Title: Murderer's Touch

Author: I_nv_u50

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Claimer: I bet everyone can guess correctly what I'm going to say here – so why do I need to fill it in?

Warning: Slash!! Whee!!

Author's Notes:  Chapter 12!! :D hope you like the interviews… I'm planning to do them again at the end of this story before the sequel comes out, just to show how they changed (yes, my English class is getting to me. #1. Describe how the main characters changed based on events in their lives. Provide evidence with thoughts, words and actions taken by the main character.) argh. That'll only happen if you want it to though, so let me know. I'll remind you again the last few chapters…

The Golden Dragon  ~  heh. Firefly must be used to it. She's had all those spoilt courtly riders, hasn't she? XD I have cool socks too. Mine have sheep on them. I'm thinking of starting a collection, but all the great socks never fit me T.T it's all very depressing, say what? XD Of course horses can wear socks. Imagine what kind of uncivilized animal they'd be if they didn't XD It almost reminds me of the time my father put socks on our cat's feet… ehehehehe… sorry… I'm gonna be serious again… (but you should try it one day if you ever get a cat… or have a cat… or see a cat. Tape on the toes annoys the cat as well… and it's so funny to watch XD) I need a life. Don't report me T.T The danger isn't so much 'who' Kylan knows, but more like 'what' Thaelin knows XD Hmm.. 50-50 chances, eh? Those sound vaguely familiar to me… I only past maths cause I got a tutor. Who happened to be gay XD I had a great time ^^ … anyway, on with the story à please review again!! ^^

etcetera-cat  ~  Hope that wasn't too boring for you :D the them comes later… …soon though. Promise. And Kylan gets more blood in this one too… because he asked soooo nicely XD …what's a haemotologist? I'm so ignorant T.T Ah well.. thanks for reviewing!! ^^

ola  ~  Heh thanks ^^ I liked the interview idea… although I had to tone down Kylan's language quite a bit. O.o;; And yes, EVERYthing. He was a curious child O.o;;;;;; lol k. I freaked myself out now. Don't think of anything too weird. He's more likely to try and get them to bleed than bed them… although that could just be brynn's influence. Knew I kept the Herald for a reason :D (snuggles brynn) (dodges the flailing fists and feet) ehehehehe… Of course I did :D Hope you find this ending a bit less… cliff hangerish… although the next one probably will have one. Guess we'll have to see when I write it O.o; I know the feeling… hope it didn't get stuck permanently, cuz that would suck… pretty much actually.

psycho tabby cat  ~  It could just as easily run the other way though :D cuz brynn's not the nicest guy either. …. Heheh :D (scratches head sheepishly) I guess brynn's pretty much accepted it because he knows there's no way for him to survive breaking the bond, and neither of them will be happy if brynn remains furious. He's very practical like that… there's also the preoccupation with his revenge, cuz he isn't about to forgive kylan for almost ditching him so easily. But they do both get better for each other eventually.. takes a while, but it happens ^^ Thanks for reviewing!! ^^

faeborn2930  ~  Thank you!!! Telling me how much you like it is just as constructive as constructive critism anyway, cuz then I think I'm doing something right, which leads to happy/hyper writer which leads to more & quicker chapters ^^ so basically any feedback is good. Cuz teachers never give enough. Hmph. The weird thing is that I like flames too… I end up laughing myself into a state that could rival a sugar high. Which is all well and good, and makes interesting plotlines, cause then I usually stick the two characters together ASAP and dedicate the moment to the flamer XD …. Yea… anyway, thanks for reviewing!! Hope you do it again!!

Anyway, we get to see more of Kylan's disturbed side. Really disturbed side. He really is a freak, but that's why we love him, right? XD ….  (crickets chirp) O.o;; does nobody like the poor boy? T.T aside from brynn I mean… anyway, they learn something about themselves, and kylan has center stage because while my fascination for blood doesn't go quite as deep as his, I have a morbid fascination with making sappy scenes extremely weird. Heh. Go me.

So read, enjoy, and please review!! ^^

Brynn glared down at the two figures in front of him. Kylan's back had tensed immediately, but he was refusing to turn his head.

The other boy's panicked expression, however, was intriguing enough to make the Herald shove away his vague sense of jealousy and study the boy.

He didn't get very far in his observations, because Kylan turned around while the stranger was still gaping at Brynn. The expression in his bondmate's eyes was accusing, and Brynn blinked.

:I think you ruined his plan, Chosen.: Devoni said mildly.

Brynn did a mental double take. :Huh?:

:He was obviously planning something. Look closer, there's worry under the accusations.:

Brynn did, searching the seething blue eyes glaring up into his closely, ignoring it when the stranger gave a muffled yelp and sprinted away.

Kylan turned immediately with a yell. "Thaelin! Oi! It's not what you think you idiot!"

The boy didn't stop running. Brynn didn't stop staring. There had been an unspoken worry lurking in the depths of the blue eyes, and he wondered why. He wondered why Kylan had run off like that to meet with someone. He wondered who that boy had been to the blonde. He cursed the jealousy that flared up inside and blinked innocently with a blank expression down as Kylan turned to face him again.

Brynn was astounded to see fear and panic in Kylan's eyes, and he started worrying. :What was he doing, Devoni?:

Devoni sent him a mental shrug. :Ask him, Chosen.:

"Who was that?" Brynn asked softly.

Kylan flinched. "No one special."

"I see…" Brynn replied slowly, keeping his eyes on the younger boy as Kylan walked past him determinedly, avoiding his eyes.

He had just mounted his mare again, who Brynn had brought with them in their headlong rush, and was starting to nudge her into a walk when Brynn put his hand on the rein.

Kylan stared at it mutely for a moment before looking up, his eyes pleading. "Don't make me tell you. I can't," the blonde murmured before Brynn could speak. "I'm sorry, I am, but I… can't."

Brynn lifted an eyebrow. Devoni stepped closer to the chestnut, crowding her, yet the hand on her reins prevented her from moving away. She snorted uncertainly but didn't move.

Meanwhile Brynn put his other hand under Kylan's chin, making the younger boy look at him. "Tell me," he urged softly. "Let me help."

For a second, Brynn thought he had the boy. Blue eyes gazed into his hopefully, almost, he realized, forgetting their reason. They asked for understanding, for help with a problem too big for the blonde to handle, for new ideas and solutions… and for love.

And then they snapped off, leaving the eyes shallow and falsely cheerful and smug. Kylan grinned at him, tilting his head ever so slightly into the touch Brynn still had on his chin. "No. It's all right," Kylan claimed. "I can handle it."

Brynn smiled slowly and leaned closer, knowing Devoni wouldn't let him fall. "Are you sure?" the Herald murmured.

Kylan stared back at him, wide eyed. "Uh huh."

"Absolutely positive?"

Kylan watched Brynn draw nearer, his expression entranced, making it difficult for Brynn to suppress the laughter that he knew would ruin the entire motion. Kylan didn't reply.

Brynn paused, just short of touching Kylan's mouth with his own. Kylan's eyes were wide and unseeing, staring at Brynn but blinded by emotion, and Brynn felt vaguely guilty about playing with the boy's emotions like this. But he wanted to know.

"Kylan? Do you love me?"

Kylan blinked suddenly and drew back a little. "Don't know."

"Do you think you will?"

Kylan flushed delightfully, making something inside of Brynn grow warmer and happier with the situation. The Herald continued before Kylan could force himself to answer with something they both knew wasn't the truth.

"Who was that boy, Kylan?" Brynn asked softly, moving closer again.

The mare Kylan was riding recoiled before the blonde could answer, wrenching Kylan's attention away from Brynn and into calming the mare down. Brynn sat up straight and scowled at Devoni's ears letting his Companion follow leisurely when the blonde trotted away from them, his face red and still slightly dazed.

:He did that on purpose.: Devoni told his scowling Chosen. :He kicked her too roughly.:

Brynn allowed a satisfied smile appear on his face. :I know. It means I'm getting to him.:

Devoni flickered an ear back towards him when Brynn gave a low chuckle, but remained silent.

"So how old were you when you were Chosen?" Kylan asked curiously, leaning back on his elbows and chewing a stray piece of grass.

Brynn watched the blonde relax, pleased by the idea that he had had. They had retired to the Palace in silence, and were now lounging about in one of the farther areas of the Companion's Field. Devoni was grazing a short distance away, and Kylan looked completely unperturbed now that Brynn was a safer distance away.

Brynn smirked and edged closer, determined to make the boy admit that he felt something. He knew very well that Kylan did feel something, but he wanted to hear it, wanted the solid words to engrave it into both of them. "I was twelve. I almost thought he'd choose my sister, but he didn't."

Kylan stared at him, his blue eyes fathomless. "Why would you think that?"

Brynn gave a self-mocking smile. "Because I knew I'd never make a Herald."

Kylan laughed out loud at that, making Brynn blink at him in surprise. That hadn't been the reaction he had been expecting.

"What?" he asked, troubled. "What's so funny?"

Kylan stopped laughing and grinned frankly at him. "Sorry. But I sure hope you've changed your mind since then."

Brynn stared at the younger boy, torn between amusement and bewilderment. "All right…" he ended up saying, slowly. "Tell me about yourself now. Where did you learn to ride?"

Kylan's smile faded, and he looked away, his shoulders suddenly stiff. "I was taught," he said softly.

Brynn sighed and moved closer until their hips were touching, where he carefully slid an arm around the younger boy's waist. "Tell me," he coaxed. "Please? I want to know more about you."

Kylan's rigid body posture loosened up slowly, and he turned to look back at Brynn. His eyes were bright, and Brynn felt a bad sense of anticipation flare up.

"I-I was taught by…" Kylan's voice was tight with unhappiness, and he had to try twice before he could say the name. "Carlen taught me to ride." He shivered.

Brynn slipped his other arm across Kylan's front, clasping his hands at the side of the blonde's waist and pulled him closer. It was cruel to think about revenge when Kylan was this upset, and Brynn knew better than to try anything that would upset his bondmate further. "It's all right, Kylan. I'm here now. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Kylan turned in Brynn's arms and curled up against the Herald's chest silently, making Brynn tremble ever so slightly. Kylan sniffed and pressed his face to Brynn's collarbone.

:Having fun, Chosen?:

Brynn glared at the Companion, who was watching them with pricked ears and dry amusement and sarcasm in the dark blue eyes that came over clearly in Devoni's tone.

:No.: Brynn snapped back. :He's upset. It's nothing more.:

Devoni snorted at him mentally, and dropped his head to start cropping the grass again, leaving Brynn to stare down at the blonde head pushed against him. A surge of protectiveness flared up in the Herald, not quite unexpected, but surprising all the same. He hesitantly lifted one of his hands and started rubbing soothing circles on the murderer's back, murmuring soft noises into the hair that made it move slightly and tickle his nose when he spoke.

After a time, during which Brynn began to feel quite comfortable, Kylan lifted his head, but made no other move to pull away. The blonde had a small smile on his face when he met Brynn's eyes, and to Brynn's surprise, he didn't look away.

"Thanks," Kylan whispered shyly.

Brynn stared back silently. Didn't the kid know how close he was?

The wild thought that Kylan was so upset he forgot about the contact was quickly obliterated when Kylan gave a soft sigh and ducked his head against Brynn's shoulder again, the blonde's hands creeping up Brynn's chest to relax just under the younger boy's chin.

Brynn sat as still as he could, even though his hand kept rubbing circles onto the other's back, desperately hoping that Kylan wouldn't move. Devoni was sending clear signals on what he should do next, and Brynn idly wondered when his Companion had become so interested in his Chosen's love life. He ignored the thought.

Kylan's face turned towards his neck, and Brynn ignored the slightest shiver that ran down his spine when the blonde spoke quietly.

"She was my best friend, in more ways than one… I didn't have a good life, I never have. It was great when I was with Carlen, because I could pretend that her life was mine – and she would let me. She was one of my father's tenant's daughters, a farm girl who didn't have any particular promise… Except she did. To me, for me, she was my world. She taught me how to ride, and how to tell when the crops were ready to be brought in, and I taught her to use the bow and arrow because my father made me learn that kind of stuff…" Kylan tensed slightly when Brynn's hand paused, then continued once the soothing circles had started again. "My father… he was… very snobby, I guess you could say. He still is," Kylan's voice grew dark with a sort of evil anticipation and suppressed eagerness. "I'm going to kill him one day. I've planned it out already, I've been doing it since I ran to the city…"

Brynn blinked; surprised by the amount of wicked threat Kylan's voice contained and he hid another shiver that wasn't brought on by the close proximity of the murderer. Kylan's left hand had crept around Brynn's neck and was idly playing with a few russet strands of Brynn's hair.

Kylan's tone grew even dreamier. "At first I thought I'd do it with a sword, you know, just charge up and slice him. And then I realized that they didn't teach us how to use swords, so I imagined slashing and stabbing him with my daggers. Honestly, that worked just as well, because then I could see him die…" Kylan gave a kind of dazed smile, his fingers tightening in Brynn's hair.

Brynn blinked down, trying to maintain his calm composure. Devoni was watching with a perverse sort of fascination, obviously eavesdropping through Brynn's mind. The expression in Kylan's eyes was faraway, preoccupied with what his mind was visualizing.

:I think your bondmate's a little disturbed in the head, Chosen.: Devoni pointed out calmly.

:I can hear that, thank you.: Brynn snapped back waspishly. :Do you think he was always this… unbalanced?:

Devoni sent him a mental shrug. :Ask him.:

"Why do you want to kill him, Kylan?" Brynn asked gently, keeping his voice low and kind.

Kylan's fingers paused, and then continued playing, as Kylan's eyes grew clearer and more focused. They darkened as they started seeing again, and the murderer frowned slightly. "Because he was the one who killed Carlen."

Brynn watched silently, letting his eyes ask.

Kylan sighed wearily. "He found out I was spending most of my time with a farmer's daughter. He didn't like it. He arranged for her to die. End of story."

"Are you sure?" Brynn asked carefully. "You don't want to talk about it some more?"

Kylan's eyes rolled sideways and stared up at Brynn, before lifting his head completely and staring at the Herald straight on. His fingers stopped.

"Why do you care?" Kylan asked softly, his eyes searching for goodness knew what. Brynn wondered if he found what he was looking for, because the younger boy's face relaxed into a smile that looked to be genuine before Kylan looked away, flushing.

"Do you really have to ask?" Brynn countered warmly after a few moments of reflective, companionable silence.

Kylan's eyes darted to his again. "No… I guess I don't."

Brynn tilted his head a fraction to the side, letting a hint of a smile curl his lips up. "Do you wanna know my story or can we leave it at that?" His tone teased.

Kylan's fingers pulled lightly at Brynn's hair, and the blonde grinned again. "If I have to talk, so do you. It's only fair."

Brynn heaved a huge sigh that sounded fake, and he knew it was. He wanted to know more about Kylan, but it would have to work both ways and he could guess that Kylan wanted to know just as much about Brynn as the Herald wanted to know about the murderer.

"I was a common farm boy," Brynn began, grinning as Kylan smirked affectionately at him. "Not dirt cheap but not as rich as your family sounds either."

"I'd rather be dirt cheap than have my family," grumbled Kylan, and he settled down again with his head resting on Brynn's shoulder once more, his eyes half closed as he listened with interest.

"I have… quite a few brothers and sisters… I think the last count was six or so, including myself. I used to have another sister, but she was killed shortly after I became a Trainee. My father works on the farm and is proud of it, and my mother runs the farmhouse, which is now also a successful inn of sorts. I learnt all the things a boy does on the farm, like harvesting and horse riding and swimming and stuff like that. I imagine I had much the same life as your friend did."

"If she hadn't died, that is," Kylan added, his tone bitter and hateful. "I hate my father." His shoulders shook.

Brynn, at a loss for anything he could say to comfort the younger boy, merely hugged him closer and buried his own face in the blonde hair. "It's all right," he murmured, suddenly perfectly contented with his bondmate in a way that felt good, felt desirable, needed. "It's all right."