She dismounted, her movements jerky with rage, and bowed stiffly, her eyes never leaving the ground.
Malekith’s voice, though pitched for Vizra’s ears only, carried across the camp in the sudden silence that fell over the demon soldiers. “You were so certain of the humans’ weakness, of your own strength. And yet, you led the vanguard straight into a trap of your own making. The very thing you accused me of plotting.”
Vizra’s lip curled back, her fangs bared, but she said nothing.
“The humans were ready for us, yes. But your overconfidence, your bloodlust, blinded you to the warning signs that were there to see. You gave them the opening they needed to turn the tide against us. Fortunately, I was able to salvage the situation, but the cost of your folly is steep.”
“I . . . I am sorry, my lord,” Vizra said, her voice a strangled whisper.
“Sorry will not be enough to appease the Sovereign,” Malekith said. “You have failed him, and he will not look kindly upon that failure.”
Vizra’s eyes widened in horror, the full weight of her mistake crashing down on her. “My lord, please—”
“The fate of your household now rests in the hands of the Sovereign. I can only hope he will show you more mercy than the humans showed us or themselves.”
He released her then, and she crumpled to the ground, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs as he retreated to his private tent.
And there, he allowed a small smile to play across his lips, and Aric found himself smiling in kind.
The humans would be emboldened by their bittersweet victory, no doubt, but the demons’ true strength had been kept hidden. As far as the Sovereign and the rest of the demon court were concerned, Malekith had single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. His reputation could not have been burnished more brightly, while Vizra’s had been tarnished beyond repair.
Malekith reached out to him, and Aric took his hand, a thrill of heat racing through him. “You did it,” Aric said, a lump forming in his throat. “You held him back.”
Malekith’s eyes flicked from Aric to Vizra, still on her knees before him, before he let out a long breath. “For now.” His fingers tightened around Aric’s, and he turned to face him, his eyes intense. “There will be consequences. But it was a risk that had to be taken.” His thumb brushed over Aric’s knuckles, a soft caress.
Aric moved closer, stepping into the shelter of Malekith’s embrace. “We’ll face them together.” His voice was a whisper, but he knew Malekith could hear him.
After a long moment, Malekith released Aric’s hand and brought his palms to either side of Aric’s face. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as he traced the line of Aric’s jaw with his thumbs.
Aric’s breath caught in his throat as their eyes met, and he saw the storm of emotions raging within Malekith. Relief and regret, hope and sorrow. They both knew the cost of the battle that had just been won, the lives that had been lost and the fractures that had been torn open within the demon ranks.
But still, Aric couldn’t help but feel a rush of hope. Malekith was a master of this game, and now the tide of the war was at his back. Maybe, just maybe, they could use it to stem the tide and find another path.
He raised himself on his toes, closing the last few inches between them, and pressed his lips to Malekith’s. Malekith stiffened for the briefest moment, and then he was kissing him back, his lips parting with a soft sigh.
Aric felt a sudden flood of emotion so strong it made his head spin, so he poured it all into the kiss. Gratitude, for Malekith accepting him, flaws and all. Sorrow, for the lives lost on both sides of the battlefield. Hope, that they could use this moment of retreat to set things right. And love, a fierce, unquenchable love that he hoped Malekith could taste on his lips.
The kiss was a spark, igniting the flame that had been smoldering between them for so long. Aric felt the heat of it sear through him, melting away any remaining hesitation. He pressed himself closer to Malekith, their bodies aligning perfectly, and Malekith’s hands came to rest on his hips, pulling him even nearer.
Aric’s heart was pounding in his chest, his breath coming in short gasps as Malekith’s mouth trailed down his neck, teeth nipping at the sensitive skin there. He shivered, his hands coming up to tangle in Malekith’s hair, holding him in place as he savored the feel of Malekith’s lips and tongue against his skin.
Malekith’s hands slid up his sides, thumbs brushing the peaks of his nipples through the thin fabric of his shirt, making Aric arch into the touch. With a soft growl, Malekith bit down on the juncture between Aric’s neck and shoulder, and Aric moaned, his head falling back to give Malekith better access.
They stumbled backward, Malekith’s legs hitting the edge of the bed, and they fell onto it in a tangle of limbs. Aric found himself on his back, Malekith’s body a welcome weight on top of him. Malekith’s eyes were dark, burning with a hunger that mirrored Aric’s own.
Malekith’s hand slid between them, fingers wrapping around Aric’s cock, and he bucked up into the touch with a gasp. Malekith’s thumb swiped over the head, spreading the pre-come there, and Aric’s hips stuttered as he sought more friction.
“Patience,” Malekith murmured, his breath hot against Aric’s ear. His free hand pinned Aric’s wrists above his head, holding him in place as he slowly stroked them both.
Aric’s breath hitched as Malekith began to move his hips, their cocks sliding against each other in a slow, torturous rhythm. He rocked up into each stroke, seeking more, his body singing with pleasure. Malekith’s thumb brushed over the head of his cock again, and he keened, his hips stuttering.
“You’re so beautiful like this,” Malekith whispered, his lips brushing Aric’s ear. “So responsive.”
Aric’s cheeks burned, but he didn’t look away, holding Malekith’s gaze as their hips moved together in a steady, relentless rhythm. Malekith’s eyes were half-lidded, his mouth parted as he focused on the pleasure building within them both.
Aric’s body was on fire, every touch and sensation magnified. He felt the heady rush of desire coil low in his stomach, a delicious tension that begged for release. He wanted—needed—more.
His hips snapped up, seeking deeper friction, and Malekith growled, his hips stuttering in response. Aric’s hands were still pinned above his head, and he jerked forward, seeking to deepen the contact.
Malekith’s free hand came down on his chest, holding him in place as he began to move his hips in earnest, their cocks sliding together in a frantic, desperate rhythm. Aric moaned, frantic and desperate as the pleasure built and built, threatening to overwhelm him.
“Malekith, please,” he gasped, his hips stuttering as he sought release.
Malekith’s thumb came down on the slit of Aric’s shaft as he stroked him, and Aric cried out, his body arching up off the bed as he came with a shudder. Malekith followed soon after, his body tensing as he spilled himself between them with a low, satisfied groan.
They lay there for a moment, breathless, their hearts pounding in time. Aric’s wrists were still trapped in Malekith’s iron grip, but he didn’t mind, his body thrumming with the aftershocks of his release.
Malekith’s thumb brushed over his wrist, and Aric’s hands were free, sliding down to tangle in the sheets as he struggled to catch his breath. He felt Malekith shift beside him, and then warm lips pressed against his shoulder, a soft kiss that made his heart stutter.
He turned his head, seeking Malekith’s mouth, and their lips met in a slow, languid kiss that spoke of promises and a future that lay beyond the war and the darkness. Aric poured all his hope into it, his love, and his desire for a world where they could be together, without secrets or shadows.
A sharp rap on Malekith’s tent post jolted Aric from his slumber. He blinked, disoriented, as the pre-dawn light filtered through the canvas. Beside him, Malekith stirred, his arm tightening around Aric’s waist.
“Enter,” Malekith called, his voice rough with sleep.
A young demon messenger burst into the room his eyes wide with urgency. He faltered for a moment at the sight of Aric and Malekith tangled together, but quickly recovered his composure.
