Joined

Disclaimer - The characters and such belong to Tamora Pierce.

The thin red head nodded to the former duke, accepting the wine goblet.

Lord Thom of Trebond swished the ruby liquid along the golden sides of
the goblet, his violet eyes dark and heavy.

"Searching for drugs?"

The same violet eyes flashed to Roger of Conté sitting opposite him.

"Should I be?"

Roger laughed stroking his dark beard, "That is for you to decide."

Thom drank from the goblet ignoring the smile from the older man.

"I hear rumors," Roger said slowly "Of your sister's return."

Thom sat bolt up in his chair, spilling the contents of his goblet
down his richly decorated tunic. "You shall not touch her Duke of
Conté!"

Roger waved a hand casually, "Please, I'm no Duke anymore."

"You will not touch her!" Thom shouted pushing himself from his chair.

Roger raised an eyebrow and placed his goblet aside.

"And what do you fear I shall do to her Lord Thom?" He said as he
stood, coming slowly to stand in front of the younger man. He placed a
finger under the red-haired man's chin, forcing amethyst to meet
sapphire.

"You love your sister?"

Thom opened his mouth and closed it.

Roger grinned.

"She is my sister!" Hissed Thom.

Roger snaked an arm around the small of Thom's back, pulling the
shorter man against him. "And in what way do you love your sister?"

Thom glared up at the man who held him. "Do not harm her Roger or I
shall destroy you."

Roger lowered his face to Thom's, his breath warm in the young
sorcerer's ear.

"But it is you who brought me here." the dark haired man whispered.

Thom grunted, tipping his head back, trying to release himself from his
captor.

"We are joined my friend, or have you forgotten what you did to bind
me to this world?"

Thom flushed.

Roger kissed the red-head's neck. "You secured me to this world using
your own body as an anchor." His lips moved up Thom's jaw bone, "That
night you allowed me to join you, lie atop you. It made us one."

A small gasp escaped Thom's mouth before Roger covered it with his own.

"We are joined." Roger whispered as Thom pooled to the rug, his body
trapped beneath Roger's. Slender fingers tugged at the waist line of
his hose. Another hand worked at his wine soiled tunic.

'Joined...' thought Roger. 'Or at least until you have fully fulfilled
your purpose my love.'