Free Martyr by A. R. Kahler Page A

closer.
    â€œThough I am a bit saddened you didn’t heed my advice.” His words were frighteningly delicate. “I told you to run.”
    â€œI’m not going to take advice from an incubus.”
    In the next moment, they were both on the bed, Tenn on his back and Tomás crouched on top of him. Tomás’s knees pinned Tenn’s arms to his sides. The Howl’s copper eyes blazed gold.
    â€œI told you not to call me that,” Tomás seethed. He shook his head, as though trying to drown some inner voice. When he looked back at Tenn, he cocked his head to the side and smiled. There wasn’t the slightest bit of kindness in those perfect white teeth.
    â€œIt seems he is not good at following directions.” Tomás dragged a finger along Tenn’s jaw and down his neck. He leaned in close, until their cheeks were brushing.
    â€œPerhaps he wants to be punished?”
    Tomás’s hand continued trailing down, snagging on Tenn’s shirt and slowly ripping it open. Tenn writhed under that touch, his pulse throbbing. Twin voices screamed in his head. One, the sane one, wanted to escape. The other… Well, the other part wanted to pull Tomás closer and show him just who was going to do the punishing.
    He forced the thoughts away. As Tomás’s finger continued its slow undoing of Tenn’s shirt, Tenn tried to stall.
    â€œWhy are you doing this?” he managed, pissed at how breathy his voice had suddenly become. Tomás paused. Tenn could practically feel the gears turning in his twisted mind.
    â€œI have already told you,” he finally said. “What my sister Leanna covets, I too desire.”
    â€œBut why? Why me? Why now?”
    Tomás sat back up, his hands lingering on Tenn’s chest. “You are special, Tenn. Powerful in ways that are only just awakening, in ways I can help you understand. And Leanna and I are drawn to men of power.”
    â€œWhy don’t you just bring me to her then if she wants me so badly?”
    Tomás chuckled. It made Tenn’s blood boil in ways he’d never felt before.
    â€œBecause I would much rather let my sister work for her prize.” He leaned in and kissed Tenn’s collarbone. Frostbite burned with ecstasy.
    â€œI’m not your prize,” Tenn said. His words were almost a gasp.
    Tomás practically purred.
    â€œOh, but you are. You are the greatest prize of all. But I am okay sharing you. For now. So long as you do as you’re told.” Tomás leaned back and looked him in the eyes. All taunting, all teasing was gone. “Otherwise, it is not you I shall punish. Humans are frail things. They break so easily. Especially human lovers.”
    Anger raged in Tenn’s chest—anger and fear—and he wasn’t certain if it was Tomás or the threat that set it off.
    â€œDon’t you dare hurt him.”
    Tomás’s grin widened.
    â€œThen do not defy me,” he said. “I play nicely when my rules are obeyed. The boy can live so long as you remember this.”
    Tenn opened his mouth, unsure of what words would come out, when the door opened.
    In a heartbeat, Tomás was gone. Tenn hadn’t even felt him use magic.
    â€œYou still awake?” Jarrett asked.
    He stepped in slowly. Tenn closed his eyes and pressed his hands to his forehead. His heart was going a hundred miles a minute.
    â€œYeah.” He pushed himself up to sitting. “That was fast.”
    Jarrett bore a tray of food in his hands, two steaming bowls of soup and a loaf of bread. He set them down on the nightstand.
    â€œCassandra wasn’t in,” he said, then paused and looked Tenn over. If he noticed the tear in Tenn’s shirt, he didn’t say anything. Tenn prayed he’d just pass it off as a battle scar. “You sure you’re okay? You’re shaking.”
    Tenn nodded. He knew he should tell Jarrett, despite Tomás’s threats. There was