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Boraleashe shivered, gazing up into the clouds. The moon was pitch-black, casting a shadow that threatened to hide the last remnants of their sun for eternity if he didn’t surrender.
Boraleashe had a lot of regrets in his two thousand and fifty years of life and a lot of squandered opportunities because of duty and stubbornness. But there was nothing he was more sorrowful for than not having Theodor inside him one more time. To have tasted his warm skin and felt his seductive wind merging with his.
Boraleashe closed his eyes, his breath growing shallower.
An earth-quaking boom shook the mountain beneath his knees. The wind howled, creating a towering mound of snow that threatened to bury him alive. Hundred-year-old pine trees were either uprooted or bent to the moon’s will.
The sleet and hail were falling too hard for Boraleashe to see more than a couple of feet in front of him, but when he squinted his eyes, he was just able to make out a faint amber glow piercing the darkness. The light began to grow brighter as it got closer, the ground continuing to tremble. At least he thought it was the earth and not him.
“Boraleashe! Answer me!”
“No,” Boraleashe croaked, his voice weak and far too low to be heard. It is too late, Theodor.
Theodor was close enough for Boraleashe to make out his tall frame and Gold Reaper glowing in his right hand. It was a formidable weapon but useless against a warlock lord with command of a celestial entity. There was no flesh to pierce, no limbs Theodor could sever.
It was a demon powerful enough to wreak havoc on whole worlds, dispensing only pain and judgment.
Theodor
Theodor hollered Boraleashe’s name until his voice was almost gone. Each time he called out, the Snow Moon would maliciously carry the sound away, but he refused to give up hope.
Theodor used his core to heat himself from the inside out while he powered on. It was almost another hour before Theodor heaved the biggest sigh of relief, running and falling to his knees at Boraleashe’s side. He yanked him into his arms and thanked the gods, but his reprieve was short-lived when he saw how bad off his betrothed was.
Boraleashe was almost frozen, the ice and snow clinging to his clothes. His beautiful skin was a bluish gray except for the angry red frostbite on his forehead and cheeks. Boraleashe’s lips were a darker hue, his teeth chattering so hard they bloodied the inside of his mouth.
“Theo, no.” Boraleashe’s voice was weak. “Not even your strongest weapon can d-defeat the Moon Demon.”
Theodor cupped Boraleashe’s cheeks, his adrenaline spiking with the urge to protect what was his. “My greatest weapon is not Gold Reaper, Boraleashe… it’s my love for you.”
Boraleashe gazed at him through remorseful eyes that seemed to beg to be understood. A look that said all the things he never did out loud.
It was enough for Theodor to act. He hefted Boraleashe to his feet and walked them back to the shelter, using all of his might to get them secured inside. His lover wanted him to give up, to flee and save himself.
Unthinkable.
Theodor had been raised by Notalus Cavaliere, trained by the most elite swordsman in all the realms, and educated by the greatest mind in the worlds. He understood there was no joy without first suffering. Losing was inevitable in life. But he would not be defeated this night. This was a battle he was destined to win.
“Lie back,” he ordered. Through the violent tremors, Boraleashe managed to recline until his back hit the ground. “Don’t move.”
Theodor fought the force of the gust, reciting the spell Mordred had embedded into his robe. He balled his fists until his nails dug into his palms and shot both arms out to his sides. His robe detached from his shoulders with a resounding pop and snapped out to its full length before the edges slammed into the ground, cocooning them inside.
Theodor didn’t waste another second tearing open Boraleashe’s tunic so that he could get to his freezing skin.
“It’s going to be okay, Boraleashe. Have faith in me.” Theodor pulled Boraleashe’s trousers down his quivering thighs, then did the same with his own. He surrounded Boraleashe with his entire body. His teeth were still chattering, and his skin was colder than Theodor thought possible, but his gaze never wavered.
The storm seemed to grow more furious, because of Theodor’s interference, but he wasn’t afraid. His robe battled against the brutal onslaught of the wind, but it held firm to the mountaintop.
“This won’t p-protect us for l-long.” Boraleashe managed.
“It will.”
Boraleashe started again, but Theodor touched his fingertips to his shivering lips. With their foreheads together, he brushed his mouth over Boraleashe’s to reassure him.
“Trust your mind, winter warrior.” Theodor slid his hand to the back of Boraleashe’s neck and gripped it with confidence. “Trust your king.”
