaceguards, crownsguards, some city guards, and a considerable number of city folk had come armed with whatever they could find, wanting to do their part in defending their city. It was a ragged group, far from the organised troops Akoni had commanded years earlier in the east. But it would do, because it had to. No one else would come. The reinforcements they'd hoped for were days away and could never reach them in time.

  The rebels weren't known for organised fighting. That they were marching as one in itself was astonishing and new. Akoni had to expect them to be well trained, even if the likelihood was small. Their meagre force had become visible at the horizon not long ago. They continued marching, and Akoni's men continued waiting.

  The tension had become palpable and the horses neighing more frequent, their hooves stomping the ground restlessly.

  Those men trained in archery and equipped with bows formed the first lines. When the rebels finally came into range, Akoni gave the signal. The men nocked their arrows. Hold. Another signal, and they drew. The hissing of dozens of released bow strings and arrows cut the air. The projectiles flew. Some landed short, some found their targets. Many more got stuck in raised shields.

  A second round of volleys, and more men fell. A third round, fired in too much rush.

  The rebels were close enough now. The archers stepped aside, and Akoni's vanguard marched. Their march became a jog and then a run. Both sides charging, both roaring. Thunder split the air when the two forces met and shields clashed together, the cacophony of metal scraping metal and of screaming men--fighting, bleeding, dying men.

  Akoni sat perfectly still, his horse patient and calm beneath him. Jeffrey beside him was restless, twitching and eager.