The Red String Of Faith

A/N: This chapter  is beta by Kylee.

Chapter Thirty seven:

“What do you mean no?” Caelane demanded. An invitation to his brother Kade’s wedding had just arrived from his stepdad, and with a simple no, Anders had refused to let him attend his own brother’s wedding. Caelane pushed the plate of food away and crossed his arms, glaring furiously at Anders as he waited for an explanation.

“We are not going Caelane,” replied Anders. He ripped the invitation in half and tossed it on the table.

“Why do you have to be so mean? I hate you Anders!” Caelane yelled, his face red with rage. He shot to his feet and fled the room, wanting to get as far away from Anders as possible before he strangled the man with his bare hands. He ignored Anders who yelled out after him to stop him from leaving.

“Stupid Anders!” Caelane muttered as he made his way down the long, wide grand hallway. He was so busy cursing Anders that he didn't hear Devin calling out to him until Devin grabbed a hold of his shoulder and spun Caelane around to face him. His eyes shot open wide in surprise.

“Devin!” Caelane said with a happy smile on his face. “How did you get here?” he asked.

“I forced Jay to bring me along with him,” Devin answered right before Caelane hugged him.

“I'm so glad that you’re alright Caelane,” said Devin and he returned Caelane’s hug.

“How long have you been here Devin?” asked Caelane. He was very happy to see his one and only friend, especially since he thought that he would never get to see him again.

“Two months,” replied Devin.

“I didn't even know. Damn Anders for keeping me locked up in my chamber,” murmured Caelane, finding another reason to hate Anders. If Anders hadn't kept him prisoner in his chamber, he would have learned sooner that Devin was with him in the castle.

“Caelane, that angry look doesn't suit your baby face,” remarked Devin.

“I can't help it Devin, I am so mad at Anders right now,” said Caelane.

“Did I just give you another reason to hate him?” Devin asked as he stared at his friend with worry in his eyes.

“Yes,” answered Caelane immediately.

“Sorry,” Devin apologized to his friend.

Caelane sighed and went to sit on the stone bench overlooking the courtyard. “Devin I don't know what I’m doing here,” he told his friend with a sad look on his face. “I should be at my father’s castle in Siren. I--”

“You miss your family Caelane.” Devin interrupted with a understanding smile, for he too missed his own family. Like Caelane he also wanted to see his family again.

Caelane nodded. “I just wish that Anders would understand,” he sighed. “I feel like a bird trapped in a cage Devin.”

Devin never knew that Caelane had it that bad.  He was thankful that Jay didn't keep him prisoner in his own room. As he was about to say something, his eyes caught sight of Anders stalking towards them with a mean frown.

Devin nudged his friend gently on the shoulder before whispering, “Caelane, your captor is here and he looks furious.”

“Caelane!” Anders called out to the boy as he approached him.

Caelane looked up just as Anders reached them. “What do you want, you meanie?” he snapped at Anders.

“For the love of--” Anders scooped the angry boy into his arms and carried him off to his bedchamber where they could talk in private.

Devin returned to his own chamber after watching his friend getting carried away. He was glad that Jay didn't restrict his freedom, he thought as he headed to his room.

----

Anders kicked the door to his chamber open and carried Caelane over to the bed. He gently dropped the boy down then went to shut the door. He made sure to lock it as well in case the boy tried to escape before they were done talking.

“Damn it Caelane, does it upset you so much that I refused to attend your brother’s wedding with you?” Anders asked the boy as calmly as possible, trying his best to keep his temper under control.

“Yes,” Caelane answered immediately. “But that was only part of the reason why I am angry with you Anders. You refused to give me a reason why we can't go to my brother’s wedding. I miss my family Anders,” Caelane said in a shaky voice with his eyes staring down at his hands. He bit back the tears that wanted to escape from inside him.

Anders went over to the boy and sat down on the bed. He lifted the boy’s face up with his thumb and stared into the boy’s watery eyes, “I'm sorry Caelane,” he whispered his apology.

“Caelane, I don't want us to attend your brother’s wedding because I don't know how to face your father. I don't know what to say to make up for my past mistakes. I am afraid that your father will take you away from me, and then I would be forced to kill him to get you back.” Anders voiced out his main concern to the boy.

Caelane now understood, Anders was afraid of losing him. He put his arms around Anders and buried his face in Anders’ warm chest. “Everything will be fine Anders because no matter what happens, I will always be with you,” he reassured Anders softly.

“Even if I am a meanie?” said Anders with a soft chuckle.

“Yes,” replied Caelane and he glanced up and into Anders’ gentle eyes.

"You win Caelane, we'll go,” said Anders, giving into the cute boy in his arms.

Caelane smiled and it was filled with pure happiness. He planted a tender kiss on Anders’ lips and whispered, “Thank you Anders, you make me very happy.”

Anders smiled back and captured the boy’s soft lips with his hard mouth. “You’re so sweet,” he whispered as he felt himself getting hot and hard for the boy. He quickly undressed Caelane and himself. He tossed their clothes to the floor and resumed kissing Caelane with one hand wrapped around the boy’s arousal. He stroked it long and hard until the boy cried out his name.

“Anders...” cried Caelane as he reached his climax, his arms wrapped tightly around Anders’ neck.

Anders loved how erotic the boy looked while coming in his hand. He bend down kissed the Caelane’s brow and slipped his finger deep inside the tight heat between the boy’s thighs below the boy’s arousal, earning him another moan from Caelane.

“You are so beautiful,” Anders whispered and kissed the boy again.

Caelane trembled in Anders’ arms as Anders continued to explore the hot heat between his legs with his magic fingers. When he started to think that he couldn't take anymore, Anders swiftly entered him and completely buried his hard arousal deep inside him. He couldn't help but gasp in shock from the sudden invasion.

Anders closed his eyes and groaned loudly, “God, you’re so hot Caelane!” and then he began to move within Caelane, slowly at first then faster and deeper as well. He repeated the same rhythm over and over until he felt Caelane tighten around his hard arousal, and heard the boy scream out his name as he reached his climax once more. He continued to thrust deeply inside the boy a few more times and joined the boy soon after. He collapsed on top of the boy before moving to lay next to him a few moments later.

Caelane snuggled up to Anders and pulled the silky white sheet over them. “Anders,” he began softly.

“Hum...” Anders responded with his eyes closed as his hand caressed Caelane’s soft skin.

“Anders the baby is hungry,” announced Caelane with a grin as he patted his stomach softly.

Anders opened his eyes and let out a deep chuckle that echoed throughout the room.

----------

Jamie glanced up from his work when he heard his husband sigh for the fifth time that day. “What’s wrong Sebastian?” he asked as he continued to mend the one of the twins’ shirt.

“Nothing,” replied Sebastian with a smile, hoping that it would work and that Jamie wouldn't ask him any more questions, but it didn't work.

“There has to be something wrong Sebastian. You’re sighing too much for it to be nothing,” Jamie said and he put down the shirt he was mending.

“I would prefer not to tell you Jamie,” sighed Sebastian.

Jamie got up from the wooden stool he had been sitting on and went over to his husband’s side. He hugged his husband from behind and rested his head on his back. “I am your consort Sebastian.  It is my job to worry with you. To point you in the right direction when you’re lost,” he told Sebastian.

“Jamie,” uttered Sebastian softly as he turned around to look Jamie in the eyes.

“I will tell you everything Jamie,” and Sebastian started. He told Jamie everything and Jamie listened silently as he took in everything Sebastian told him.

“The king of Nary declared war with the the king of Sythia because the king of Sythia stole something the king of Nary considered to be his, and now your father wants you to prevent the war from happening.”  Jamie repeated Sebastian’s story and he went quiet for a long moment.

“I'm sorry Sebastian. All this happened because I asked you to help Kade,” Jamie apologized after his long moment of silence. “But I don't regret that we helped Kade to escape,” he added firmly.

“I know you don't Jamie,” replied Sebastian. “That’s why I made up my--”

“Ah! There is something that we can use Sebastian. It’s something very valuable,” Jamie suddenly announced, interrupting Sebastian. “The king of Nary won't be able to resist it,” he added.

“What is it Jamie?” Sebastian couldn’t help but ask with curiosity, seeing the excited look on Jamie’s face.

“You have to go with me to retrieve it, for it is buried deep in a cave north of here. It will take us three days on foot to get there,” Jamie said as he started to make plans.

“What is it Jamie?” Sebastian repeated his question from earlier.

Jamie just smiled. “You will see when we get there. Lots of people have lost their lives trying to get their hands on it. I was the only one who ventured into the cave and came back out alive without a scratch on me,” Jamie went on as he remembered that day he came upon the cave and what lay inside.

-----

Nicholas was on his way to visit Jamie and his kids when he was stopped by none other than Jeffery. Next to Jeffery stood Arian with his arms looped around Jeffery like a possessive husband. Seeing this, Nicholas’ mood turned sour. “Step aside Your Highness, king of Aria, I need to be on my way,” he grunted out.

“I want to see Jamie and so does Arian,” said Jeffery, refusing to step away from the horse.

“Like hell would I bring you and that bastard to Jamie. Did you forget what terrible things he did to Jamie, Your Highness?” Nicholas reminded the damn man as he tried to control his temper.

“I didn't forget Nicholas. Arian wanted to apologize to Jamie and see his grandsons before he is to be executed.” Jeffery replied.

“I don't trust him,” retorted Nicholas. He turned his horse around and went the other way.

“Nicholas please, it’s Arian’s last wish,” Jeffery yelled out to Nicholas.

Nicholas turned around and cast a sharp glare at Jeffery. He couldn’t believe his ears that the damn man was pleading with him. “I don't give a damn!” he yelled out and continued on without looking back as tears rolled down his cheeks. “Stupid jerk,” he muttered as he rode off to Jamie’s cottage.

“Jeffery, I have a pretty good idea where he is. Why don't we rest tonight and go see him tomorrow?” Arian voiced out after Nicholas disappeared from their sight. He didn't blame Nicholas for not trusting him. Arian knew deep in his heart that the sin he had committed was hard to erase. He was going to be executed a week from now by the hand of the man he loved. But before he died, he wanted to apologize to Jamie his son and see his grandchildren before he left this world.

Jeffery saw the pain and regret reflected in Arian’s eyes. He pulled him into his arms and held him. “I also have a pretty good idea where Jamie is Arian. Instead of waiting for tomorrow we should head there now,” he suggested.

Arian nodded his head and agreed. The two got on their horses and rode toward the mountain where they used to live. To the cottage were Jamie was born.

Jeffery’s father and Janus stood beside each other, hidden in the dark alley. They watched Jeffery and Arian ride off. Janus’ insides were burning with rage and jealousy. His hand curled into a tight fist and he bit down hard on his bottom lip until it bled. 

“Grandfather, I want that man, Nicholas and Jamie dead. Only that way will Jeffrey be mine.”

“It shall be done,” said Jeffery’s father with a cruel smile.  This will teach you Jeffery for going against my wishes, Jeffery’s father thought as he whistled for his trusted men.