The Light Within the Darkness Read online

  THE LIGHT WITHIN THE DARKNESS

  THE MEN OF

  DRAGONS' HOUSE

  BOOK 2

  Copyright © 2020 by H.M. Wolfe and E.L. Nelson

  No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owners. This book is a work of fiction. All names, places, characters, and events are fictitious or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover art by EL Nelson

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  CHAPTER 1

  T

  he teens grouped around the massive table in the Roberts residence's dining room were waiting for the most significant moment of the party: the birthday cake. Maeve, the triplets' mother, was well-known in the neighborhood for her baking skills that reached their peak on her sons' birthday. Her exceptional creations were consumed by the boys' friends in just a few minutes and discussed for months afterward.

  The woman came from the kitchen, bringing the birthday cake, the biggest she'd ever baked. As usual, Warrick, the second-born, was helping her, while his brother, Vinson, and Valeran, stayed in the dining-room to entertain their guests. As expected, the arrival of the two was greeted with great enthusiasm, a choir of young voices started to sing happy birthday.

  The three boys gathered together to cut the cake, an excellent opportunity for Vinson to get as close as he could to Valeran, or Vale, as family and friends knew him; to fill his nostrils with his brother's sweet, intoxicating scent. A light blush was coloring the slightly smaller boy's cheeks, and Vinson had to fight hard against the temptation to kiss them.

  The slices of cake were passed among the guests, everyone going back to their seats to eat it, much to Vinson's regret. He sat near Warrick, the always serious, never smiling brother. Sometimes, he wondered how his brothers were so different: Vale, who was always smiling and Warrick, who seemed to carry the weight of the whole world on his shoulders.

  A few hours later, after the party was over, their mother hushed the birthday boys into their rooms, and she started to clean the dining room and kitchen. Vinson was convinced that, after only a few minutes, Warrick would go back downstairs, helping their mother in that discreet, but also stubborn way specific to him. The boy always did that, no matter how many times their mother told him not to.

  Vinson shrugged as he took off his clothes, getting ready for a shower in Vale's company. At least, this brother wasn't as complicated as the other one, he thought. The boy started to shiver in anticipation at the thought of the two of them under the shower, touching one another, sweetly, intimately, skin on skin, no inch of space between them.

  ''Hey, daydreamer. What are you doing? I thought you would be ready by now.'' Vale's voice brought his brother back to reality, the smile on his face brighter than before.

  ''In a sec,'' Vinson answered, sliding out of his briefs.''Impatient, aren't we?'' he grinned, hopping into the shower.

  ''Yes, if that is the new word for dead tired.'' the other boy lathered his hands with soap, running them up and down his brother's back. ''Whoa, how stiff you are!'' he exclaimed, massaging the tense muscles.

  ''How can you see that? I'm not facing you,'' Vinson replied, with a grin in his voice. ''Oh, you mean my muscles. Sorry about the confusion,'' he feigned innocence.

  ''Asshole,'' Vale lightly smacked his brother on the back of his head, ''that wasn't funny at all. Why do you always have to be such a moron?'' Vinson smiled as he heard the pout in his brother's voice.

  ''Aw, come on. I didn't want to upset you. I'm so sorry if I did.'' he spoke in a soft, soothing voice. ''Here, let me kiss-kiss you.''

  Vale turned around, facing Vinson, who gently cupped his brother's face with both hands, staring into the boy's soft-brown eyes and asking for forgiveness. He was going to get it, the kid thought, especially after the special birthday treat he'd prepared for Vale. Running his hands through his brother's short, light-brown strands, Vinson tentatively brushed his lips to the other boy's, tasting their sweetness, and getting high on it.

  Against his better judgment, the boy deepened the kiss, taking full control, demanding entrance. He parted Vale's lips with the tip of his tongue, making him weak in the knees. Initially, the other teen resisted, trying to push Vinson away. But soon, he became too weak in his knees to fight back. Instead, the boy started to moan in Vinson's mouth, making his body react to the sounds of pleasure he gave him.

  Sure about his victory, Vinson slowed down. The kiss was becoming sweet and gentle again. What they were doing was wrong on multiple levels, the boy thought, but a few moments later, he pushed it into the furthest corner of his mind. He and Vale had shared the same womb for nine months; they were each other's birthday presents.

  The bond they shared ran deeper than blood ties, beyond the common understanding, Vinson thought, looking at his brother's face. He loved getting lost in those lovely, kind light-brown eyes. Then and there, he decided Valeran was his, to protect and love him in every possible way.

  ''A penny for your thoughts,'' his brother's melodious voice brought Vinson back from the trip down memory lane. ''What are you thinking about?'' he ran a hand up and down his chest.

  ''Us, what else?'' the other man smiled, turning to face Vale. ''I was remembering how everything started, how beautiful our first kiss was. The surprised look on your lovely face, your hot breath against my lips...''

  ''It's surprising how many details you remember about it,'' Vale spoke in a guilt-ridden voice. ''My memories consist of me pushing you aside, washing, and then not talking to you for two weeks straight.''

  ''I didn't blame you then; I don't blame you now. I probably would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes.'' Vinson pulled Vale closer, kissing his neck and gently sucking at the spot. ''You taste so sweet, so good...''

  ''Please, don't stop.'' The other man let out a needy whimper, ''I need that, right there. God, Vin, you're so good at that. I'm already close to...keep going, please.''

  ''Let's take care of you.'' Vinson smiled against Vale's neck, wrapping a hand around his hard cock. ''Look at this poor little fellow, crying his little, white tears, with no one to wipe them down for him,'' he whispered as he smeared the pearls of precum all over the shaft's length, using it for a lubricant.

  ''You can go harder.'' Valeran thrust his hips forward, whimpering and moaning, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

  ''Like this? How does it feel, babe?'' Vin picked up his pace, driving the other man crazy, and bringing him to the edge. ''Talk to me, love. Tell me how much you like it.'' he purred into Vale's ear.

  But the man was too far gone to answer, as he felt his orgasm slowly building. There was an immense pleasure taking him over. It was making his heart beat faster and head spin. It wasn't long before Valeran started to shoot long ropes of pearlescent stic
ky cum from his cock, splattering his torso in the process.

  Minutes later, still under his post-orgasm haze, he started to emit sighs of contentment, as Vin washed his torso with a warm, damp cloth. His brother was there, Valeran thought, a sated smile on his lips, to love and take care of him like he always did.

  Heart thumping against his ribcage, and breathing erratically, Warrick was running down the narrow corridors of the university's main building. Almost to where the library was located, the bullies were following him step by step. They were right behind him, getting closer with each step. Only when the teen reached the locker room and showers did he understand that they'd set a trap for him, and he'd fallen in it headfirst.

  A hand grabbed Warrick's shoulder, steel fingers holding him in place, then another, and another joined it. Paralyzed by fear, unable to move, he was brutally turned around, facing the evil smirks and grins of his tormentors. The same cold, steel fingers started to undress him, removing his clothes methodically, leaving him exposed.

  ''Pretty boy.'' an eerie voice whispered, while the coldness of the brutal touch seeped into his blood, freezing it. ''Pretty gay boy.'' the voice repeated.

  ''No, please, let me go! I...I'll have myself transferred. You'll never see me again, I swear!'' Warrick desperately pleaded.

  ''Too late, pretty boy. You've already stained this place with your filthy, disgusting ways. Your presence here is a disgrace to this noble institution. But we are generous, and you'll get a parting gift. Hold him down, guys!''

  ''No, don't hurt me! God, don't let this happen to me, please! I'm going to die!'' Warrick's head was thrashing on the pillow, his eyes wide open, an expression of pure terror in his once soulful, chocolate-brown eyes.

  ''Calm down, pet. Relax, you're with me. Nothing, and no one can harm you.'' Ian whispered the soothing words, cradling the young man to his chest, and wiping the tears from his pale cheeks.

  ''Master,'' Warrick let out a long sigh of relief, ''you're here! Thank you,'' he continued, his voice broken, barely a whisper.

  ''Shh, pet, rest now. You've had quite an agitated night," Ian spoke softly, heartbroken for his sub. ''I'll call Mallory and ask him to give you a couple of days off. You need that. I'll call sick too, and we can hang around all day long. Eating, sleeping, reading, talking, or doing anything else you may be interested in.''

  ''No, Master. Please, don't do that.'' Warrick brought his palms together in a pleading gesture. ''I need to go to work. It keeps my mind focused there instead of letting it wander on a dangerous path. Thanks again for the generous offer, but you can't compromise your immaculate professional reputation by skipping work every time I have a bad dream.''

  ''If that's what you want, pet.'' Ian nodded, brushing his boy's hair with the tips of his fingers. ''So be it. Now. Do you want us to talk about the bad dream? What was it this time? Remember, I won't push you into it. You only talk to me if and when you feel like it.''

  ''No, it's OK.'' Warrick inhaled sharply. ''It was the same group, led by Professor Richards. It was only...this time, everything took place in the locker room. It was more...intense...more real than all the other ones.'' the younger man fell silent, hugging his knees to his chest.

  ''It's over Pet. They can't harm you anymore. It's not real, just a projection of your fears. You have no reason to be afraid. I'm here whenever you need me all you need to do is just whistle.'' Ian tried jokingly, hoping to lift his sub's spirit.

  ''Yes, Master. I'll keep that in mind.'' Warrick smiled at Ian weakly. ''Next time, you'll be in the dream, too, beating the hell out of them all.''

  Then the young man fell silent, his even breathing and relaxed body posture indicating that he was soundly asleep, at least for a while. Ian looked at him, worry etched in his features. He tried thinking about a way of pulling his sub up from the nothingness that threatened to swallow him. He was going to do his damnedest, but that was a job that required a collective effort. The man smiled, knowing just who was going to be his teammates.

  CHAPTER 2

  ''H

  ello, gentlemen, sorry if my call troubled you in any way. That wasn't my intention.'' Ian tiredly smiled at the four men. ''I managed to leave the office two hours early so I can talk to you and be home before Warrick.''

  ''By the way, you look, things between the two of you aren't quite right. Or is that just me?'' Sebastian asked worriedly. ''Please, sit down.'' He gestured to an armchair.

  ''Thanks,'' Ian unceremoniously plopped down. ''You're right. Things are far from being perfect. To be honest, the situation is getting worse with each day that passes, and it pains me to see him wasting away like he is. I need help.'' He took his head between his hands. ''I can't do it by myself, not anymore.''

  ''We're some selfish bastards, all of us,'' Vincent spoke after a few seconds of heavy silence. ''By putting only you in charge of Warrick's care, we've made the same mistakes as Maeve. We've turned a blind eye to your pain and cries for help. What do you need?''

  ''Nothing for me. Everything for my submissive and boyfriend. I want him to start talking to his brothers again. He needs to talk to them and you. I need Warrick to feel safe again, and you can give that to him. Also, I need my love to start communicating. He needs to reconnect with Vinson's children. They've had a positive influence on him.''

  ''There's a little problem with your wishlist, son.'' Sebastian's sad voice got Ian's full attention. ''Too many things on it depend on Vinson and Valeran's involvement, and as you probably know, we don't have a lot of influence over them.''

  ''I know, sir. Leave that to me,'' the special prosecutor nodded. ''I'll convince them to start visiting you and come over to see Warrick.''

  ''Why not doing two things at the same time?'' Nicholas intervened in his usually low, soft voice. ''I mean, their brother loves to come here all the time. He interacts with us, talks about anything and everything. He feels good here. Let's bring the three of them together to talk here and get to know us better.''

  ''What a brilliant idea, pet.'' Vincent smiled at the younger man, who beamed at the praise. ''Vin and Vale will see that we are not the judgemental assholes they think we are. Plus, they'll get to talk to Warrick, even if all they do is yell at each other.''

  ''We could act as referees. We also need to explain some things to the two of them,'' Joraan also spoke, ''because I have this feeling that them fearing we are against their relationship is not the only reason those boys are avoiding us.''

  ''What are you saying by that, sweet love?'' Sebastian turned to his husband, his forehead creased by a small frown.

  Letting out a long, heavy sigh, the redhead started to tell his men that he suspected Vinson and Valeran were blaming Sebastian for stealing Vincent's love. They feel he was depriving their mother of it and turning his back on her. They probably thought that, had it not been for the raven-haired man, their parents would have ended up happily married to each other.

  Joraan doubted that those ideas had been put in the young men's heads by their mother. She probably didn't have a clue about what her sons were thinking. He reminded the others that Warrick had pretty much the same attitude when he first appeared at their doorstep, three years before. He'd only became convinced of their version of the story after spending some time in their company.

  Because he and Nicholas weren't associated, in Vinson and Valeran's mind, with the hardships their mother had to face, raising three kids by herself, Joraan suggested the two of them should be the ones the young men should spend some time with at first. Then, after listening to their father's and Sebastian's love story told from a neutral perspective, they would eventually warm up to them.

  After telling everything in almost one go, Joraan fell silent, giving the others time to react. The first one was Ian, who warmly thanked the man for helping him to get into Vinson and Valeran's minds and seeing things from their perspective. He then excused himself and left to get home ahead of Warrick. He promised the four to keep them updated on his sub's situation.
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  A message from the younger man, saying that he was going to be a couple of hours later, because of an emergency at the office, made Ian change his plans. After messaging Mallory, to make sure the situation was real, the man adjusted his route, heading to the house Vinson and Valeran shared. He waited for quite sometime before the door was cracked open by one of the brothers, who wasn't exactly happy to see Ian.

  ''Hello,'' the special prosecutor tried to sound relaxed, ''sorry for coming unannounced, but I want to talk to you both. Inside would be best.'' he cast a suggestive look to the man, who was still blocking the door.

  ''Oh, right.'' he grumpily replied, making room for the special prosecutor. ''Excuse me if I made you wait, but sometimes, being a single parent is not a walk in the park.'' he gestured to the entrance.

  ''I understand that. If there's something I can do to make things easier for you, I'm here.'' Ian offered.

  ''Thank you, my brother gives me all the help I need.'' the young man blocked the special prosecutor's feeble attempt to warm him up. ''I'm Vinson, by the way. A lot of people can't tell Vale and me apart, so I thought you should know...''