Chapter 06 - ' It's A Love Game '

"Have a seat," said the Crown Prince.

Raith carefully sat in the chair that was of a lower position than his Prince. The Crown Prince had been serving a sentence of confinement for the past four weeks. This was mandated by the King after the Prince had offended His Highness, the day of the royal wedding.

It was rumoured to be a rouse so that the Dark King would not marry any of his sisters. It was said that he wanted to marry the King himself. No matter the reason behind the Crown Prince's behaviour it got the desired outcome he was looking for. No one was wed, and the entire ceremony was called off leaving things tense between the two countries.

Needless to say the Prince did not seem to take his confinement seriously. He still kept contact with the outside through his messengers and from Raith's point of view. Someone of interest regularly contacted him at night, given the numerous hickeys that always seemed to litter his neck.

The Prince handed Raith the sealed cylinder which held his most recent message. Raith avoided the Prince's gaze, being nothing but a lowly messenger.

"You are to carry this to..." Raith listened with immense dedication. With a wave of his hand the Prince dismissed him. Using the opportunity, Raith exited the door.

A delay?

Qylian wondered. Standing on the platform above the side entrance for the messengers. Qylian waited with his accomplice on the messenger that would be passing with the Prince's bi-weekly messages. Dressed in all black. His hood covering his head, and a thick mask covering the bottom half of his face.

Qylian had been waiting in a stooping position since the start of dusk. Soft footsteps dainty in nature caught his attention. They sent one of the girls, just a small scare should work tonight. Rising up, his limbs did not even hint at fatigue from stooping for so long.

Qylian jumped down into the corridor intercepting the person before him. The hooded figure looked up at him in shock. Equally fazed, but recovering almost instantly. Qylian ignored the cool purple eyes that looked at him.

His eyes narrowed in on the message barrel that glowed a soft golden colour from the enchantments that sealed it. Qylian rushed the man standing before him. Raith back stepped, walking into a warm wall. His hands were quickly restrained. A forked tongue slithered out touching his nape.

The King of disgust had the most repulsed facial expression. Sending his elbow behind him. He pounded into the snake's side as he struggled to break free of its hold.

A strike of luck or maybe divine assistance allowed Raith to break out of the man's iron grip only to stumble into an equally unfavourable position. He walked right into Qylian's fist. The punch knocked him a few steps back.

Not allowed a second to recollect himself. The foot that came his way connected to his stomach. He slid across the floor, his body stopping only when it made contact with the nearby wall.

Raith's head hurt beyond comprehension. He watched as the man dressed in black approached him with an enchanted knife. He rose to his feet, beating the dust off himself. Where are the King's guards when you actually need them!

Trained to defend the messages he carried. Raith retailated. Picking off the easier target while staying mindful of the second. Raith easily sent the haala with the forked tongue flying. A gruff voice murmured behind him. He spun on his heels only to be face to face with the man in black robes. His amethyst eyes had a dangerous edge to them.

Looking into them he could only become lost, grabbing onto an emotion he had seen but could not decipher. A pair of large hands grabbed Raith's neck cutting off the sweet air around him, yet panic did not consume him. The pain of an internal struggle was shown through the wavering eyes of his assailant.

"Do it! Now!" said Raith.

The man threw Raith's body to the side, not bothering to keep up his charade. He had already gotten what he wanted. Upon seeing the cylinder in the hooded man's possession, Raith's hand shot out to grab it. The man rocked back, using his knees to spring forward for one more unforgiving punch.

Not thinking straight, his fist rammed into Raith's chest and face. The punches had the body gasping for air on the ground. Not one to back down. Raith entered the masked man's space and without a second thought his hand was outstretched. Preparing himself thoroughly, Qylian pulled his hand back to land his attack when suddenly the cool night air caressed his face.

No!

Purple eyes filled with fear stared at the man lying beneath him. The man who held his safety in hand. The cloth was held limply in Raith's wrist. Panting heavily he looked at Qylian's face in disbelief.

Qylian sat frozen atop Raith's chest. His only form of protection to his identity was now trapped in someone's hand. The fight suddenly was unbalanced and felt unfair. Snatching the cloth out of Raith's slender fingers, Qylian ignored the look of disbelief on his face.

Raith had a clue that Qylian was in the information market, but what he wasn't aware of was the fact that Qylian was a member of The Order. The Order's crest stitched in white thread on the black clothing made his heart break.

"Why?" said Raith.

Staring into each other's eyes. Neither of the men noticed the snake uncoil itself. The haala rose high. Speaking in the language of the ancients. The winds encased itself around his hand.

Touching the tip of his fang, a small bead of venom rolled onto it. Aiming for the slightly ajar lips of the man lying on the floor. His hand extended out. Palm facing up, his thumb flicked the drop of poison with deadly speed to its target.

Raith's eyes blinked rapidly, his skin losing its warm red hue in exchange for a ghastly pale colour. Finally aware of what occurred Qylian's eyes snapped to Irvor. Irvor shot him a glare scary enough to make banshees stop wailing. Qylian took up the body that lay on the floor in a daze.

"Where are you going with that?" said Irvor. His yellow eyes narrowing, if it was even possible for the slits to narrow even further.

"The Dome." Qylian replied, while lifting the unconscious man off the floor. With Raith securely in his arms, he spread his wings. "Meet you there."

At one hundred beats per second, Qylian's heart ran rampant in his chest. Always from afar he would ogle at Raith's beauty. Brushing his nose along Raith's jaw he inhaled deeply using the superior senses of the Qilin. The body in his hands stirred in the cool night. Qylian's eyes could not look away from the beautiful face before it.

Pulling Raith closer he revelled in the scent that only belonged to Raith. Long canines indicated the further transformation of the haala. Eyes glazed over were hidden by fair eyelids. Soft lips encased a portion of Raith's shoulder between themselves.

Listening to the sweet moans that came from Raith's lips. A deep growl erupted from Qylian's chest. Following his instincts Qylian applied pressure to the skin trapped between his teeth. A sigh of satisfaction rushed out Raith's lips; Tilting his head, he gave more room.

Proud did not begin to cover how Qylian felt at the thought of his essence running through the pretty body in his arms. Butterfly kisses were littered on Raith's skin, as a result.

I've wanted you for so long. Raith, forgive me.

Fanned to beautifully frame his face, long eyelashes lifted revealing amethyst eyes that sparkled in the light of Lina and Eesa. Raith's confusion was quickly shaken off, he desperately tried to break himself free. It was at moments like this he cursed his slender frame and was willing to trade for something more bulky.

"Stop fighting or I'll drop you!" said Qylian. The ice in Qylian's voice annoyed Raith. Catching the look sent his way. Qylian said, "If you have the confidence to fly on your own after receiving a lethal dose of his venom, be my guest."

With a smirk, he continued saying, "You're quite heavy though, so I'm not sure how well that would work out!" The second the words left his lips he made a move to act as though he was determining the weight of a sack of potatoes. Raith squealed, smacking him hard.

"Stop that!" said Raith.

He wanted to be angry. He wanted to delude himself and take the jump, but something was holding him back. Instead he wished to borrow into the arms that held him. He wanted to bask in Qylian's charred wood scent, even cover himself in it. Giving the man that carried him further inspection he noticed two lilac lines rolling down his chin. Raith's hand flew up to the dull throbbing on his neck.

"QYLIAN!"

Using his right hand's pinky he continued to clear his ears of the earful Raith gave him on the way back.

Who knew he'd react so strongly? Then again the mark is permanent.

Qylian ran up the stairs moving with God sped to the leader's bed chambers. Hand lifted in the air, he now thought about the ramifications of what he did to Raith.

What happens if Rox does not appreciate his new flame?

Swallowing his fears he sharply knocked on the door before entering. The canopy bed curtains were pulled back showing an empty bed. Qylian walked to the wall where the stone steps jutted out. Walking up a total sum of forty five tredders. He saw the one he came to see.

"Good night," said Qylian.

The man with smooth brown skin that looked out the window turned to him, with a beautiful smile, he said, "Good night handsome, what news do you have for me today?"

Closing the door behind him. He stretched his limbs. The meeting with Rox went better than he had expected. This was especially so, seeing as Irvor and himself brought back an unwanted guest. A sharp twist in Qylian's gut made him spin around. Instead of heading to his room as intended. Qylian followed the pain as it intensified within his stomach. Long forgotten about the link that was made. Qylian blindly followed the call of his chosen one.

Rushed steps carried him to the eighth floor. His eyes did not even light on the Rox's pets that lived on this floor. Walking up to the door where he felt the strongest pull he knocked and entered.

Not expecting the sudden intrusion Raith jumped up in fright. His face still damp from the ugly turn of events. Not to mention the ones who placed him in this room were rough and most disagreeable. Seeing the one person he recognized, Raith clung to his neck. His sobs filled the room.

Heart torn by Raith's tears, Qylian lifted the smaller man into his arms and silently left the room.

By the Gods and Goddesses, of old and new, I pray he accepts me as his own.

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