The Soldier's Lotus by Adonis Devereux Page A

heraldry,
etiquette, and many more social arts. He turned back to his ever-flowing river
of guests and smiled. He would leave everything to her, but he could not wait
to get her alone.
    It did not pass Darien’s notice that everyone who came into
his house looked about critically, clearly trying to find fault with the house
of a commoner, rich though he may be. But what warmed his heart with pride more
than anything else was not his paintings or his marble
columns or his mosaics. It was the way everyone looked at Saerileth. Their
expressions would transform from disdain to shock. Darien had somehow managed
to get himself a Lotus, that rare Zenji prize. He had managed to keep her and
convince her to stand as hostess. With Saerileth by his side, Darien rose in
their estimation. Passing the couple, the guests received floral crowns and
wreaths from the servants, and they would be expected to wear them until the
feast began. The Sunjaa were an ancient people, so
their customs were naturally complex and strictly adhered to.
    Kamen entered the house, bowed, and gave the domicile his
blessing. He and Darien embraced, but it was awkward for Darien, for his
feelings lay between them. All he saw in his mind’s eye was Kamen’s cock buried
in Saerileth’s ass.
    “ You look
magnificent,” Kamen said, stepping back to admire Darien’s figure.
    “ Thank you, Kamen.” Darien
gestured helplessly toward his friend. “You, well—”
    Kamen waved away the comment before it was said. “I’m used
to the sinfully expensive clothes.” He smelled of sandalwood, exotic and
masculine.
    Darien could not deny how handsome Kamen looked that evening.
A black and gold silk scarf held his dreadlocks back, allowing them to sweep up
his head and fall over his bare shoulders. He wore silver, hoop nipple rings
that only served to draw attention to his chiseled chest and defined abs.
Darien was keenly aware of the tattoo they shared, and he looked over at
Saerileth. But if Saerileth was in any way discomposed by Kamen’s presence, she
did not show it. She smiled easily at him and welcomed him with no greater or
less feeling than she greeted any of the other guests.
    Kamen entered the house and disappeared in the growing
crowd of mingling partygoers. Saerileth squeezed Darien’s hand, and that was
all the reassurance he needed. He returned his attention to the next arrival.
    Darien was just getting comfortable and growing used to the
bowing and smiling and instantly forgetting everyone’s names when he spotted
Ulen Ahnok , his former commander. Darien had not seen
him for years, and he was surprised at how unkind the time had been to Ulen.
The man he remembered had been full of youthful vigor, his muscles rippling
beneath his dark skin, but this man who walked toward him had lost that
physique. His beer gut revealed the manner in which he had spent his
retirement. Ulen had always loved to drink, even while on duty, but his natural
youth had covered such abuse. But the years had caught up with him. Darien
could assume that he no longer exercised as he once had; certainly he went on
no long marches. Ulen was bleary-eyed, and his care-worn face displayed little
of the man Darien had once known.
    “ Darien,” Ulen called
out, his white teeth standing out against his dark lips. “How long has it
been?” He reached out to embrace him, and though Darien did not want to, he
opened his arms to welcome his former leader. The last time they had seen each
other, Ulen had had him flogged for disobedience. That was the day Darien left
the navy and joined the army, not willing to serve under a man who had dealt
him such an injustice.
    Ulen glanced sideways for a moment, and his arms fell. His
false smile evaporated, and the false cheer that gleamed in his eyes dulled.
His smile morphed into thin-lipped anger. “The Lotus.” He stared at Saerileth. “You have her.” His voice was but a whisper, though it
trembled with emotion.
    Darien’s first reaction