Love Is Always Write Volume 4

Harken, we will be chained to the palace and never granted a moment of free time. Nyle and I had the very devil of the time obtaining just a few minutes alone—" He broke off, realizing his error. "I'm sorry."
    Allen frowned. "About what?"
    Sarrica finished his coffee and poured more. "I feel it is in poor taste to speak of a past lover to the one I am attempting to court."
    "He was important to you," Allen replied. "I am pleased you'd speak of him to me at all. I—well, I am no soldier, and he was unmatched in that regard."
    "Yes, he had no equal," Sarrica said quietly. "He won every battle I ordered him to lead. But he had no patience for courtly life, and it was a source of contention between us. I am realizing more and more that perhaps everyone knew what was best for me, except me."
    Allen smiled faintly at his coffee. "Well, your opinion is the one that matters."
    "No, it is definitely our opinion that matters," Sarrica corrected. "Being consort to the High King is no easy thing, especially as your silver tongue is going to be used to the point I fear some days you'll have no voice left."
    "I know a few tricks to help with that," Allen said, and finally began to work at his own breakfast. After a few minutes he asked, "Why were the Dragons trying to get to Benta? I still don't know their true mission."
    Sarrica stared at him in surprise. "Rene never told you? They were on a rescue mission. A ship of ours went down off the coast of Benta, and the survivors captured. The Dragons were going to retrieve them. They've been secured as a condition of my not starting a war with Benta. I'm sorry, I would have explained all that if it had occurred to me you did not know."
    Allen laughed, shaking his head. "I'm sure Rene is just as happy to see the back of me; I seem to be a source of ill-luck, and if Cartha and Benta had realized who I was everything would have been much worse."
    "It all worked out in the end, though I think everyone will rest easier in the future if you leave the palace only for official reasons."
    "Yes, Majesty," Allen said teasingly, and finished his coffee. "Is there anything else I can do to help? I feel rather at loose ends sitting in here all day."
    Sarrica finished his coffee and set the cup aside, looking Allen over thoughtfully. "I can certainly sympathize with being idle. I'm not very good at it myself. Are you certain you can handle wandering about? Not that you'll do much actual wandering, but..."
    "I'm fine," Allen said, and slowly stood up, turning around to display his wounds. He ran a hand over the back of his head, and Sarrica realized he was reaching reflexively to lift hair that still wasn't there.
    Sarrica stood up and moved around the table, reaching out to gingerly examine the wounds. They did seem to be healing well and quickly. By the time they left, Allen should have no real problems getting down the mountain. Sarrica let his hand linger a moment, then slowly pulled it away. "You do seem to be healing well. I see no reason you cannot be as bored as I somewhere else in the fortress."
    Turning, Allen smiled up at him. If there was a man alive who could resist that sort of temptation, Sarrica did not want to be him. Allen tasted like coffee and porridge, warm and male beneath that, returning Sarrica's kiss with genuine enthusiasm.
    He barely remembered in time not to wrap his arms around Allen and draw him in close. Instead, he cupped Allen's face, ate ravenously at his mouth, mind running through everything he suddenly wanted to do and picking out what was actually possible.
    A knock at the door forced him to stop, but he lingered a moment, rubbing his thumb over Allen's bottom lip before stepping back with a sigh. "Enter," he called out.
    The door opened to admit a guard, who swept them a low bow. "High King, I was bid inform you that all are assembled and await only you."
    "See arrangements are made for Prince Allen to join me. He will be assisting me with the hearings today."
    Sweeping another bow, the guard said, "Yes, Majesty." He closed the door quietly behind him.
    Reluctantly stepping away, Sarrica said, "I think I might have something suitable for you to wear, though it will be a trifle large."
    "Only a trifle?" Allen asked, mouth twitching with amusement. "What are these hearings that they would come all the way up here to hold them? Why could they not wait until your return?"
    "One is a murder that took place on neutral land, so I must settle it. The victim was a