Prince of Fog: Book One (4 page)

Chapter 5

Charce frowned, tugging at the rather tight fabric of the garb he was now wearing. Sure, they might have been tailor-made by the best, but he wasn’t used to the cut at all. He looked over at Aether and realised that the Overworld’s ceremonial clothes for their King also had red and blue in it. Though of course Aether had a gold cape while his was more of a metallic blue. Both were modified from their kingdom’s armour.

“Why do we have to do this?” Charce sighed, watching as the swarm of people chattered in the Hall. He wasn’t used to such festivities just because royalty was leaving. He had departed from his kingdom without a send-off or any of the populace knowing.

“Because my people will miss me.” Aether grinned, relaxing back in his throne as he observed the festivities going on beneath them. Charce was seated to his right and looked ravishing in his kingdom’s formal dress. “Besides, isn’t it fun?”

“This is not my idea of fun.” Charce jumped from the loud blast of horns to his right. It was a deafening noise that he felt almost took out his ear drums. A group of dancers poured into the hall and there were loud shouts and slightly out-of-sync clapping to the music.

“Then what is your idea of fun?” Aether turned, a look of concern in his eyes as he smiled at Charce.

“It’s… erhm.” Charce paused, frowning as he tried to search for an answer. But try as he might, he couldn’t remember the last time he really had any fun. There just wasn’t enough time while he took care of his kingdom, and if there was time, he used it to catch up on his sleep. He felt like a glorified medic most days.

“You haven’t had any fun for a long while.” Aether said, realisation dawning on his face. “That’s why you don’t smile. You used to smile a lot when you were younger.”

Charce sat quietly. He couldn’t argue with that. There wasn’t much to smile about when everyone around you was either dying or starving. He was Prince, but there was only so much one person could do even with his powers. And sometimes he couldn’t do anything at all. The crying boy rose to his mind. The only reason he hadn’t let all the sadness he had experienced consume him was because people needed him. Even if he was just one person, he would try his best. He couldn’t let down the people that had placed so much trust in him.

But how could he say all that out? Especially to Aether who he had only just met, at a party where they were supposed to be having fun? It was Aether’s fun night before the dive into chaos.

Thankfully, Aether just say in silence next to him without pressuring him to speak further. Charce wanted to know what the man was thinking but he couldn’t find the right words. Anything he said would have led back to his own thoughts and emotions. It wasn’t a place he wanted to be now.

The festivities passed him by. The dancing girls continued their body-shaking and sultry looks while the musicians upped the tempo to the dance. The sounds of joyful music filled the hall and Charce tried his best to enjoy it, though it was difficult. His mind just kept drifting off to his kingdom and if he would return to find it in ruins. Who knew how far the illness had spread by now?

But he had to at least endure it. Aether was giving up a lot more to come help them. A raucous party wasn’t so hard to get through, right?

“Dance with me.”

“What?” Charce was broken out of his thoughts. He turned to look at Aether with a wide, frightened stare. Did he just hear what he heard?

“Dance with me.” Aether grinned.

Before Charce could react, he was being dragged to his feet. Then they were in the middle of the dance floor, the music changing into a thumping beat as Aether held one of Charce’s hand and started to take aggressive steps. That had to be the opening to a dance. Charce had no idea what he was supposed to do and stood uselessly by Aether’s side, feeling more and more out of place.

“Come on!” Aether laughed, grabbing Charce’s other hand. “Don’t think! The beauty of this dance is that there are no steps! Just let your body flow!”

Let his body flow? How was Charce supposed to do that? Did he even want to do that? He couldn’t just let go and dance! A dance without steps was worse than one which he could learn.

“Uh, wait-”

“No buts or maybe! Close your eyes, Charce!” Aether smiled, waiting until he saw the young Prince closing his eyes. “Listen to the music around you. What does it say to you? What does your body say to it?”

Charce took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. It was a thumping rhythm, consistent with the beating of his heart. The other instruments were creating a beautiful melody and Charce felt like it almost spoke to him of… life. It was upbeat, gregarious and Charce lifted his arms, feeling like he was almost being lifted up higher into the air, above the ground below from where he had been born.

Charce started moving in the packed hall. But unlike Aether’s high energy stances, Charce’s body moved with the sway of the music, the fog at his feet rising up in swirls and patterns around him as he moved fast, and then slow, sometimes even coming to a standstill, his arms and body rising and falling. He was displaying all that life had to offer to him, all that he wanted, and yet could not receive.

All the time Charce danced with his eyes closed, the swirling of the fog around him entwining and then repelling with the lightning of the music until Charce finally found an arm around his waist. His eyes opened and he was surprised to suddenly see Aether in front of him. He had been so lost in the music he had thought he was alone.

There was a hungry look in Aether’s eyes. A big smile lingered on his lips as his arms went to Charce’s shoulder. Aether gave him a playful push, which Charce easily stepped away from. He understood what Aether wanted. He wanted to dance.

Charce held out his hand, moving in to swirl with his fog around Aether who drew most of the gathered eyes on him with his powerful stomps, punches and tumbles. With renewed vigour at having watched Charce dance, Aether attacked the moves, depicting a hunt with small twin whirlwinds as Charce became the mist of a forest.

With each pound of the drums, the pace picked up, and soon it was clear that Charce was the one Aether was hunting. Charce was smiling hard as he darted, jumped and evaded all of Aether’s chance of capture. The golds and blues of their ceremonial clothes intermingled into a beautiful tapestry of dance, with wind and fog.

As the tempo of the song picked up, the two of them upped the speed of their steps. Matching each beat with a push in their feet or a block between hands as they exchanged moves in a fight-dance. Charce never confronted Aether head-on, instead using the force from the man’s hands to deflect or shift out of the way.

The beat was becoming frantic. The climax approached. The clashing of cymbals resounded around the room, and Aether delivered a straight punch forward with Charce blocking it as their final stance before the music stopped.

There was silence in the room until the two of them stepped apart, and then loud applause resounded around the room.

“Marvellous!”

“Wonderful!”

“More!”

Aether grinned, delivering a bow with a flourish to the gathered guests.

“That was a stupendous performance by our King.” A middle-aged noble with short dark hair, a slight beard and goatee stood up, applauding as he approached the two of them.

“Thank you, Rondine.” Aether looked relaxed, but Charce could hear the slight edge in his voice.

He guessed that even up here, there were nobles that weren’t in full support of the King, despite all the wealth and prosperity. Maybe even because it.

“Our two kingdoms seem to be forming good relations. I do hope the two of you will continue strengthening our bonds, though of course be careful not to overdo it. It wouldn’t be good if you over-exerted yourselves.” Rondine laughed, clapping Aether on the shoulder before disappearing back into the crowd.

The applause and praise still carried on. Charce wondered if they were genuine or just for the benefit of buttering up to Aether. He had those thoughts whenever people were kind to him in his kingdom. Did Aether think this way? He seemed truly happy though. There were many things he wanted to talk to Aether about. Realisation dawned in Charce’s eyes. Aether could understand him if they both tried.

“Thank you! Thank you! Now, please, continue to enjoy the party, for your King’s eyes grow weary. Amidst the starry night, he shall no longer tarry, so please, eat and drink as much as your belly can carry!”

With a wave to the guests, Aether nodded at Charce. They were going to make their escape.

Charce quickly followed Aether as he disappeared behind the door to their right. Maybe things weren’t as hopeless as they seemed, even if they were royals from rival kingdoms. At least they had similar upbringings. If they could dance together, surely he could overlook Aether’s personality and they could work together?

Chapter 6

“Phew, Rondine. Nearly spoiling things as usual. That man’s always on my tail.”

“I take it there’s a colourful past between the two of you.” Charce nodded.

“Very. He was a key supporter of a rebellion in my father’s time. But he somehow managed to worm his way out of punishment. Here he is today, and I can’t touch him.”

“Ah, heritage. I have quite a few problems like that too. It’s why it’s been hard for me to take action as well.”

“Which is why you need my help.” Aether smiled, intertwining his hands with Charce’s. “I should be glad they’re making things hard for you.”

“So I can make your life harder up here by coming to you for aid?” Charce grinned.

“Well, I’m hoping you can make me hard down here as well.” Aether pulled Charce close to him, until the two of them were hiding in a small alcove just off the corridor.

Aether bent his head low, gently kissing Charce. The stolen kiss was the sweetest one.

The young Prince couldn’t find it in himself to refuse being kissed. Charce still craved the physical contact that had been missing from his life. Aether wrapped his arms around Charce, tightening his hold until they were pressed up against each other. His tongue pushed for invasion into Charce’s mouth, and Charce could only taste him as he moaned.

But they were kissing in the hallway, and Charce had both their reputations to consider. With superhuman willpower, he pushed Aether away, a blush on his cheeks. Even a small kiss was turning him on so much. What had become of him?

“That was an… interesting poem you gave at the feast, by the way.” Charce licked his lips as he panted.

“What? You don’t think I’ll make a world-famous poet?” Aether grinned. “I spent a lot of time on that you know?”

“I think you would make a fantastic poet. You should reconsider being King.” Charce smiled.

Well, the dance had definitely put someone in a great mood. Aether grinned. Charce was more agreeable than usual. He would have to thank the musicians later. Aether grabbed Charce’s hand again, slowly pulling the young Prince beside him back towards his own bedroom. He wanted more than just a sneaky kiss in an alcove.

“Hey, I can always work two jobs. Being a King’s not very demanding, you know?” Aether nodded his head, a mock-serious look on his face. “Being a poet’s tiring, but if I juggle my schedule correctly, I’m sure I’ll be able to work something out.”

“That does sound like a good plan.” Charce followed Aether. What they shared was a forbidden pleasure, but he was happy to go along with the flow for now. He saw no reason to deny himself from being touched and touching Aether. Not in this moment, when things were progressing so well. It would only help things to get Aether on his side, as long as Aether saw how much help his people needed as well. Charce wouldn’t be satisfied with any less. He didn’t want to disappoint his people, but he didn’t want to toy with Aether’s feelings for him either. Both felt equally as important to him.

Sure, it was a dangerous game they were playing, having trysts as leaders of kingdoms, but he wanted to explore both their territories more. Both as rulers and as men. He could make things easier for himself if he just gave in to whatever Aether wanted, to live up here with tribute paid to his kingdom, but he wouldn’t respect himself as a Prince or a man.

Charce could definitely separate work and the physical needs of his body. Or at least, he would learn how to from this. He nodded at the promise he made to himself. He wouldn’t just give in to Aether’s demands without taking his own. His gaze lingered on Aether’s back, noticing exactly how built the King was as they made their way down the corridor. He couldn’t ask for a better first partner.

Aether was scanning the area in case someone spotted them, but it was empty. He saw something that sparked a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Follow me.”

“Hey, where are we going? The bedroom’s there. Woah!” Charce fought for balance as Aether tugged his hand and he was pulled into a quiet room.

There were weapons and pieces of armour on shelves and racks. It was the Royal Armoury. The door closed behind them and Charce’s lips were immediately assaulted. Charce gasped for air, then moaned softly.

“You were beautiful out there. Handsome, terrible, and brave.” Aether licked at Charce’s lips.

“Terrible!?” Charce frowned, wondering if he had heard wrongly.

“Yeah, terrible for making me watch without being able to touch you.”

Aether pressed his lips hard against Charce. A contented sigh escaped Charce as he wrapped his arms around the King. Was there a better place on the Overworld than this? To touch another human being and to be touched in return. Even by someone like Aether. He knew he couldn’t take whatever the King said too seriously. His promises and sweet-talk about the future had to be taken with the salt of reality. But Charce couldn’t help but moan against Aether’s lips. He wanted to believe him.

“We’re going to do it here? In the armoury?” He frowned, shaking his head. Somehow, it felt disrespectful.

“Why not?” Aether laughed, drawing Charce deeper into the room.

“Well, what if I take stock of all the weapons you own and use it against you?”

“Then I’ll just have to keep you too occupied to look at anywhere but me.” Aether grinned, pulling Charce close to him.

Their bodies pressed together and even between the rich finery of their royal clothing, Charce could feel Aether’s body heat. Did Aether have less control of his powers than he knew? Or was it the orange flames in the fireplace and the presence of so much metallic armour heating things up?

“There’s nowhere in here to do anything, anyway.” Charce fought to look for a way out despite the desire he felt. Cavorting with the King from the Overworld in the armoury might just complicate the situation even more. What if someone found them? Any chance of aid would be gone.

“The floor is too hard.”

“Picky Princess. But I’m hard too.” Aether grabbed Charce’s hand, placing it down against his crotch. “We’ll find a way.”

Charce swallowed. Aether was hard. Rock hard. Maybe harder than some of the spears in here. And Charce was getting there as well. There really was no escaping the man. Charce nodded.

Aether started tugging his hand, pulling Charce between the rows of spears, swords, shields, and helmets, right towards the back. Here lay the lesser used equipment. Charce could recognise all the ceremonial ones used in his own kingdom as well. Bejeweled daggers, gold-plated bows and arrows, ceremonial spear, and axes that had never chopped down a tree. Soft capes hung like rich tapestries from the walls here, proudly displaying their family crest. Aether promptly flung them to the floor, their own King dirtying them.

“The servants aren’t going to like the extra work.” Charce raised his eyebrows as Aether sat down on the soft hill of fabric.

“I pay them to do their jobs, not to like anything.” Aether grinned, pulling Charce down to him.

The fog around Charce’s feet swirled and condensed, rising over the hill of capes. His nervousness at doing it here was clear from his face.

“Relax.” Aether ran a hand down Charce’s back.

“It’s a bit hard to when we could be discovered in here.” Charce had to fight back a moan.

“Isn’t that half the fun?”

“Of being discovered and ruining our reputations? Not particularly.” Charce wrinkled his nose.

“We don’t have much of a reputation to go on.” Aether grinned.

“That is true. Regrettably.” Charce smiled.

“I don’t have any regrets personally. I think it’s wonderful not to have a reputation to live up to. Life’s too short to be stuffy.”

“So, that’s why we ended up here, on the floor of the armoury. It’s your damn outlook on life.”

“Which you know you love me for.” Aether had a sly grin on his face.

“Love? I-I’ve never said anything about love!”

“You haven’t, but your actions speak otherwise. There’s a reason it’s called making love.”

“I… I wouldn’t make love to you if it didn’t feel so good!”

“And it feels good because our bodies are in love. It’s just going to take your heart a little while to catch up. In the meantime, we can enjoy each other. Thoroughly.” Aether was already fiddling with the clasps on Charce’s robes as he pressed kisses around the young Prince’s neck.

“Ah!” Charce moaned as Aether hit a particularly sensitive spot. It was almost cruel how easily Aether could turn him on.

“See, your body loves me.” Aether smiled as he reached down to tug open Charce’s pants. “Lean on me and lift your bum up.”

Aether took the chance to grope Charce’s bum as he tugged at the garments that were hiding Charce’s body. Sure, Charce looked good in them, but he much preferred Charce naked. One swift pull of the trousers and then another on the shirt restricting his view, and Charce was now bare before him. Exactly as he wanted the man.

“Ah. So beautiful.” Aether smiled as he placed a delicate kiss on Charce’s nipple, then took  the nub into his mouth.

Charce gasped as he felt Aether’s tongue swirling and flicking at his nipple while the other one was toyed with between Aether’s fingers. Aether knew his body too well. It was almost magical how quickly his body had been mapped. His nipples were his sensitive spots, and as Aether continued paying attention to them, Charce became more and more turned on. He was soon at full erection and gliding his hips along Aether’s thigh, so his cock could be stimulated against Aether.

“You’re so lustful.” Aether smiled, taking one of Charce’s hand from his shoulder, then guiding it down towards his pants. “Take my cock out. Undress me.”

It shouldn’t have been hard, but Charce found his hands trembling with how turned on he was, as he fought to keep his body still while Aether licked and bit at his neck. Aether continued to rub and brush at his nipples and Chris became more and more engorged. Charce pulled away Aether’s pants and undergarment, to reveal his hard erection, then lifted up the King’s shirt, admiring how his muscular body glowed from the fire. A body that looked that good in clothes looked even better naked.

“You can touch me, you know? I welcome it.” Aether smiled, leaning back down against the capes on the floor. He knew Charce was inexperienced, and he wanted this time to be about Charce taking the initiative.

Charce blushed. Was his gaze so obvious? He gave a shy smile as he raised both hands up to Aether’s shoulders, then ran them down, across the King’s broad chest, where his nipples were. Aether gave a grunt of encouragement. Charce continued downwards, his hands exploring the contours of Aether’s fit body, down to his muscled hips and thighs. They were tight and hard. His hands wrapped firmly around Aether’s cock. One hand started jerking Aether slowly while the other explored his balls, playing with the hefty twin spheres.

“You’re so hot.” Aether smiled, wrapping both arms around Charce and drawing him close, kissing him deeply. “You know, you don’t have to be shy when you’re around me. I enjoy being close to you and exploring our bodies together.”

“I’m not shy!”

“Oh yeah? Then prove it.” Aether smiled, challenging the young Prince.

Charce blushed a bright red. What was Charce supposed to say? How was he supposed to express the intensity of his emotions inside? That made it hard for him to even make a move at all. It was already difficult enough when Aether treated him roughly, when they were both horny, but this new sensuality and slower pace unnerved him even more. Back then, he could believe it was all about the sex, but now his flicker of attraction to Aether the man was undeniable. It was moving from the purely physical to something else he wasn’t sure he was ready for.

It was wrong. So wrong. Terribly wrong. Because what would happen to their kingdoms if this continued? The people would revolt.

“I’ll make you want to touch me then,” Aether said as Charce’s pause in his actions made him impatient.

Aether slid his tongue between Charce’s lips. Charce groaned. It felt so good. He hadn’t been kissed properly in a few hours and already his body missed it. A devouring kiss that only Aether could give him. Charce gasped, opening his mouth and dueling with Aether’s tongue, sliding and slipping around as they became lost even deeper. He was falling into an unknown pit, and he didn’t want to stop.

“You’re so sexy, you know that? I want to see you ride me.” Aether smiled, pulling a small container from one of his pockets from the discarded pile of clothes. He opened it with one hand, then dabbed a bit of the lotion inside onto his fingertips. Carefully, he reached behind Charce, spreading it around Charce’s entrance until he was slick.

Charce moved into position, parting his legs and positioning his body above Aether’s cock. Even more than the kiss, he had been dreaming about taking Aether in once again. All throughout the day the thoughts had been intruding on him. And now he could sate them. The thought that this might be demeaning had crossed his mind. He was the Prince of the Underworld. So why should he be the one to spread his legs? But the pleasure was so intense. There was no stopping them. And since he was Prince, he reasoned that he could afford to indulge himself once in awhile. There was only the two of them tonight.

“You’re not hurting, are you? From the night before?”