Chapter One

Ericio the Young, fourth ruler of the Kingdom of Veltia, worked hard not to roll his eyes, not to slump in his throne or fidget. It wasn’t easy, as the throne was made of wood. Oh, it was beautiful, carved from a huge, ancient tree that had been felled to build the castle it had been worked upon by the kingdoms best artisans. But beautiful as it was, it had not been constructed for comfort. There wasn’t even a single cushion upon it to soften the seat for his ass.

Once a month he would listen to petitions. Once a month he'd endure hour after hour of begging and whining and pleas. Not that he enjoyed the days where he met with the lords and generals and leaders of the clans either, but this was where he was stuck today.

It was nearly done though, the last peasant of the day begging for lenience, for mercy. As soon as he granted it, he could retire.

With his bodyguard.

He could feel Kane behind his throne, a silent, every-present and deadly shadow.

The rag-tag peasant before him was clothed in voluminous rags, eyes flashing, groveling and bowing, kowtowing and asking for favor. Ericio raised his hand at last, convinced the man would go on and on until he expired, unless stopped.

"Enough." He wasn’t a selfish man, had no desire to see people suffer. He nodded toward the scribe and treasurer who sat at a table; the man’s chair was small, but he couldn’t help but notice the dark velvet cushion beneath Geof’s ass. "Give him what he needs, and have him send his daughter to the kitchens to work off the debt."

"Aye, sire. As you wish." Geof nodded, forelock bobbing, eyes kept carefully lowered. He didn't bothering to answer, just stood and stretched, turning to leave.

A scuffle sounded from behind a tapestry, something larger than a mouse, and one of the ladies in waiting screamed. Kane moved like a ghost, a long, thin blade flying across the air to pierce something behind.

Ericio froze, vibrating in place. Someone had tried to kill him. That knowledge surged through him like lightning from the sky. They trained for this, he knew what to do and was ready to leap away or to fight, waiting only for Kane's signal.

Kane whistled once, low and sharp, and one of the guards appeared at Kane's elbow. "If it lives, I'll interrogate it shortly."

Ericio practically purred, Kane's competence, nay the man's sheer power and ability aroused him like very little else did. The danger hadn’t hurt his libido any either.

"Yes, sir. I'll have it waiting for you, sir." The guard saluted and Ericio found himself muscled into a hallway and then into a secret corridor.

It made him harder, the way Kane pushed him down the dark, hidden hall, one hand hard around his arm. They were safe now, and even if they were not, Kane had his back. "I owe you my life. Again."

"Is it my duty, sire." In this, Kane was immobile. Duty above all, in all things.

"So strong." He stopped them, hands sliding up Kane's arms in the darkness, moving to trace the sharp features he knew as well as his own, perhaps even better. "So loyal. You will have your reward now, Kane."

"I must see to your safety, the attacker, sire."

"Your guards have the attacker, Kane. And seeing to my needs is seeing to my safety." He rubbed himself against Kane, his prick so hard, his need for this man a constant that danger only increased, made more urgent.

"Sire." He could hear the lecture that Kane would give the guard, punctuated by lashes. "The king is to be protected at all times."

"Are you not here to protect me?" he asked. No one could touch him while Kane was with him he had no doubts -- the man would not allow it.

"With my very life." The words were a vow, deep, serious.

He pressed their lips together, the words spurring his need. He knew that the only thing that would assuage the ache deep inside him was to lay Kane out and whip him, but he also knew his bodyguard would not allow himself to be distracted that far with the assassin still to be dealt with. It would have to wait.

Ericio would take what he could get to tide him over. He found Kane's hand in the darkness and brought it to his prick. "I have need, Kane."

Continued in First Section