Heirot

Talon's mind exploded, white hot and wonderful. His hands fisted in Vlad's clothing. A low carnal grow rumbled through him, his mouth opening, teeth bared. The magic coursed through him, setting every nerve on fire with something better than tasting blood, better than sex. The feeling grew until Talon's nails dragged across Vlad's skin, and a low groan left his lips. "Stop," he muttered, sure that if Vlad didn't there would be no turning back. Talon would want more, and he was afraid of wanting more.

Vlad's pleasure at his reaction trickled between them like warm honey. Are you sure? he teased, running his tongue along the man's neck as he bit him. He couldn't help it. His inner sadist was having the time of his life watching the normally composed and rigid man squirm.

"No," Talon grunted, but shook his head regardless. He wasn't sure. He didn't want it to stop, but he was afraid of where it would lead. He was afraid of what this would do, how far he'd go, what he'd become. But, they'd promised no one would know right?

Talon shook his head. What the hell was wrong with him?

Vlad's bite gentled, and the force behind his magic changed. He was sorely tempted, but if he brought the man to climax like this, he had a feeling Talon wouldn't be able to cope with it. He was trying not to let himself enjoy it. If Vlad wanted to, there would be no choice in the matter, but Talon wouldn't believe that. He'd insist he could have stopped somehow. Vlad didn't want to give the man any new issues to worry about at the moment. He'd made his point already. Alright. Vlad reassured him, laying off.

Talon exhaled, with more disappointment than relief. He felt tensed up, and in desperate need of some form of release after that. Clara flashed through his mind, but he pushed it away quickly. He'd kill her. Being that close to hot bare flesh, he'd definitely kill her.

So he scooted a little away from Vlad and let out a shuddering breath. "Well," he sighed. "That was definitely amazing." He reached up and touched his neck. "No wonder Tenele repeatedly has marks on her neck. I never knew you..." Talon winced. He didn't want to think about his master and his sister... Wait, master? When the hell did he start referring to Vlad as his master?

Talon reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Thar have mercy on me."

First he couldn't stop thinking about the feeling Vlad had given him, now that had transformed into a fixation with Clara. Talon pinched the skin harder.

"Soo, how did your trip to the border go?" Talon asked, wanting to think about something else.

Vlad smiled, pretending not to notice the man's frustration. "A lot happened there," he offered. Talon was exceptionally focused, for someone so new. He was even carrying on a conversation like this. "Tenele and I had to convince the church to marry us the hard way. We fought off an Arken seige without much backup. It left us both in pretty bad shape. We did get some help, though." His eyes met Talon's. "Your father showed up."

Talon went very still. "Vincent?" he mutter, not referring to the man with the fondness of father. "You met him? Did Tenele meet him? He actually helped you?"

Talon leaned his head back against the wood bed frame. "When I met him, that brief time... He was working with a band of wolves for Shea. He had no interest in switching sides. All he said was that it was safer for Tenele and I if he stayed where he did, and emphasising how I had to keep Tenele away from anything involving Verin. It was too late for that, she was already in the Outerlands with you. I guess... I escaped the sickness as he did."

Talon shook his head. "Wait, you're married?!"

"His advice this time was much the same. And yes, we were able to be married by the high priest himself. I went through the whole ceremony properly." He raised his hand to show Talon the gleaming white metal around his finger. It was painfully bright.

Talon winced at it. "You did..." he muttered. "You lived through it." A smile spread across his face. "I suppose it means you are meant to be with her, if the gods accept it."

Talon blinked then, realizing that he would have no such luxury. The idea of getting married hadn't crossed his mind before, but... Talon sighed, marriage wasn't something he was interested in anyway. He was happy with the women he visited, Clara and Julia.

"How did Tenele take it, seeing Vincent?"

"She was happy, then pissed, then sad, then hopeful. It was a difficult meeting," Vlad said. "Right when I thought he would stay by her side, he told her about her past and then shoved off."

Talon frowned. "That makes sense," he muttered. "He is good at shoving off, for whatever the reason. But, what do you mean about past? You mean why he joined Shea, right?"

"More like, why Verin is so interested in Tenele," Vlad muttered. He shook his head. "All this time I assumed this was just about me. But it's worse. Verin used to be in love with your mother. It seems he's had some issues projecting his feelings onto Tenele."

Talon flinched, arching an eyebrow at Vlad. "You're joking, right?" he chuckled. "My mother? My mother went off to save the man she loved, and ended up getting beheaded by Shea. To my knowledge she never had any run ins with the God of Darkness."

Talon's frown deepened, thinking about the conversation he'd had with Tenele when she'd arrived back from the Outerland's without Vlad. What she'd feared, what she'd been through.

"He's mistaken," Talon muttered, fiddling with the edge of his shirt. "Its a ploy to redirect you. He's after you Vlad, he's only using Tenele to get to you. If he was after Tenele because of her mother, then he would seek vengeance on...."

Poison. The poison. Had Verin known he was sick? Had he known that Talon would want to die that badly? No, it was coincidence. He would definitely have more to gain from Vlad.

"It sounds like you were told a story with some parts left out. Your mother, and the reason for the curse. Apparently, there was a time when the Goddess Attara was trapped on earth in a mortal form. She fell in love. She bore children in a forbidden union with the mortal she feel for. And that act of treason caused a curse upon the man she loved, and the males of his line."

Talon stood up, going to the window again. "No, no one told me this story," he muttered, staring down at the people moving up and down the street. "No one told me anything like that. Not even Vincent, though I assume he figured the reason was mute to tell me if I were bound to die anyway."

Talon felt like crushing something. Instead, he channelled his anger into denial.

"Still, a story. Doesn't mean its true. We have no proof, and you heard it from a man whose been under Shea's thumb for a long time. He could be lying. He could be telling you this story for Verin's sake." Talon turned to him. "If he really was after Tenele, why is she still with you? Think about it Vlad, if he wanted her, would it be safe to leave her alone right now? He has more to gain with you."