You're a little late, prince. Cas had already been there for centuries, now returned. As a death demon, he derived strength from his every kill, and he'd made thousands on Poly; at last he was ready to fight Trehan again. Cas had simply needed a way to send a challenge to Dacia.
Which meant Mirceo's presence might actually be a boon.
"I was right as usual," the vampire continued. "I'm well aware of your immense sexual appetites, because I enjoyed them."
Cas shook his head. "You watched me with females."
"We watched each other. And then there was the night of our kiss."
That night had fucked Cas up for ages! He had never desired another male before or since Mirceo. "Just tell me why you're here."
"Testing a theory." The vampire's gaze rose. "Look at your gorgeous horns, Caspion."
The way Mirceo said his name was like a graze of lips across his throat, making Cas's pulse race. Godsdamnit, what hold did this male have over him? I'll fight it to the death!
Mirceo continued in that hypnotic voice, "I loved to watch them straighten and swell, transfixed by the sight. I still fantasize about kissing them. Licking them. Clutching them as I straddle you, riding that mouthwatering shaft of yours."
Fucking seductive vampire! Now Cas would be picturing those mental images for another eternity. "What do you want?" he demanded, his words embarrassingly thick.
"Are you heading to the Plane because you're still in denial about what happened between us? I know how much it affected you."
"What your assassin uncle did in the tournament affected me!" Though Cas had known Bettina wasn't his fated one, he'd entered for her hand to save her from some of the more monstrous entrants.
One problem: Trehan Daciano had sensed his mate in Bettina. The ruthless assassin had entered as well.
"Was the tournament really so bad? You fought hard, and you made it to the very end. People loved you."
Cas clenched his fists.
"I secretly watched you win an early match. All the demonesses threw their garters at you, screaming for your attention. At first, I thought I was jealous of your acclaim, wanting it for myself. Then I realized I was jealous whenever you smiled at those females. You were obviously enjoying their adoration."
"Oh, I did enjoy it. It felt ungodsly good to be respected and adored by my people." Crowds had cheered for him, chanting his name. The same demons who'd disdained Beggar had called Cas the first son of Abaddon! Until the final round had pitted him against Trehan. "Yet then your uncle wiped the floor of the ring with my face!"
Trehan had been poisoned by persons unknown, but he must have suspected Cas and Bettina. In his rage, the Prince of Shadow had annihilated Cas.
Snippets of that match flashed through his memory.
Trehan hurtling me against the side of the Iron Ring. A rusty spike breaking off inside my skull. Unimaginable pain. Vision fading to black. Where will the vampire strike next??? Can't see! Can't hear over the roar of the crowd! Blindly taking the attack, helpless to fight back. The snap of bones as the beating went on. And on. Choking on blood and humiliation. Bile. My own people cheering for Trehan.
When it'd ended at last, a deafening silence had reigned. Then the Dacian had renounced Bettina in front of all, leaving Cas the "victor."
The Abaddonae believed--rightly--that in a match to the death, someone must die. Instead, Trehan had left him to live in shame. . . .
Mirceo didn't look disturbed by Cas's anger whatsoever. "How could you defend yourself against my uncle? He's a blooded Dacian--who happens to be a millennium older than you are." Not anymore. "Would it help if I told you Trehan regrets his actions?"
"He saw reason?"
"You haven't heard? He discovered a malicious squire had poisoned his blood mead. Trehan and Bettina are reconciled and happily wed now."
King Trehan of Abaddon? Godsdamn it! Though Cas had finally gotten strong enough to defeat his enemy, could Bettina bear it?
As if reading his mind, Mirceo said, "My uncle worries for his delicate Bride. She would be torn apart if you two fought." And she'd already been through so much.
So you'll just abandon your revenge after all these centuries? The agony of that spike embedding in his skull was nothing compared to the blistering disgrace that followed--in and out of the Ring.
Once Cas had healed, he'd been forced to attend the tournament award ceremony. As he'd gazed out at the silent, grim-faced Abaddonae, one thought had echoed through his mind: I've known hatred and disdain all my life--but never like this.
He had accepted the crown, giving it right back to Bettina for her to rule alone. What else could he do after that but leave?
Cas's situation there wouldn't be changed in such a short time, but he was changed. He was stronger, wealthier, and wiser, had even taught himself to read. Cas had more control over his life than ever before.
He would contemplate his next steps with calm rationality. He now knew how to find Trehan; there was time. Either way, Cas had nothing more to say to Mirceo. "I want you out of my life."
Mirceo stepped closer. "That's not possible." He inhaled, seeming greedy for Cas's scent--
The vampire's eyes shot wide, as if he'd been thunderstruck. Then they opened even wider. He tilted back his head and mouthed to the sky, "Oh gods, thank you!"
Cas scowled, unable to hold back his question: "For what do you thank the gods?"
Mirceo faced him with a delighted look. "My fondest wish just came true." In a low tone full of hunger, he added, "Ah, sweetheart, what fun you and I shall have together."
Cas recalled those words from so long ago. As before, a shiver crossed his nape.
Baffled by Mirceo's behavior, he traced back to his lodgings in the dusty outpost hotel.
Alone, he fought to calm his racing pulse. You're wiser. Stronger. Focused. You're in control.
Heading to the bathroom, he peeled off his sodden shirt, leaving his skin sticky with brew. He turned on the shower as cold as the water could get, then stepped under the cascade.
Cas was no longer an easily beguiled pup--so why did that pull toward Mirceo remain? It'd even intensified! Other vampires had attempted to enthrall him over the years and failed.
But then, none of them had been a Dacian.
Infinite times, Cas had lain in his bed in Poly, replaying that last night in Dacia. He'd relived the madness that had overtaken him, the primal lust that had forced him to pin down his friend and grind his cock against the vampire's till they'd both come. Use me, demon--
"I could wash your back for you." Mirceo?
Baring his fangs, Cas snapped, "How did you find me in here?"
"Not important," Mirceo said, keeping his gaze raised. "I have a pressing matter to discuss with you. If you don't like what I have to say, then you can still head off on your ridiculous penance trip, whiling away your years in hell."
Cas gave a bitter laugh. "That so?" Ready to leave this outpost for good, he continued to wash. "There's nothing for us to discuss. Nothing."
"Aren't you even curious what I might say?"
"No," he lied. In the small bathroom, Mirceo's scent inundated him, lighting up his mind. His shaft was getting harder than it'd been since the last time Mirceo had fucked with Cas's head.
"You don't seem to be in any particular hurry to leave this realm." Lowering his voice, Mirceo said, "It's been weeks since you abandoned me. That's long enough." He eased closer to the shower. "Deep down you know it is. You're vacillating about your journey, aren't you, sweetheart? Is something anchoring you here, hmm? Perhaps you are hesitant to venture so far from me?"
Cas leaned out of the shower stall to meet Mirceo's eyes. "You arrogant asshole. I'm just returning to this realm. I've been gone for more than five hundred years. Five centuries without a thought of you."
EIGHT
BOOM . . . . . . BOOM . . . . . BOOM . . . . BOOM . . .
Mirceo's heart pounded again. Then again. And again. The demon has blooded me.
As horrifying as his walking-dead existence had been, this reawakening was miraculous! His lungs expanded for breath, his shaft filling with blood. He knew from others that he would soon grow mindless to lose his seed with his mate.
Mirceo could scarcely think over these new changes, but had Caspion just said he'd already gone, then returned? "Allow me a moment to get this straight." He struggled to keep his eyes up, to not follow the water sluicing down the rugged planes of Caspion's body. If Mirceo glanced down, he might lose all control and fall upon this demon. "Though only weeks have passed here, you've been away for half a millennium?"
Caspion's answer was a sneer.
"I see." They'd been around the same age before. Though the immortal demon would look no older, Caspion now had fifty decades on Mirceo. How extraordinary. "Any reason you chose now to return? Because you hit your limit of missing me?"
"I've returned because I've collected bounties and made kills for centuries. Now I'm strong enough and rich enough to do and have anything I want."
Sexy demon! This new, hard-edged darkness only fueled Mirceo's desire.
When Caspion turned off the shower, Mirceo traced to collect a towel, offering it. Eyes up! "Could I have been so mistaken about your attraction to me?" he asked, knowing he hadn't been. Right now chemistry sparked between them.
So how had Mirceo's mate lived without him for so long?
The demon snatched the towel out of his hands. "You were utterly mistaken about me."
Mirceo could tell he was lying. A first. Unfortunately, Caspion hailed from an archaic realm of demons who held outdated views about same-sex relationships. Mirceo had predicted some resistance.
After all, Caspion had grown up an orphan, longing all of his life for just two things: respect and a family. A male mate would bring Caspion no offspring--and in the demonarchy of the backward Deathly Ones--nothing but shame.
Though Caspion had never judged Mirceo for bedding males, those kinds of views had to be what was holding the demon back from their obvious yearning for each other.
What other obstacle could there possibly be?