answering smile was huge. “Well, you should really thank the tailors and seamstresses, not me. I just chose the colors. But you’re welcome.” She collected Ryneq’s clothes and carefully put them away. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Care to join me for dinner?”
T HE MORNING of the announcement ceremony dawned bright and clear. Nykin and Ryneq dressed together, as they had no required traditions, unlike Cerylea’s upcoming wedding. Nykin wasn’t exactly nervous but definitely apprehensive about the whole thing. The large balcony off the great hall would hold the ceremony. It overlooked the palace courtyard, and all of Torsere was welcome to attend and watch from below.
The dragon riders and members of Ryneq’s personal guard would be in attendance in the hall, along with Cerylea. Afterward they would hold a feast, both inside the palace and out in the courtyard, and Nykin expected the celebrations would go on well into the night. It may be a relatively short and quiet ceremony, but the people of Torsere knew how to celebrate, and both Ryneq and Cerylea were keen to encourage it after Seran’s attack.
“Are you ready?” Ryneq asked as he finished lacing his boots. He stood and met Nykin’s gaze. “I know things between us are moving faster than you were anticipating, but with the threat of war….”
“It’s okay.” Nykin closed the distance between them. He understood the need to do this now, and although it felt rushed, he wanted to be with Ryneq. “It may be fast, but I would still choose you in a month or two’s time. So what does it matter?”
“Thank you.” Ryneq smiled softly. “We’d better head over to the great hall.” He slid his hand down over the curve of Nykin’s ass. “Although I’m not sure I want to let you leave this room looking like that.”
Nykin looked pointedly at the way Ryneq’s pants clung to the hard muscle of his thighs. “I could say the same.” He snagged the front of Ryneq’s jacket, reeling him in until they were chest to chest. “We could just stay here.” His hands were in Ryneq’s hair, pulling him into the kiss as soon as the words were out.
Nykin stumbled back a little, still kissing, as Ryneq pushed him up against the nearest wall.
“Cerylea would kill us both,” Ryneq whispered after breaking the kiss and resting their foreheads together.
When Ryneq slid his thigh between Nykin’s legs, the sudden pressure against his dick made Nykin seriously consider risking Cerylea’s wrath.
A loud knock on the door interrupted his train of thought before it could get them into trouble, and he groaned softly as Ryneq reluctantly stepped away from him.
“Later.” Ryneq flashed him a dark look full of promise before marching over to the door and yanking it open.
Nykin let his head fall back against the wall, taking a moment to calm himself before paying attention to who had come to see them.
They weren’t expecting to see anyone this close to the ceremony, so the sight of Nysad had Nykin instantly alert. “What’s wrong?” he asked, walking over to them as Ryneq ushered Nysad inside and shut the door.
“We’ve had word that King Seran has returned to Rodeth and is planning a meeting with an Athisi delegation,” Nysad said, looking at Ryneq and waiting for his response.
Nykin felt his chest tighten a little . They weren’t due to go to Alel for another two weeks. If Seran was trying to marshal both armies, then Torsere might be in serious trouble. They’d probably be able to hold them off in the end, but hundreds of lives would be lost. And this was the worst possible time for Ryneq to receive the news. Nykin knew if this were any other day, Ryneq would have called a council meeting with at least Eldin, Nysad, and Cerylea straightaway.
“How do we know this information can be trusted?” Ryneq asked, rubbing a hand over his eyes. “Who did it come from, Nysad?”
“One of our patrols ran into merchants
T HE MORNING of the announcement ceremony dawned bright and clear. Nykin and Ryneq dressed together, as they had no required traditions, unlike Cerylea’s upcoming wedding. Nykin wasn’t exactly nervous but definitely apprehensive about the whole thing. The large balcony off the great hall would hold the ceremony. It overlooked the palace courtyard, and all of Torsere was welcome to attend and watch from below.
The dragon riders and members of Ryneq’s personal guard would be in attendance in the hall, along with Cerylea. Afterward they would hold a feast, both inside the palace and out in the courtyard, and Nykin expected the celebrations would go on well into the night. It may be a relatively short and quiet ceremony, but the people of Torsere knew how to celebrate, and both Ryneq and Cerylea were keen to encourage it after Seran’s attack.
“Are you ready?” Ryneq asked as he finished lacing his boots. He stood and met Nykin’s gaze. “I know things between us are moving faster than you were anticipating, but with the threat of war….”
“It’s okay.” Nykin closed the distance between them. He understood the need to do this now, and although it felt rushed, he wanted to be with Ryneq. “It may be fast, but I would still choose you in a month or two’s time. So what does it matter?”
“Thank you.” Ryneq smiled softly. “We’d better head over to the great hall.” He slid his hand down over the curve of Nykin’s ass. “Although I’m not sure I want to let you leave this room looking like that.”
Nykin looked pointedly at the way Ryneq’s pants clung to the hard muscle of his thighs. “I could say the same.” He snagged the front of Ryneq’s jacket, reeling him in until they were chest to chest. “We could just stay here.” His hands were in Ryneq’s hair, pulling him into the kiss as soon as the words were out.
Nykin stumbled back a little, still kissing, as Ryneq pushed him up against the nearest wall.
“Cerylea would kill us both,” Ryneq whispered after breaking the kiss and resting their foreheads together.
When Ryneq slid his thigh between Nykin’s legs, the sudden pressure against his dick made Nykin seriously consider risking Cerylea’s wrath.
A loud knock on the door interrupted his train of thought before it could get them into trouble, and he groaned softly as Ryneq reluctantly stepped away from him.
“Later.” Ryneq flashed him a dark look full of promise before marching over to the door and yanking it open.
Nykin let his head fall back against the wall, taking a moment to calm himself before paying attention to who had come to see them.
They weren’t expecting to see anyone this close to the ceremony, so the sight of Nysad had Nykin instantly alert. “What’s wrong?” he asked, walking over to them as Ryneq ushered Nysad inside and shut the door.
“We’ve had word that King Seran has returned to Rodeth and is planning a meeting with an Athisi delegation,” Nysad said, looking at Ryneq and waiting for his response.
Nykin felt his chest tighten a little . They weren’t due to go to Alel for another two weeks. If Seran was trying to marshal both armies, then Torsere might be in serious trouble. They’d probably be able to hold them off in the end, but hundreds of lives would be lost. And this was the worst possible time for Ryneq to receive the news. Nykin knew if this were any other day, Ryneq would have called a council meeting with at least Eldin, Nysad, and Cerylea straightaway.
“How do we know this information can be trusted?” Ryneq asked, rubbing a hand over his eyes. “Who did it come from, Nysad?”
“One of our patrols ran into merchants
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