Hallowed Bond (Chronicles of Ylandre Book 2) by Eresse Page A

writhing on the couch in agony, clawing at the invisible hand around his throat that seemed to tighten as Dylen’s rage grew.
    Before he lost full awareness, Riodan cried out, his voice laden with such grief and despair that Ithan’s hands stilled. His words were very slurred but still quite comprehensible.
    Help me, Dylen! Help me! Please help me! Forgive me, Dy. Forgive me… Dy…
    Dy… ariad… forgive me…
    Dylen swallowed hard. Ariad . Riodan had called him beloved. He was startled when Ithan snatched back his hands as if scalded. He watched the Deir shakily try to pull Riodan’s breeches back up. And he heard Ithan’s disembodied voice.
    All right, it’s all right. I won’t… Oh heyas… What am I doing? I’m sorry, Riodan.
    I’m so sorry!
    Next Dylen saw was a wild-eyed Riodan sitting up and looking down at his disheveled state in horror. The youth stumbled to his feet, yanking up his breeches and fumbling with the buttons.
    A hand landed on his arm, and he jerked away and spun around. His features contorted with rage, fear and loathing.
    Don’t touch me!
    Wait, I didn’t—
    Get away from me!
    Riodan, naught hap—
    Face streaked with tears and heartbreaking sobs spilling from him, Riodan shoved Ithan away and lurched toward the door. He opened it frantically and fled the apartment, ignoring Ithan’s pleas for him to listen.
    Dylen abruptly withdrew from Ithan’s mind and released him from thrall. The student slumped into a heap on the couch, gulping in air greedily. He looked at Dylen with streaming eyes, wiping blood and mucus from his nose with a shaking hand.
    “Do you believe me now?” he managed to croak.
    Dylen glowered at him. “You’re very fortunate that you were telling the truth.” He ignored Ithan’s blanched countenance and rose to his feet. “Stay away from him.”
    The student forced himself into an upright position. He dared to meet Dylen’s eyes.
    “He wouldn’t have been with me in the first place if you’d given him what he desired,”
    he mumbled.
    Dylen looked at Ithan incredulously. “What?”
    Ithan gulped but pressed on. “I tried to deny it to myself, but I knew I was just a
    substitute. And not even for anything more than company. It’s you he really wants. But if you don’t give in to him, this could happen again. He’s fortunate it was I who was with him.”
    Dylen took a threatening step forward, prompting Ithan to back into the corner of the couch in fright.
    “You have a lot of gall to paint yourself so favorably after abusing him,” he snapped.
    “I did not—”
    “Yes, you did, blackguard. He told you to stop, but you continued to touch him.”
    Ithan looked down, unable to refute the statement. “Stay away from him,” Dylen repeated. “If you get close enough for him to catch even a glimpse of your face, I’ll come for you. And I won’t just break your back. I’ll make sure you have nothing left to stick into anybody ever again.”
    With a final glare at the terror-stricken Deir, he strode to the door, yanked it open and stalked out, slamming the door behind him so forcefully it rattled in its frame.

It was nearing sundown by the time Dylen returned home. He had passed by the Seralye to inform Zarael that he would not come to work that evening. To make amends for his absence, he’d helped Zarael screen a number of guests who hoped to become full patrons of the club. Afterward, he’d paid a visit to a regular patron of his. The Deir was a member of the board of trustees of the State University.
    Dylen was certain he had convinced Ithan of the wisdom of staying out of Riodan’s way. However, he was not above using whatever means at his disposal to ensure that Riodan’s erstwhile friend never troubled him again.
    He found Riodan anxiously waiting for him in the parlor. The younger Deir rose to his feet when he heard Dylen mounting the stairs.
    “Where did you go?’ he asked fearfully.
    Gesturing to Riodan to reseat himself, Dylen joined