Heat suffused Yarif’s face. Too often on the road he’d imagined intimate scenes with Draylon to occupy his mind, giving himself something to think about besides impending doom.
Now that they were together, though, Yarif’s battered body wasn’t up to the task.
At the moment, anyway.
Draylon crossed the floor in a few long strides, sat in the chair next to the bed, and took Yarif’s hand, rubbing it against his bristly cheek. He kissed Yarif’s palm. “I was so worried I wouldn’t reach you in time.”
“But you did. You came for me.”
“Of course I came for you! I promised to protect you.”
Was a promise the only reason Draylon had come?
Draylon glowered, a more familiar expression than his relaxed mien. He leaned close and murmured, “You’re mine. No one gets to take you away from me.” He added almost as an afterthought, “Unless you want to leave.” The look in Draylon’s eyes might have been fear.
Never! Yarif remained silent, tears stinging his eyes and a lump lodged in his throat. After a few moments, he managed, “What happens now?”
“Now, we rest, regain our strength and negotiate our first treaty as king and king consort.”
“With King Niam?”
Draylon grinned. “None other.”
A man with copper curls and green eyes swept into the room, the very image of Aunt Nera, his handsome face beaming. “Ah, cousin. I see you survived my mother. Now we meet at last.”
Chapter Twenty-six
ThemanbeforeYarifwas his cousin and leader of a vast kingdom. Would he hate Yarif because Renvalle joined the empire and sided with the enemy?
The king’s warmth, however, appeared genuine, and Draylon had mentioned a treaty.
“Your Majesty,” Yarif said, trying to rise from his bed.
King Niam tutted, putting out a staying hand. “No, you must call me Niam or cousin in private. I believe the one time we met before, you referred to me as ‘Neem.’”
“I don’t remember that.”
“How could you? You were just a babe in arms. I’m very sorry we couldn’t be an active part of your life, but as it was, even while your mother lived, our visits were clandestine due to our tenuous relationship with the empire. Once she passed, your father forbade any contact.”
Sounded like Father. “I’m sorry as well. Would you mind telling me what I missed while I was sleeping? About yourself?”
Draylon headed for the door. Niam and Yarif said as one, “Stay.”
Draylon obeyed, sitting in a chair farther from the bed than the chair Niam claimed.
“Well, I grew up here in the mountains, my father was a good king, and I hope to live up to his legacy.”
“I don’t remember much about those times." Yarif would never admit to collecting any information he found on Niam as a form of cousin hero worship.
Niam nodded, his lips drawn into a thin line. “I was nineteen when my father died. I took the throne and married the daughter of a noble house. She gave me two sons. We ended the marriage, and she returned home to marry her lover.” Niam didn’t sound offended. In fact, he sounded pleased by this turn of events.
“What?” That news hadn’t reached Yarif’s ears.
Niam shrugged. “I needed heirs; her father wanted status. She and I became, and still are, friends. She visits the boys often.”
Boys? Niam had sons. Seemed Yarif needed to update his information on royal families. “Where are they? Can I see them?”
“Unfortunately, no. They couldn’t make this trip due to their studies, but I hope one day you can.”
