Sky and Storm ( Warriors of Vis #1)(14)

Sky didn’t know how long he’d been asleep. He woke up to strong arms circling his body and pulling him close. He moaned softly and tried to turn around, the scent of his husband calling to him.

“Shh, sleep. We both need it,” Storm whispered. Sky didn’t want to listen though. He squirmed and writhed till his husband’s hold loosened and he turned in his arms. Sky snuggled into him, hiding his face in Storm’s strong chest and sighing contently. “Good night, Storm,” he said in a sleep muffled voice and melted in the embrace. Perfect, he thought as dreams were claiming his mind again. Sky didn’t care how long it lasted, he was just glad he was experiencing it.

The second morning was an obnoxious replay of the previous one. They once again woke up at the crack of dawn to angry banging on their door. This time Sky was determined to know what was going on. One of his elite soldiers explained with a stern look on his face that Eagle had been found but was severely wounded. Sky saw his husband’s shoulders slump, a strangled whimper escaping his lips.

“Where is he, I need to see him?” Storm said.

“In his chamber, my lord,” the soldier answered with a deep bow.

“I’ll go there immediately. Make sure you find whoever is responsible,” Storm growled, then turned around and walked past Sky, not waiting for a reply.

As Sky closed the door, he noticed his husband’s soldier was already on his way to obey the order.

“Would you like me to come with you?” Sky asked, his voice a little shaky.

“No.” Storm grunted as he rushed through getting dressed, but lost his temper when one of his boots gave him trouble. He threw it across the room. It hit the wall with a loud bang and Sky felt tears flooding his eyes as he saw Storm’s head dropping into his hands. Sky had never seen his husband so upset over a battle wound. Eagle’s state was obviously more important than anyone else’s. Sky heard him swear under his breath and turned away, trying to hide the effect his husband’s distress had on Sky.

“I’m sorry, you can come with me if you like.”

Sky shook his head, thinking it would be wiser to avoid seeing the display of affection that would surely happen in Eagle’s chamber. Sky did not really know why he had been caught by surprise. Cloud had shared all the rumors with him. There were lovers everywhere, some in his elite guard. Maybe that adoration displayed by all the Dragon’s troupes stemmed from long nights of passion.

“Don’t worry, Storm. Just go to him,” Sky whispered, refusing to turn around. He heard Storm walk towards the door, then quick steps approaching him. He felt Storm’s lips on his cheek before his husband rushed out of the room. Sky couldn’t take any comfort in his husband’s affection. Storm was rushing to his lover’s room in the end.

Sky took a few deep breaths to steady himself. It didn’t matter. It was nothing new. A night of passion was not about to erase a whole year of separate lives. What had Sky been thinking? He’d always known who his husband was. Why would it be any different now? Just because they’d shared a few hours of passion?

Sky cleaned himself, got dressed and went about his day. They still had guests to entertain. By lunchtime, Sky’s heart sank again. Storm briefly informed Sky that the party responsible for the attack on Eagle and his men had been located. Rebels, apparently, and they were uncomfortably close to the castle. Storm was once again leaving.

The rest of the day was a blur. With his husband’s departure and no idea of when he’d return, the queen started drawing travel plans for all the women flocking around the castle. The search for a concubine had to be postponed. It was little comfort, but Sky took it, pleased to know the Estas princess would leave the next day.

Throughout all the times Storm had left before, Sky had developed a routine. He’d stop stepping outside their floor, then stop eating, and then would refuse to get out of bed. Sadness, despair, hopelessness would drag him down and keep him at the bottom of the pit.

This time, Sky couldn’t. He was too angry to stand still. He’d take long rides, trying to ignore the fact that Eagle was being cared for in the castle Sky shared with his husband.

Each ride would take Sky further from the castle. In the middle of the forest, he’d jump off his horse and scream till he had no voice.

One late evening as Sky returned to the castle, he was met by an angry Storm pacing up and down the cobblestone in front of the stables.

“Where the hell have you been?” Storm yelled, making Sky’s blood freeze in his veins. The anger flaring in Storm’s eyes, the clenched fists, and the tightly pressed lips were not new to Sky, but there was no getting used to this particular mood of his husband. Storm was simply terrifying.

“I went out for a ride,” Sky explained in a feeble voice.

“What the hell were you thinking? We have rebels crawling about, and you risk your life for a fucking ride?”

“I can’t just stay locked up in my room, Storm.” Sky felt his own anger taking hold of him. Storm had no right to treat him like this. He’d been careful.

“Eagle is fighting for his life and you are toying with yours.” The words slammed into Sky’s heart.

“What do you care? Go watch over Eagle and leave me be!” Sky jumped off his horse, shoved Storm out of his way with more force than he thought he possessed and ran up the spiraling stairs. He found Sera and ordered her to prepare a hot bath. He wasn’t going to let Storm get to him, not when the reason for his anger was Storm’s lover.