Excerpt from "Gilded Cage"

They had chosen a risky time to approach Jaifan's palace, the bright sun of noon hard and heavy upon them. But Caled suspected that their best chance was to move blatantly, in such a foolish fashion that none would think they were there. After all, who would even consider breaking into the home of a visiting dignitary, let alone during the bright pitch of day?

"Any chance you know where we are?" Caled breathed to Gam.

The hazel eyed thief frowned slightly and glanced around.

"The place is too damned big," he said. "But I think that we're nearing that big hall."

Lio nodded and pointed out a picture of a particularly lovely young woman.

"I remember that painting," Lio said. "Left goes to the target room, right to the banquet hall."

"You're all fools."

Caled shivered with anger and slowly drew a dagger as he turned. Atropos stared at him from the doorway she leaned in, her eyes dull and bored.

"I warned you," she said lowly.

"I don't like it when people take what's mine," Caled growled. "Give me back my sorcerer."

"You didn't seem so eager to lay claim to him before," Jaifan said as he emerged at Atropos' side. "I do recall asking."

Rage washed over Caled's face and he shook his head.

"It's none of your affair," he snapped. "Where's Hades?"

"He'll be brought, the gardens hold his attention," Jaifan said simply. "Follow me."

***

"I should have guessed he'd have a damned throne room here," Caled grumbled.

"It's not as grand as the one in Beyfan," Jaifan told him lightly. "But one must have a place to greet important guests. Your weapons please. And Atropos does know where you may choose to secret blades, don't force her to retrieve them."

Caled's glare could have cut the man who took his weapons to pieces. His fingers curled lightly into fists and Jaifan smiled at him, a cool smile that barely reached his eyes.

"Tell me," he said. "What is the sorcerer to you? You named him Hades, are you a man who enjoys suffering?"

"You've seen the company I keep," Caled drawled. "What do you think the answer is?"

Jaifan chuckled softly and leaned back in his throne.

"You're an intriguing man," Jaifan said softly. "You had your chance with him, and as far as I can tell, you've wasted it."

"You know nothing of it," Caled snapped angrily. "You don't know what he did."

"The burning of Rhiad?" Jaifan asked with a small shrug. "Was that his betrayal?"

Caled's mouth thinned and Jaifan's smile grew colder.

"He doesn't speak of you."

"That doesn't matter," Caled growled. "And what you want doesn't matter either. He is my Hades, mine alone. Do you understand that? I've claimed his life. Every breath is mine. Every moment until I choose for it to end."

Jaifan's eyes flashed like storm clouds.

"He is yours no longer."

Caled felt every inch of his body grow cold. He stared at Jaifan, murder in his eyes, the look empty and calculating. They both knew when the time came, Caled would not hesitate.

"You've no claim upon him," the mercenary said slowly.

"I will lay one," Jaifan answered in the same tone.

Caled grit his teeth together, ready to fly past all the guards and blades and certain death to lay his hands upon the prince. In that moment a silken curtain was flipped back, and soft footsteps sounded across the marble. Something within Caled tightened, his chest seizing as if a hand were clutching at his heart. His eyes pulled away from Jaifan and settled upon his most dangerous obsession.

"Hades," he breathed.

The sorcerer trailed silently after Atropos, his eyes lowered as he walked. An aura of ice and distance surrounded him, but it did nothing but add forbidden desire to his beauty. The dark clothing was gone, instead he was dressed in a delicate silk brocade that covered him from head to foot. It was a light cream, the color drawing some of the paleness from the sorcerer's face and making his hair glimmer darkly around his skin. The tunic was tight against his body and tapered down to a thin point at the backs of his hands. His breeches hung loose at his hips, but otherwise clung intimately to his legs, caressing over every delicate curve. Silver had been threaded through it all in a pattern of flowers and leaves that had Caled wishing to trace the stitches with his fingers. He had never seen anything so delicate.

The sorcerer's hands and feet were bare, the skin pale and strangely erotic next to the smooth fabric. It hinted at the soft flesh that was hidden, and whispered a helplessness that surged desire in Caled. He wanted to lift Hadrian to him, to shield him away from everything, to cradle the sorcerer in his arms and never let pale feet touch the ground again.

His gaze slid up Hadrian to the dark shadow that had drawn him in from the moment he had spotted the other man. Caled had to close his eyes as he struggled to keep still. Silver leaves and glinting jewels had been entwined within the sorcerer's hair, and hung down to frame his face, the ebony strands glinting like satin. The jewelry drew Caled's eye to Hadrian's face, caressed a gaze over it, and then abandoned Caled to the sorcerer's star like eyes.

In that moment, Hadrian saw him and the ice shattered away.

"Caled…"

He took a step forward, his eyes lighting up, but Jaifan clicked his tongue sharply and the sorcerer hesitated. He turned reluctantly away from Caled, his eyes dulling, and stared silently at the Beyfan prince.

"Come here, beloved," Jaifan said warmly and held his hand out.

Hadrian inched towards him, his eyes again and again darting over his shoulder to Caled. At last he stood before Jaifan, his hands now nervously twisting together.

"Tell me," Jaifan said softly. "In your country, if a man is caught breaking into another man's home to steal from him, what is the penalty?"

Hadrian's eyes again strayed back to the mercenary.

"Because in Beyfan," Jaifan continued. "The cost is death."

Hadrian's breath caught and his full attention fell upon Jaifan.

"Please release them," he asked quietly.

Jaifan's smile grew, but it was dark and silent.

"Come now, little dove," he said softly. "We all know you can beg prettier than that."

Heat poured across Hadrian's cheeks and his fingers curled around the bottom of his sleeves.

"Please…"

Jaifan shook his head.

"On your knees."

Pain washed over Hadrian's face and his lips worked silently a moment.

"Please, Jaifan…"

"Now, little dove," Jaifan said sternly, his eyes sliding cruelly to Caled.

Hadrian bowed his head and slowly lowered himself to the floor, his eyes hooded and stubbornly locked upon the marble. He hesitated there, his palms spreading against the cool stone as his eyes closed for a moment.

"Please let them go," Hadrian breathed.

Caled tasted blood.

Jaifan's hand moved to gently cradle the sorcerer's face, long fingers skating to Hadrian's lips and circling there. The Beyfan prince smiled and then pressed within. Hadrian's breath hitched, but his lips parted to allow one finger to slide inside. Jaifan's eyes darkened as he worked his finger in and out, a small smile sliding across his face. He pulled his hand free slowly and caressed back across Hadrian's cheek.

"You're so beautiful."

He pulled Hadrian up into his lap, the sorcerer's eyes still locked on the floor spread between his feet. Jaifan nuzzled against Hadrian's neck, his gaze drifting back to Caled with a malicious smile. Do you see, his eyes said, do you see my claim? Caled wished to crush the man's skull within his hands. He glared his intentions back but Jaifan merely smiled again. He petted lightly at Hadrian's side and kept the sorcerer pressed tightly to his body. The prince sighed softly.

"Very well," he said lightly. "Release the girl."

Two guards stepped to Syellen's side and roughly grabbed her shoulders. The young mage's eyes widened and she struggled against their pull.

"Master Manix!"

"It's fine, Syellen," the Elder said gently. "Return to the mage House."

"Jaifan…" Hadrian pleaded and turned to face the prince.

Jaifan shook his head slowly, that same small smile in place as he caressed his fingers over the back of Hadrian's neck.

"You ask for nothing but your freedom," Jaifan said quietly. "And yet today, you only wish for theirs. And so obedient to get what you desire."

He leaned forward to lightly kiss Hadrian's cheek, eyes glinting again as they locked with the mercenary's deadly stare. He chuckled softly and tugged Hadrian's chin so the sorcerer's eyes locked reluctantly with his.

"So long as you behave, I'll continue to release them. Until then, they may be my most honored guests."

He stole another kiss and smiled into Hadrian's sad eyes.

"You may accompany them…for a ways. Remember your boundaries, little dove."

The sorcerer nodded silently and pulled free from Jaifan's arms, a slight shiver running through his body. He stared at Caled, fear vibrant in the silver eyes, but neither spoke. Hadrian's gaze drifted away and his hands curled into loose fists.

"Take them below," Jaifan commanded lowly. "Atropos."

The assassin nodded and followed Hadrian like a silent shadow.