Title: Murderer's Touch

Author: I_nv_u50

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Claimer: same old, same old…

Warning: Slash!! Whee!!

Author's Notes: (cackles evilly) Another cliffhanger!! Whee!! XD Brynn was hard to write in this one… I suffer from jealous fits as well, and I can only say that he doesn't mean it. We could blame the bond for making him far more emotional than he's used to, which makes it harder for him to control himself… Or we can blame Thaelin for being an idiot and provoking him. Whichever works is fine XD

The Golden Dragon  ~  Yes!! I am ecstatic to say that gravitation novels are being brought to the US by tokyopop. An added bonus is that it's actually quite cheap… $10 US or $15 Cdn per book XD!!! Have you tried FAKE? Those novels are out too, and are much better than the anime OVA… it's really funny and cute :D if you can, you really should try them ^^  mwahahaha!! Sorry, did brynn give you a fright at the end? He gave kylan a fright as well.. not that their moods improve in this one O.o;;; heh. Maybe this one will be eaten then :D cause this is a worse cliffhanger.. and I dunno when the next chapter will be out to boot… . dun worry!! Kylan will get there somehow! He isn't going to be chosen, but he will surely find a way to be with brynn forever… maybe when brynn dies he can ask for kylan to go to Bermuda with him or something.. The Shadow Lover wouldn't be so cruel to break up a life bond. Van's proof of that. Well ok, he was a special case (huggles Van) but still!! … or something… O.o;;;  Have fun!! :D

psycho tabby cat  ~  Brynn's not nice in this one :D and he was nice cause… well, it explains that somewhat in this one as well ^^;; Eventually he forgets his revenge on kylan (for almost leaving) but he does get revenge for the mud-in-the-feet-weird-plot-thingy. Kylan's been doing that every morning since they've been together sleeping in the same room XD Brynn expects it sorta now. He'd be more worried if it didn't happen. Wouldn't being queen be great? *-* in answer, yea, I guess there should be. But technically no one knows kylan's there, because the bards are conveniently out of the plot now . for the time being anyway. Besides, if anyone saw kylan wondering around, they'd pounce on him and try to send him to gaol. He knows that, which is why he stays unless brynn takes him out. Hmmm… can't say I do know why… I'd guess it's just something ff.net does to annoy us. Psh. Silly site. Thanks for reviewing!!

ola  ~  lol. Hope this was quick enough for you XD

etcetera-cat  ~  mwahaha!! Brynn's got a lot more on his plate than he lets on XD yes. Yes, kylan should tell him, but teenagers are never sensible. And pride won't let him admit the fact that he doesn't think he can handle it, either to himself or anyone else. Well, that and the fact that he'd rather not put brynn in danger (smacks Kylan upside the head) so he says its better to put himself in danger. What a typical love story O.o;;; ACK!! I'm cliché-ing!! (runs away screaming) lol yea. They do, don't they O.o; still, it must be cool knowing such big words. The biggest word I know is a long one, but that's only cause I taught myself how to say it XD … it took a while.

darkdancer  ~  lol It's all because we love them, I swear it is XD brynn tends to jump to conclusions when he has jealousy to spur him on. It's what he does. lol I wish they would just cuddle and make each other feel better… but brynn's in no mood to cuddle, and he won't be for a while… (read that: a few chapters) then there's lots of cuddling. * hint hint * XD

fishy  ~  Thanks!! I'm glad you think so ^^ fireworks indeed are on the horizon XD Thanks for reviewing, please do it again!! :D

K, now I need help. Does anyone know if the blues like the herald trainees in this time period? It's somewhere between van and lan (giggles at the names) they sound so alike XD but they're two of my favourite characters so they're the best XD … anyway, let me know. Cause it's for the sequel. Speaking of which, this story is almost over.. should be done in about five more chapters or so, give or take the new interviews.. so I hope you all read the sequel when it comes out!! Hopefully I can continue this pace with that one too… I might, considering school's out for summer!!

…well, almost. Anyway, read, enjoy, and please review!! I'll try and get the next chapter out soon.

Brynn left the celebrations early, tired and bored and wanting nothing more than some satisfying company with Kylan. He had left the blonde earlier that day, just after lunch, understanding both Kylan's need for solitude, and his own.

He didn't like that his friends had died. He didn't like that Kylan had been the reason for the untimely death. The whole thing had been unexpected, and it wasn't right that either of them had to die. Devoni was moping around with the other Companions, sad in a way that Brynn could only half understand. The Herald had sent some sorrowful sympathy and had left it at that, knowing that Devoni understood, knowing that Devoni would prefer it that way.

But Kylan… Brynn frowned slightly as he remembered the way the younger boy's face had crumpled earlier that day. Oh, he knew that Kylan had tried to hide it, had seen it in the tense set of the mouth and the quietly tight way Kylan had asked to be alone. Brynn had left, not seeing anyway that he could console the murderer.

He knew exactly what the blonde had been thinking. The awareness had promoted Brynn's compassion, and he had decided to forget about why the Companion was dying. Not even he could remain vengeful in the face of such miserable despair.

He preferred not to think about it, so he had gone to a party in the main Palace. Seeing Heralds at court celebrations was both rare and frequent enough to ensure that he had enough distraction until sometime after dinner, but then their company began to bore him.

He paused at the kitchens on his way through to his room to ask one of the pages to send up some food, guessing that Kylan hadn't eaten yet.

Brynn's mood began to lighten as he walked quickly to his suite, already planning a new conversation topic. He and Kylan had been getting along better the past few days, and were starting to let more personal information slip. It was just enough to keep the other interested and eager to hear more, whereupon they would switch tactics and get the other to talk, playfully using bribery to guarantee the fact that all the information got out.

He paused a few feet from his door, thinking he had heard voices, but that was illogical because nobody was supposed to be there but Kylan. Feeling a flare of fright that someone might have found Kylan, Brynn threw open the door of his suite.

And instantly felt a hot jealousy roar through him.

Kylan was standing far too close to a familiar looking boy, his face too intent and his hand holding the stranger's shoulder. The blonde did look away when he heard the door open, but that didn't help the situation much.  He still hadn't moved away from the stranger (who was that?) and Brynn got angry, both with himself for feeling so jealous when he should be above it, and with Kylan, because Kylan had no right to touch other people or to look at them with such a concentrated expression.

"Brynn…" Kylan stuttered. Brynn glared at him, and the blonde fell silent, his eyes guilty.

:Chosen, be judicious. It probably isn't what it looks like.:

"Shut up," Brynn snapped aloud, talking to both Devoni and Kylan. Devoni made a wordless noise of indignation in his mind, and Kylan looked hurt. Brynn turned incensed eyes to the stranger. "Who are you?"

The Herald was further irritated by the carefree look of mischievous on the other boy's face. "Thaelin," he said simply, plainly enjoying the anger, and giving Kylan 'I told you so' looks.

Brynn gritted his teeth. "Why are you here? How did you get in?"

"I came in by the servants entrance, because security is extremely lax there. You might want to do something about that."

Brynn waved away the information, not really caring in the slightest. All he wanted to know was, why was the boy here, and why was he so close to Kylan? "Why are you here?" he asked sharply, ignoring his lifebound, who was beginning to look panicked.

Thaelin opened his mouth to answer, his expression growing serious a little now, and Brynn settled in to listen to the answer, positive he'd disbelieve it the minute it was said. He crossed his arms and stared angrily at the black haired boy.

Kylan reached out and touched Thaelin's upper arm, a pleading and warning air in the movement. Thaelin hesitated and looked towards the blonde. Brynn felt himself growing even more furious, and some detached part of himself cautioned him to wait a little, to listen to explanations.

Devoni chose then to step in again, his mind voice deceptively appeasing. :They must have been friends, Chosen. It's nothing to worry about, I'm sure. Wait until Kylan explains before you get angry or jealous.:

"Kylan?" he asked softly, his own tone now deceivingly calm. "Why is he here?"

Kylan gave him a look reminiscent of a deer cornered by a pack of hounds. "He came to see me." The younger boy replied hesitantly.

Brynn could see the wheels turning in his head. He narrowed his eyes. "What for?"

"Nothing important! Well, that is to say it was important, but it doesn't bear anything to think about! Or rather, you don't need to concern yourself because it's all fine. I can handle it, and there's no reason for you to be bothered at all because that's all it would do, bother you I mean. It's not like we were doing anything important in here before you came –"

Thaelin composedly touched Kylan's shoulder. "You're babbling." He told the blonde, ignoring the fuming Herald by the door. "Stop it."

Kylan started out of his tangled excuse, and blinked at Thaelin, then glanced at Brynn again. Brynn was wickedly pleased to see the alarm in the blue eyes. He was less pleased to see it fade away as Kylan regained his calm.

Brynn walked further into the room, glaring at Thaelin and more piqued when the younger boy merely grinned up at him.

Brynn narrowed his eyes until they were slits of angry, churning gray. "Get out," he whispered harshly, more upset because Kylan was obviously not telling the truth.

Thaelin glanced sideways at Kylan, whose expression was unreadable, guarded completely. "Are you sure you're happy with him? You could come back with me now, it'll all be forgotten."

Brynn froze at the offensive suggestion, his mind swimming in circles about what he couldn't do but what he wanted to do so badly… And he gave in to it.

Brynn backhanded the younger boy hard, and stood over the body, breathing hard and feverishly, glaring down at the dazed and blinking boy.

He was drastically aware that Kylan backed away.

:Chosen… Brynn, you have to calm down.:

Brynn pressed his palm to his temple, trying to calm himself down. He had gone too far. He was still seething, but there was a limit, and he had crossed it. Kylan was watching him warily, as was the boy on the floor.

Brynn whirled around and stalked to the door, trying desperately to get himself under control again, while Devoni crooned serene words into his mind. There were a few hurried words from behind him, and he turned around again to face the two younger boys.

Distantly Brynn noticed that Thaelin had a few bruises. He wondered if he had done it, and forcibly hardened himself against the idea. The stranger had deserved it. Brynn remembered who he was now, remembered where he had seen the boy last. A few days back, on their ride in the park. He had been jealous then, but had pushed it down, because after all, Kylan had him now, right?

Kylan was still staring at him warily, his eyes both accusing and miserable, slightly fearful but trying to hide it. "There was no reason to do that, Brynn."

"No?" Brynn replied, keeping his anger simmering instead of letting it out. He didn't know who he was angrier with – himself or his bondmate. "Then why won't you tell me the truth?"

Kylan immediately looked shifty. "That was the truth. He came to visit me. You didn't need to hit him."

Thaelin spoke up, speaking over the dark glare Brynn sent him and the warning look he got from Kylan. "It's all right. I should be used to it by now." He smirked suddenly, and Kylan groaned softly. "I must say though, I expected better from a Herald. Maybe Kylan's not the lucky one after all."

There was a shocked silence.

"I don't believe you just said that," Kylan murmured quietly, watching Brynn carefully.

Brynn ignored the blonde. He stared at the other boy and firmly told himself that he couldn't kill anyone.

:I'd be upset if you did.: Devoni told him mildly, the faint hint of reprimand in the voice the only thing preventing Brynn from telling his Companion to shut up again.

He was just so angry. He glowered at Kylan, who lifted his chin and stared defiantly back, not giving into the fear Brynn could see so clearly in his eyes. Brynn switched his glare to Thaelin, who smirked and brushed a hand hintingly down his bruised cheek. Brynn paused, considering. Hadn't he hit the other cheek?

He shook his head. He didn't care. He was so sick and tired of this situation, of everything that had happened since he had met Kylan. No, before that even. Since Akseli had died, since the Death Bell tolled for his best friends death.

"Get out," he bit out, not sure who he was referring to. "Or I'll call the guards."

The other two looked hesitant. Brynn was perfectly capable of blaming them for their indecision and he did it willingly. It was, after all, better than killing either of them.

"Brynn," Kylan started tentatively, after a few moments of wavering between choices. "Let me explain."

Brynn looked back at him coldly, lifting an eyebrow doubtfully. "Well then?"

"Thaelin came to help me out," Kylan started slowly, and Brynn could see him thinking things through carefully. "He didn't need to, he went through a lot of trouble to tell me something we both thought I needed to know…"

"What is it?" Brynn asked, purposely sounding misleadingly unruffled.

Kylan looked away and remained silent. Thaelin smirked and slung his arm around Kylan's shoulders. Brynn clenched his teeth and his fists.

"Nothing we can't handle. We were one of the best teams, and we know how to handle stuff that you wouldn't dream about, milord Herald."

Kylan flushed and continued to avoid Brynn's gaze, giving neither conviction nor misgivings to the claim. Brynn watched the blonde carefully for a moment, before facing the other boy full on.

"What are you to each other?"

"Friends," Kylan spoke up quickly, before Thaelin could answer. He gave Thaelin a threatening glance. Thaelin paused for a second.

"Yea. Friends." He added slowly.

Brynn set his teeth, not believing it at all. He stalked out the door silently, though only sound his boots. He knew what he was going to do. He couldn't really do anything to Kylan, but Thaelin… Nobody here would care about a murderer who had probably had a hand in murdering Akseli.

With the death of Shaelin, Akseli's death had been brought back into memory, from where they had forcibly put him in the backs of their minds, every part of the Herald had floated to the surface again that afternoon. His smile, his plain brown eyes that were always so cheerful… and his utter shamelessness in being the kindest, most persistent flirt in the Palace. Yet he never did any harm. That only made people like him more.

He knocked quickly and quietly on a room that was set apart from the others, spoke a few words to the person inside it, and went down to speak with Devoni, knowing that the Companion would calm him down more than anything at the moment… He wasn't yet up to talking to his bondmate.

:That wasn't the best thing to do, Chosen.:

Brynn shrugged innocently, feeling himself calm down slightly. He had done something about it now, something that hadn't required further violence from himself, and all he had to do now was cool off before facing Kylan again.

And think of a way to explain himself to the younger boy, because there had been a disturbing amount of fear in the blue eyes after he had hit Thaelin that brought home exactly how rough life on the streets was to the teenagers.

:How do I explain myself?: Brynn asked Devoni, not liking his helpless state.

:Tell him how you feel.: Devoni promptly replied.

Brynn couldn't help making a noise of disbelief. :Like he'd take that well. What would I say? 'Kylan, you're mine and I won't tolerate other people touching you in a way that only I have a right to.' Do you know how possessive that sounds? He'll laugh his head off at me… right after he runs away screaming.:

Devoni choked back his laughter, and Brynn scowled, not liking the teasing at the moment. :Chosen, that's one way to do it.: A flash of an image of Kylan running away in a panic almost had Brynn laughing with his Companion… had it not reminded him of the things he wanted to say.

:He won't understand.:

:Not if you don't tell him, Chosen.: Devoni countered rapidly. :Help him understand. He might make you understand yourself better as well.:

"I guess…" Brynn replied doubtfully. "I should go talk to him then?"

:The sooner the better…: Devoni confirmed.

Brynn sighed and turned around, almost bumping into a page that hurried towards him.

"Herald! Milord Herald! There's a disturbance in your suite! Guards are attempting to arrest a murderer!" The child's eyes were wide.

Brynn smirked. "I know."

The page's eyes grew wider. "But sir… there's someone stopping them! He won't let the murderer be arrested!"

Brynn paused, then cursed and ran towards his rooms.

He wouldn't dare, Brynn thought to himself.

:Yes, he would.: Devoni replied, his voice completely serious.

Brynn cursed again and ran faster.