The Darkest Sword

no one should make you feel wrong for it. I just want it to be your choice, not something your Master has beaten into you. I want you to think freely, Ashiyn. I want you to live your life as you, not as your Master’s pawn.”
Ashiyn looked back at Diredin. “That boy I mentioned once before. Soryn. He asked me to be with him once. I was very confused by his arousal and his proposal. We didn’t get to explore it because Rhadamanthus beat me to death in front of him to teach us both a lesson. Likely he thought I’d be corrupted by Soryn.”
“Do you find him attractive?” Diredin asked.
“No. I don’t know. Not sexually,” Ashiyn shrugged.
“But you do care for him. And he finds you sexually attractive. That’s okay, Ashiyn. He likely can’t help it any more than you can help not wanting him that way. If the two of you can work out how to be friends anyway, perhaps time will change one of you. Or perhaps not. Don’t let him pressure you into something you don’t want though, that’s not fair to either of you.” Diredin tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “I won’t try to convince you to stay here with me instead of returning to Rhadamanthus. As much as I desire that you stay here with me.”
Ashiyn dropped the shirt he was folding at Diredin’s words. “What did you say?”
Diredin played with one of his many necklaces, not meeting Ashiyn’s gaze. “To know you is to love you, my Prince. Even though you are a spoiled brute, there is something underneath that is irresistible. I have quite fallen for you, honestly. It’s never happened before with one of my students, especially one I dared not touch at all. I care for you. It pains me greatly to know that you are returning to abuse, pain, torture, death. I debated even telling you, but I want you to know you have the option. Stay here with me, Ashiyn. Even if you never desire me the way I desire you.”
Ashiyn stared at Diredin, shocked. Then rage filled him, and he started to shake. “You know I can’t do that! Do you have any idea what Rhadamanthus would do to you if you tried to keep me here? To everyone here? He would raze your palace and everyone in it. He’d torture you in unspeakable ways.” Ashiyn shook his head and gathered his things, not trusting his voice. He forced the emotions down and regained his calm. “Or he would make me torture you to teach me a lesson. Goodbye, Diredin. I am leaving. Now.” With that he took his things and fled the palace.
He ignored Diredin’s pleading calls and ran to the stable, saddled Illusion, and raced back toward his Master’s kingdom.

CHAPTER SEVEN
Ashiyn wandered around the castle feeling restless. The woman hadn’t satisfied him, and now he couldn’t sleep. His thoughts wandered to Soryn. He had not seen the boy since the day they had been caught by Rhadamanthus. Deciding now would be a good time to go visit; Ashiyn closed his eyes and focused his magic. Since he knew Soryn it was not difficult to locate him. Ashiyn then used his magic to tear open the shadows as he had seen Rurik do and stepped through them into a darkened room.
His magic had not told him what his would-be-friend was doing. Ashiyn narrowed his eyes. Soryn lay there seemingly in a trance as Rurik used him. Ashiyn knew it was dangerous to stand there and watch, but he had never seen two men together and curiosity got the better of him. Besides, he wanted to talk to Soryn. He was used to getting what he wanted now. He had nothing better to do than wait.
Once Rurik was finished, he fell asleep quickly and the trance seemed to fall from Soryn. Soryn shuddered, rose, and wandered out of the room nude. Ashiyn followed him, staying hidden in the shadows. Soryn retreated to a small room with a ritual bathing pool and waded out into it to wash himself.
Ashiyn watched, still silent. They had both grown into men, and he’d never seen his friend without the massive flowing robes that Rurik’s acolytes wore. He frowned, considering his own body’s reaction to seeing Soryn’s naked body. He remembered the way Soryn had tried to convince him to experiment before they were caught together. Rhadamanthus said it was a sickness, a weakness, to find other men attractive. Ashiyn had just fled the safety of Diredin’s palace to spare that man the horrendous death by Rhadamanthus’s hands that he knew would come if something happened between them. Yet, here he was, his body eager at what he was seeing. As Soryn started to emerge from the pool to dry, Ashiyn let the shadows fall from him so Soryn could see him.
Soryn dropped the towel he was using in shock and stared at Ashiyn in disbelief. “Pr-pr-prince Ashiyn? It can’t be. I saw you die.”
Ashiyn fought the urge to roll his eyes. “I die almost daily, Soryn. I am an immortal.”
Soryn sat down on a stone bench, trembling. “All of this time I thought you died to protect me. Why didn’t you come to see me sooner?”
“I was busy. I didn’t want us to be found again,” Ashiyn started then shrugged and walked closer, still looking Soryn over. “I am drawn to you. I still want to speak to you.”
Soryn sucked in a breath as he looked Ashiyn over. “You are even more breathtaking and seductive than before. Do you realize the things I imagine doing with you any time I see you? Things you would find horribly perverse. You’d probably kill me. Is it wise to try to befriend me?”
“I’m quite used to people wanting me, Soryn. Women fall at my feet all the time now,” Ashiyn smirked,