Sūnder (Darksoul Book 1) Read online

  Valiant nodded as if he’d expected as much.

  “Gabe and I have spoken about what we’d like to do together. We are leaning toward helping the guardians and faeborn, but are not sure in what capacity. Gabe is set on re-educating Chándariāns on the faeborn and what it really means to be darksoul, and the guardians and faeborn have asked us to be their spokespersons—”

  “As they should,” Valiant interjected, sitting up straighter with a hint of pride.

  “But we have barely discussed the—”

  “Hear me out, son. You have access to resources that they won’t. You are familiar with the people, the land, and the political climate. They need someone to champion them, and from what little I know of Gabe, I have no doubt that he will be a strong advocate. They will also need a guide and protector. Who better than a prince and commander of Chándaria?”

  “L’fÿns will not stand by and allow me and a group of faeborn to enter the Jade Forest,” Sūnder argued. “I’m darksoul to them, and as far as they are concerned I should be killed.”

  “It is time for us to quash this vile superstition,” Válora said, moving to his side. “The Faeborn Accords denied you and the other faeborn access to the forests of E’drijān. That was a short-sighted mistake on our father’s part. He wanted to keep you safe, Sūnder, but agreeing to keep you away not only allowed Tālia and her people to perpetuate this darksoul nonsense, it gave their lies the opportunity to bleed over to Panthrÿns. Now that our hands have been untied, we need to take full advantage of the situation.”

  Sūnder listened intently to his parents as they laid out their thoughts and plans, reluctantly agreeing with them even though what they suggested would likely be dangerous. Gabe was going to be in the thick of it anyway; just being his mate made Gabe a target. And there was no easy way to go about changing the mindset of a whole race of people, not if you wanted it to be permanent.

  By the time Gabe and Ronan returned, Valiant and Válora had laid out several strategies he and Gabe could take, and discussed what they would able to provide in terms of assistance and support. However, Sūnder would talk to Gabe later to see what he wanted to do. What Sūnder did assent to now was retiring from the military and becoming an advisor to his father. How could he say no when it would mean he could spend more time with Valiant and be able to strengthen their familial relationship openly?

  Paulo and A’yrē arrived with enough knights to draw attention, mostly curiosity, from hospital staff. Gabe covered the incubator with a blanket Paulo had acquired and hovered protectively, if nervously. Sūnder watched him, his heart swelling every time Gabe met his gaze and gave him that sort-of-shocked but happy smile. He wasn’t sure what he felt over… what would he even call it? He didn’t give birth, nor did he “lay” eggs like a water bird. Wÿn had called it “giving life”, which seemed like too ordinary an explanation for such an extraordinary occurrence.

  The end result was that in about sixty days they would be fathers, of a sort. Sūnder’s heart quickened, and not with joy but alarm. How did one care for fey? What were their needs? There were twenty-four of them and only he and Gabe to tend them. Were they even ready for kits? What was he thinking? No, they were most definitely not ready to be parents! He was head over heels for Gabe, no denying that, but it didn’t mean that he—they—were at the right point of their relationship for such a responsibility.

  “Hey.” Gabe pressed into his side, those gorgeous deep, dark brown eyes gazing up at him filled with worry. He placed a hand over Sūnder’s thundering heart as if he knew how hard it was beating. “Talk to me.”

  Paulo and the guards stood in the corridor, awaiting word that the helliopod had landed on top of the hospital. Sūnder glanced at the covered incubator. “I’m not ready, Gabe, not to be a parent. What are we even doing?”

  Gabe smiled sadly, stepping away but not breaking contact completely. “I wondered when it would hit you. Do you want to step back and take some time? We’ve been through a lot in the last couple of weeks: darkhunters, hidden faeborn and guardians, your birth mother trying to kill you, not to mention I got you sort of pregnant. We haven’t had time to settle or become used to anything that’s happened.” Gabe’s chin was firm and his scent was a bitter mix of hurt and resignation. “Although I would still like to travel with you to Slorèx, if that’s okay?”

  Sūnder growled and drew Gabe hard against him, wrapping both arms around Gabe to keep him from squirming away before Sūnder had his say. “No, you misunderstand. You are the only thing I’m sure of. How could you believe I would cast you aside? I told you earlier that my family and I would never leave you, and I meant it. Every word.”

  “So much has happened—”

  “No. I need you, my Gabriel.” Sūnder swooped down and swallowed Gabe’s pained noise with a kiss, snarling in triumph when Gabe immediately opened for him. Breaking away from Gabe’s lips, Sūnder lifted Gabe until he wrapped his legs around Sūnder’s waist. “I think you need to be reminded of who you belong with.”

  “Yes.” Gabe moaned when Sūnder nibbled the delectable skin of Gabe’s neck.

  “Are you mine?” Sūnder whispered in Gabe’s ear. “Are you going to stay by my side, carry my scent, and have cubs with me years from now? Will you talk with me when things get crazy?” Please just stay with me.

  “I could never leave you. God, kiss me again.” Gabe’s fingers gripped Sūnder’s mane tightly as he gave Gabe what he wanted. He devoured Gabe’s lips and tongue, ate Gabe’s moans until…

  Behind him, he heard the distinctive snick of the door being closed. Bless Paulo for his sense of discretion. Sūnder carried Gabe over to the bed, not caring if the hospital staff had to clean up after them. Gabe needed to be shown how vitally necessary he was to Sūnder.

  “Mate.” Sūnder moaned against Gabe’s throat. “Tell me you need me now.”

  “Yes, Sūnder. Now,” Gabe panted, scrabbling at the waistband of his scrubs.

  Stepping away for a moment, Sūnder shrugged off his uniform jacket and unbuckled his pants. His hard cock bobbed out. From his pocket he pulled one of Gabe’s nifty packs of lube.

  When he glanced back up, Sūnder caught his breath. Gabe lay crossways on the mattress, pants next to him on the bed, legs bare and splayed, revealing to Sūnder the evidence of his need. Gabe’s shirt was rucked up to mid-torso.

  Gabe glimpsed the packet in Sūnder’s hand. “You were hoping to get lucky tonight at the Festival?”

  “I had planned on finding us a quiet space. I thought perhaps I would see if I could get you to call my name when they started announcing the couples.” Sūnder knew his plan was what humans would call “corny”, but he thought the notion quite romantic in a very hot and sexy way.

  Reaching up, Gabe grabbed a handful of Sūnder’s shirt and pulled him down. He opened and let Gabe maul his lips as he prepared Gabe to take him.

  “I’m ready now,” Gabe begged against Sūnder’s mouth.

  He didn’t second-guess Gabe’s reassurance, only slicked up his cock before pressing into Gabe in a long, slow slide. Spurred on by the noises Gabe made, Sūnder clutched Gabe to him, lost in Gabe’s gripping heat, the feel of Gabe’s arms around him, of fingernails biting into his back as Gabe demanded more. Sūnder didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.

  “Say my name,” Gabe’s demand was deep and guttural.

  “Gabriel,” Sūnder growled out. “My Gabriel. My mate. My love.”

  “Tonight, in the park… I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Never,” Sūnder promised. He snapped his hips and Gabe arched, moaning. Then, when Sūnder took him in hand, his breath hitched in that wonderful, intoxicating way. “Are you going to come for me?”

  Making an unintelligible noise, Gabe let out a low groan as he spent his seed, his ass clamping around Sūnder. Gritting his teeth, Sūnder fucked Gabe through his orgasm before finally letting go and filling Gabe, spreading his scent, claiming Gabe in the only way he knew how.

  “You w
ill always be mine. You never have to wonder,” Sūnder vowed as he crushed Gabe to him.

  “Okay,” Gabe said against his neck. Sūnder wanted to shout for joy. Gabe should never doubt his dedication or loyalty.

  Several minutes passed as they caught their breath. Once they had somewhat recovered, Gabe blushed and laughed as Sūnder cleaned him and set his clothes to rights.

  “I’m glad I’d already given my resignation. They would definitely fire me for screwing a patient in one of the rooms, regardless of the fact I’m not on duty. The nurse gossip will be horrible.”

  Sūnder frowned. “They have no say anymore. You’re my mate.”

  Gabe tenderly ran his thumb across Sūnder’s bottom lip. “No, they don’t.”

  Once they were presentable, Sūnder opened the door. Paulo stood there waiting, laughter in his eyes. “We are ready to move whenever you are.”

  “We’re ready.”

  The knights guarding both ends of the hallway converged upon them. Sūnder followed Gabe as he pushed the covered incubator down the hall, a hand on the small of Gabe’s back.

  The interlude hadn’t magically taken care of Sūnder’s worries about being a father—he and Gabe would need to discuss how the addition of the fey would change their lives—but the panic was gone. The frantic emotions no longer fragmented his thoughts. They would work through whatever came, together.

  28

  AKIRÁ PROWLED the Oberon, searching for Ronan, for the ease the male’s company gave him. The message he’d received from Tālia of Nellá had him itching all over. He’d thought that once she was taken into custody her antics would cease, but the female was still plotting. Catching a fresh scent trail, he followed it to the gym where Sūnder’s men often sparred. Inside, Ronan beat on an inert bag. He wore a pair of loose shorts and nothing else. The dark plane of his back called to Akirá, to touch, to explore with his tongue. Ronan’s hands and feet were taped, blurs of white as Ronan punched and kicked the bag with a fierceness that had Akirá hard and wanting.

  How many times had he thought about asking Ronan to be his mate? Ronan’s musk called to him like none before. The longer he was around Ronan, the more his attraction strengthened, until Ronan was the only one he could think about when he took himself in hand. The shape of Ronan’s lips, the curve of his ass, his quiet strength… Akirá could easily see Ronan adorning his furs, walking tall across the Broken Lands, riding one of Akirá’s ferocious yurts across the golden sands. Needing to be closer, Akirá prowled across the floor, stalking his prey.

  Spinning to face him, Ronan danced, as light on his feet as a mountain goat. “Do you want to go a round?” His dark eyes, lit with wicked delight, held a silent challenge Akirá couldn’t refuse.

  Akirá snarled in reply and lunged— to grab only air. Ronan stayed one step ahead of him no matter what he did. After too many fruitless maneuvers, Akirá calmed enough to study Ronan: how he moved, the graceful, deadly way his body flowed, whether he telegraphed his punches. After several rounds, Akirá acknowledged to himself that though Ronan was the size of a human, the male could match him, and if Akirá wasn’t on his toes, Ronan likely had the ability to best him.

  Giving no warning, Akirá jumped straight up into the air and pounced on Ronan’s back, carefully taking him down to the mat, covering Ronan’s body with his. Surprisingly, instead of fighting, Ronan went limp, yielding invitingly. Ronan’s heady scent drove him out of his mind. Akirá rubbed his chin in Ronan’s damp hair, scent-marking him possessively, and licked the back of Ronan’s neck.

  “Are you calm now?” Ronan asked, turning his head to look back at Akirá.

  “Yes, thank you.” In such a short time, Ronan had come to know him so well, able to read him with a single look. That Ronan was so attuned to him made Akirá hopeful. Did Ronan want there to be more between them? Akirá continued to lick down Ronan’s body, gathering the sweat on his tongue, savoring each swipe. “I need you, Ronan.”

  In an unexpected move, Ronan flipped Akirá, twisted, and straddled Akirá’s hips. Allowing his horns to take the weight of his head, Akirá lay pliant under Ronan. “You were angry when you came in, but right now all I can register is how much you want me. I’ll take care of you, and then you can tell me what has upset you.”

  His “yes” came out garbled when Ronan dropped to take one of Akirá’s nipples in his mouth. “Afterward,” Akirá promised.

  He gave himself over to Ronan’s exploration. Ronan’s attention was voracious, and Akirá ate it up. The door may have opened a couple of times, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. All he wanted was to touch and taste. He arched involuntarily when Ronan’s fingers encircled his girth, working his length. Needing to give as well as take, Akirá moved until he could lave Ronan’s cock and balls, teasing Ronan with his tongue, growling when Ronan bit his thigh. The thought of carrying Ronan’s mark thrilled the bestial side of him, so he asked for another and another, until they were spent and sore and panting in each other’s arms. Once again, his scent mixed with Ronan’s. Together, they smelled so right.

  “Come on,” Ronan’s prodding brought Akirá out of his daydream. “I think more than one person saw my bare ass.” Akirá held still as Ronan cleaned both of them with a soft cloth usually used to remove sweat from the machines. “Not that I would change a thing.”

  Pulling on the clothing he barely recalled shedding, Akirá told Ronan about the message he’d received. Even now, sated as he was, he found it difficult not to keep Ronan close. Not sure why he’d resisted in the first place, he gave into the impulse to draw Ronan into his arms. Ronan didn’t balk but curved into Akirá’s side as if he belonged in Akirá’s arms as he listened. What would he have to give up in order to have Ronan with him for all time? There were precious few things Akirá wouldn’t trade if Ronan would consider calling him mate.

  Ronan squeezed him, a thoughtful look in his eye. “We should let Gabe and Sūnder know about this. And someone needs to tell King Valiant.”

  The door swished open as they neared to reveal Sūnder and Gabe leaning against the wall across the hallway, knowing smirks on their faces.

  “What needs to be told to my father?” Sūnder sniffed the air as he pushed away from where he leaned. “I’m going to guess it is not that you believe the workout room is for all kinds of strenuous activities.”

  Ronan groaned and pressed his face in Akirá’s chest. Scenting the embarrassment Ronan unsuccessfully hid, Akirá possessively tightened his hold. For now, he needed to put thoughts of his personal life aside and do his job. Duty came first, always. This time, he hoped his obligations didn’t come between him and the one he was interested in.

  Pulling on the mantle of Holy Paladin, Akirá reluctantly said, “Tālia is expecting me to bring infected faeborn to the assembly tomorrow.”

  ~ : § : ~

  Sūnder didn’t like this plan. He wanted to be with Gabe. Instead, impatient for the assembly to begin, he sat at the table where A’yrē, Válora, and Valiant would also be seated during the meeting. He glanced at his mother, further agitated by the way her scent carried the acrid tang of vengeance—wrath—stronger than he’d ever smelled on her before. Frustratingly, he didn’t know the cause, nor did she confide in him when he inquired.

  He suspected her ire came from the fact that the House of Nellá had forced the issue of Tālia’s attendance at the assembly. As heir to the enclave, she was supposed to be permitted to attend gatherings of the province leaders until such time as she was convicted of a crime and stripped of her position. Tālia had been arrested, but as yet, charges hadn’t been brought against her, nor would there be a trial until they returned to Slorèx. So Tālia sat in the amphitheater with her father, Dömini Koi of Nellá, albeit chained and guarded.

  The assembly was being held where Earth’s nations gathered to discuss policy, at least that was how Sūnder understood it. A’yrē and Valiant were better versed on how the humans and their politics operated than he.

  A
relatively new building, the seats of the amphitheater were lined with long banks of desks that included outlets for attendees to plug in their devices. Sūnder and his family sat in the first row at one end. Tālia and her father were at the opposite end of the same row, within easy view. The other major L’fÿn houses—Chādee, Ölwuen, Fand and Būkkës—also filled the first row, with the minor houses—Lÿr, Ráthā, Kÿlyn, Kelë, and Branwuen—farther back, a few tiers up from the floor.

  Sūnder watched his father and brother mingle their way through the crowd, accompanied by the city mayor and the continents’ leaders. The amphitheater held a mixture of male and female dròw, the austere silverhands—who watched the crowds warily as if expecting an attack—Faelÿn clan heads and their attendants, and even some human observers in the uppermost tiers. The governing Faelÿn sāchem, along with their sirdārs, circulated with the Panthrÿn advisors and military heads.

  He caught sight of Döminá Lileäh of Branwuen. She was one of the few L’fÿn nobles who spent time at court. He’d heard surprisingly good things about her. The only one to hold animosity toward the unconventionally blunt döminá was Tālia of Nellá, which in his mind was also positive. The High Druid’s acolyte, Rènna, was speaking to Döminá Lileäh off to the side. Both were ignoring Tālia’s glares. If Tālia hadn’t been cuffed to her table, she likely would’ve put herself in the middle of the conversation and, knowing her, probably made it into an argument.

  The human representatives who’d agreed to host the assembly for High Druid Mèlindria also moved among the crowd. As a result of the most recent altercation at the park, Valiant had spent most of yesterday with the ambassadors and city mayor. With the fight occurring so late on the night of the Festival, there thankfully hadn’t been any human witnesses; nonetheless, Valiant had reported the incident as required by the treaty. Sūnder hadn’t had a chance to hear about the conference in detail, but his father had said the talks went well, helped along by the fact the ringleader was currently in Chándariān custody.