Sky and Storm ( Warriors of Vis #1)(5)
“Would you like to leave?” Storm asked in a voice softer than Sky had ever heard from him.
Sky nodded with jerky movements, unsure he could speak. Storm hastily called the dinner to an end. He walked Sky to their room, holding Sky’s hand in his and placing his free one on the small of Sky’s back. Storm helped him sit on the edge of the bed and called Sera to help with his clothes.
Sky was already under the covers when Storm entered the room again, wearing nothing but a pair of loose cotton sleeping pants that rode low on his hips. A sharp intake of breath and Sky’s eyes fluttering had him curse in his mind. He hated that, despite Storm’s complete lack of interest in him, Sky still found his husband so irresistible. Sky wanted Storm so badly, it made him dizzy just to think of it.
Sky pushed himself deeper into the pillows, preparing for the torture that would follow. Storm got under the covers next to him and wrapped Sky in his arms. On instinct, Sky snuggled into his husband’s side, sighing softly and relaxing. This was Sky’s sanctuary, the nights he spent sleeping in his prince’s arms, the only pleasure of his miserable life. Sky never understood why they slept like that and he never dared question Storm about it. He was too afraid Storm would stop holding him as they slept.
For the first time in a month, Sky felt at peace and thanked the gods for his husband’s return. He felt a deep, calming sleep taking him over and he smiled against Storm’s warm skin, a little moan escaping him.
CHAPTER III
The Withering Flower
STORM WOKE UP TO BIRDS chirping outside and a cool morning breeze making the curtains flutter. He patted the empty bed. Sky was gone. He forced his tired eyes open and spied his husband leaning on the railing, looking out the balcony. Sky was enjoying his beloved view: the port and the shoreline with its angry waves hitting the rocks on one side and the winding road leading back to his home on the other.
Sky was wearing loose fitting clothes again, but it was not enough to hide his figure. He had lost weight, a lot of it. What kind of illness made you go from normal to skin and bones in a few weeks?
Campaign after campaign, battle after battle, it all got worse every time Storm returned. Sera would help Sky hide it and as far as Storm could remember from past visits home, he seemed to be eating well when Storm was around. Sky attended all events and was kind and polite to everyone. The sadness in his eyes, especially when he looked at Storm, was unmistakable though, along with the hints of desperation and quiet rage.
Storm sat up, resting on his pillow, and looked around their room. It felt almost foreign to him, he had spent so little time here over the past year. Every time Storm saw Sky, he wondered why the hell he bothered coming back. There was nothing for him here. There had never been. Not since he had turned sixteen. That dreaded day when Storm’s life had changed and it all had gone up in flames. Somehow, he couldn’t let go of the flimsy hope Sky might go back to how he treated Storm before he’d been sent back to his parents. The fact he still loved Sky after all that time, after all the ways in which Sky had hurt him since their reunion, drove him mad with anger.
Sky turned, the weak smile on his lips faded and replaced with a nervous quiver. He walked back inside, then sat on the edge of the bed, pulling one leg up and resting his elbow on his bent knee.
“Morning,” Sky mumbled, eyeing Storm carefully.
Storm pushed down his anger and smiled. Sky’s eyes widened in surprise, then his lips curved a little. The little grin brightened his sunken face and sent a warm wave through Storm.
“How long have you been up?” Storm knew from the fruity scent surrounding Sky that Sera had already seen to him today. He wondered how Sky looked under all her tricks. And what was it that he was hiding.
“A while.” Sky refused to meet Storm’s gaze.
Storm leaned in, cupped Sky’s cheek and forced him to meet his eyes. “What is going on, Sky? How ill are you, really?”
Storm shivered when Sky placed his hand over the prince’s, but it was only to push it away. That was Sky all right, never allowing too much physical contact.
“It’s not that serious, my lord.”
“It’s Storm. It’s fucking Storm,” the prince roared, jumping off the bed and walking out of the room.
Storm ran all the way to the inner courtyard where the training grounds were. He signaled two of the soldiers stationed there to charge. They were in full combat gear, while Storm was wearing nothing but the cotton pants he had slept in. That was how he loved to fight, with the wind biting his skin.
No one had ever defeated Storm in hand-to-hand combat, not even when they attacked in groups. Storm was extremely agile and flexible, adding to his strength and calmness. No one stood a chance. The two soldiers were soon down on the ground. Storm took a few breaths and returned to his room. It was empty.
As he was getting dressed, Sera walked in, looking as stern and unfriendly as ever. Storm knew she hated him, he just couldn’t understand why. The woman had seen him grow up and she had never treated him this way. Well, not before Sky’s arrival.
“Master Sky has gone downstairs for breakfast with your family. He said he’ll meet you there.” She turned and left without waiting for any response from Storm.
Storm groaned and swore at himself for not replacing her.
He arrived at the breakfast table just in time to see Cloud pushing her chair closer to Sky and leaning on his shoulder, all smiles and eyelash batting. A low growl started out deep within him and traveled up his throat, making Sky jump. Cloud however, couldn’t care.