10. Mica

Chapter 10

Mica

What the fuck had he done when he'd placed his mark? And when had Ra stopped hating him? The tension between them over the past week had been agony but it had been mutual. At least, he'd thought it was. Now, he almost felt bad about his own mistrust of the man, but Ra deserved it. He'd never understood why Ra had gone to such extremes for a council invitation that would've been extended eventually anyway. The only explanation had been revenge fuelled by Ra's hatred of him after his choices had almost resulted in Bast's death, and now it turned out that hatred had been fleeting.

Ra had destroyed everything between them for nothing and that only made his own anger greater .

They'd never stood a chance. Even if things hadn't turned out the way they had, Mica would never have put the target of a lord's consort on the back of a fragile human with no magic and divided loyalties. Ra was all but defenceless in the ruthless world of elemental politics. But they could've been something better than what they were. Friends, perhaps. He shouldn't have had to lose the only brightness in his day that their communications had become. Ra had taken that from him and wasn't sure he'd ever forgive him for it.

"You could at least apologise if you're so flighty that you've moved on from your hatred already," Mica growled, pushing Ra off him gently despite the angry tension in his body.

"No," Ra said, shrugging his shirt back on and reaching down to fasten the buttons.

Mica wished he could drag his gaze away from the frustrating view of all that delicious skin being covered, but he couldn't.

"No?! Why the fuck not?" he asked, all sense of his usual staid propriety well and truly lost, just like it always was when Ra was anywhere near him.

"I don't see you apologising for anything," Ra said.

"I am sorry for my words at the summit. They were uncalled for. But I'm not sorry for voting for Hel's capture. If I could go back in time, I would make the same choice again," Mica said.

"And so would I," Ra whispered, turning away.

Pain stabbed him in the chest at the fresh betrayal because he could feel the truth in the words through their connection.

"Fuck you," Mica said, more gasp than statement as he shoved to his feet and fought to keep his anger and hurt in check.

Ra glanced over his shoulder at him with a sad smile. "I don't think that's a good idea," he said.

Mica took a threatening step closer, but whatever his instincts would've driven him to do in that moment was interrupted by the room suddenly turning pitch black before the walls started flashing with red light.

Attack! The stronghold screamed in his mind, the words sending him sprinting for the door.

"What's going on?" Ra asked, chasing after him.

"Something's threatening the stronghold," Mica snapped, racing for the entryway and cursing himself for spending so much time in the chamber where there was no reception for his sat-phone.

The second they emerged through the teak door, both their phones went crazy with notifications.

"Report!" Mica snapped into his phone as Ra swore softly behind him.

"A portal opened at the entry to the stronghold. The Soul Court has declared war," his second-in-command said. "Our scouts aren't a match for Lord Bastion's power. We need you here."

"Bastion's launched an assault?" Mica asked, confused.

The Captain paused a moment. "It's just him and all he's done so far is shield himself from our defence and demand your presence."

Mica slowed his pace and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Dammit. Bastion would have felt the removal of his mark. He should've realised the ramifications of cutting Ra's connection to the Soul Lord but he'd been too distracted. This was exactly why he never should've let Ra come in the first place.

"Cease fire, Captain. Withdraw and do not engage unless you need to defend yourself."

"My lord, he knew what portalling here meant. The summit was clear it would be an act of war," the Captain protested.

"That was an order, not a suggestion. I'll be there soon," he said, hanging up.

Turning to Ra, he saw the man was speaking urgently into his phone. "Nah, bro. I promise I'm fine. It's just a misunderstanding."

"He wants to speak to you," Ra said, holding out the phone to him.

"Bastion," Mica said in greeting.

"What the fuck did you do to my brother?" Bastion all but shouted.

This was not how he wanted the news to get out. To be fair, he hadn't really thought that far ahead. There was no point denying it though when the evidence of his loss of control was glowing on Ra's skin in copper as they jogged back up the tunnels.

"I told you he is mine while he's here. He's fine. I merely replaced your mark with one of my own," Mica said.

Bastion spluttered and fell silent. "Bring him to me. I need to see him," he finally said.

"Of course. We'll be right there," Mica said, ignoring the fact another lord was trying to give him orders in his own damn court. Bastion had every right to be concerned when he felt his connection with Ra break.

Handing Ra's phone back to him, he swept the man up into his arms, ignoring Ra's yelp of surprise, and used his magic to speed their process through the caves.

Smash. Fight. Destroy. Protect mate. The stronghold chanted in his mind in time with his steps.

Calm yourself. He's Ra's family. His brother , Mica told the Stronghold.

I won't let him steal him , the stronghold replied, and the earth jolted beneath their feet sending them stumbling.

Sending his power out in a huge wave of pure control through the tangled broken ley lines around them, Mica took charge before the sentience could harm anyone by accident again.

Hush. I will protect him. Focus on keeping Kaia safe , he said, hoping to redirect its attention.

Mine. They're MINE , the stronghold said, before falling silent.

Dammit. He could feel the instability spreading through the sentience's presence in his mind. Putting on another burst of speed, he all but flew through the tunnels until they emerged into the late afternoon sunlight of the entryway.

Two dozen of his fighters hovered above, poised to attack, and Wren was standing in the entryway as if his slight presence could stop Bastion from gaining entry. Ignoring them all, Mica returned Ra to his feet, holding his elbow until the man regained his balance, and then stepped forward to greet the Soul Lord.

With the power of a dozen ley lines still feeding directly into him, he extended his hand and pushed it through Bastion's shielding, the process like walking through molasses. He might make allowance for the Soul Lord's panicked arrival at his doorstep, but that didn't mean he wouldn't show his strength in response. He couldn't risk being seen as weak. Bastion was powerful, but he was still young and Mica had many centuries more experience to draw from.

"Welcome, Lord Bastion," he said, offering a handclasp once he'd breached the magical protections surrounding him.

Bastion scowled at the move but dropped his shielding as he reached out to return the greeting. Hoping any threat was past, Mica signalled his Captain to return his forces to their usual positions and the skies above them cleared.

"What the fuck, bro? You can't risk starting a war over this," Ra said, brushing past him as he pulled Bastion into a tight hug despite his angry words.

"I don't suppose you could've given me some warning before you severed our connection and I assumed you'd died ," Bastion chided, holding Ra just as tight. "Is he forcing you to do this?"

Mica growled at the suggestion he would force a mark on someone, wings flaring wide in anger.

"Woah, down boy," Ra said, pulling away from Bastion to step towards Mica and place a hand to his chest.

He wished that touch didn't calm the rage. Wished it didn't send molten hot need through his veins. Clenching his teeth, he gently gripped Ra's wrist and lowered the man's hand back to his side.

"Don't speak to me like that," he warned quietly.

Ra's gaze flicked over his shoulder where he was sure Wren was still watching. The man knew better than to be so casual in front of others.

"Sorry," Ra said.

"Can I speak to my brother alone for a moment? I'll bring him right back," Bastion said, inclining his head toward the portal.

Mica was glad Bastion was one of the few elementals who lacked the ability to communicate with the stronghold thanks to his unique soulweaving magic, because the responding torrent of emotion from the caves was murderous.

"He stays here. You may shield the conversation, though," Mica said, careful not to give away just how tenuous his hold on the situation was. If Bastion took Ra through that portal there was no telling how the stronghold would react.

Bastion held his gaze, frowning, and it was Ra who finally broke the standoff.

"I don't need to keep our conversation from Mica and I doubt I could anyway," Ra said, subconsciously touching the collar around his throat. "The magic from your mark was interfering with my work here so I had to ask Mica to swap it out. I should've called you first. I'm sorry."

Mica was impressed by how deftly Ra was navigating avoiding any of the topics he wasn't supposed to discuss. Bastion knew some of what he was there for, but with Wren and likely at least one of his scouts listening in, they couldn't risk saying much out in the open.

Bastion didn't look convinced. "And what's this?" he asked, stepping closer to Ra and touching the collar.

"A safety precaution," Mica said as Ra smirked at him.

"Did you ask him for that, too?" Bastion asked Ra.

"Nope. He's an asshole when he wants something just like you. It's a cute accessory, though. Right?" Ra said, striking a pose.

Weirdly, the words seemed to reassure Bastion, or maybe it was his friend's antics that had him laughing as he shot Mica a knowing look.

"Do you want me to make him take it off or does that hickey on your neck mean you're fine with it?" Bastion asked Ra, loud enough for him to hear.

Ra waved a hand without even looking over at him. "It's fine as it is."

Mica tilted his head, utterly confounded by the contradictory man. He would've removed the collar if Bastion had asked. The new connection between him and Ra performed much of the same function, allowing him to track the man and serving as a visual reminder Ra was under his protection. The dark obsessive drive inside him was glad it was staying, though. He was lucky Bast was too young and lived too far from the courts to know the history of such markers. Shaking his head at his own folly, he interrupted the two.

"If that is all, Lord Bastion?" Mica said.

Bastion nodded and pulled Ra into one last hug.

"You're not going to visit Kaia while you're here?" Ra asked.

"I think we've caused enough international incidents for the day. I'll wait until the agreed time."

"I can have her brought out to you," Mica offered.

Bastion shook his head. "That is generous but you and I both know your people are on a hair-trigger with how I arrived. I'll see you next week at the Air Court. If you hurt him, I'll kill you."

Mica's gaze hardened. "I will manage my court as I see fit. Stay out of it."

"The only reason I'm willing to leave him here in that state is because I can see how gone you are for him. Good luck with that," Bastion said before striding back through the portal that blinked closed as soon as he was out of sight.

"Well. That was awkward. What state? I need a whiskey," Ra said, turning back toward the stronghold entrance.

Wren, who was still standing in the middle of the thoroughfare, turned pale as anything when he took in Mica's mark climbing up Ra's arm and the bruise he'd sucked into his neck.

"Did you mate with him?" Wren gasped.

"What? Of course not. I just placed my mark on him." He didn't owe Wren an explanation, but he needed to shut down that rumour fast.

"But you don't place your mark on anyone, my lord," Wren said, looking hurt.

"The evidence suggests otherwise, chip," Ra said.

"I … what? Chip?" Wren sputtered as Ra pushed past him.

"Y'know, because you're all salty and spout vinegar," Ra grinned.

Mica snorted back a laugh despite himself as he followed after the human. That one was bad even for Ra. "If you could avoid terrorising my staff I would appreciate it," Mica said, as they entered his living room.

"Where's the fun in that?" Ra asked carrying on into his bedroom.

"I thought you wanted a whiskey," Mica called, wandering over to his drinks cabinet and pondering what he was in the mood for. Something spicy and sweet like Ra's sunshine scent lingering in the air. He immediately kicked himself for the thought and was so distracted he didn't notice the man himself approaching.

"I do. But I want my whiskey," Ra said, two glasses of amber liquid in his hands.

"You brought your own whiskey? I have some of the best in the world right here," Mica said, taking the glass he was offered.

Ra shrugged. "I'm not saying it's better. I'm saying it's mine . I made it. I even made the barrels it aged in."

Mica's eyebrows raised in surprise. That he had not expected. Taking a small sip, he let the liquid sit on his tongue and savoured the flavours. It was exactly what he had been craving. Of course. "I like it."

"You don't have to say that. I drink it because it tastes like home. You don't have the same nostalgia," Ra said, taking another sip that drew Mica's gaze to his Adam's apple. He wanted to bite it.

"I don't say things I don't mean. It tastes like you," he replied.

Ra threw his head back and laughed. "I'll take it."

"What kind of barrel was it aged in?"

"Mizunara Oak. I brought a small cask with me if you want to see," Ra offered.

The Japanese oak and long storage explained the heavy spice notes and sunshiny hint of coconut he associated with Ra. Stalking after the man, he handed over his glass for a refill as he took in the smooth aged wood sitting near Ra's bed. He quickly regretted the move as Ra seated himself on the bed and leaned back on his elbow semi-reclined to finish his drink. He looked like pure temptation and Mica couldn't stop himself from stalking closer as he remembered just how good it felt when Ra had sat on his lap at the piano.

Ra raised an eyebrow in question as he paused between the man's knees where they rested on the edge of the bed. "See something else you like?"

"Like's a strong word."

The reminder of what they were to each other brought a scowl to the man's face, but it didn't last long. "How do you know the whiskey tastes like me? You've only tasted one of us."

Knocking back the rest of his whiskey in one go, he slammed the glass down on the side table and plucked Ra's from his hand to do the same before putting one knee up on the bed so he could cage the infuriating man between his hands.

"Not true. I've tasted you, too," he said, flicking out his tongue to lick the skin of Ra's chest exposed by the top buttons of his shirt. "Here. And here. And here." He punctuated each of his words with another lick or bite as he made his way up until he reached the very tip of his mark on Ra's skin just beneath his ear, knowing the magic in the copper lines would make the touches even more sensitive.

Ra arched beneath him, hunting for friction, but Mica kept his body poised out of reach above the man.

"Head a bit lower and you'll get a better taste," Ra gasped.

Mica let out a burst of sharp laughter at the teasing words. How could this man still make him laugh after everything that had passed between them? Reaching down between them, he closed his hand around the erection hiding beneath Ra's clothes and squeezed as Ra thrust up into his grip.

"Fuck. Why do I let you do this to me?" Ra asked, moaning as Mica gave the man's throbbing length another stroke.

Mica paused at the words, loosening his grip and leaning back. This was a mistake. He couldn't let himself indulge in the drive to touch Ra.

"That wasn't a request to stop," Ra snapped, sitting up and grabbing Mica's shirt in his fist before he could back away from the bed.

Mica's eyes dropped to his lips that looked so damn soft and kissable. The breath stuttered in his lungs and he could feel their shared arousal through the connection thrumming between them. Would it really be so bad to let off a little steam? Why had he let Ra manipulate him into that stupid bet? He hadn't been able to stop thinking about the man's lips in days.

His brain knew the man couldn't be trusted. Ra had betrayed him in a way that couldn't be forgiven the day he'd rung to tell him the delayed shipment of rice needed to address a massive shortage in the Tree City wouldn't be turning up unless he extended the invitation to Bast's mate to attend the ruling council. Children would've gone hungry if Ra had carried out his threat.

The problem was that his heart, his soul, and his cock didn't seem to give a shit what his brain thought. They just wanted Ra. Desperately. So, he did what he'd been doing for weeks. He avoided the problem. Avoided his own damn quarters. Turning on his heel, he strode from the room without a backward glance. He could sleep on the couch in his office. Send one of his staff to fetch fresh clothes.

Maybe if he stayed away for a few days, the new connection between them would settle down from this constant raw need to claim Ra, to protect him, from himself and everyone else.

One could only hope.