Read Online Starlight(Pact Arcanum 4) by Arshad Ahsanuddin - Free Book Online
Authors: Arshad Ahsanuddin
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not even the humans buy that argument anymore. And besides, we’re only making official what has been fact for years, now.”
“And yet you expect us to sanction this union!”
Rory reached out and took Nick’s hand. The Daywalker met his gaze and smiled. Rory turned to face Javier’s livid face. “We don’t expect anything. Honestly, we don’t care if you approve or not. But there are protocols to observe in an alliance between Houses at our rank, so we are doing you the honor of bearing witness. No more, and no less.”
“But—”
“Enough,” said Lorcan, with a hard edge to his voice. “Further debate serves no purpose, and we have indulged your prejudices beyond the realm of courtesy. Return to your seat, Prince Javier.”
Javier turned away from the Challenger’s lectern and stormed out of the Council Chamber. Several of the other assembled Magisters followed after him.
Lorcan stepped forward into the center of the combat circle. Nick and Rory joined him.
Lorcan faced Rory. “Sean Magister Jiao-long, will you guard my heart until the sunrise claims me?”
“I accept your heart, to defend against all enemies, until the sunrise claims me.” Rory turned to Nick. “Nicholas Magister Luscian, will you guard my heart until the sunrise claims me?”
“I accept your heart, to defend against all enemies, until the sunrise claims me.” Finally, Nick turned to Lorcan. “Ruarc Magister Diluthical, will you guard my heart until the sunrise claims me?”
“I accept your heart, to defend against all enemies, until the sunrise claims me.” Lorcan wrapped Nick and Rory in his arms. “I will never let you go. Either of you.”
The three of them stood there, arm in arm, lost in each other, completely oblivious to the sound raining down on them from the stands above.
Applause.
P ART II : O BJECTS IN M OTION
C HAPTER 12
August 2139; the Citadel, Lunar Farside; Thirty-one years later
Rory relaxed in the afterglow as Nick fell asleep in his arms. He lived for these brief, blissful moments of absolute contentment. Reaching up and running his fingers through his lover’s blond hair, he watched the tension in the Daywalker’s body ease at the familiar touch.
Rory smiled. No nightmares tonight. After so many years, he’d developed a sense about Nick’s sleeping patterns. He inhaled the scent of sweat and sex as he leaned closer, opening his senses wide, and resisted the urge to bite, if only to keep Nick from waking. Then he caught another psychic trace on the periphery of his awareness. Reaching out with his senses, he found what he was looking for, but still it surprised him.
Unwrapping himself from Nick, he slipped out of bed, drawing the covers up over the other vampire. He pulled back his long, red hair and grabbed his robe from the hook in the closet. Tying it closed on his way out of the bedroom, he followed the sensory trace he had detected down the hall into the study. As expected, he found another man typing quietly at the virtual keyboard of the computer terminal. “Ruarc.”
Lorcan jumped at the interruption, then tilted his head in acknowledgement as he leaned back in his chair. “Sean. I hope I didn’t disturb you two.”
Rory sat down in the leather chair next to him. “Of course not. I just didn’t expect to find you here. I thought you were planning to be in Alexandria overnight.” He glanced at the virtual screen, seeing the rune and serpent symbol of the Court of Shadows in the background. “Everything all right?”
“The Assembly didn’t run as late as I expected. The Magisters of a couple of the Greater Houses wanted to duel over a piece of land in Australia that held some significant mineral reserves. I talked them out of it.”
Rory raised an eyebrow. “How did you manage that?”
Lorcan grinned. “I took it away from both of them and declared it House Diluthical territory. Then I said they could both have free access to its resources for up to one
“And yet you expect us to sanction this union!”
Rory reached out and took Nick’s hand. The Daywalker met his gaze and smiled. Rory turned to face Javier’s livid face. “We don’t expect anything. Honestly, we don’t care if you approve or not. But there are protocols to observe in an alliance between Houses at our rank, so we are doing you the honor of bearing witness. No more, and no less.”
“But—”
“Enough,” said Lorcan, with a hard edge to his voice. “Further debate serves no purpose, and we have indulged your prejudices beyond the realm of courtesy. Return to your seat, Prince Javier.”
Javier turned away from the Challenger’s lectern and stormed out of the Council Chamber. Several of the other assembled Magisters followed after him.
Lorcan stepped forward into the center of the combat circle. Nick and Rory joined him.
Lorcan faced Rory. “Sean Magister Jiao-long, will you guard my heart until the sunrise claims me?”
“I accept your heart, to defend against all enemies, until the sunrise claims me.” Rory turned to Nick. “Nicholas Magister Luscian, will you guard my heart until the sunrise claims me?”
“I accept your heart, to defend against all enemies, until the sunrise claims me.” Finally, Nick turned to Lorcan. “Ruarc Magister Diluthical, will you guard my heart until the sunrise claims me?”
“I accept your heart, to defend against all enemies, until the sunrise claims me.” Lorcan wrapped Nick and Rory in his arms. “I will never let you go. Either of you.”
The three of them stood there, arm in arm, lost in each other, completely oblivious to the sound raining down on them from the stands above.
Applause.
P ART II : O BJECTS IN M OTION
C HAPTER 12
August 2139; the Citadel, Lunar Farside; Thirty-one years later
Rory relaxed in the afterglow as Nick fell asleep in his arms. He lived for these brief, blissful moments of absolute contentment. Reaching up and running his fingers through his lover’s blond hair, he watched the tension in the Daywalker’s body ease at the familiar touch.
Rory smiled. No nightmares tonight. After so many years, he’d developed a sense about Nick’s sleeping patterns. He inhaled the scent of sweat and sex as he leaned closer, opening his senses wide, and resisted the urge to bite, if only to keep Nick from waking. Then he caught another psychic trace on the periphery of his awareness. Reaching out with his senses, he found what he was looking for, but still it surprised him.
Unwrapping himself from Nick, he slipped out of bed, drawing the covers up over the other vampire. He pulled back his long, red hair and grabbed his robe from the hook in the closet. Tying it closed on his way out of the bedroom, he followed the sensory trace he had detected down the hall into the study. As expected, he found another man typing quietly at the virtual keyboard of the computer terminal. “Ruarc.”
Lorcan jumped at the interruption, then tilted his head in acknowledgement as he leaned back in his chair. “Sean. I hope I didn’t disturb you two.”
Rory sat down in the leather chair next to him. “Of course not. I just didn’t expect to find you here. I thought you were planning to be in Alexandria overnight.” He glanced at the virtual screen, seeing the rune and serpent symbol of the Court of Shadows in the background. “Everything all right?”
“The Assembly didn’t run as late as I expected. The Magisters of a couple of the Greater Houses wanted to duel over a piece of land in Australia that held some significant mineral reserves. I talked them out of it.”
Rory raised an eyebrow. “How did you manage that?”
Lorcan grinned. “I took it away from both of them and declared it House Diluthical territory. Then I said they could both have free access to its resources for up to one
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