Chapter Text
The first day, no one came to his room except for the guards standing watch outside and the one who brought him two full bottles of blood. Roman drank both over the course of the day, holding his breath and focusing on the book he was reading as a distraction. It didn’t really work, but he was able to force it down anyway and felt stronger for it.
Still, he slept less than two hours that night.
On the second day, Roman sat in the window seat and watched the courtyard below. There wasn’t much to see, but he was too tired to read. Sunlight always hurt his eyes, and he felt uncomfortable being in open, direct light where anyone could see him, but he had never realized how immensely satisfying it was to curl up in the sun and sleep, soaking up the warmth.
After this discovery, Roman spent most of the day dozing on the window seat, occasionally waking up to peer into the courtyard and drink a little more. His anxiety about feeding was beginning to fade, as long as he didn’t think about where this blood was coming from.
He told himself it must be from an animal, but he knew the taste too well.
The sun was starting to go down when he heard someone walking down the hall. He thought he recognized the gait, and by the time a knock came at the door, Roman was already opening it. “King Viren,” he said and felt a little smug about the surprise on the man’s face. “Come in.”
Viren stepped into the room, and Roman watched him glance at the books scattered around every surface. The king’s eyes lingered with something like confusion on the thick blanket that had been dragged from the bed to the window seat because Roman was never truly warm enough.
“I hope you haven’t been too bored,” Viren said, turning to face him again. “I was surprised to hear Aaravos still hasn’t come to see you.”
“He doesn’t need to watch me now that the effects of the spell have passed,” Roman said. It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it wasn’t the answer to the king’s question either. He didn’t doubt Viren knew already, as close as he was to the elf.
“Ah. Well, if you do wish to see him, you’re free to go to his room. Your guards have been informed already.”
“Thank you, your majesty.”
There was a flicker of a frown on Viren’s face before it disappeared behind his usual neutral expression. “Would you like to take a walk with me?”
Roman briefly considered saying no, just to prove to himself that the king wasn’t genuine in his apparent concern. Instead, he gave a forced smile. “That would be lovely.”
They both knew he was faking, but Roman was reasonably certain that Viren didn’t know what was hiding under his mask of polite detachment. Or maybe he knew and didn’t care.
Roman walked through the castle beside the king, offering polite but short responses to Viren’s attempts at conversation. He wasn’t being rude or insubordinate, having seen how well that would go, but he wasn’t engaging if he could avoid it.
Viren led him outside and across a courtyard to a high wall still within the castle grounds. He tapped the wall with his staff, and a section of the bricks slid out and away to open an entrance. “This is our Xadian garden,” he said as he walked inside. “I thought you might like it.”
Roman followed him in and stopped. It wasn’t a garden in the way he would have expected with shorn grass and neatly placed flowers. In fact, the first thing he noticed was that it seemed to be much later in the night here, as if they had stepped into another dimension. He looked back at the entrance and frowned at the light that seemed to stop before spilling into the garden as if reaching a wall of its own in midair.
“It’s an illusion,” Viren said. He looked up, and Roman followed his gaze to see a clear view of the night sky. “The plants receive the sunlight they need, but it isn’t visible to our eyes.”
Roman hummed but didn’t respond, focusing now on the garden itself. He had never seen Xadia, but it looked like a piece of the landscape had been carved out and brought here, every part of it strange and unfamiliar. A few trees dotted the large space, but it was mostly full of different types of strange plants and flowers growing among blades of soft grass. There was a path made of irregular but flat stones, artfully placed to look random but curving through in several directions to allow them to walk along and see everything.
Ahead of them, there was a simple platform strewn with what could be the castle’s entire stock of blankets and pillows. Beyond that was a still pond that he could see stars reflecting in even from where he stood.
“Come,” Viren said, turning to walk along the path.
Roman followed him, trying for a few minutes to seem only mildly interested. He gave up when he saw a glowing white butterfly the size of his head and realized a moment later that it was actually a flower. He stopped without thinking about it, only remembering who was with him when the king came back to stand beside him.
“It’s called a moonfrost flower,” Viren said. “If you stand closer, you can feel how cold it is. Touching it can give you frostbite or worse though, so be careful.”
Roman almost asked if he knew that because he had done it himself. “It’s beautiful,” he said instead. He didn’t step closer to the flower, and they moved along.
A cluster of mushrooms drew his attention next. These were small, but their color slowly shifted and changed as he watched, never settling on one shade for long. “Do you know what these are too?” Roman found himself asking before he could catch the impulse.
Viren only smiled at him. “Ah, those are madness mushrooms. They cause very strange hallucinations when ingested, but they are very useful for illusion spells.”
Roman nodded and turned away from the mushrooms, trying not to show any of the tension he felt at even the mention of an illusion.
“Wait.” Viren sounded hesitant, almost unsure, and he was looking at the mushrooms when Roman turned back. “I wish to apologize,” the king said. “I was upset, and I have a tendency to lash out… rather inappropriately. I should not have threatened you with such a thing.”
Roman watched him carefully. He had never seen Viren slouch, but now his posture was rigid. His body language, as well the pink in his face, lit well by the glowing plants around them and the stars above, showed extreme discomfort but not insincerity.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Viren looked at him for the first time, surprise giving way to confusion as he frowned at the younger man. “What do you mean?”
Roman shrugged and started walking again, pleased when the king fell into step beside him. He appreciated small victories. “You’re the king,” he said simply. “You hold the power, and I was becoming… too comfortable.”
The older man sighed, and it sounded disappointed. “We were both angry, but I am the one who crossed the line. Roman, I want you to be comfortable.”
“Whatever you wish, your majesty.”
“No, damn it!” Viren stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, turning him around to face him. “I will not try to force you to forgive me or forget your anger, but I don’t want you to feel you have to hide yourself to please me.”
Roman stared at him for a moment and then spoke slowly. “King Viren, you threatened me with a fate worse than death. Not for what I did but for what I said to you in anger. With all due respect, I do have to hide myself from you.”
“It is… a bad habit of mine to say things in anger that I do not mean that I do not mean. A shameful flaw. Listen.” The king paused and sighed again, pressed a hand to his mouth for a moment before he spoke. “Aaravos felt the spell necessary then, but even he agrees that it was a mistake. I sincerely apologize now for my part in it, and I promise I will never give that order against you again.”
Roman hesitated, looking the man over for a moment. He sounded so genuine, and maybe it wasn’t just Aaravos who could easily convince Roman with a promise. “Thank you,” he said slowly. “That… helps.” It didn’t fix what happened or change his mind about distancing himself, but it did make him less afraid.
Viren smiled and waved a hand for him to follow as he stepped up to the platform and settled himself into the colorful nest. Roman sat near him and, after a moment of thought, laid back to look at the sky.
“This place is beautiful.”
“Mm.” Viren laid down beside him, a little closer now but not touching. “Aaravos created it. He says it calms him to feel at home and under the stars. I have found him asleep here many times after a nightmare.”
Roman frowned. “Aaravos has nightmares?”
“Oh, yes. He will not tell me all of them, but I know he often dreams of being back in his prison with all of our life here as just a dream itself.”
Now he turned to look at the older man, losing interest in the night sky. “He was in prison?”
“He hasn’t told you? Ah, no, I suppose he wouldn’t want to bring it up.” Viren was still looking up at the stars, and his eyes looked so sad that Roman had to fight the sudden urge to reach for him. “He was imprisoned in a mirror by the king of the dragons for three hundred years, unable to see or speak to anyone.”
“Three hundred years?” He couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice, and he knew he must look horrified when Viren turned to him. He couldn’t imagine how horrific it must have been to be trapped alone for so long. How did Aaravos even survive without losing his mind? “There can’t be a crime worth centuries of solitude.”
The older man smiled at him, though the sadness hadn’t left his eyes. “I agree. It was unjust—and meant to last all of eternity.”
“ What?” Roman remembered the royal children telling him about their father’s relationship with the archmage, and he did reach for Viren now, taking his hand without a thought but to comfort him. “That’s not fair. I don’t care what he did— nothing could justify that.”
Viren was looking at him, his thumb rubbing gently over the back of Roman’s hand. “You really are very sweet,” he said softly. “I do hope I can earn your trust.”
For a moment, Roman kept eye contact with the older man but turned away to look at the stars again with a sigh. “I don’t understand,” he said. His voice was so quiet, but there was no other sound in the garden to hide it. “What do you want from me? If it was just to study me, why would you do all this?”
“I admit, I would have considered your only use to be what I can learn from you. Aaravos wanted to keep you, and I have learned to trust his judgment. But.” Viren lifted their joined hands to press a light kiss to the space between Roman’s knuckles. “I do quite enjoy your company. It seems the elf was right once again… What?”
Roman hadn’t realized he was smiling, but he couldn’t stop it now. “Your kids told me you and Aaravos are betrothed.”
Viren groaned, his free hand coming up to cover his face. It didn’t hide his blush. “We are not betrothed.”
“Really? Claudia seemed so sure.”
“Claudia is a menace. ”
“But you are together, right?” Roman found himself grinning as he watched the tips of the king’s ears turn pink. “Your son called Aaravos your ‘sparkly elf boyfriend’.”
“ Ugh, I told him to stop that.” Viren dropped his hand but didn’t look at the man beside him, eyes on the stars above them. “But yes, we are… partners. I suppose we never mentioned it to you.”
“No. It explains a lot though.”
“Does it?”
“Sure. I was wondering why he talks to you the way he does. I know he’s powerful, but you’re a king . It seemed strange that he could get away with that.”
Viren sighed and shook his head, but there was a small smile on his lips. “Aaravos will do as he pleases,” he said. “I would at least have him show more respect in front of the council, but he is under no one’s control.”
“I can see that.” Roman couldn’t imagine Aaravos genuinely submitting to anyone’s will. Even when he was respectful to the king, it was always to get something he wanted. It seemed the elf could convince anyone to do anything to please him. Or maybe Roman and Viren were lovestruck idiots. “Did he really propose to you?”
“Mm. He brings it up every week or so, just as a reminder that I still haven’t given him an answer.”
“Really? You didn’t say yes?”
Viren scoffed. “It isn’t an easy decision! A human, a king , marrying an elf is unheard of. And I haven’t wanted a spouse in a long time.”
“Me either.”
The king looked at him with a thoughtful hum. “Why were you so surprised I haven’t said yes then?”
“What? Oh.” Roman shrugged, looking away. “I don’t know, um. I mean, you two seem so close.”
“Is that all?”
His face warmed, and he turned his head away, though he was still unwilling to let go of the other man’s hand. “Well… you know what I think of Aaravos.”
“That he’s beautiful. Oh, and made of stars .” Viren half sat up to lean over him, waiting for Roman to look at him before he smirked and continued. “Were you imagining marrying him yourself?”
“No!” Roman winced at his own obvious denial, watching the king’s smile grow as his blush darkened. “Okay, okay, fine. I was thinking I’d say yes even if he asked me now because I’ve yet to figure out how to deny him anything.” He sighed, looking away again. “Except when I’m being a brat.”
“Yes, I did hear that story.”
Roman’s gaze snapped back up to meet the king’s, surprising himself with how much he wanted more information. “Did he… Was he angry?”
“Mm, a little.” Viren reached down to brush the younger man’s loose curls out of his face, continuing to stroke his hair when he allowed the touch. “Aaravos doesn’t take rejection well, but we both anticipated that you will have some trouble settling here.”
“I don’t know if… I still don’t understand.” He couldn’t meet the other man’s eyes and found himself focusing on the top button of Viren’s tunic, his hand following his eyes just to toy with the metal piece. “You know how dangerous I can be. I could hurt someone in your castle, and I have killed people in the past. I don’t understand why either of you want me here. It just—it can’t be anything that ends well for me, once you’re bored or have whatever it is you want and don’t need me alive anymore.”
Viren shushed him, hand drifting down to settle on his chest, a warm weight stroking slowly up and down. “Because we want you,” he said quietly. “ I want you, Roman. And once Aaravos falls for someone and lays claim, he never lets go. Trust me, I experienced it first hand.”
Roman stared at him, suddenly overwhelmed by the thought that these two might really want him—possibly forever, and he couldn’t breathe with how badly he wanted it to be true. He forced an unsteady breath before giving into the urge to pull Viren down and kiss him.
When Aaravos matched his chaste, gentle kiss, it had felt like a tease. When Viren did the same, it felt more like hesitation. His hand was on the younger man’s neck, stroking a thumb over his jaw. Roman decided to take his chance and deepen the kiss, relieved when the king responded enthusiastically. Viren’s hand fell to his waist, and Roman moaned quietly when they were pressed closer together.
Vaguely, he remembered that his plan had been to distance himself from the king. The reasons for that didn’t seem to matter now.
Emboldened, Roman finally pulled the button he had been toying with free. When Viren didn’t protest but sighed against his lips, he unbuttoned two more before he stopped to run his fingers lightly over the king’s collarbone. He had never seen Viren in less than a high-collared, well-tailored tunic. It looked good on him, but the first glimpse of bared skin stopped Roman briefly as he was overwhelmed with the urge to touch.
Viren laughed breathlessly as he finally broke the kiss, pulling back just far enough to be out of reach when Roman tried to follow him for a moment before dropping his head to the pillow again with a shaky sigh. “So sensitive,” the king said with a fond smile. “I thought it was just your infatuation with Aaravos that led you to open up to him so easily, but now I wonder.”
Roman shrugged, giving him a flash of a smile. “He is so pretty, but… you are too.” He looked away when Viren looked at him with so much affection for it that it made his stomach tighten. “And I’m, you know, weak—in more ways than one.”
“Mm, Aaravos is much the same when it comes to physical affection.” He leaned closer again, only briefly touching Roman’s lips before he moved on to trail kisses along his jaw and down his neck. “It’s sweet. You are a needy little thing, and I enjoy being needed.”
Roman felt Viren’s tongue and then teeth over his pulse point and had to clap a hand over his mouth to try to muffle a needy whine. The king’s hand moved from his waist, drifting up under his shirt and over his stomach. Roman pressed into his touch eagerly, desperate for anything more Viren would give him.
When he realized his fingers were curled tight in the other man’s collar, Roman used the grip to pull him up, drawing him in for a searing kiss. Viren met him with a breath of a laugh but matched his intensity, holding him close as the heat between them rose. Roman didn’t care what he or Aaravos were going to do to him as long as he could have this, and then the older man pulled away with a hiss of pain. He tasted blood on his tongue and watched a drop well up on Viren’s bottom lip with horror.
“I’m sorry, I—it was an accident.”
“I don’t mind.” The king reached up, moving slowly as Roman’s wide eyes tracked each deliberate motion, and wiped the blood from his lip with his thumb. A moment passed as Viren waited for him to look up, making eye contact before pressing his thumb against the younger man’s lips—and past them when he automatically opened his mouth.
It was just a taste, but Roman moaned when it touched his tongue, any arousal he had lost in hurting the king hitting him again full force.
“Oh, very good,” Viren murmured, eyes dark and watching the other man’s expression closely. He brushed his thumb over Roman’s lower lip just to see him shiver before moving to cup his cheek as he panted lightly. “How do I taste then?”
“So good,” he breathed, holding eye contact as he turned his head to kiss the king’s hand. “ Fuck, I want to bite you. I won’t, I swear, I just… I want you.”
Viren stared down at him for a moment, seeming surprised (even though Roman had already confessed to wanting him several times, the younger man thought frustratedly). The king touched his bottom lip again with a thoughtful noise. “What if I want you to bite me?”
Roman’s breath left him on a shaky exhale, his grip on Viren’s collar tightening in an aborted move to pull him closer. “Do you?”
“Mm, it might be interesting. You’ve had such beautiful reactions so far. Do you know how to keep from taking too much?”
Roman was nodding before he even stopped talking. “I know how,” he said, failing to keep a pleading tone out of his voice. “And I’m better fed now. I can control myself.”
“I know you can.” Viren shifted to lay down, urging the younger man to lean over him. “Come on. I want you to.”
He studied the king’s face, expecting the curiosity but not the excitement lighting his eyes. Roman took a moment just to touch him, one hand slipping under his high collar to run across his neck and down to rest against the sliver of skin that showed above the collar of his undershirt. A flash of annoyance at how many layers the man wore was buried under an ache to touch more.
“Your wrist,” Roman said after a moment, speaking quietly out of some irrational fear that this was some secret they needed to hide, even in this private garden. “I’ve been told it hurts less.”
Viren rolled one of his sleeves up and let the other man take his arm, waiting expectantly. Roman took a breath, bringing himself under control before he leaned in and bit the king. His fangs didn’t sink in far, keeping the cut shallow enough that it wouldn’t bleed too much or too fast.
Roman groaned at the first taste, and Viren sucked in a sharp, pained breath but didn’t pull away. His other hand found the younger man’s hair, and having the king’s blood in his mouth made the sensation of being touched so much sweeter. Heat shot through him as he trembled, pressing close without even being aware that he was moving.
It had been a long time since he had last bitten someone who was this enthusiastic or even this willing .
When the flow of blood slowed, Roman whined. It was less than he could have safely taken, certainly less than he wanted, but he was unwilling to take more. He kissed the shallow wound lightly, overcome with need and a rush of gratitude. Another press of his lips to Viren’s wrist, then another further up as he followed the strip of skin to his sleeve. It wasn’t enough, and Roman moved up to continue across the king’s neck, eager to return as much pleasure as he had taken.
Viren was still petting his hair, and his voice was low and pleased. “How does it feel?”
Roman moaned quietly, shaking with desperation as he clung to the man. “So good,” he said, breathless. “Like— heat . I want…” He couldn’t find the words, but Viren seemed to understand, bringing him up into a kiss, this one less coordinated as Roman begged wordlessly for more.
Viren’s hands fell to his hips, pulling him closer and shifting to slip a thigh between his legs. Roman moaned at the new pleasure, a relief that wasn’t exactly what he wanted but took the edge off the ache—until he realized he could feel the hard line of the king’s erection pressed against his thigh, and suddenly, rubbing against him wasn’t nearly enough.
It felt like torture to pull himself back again, just far enough to give himself room to reach down. Roman didn’t know how long it had been since he last touched someone this way, but the feeling of it had him breaking the kiss with a sharp breath as the man beneath him pressed into his hand, seeking pleasure that was gladly given. He did his best to wrap his fingers around the king’s clothed cock and stroke, pressing his thumb against the head as Viren groaned and dragged him into another kiss.
This one was short, but Roman was still panting when he broke away again. “ Please ,” he said as his fingers twisted into the ties of the king’s pants, and he sounded wrecked . It would almost be embarrassing how quickly he lost himself to this, but he couldn’t think past the need to have more. “Please, can I… I want to touch you.”
Viren’s eyes were on his lips, taking a beat too long to respond before shaking his head. “Not yet,” he said, but the wave of disappointment was halted when he reached down to palm the younger man’s cock. Roman had almost forgotten his own pleasure, so focused on the king, and the touch sent a jolt of heat straight through him.
“Here, lay back,” Viren said, guiding Roman off of him to lay on the pillows and blankets again. He followed, leaning over the younger man to kiss his neck, hands drifting down to unbutton his pants and tug them down enough to expose him. Viren’s hands were bigger than his and hot in the way all living things were. When he wrapped his fingers around Roman’s cock, it was with a firm grip that had him shuddering and clinging to the other man once again.
Viren pushed the his shirt up as he continued to kiss over his chest. Roman found the strength to let go of the king’s clothing long enough to pull his shirt off the rest of the way. Viren made a pleased sound, running both hands over his sides up to his chest. It brought a whine from the younger man when the other let go of his cock, but the touch felt good enough that he wouldn’t start begging—yet.
The king began to move slowly down Roman’s body, and he couldn’t remember the last time someone had paid this much attention to his pleasure—especially when Viren settled between his legs as if he intended to stay there. When he leaned down to kiss the younger man’s inner thighs, Roman pushed himself up just enough to see him fully, leaning back on his elbows. “What are you doing?”
Viren looked up at him, raising an eyebrow as if he had asked a stupid question. “Well, I intend to pleasure you—like this.” He leaned down, pressing a light kiss to Roman’s cock and smiling when he gasped and tried to lift his hips. The king held him down and looked up at him. “Unless you would prefer something else?”
Roman stared at him for a moment, suddenly a little more nervous about this entire situation. This didn’t seem like a precursor to anything, but he didn’t think anyone had ever touched him without expecting something in return. Maybe Viren did too, but at this point, he didn’t think he’d mind. “No, I want this,” Roman said, and his voice was quieter than he intended. “Please.”
“Of course, Roman. You only have to ask.” Before he could think too much about what that meant, Viren took his cock in hand and leaned down again, taking the tip into his mouth. It was immediately more than Roman could bear, and he cursed under his breath as he sunk back to lay down again fully. The king continued to hold his hips down as he slowly bobbed his head, and each motion and flick of his tongue made Roman twitch, moaning too loud until he covered his mouth in an effort to quiet himself.
Viren pulled back, working him slowly with one hand, already deliciously wet with precum and his spit. “You don’t have to do that,” he said. “I’d like to hear you—if you will allow me.”
Roman only hesitated another moment before dropping his hand back to the nest of blankets. He was rewarded by the king’s lips wrapped around him again, and he didn’t try to muffle his groan. He wasn’t going to last much longer, he knew, and that was before Viren took his hand and pulled it down to the back of his head. Roman sighed shakily and stroked his hair, not trying to take control but letting the other man continue at the same too-slow pace.
It was only another few minutes before Roman whimpered, wanting more, his fingers tightening in Viren’s hair, and that seemed to be the cue the king was waiting for to speed up the bobbing of his head, his hand stroking faster and then letting go as he took the entirety of Roman’s cock. The wet heat, the feeling of Viren’s throat tightening around his length all became very abruptly too much, and let out a strangled sound that was halfway between a moan and a sob as his climax hit him so suddenly.
Viren swallowed around him, working him through it until the waves of pleasure began to subside and Roman was gasping with overstimulation. He was still shaking when the king moved to lay beside him and pull the younger man into his arms. Viren stroked his hair and side, pressing a light kiss to his lips and then his temple as his trembling began to subside.
“Sorry,” Roman said once he had more control over his voice.
“For what?”
“I should’ve warned you before—”
“Ah. You have nothing to be sorry for then.” Viren pulled him closer, making a pleased sound when Roman let his head rest on the king’s chest.
“Thank you,” he said, closing his eyes as he felt tears threatening to spill. He didn’t know why he was feeling the need to cry when nothing bad had happened, but it didn’t seem he would be able to stop it.
“Trust me, Roman, it was very much my pleasure,” Viren said softly. He rubbed his hand over the younger man’s back and kissed the top of his head. “It’s alright. I’m not going to judge you.”
Roman winced and didn’t dare look up at him, but his voice was thick and confirmation enough of his emotional state when he spoke. “It’s dumb.”
“It is not .” Viren’s arms wrapped around him fully, and Roman took a shuddering breath. “Aaravos and myself have both done the same. You will find no judgment with us.”
It was a few minutes before Roman could respond, slowly calming himself to avoid a full breakdown. “Thanks,” he said again, barely above a whisper.
Viren only hummed and continued to hold him, giving him as much time as he needed.