Land of Night by Kirby Crow Read Free Book Online

little to stare up into his lover's pale eyes intently. “Why won't you tell me what's going on here? What are you afraid of?"
    "Come sit with me.” Liall took his hand and drew him to the couch. “I crave your pardon for snapping at you. The fault is mine."
    Scarlet sighed again. “It's not fair that you keep secrets from me."
    "No, it is not. And if I had thought ... I have left orders that Eleferi is not to be admitted in my absence. Neither is Vladei."
    "Who's Vladei?"
    "Just remember the name and keep Eleferi decently out of our apartments when I'm not here."
    It sounded like an accusation. “He's your brother."
    "Never be alone with him!” Liall growled, and then gentled his tone. “In fact, he is my step-brother. And royal houses are not like your decent home with Scaja and Linhona: the poison of power and intrigue is everywhere in an imperial house. Here, even a brother may kill a brother."
    Scarlet was appalled. “What?"
    Liall must have seen how his words affected Scarlet. “Have you never heard of these things?” he asked sadly. “I assure you, such horrors do exist."
    Scarlet studied this man to whom he had tied his life. The lines of sorrow and bitterness had returned and settled in all around Liall's eyes and mouth. Scarlet suddenly forgot his temper and trailed his fingers down the curve of Liall's face.
    Liall closed his eyes, seeming almost in pain. “I am too old for you, too bitter and cynical."
    "You are not."
    "I am, but that does not mean I will let you go.” He pulled Scarlet into his arms and tightened his embrace as if to keep Scarlet prisoner, and Scarlet laughed and loosened the ties on the silken shirt Liall wore under his virca. He pressed a kiss to the warm skin beneath. Liall tasted very faintly of salt, and Scarlet licked the hollow of his throat, feeling Liall's fingers tangle in his hair.
    Liall pulled back and kissed him, his tongue slipping between Scarlet's lips. Oh Deva, he had been afraid of this before, but what he knew now...
    Scarlet shivered, remembering what it had felt like to float in the darkness with only Liall's voice and touch. Scarlet pressed his hand between Liall's legs, and the prince drew back quickly, looking at once startled and amused.
    "I have created a wanton."
    "Then you must deal with your creation,” Scarlet smiled, his hand roaming.
    "I intend to.” Liall pulled Scarlet closer to his chest. “But I am tired and worried, t'aishka. Later, perhaps?"
    Scarlet nodded, disappointed but not very much. “Liall ... at dinner? That woman told me how to address the Baron."
    Liall went very still. “That woman?” Very softly: “Lady Shikhoza?"
    Scarlet nodded. “Yes. She told me what to say and how to say it. What did I say, anyway?"
    Liall stroked Scarlet's dark hair. “Let us merely say that it was very rude, but pronunciation can be difficult."
    "I repeated her words exactly,” Scarlet said resentfully, for he felt suddenly that Liall might have been defending her. “She said I'd gotten it right."
    "The Baron understands that it was an error."
    Scarlet wondered about that. Perhaps it would be good to have Jochi with him to navigate the court's undercurrents. “All right, but I don't think that lady likes me very much, for some reason. They way she looked at me gave me the shivers, like she was walking over my grave."
    Liall drew slowly away. “And now, it grows late and there is one more matter I must to attend before I sleep. But first, I want a bath."
    Hot water sounded good. “Do Rshani bathe every night?"
    "Usually. Why do you ask? On the ship, you washed every day. I remember you were insistent on it."
    "Well, it was a filthy ship, and I was only washing in a bucket, not filling a great tub with hot water and sitting in it twice a day."
    Liall nodded in that preoccupied way he had when thinking of other things. “Well, here we bathe once a day at least. Twice, if you're picky."
    It sounded like an awful lot of trouble to get the same result