The Duke of Tremont

Chapter 16

Warning: unsafe sex

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Summer turned to autumn and Lofton was bustling with activity and preparation. The King had decided to make the city his home base for the battle with Balybonne that was inevitably to come with the summer.

Subsequently troops, advisors and armorers seemed to be arriving daily. Thankfully, to Deb’s great relief they also brought their own food and supplies but housing was still an issue. Brian had set his own men and the new arrivals to building new barracks for the army before the weather turned too bitter.

The castle itself was brimming full of people, with every bed full. Justin had long ago given up his own apartment to the arriving members of the King’s council and moved in with Brian; a circumstance he was not displeased with.

It had been decided that the King’s eldest son, and heir, Prince Brian would remain in Sylvania to rule with the queen and a small regency council. The rest of the council had arrived in Lofton and strategies were already being planned for the defeat of Balybonne‘s uprising.

There was one empty place at the council table; the place of Craig, The Earl of Westlake, was a gaping reminder of the treachery of Princess Claire and her husband. Since Molly was still so young the King had invited Justin to serve on the council in Molly’s place as a proxy with a full vote. Justin had reluctantly agreed, but only if Molly was allowed to observe, since he was determined that she was still the official heir of Westlake. The King had readily agreed, knowing what he did of the intelligent and sharp-witted young lady.

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It was a crisp, but sunny day in late October that found some of the men of the castle out of doors at the archery range. King Jonathan shot, hitting the ring just outside the bull’s eye. Hunter let go his arrow placing his shot in the third ring out.

Molly, who was sitting on a bale of straw next to Patrick, clapped with enthusiasm. Hunter, obviously frustrated with his shot, but happy with the Lady Molly’s attentions blushed profusely.

Brian smiled to himself and moved to offer his young nephew some advice; "here, lad," he moved behind Hunter and positioned the boy’s arms, "if you hold your arms like so, you will have more control."

Hunter nodded as he knocked another arrow and shot again; this time with a much better shot; "Thank you Uncle Brian," Hunter smiled, "that helped greatly."

"You are very welcome," Brian replied with a smile. He turned to Justin who had just hit the center circle, but not quite a bull’s eye; "you didn’t tell me you could shoot so well," he teasingly accused the younger man.

"You did not ask," replied Justin with a smile; "are you concerned I may prove to be too much competition for you?" He asked Brian with a wink.

"Brian tested a few bows before finding one of exactly the right size and pull; "I was not aware that this was a competition Sunshine," Brian moved to stand behind his young lover just a few paces away.

Justin shrugged and turned back to his target giving his rear end a little wiggle just for Brian as he drew back and took aim. Brian stepped up behind him and whispered in his ear; "don’t let fly until my signal Sunshine."

Justin nodded his response and held his aim until he heard Brian’s soft; "now," coming from behind him. He felt a familiar warmth rush through his body and a well-known presence enter his mind. Both arrows flew toward the same target in unison reaching their destination at the exact same moment, hitting the bull’s eye dead on, so close that they were touching.

Justin stared along with the all the others; "Brian how did you...how did we do that?"

Brian lifted his shoulders; "’tis a mystery," he replied glibly as he signaled a young page to go and fetch the arrows; "I’m starving, shall we have a snack before the council meeting?"

He walked back toward the castle leaving the others to trail behind still looking shocked and puzzled at the young Duke. Only King Jonathan did not seem surprised as he regarded the back of his brother’s head with a calculated stare.

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"Mind telling me about that little display this afternoon at the archery range?" Jonathan caught up with Brian when they were leaving the council chamber after the session.

"What display?" Brian tried for innocence.

"Oh stop it brother," the King said with exasperation; "you know exactly of what I speak," he paused for a moment, looking around to make sure they were alone in the corridor, "were you using your gift?"

Brian stopped suddenly and turned to face his brother, his expression a mixture of anger and fear; "how do you know about that? Who told you?"

"Brian," the King grabbed his shoulders, "I’ve known for a long time. The question is why did you never tell me? Why didn’t you come to me?"

Brian lowered his head looking to the floor; "I thought you would turn away from me if you knew the truth."

Jonathan gave Brian’s shoulders a little shake, hurt and angry by Brian’s mistrust; "my God, when have I ever given you reason to think I would do that to you?"

Brian let his gaze meet his brother’s; "but father..."

Jonathan cut him off; "I am not our father Brian, as you well know. You know I never listened to his ‘demon spawn’ nonsense. I did my own research and found what your mark truly meant and all that it could entail."

"Why did you never tell me?"

"Because I was waiting for you to come to me. I thought you trusted me."

Brian sighed; "please don’t be angry with me brother. I have never trusted this secret lightly with anyone. It is something about myself that I don’t truly understand. Mel is the one who told me about it being a faerie mark first and that was only a few years ago after she saw it by accident. The only other person I have told is Justin. Since he has entered my life the gift seems to be...I don’t know how to say this...stronger I suppose, different."

"So that is how you manipulated the arrows today?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes," Brian nodded; "it’s as if I mesh with Justin’s spirit somehow and can connect with him."

"Can you read his thoughts?" The King asked, now genuinely curious about this new development in his brother’s life.

Brian shook his head, "no, but I can feel what he feels and if I concentrate very hard do things with him like the arrows today."

Jonathan nodded; "does he know any of this?"

Brian shrugged; "I think he has guessed a little bit, but I have not spoken with him about it. It’s all so new to me; I’m just trying to feel my way."

"Well you need to talk with him, he deserves to know;" Brian nodded and Jonathan continued softening his tone a bit; "and talk with Mel. Perhaps she can help to give you more insight." He pulled Brian into a hug; "next time talk with me. There is nothing you cannot speak to me about. I shall never turn away from you my brother."

Brian nodded into his brother’s shoulder feeling relieved by his statement of unconditional love.

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Brian pulled almost all the way out of Justin and then slammed back in hard. Their need for each other was strong tonight and they had barely gotten back to their suite before tearing their clothing off in a heated race to be together. Justin was braced against the settee in the sitting room while Brian took him from behind.

"Oh God," Justin gasped; "harder Brian, harder!"

"Justin!" Brian called out as he did his lover’s bidding and sped up; he changed his position a bit, hitting the spot that always made Justin crazy.

"Yes, oh yes! Right there!" Justin called out, and then Brian reached around to grab his aching cock, pumping it in time with his thrusts. Justin felt his orgasm starting and then he felt that glowing presence in his mind again as it hit. Both men called out as he rode the waves of pleasure. His inner being clung to the presence and then he felt as if he was exploding again when Brian experienced his own orgasm.

When it was over they fell to the settee trying to catch their breath. Finally Brian opened his arms and Justin moved into them; "how did you do that?" Asked Justin; "I know that somehow you were with me feeling my pleasure and then I could feel yours."

Brian smoothed Justin’s hair back behind his ear; "did it frighten you?" He asked softly.

Justin barked out a laugh; "frighten me? Good God no! It was amazing. Whatever it was I’m ready to try it again."

This time it was Brian’s turn to laugh; "I don’t think I’m quite ready for another go yet. As to how I did it I can’t really tell you. It just seems as if I’m connected to you somehow. I can feel what you feel and let you feel what I am feeling."

"The arrows today?"

Brian nodded; "yes. I could sight the target with you, that’s how they landed in the same spot."

Justin looked just a tiny bit uncomfortable; "can you listen to my thoughts?"

"That’s funny," he replied; "Jonathan asked me the same thing this afternoon."

"You told him?"

"No, he guessed. He said he has known about my gift for some time and it was confirmed with my little display this afternoon."

"You did not answer my question, My Lord," persisted Justin; "can you read my thoughts?"

"No, it’s nothing like that;" Brian was quick to explain; "it’s more like empathy; I can feel your feelings. I can control it Justin. I don’t have to be with you if you don’t want me to be."

Justin looked thoughtful for a moment; "I like the idea of you being with me all the time. It makes me feel safe somehow. How about if we make a deal?" He paused and Brian nodded for him to continue; "if there’s ever a time when I don’t want you there I will tell you."

"That sounds like a good deal to me," Brian leaned down to kiss him and let his presence flare in Justin’s mind a bit.

"A very good deal," Justin breathed. He stood up and reached out to take Brian’s hand; "have you rested long enough old man? Ready for another go?"

Brian took the hand and let Justin pull him to his feet toward the bedchamber; "always ready for you love," he replied as he fell onto the bed with his young lover.

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Days later Justin was in Mel’s workroom visiting with the healer and Daphne, who was now officially her apprentice.

"So the man had a huge blister on his heel and Mel took a scalpel and cut into it;" Daphne spoke animatedly to her best friend; "you would not believe all the pus that came out!"

Justin made a face; "please say no more! I cannot stomach all this gory talk after I have just eaten."

Daphne exchanged a smile with Mel and rolled her eyes; "well I guess I can never talk about this with you since you have always ’just eaten.’"

Justin was so relieved at not having to listen to any more of Daphne’s horrid descriptions of their cases that he did not even respond to the jab at his now famous appetite.

The door opened and Lindsay breezed in; "Mel?" She called out and then noticed the other two; "oh hello Justin, hello Daphne."

"Hello," they both responded.

Mel approached Lindsay and gave her a quick peck on the lips; "hello my love, what brings you to the old brewing room?"

Lindsay smiled at her lover; "Nana Shea is having stomach troubles again and wonders if you could give her some more of that special tea you make?"

"Of course, let me just make up a packet. Daphne come and watch," Mel began to bustle around.

"Who is Nana Shea?" Asked Justin.

"She is my old nurse," replied Lindsay. She took care of my sister and I for years. She had no family to go to when she retired so I have kept her with me."

"Yes now Lindsay takes care of her," replied Mel. "Justin could you please reach up to that shelf behind you and get me that jar of willow bark?"

"Of course," replied Justin as he turned to the shelf. He reached up as far as his arms could go; "which one is it?"

"The large one just to your left," replied Mel.

He reached again having to stand on his toes; "I think I’ve got it..."

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In the outlying area of the palace grounds Brian, Jonathan, Ben and Michael had ridden to check the progress of the new barracks. Winter was fast approaching and the King and Duke wanted to make sure all the men would be adequately sheltered.

"Perhaps one more building over there?" Brian pointed as he posed the question to the other men.

"Yes, I think that would be wise," replied Jonathan; "I think the Lord Marshall is sending at least one more garrison before winter hits."

Suddenly Brian’s eyes glazed over and he doubled over in his saddle grabbing his head.

"Brian, what is it?" Jonathan sidled his horse closer to his brother with concern.

Brian’s head popped up; "Justin!" He exclaimed as he wheeled his horse around and headed breakneck to the castle.

The others could only try to keep up.

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Justin sat still as Mel and Daphne prodded at the sizeable lump on the top of his head while Lindsay looked on; "I can’t believe I’m so clumsy," he complained.

"I can," replied Daphne.

"Hey!"

"Well I don’t think you have a concussion," stated Mel; "but if..."

She was interrupted as a frantic Brian followed by a puzzled Jonathan, Ben and Michael burst into the room; "where is Justin? What happened?"

"Brian?!" Lindsay yelped in surprise.

Justin stood and went to his lover; "I’m here and I’m fine. I was just getting something off the shelf and a jar fell on my head. Mel says it’s just a bump."

Brian took the younger man in his arms in relief; "oh thank God. I could feel something had happened but I could not tell how serious it was."

"How did you know?" Whispered Lindsay, "Brian how is this possible?"

"Yes, we were clear down at the new barracks," added a similarly shocked Michael.

"Ah," replied Mel looking between Brian and Justin wisely; "Justin is your ‘Shonuachar’."

"His what?" Asked Michael looking a bit alarmed.

"For the ones blessed by the Faerie folk the translation is ’soul mate’. It means that Justin is Brian‘s true love," replied Mel with a smile.

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