Sky and Storm ( Warriors of Vis #1)(39)

“Of course you didn’t want it.” Storm kissed Sky forehead and held him closer.

“Dragon, what do you want us to do with them?”

“Kill them all,” Storm grunted.

“No!” Sky yelped. “No, you can’t.” His voice broke, his words almost silent.

“Why, my love?”

“They’re not rebels. They were paid. You have to find out who.”

Storm buried his face into Sky’s hair. “Ever the strategist. All right. Save a few to question them.”

***

As they walked through the mercenary camp, Sky struggled to see anyone moving. There were bloody corpses everywhere. He hadn’t expected anything different nor would it be something he desired. He knew Storm and his rage.

“We found tracks leading to the nearby forests, my Dragon,” Fury said.

Storm tensed and growled. Sky knew he’d want to follow them, find them and cut them down. But with Sky in his current shape, Storm couldn’t leave.

“If it settles you, go chase them,” Sky murmured. In truth, he needed Storm there, holding him. He needed his husband to ground him.

“I am not leaving your side,” Storm said, his voice warm and deep.

Sky sighed, relieved. “Thank you,” he whispered, resting his head on Storm’s large shoulder.

“Fury, take as many men as you need, and go find them. We’ll burn the bodies here and take the wounded with us for questioning. Once you catch those who fled, make your way back to Vis.”

“Yes, Dragon.”

Sky listened to Fury’s retreating steps, hearing his voice from afar as he shouted orders. Fury and his men wouldn’t stop until those mercenaries were found. They’d be caught, brought back, and have the truth tortured out of them. Then they’d die.

“You’re going to kill them all in the end.”

“Them and all those who plotted to send them after you. Yes, they will all die by my hand.” Storm sighed and stopped, holding Sky against his chest. “Unless I do, others will think it a good idea to come after you. I can’t let that happen.”

“I don’t disagree with you. They all wanted to torture me and hurt you. Your enemies will always try to use me to inflict the most damage. I know what you have to do and why. It is not my place to criticize what you must do.”

Storm tilted his head and smiled. “You still wish there was another way.”

“I wish for a lot of things. That people wouldn’t be so desperate to do anything for money. That you hadn’t been forced to conquer so many and make enemies along the way. That those who planned and offered the gold for this would be punished…”

“Why are you feeling sorry for these mercenaries?” There was no accusation in Storm’s voice, only curiosity.

Sky reached out and cupped Storm’s face. “Do you believe there are so many choices to be made in other lands? Do you think they employ as many soldiers as you? That they strive so hard to feed their subjects?” Sky released storm and turned around, pointing at the piles of bodies. “Look at these men. Do they look well trained and well fed? Do their weapons seem effective to you? They only know war and need to make a living off it.”

“As always, you are right. Still, they are soldiers. They chose this path with its risks. And they will suffer the consequences.”

Sky nodded, his eyes still focused on the corpses. “As they should. But remember this, how they looked, and that they were sent here. When you find out who, go after them. But don’t punish those they rule, they have no choice other than obey.”

Storm sighed and turned Sky’s face up so their eyes could meet. “I thought of it. Wipe out the very nation that spawned these scourges. The rulers who sent them, the women who birthed them, the people who knew them… I thought of you, though, of your kind eyes, and how you’d tell me not to. I’ve already thought of all the arguments you’d present.”

“You know me well,” Sky said, smiling up at his husband.

“I do, and I don’t care if your arguments would convince me. I can do this for you, reign in my anger and do as you advise. So even if my mind and heart and blood cries for revenge, I’ll be the man you want me to be. That man is far better than the blood-thirsty, avenge-driven Dragon that I was before you came back into my life.”

Sky smiled, tears streaking down his face. He’d cried a lot since Storm had found him. He imagined it did not portray quite the manly demeanor. Sky wasn’t bothered though. He was cold, he was tired, and his stomach rumbled with hunger. His rope cuts and burns hurt, and his heart still pounded with fear. Despite it all, he was happy. Sky was in Storm’s arms, a man who tried so hard to be better, just to please Sky.

“I love you, Storm. Now take me home, please.”





CHAPTER XVII


The Guilty

VIS WAS EERILY QUIET when they arrived. Like the owner and dwellers of the castle had fled. It was dusk when they passed through the outer gates, but that didn’t explain the lack of activity.

Storm shrugged it off. All his men had been sent out to reinforce their outposts, while the elite riders, the Montes forces, and a quarter of the Vis native forces had joined Storm in his quest to retrieve Sky. The spies had been put to work, and he imagined most noblemen were afraid of the consequences such an offense would entail. Waging war meant they’d lose their lives or those of their children. No wonder everyone was tucked into their homes, enjoying the remaining time of peace.