Excerpt from "Beyond Mirage"

There was a sharp rap at the door and Hadrian closed his eyes wearily. If it was Lio again, he was going to slam the door in the thief's face. The green eyed man had already stopped by twice to just check in on Hadrian and the blatant attempts to touch him were beginning to wear on Hadrian's nerves. He pulled himself to his feet and tossed the collar back on his bed.
He opened the little door and his surprise was immediately masked by a blank look. Arlen stared back in much the same way.

"Has Cal returned?" the captain asked.

"No," Hadrian said and stepped aside so Arlen could see every inch of the room.

Arlen's mouth worked slightly and then he stepped inside, one hand moving back to shut the door quietly but firmly. He spun on Hadrian then, looming over the sorcerer with empty eyes.

"You're younger than I thought you'd be," he said.

Hadrian stared at him and Arlen spun one lock of hair around his fingers, his eyes clouded with thought.

"I meant what I said before," Arlen said softly. "I want you dead, Hadrian ni Leyanon. You've taken my brother from me."

"I've taken many people's brothers," Hadrian said blankly. "And sons, and fathers, and husbands…"

Arlen's lips parted to reveal almost canine like teeth. He leaned forward, backing Hadrian roughly into one corner.

"Mind your tongue, sorcerer," he breathed.

Hadrian's eyes slid over Arlen and he could see it now. Their eyes were the same, that deep blue that threatened to swallow him up and never let him go. It was in the cut of their jaws as well, a firm command that drew people to them. He could see Caled in this man and Hadrian forced his mind to clear as Arlen's hand tangled in the collar of his tunic.

"I've no qualms about keel-hauling you," Arlen said lowly and shook Hadrian's body with terrifying ease. "Do you know what that means sorcerer? It means we'd tie your hands with the roughest rope we could find and wait for the ship to catch the strongest wind in the ocean. Then we'd throw you over the bow and let you fall under the ship, let every inch of her hull bite into you, and then drag you behind us. Most men live the first time, but by the fourth, we're mostly just throwing a mindless piece of meat overboard."

Hadrian's eyes closed a moment and Arlen tightened his hold.

"You'll keep your distance from him," Arlen said.

Gray eyes flashed up to meet him and Arlen scowled.

"You'll make distance between you both," the captain commanded. "He's too attached to you."

Hadrian remained silent and Arlen shook his head with disgust. He flung the sorcerer away and moved back to the door.

"You'd best listen to me," Arlen warned. "I'm master at sea."

The door had only been shut for a moment before it opened again and Caled appeared. He glanced at Hadrian with a dim frown.

"Was Arlen just here?"

"Yes," Hadrian answered weakly.

Caled couldn't help it when his eyes darkened. The ice was forming back around Hadrian, and the mercenary wondered if Maretis was the only one he'd need to see kept their distance from the sorcerer.

"He doesn't know of the geas, does he?" Hadrian murmured.

Caled's eyes snapped harshly at that and he growled low in his throat.

"No. What did you tell him?"

"Nothing," Hadrian answered distantly. "We did not speak of it."

For a second, Caled was tempted to ask what they had spoken of. But to do so would mean showing concern, and Caled did not care about Hadrian.

"And you had better not," Caled said boredly as he flopped down in his bunk. "What an embarrassment to be bound to you like this."

Hadrian glanced sadly at Caled, but didn't rise to the bait as he returned to his own bed. His hands again strayed to the collar and he slowly began to turn it in his hold.

"What've you got there?" Caled asked with reluctant interest.

Hadrian held up the collar and the mercenary frowned.

"And where did you get it?"

"It was under your cloak," Hadrian said, and for some reason the sorcerer blushed darkly.

Caled felt a wolfish smile tug at his lips.

"And what were you doing with my cloak?"

"Nothing," Hadrian said and looked away.

"Mmm-hmm," Caled said and shook his head. "And what do you plan to do with that?"

Hadrian's fingers circled around the collar.

"Nothing," he muttered again.

Caled's smile curled sharply. He wasn't surprised. Magick was like a magnet for the pale man, it drew him more surely than anything else in Juxtan. He couldn't help his curiosity, and Caled was sure that Hadrian would soon bombard him with questions. Hadrian's eyes dropped away, half lidded and shy now as his fingers played over the enchanted leather.

"How does it work?" Hadrian asked then.

Caled almost chuckled. Hades was so predictable.

"It's magicked," Caled said with a shrug. "There's a spell carved into the leather. You'd have to ask the Elder how it's cast."

"But what does it do?" Hadrian persisted.

"It draws forth an aspect of a man," Caled said boredly. "It brings forth a piece to make a man a weapon. Now quiet, Hades, I want to sleep."

"A weapon?" Hadrian echoed.

"Yes," Caled said with exasperation. "If a man should think of violence and put the collar on, then he will be a force of destruction and battle upon Juxtan. If he were to think of tracking a pale sorcerer, then all his senses would be honed to do only that. And if a man were to think of killing that pale sorcerer and getting some much needed rest, he'd become set upon it. Do you see?"

Hadrian's mouth thinned and he shot Caled an annoyed look.

"But how does it--"

"By the gods, Hades!" Caled exclaimed. "If you're so blasted curious, just put the damned thing on."

Hadrian's eyes dropped away and Caled felt the sorcerer pull away in more than just physical distance. He fought the urge to roll his eyes and settled for sighing heavily.

"What?" he snapped a little more harshly than he had meant to.

"How…how does it determine which aspect to draw upon?" Hadrian asked softly.

Understanding dawned in Caled's eyes. Hadrian's fever struck words echoed in his mind and he sadly shook his head. Thoughts of destruction and death must be a constant tune in that pretty head, no wonder the man was hesitant.

"It takes from what is strongest," Caled said and returned to his feet.

He moved to stand in front of Hadrian, silver eyes now determinedly locked on the wall to the left. Caled chuckled quietly and gently ran his fingers through Hadrian's hair.

"Would you like a demonstration?" he asked as he toyed with one dark strand.

He felt Hadrian tense at his touch and the deep grey eyes flickered to meet his.

"What sort of demonstration?" Hadrian asked warily.

Caled smirked and sat down at Hadrian's side. The sorcerer inched away, but Caled quickly locked his hand around one wrist and kept him still.

"A brief one, I assure you," Caled said, his eyes drooping slightly as he leaned close to Hadrian. "I'll distract all those dark thoughts of yours away, and let you see what it's like to be…possessed."

Caled deliberately accented the last word, his voice dropping low and heavy upon it as he stared at Hadrian. A dark blush fanned over the pale cheeks and Caled felt his smile grow. Hadrian squirmed next to him, his hands still twisting at the collar, and Caled chuckled quietly. He was about to strike a low blow.

"If you're afraid…"

He let his voice trail away and pulled his hand free.

"I'm not afraid!" Hadrian snapped, his eyes flashing like lightning at Caled.

Yes, his Hades was so predictable.

"Really?" Caled smirked. "Prove it, love."

Hadrian's blush darkened and his eyes dropped back to the collar he held. Caled could feel the sorcerer turning the thought over in his mind and he almost felt guilty for prodding Hadrian towards this. But gods it was so easy. Hadrian bit his lip lightly and his eyes closed. Caled knew he had reached a decision.

"Fine," Hadrian said, his cheeks blazing. "But it remains a brief demonstration."

Caled smirked at the command in Hadrian's voice and he reached forward to untie the loose bindings of Hadrian's breeches.

The sorcerer gasped and pushed at his hand. "What are you doing?"

"Just what I said I would, love," Caled answered cheerfully and slid his hand down between Hadrian's legs.

The sorcerer bucked hard, his eyes widening and mouth opening into an astonished circle. He moaned loudly, his whole body arching as Caled slowly stroked him. Caled sighed with pleasure; gods, Hadrian's reactions were enough to drive him to the edge.

"Ca-Caled," Hadrian gasped and his fingers clamped around Caled's wrist, the collar pressed against his skin. "I-I…"

"Shh, love," Caled purred. "It's all part of the demonstration. What are you thinking of now?"

"Your hand," Hadrian moaned.

"Mmm, see?" Caled said. "Just think on that, and what you want me to do to your pretty little body next."

Hadrian moaned again, his head thrown back now as Caled squeezed him firmly. The mercenary chuckled softly and then looped his arm around Hadrian's shoulders, his hand sliding up to caress against Hadrian's cheek. He circled his thumb over Hadrian's lips and then carefully forced it inside. Hadrian whimpered and Caled felt his cock twitch. He slid his thumb back and forth, working it in and out of Hadrian's mouth until the sorcerer picked up the rhythm and began to suckle at him. Caled smiled with satisfaction; he remembered how well Hadrian had worked him on their ride, and he planned to make use of that knowledge this night.

"Put the collar on, Hades," Caled murmured and then bit Hadrian's ear. "Let me finish this."