Three Flames: They Were Happy

My king. Do you need something?" He asked when he realized that he had been lost in his mind yet again.

Arthur came to lift his chin. Molding their lips together. The king's lips were the only lips that had ever kissed Michael's. It shouldn't have been like that but to Michael it felt like he'd be betraying the king if he kissed anyone else. As stupid as it sounded his mind and heart had accepted it.

Michael resisted the urge to moan from the kiss and slightly started pushing the king away. "I will go get ready"

He made to leave but Arthur wrapped his arms around him. "Just stay with me like this. Just for a little while. "

Michael couldn't resist. The king's warmth was too warm and comforting. He wished he could stay right there in it forever.

***

The kingdom is shocked when the king announces that he is to marry a stranger for bride who no one in the kingdom knows.

The bride that is to be the mother of his future heirs.

The heirs he needs to rule the kingdom in his absence. He is dying. Which means he needs to think about the kingdom and not his heart.

His love for the kingdom must come first. And his love for the one he can't live without must come second.

The kingdom that was left to him by his fathers and mothers so it means everything to the king. Not even his own life is worth that much. He could do anything for it even give up on his own selfish desires. Because of lack of trying though he can't stop his attraction to the only person he has ever loved but as hard as it might be he must make the decision to not be with the one he loves. For the sake of the kingdom he must marry another.

His sweet Michael must be put in arm's length by him.

There's no way of him ever being successful in that though since Michael is both friend and protector to him. He couldn't stay away from him even if he wanted to. But he'd like to pretend that some day he'll be able to look away from Michael's mesmerising eyes. He knows that's never gonna happen.

*

Harty has always been the way people saw him. A bully. He was mean and often fought and started fights with Michael who he has always thought has everything good in his life. Everything he has ever wanted for himself. A loving mother. A loving kingdom. Everyone seemed to warm up and praise Michael while he was seen as nothing but trouble. Not even his own father cared about him.

His father, Oscar Declan hit him. Called him all sorts of names. Tormented him. Made him feel and believe that he was the cause of his mother's death.

The mother he only sees in pictures or from the mirror like reflection that is his aunt.

There's only one person he truly loves and would do anything for. Justin. His Justin.

The only problem is that Justin is married. With a wife who would never let him go. At least that's what Harty believes.