Page 70 of Beyond the Storm
Chapter Four
Elasus
Sunlight broke through the leaves above me as I opened my eyes. Morning had come. Despite the sun, the place beside me was cold. I looked at my outstretched arm in the grass, remembering how Kallias had used it as a pillow the night before, his dark eyes sad as we’d stared at each other, refusing to welcome sleep.
Ihadfallen asleep, though I couldn’t recall doing so. I only remembered holding him and wishing that one night could last for eternity. Waking without him beside me felt so wrong.
“By the gods, Elasus,” Nikandros said, stepping over a raised stump to reach me. “Were the sleeping quarters not to His Highness’ liking? You had to sleep in the forest like a rabbit.”
“A rabbit?”
He shrugged. “It was the first animal that came to mind. Hurry and gather your provisions. The army is set to march soon. King Agesilaus awaits us.”
My body moved on its own as I stood from the grass and followed him back to camp. I gathered the little supplies I owned and dressed in my armor. My thoughts were on Kallias. Why wasn’t he with me when I woke? Had he already left? Surely, he wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye.
Or maybe I had only dreamed him.
Another thought then occurred to me, and it weighed heavily on my heart. Lazarus. Had he done something to Kallias? Hurt him?
“I do believe I’m in love,” Nikandros said, pulling me from my musings. He smiled as he sheathed his sword. “The warrior with the golden hair. Bellamy. Gods, he is extraordinary. Do you know he brought me to climax three times? Three!”
“It is not love you feel. It is lust.”
“Lust… love… it matters not. Oh? What is this?” Nikandros poked my neck. I swatted him away, but that only encouraged him further. A wide grin stretched his lips. “Someone bit you. Does this mean you are no longer a maiden? Did you wet your cock at last?”
“Nikandros? I do hope you remember your three times of climax fondly, for they will be the last bit of pleasure you receive in this life before I kill you.”
He laughed. “Was it that warrior Bellamy spoke of? The one who was wounded in battle. You went to mend hisachingandthrobbingwounds, and he repaid you in kind?”
“Prepare for death.”
Nikandros squeaked as my hand moved to the hilt of my sword. He then rushed toward an area where soldiers sat eating their morning meal. When his hunger for sex wasn’t motivating him, the one in his stomach did.
The back of my neck tingled, and my pulse quickened. My heart warmed.
“Elasus.”
I turned to face Kallias. The sun shone on his black hair, reminding me of a raven’s wings. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. It was as if that sadness lived inside of him. More than anything, I wished to take that melancholy away. If only I knew how.
“You were gone when I woke,” I said.
“Apologies. I was speaking to Lazarus.” He drifted closer, his sword clanking at his side. He stopped in front of me. I silently cursed the gap between us. He felt miles away. “All is well.”
“All is well?” With one small step forward, I was grabbing him by the jaw. “That is all you have to tell me?”
Kallias swallowed hard. “You’re angry.”
“I’m not angry,” I said, voice shaking. My hand shook too. “I feared what became of you, Kallias. I knew not if you were dead or if you’d simply left without a word. I found it hard to breathe.”
His expression softened as he brought my hand to his cheek. He placed a kiss to my palm. “And now? Do you still struggle for air?”
I captured his lips. He made a small sound before hooking his arms around my neck, returning the kiss. Questions plagued my mind, but I held them at bay. I was too relieved that he was in front of me, still breathing, still smelling like the sun and burning so bright I knew I’d feel the lick of his flames until the day I drew my final breath.
I tore from his mouth and crushed him as close as our bodies would allow. My face turned into his dark hair. His heart beat against mine, both of them quick, as if the beats held all the words we hadn’t yet said. Words we might not ever get the chancetosay.
“Tell me what happened,” I whispered. “Lazarus was angry that you bit me. Did he forgive you?”
“Yes.”
