********************

 After a long, leisurely bath together, the two men returned to their bed chamber where Fox dropped naked across the bed and watched Alexei choose his clothing.

"I'm glad you decided to speak to your father."

Alexei grunted. "I am only doing it because you asked me to. I could very easily go the rest of my life without..." He turned to face Fox, and his words left him.

"Go the rest of your life without..."

"Hmm?"

One gold-flecked eye opened and focused on the standing man. "You said that you could easily go the rest of your life without...then you stopped. "Go the rest of your life without what?"

"I do not remember...have you any idea how incredibly delicious you look lying there?"

Fox turned his head, chuckling to himself. "Something tells me that I had better get up and get dressed or we'll never get out of here..."

Before he had a chance to rise from the bed, Alexei was kneeling over him, nuzzling his face and throat. "But I would much *rather* stay here."

"I know," Fox cooed, "but the sooner we go, the sooner it will be done."

"All right, all right." Pouting, Alexei rose and helped Fox to his feet. Unable to help himself, he allowed his hands to skim over his lover's body as he walked past.

"Behave," Fox warned, smiling as he continued on his way. A few minutes later, he was dressed and ready to go, and Alexei was still fussing with his clothing. He approached his lover and wrapped his arms around his chest. "You're stalling," he whispered into one gold hoop-adorned ear.

"No..."

"Oh, yes, you are." Fox finished helping Alexei dress, then led him to a chair, and pushed him down into it. He retrieved his own hairbrush from the nearby table and began to run it in long strokes over his lover's head, and down the length of his hair.

Alexei's eyes drifted shut, and a soft rumble sounded in his chest.

Fox smiled as he watched the other man writhe in sensual bliss. "You behave as though no one has ever brushed your hair before."

"No one ever has," Alexei sighed, eyes still closed. "I simply just..." His hand fluttered through the air as he spoke.

"Not even when you were a child? Your mother? A servant?"

"I do not recall. That was a very long time ago."

Fox continued drawing the brush through the silky strands, following each stroke with the palm of his other hand. "Odd that a man who has introduced me to such extreme pleasures would know nothing of ones as simple as this." The brush left the surface of Alexei's hair and came up from underneath, starting at the nape of his neck and grazed upward. Again, his other hand followed, gathering the sable tresses together and holding them for another pass of the brush.

Alexei groaned audibly and arched his neck, prompting an amused laugh from Fox.

"It's not supposed to be arousing, you know."

"No?"

"No. It's *supposed* to be relaxing."

"Sorry. It is simply that your every touch sets my blood to boiling."

Fox put the brush down and combed his fingers through Alexei's hair, letting the heavy strands fall into place against his back. He leaned in, wrapping his arms around the other's shoulders, and strung a trail of kisses along his jaw. "Well, turn that boil down to a simmer, because we really must get going."

Alexei sounded a frustated growl, then wound an arm around Fox's neck and brought their lips together before releasing him. Fox assisted with his turban, Alexei made one last check of his appearance, and finally, they were off to see Malik.

 ********************

 Malik paced the room, stopping only long enough to throw an occasional glance at the door or the man who sat watching him.

"Sire," Daniel began, "you must remain calm..."

"How can I, Daniel? My son is coming here to confront me with the terrible things I have done to him and his mate. He may leave here today and never see me again. He may walk away from the throne and everything that is rightfully his because his father was a blind fool."

"You will not know that until he tells you. Getting upset about it now before you speak to him is not going to help..."

The doors opened, drawing the attention of both men. Alexei stalked in, the stark white silks he was attired in billowing out behind him. He looked more like himself than he had in several weeks, and the defiant set of his jaw and arrogant gleam in his eye were a welcome sight for Malik. Gray eyes flicked from Alexei to the one who walked beside him. He was beautiful, this Fox. Graceful and regal in his flowing robes of blue and gold, he and Alexei struck an exquisite picture.

Glittering emerald eyes flashed from Malik to Daniel, and Alexei walked over to him. He stood in front of his friend, speaking softly despite the combative gleam in his eye.

"I did not get to thank you last night."

Daniel grinned. "The look on your face as we left was thank you enough."

"No. I do not know that I will *ever* be able to thank you properly for the risk you took for me. And I also must apologize and beg your forgiveness for the threat I made to you."

"It is all right, Alexei. You had no idea. As far as you could see, Fox was in danger, and I was the one who put him there. There was no other way for you to react."

Alexei stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his friend, hugging him tightly. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for giving me my life back."

"My pleasure, my friend." The two men separated, then Daniel leaned in again, murmuring in a confidential tone. "Might we uh...discuss what I am to do about the lovely Dana later on?"

Alexei grinned and nodded. Then, taking Fox's hand, he turned toward Malik. The humor vanished, and his tone turned business-like.

"Well, Father. I am here. Say what you wanted to say."

Malik drew a deep breath and motioned to a pair of tufted chairs. "Please. Sit. This may take a while."

Alexei led Fox to one of the chairs and, once he was comfortably seated, took up position behind him.

Malik looked from one man to the other. "You do not wish to sit, son?"

"I prefer to stand," came the acid reply.

The older man sighed then lowered himself into a facing chair. "As you wish." He watched his son catch his lover's hand in his and bring it to his lips. The two exchanged a tender glance, then their attention focused back on him.

"Now. What do you wish to say?"

Malik paused a moment, then began. "Alexei....Fox....allow me to say again how terribly, terribly sorry I am for what I have done to you. But if I may try to explain my actions...Alexei, I know all you saw was a cruel deed committed by a man who, for his own selfish reasons, wanted to keep you from your human lover. This is not true. In my own way, I was trying to protect you..."

"From *what*?

Malik ran his hands over his face and through his hair. "Alexei, I know of no other way to say this except to just say it. You know that I never spoke much of your...your mother."

"Yes, but what has she..."

Malik held up a hand. "She has much to do with it. After she was gone, I never found reason to tell you or your brothers and sisters that she was..." He took a long, deep breath and released it. "...human."

Alexei's fingers tightened around Fox's. "What?"

"You are half human, Alexei."

Alexei stared, for a moment too shocked to respond, then the room shook with his anger. "And you did not think it important enough to tell us?"

"*No*. All of you seemed to have inherited much of my genes. The others all took only minor characteristics from your mother as far as I could see. Except for you. You look so much like her. But...there still seemed to be no glaring discrepancies...there was nothing that you would question..."

"I do not understand! Why was it such a *secret*?"

"I was not ashamed of your mother, Alexei, before that idea comes into your head. I loved her with all of my heart and soul. The simple matter of it is, it *hurt* to discuss her. She was *human*, son. I know that you have not given consideration, as I did not, to the fact that we outlive humans by many years. *Far* too many, when you are deeply in love with one." He looked from Alexei's distressed face to Fox's. "I knew how much you loved him. I knew it immediately that day you came to me. And it frightened me more than I had ever been. You are my son, Alexei. The closest connection I have to your mother, and it tore at my heart to think of you in years to come, as devastated at the loss of your love as I. I thought if I could stop it now, if I could..." His eyes continued to jump from one to the other. "...but it is too late for that now, and all I can do is apologize."

Alexei fixed an unfocused gaze on a spot on the floor just beyond the chair in which Fox sat. Thoughts of himself in years to come, spending decade upon decade without his precious Fox, sent tremors through his body.

Fox pulled himself out of his chair and came to stand before his stricken lover. "Alexei? It....it is inevitable in every relationship that one partner will die first. The difference here is that we can be fairly sure it will be me. If...if you feel that you can't, or...or you don't want to...to deal with that for as long as you will obviously have to...if you want to...." Fox paused, looking for the strength to say it, "...to end this..."

Alexei's head snapped up. "*No*." He practically fell into Fox's arms. "No. How can you even ask me that?"

Fox wrapped his arms around his lover's back and held him close. "I don't know. I just...I just don't know what else to say to you. I just want you to know that I would understand if you felt you wanted to..."

"*Never*, Fox. I love you and I will *not* walk away from you. If we had just two more *days* together, they would be worth the agony I would suffer for the rest of my life."

"That is exactly the way I felt about my Katarina," Malik offered softly. "It was wrong of me to try to take that decision out of your hands..."

Alexei did not hear a word that his father had just said to him. He was too wrapped up in his present pain to process anything more. Eyes closed, he clung tightly to Fox, needing the warmth only his love could provide.

Fox rocked Alexei gently, drawing a hand up and down his back. "Jade...my love, listen to me. You've had quite a shock today. You need time to absorb it all. Come. Let's go home." Fox looked to Malik. "Unless there are any other disturbing bits of news you'd like to share."

"No," Malik sighed. "No, you are right. He needs time to accept what he has learned." He reached out to touch his son's shoulder. "He has never had to face death, Fox. I did all I could to shelter him when his mother passed. And everyone else he knows is of our own kind. I can see that it was wrong of me to keep it from him....*and* his brothers and sisters. They are all adults now and incapable of dealing with a natural fact of life. Forgive me, but as I am sure that he will not allow me, I believe it is now up to you to make him understand."

Fox gave the old man a chilly stare. "I'll take care of him," he said, an air of authority in his posture.

"I know you will. I will see that you both get home now."

At this, the other man who had been observing silently from a far corner of the room now stepped forward. "I will take them home," Daniel offered. "Fox, would you mind if I accompanied you? I will remain unobtrusive, but I will be there if you need me."

"No, Daniel, I don't mind. Thank you."

"If I might," Malik broke in just as they were ready to leave, "I would very much like to visit you tomorrow...to see that he is all right."

Fox paused to see if Alexei would answer for himself. The other man remained silent.

"I will speak with him tonight about it, and Daniel...." he looked to the man who had come to stand beside them. "will let you know?"

Daniel nodded his agreement.

"Very well." Malik ran a hand lightly down his son's arm. "Alexei, I am so very sorry. All the pain you have suffered these past weeks is my fault. If there is anything at all that I can do..."

No response.

Malik turned his focus on Fox. "You are indeed as special as he said. I do not know if I could be so generous as to speak civilly to the man who had done what I did to you."

Fox gave no answer, only tightened his hold on the man in his arms and looked over at Daniel and nodded. Seconds later, the three were standing in Fox and Alexei's bed chamber.

"We're home now," Fox murmured against Alexei's cheek. "Come. Why don't you lie down for a while?"

Alexei released his grip on Fox just long enough for the other man to help him out of  his clothing. When only his pants remained, Fox settled him into bed. Before he could straighten up, Alexei clutched at him, holding him where he was.

"Do not leave me."

"I'm not going to leave you," Fox reassured him, happy to hear him finally speak. "I'm only going to step out of the room with Daniel for a minute, and then I will be right back, I promise."

Reluctantly, Alexei loosened his hold and allowed Fox to move away. He watched as his lover retreated to the door and with a soft smile, disappeared with Daniel from the room. Once Fox was out of sight, he propped himself up against the pillows, waiting less than patiently as he tried to rid his mind of thoughts of a time when Fox would never walk back through that door. But the images grew stronger and more vivid, and soon his attempts at normal breathing fell to a series of panicked gasps.

Unable to stay put any longer, he leapt out of bed and began to pace, raking a hand through his hair. Movement seemed to be doing no good, and he turned to the open doors that led to the veranda. He stepped out onto the cool marble and gulped in the fresh air as he tried yet again to stop his mind from working. As he battled to shut it down, another thought pushed its way in, and he found that the more he considered this new notion, the calmer he grew. His breathing slowly returned to normal, and the frantic pounding of his heart quieted. Alexei looked out over the land and nodded.

 ********************

 "I thought all the pain was behind us," Fox said, looking down at the patch of floor between him and Daniel.

"There is much for him to absorb," Daniel reasoned. "Fox, Alexei will be all right. With you by his side, he will snap out of this state that he is in."

"Yes, and what about when I am no longer by his side?"

"He will be shattered, there is no doubt of that. But he is a stronger man than his father, and if Malik can survive such a loss, then so shall he. He only needs time for it to sink in. When it does, he will find a way to put it into perspective."

"I hope so," Fox said softly. "Usually, this is a subject confronted when most people are children. The older one gets, the more....Daniel?"

"Yes"

"How old is he?"

"In human years?" Daniel closed one eye and counted silently. "Ninety-eight."

"And you?"

"In your years, I am considerably older than he. I am....one hundred and eighty-two."

Fox cocked his head. "When you were his age, how mature were you?"

Daniel shook his head. "Not very, now that you mention it. Alexei is far more mature at this age than I was. What are you thinking?"

"He's half-human, Daniel. His aging process is not like mine, but it's not like yours either. It would seem that it may be somewhere in between."

"So....so you are *saying* that he will *not* outlive you by as many years as Malik says."

"It's possible that he may be even more human than his father thinks."

"How could Malik not realize?"

"I don't know. In all walks of life, there are those who mature faster than others, but there may be more to this than Alexei just being an early bloomer." He looked toward the door. "I should go back in. He wasn't especially thrilled that I left him in the first place."

Daniel nodded and backed up a step. "All right. I will be here in the house should he decide he wants to talk to me."

"Thank you, Daniel. You are a very good friend."

"He is the closest thing I have to a brother. I will do anything I can for him." Daniel gave Fox a warm smile, then turned and disappeared from sight.

Fox re-entered the room, and his heart immediately leapt into his throat as he viewed the empty bed.

//Where is he? Where would he have...//

The panic seeped away as he caught sight of his lover just outside the doors, looking out over the trees. He walked over toward Alexei, stopping just inside the room and called softly.

"Alexei? Are you all right?"

Serene green eyes turned to him. "Yes."

Fox smiled. "You look better."

"I feel better."

"What brought the change?"

"I have been thinking. There is nothing I can do to hold you to this life when it is time for you to leave, but there *is* something I can do about staying behind."

Fox's eyebrows lowered into a frown. "What are you saying?"

"It is very simple, my love. The day you leave this world, I will leave with you."

"No..." Fox shook his head. "..you can't do that."

"The thing that I cannot do, Fox, is live without you. And I will not."

"No..."

Alexei tilted his head. "How can you love me, yet ask me to stay behind and suffer your loss for the considerable number of my remaining years?"

"Alexei, listen to me. You've received two very large shocks today. You've found out that your mother was human, and you've only just been confronted head on with the idea of the death of a loved one. Everything your father has done or in this case has not done was to protect you. I'm just coming to realize how very much he loves you. He's just gone about it in the wrong way. He thought he was protecting you, but all his protection did was leave you totally unprepared for a perfectly natural progression of life." Fox reached out to cup his lover's chin. "It happens all over the world, every day. People lose their mothers, their fathers, husbands and wives. They hurt, they grieve, and then they go on. If they didn't, there would *be* no world."

Alexei blinked, unable to understand how Fox could speak so matter-of-factly about something so horrendous. "If..." He stopped then started again. "If it were reversed and it was you who would have to spend years and years alone...could you still be so objective?"

Fox stepped forward and wound his arms around Alexei's waist. "I'm not trivializing your pain, love. I'm simply asking that you don't dwell on it. It won't make the years we do have together very pleasant if you're brooding every day about something you can do nothing about."

Deepest green eyes burned into his. "You did not answer my question."

Fox stared for a moment, then let his gaze drop away. "No. I could not be so objective. From my experience, no one can be. Not at the time of loss. But with time, it gets better. And then the things that used to bring unimaginable pain become a comfort. And you can remember and smile instead of cry. I have lovely memories of my mother and father, and though I'm still greatly saddened that they are no longer with me, I am comforted in the knowledge that they loved me and someday I *will* see them again....you and *I* will be together again..."

Alexei nodded. "Yes. We will be. Only I will not wait a few hundred years for it."

Fox stroked his lover's face. "You *must* stay until it is your time to go. There is much you have to accomplish. You've got a kingdom to rule. People to care for..."

Alexei shook his head. "I have yet to agree to assume the throne. Now I have even less reason to want to."

Fox released him and took a few steps away. "I'm turning your life upside down..."

"No. Not you."

"If I were not in your life, Alexei, half of the things you learned today would be of no consequence to you. You would fulfill your destiny and live your life the way you were meant to. I hate thinking that this is what loving me has done to you.. If I had known, I..." Fox bit off his words, but Alexei finished them for him.

"What? You never would have come back to me?"

Fox shook his head and said nothing.

"That *is* what you were going to say."

"Yes. But what is the point? Whether I returned or not, either way, you would be suffering."

There was anger mixed with the hurt in Alexei's tone, and for the first time, it was directed at Fox. "And so it would have been better if we had never met at all."

Fox closed his eyes and lowered his head. "No," he said just above a whisper. "I didn't say that."

"You did not have to. It is what is in your mind."

"It's not the way you think..."

"You wish we had never met. How many different ways can I understand that?"

Fox whirled around to face his irrational lover. "How can you know what's in my head but not my heart? I *love* you. Why do you think I hurt so much when we were apart? Why do you think I buried all my doubts and fears and came *back*?"

Alexei shrugged. "You did not expect more problems. You think that the decisions I am making are your responsibility, and you do not want to carry that." He moved around Fox and came to stand before him. "Do not concern yourself with it. All decisions I make are my *own*. If you cannot live with them, I will not ask you to stay!"

Fox looked up into glittering dark pools. He wondered if Alexei realized how easily his eyes gave him away. The words were cold, the tone angry, but the fear in his eyes negated all that he said. Fox could have called his bluff and asked to be sent back, but he would not heap that trauma on top of all that Alexei had to deal with already. In the heat of the moment, he might very well send Fox back, then spend who knew how long hating himself.

Fox took a deep breath and walked to the door. With a slight hesitation, he swung it open and walked out of the room. Alexei watched silently, biting down on his lip to keep it from quivering as the one he loved disappeared from his sight.

 ********************

 Daniel raised his head from the book he'd been reading just in time to see Fox walk past him and head out of the house. "Fox?" He rose from his chair, tossing the book down onto it, and began to follow the other man. "Fox, where are you going?"

The answer was vague and went almost unheard. "For a walk."

Sensing something was not right, Daniel stayed on Fox's trail, their journey ending at the stream where Alex and Fox spent so much of their time.

"Something is wrong," Daniel observed softly as Fox sat on a large rock and stared down into the water.

"He's very upset."

"Well, we know this..."

"With me."

"But...not more than a few minutes ago, he was clinging to you like a burr. I do not understand."

"Neither does he. Alexei is feeling very helpless right now, and he doesn't know how to handle it. He's not thinking clearly, and he sees my attempts at reason as indifference to his feelings." He shook his head. "I didn't help. I was so upset at the things he was saying that I started thinking that he would have been better off if he'd never known me. That truly upset him. He suggested that if that's the way I felt, I might want to just leave."

Red eyebrows drew down into a confused frown. "Fox....he did not mean that."

"I know."

"And I cannot believe that you really think he would have been better off without you."

"I was thinking that, yes. But that isn't the way things worked out. We *did* meet. We *are* together, and I would never give him up now. He's my life, Daniel. Those weeks without him almost killed me. Alexei can't see this, but perhaps you can. I love him, but I've hurt him. Not purposely and not knowingly. If I had walked away from him the day he spoke to me in the village...if I had taken my book and left, his life would have gone on. He might have been a little disappointed that I wouldn't speak to him, but his life would not have been turned inside out."

Daniel stared at the other man. "Do you not know that Alexei has loved you from the first time he laid eyes on you? You were all I heard about from sunup to sundown. *He* pursued *you*. It was his sworn mission to win your heart, and in case you have not yet noticed, Prince Alexei is one very persuasive individual."

"He told me that he loved me from the beginning."

"Did you not believe him?"

Fox opened his mouth as if to speak but fell silent.

"Fox, what I am saying to you is no matter what you said or did not say...not matter what you did or did not do, it would have made no difference. He has loved you since he first set eyes on you, and from that moment, he became susceptible to hurt. So if you think that if you had never talked to him, he would have been all right, you are wrong."

"But the hurt wouldn't have been as deep."

"I am not so sure about that. Alexei is a deeply passionate man...not that I really need to tell you any of this...the day he fell in love with you, he did not only fall part of the way. He plunged headlong. And so, what I am trying to say is I believe that if you had rejected him that day in the village, he would have been *quite* heartbroken. I am sorry, Fox, but it seems as though in laying eyes on you, Alexei was destined for pain."

"Well, thank you," Fox said in his soft monotone. "I feel so much better."

Daniel clenched his hands in his hair. "I am sorry. I knew it would not come out right. I am simply saying that it is not your fault that he is hurting."

Fox closed his eyes and drew a deep breath as he turned away. "The day that I leave this earth, he wishes to follow."

"What?"

"He wants to end his life. He says he refuses to stay without me."
 Daniel rested his head in folded hands. "He means it."

"I know he means it. I can't let him."

"What choice will *you* have?"

"I have to talk him out of it *now*."

"That is where all this trouble began, is it not?"

"Yes. He doesn't understand why I would want him to stay behind and suffer."

"Why *do* you?"

Fox directed a stunned stare at the other man. "You too?"

Daniel said nothing.

"Of course I don't want him to suffer, Daniel. But he would have an entire kingdom to rule...though he is more determined than ever that he will not...how could he just throw aside such a tremendous responsibility?"

"We would not be without a ruler. Amed would assume the throne."

"How...how can you say this so easily? Life is precious, Daniel. You would just stand by and watch your best friend end his?"

"If my choice was between that and watching him live in agony for the rest of his days? I would miss him terribly, but yes. Yes, I would. Fox, you and he are obviously at opposite ends of this issue. I suggest you find some middle ground, and I suggest you do it soon. I went through *weeks* of watching him brood. I will not do it with two of you."

Fox sighed softly and turned his attention back to the water.

 ********************

 The sun began to set, casting long shadows on the ground, and still Fox sat quietly by the stream. He had moved from the rock to the soft grass, leaning against a tree and listened to the drone of Daniel's voice. He appreciated the other man's attempts to keep his mind occupied, but soon, his voice and the babble of the stream blended to the point where Fox could no longer distinguish between the two.

The approach of a third presence drew him out of his thoughts. His eyes rose and did a quick search, revealing the form of his lover drifting into the shadow of a nearby tree.

Alexei stood quietly, head tilted downward. He risked a brief glance at Fox through downswept lashes, then turned his gaze back to the ground.

"Well," Daniel broke the thick silence. "You two have much to discuss...or at least you should have. I will just leave you to it." He laid an understanding hand on Alexei's shoulder, then he was gone, leaving the two men to each other.

Each man remained motionless, eyeing the other warily. Finally, Alexei spoke.

"I...the way I behaved was inexcusable. You tried to help me understand a thing I know nothing of, and I turned on you. I do not know why I would do such a thing. You are every beat of my heart, and I would sooner die than hurt you."

Fox rose from his perch and closed the distance between them. He slid his fingers under the other man's chin and lifted. Once he had Alexei's attention, his fingers caressed the underside of his jaw, then moved to cup his cheek. "You were very upset." His thumb rasped against the lightly-stubbled surface. "Understandably so. I should have been more sensitive to what you were feeling."

Alexei shook his head and started to speak, but Fox stopped him. He leaned forward until their faces were mere inches from each other. "We'll work it through. Right now I think we need to back away from it, though...concentrate on something else for a while."

The question in Alexei's eyes was answered as Fox's lips covered his in a soft whisper of a kiss. He stood trembling as Fox pulled away, tilted his head in the opposite direction, and kissed him again. He felt the warm pinprick of rushing blood through every part of his body as his lover's mouth slid across his then away. His eyes fluttered then focused on the sea of glittering blue-green before him.

"Come lie down with me by the water," Fox whispered. "Let me love you." He backed up slowly, and Alexei followed, hypnotized by his voice and the look of desire dancing in his eyes. Once he reached his destination, he stopped, raising both hands to his lover's chest. Slowly his fingertips teased the warm flesh, pulling breathy moans from the other. He slid the already open robe from Alexei's shoulder's and kissed a gentle trail along his collarbone, winning a long, soft gasp. When he reached the curve of Alexei's shoulder, his arms slipped around the lean waist, pulling his lover close. Their mouths met once more, as tenderly as with their previous kiss, and Fox's hands wandered the length of Alexei's back, stroking over bone and quivering muscle.

Alexei whimpered softly, the vibration tickling Fox's lips as he felt his lover's hands move lower and lower until they slipped beneath the white silk of his pants. He writhed and ground his hips against Fox's, and the hands that covered his rear gently squeezed and caressed the muscle, encouraging his responses.

Fox's hands glided up and down over the rounded flesh, alternating between firm and gentle strokes and driving the recipient of his attentions to the edge of madness.

"Fox," Alexei panted, breaking from his kiss. "Please...."

"Shhh..."

Alexei sucked his lower lip into his mouth in an attempt to remain silent as Fox slipped the silk down his legs, kneeling in the grass before him, and pulled the material away. He forced his eyes to open and looked down into his lover's aroused face. He emitted a soft grunt as Fox's eyes closed and he leaned forward, brushing his full lips over the trembling flesh of his abdomen. Gentle fingers slid up his thighs to his buttocks, holding him in their light grip as that mouth continued to work its magic, moving lower and lower until he could feel Fox's warm breath playing over the glistening tip of his erection.

Fox nudged the head of the engorged shaft with the tip of his nose, the scent of his lover's arousal feeding his own. His fingers flexed involuntarily in the taught muscle they held, and his tongue inched out, stroking along the large vein on the underside of Alexei's erection. As he reached the head, his tongue flicked around the surface, lapping off every last bit of moisture there. The man standing before him let out a strangled sob, and restless fingers raked through his hair. He could feel Alexei's impatience and his struggle to hold himself together, and Fox decided to torment him no more. He pulled his lover down into the grass, laying him on his back, then removed his own clothing. That done, he kneeled over Alexei's prone body, straddling his hips.

Alexei looked up into eyes that had turned almost black with passion. His hands skimmed Fox's thighs again and again, each time coming closer to the twitching muscle that strained toward him. Finally he reached the base, sliding his thumb up and down along the shaft, his tongue slithering out to moisten dry lips. He watched Fox's eyes close as his other fingers curled around the hard warmth and squeezed gently.

Fox's hips shifted, and he pushed himself into Alexei's hand, pulled back, then moved forward again, encouraging his lover to slowly pump him. His neck arched, and a deep moan rumbled in his chest as his body began to throb in time to Alexei's lazy caresses. He kneeled there above the man that he adored, accepting his loving attention until he felt that all too familiar coiling in his lower body. He knew it must stop, or there was no way that he would be able to do what he asked Alexei to let him do. Gently, his hand covered the other man's and stopped his movement. He pulled the hand away and laid a kiss in the palm before shifting position and coming to kneel between his lover's parted legs.

"Are you ready for me?"

Alexei nodded and moved closer, lifting his hips toward Fox. The other man grasped and pulled him forward onto his thighs, and Alexei's legs immediately clamped around his back. He felt the thick presence pressing toward its goal, and he lay trembling as it burrowed into him, stretching him to accommodate its width. Once completely embedded in his heat, Fox stopped moving, provoking a groan of protest.

"Easy," the soft monotone whispered. Fox caressed his chest, tracing the barely-visible scars that ran across it. "Easy, my love."

Alexei breathed deeply, trying for all he was worth to keep himself from bucking against his lover. He shook with the effort, and a stream of  restless whimpers fell from his lips.

"My beautiful Jade..." Fox pushed forward, wedging himself even more tightly inside of his lover, watching a grimace cross his face. "Feel me inside you." He withdrew a fraction, then pushed back in, attempting to reach deeper. "We are..." he paused for a shaky breath, then continued, "..are part of each other forever."

Alexei sobbed at Fox's words, which were punctuated by another deep thrust. "Fox," he cried, "please...it is such...such torture...*please*..."

Fox grasped the hard column of flesh that lay between them and slid his hand along its length. Alexei thrashed beneath him, wailing his name, and he began a series of long thrusts, accompanied by the matching rhythm of his hand.

Alexei arched, lifting the whole of his back off the ground as he growled through clenched teeth. The action tightened his muscles, squeezing Fox and shredding the other man's control to bits.

Fox barely heard his own choked moans above the roar in his head. Working on blind instinct, he held Alexei's hip in the bruising grip of one hand while the other jerked his erection in time to increasingly harder and faster thrusts. His body began to shake uncontrollably, then all his muscles suddenly seized as his orgasm blasted through him, releasing an endless gush of hot fluid into his lover.

Alexei felt the warmth flood his insides and heard Fox's harsh cries of completion, and then he found his own release as his lover froze for an instant, then started to thrust again, erratically. He clutched at the grass beneath him, and a long, feral scream gurgled past his constricting throat. A warm, slick geyser shot endlessly over Fox's hand and his own belly, and when it was finally done, his legs slipped from around Fox's back, sliding down to rest on the cool green ground, and the other man fell onto his chest. They lay together panting and gasping for breath for a long while before Fox lifted his head and looked down into damp emerald eyes.

"This is the way I want to spend our lives. Just like this."

The eyes crinkled and a smile curved the other's mouth. "I think we would have to eat and sleep sometime."

Fox returned the smile. "You know what I mean. No anxiety. We've had enough of that. And no worrying about things we cannot change." Before Alexei could respond, he went on. "I know that's so much easier said than done, but can we try? Can we just love each other and let the rest take care of itself?"

Alexei raised a hand to his lover's face and slid his thumb across the exquisitely full lower lip. "I promise you, my sweet Fox, I will try."

Fox kissed the thumb as it made another pass. "Thank you." He looked over Alexei's head and in the direction of the house. "Now, perhaps we should go and find Daniel? I'm sure he'd like to know that you're all right. He was very concerned."

Alexei nodded his agreement. "All right." He thought for a moment, then grinned up at Fox. "We should do something for him to show our appreciation for all he's done for us. Do you think Dana might be open to having dinner with us?"

Fox squinted. "Well, she's still a bit worried...but on the other hand it might be a good opportunity for her to see that everything is fine. I suppose we could ask her and see."

"In that case, would you be averse to a little detour before we go back to the house?"

Fox leaned down for a brief but thorough kiss. "Not at all. Let's go pay Dana a visit."

 ********************

 Dinner went well. Better than they had hoped, actually. Dana agreed to come to dinner, and though not immediately thrilled with the idea, she soon warmed up to Daniel again, and the evening ended on a definite high note.

That night, after Dana and Daniel had left, the two men lay in bed, Alexei propped against the pillows with Fox lying back against his chest. His arms encircled his lover gently, and he pressed a number of soft kisses into his hair.

"Malik would like to speak further with you."

Alexei opened his eyes upon hearing the soft voice. "I thought you may have been asleep."

The silky glide of Fox's hair against his skin as the other man slowly shook his head gave him a delightful shiver. "He has not tormented us enough?"

"I believe he's genuinely sorry, Jade. His eyes...they were so very sad. All he truly wanted was to protect you..."

"I thought you wanted us to love each other and let the rest take care of itself?"

"I was talking about things we could do nothing about. You *can* repair your relationship with your father...if you want to."

"He almost killed you."

"To protect *you*."

"There is no excuse. Killing you would have killed me. I do not view that as protection."

"He was desperate, Alexei. He is your father, and he is king, but he has a heart. And when you believe that someone you love very much is in danger of any kind, the heart often overrules the head."

Silence met his statement.

"Please? See him...for me?" Fox wiggled back against him, smiling as he felt the organ between them begin to grow.

Alexei groaned. "You are playing dirty..."

"I know. But it's for a good cause. Will you see him again?"

"All right, all *right*. I will see him. For you. Now." Alexei tightened his arms around the other man and pushed against him. "What are you going to do for me?"

Fox laughed softly, sliding onto his back between his lover's legs, then turned over, nuzzling the now full-blown erection. "Oh, I don't know. What would you *like* for me to do?'

 ********************

 The next afternoon, Daniel entered the house followed by Malik. The masters of the house stood side by side, offering a courteous but cool greeting.

Alexei bowed only slightly, and motioned his father to a comfortable chair. "Please be seated."

Malik looked from one man to other. "Thank you." He took his seat and again looked upon his son. "You look well. I trust you are feeling better than you did yesterday?"

"Yes, I am." Alexei turned an adoring eye to Fox and brushed his lover's cheek with his knuckles. "Now what else would you like to speak to me about?"

"There are no more surprises, Alexei, I simply wanted to know if you were accepting what I have told you."

"What choice have I? It is a shock, to say the least, to find out that I am indeed half human, but it is not an unpleasant one. I am only angry because for all these years you saw fit to keep it a secret from the others and myself. You had no right."

"I know that. I am heartily sorry, my son."

"Have you told them?"

"Last night I gathered them together, and yes, I told them. They are unhappy for the same reasons that you are, but they are all still speaking to me."

"And why should they not? You have not tried to assassinate any of their mates..."

"I know you will never forgive me for that."

"You are so right. I never will. There is nothing you will ever be able to do to rectify that wrong."

Fox touched his arm. "Alexei..."

"I cannot help the way I feel, Fox. He almost took you away from me forever."

"I have already told you, my son, that this is not an excuse, but I was only trying to protect you from a broken heart..."

"By breaking it first yourself? It makes no sense!"

A thick silence fell on the room, then Fox spoke. "Your majesty?"

Alexei cut in. "Do not call him that. He deserves no respect from you."

Malik heaved a great sigh. "My son is correct. Call me Malik."

Fox rubbed his temples for a moment. "All right. Malik....may I ask you a question?"

"Yes, of course."

Fox looked to his lover first. "I thought of this yesterday, and I just want to satisfy my curiosity." He turned back to Malik. "The djinn live a very long life."

Malik nodded.

"But your children are half human. Would that not change their life expectancy?"

Alexei's head snapped from his mate to his father, awaiting the old man's answer.

"I...do not know for certain. I do not believe so."

"But Alexei is considerably younger than Daniel, yet he matured at a rate which made him equal to Daniel, physically."

"Well...yes...I suppose all of the children had matured rather quickly, but..."

"Then is it not possible that they are different from full-blood djinn in that respect?"

"It...it may be so."

Alexei broke in to the conversation. "Do you know of any other half-bloods?"

"No, I do not."

"You must know of *one*."

Fox noted the rise in Alexei's tone and laid a calming hand on his shoulder. "Easy, love."

Alexei closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. "Is there someone who *might* know?"

"There is only one I can think of. Selima is the oldest of our kind. She lives alone at the very edge of our realm. She knows all there is to know about us. If anyone can give you the answers you seek, it is she."

Alexei spun to face Fox. "I must see her."

"Yes, but...Alexei, keep in mind she may not tell you what you want to hear. This was just a curiosity. It may mean absolutely nothing. After all, being half human has not diminished your djinn power any."

"I know, but..." The desperation began to show in his voice. "...there is at least a *chance* that I may not spend as many years without you as we thought...."

"Alexei."

Both men turned their attention to Malik.

"Even if it is true and you will not live for hundreds of years, you will still live far longer than Fox."

Alexei knew this. He knew it, but somehow the words coming from Malik's lips angered him all over again. "No. I will not."

Fox closed his eyes and bowed his head. Suddenly, he was sorry he'd ever brought this up. "Alexei," he called softly. "Please..."

Alexei heard his lover's plea. He kissed the side of Fox's head and murmured against it, "I need an answer. Even if it is not the answer I want." He turned to Daniel. "Will you stay while I go to see this Selima?"

Worried at what his friend's state of mind might be after his meeting with the old woman, Daniel stepped forward. "I wish to accompany you."

"No. I will be fine. Please stay with Fox until my return."

"No, Alexei," Fox spoke up. "Let Daniel go with you. Please, my love. I would feel much better if he did."

Malik watched with mild surprise as his son gave in so easily to Fox.

"All right. Might I at least bring Dana to you? She can keep you company until we return."

"I will stay if it is company you wish for him," Malik offered.

"No. I do not want you near him while I am not here."

"My son, I would not harm him in any way; you have my *word*."

"Your word means little." Alexei lifted Fox's hand to his lips and bestowed a soft kiss upon it. "I shall fetch Dana to you, my lord. We shall be back in an instant." He turned a cold eye to Malik. "Please take your leave."

Utterly dejected, Malik nodded and was gone, leaving only the three men. Alexei stepped away from Fox and also disappeared, returning five minutes later with Dana. She and Daniel exchanged greetings, and then the two men set out in search of the old woman named Selima.

"Explain this to me again if you would be so kind, Fox," Dana demanded once the other two were gone. "Alexei really didn't want to waste time on it, and he said you would tell me."

Fox summoned a servant and asked that some refreshments be brought in for him and his friend, and then he sat Dana down and, step by step, explained the events of past days.

 ********************

 Alexei and Daniel approached the small house that Malik had described, and Daniel knocked at the door. Long seconds later, the door swung open, and sharp brown eyes set in an ancient face peered out at them.

"Bless me, Allah. It is the crown prince himself come to visit me in my humble house." The old woman began to bow, but Alexei stopped her.

"No. Please. There is no need for that."

The tiny woman blinked up at him. "What is it my prince wishes of me?''

"To come in for a moment if you do not mind. There is a question you might be able to answer for me."

"Of course, sire. T'would be my honor to be of assistance to you." She stepped aside, allowing the two men to enter and beckoned them to sit. "Now, sire. What is this question you wish to ask of me?"

"Madame...my father the king says that you are the oldest and wisest of all genies. You know our entire history. You know of everything that makes us what we are."

"T'is true, I have been alive for many more years than any. I have seen much, and I keep our history."

"Selima...have you ever known of any of our kind who were only half-bloods? Those who may have been half human?"

"I see the king has finally decided to tell his son what he should have known many years ago."

Alexei hesitated, momentarily surprised by the old woman's perception. "Yes. And now I need to know if there have been any others."

"Yes, sire. There certainly have been."

Alexei closed his eyes, willing his heart to beat normally. "Then this is my question to you. Were these half-bloods different? Were their powers diminished at all? Did they live shorter lives as a result of the mixing of human blood with djinn?"

The old woman cackled softly. "The djinn blood is very strong. There is never a decrease in power. And the only change occurs when the children are young. There is a period of rapid development, then it stops and reverts back to that which is normal for us. You will live a normal existence, my prince. Does that ease your mind?"

Alexei covered his face with his hands and sat quietly for a moment. He then lifted his head and breathed a long sigh. "Thank...thank you for your time, Selima. I will not trouble you any longer."

Before he could rise to leave, the old woman began to speak again. "The king adored his wife," she rambled. "Amazingly, you resemble her quite a bit. That you do not look like the rest of your sisters and brothers is indeed a mystery." She shrugged, smiling indulgently. "Some mystery is a good thing. It shattered his heart when she passed." She shook her head sadly. "Such a tragedy. He kept her illness a secret, you know. Not a soul in the kingdom knew until she was gone..."

Sable eyebrows drew down into a frown, and Alexei cocked his head. "No one?"

"No one."

"But why?"

"Only your father can answer that. It is so terrible. Had I known. Had I only known..."

Alexei and Daniel exchanged curious glances, then Alexei asked, "Had you only known what?"

"I never told your father, because after your mother was gone, there was no point in increasing his torment..."

"Never told him what?"

"She could have been saved."

Alexei's heart felt as though it would leap out of his chest. "*How*?"

"He never told anyone. He never said a word. Had I known...had I known that she was human, he could have had her with him still."

Alexei rose from his seat, no longer able to sit still. "Selima...please...*how*?"

"You recall what I just told you about djinn blood and the fact that it is strong enough to counteract human blood so that half-breeds such as yourself still live normally."

"*Yes*."

"If djinn blood is mingled with human blood...that is if the djinn blood, even a very small amount, is introduced into the human body, it fortifies the blood of its host, effectively making the human resistant to all that we are resistant to. It strengthens the human and prolongs their life as it does ours. It does not bestow on them any of our magical abilities, but..."

Alexei paced frantically, raking his hands through his hair. "Are you sure? Are you absolutely *sure* about this?"

"Of course, my prince," Selima smiled indulgently. "I am only sorry that the king did not let *someone* know. You...you will not tell him? T'would only add to the torment he still suffers..."

Alexei's only answer was to twirl the twig of a woman off her feet and plant a noisy kiss on her withered face. "Thank you, Selima. You have no idea what you have just done for me."

The old woman cackled, holding her hand to her cheek. "Goodness, sire. You are right. I do not know what it is I have done, but if it makes you this happy, that is all the thank you I want. I saw a very sad young man enter my house, and now someone new stands in his place."

"And I have you to thank." Alexei kissed the woman again, drawing another giggle from her. "I will see you again, Madame. Thank you!"

The two men fled the house, and Alexei grabbed Daniel, hugging him fiercely. "Daniel! My friend, do you know what this means?"

Daniel laughed maniacally. "Yes! All you have to do is introduce some of your own blood to his system..."

Alexei burst into laughter. "Though I would certainly welcome another opportunity, it is not actually necessary."

"What?"

Alexei displayed a knowing grin. "It is already done. Come. I must get home immediately."

 ********************

 Fox paced slowly, his every movement tracked by a pair of bright blue eyes.

"Fox, you're going to wear a hole in the floor if you do not stop that!"

"Hmm? Oh. I'm sorry. I just think they're taking rather long. Don't you think so?"

"No, I do not."

Fox sighed. "It's true, Dana, what Malik said. Even if the human blood *does* affect Alexei's life span, it won't be enough to make any real difference to him. He's got to be able to cope with it, or I'm afraid that it will eventually destroy us."

"He'll be all right, Fox. He won't allow that to happen. He's not going to do anything that will take you from him any sooner than you have to go."

"He wouldn't mean to, but I'm afraid he won't be able to help himself. We found our way back together, I'm afraid only to be ripped apart again. Maybe next time for good."

"Fox," Dana scolded. "Stop thinking that way. Everything will work out for the best. Alexei adores you, and he *will not* allow anything to come between you again."

Hazel eyes flicked up to meet blue. "I see you are firmly planted on his side again."

Dana smiled. "Yes, I suppose I am. I am not blind, Fox. It is very clear that he loves you and what happened before was not his doing."

"I'm glad you believe it."

"I do. I am also glad to see Daniel again."

A smile twitched at Fox's lips. "Are you now?"

"Yeees, I am."

"Good. I know he's glad to see *you*."

Suddenly sensing that they were not alone, Fox turned to find Alexei and Daniel standing behind him. He searched the solemn eyes of his lover, and before he could put a question to him, Alexei turned to Dana.

"Dana, would you mind going for a walk with Daniel? Fox and I must talk."

Dana cast a wary eye from one man to the other. "N-no. Of course not." She gave Fox's arm an encouraging squeeze, then preceded Daniel out of the room.   When their friends were gone, both men stood a few feet from each other, staring. Fox was first to speak.

"Well...did you get your answers?"

"Yes," Alexei whispered. "And then some."

The golden-brown head cocked to one side. "I don't understand."

Alexei slowly approached. "I had a very interesting visit with Selima. It was quite illuminating."

"How is that?"

"She told me something that no one else knows. Not even Malik."

"Will you share it with me?"

He barely heard Alexei's 'yes'.

Alexei began to undo his robes, letting the garments fall to the floor. He stepped closer to his very confused lover, then turned his back to him. His hand came up, lightly fingering the scars on his shoulder. "Do you remember when I called this a gift from you?"

"Yes."

"Well, what neither of us knew was it was a gift *to* you as well."

Fox placed a hand on Alexei's shoulder and turned him back so that they were again facing each other. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Alexei's eyes began to shine, and a smile graced his beautiful lips. "...that on the night you tasted my blood, it did so much more than simply free the animal inside you. It sealed our fate. Yours and mine."

Fox shook his head. "Alexei...I don't..."

"I knew life could not be that cruel. I knew we were meant to be together for all of our lives...our equal lives."

"Wh...what?"

"You will live a long, healthy life, my Fox. As long as mine."

"But...how?"

"My blood strengthens yours. It makes it like mine. Your aging process has slowed. You are now resistant to illness." A wide grin spread across his face. "In short, my love, I do hope that you will be able to stand me for the next few hundred years."

Fox blinked as the room began to spin. "Alexei...are you sure about this?"

"My question exactly to the old woman. She was emphatic in her response. You will live as long as I will."

Fox stared, dumbfounded.

"Now," Alexei continued, "I reiterate my question. Will you be able to stand me for the next few hundred years?"

Fox nodded, suddenly blinded by tears. "Absolutely."

Alexei threw his arms around his mate, wrapping him in a fierce embrace. "It is as you said, love. We are part of each other forever."

They stood clinging to each other, letting the tears flow silently. When a long while had passed, they separated, attempting to dry each other's eyes. They laughed together as the drops refused to cease and finally gave up.

"Is Daniel telling Dana?"

"No," Alexei sniffed. "I wanted us to be able to tell her together. Do you think she will be happy?"

Fox lowered his head and smiled. "I think she will."

"Then let us tell her so that we may celebrate."

Alexei retrieved Dana and Daniel from their walk, and he and Fox shared their news. After her shock, Dana threw her arms around both men, tearfully wishing them every happiness, and then they celebrated.

A fine feast was laid out, the wine flowed, and Alexei brought in entertainment for the occasion. Music filled the room, and colorfully garbed dancers whirled about them for hours, eventually making the more than slightly inebriated revelers a touch dizzy. At Dana's request, they were sent away. Then deciding she needed some air, she tottered off onto the terrace, tripping over a potted palm and landing square into Alexei's arms. Fox went out to help, and the three wobbled back into the house, the men supporting Dana between them and letting her drop against Daniel, who promptly lost his balance, and the two tumbled to the mass of pillows on the floor.

Daniel groaned as Dana sprawled across his chest, giggling hysterically. This was the first intimate contact they'd ever truly had, and even though it was quite accidental, it was no less arousing. Still left with enough good sense to know that he could not take advantage of this situation, he looked up to the other two men for help.

"Please," he squeaked, "get her off me, or I will surely die."

Laughing continuously, Fox bent to assist, rolling Dana onto her back and away from Daniel.

"Thank you," Daniel panted as Dana reached over, tickling the inside of his ear with one finger. He flinched and shuddered, trying to elude her, but for a drunk woman, she was astoundingly accurate, and she continued to tease him.

"Come on, Danny," she cooed. "Hold still. I'm trying to seduce you..."

Alexei broke into fits of laughter, and Fox immediately took advantage of his enhanced discomposure. He grasped the other man by the front of his robes and swept one leg under his, knocking him off balance and sending them falling together onto the pillows. Immediately, Fox was on him, draping a leg over his thighs and writhing against him as he began to slowly lick a wet trail up the stubbled face.

Alexei half-giggled, half-moaned. "Fox...What are you...what...what are you doing?"

"If you must ask, I can't be doing it right."

"Oh no, my lovely...loooovely sweet, lovely....what was I saying?"

Fox's tongue slithered into his ear, and any rational thought that he may have still possessed fled.

"I believe," Fox snickered into his ear, "that you were going to say that we have guests."

"Right," Alexei breathed, "Yes. Yessss. Guests. We must...we *must* beheave...behave ourselves..."

Fox's hand wandered over Alexei's chest, teasing his hardening nipples through the gauzy material. "But my love...how can I? When you are laid out so...temptingly before me?" The leg over Alexei's thighs inched higher, and now Fox's knee was pushing against the very visible bulge. "You know I can't resist you."

Alexei arched, making his throat vulnerable to attack, and attack Fox did. A low growl sounded, then a soft female gasp as his teeth clamped down at the base of his lover's neck.

Dana had long since stopped teasing Daniel and watched entranced as her best friend seduced his lover right in front of her. Alexei's pained groan startled her, yet she knew with certainty that he did not want to be rescued. She watched him curl his fingers in Fox's hair and arch further into his mouth, and she was fascinated. She saw the muscles in Fox's face and neck working as he sucked voraciously at the fragile skin, and she marveled at the cruel red marks he left when he had finally finished.

Completely overcome, Alexei fell into Fox's trap, pushing him onto his back and ripping at his clothing. Fox squirmed beneath him, now completely submissive and begging for attention.

Dana's mouth hung open as she viewed her friend half-naked and shamelessly writhing against his lover. She looked to Daniel, who could not decide whether to be more aroused or embarrassed. Blue eyes met blue eyes and suddenly the room had become far too crowded. Daniel shook his head and looked away.

"I believe," Dana began, hesitated, then began again, "I believe that I am not as drunk now as I was a while ago." Daniel looked at her, and she nodded at the two writhing together not more than five feet from them. "Our friends have seen to that."

"What...what are you saying?" Daniel's eyes squeezed shut at the sound of tearing material followed by a sharp yelp.

Dana's eyes traveled from the sight of Alexei pulling at Fox's nipple with his teeth, back to the shaken man beside her. "As entertaining as they are, let's leave them alone and seek our own...entertainment."

After picking his jaw up off the floor, Daniel cleared the gravel from his throat and asked, "Are you sure?"

Dana inched closer and let a hand trail up his leg. "Yes, I do believe I am."

Neither man noticed that their friends had left. Alexei tugged at the remaining scraps of Fox's clothing, leaving the other man naked and wiggling beneath his searing gaze. His hands and his mouth increased the heat, stroking and sucking every inch of flesh they could reach, and when he ran out of fresh territory, he slid lower, teasing the flesh around Fox's throbbing erection, nipping at the insides of his thighs and licking the heavy sac that hung beneath.

Fox gritted his teeth, whimpering his need. His back arched, and he groaned as he felt his lover's tongue flicking its way up his long shaft, then circling the head. Ignoring the pearly fluid at the tip, Alexei pulled away and lifted himself so that they were again face to face. His mouth covered Fox's as he attempted to devour his lover whole, sucking hungrily at his lip and tongue. When he finally released Fox's swollen mouth, he mumbled against it.

"I want to be deep within your mouth, my love. And I want you deep inside mine. I want you to drink from me as I drink from you."

Fox shuddered at his words.

"May we?"

Fox nodded. "Yes...yes...Alexei...sh...show me..."

The other man licked at the dip just below Fox's lower lip. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes..."

"Then remain where you are and turn onto your side."

Alexei shifted, removing the scant bit of clothing that still clung to him, and settled himself beside his lover. He twitched as he felt Fox's warmth breath flow over the moist tip of his erection, and he nuzzled the shaft that bobbed before him. The soft groan coming from the vicinity of his groin prompted him to open his mouth and let the head slide in. He closed his lips around the flared tip and sucked away the bitter fluid.

Fox cried out and acted in kind, sucking Alexei into his mouth and wincing at the groan that vibrated against his own organ. His hips began to move, thrusting of their own accord, deeper and deeper until he was immersed to the root in his lover's hot mouth. The pleasure of being steadily sucked and the excitement of having his lover gently begin to pump in and out of his own mouth drove Fox to complete insanity. He gripped Alexei's buttocks and rolled, forcing the other man to lie on top of him. Now in a more helpless position, he encouraged his lover to thrust deeper.

Alexei resisted Fox's wordless request at first, afraid to hurt him, but Fox's excitement had built to a fever pitch, and he would not be put off. He twisted, he writhed, he moaned around the shaft that filled his mouth, at the same time pushing one finger past the ring of muscle hidden between the taut cheeks of Alexei's rear. Alexei sobbed his name, hips bearing down to push himself as deeply down Fox's throat as he could go. Quickly, Fox relaxed as much as he could, and took all that his lover had to give him. As he adjusted to the intrusion, he pushed up against Alexei's hips, then pulled him back down until the other man began to move on his own, driving in and out of his mouth.

Fox whimpered wildly, sucking his lover for all he was worth and repeatedly pushed his own hips up, loving the warm friction of Alexei's mouth sealed around him. His muscles began to convulse in that familiar rhythm that heralded the onset of orgasm, and Alexei pushed faster into his mouth, sobbing incoherently. Suddenly the explosion hit, and he jerked upward once, emptying himself down his lover's throat even as he gulped and swallowed the fluid that was being poured into him.

When it was over, Alexei rolled away and sprawled weakly over the pillows, panting heavily. Fox turned himself around and crawled into his lover's arms, resting his head on the heaving chest. Alexei's fingers wandered over his upper back, then threaded through the golden-brown hair and rested there. A heavy lethargy washed over both men, and before either could speak, they were asleep, their soft snores the only audible sound in the great room.

 ********************

 Bloodshot hazel eyes blinked slowly open, then closed again as the blinding light of day hit. Fox moaned softly and made another attempt. Even more slowly this time, he opened his eyes, and movement caught his attention. He squinted and shifted his gaze, watching the staff move quietly and efficiently about, cleaning up the remnants of last night's celebration. The fact that he and his still unconscious lover were lying naked and tangled together amidst the rubble apparently did not faze the servants in the least.

A faint stirring beneath his cheek drew his attention up to his lover's face. He smiled then winced at the pain the action brought.

The soft groan opened Alexei's eyes, and he looked down at the man in his arms. "Good morning, my treasure," he rasped. "You look terrible."4

"Well, thank you," Fox muttered. "You don't look exactly wonderful either."

Alexei laughed softly and kissed the top of his lover's head. "Why is it so bright?"

"I don't know, but I do wish it would go away."

Before Fox could say another word, they were in the comfort of their own bed, and the curtains over the large windows were drawn, filtering out a good portion of the daylight.

Fox sighed deeply, snuggling against Alexei's chest. "Much better, but oh, my head aches so."

"Mmm," Alexei rumbled softly. "I should have told you. We are not immune to getting drunk."

"Now he tells me." Fox went quiet for a moment, then continued on. "I have never been drunk before. If this is what one feels like the morning after, I don't believe I should like to do it again."

Soft chuckle. "Do you remember any of last night?"

"Bits and pieces." Fox's arm suddenly tightened around his lover's bicep. "Alexei?"

"Yes?"

"Where did Dana and Daniel go?"

"I...I do not know. I am trying to remember the last time I saw them..."

"The last I recall of them was pulling Dana off of Daniel, and..." Fox groaned.

"What is it, love?"

"Then I remember throwing you to the floor and..." He groaned again. "How much of that do you think they witnessed?"

"I could not say. How much of it do you remember?"

"Fragmented bits, but enough to know that if they had lingered, they got quite a show."

Alexei skimmed Fox's back with one hand. "Perhaps we gave them ideas."

"No. Oh...no....not Dana." Fox paused, then looked up as far as his now-throbbing head would allow. "Do you think so?"

"My love, your friend Dana is no fragile flower. If they *did* spend the night together, I will wager that she initiated it."

"She *is* like no other woman I know," Fox mused.

"I am sure we will see them soon. Now. How would my lord like to spend the first day of the rest of our very lengthy lives together?"

Fox thought for a moment, debating whether or not he should bring up the subject, then decided that he would.

"There are still some matters that must be settled."

"Such as?"

"This morning, things are very different for us than they were yesterday. You must speak again with your father..."

"Why?"

"Because he is the one who directed you to Selima. If he had not done so, you would have gone on in a perpetual state of depression and sooner or later, it would have ruined us."

Alexei closed his eyes and grunted.

"And," Fox continued, "he will be back to find out what you discovered. If you turn him away, he will simply go directly to the source. In one way or another, he *will* find out what you know, and he will begin to grieve all over again. Wouldn't you rather tell him yourself and be there for him? He will need you."

"I will tell him, fine. But he has many other children to comfort him."

Fox slid up to face his lover, wincing with the effort. "Jade...it's you that he needs. Though they are all her children, you are the closest link he has to your mother. I know how angry you are with him, but can't you please put that aside and see for a moment how much he loves you and how hurt he is?"

Alexei searched his lover's eyes for a short while, then pulled him down for a soft kiss. "You have the gentlest heart I have ever known." He brushed a finger down the bridge of Fox's nose. "My precious jewel. I love you so."

Fox said nothing. He merely gazed down into Alexei's eyes, a tiny hint of a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. The other man released a soft rush of breath.

"All right. For you, I will do my best to be kind, but I make no promises."

"It is not for me you should do this, Alexei. It is for your father. And it is for yourself."

Alexei watched Fox as he spoke. His ragged state showed in the half-mast, glassy depths of his eyes and his sluggish, slightly garbled speech. Gently, he pushed his lover down to the pillows and caressed his forehead.

"Rest a while longer, my love. When next you awake, you will feel much better."

The thought of more sleep sounded like heaven to Fox, but he would not sleep until a few things were settled.

"What about you?"

"I do not believe I feel nearly as bad as you do." He smiled down at Fox. "I am able to function."

"Dana and Daniel..."

"I will find out where they went and make sure that she is all right. Anything else?"

"Your father."

"I will see him later when you are feeling better."

"No. Don't wait for me, Alexei. I think you should see him alone. This is a very private matter."

"Nothing is too private that I cannot share it with you."

"I know that. But I mean private to Malik. I just think that this should be between the two of you."

Alexei thought a moment, then agreed. "Very well."

"But please...*please* behave."

"I will."

"Promise?"

"Yes, love. I promise. Now close your eyes and go back to sleep. No one will disturb you."

Alexei lay beside Fox and watched his eyelids drift downward. When his respiration became deep and even, Alexei planted a light kiss on his cheek and dragged himself out of bed.

 ********************

 The old man rose from his chair as Alexei was announced, and the younger man strode in. Executing a shallow bow, he got right down to business.

"I am here because Fox thought I should give you the courtesy of hearing what I had learned, since it was you who suggested I see Selima."

"Fox is a very kind, thoughtful man."

Green ice stared into weary gray eyes. "Yes. And to think you almost wiped that kindness from the earth."

Malik closed his eyes and said nothing.

"But that is not why I am here. I am here to tell you that Selima gave me some very interesting information. Information that has altered our lives, mine and Fox's."

Malik waited in silence.

"We will live out our lives *together*. He will not leave me alone and in misery for decades on end."

Malik shook his head in confusion. "I do not know if I understand what you are saying, Alexei."

"I am saying that Fox will live as many years as I do."

"How...how is this possible?"

"All he needed to do was ingest some of my blood." Alexei could see understanding dawn on his father's face...and then despair. He continued in a softer, gentler tone. "The djinn blood transforms human blood..."

Malik began to tremble, and for an instant, it looked as though he might collapse. Alexei was at his side instantly, helping him into his chair.

"Katarina," the old man whispered, grief stricken. "My Katarina." Eyes glazed with tears looked up at the younger man. "You children could have had your mother if only I had known..."

"Yes, Father."

"I told no one. No one knew that she was human. I never thought it to be anyone's business, and when she began to fail, I kept her away from the public eye. Not because I was ashamed, I was never ashamed of your mother, I swear to you. I only wanted to protect her from gossip. She never left the palace, but perhaps if someone had known...if Selima had known, she would have been able to tell me what to do and..." Malik broke down, sobbing. "..and she would be with us still."

Alexei stood over his father, shocked by the man's tears. In all his years he had never seen him cry. In fact, he thought Malik was incapable of such extreme emotion until this moment and the revelation shook him. He kneeled before the weeping man and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Father..."

Malik continued to cry, unaware that his son had called his name.

Slowly, Alexei's arm circled the man's shoulders, and he placed his other hand at the back of the silver head. Without much coaxing, Malik leaned forward into Alexei's arms, allowing his son to comfort him. When his sobbing finally ceased, he leaned back and cast a red-rimmed stare at the younger man.

"I loved her with all of my heart and soul. Just as you love Fox. I know the joy you must feel knowing that he will be by your side for the whole of your life. I wish you every happiness, and if that means that I must lose you as a son and heir, then that is how it must be." He straightened his back and dried the dampness on his face. "Thank you for being generous enough to stay and offer me comfort."

Alexei's gaze lowered, and he covered the old man's hand with his own. "Perhaps..." he looked up into his father's face. "..perhaps we can try again."

Shock and hope filled the king's eyes. "I would be so very grateful for another chance to be your father. And though he has no reason to, if Fox will allow it, I will treat him as though he were one of my own."

Alexei nodded, treating the old man to a tiny smile. "Father, Fox is the easy one..."

 ********************

 Fox stood at the window, inhaling the sweet, mid-afternoon air. As Alexei had suggested, the extra sleep did him a world of good. The headache was practically gone, and he could actually keep his eyes open for more than five minutes without the room whirling around him. Now he waited, anxious for his lover's return.

It had been hours since Alexei left, and Fox was eaten up with curiosity, wondering what could possibly be taking him so long. He thought of calling to him but changed his mind. Alexei would come home when he was through with his business, and besides, Fox did not want him thinking that anything might be wrong.

He drifted from the window, sank into a comfortable chair, and closed his eyes. Not long after, a pair of lips softly brushed his own. He smiled and without opening his eyes, reached for his lover, bringing him in for a deeper kiss. After a thorough probing of the interior of Alexei's mouth, Fox released him, and the other man growled against his lips.

"Feeling better, I see."

"Yes, I am." Fox opened his eyes. "Much better. Did you find Dana or Daniel?"

A wide grin spread across Alexei's face. "Yes, I did. I found them both...together and in not much better condition than either of us this morning." He began to laugh. They were quite embarrassed, but neither was the least bit repentant."

Fox covered his face with one hand and laughed. "Oh, no. Well, as long as they're happy."

Dark eyebrows arched and Alexei nodded. "Oh, I would say that they are happy."

"Good. Now what about your father?"

Alexei grasped Fox's hands, pulling him out of the chair, then sat in his place and hauled his lover down onto his lap. Fox curled himself around Alexei, head nestled against his shoulder and waited to hear what he had to say.

"Remind me to always listen to everything you say."

"I'll do that. What happened?"

"It was as you said." Alexei stroked his mate's back quietly for a moment, then went on. "I have never seen my father cry before. The sorrow...he was so heartbroken. I could not walk away from him. I had to stay and comfort him."

Fox smiled and kissed the side of Alexei's neck. "Of course you did."

"Afterward, he wished us the best and backed away."

"Backed away?"

"Yes. He released me from my obligations as his son and future king."

"Oh?"

"Yes. But I could not erase him from my life. And...I told him that I wanted to discuss it with you, but I would consider claiming my birthright."

Fox lifted his head and stared down at him. "Why would you discuss it with me before giving him your decision?"

"Because it is *our* life, Fox. And when Malik steps down at the end of this year, our lives would change dramatically. I just need to know that you are very sure about this before I accept. Please..take some time and think about it. As long as you let me know sometime before the coronation..."

Fox laughed and turned Alexei's face up to his. He kissed the other squarely on the mouth, then on the tip of his nose. "How many times have I told you to take what is yours? The only thing I ask is that I am still able to teach my children. That's very important to me."

"Of course, my lord. Anything you wish...are you sure you need no more time to consider this?"

Fox shook his head. "Tell your father that at the end of this year, you will assume the throne."

"Very well." Alexei gently massaged Fox's back. "I shall tell him tomorrow. And now, there is one more thing."

"Yes?"

An odd expression crossed Alexei's face, and he fumbled for the words he wished to speak.

"There...there is a...a ceremony performed amongst our people...for same-sex couples who wish to pledge their lives to each other. It is not exactly a...a marriage ceremony, but rather simply a joining of hearts before friends and family. A declaration of the couple's love and commitment."

Fox's eyes sparkled. "But isn't that what a marriage ceremony is?"

Alexei's mouth opened and closed. He thought a minute, then answered softly. "I suppose it is, yes."

Fox nodded. "So what are you saying to me?"

"I just...I thought that possibly..."

"Yes?"

"Would...would you go through the ceremony with me?"

Fox began to laugh. "Are you asking me to marry you?"

Alexei frowned, confused and a bit hurt at his lover's reaction. "N-no," he stammered, "I only thought that since we were already committed to each other, that..."

"So you do *not* want to marry me?"

"Yes, of *course* I do..."

"So you *are* asking me to marry you."

"Fox, you are making this very difficult!"

Fox burst into laughter. "I'm sorry, love. I couldn't resist. You were so adorable as you were trying to explain it. Of course I'll go through the ceremony with you, what*ever* you call it."

Alexei grinned up at him, relieved. "You are going to pay for tormenting me that way."

Fox leaned down, nuzzling Alexei's cheek. "You promise?"

"Oh, yes," Alexei moaned as his hand slipped down to cup his lover's linen-covered bottom. "I promise." He squeezed the firm mound of flesh, pulling a soft groan from the other man, then abruptly pushed Fox off of his lap. "Remove your clothing."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

A lazy smirk curved Fox's mouth. "Yes, your majesty."

The soft chuckle that rose from the chair ended on a soft whimper as Fox's clothing fell away, revealing a grand erection standing proudly from the thatch of dark curls at his groin.

"Well," Alexei whispered. "Is that for me?"

"No," Fox purred, giving Alexei an evil little smile. "Tariq, the gardener, and I were having a little fun a while before you got home."

The corner of Alexei's mouth twitched. "And you are still so aroused?"

"He was very good."

"You are in a terribly wicked mood this afternoon."

Hazel eyes sparkled mischievously, and the other said nothing.

Alexei rose from his seat and approached his lover, removing his own clothing. "Let us see if we cannot put it to good use." The last of his clothing fell to the floor beside Fox's, but the sash from his robes remained in his hand. "Come here."

Fox obeyed, his body beginning to tremble as his mind speculated on what new pleasure he was now to be subjected to.

Alexei raised the sash to Fox's face, covering his eyes and tying the material into a firm knot at the back of his head. He moved away for a moment, located another sash from his wardrobe, and pulled Fox's hands behind his back, securing them there with the length of red silk.

The throbbing between Fox's legs increased as his lover partially restrained and deprived him of one of his senses. He felt Alexei's hand grip his upper arm and gently pull him forward. He heard the soft swish of material being depressed and felt the faint whisper of fingertips over the hard shaft that unerringly strained in his lover's direction, and he pulled  in a sharp breath..

"What is it, my love?" The silken voice slithered around his senses. "Would you like for me to call Tariq inside to finish what he started?"

Fox released a shaky laugh. "You know that no one but you has ever touched me."

Alexei's fingers skimmed the standing man's thighs, sending a shiver through him. "Yes, I know that. Not that Tariq would not love to have you. I have seen him sneak glances at you when he thought I was not looking."

"And you have not been tempted to turn him to dust?"

"No. The man has exquisite taste. I cannot fault him for that. Who would *not* want you?" Alexei leaned forward and licked the viscous pearl of fluid from the flushed tip of the organ that pointed in his direction. "But you are mine and no one would dare challenge that."

Fox flinched and choked back a moan as his mate sucked his complete length into the wet heat of his mouth. Alexei sucked at him greedily, bringing him along quickly, then abruptly pulled away. Ignoring the whimpers of protest, he instructed Fox to kneel, then placed a hand at the back of his head, pulling it down to his lap.

Fox rubbed his face against Alexei's thighs as his hips involuntarily jerked forward. Higher and higher he moved until Alexei's hand came down to cover himself.

"Slowly."

Fox lifted his head, and Alexei caressed the underside of his chin, then rubbed his fingers across his mouth.

"I think I am in the mood for a good long tease."

As he spoke, Fox's lips parted, allowing his tongue to slip past. Tentatively, it stroked over the tips of Alexei's fingers, teasing the sensitive pads until the other man pulled them away. He coaxed Fox into a sitting position between his spread legs and grasping his own erection at the base, brushed it against his lover's lips.

Fox shuddered and opened his mouth, blindly searching for the elusive velvet-sheathed muscle.

"Would you like to taste me?" Alexei purred, only giving Fox teasing touches. He smiled at the whimpered yes and grasped Fox by the hair and pulled him forward as he slid into the desperate mouth. He emitted a shaky breath and pulled Fox away as he started to suck with a bit too much enthusiasm. "*Slowly*, my love. Are you so impatient?" Receiving no answer, he again pushed his lover's head down to his groin.

Fox forced himself to move slowly, first finding and thoroughly bathing the thinly sheathed sac that hung beneath his mate's pulsing erection. Every stroke of his tongue brought a muffled groan from the man above him and set off an answering throb in his own groin. Carefully, he made his way up along the long shaft, covering every inch of skin with delicate licks and kisses, and by the time he reached the head, he felt Alexei begin to squirm. He swirled his tongue around the prominent ridge, occasionally lashing at the head and feeling Alexei's harsh response. He strained against his bonds, wishing that he could touch his lover with his hands as well, but Alexei had secured the sash well, and there was no escape.

As lightly as Fox was touching him, Alexei could feel the tightening in the pit of his stomach. The sensation of that wonderful tongue combined with the sight of his lover bound and blindfolded at his feet was more than enough to take him over the edge. He threaded a hand through Fox's hair and gently pulled him away.

"Nooo. Please. I did as you asked..."

"Yes, my angel, you have. But I want you so much, it is still too much stimulation." He pressed Fox's head to his lap and petted the golden brown strands beneath his fingers. "Just allow me to rest for a moment."

Fox sat quietly, inhaling the intoxicating scent of his lover, listening to the labored breaths...desperate to let his tongue touch the flesh beneath his cheek. Fortunately, before he lost his internal battle, Alexei rose from his chair, helping Fox up.

"I cannot." He spun Fox around so that they were front to back, and he dropped back into the chair. "Sit down."

With Alexei's hands at his hips for balance, Fox lowered himself until he was sitting on his lover's lap. Alexei pushed him up just far enough to position his erection properly, then let him sink back down, slowly swallowing every last inch of the thick shaft. Small whimpers pushed past his lips as he felt himself being filled, and when their joining was complete, Alexei's hands wandered over his chest, stroking and lightly pinching his nipples.

"I cannot wait, Fox," Alexei panted over his lover's gasps. He bucked and fell back to the cushion, spurring Fox to action. Quickly the other man established a countermovement, their bodies slapping together then separating again and again. "Yesss..." Alexei hissed, gripping Fox's hip with one hand while the other clamped over his shoulder. On his every upstroke, he forced Fox down, making the other cry out with the shock of each hard thrust.

Fox's head throbbed and his teeth clenched as Alexei slammed into him. He again fought against his restraints, but Alexei's hand left his hip to wrap around one of his wrists, putting a stop to the struggle.

"Please...Jade...I need..."

"No," Alexei rasped. "Not...not yet."

Fox emitted a frustrated sob as he was again roughly propelled downward. The assorted grunts and whimpers coming from beneath him became as frantic as their pace, and soon a harsh groan rose into the air as Alexei's body spasmed and a fast gush of fluid warmed Fox's insides.

Alexei stilled, the only movement coming from him now the labored rise and fall of his chest. He drifted in blissful semi-consciousness until a faint stirring roused him from his state. Fox, wriggling on his lap and whining softly, encouraged him to move. He directed Fox to stand, both men moaning as he slipped out of the tight warmth that surrounded him. As he moved his lover to the bed, he began unknotting the sash, but instead of removing it altogether, he merely laid Fox on his back and repositioned his hands above his head and tied them to one of the bedposts.

Fox pulled on the material that restricted his hands and looked over at his mate, who had since lain down beside him and propped his head up in his palm. Sedate green eyes watched him thoughtfully as his agitation grew.

"Are you just going to leave me here like this?"

Alexei smiled at the annoyed growl, then shrugged. "Perhaps." He ran a finger down one outstretched arm, to the decidedly ticklish curve underneath, then cut across to Fox's chest. "You are so very beautiful when frustrated." He flicked at a nipple and watched, pleased, as Fox arched and moaned. "So, so very beautiful," he whispered as he took the hardened nub between his thumb and forefinger and pulled gently.

Fox twisted and emitted a loud gasp. "Please," he begged, "*please*. I can't...I can't take...any more..."

Alexei's hand moved away, swept through the air, and came back with an enormous ostrich plume. Fox's eyes narrowed on the feather, then cut to his lover's smiling face.

"What are you going to do with...." He arched high off the bed and shrieked as Alexei let the plume dance across his sensitized skin.

"Is this not soothing, my lord?" Alexei asked innocently. "I thought it would be."

"Oh, you thought it would be," Fox snarled. "Let me arouse you to the point of insanity, tie you to the bed, then tease you with that thing, and you can tell *me* if it is soothing."

"Ohhh," Alexei cooed. "It is because you are so tense. Relax, love." His hand made short, uneven movements, causing the feather to twitch over Fox's skin as it traveled down his chest and belly. He stopped just short of the place he knew would drive the other man completely insane, then swept back up over the path he had just taken.

Fox's nose wrinkled as the feather whispered over his face, then down again. His pleas for mercy were muffled by Alexei's mouth as the feather continued to skip downward, zig zagging over his torso, curving around his straining erection, then stroking up and down his legs. Alexei's mouth left his and traveled south, kissing and nipping a steady path to his nipples.

As Alexei drew one brown nub into his mouth, he willed the sash to loosen just enough to encourage Fox to continue to struggle against it. As the feather approached and slithered over his lover's aching shaft, his teeth closed around the nipple, incurring an infuriated growl and a barrage of threats. He gave Fox a little more slack and switched to the other nipple, the tip of his tongue flitting around it before he sucked it into his mouth.

Fox twisted and howled, feeling the binding give a bit more. He started to struggle harder as Alexei raised the plume and, with a flick of his wrist, began to lightly flog him. The sensation of hundreds of wispy fingers tapping his flesh combined with the sting of teeth drove him over the edge. He pulled frantically on the sash and felt it begin to release its silken hold on his wrists.

Wild amber eyes met satisfied green as Fox yanked the sash from the wrist it remained tied around and snatched his lover, tossing him onto his back against the pillows. Without a moment's hesitation, he yanked Alexei's legs up and back, positioned himself at his lover's entrance and drove home.

Fox was now used to being automatically prepared, so it was no surprise when there was no friction as he buried himself inside the other man. He simply planted his hands on either side of Alexei's shoulders and established a ferocious rhythm, half growling, half whimpering with every thrust.

Knowing that Fox was far beyond realizing anything but his own desperate need, Alexei grasped his renewed erection and began to stoke it in time to his lover's thrusts. In no time he reached the same level of passion, and he grasped a handful of golden-brown hair, pulling Fox down to him.

Fox landed on top of Alexei's chest, feeling the other man's hand moving between them. The knowledge of what Alexei was doing somehow filtered in past the wall of lust that surrounded him, and he squeezed a hand between them, helping his mate as he continued to pound furiously into him.

Alexei's mouth curved into an agonized smile as he felt his lover's hand wrap around his own and fall into the rhythm he had set. He buried his face in Fox's hair and, digging the fingers of his free hand into the exquisitely rounded muscles of the other's buttocks, he let go of every last bit of his control and allowed the devastating sensations to carry him away.

The fury of Alexei's orgasm raged through one body and then the other. Fox's roars of ecstasy joined his lover's, echoing throughout the entire west wing of the house and reaching the ears of a few servants and the two who had only just arrived.

Dana smiled at the sound and looked up to her new lover. "They're at it again."

Daniel chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head. "I suppose it would be a good idea to wait a while before we announce ourselves."

"I hope they aren't too much longer. I'm anxious to know if Alexei's met with his father again."

Daniel directed her to a velvet-cushioned divan and sat beside her. "I was wondering that myself. Alexei is so angry about what Malik did to Fox, I do not know if he will ever forgive him."

"Well, I must say that I wouldn't blame Alexei in the least," Dana huffed. "I know what his reasons were, and as far as I'm concerned, it is still unforgivable."

"Fox thinks Alexei should forgive him," Daniel countered meekly.

"Fox is so reasonable and kind-hearted that sometimes it drives me absolutely mad. We have a student who is such an obnoxious monster...does everything and anything to disrupt class, and for whatever insane reason he has, he despises Fox, yet Fox continually excuses his deplorable behavior, saying that it is a cry for attention from an unhappy, neglected young man. And *I* keep telling him that the only attention that demon needs is from the business end of a horsewhip."

Daniel frowned and sucked in a quick breath. "You are a hard woman, Dana. Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Dana rolled her eyes and said nothing.

"I assume this terror of which you speak is Jeffrey."

"You know of him?"

"Alexei has mentioned him. With as much distaste in his tone as you, I might add."

"Yes, Alexei cannot stand him. In fact, one day he had all he could take of Jeffrey attacking Fox and finally took action."

Daniel chuckled. "Yes, how is he?"

"Miserable, but all right. He will not be able to get around for some time yet. and I pity the staff members who have to take care of him." She thought a moment, then continued. "You know, it's a terrible thing to say, but he got what he deserved."

Daniel nodded. "He is fortunate that is all that happened to him. Alexei was furious. No one will hurt Fox and get away with it."

"I know," Dana breathed. "It's so romantic. You can see the adoration in Alexei's eyes when he looks at Fox...do you see the way they can't go for long without touching each other?" She sighed wistfully. "I almost melted when I found out that in the beginning, Alexei would come to Fox and make love to him in his dreams..." She smiled. "...and then he turned himself into a cat just to be close to him...it's so very sweet."

Daniel moved closer and wrapped an arm around Dana. "You like that, do you?"

"Oh, yes."

"Well...I can turn myself into animals also."

Dana raised an eyebrow and gave him a sideways grin.

"What would you like, m'lady? Cats have been done, so...a bird? I will sit on your shoulder and sing to you..."

Dana giggled.

"A monkey? Your pupils would enjoy an entertaining chimpanzee far more than a lazy cat...wait...I know...a horse."

Dana cocked her head. "A horse? Why a horse?"

A pair of red eyebrows waggled suggestively, and Daniel fixed a leering grin on her.

Dana's eyes grew wide, and she began to laugh as Daniel backed her into the corner of the divan.

 ********************

Fox lay on top of Alexei, so completely sapped of strength that he could not even manage a smile when the rumbling purr sounded in his ear. He merely sighed softly then fell into contented silence.

Alexei drew his hand up and down the perspiration-drenched back, immersed in sensual bliss. He loved this time afterward, when the fires of their passion were reduced to softly glowing embers.

He kissed the top of the damp head that lay nestled under his chin.

And he loved this man.

So easily driven to a ferocity that was only matched by Alexei's, he just as easily slipped back into his quiet, sweet character when satisfaction was reached. He was amazing, this beautiful creature with the sinfully lush lips and painted eyes, and Alexei gave thanks every day for him and vowed that he would always feel as wanted and loved as he did at this moment.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft utterance of his name.

"Daniel?"

The two men spoke to each other without Fox ever having heard a word.

"Yes. Are you two going to pass the entire day in bed?"

"Possibly."

"Do you not care that you have guests?"

"What guests?"

"Dana and myself."

"How long have you been here?"

"Long enough...do you both always make so much noise?"

No reply.

"He looks as though he is asleep. Can you not slip away and come visit with us?"

"I do not wish to leave him."

"He will not even know!"

Alexei combed his fingers through his lover's hair, letting the damp strands fall back over his shoulders. "No. I spent far too much time without him, wishing that I could have him back with me. Now he is here and it feels so good, Daniel. When he wakes, he will find himself right here in my arms where he fell asleep."

"Very well," Daniel grumbled. "I shall inform Dana that we are to..."

Fox stirred, diverting Alexei's attention from his silent conversation with his friend. His head shifted a fraction, and he moaned almost inaudibly.

"Hungry."

Alexei hugged him and placed a tender kiss on his head. "Are you awake enough to eat?"

Fox stretched within the circle of his lover's arms and opened his eyes. "Mmm hmm."

"Our friends are here."

Fox blinked and lifted his head. "How do you know that?"

"I was just speaking with Daniel."

"Oh. Well. We each have news to share," he whispered, his eyes glowing softly. I suppose we should go have dinner with them."

An hour later the four were celebrating again, this time without benefit of spirits. Daniel and Dana left early, as Fox had to be in class in the morning, and soon after they were gone, the two men were back in bed.

"Will you come with me to class tomorrow?" Fox asked the man dozing in his arms.

"If you wish," Alexei murmured sleepily, dropping a kiss in the center of his lover's chest.

"Yes. Just for Amir's sake. He misses Jade, and he was so adamant in his belief that he would return. It will thrill him to be able to tell me that he was..."

The faint sound of snoring reached Fox's ears, and he smiled in the muted candlelight. He kissed the top of Alexei's head and joined him in sleep.

 ********************

 The children filed into the classroom, smiling when they saw Fox at his desk, but it was Amir's sad little face that prompted him to speak.

"Good morning, Amir."

Deep brown eyes remained cast toward the floor. "Good morning."

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, Mr. Fox." The little boy looked up with pleading eyes. "Have you been ill again?"

"Ill? Oh. No." Fox smiled at him. "I'm fine. I just needed a little time off."

The boy scrutinized his teacher. "I can see your smile in your eyes."

"Can you?"

"Yes. It has been a very long time. Are you happy again?"

"You are a very intuitive boy, Amir. Yes, I am happy again. And I have a surprise for you."

"For me?"

The appearance of a dark blur in the corner of his eye drew Amir's attention to the window. There, balancing on the sill, was a big black cat with deep, sparkling green eyes.

"Jade!"

The cat meowed softly and leapt to Fox's desk.

"You came back!" The small boy bounced up and down. "I knew you would!"

The other boys crowded around the desk, also expressing their happiness at the cat's return. Jade stretched unruffled across the desk and allowed himself to be petted by many small hands.

Fox sat back smiling and watched Amir break from the group and walk over to him.

"I told Miss Dana," the boy stated in his most confident, 'I told you so' voice, "that if he could, he would return."

"Yes, you did, Amir," Fox told him, laughing softly. "It would appear that you were smarter than all of us."

Slowly, the other boys drifted back to their seats, leaving Amir alone at the desk. He reached over and stroked the cat's head. "I see you are wearing your collar," he observed, looking at the circle of green glass around the animal's neck. "Do you like it?"

The cat stood up and butted his head against the child's chest, giving him a small meow.

Fox covered his mouth with his hand to hide the amused grin. "I believe that was a yes, Amir."

Swelling with happiness, the boy hugged the cat and kissed the top of his head. Fox asked him to then take his seat, and he began class.

Hours later, the boys said goodbye to Jade and went off to enjoy the rest of their day. As usual, Fox walked to his little house with the cat riding on his shoulder. Seconds afterward, he and Alexei were back in their house. They made love for hours that night, slept peacefully, and the next day after Fox's class, they paid a visit to Malik to deliver their news and announce Alexei's decision.

Genuinely overjoyed, Malik insisted on an elaborate ceremony, but Alexei refused, contending that they wanted it to remain intimate. After much haggling, they reached a compromise. On the day of the bonding ceremony, only Alexei's family, Daniel, Dana, and the old woman Selima were in attendance, but afterward there was a huge celebration, and Fox was formally introduced to the prince's subjects.

That night after many hours, the party was still going strong, and Alexei was beginning to weary of sharing his lover with everyone. He well understood their enchantment with Fox, but possessiveness was beginning to get the better of him, and as soon as the opportunity presented itself, he swept his lover away to a secluded corner.

Fox's eyes sparkled in the candlelight as Alexei backed him against the wall. His mate leaned in, pressing the lengths of their bodies together, and rested his hands against the gilded walls on either side of Fox's head.

"I have missed you," Alexei moaned against the other man's cheek as he gently rocked against him.

Fox laughed softly. "We've been together all day."

"Yes, us and about three thousand others. I need to be alone with you."

"We can't leave," Fox reasoned, "all these people are here for us."

"I know, I know," Alexei pouted, "but they keep pulling you away from me. I would feel better at least if we were within touching distance."

Fox merely smiled.

"Do I sound like a jealous fool?"

"Jealous, yes. Foolish, never. I am flattered, my love."

Alexei moved in and brushed Fox's lips with his own. "What you are is beautiful...and mine." He kissed his lover softly, then pulled back to speak again. "I am sorry that I forgot to mention the ritual bath before the ceremony. Did you mind being attended to by someone other than me?"

"It was strange and a bit awkward, I must admit." Fox stroked the side of Alexei's face. "But I lived through it. Maybe I would not have been so uncomfortable though, if it were just one man. But four?"

"I cannot tell you why four are needed, only that it is part of the ritual." Alexei gave him a lascivious grin. "I must say that while the thought fills me with jealousy, it also sends a twinge of excitement through me. I think perhaps I should like to watch a group of handsome, muscular men bathing my beautiful Fox."

One golden-brown eyebrow arched upward. "*Really*?"

"Possibly. They are well-trained in their duties and know exactly what is expected...and what is *not* expected. I certainly would not have to concern myself with any of them behaving in an inappropriate manner." He tilted his head and drew his tongue along his lover's jaw. "But while I was being bathed, I thought of them touching your wet, bare skin..."

Fox's eyes fluttered, and his respiration deepened.

"...being so close to your mesmerizing beauty and knowing that they could never have you. How frustrating it must have been for them."

"How do you know they were frustrated?"

"They were breathing, Fox. No one who is even only half alive could do what they had to do and not be affected. I *know* that I will have you when we leave here, and yet being this close to you and not being able to tear your clothes off right now is frustrating *me* beyond words."

Fox grinned and pressed his hips forward, coming in contact with the solid evidence of his lover's desire. "That's nice," he purred. "Can you hold that thought for a few hours more?"

Alexei groaned deeply and ground his hips against Fox's. "I honestly do not know how I will be able to. Do you really think anyone will notice if we slip away for a little while?"

"Yes, many will notice."

Both men turned in the direction of the amused masculine voice.

Alexei turned and glared at the fourth oldest of his siblings. "Go away, Omar."

"People are asking for you. I promised Father I would go and look for you."

Alexei turned his focus back on Fox, more specifically Fox's mouth, and spoke again to his brother. "You have found us, now go away."

Fox submitted to a long, sensuous kiss, then attempted to put some distance between them. "We will be there shortly, Omar." He observed his lover's exasperated expression and took him by the hand. "Come on, you know we must get back to our guests."

"Fine," Alexei muttered, "but two more hours at the most. Then you and I are going home; I do not care *how* much my father protests."

Over four hours later, they were tangled together in the comfort of their own bed, sweat-soaked and deeply satisfied.

Alexei moaned softly and rubbed his head against the shoulder it rested on. "Perhaps you might explain to me how such a wonderfully sweet, quiet, dignified man can turn into such a demon in bed?"

A faint growl rumbled in Fox's chest as he gently bathed the small trickle of blood from Alexei's shoulder. "I believe..." His tongue swiped once more at the tiny wound. "..it has everything to do with *inspiration*."

"Oh?"

"Yes. The right inspiration can do wonders for a person."

Alexei raised his head, and his eyes twinkled with lurid merriment. "And I inspire you to such debauchery?"

"Yes, you do."

Alexei chuckled as he moved in to capture his lover's mouth. "Why, Fox. I do believe that is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me..."

 ******************** Five months later ********************

 Alexei sat quietly by the golden stream, looking out at the lands that in just a few short hours would come into his possession. So deep in thought was he that he did not hear Fox's approach until his lover crouched by his side. He smiled up into sedate, gold-flecked eyes, then again scanned the area.

"Are you sure you do not mind moving into the palace?"

Fox combed his fingers through the shimmering length of his mate's hair. "No. I understand that the king must live amongst his people. Our house is still there when we feel the need to get away once in a while."

There was a brief silence between them, then Alexei spoke. "Fox?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I will make a good king?"

"Of *course* I do. And so do your brothers and sisters...and Daniel and Dana...and your father. He is so proud of you, Jade."

Alexei looked once more into his lover's eyes. "You knew I would not have been able to live with myself if I had cut him out of my life."

Fox nodded.

"You are so very wise. I think it is a very good thing that I have you to rule by my side." A soft smile curled his mouth. "And with Daniel as my premier advisor, perhaps I will not make too many terrible mistakes."

Fox shook his head and laughed quietly. "You will be a marvelous king. With or without Daniel and me."

"You have so much faith. I pray that I will never disappoint you."

"*Never*. I love you , Alexei. And your love is all I will ever need to make me happy." Fox leaned in and planted a tender kiss on the other man's lips. When he pulled away, Alexei gave him a more confident smile and changed the subject.

"Is Dana settled?"

"I was with her just before I came here to find you. She is all settled and when I left, was immersed in plans to change the whole house. Poor Daniel. I hope he is not having second thoughts about marrying her."

Alexei laughed. "Are you serious? Daniel is so in love with her, he almost reminds me of myself."

"Almost?"

"Yes." Alexei drew his fingertips down his lover's cheek. "He could never love Dana as much as I love you. No one has *ever* loved anyone the way that I love you."

That statement prompted another kiss, then Fox slowly stood and held his hand out. "Come. It's time for you to get ready."

Alexei took a deep breath and reached out for Fox's hand. Fox pulled him to his feet, and they embraced for a long moment before moving off in the direction of the palace.

"So...what will your first official act as king be?"

Alexei glanced over at Fox as they walked, displaying that familiar wicked grin.

"To bed the royal consort...what else?"

 END

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