Hyacinth, Scarlet - Fire of the Four Seasons (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) Read online

  Fire of the Four Seasons

  A slave of his sister Eva’s whims, Alexei is shocked when, in the process of getting her a gift, he meets four men who sweep him of his feet. Zimah, Visnah, Lyetah and Ohsyn are unlike anyone Alexei has ever met. They control the power of the seasons, and they agree to help Alexei. Their affection and generosity soon morph into passion and love, and Alexei allows himself to surrender to desires he had kept hidden for many years.

  But when Eva’s unreasonable requests continue, Alexei refuses to take advantage of his men’s magic once again. His decision sets him, his sister and his lovers on a course of events that leads secrets of the past to be revealed. The hidden fire inside Alexei is about to burst out, and the love of the four seasons may not be able to extinguish it.

  Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Fantasy, Ménage a Trois/Quatre

  Length: 25,010 words

  FIRE OF THE FOUR SEASONS

  Scarlet Hyacinth

  MENAGE AMOUR

  MANLOVE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Amour ManLove

  FIRE OF THE FOUR SEASONS

  Copyright © 2011 by Scarlet Hyacinth

  E-book ISBN: 1-61034-470-7

  First E-book Publication: May 2011

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Fire of the Four Seasons by Scarlet Hyacinth from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Scarlet Hyacinth’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Hyacinth’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  For everyone who read my first ménage story ever, The Three Horsemen of the Black Forest. May your life always be a beautiful fairytale, preferably involving lots of lovin’ and hot men J

  FIRE OF THE FOUR SEASONS

  SCARLET HYACINTH

  Copyright © 2011

  Prologue

  Igor cracked his eyes open and made a grab for his blanket. By his side, his wife, Elga, lay cuddled, trying to find as much heat as possible. Winters were cruel in their land, and the fire must’ve died sometime during the night.

  Resigning himself to the inevitable, he got out of the bed. He needed to rekindle the fire if he wanted to make the temperature inside their little home at least bearable. Thankfully, he’d retrieved logs the night before, and there were still some burning coals in the hearth. Soon, Igor had a merry fire crackling.

  Igor stared into the bright flames, hypnotized by their dance. Sometimes, he imagined he could hear the flames murmur to him, or laugh gaily. Anyone else would have scorned him for his fancies, but his wife went along with it. She even said she heard the snow sing sometimes.

  As if summoned by his thoughts, Elga appeared by his side. She smiled at him, and Igor’s heart squeezed with love for her. With age, her face became lined and her hands calloused from a working life. Even so, her eyes still shone, like they did the day he’d met her.

  “What are you doing, old man?” She shook her head and tsked at him. “Come and eat.”

  As Elga set the breakfast table, Igor scanned the two lonely seats with a heavy heart. The Goddess had not graced them with the miracle of children and, even if he’d waited and hoped, he’d pretty much given up by now. Both he and Elga were beginning to age, and his wife would no longer be able to bear children. Igor didn’t fault her, though. He loved Elga, and she loved him. It simply hadn’t been fated for them.

  They sat down and thanked the Goddess for their meal. They weren’t rich, but they weren’t poor either. Igor just wished they could have left it all to a child.

  All of a sudden, Elga threw a glance toward the window. “Look!” she exclaimed. “It’s snowing.”

  Igor laughed. His wife loved snow. Admittedly, there was something about the beautiful, fluffy flakes that fell on a chilly winter morning. Their crystalline perfection and delicate uniqueness could charm even the hardest of men. But for Igor’s part, he preferred the warmth of the fire to the winter cold.

  It didn’t surprise him, however, when Elga shot to her feet, abandoning her meal. “Let’s go outside,” she said. “I want to make a snow angel.”

  In that moment, she seemed so young and carefree Igor could deny her nothing. He nodded and after Elga cleaned up, they bundled up in their outerwear, ready to brave the chill. By the time they went outside, a thick layer of white already covered the ground. Igor guessed it must’ve snowed some during the night as well.

  Elga laughed happily as she danced amongst the falling flakes. Igor just watched his wife, smiling when she plopped down in the snow and moved her arms and legs to create an angel. But alas, they weren’t young anymore, and their bodies soon began to protest the abuse. They returned inside their home and took off their wet clothing. Afterwards, they sat together in front of the warm fire. “I wish we had someone to share this with,” Elga said with a sigh, staring out the window. “I wish that, too,” Igor replied, his gaze on the blazing fire.

  * * * *

  That night, Elga had a dream. She dreamt snowflakes danced toward her in a white whirlwind. She saw the snow angel she’d made and skipped toward
it. As if in slow motion, the figure of the angel began to rise and slowly morph into a beautiful little girl.

  Elga took the girl into her arms, carrying the child into the safety of their home. She caught sight of the burning fire and saw embers float away, sweeping through the air in a rain of light. They landed in front of her and materialized into the form of a young boy.

  “Hello, Mama,” the girl said, her voice crystal clear like the icy water of a river.

  “Mama, I’m so happy to meet you,” the boy said, his smile warm and kind.

  Elga spoke to no one about her dream, but in her heart, she didn’t feel surprised when, a few weeks later, their town doctor gave her and Igor the happy news that they would soon become parents.

  Chapter One

  “Alexei! Alexei, where are you?”

  Alexei lifted his eyes at the sound of his sister’s voice. His hand slipped, and his hammer narrowly missed crushing his fingers. Cursing his own carelessness and Eva’s bad timing, he called out, “In here. What is it?”

  Eva peaked inside the room and scrunched up her nose. “Why must you be in such dirty places whenever I need you?” she asked. Today, she wore a beautiful blue outfit that complemented her azure gaze and white-blond hair to perfection, but as always, was far too light for the freezing weather outside.

  “Because I have work to do,” Alexei drawled out. He’d been slaving to fix the barn for the past few hours, but it didn’t bother him. Taking into account the harsh weather outside, he’d allowed himself the luxury of a small torch here. As long as he didn’t have to withstand the cold, he accepted whatever task his parents gave him.

  Predictably, the torch prevented Eva from even coming inside. She enjoyed low temperatures, and often went out in the freezing cold with nothing more than a light dress on. But sun and fire seemed to scorch her. For this reason, she spent all of the sunny days inside in her room, which she always kept chilly. All the while, Alexei hated to go out in the cold. For this reason, Alexei had never been able to play with his twin outside or spend too much time with her at all.

  Still standing in the doorway, she arched a brow at him. “Well, are you almost done?”

  Alexei considered his reply. He didn’t have much left to do, just to wrap things up here. But after that, he’d have liked to cuddle up in front of the fire, perhaps with a cup of mulled wine.

  His decision was taken out of his hands when his father came in after Eva. “Ah, Alexei, my boy.”

  Igor looked around Alexei’s handiwork and nodded. A feeling of pride swelled in Alexei’s chest at his father’s approval. “Excellent job. I know you’re tired after this, but we need some goods from the market. Would you go fetch them?”

  Alexei nodded, relieved. “This is what Eva wanted?” he asked, surprised. He’d expected something more unreasonable. His sister often frustrated him with her foolish, arrogant requests. Alexei loved her, regardless, and he did his best to comply whenever he could. They remained twins, after all, even if the similarities between them were few at best.

  “Yes,” Eva answered, “but I needed to tell you to get me some violets while you’re out. My room looks so barren all of a sudden.”

  “Violets?” Alexei repeated in surprise. “In January? Can’t it wait for a couple more months?” And since when did the barrenness of her room bother her? Eva always wanted things clean, spotless, and she didn’t particularly like plant life of any kind.

  Eva just smiled at him. “You’ll do this for me, won’t you, Alexei? I know merchants from different lands always bring flowers to the market.”

  Alexei’s heart melted, and he nodded. Of course, his father agreed to Eva’s request as well. How could he not? Eva was their little princess.

  A few minutes later, armed with a shopping list and a purse of money, Alexei readied himself for departure. He’d cleaned up and changed his clothes. He’d also taken a weapon along, just in case bandits made their appearance. Alexei didn’t fear them. In fact, he feared very little, with the exception of the cold, perhaps. He hated winter with a passion. Usually, he enjoyed going out, but with such chilly winds seemed to drive all life out of him. Still, his father had asked and Eva wanted her flowers, so he couldn’t exactly refuse.

  Alexei got on his horse and, bracing himself, rode off. Their home lay a good distance away from the village. They had a bit of land, which they cultivated when the weather allowed it. Neither he, nor Eva wanted for anything. It made for a good, comfortable life.

  As he galloped, heavy snow fell around him, shielding his vision in a curtain of white. Alexei focused on his goal and steadied himself. He would not allow some harmless flakes to defeat him. The renewed determination brought a warm glow coursing through him, casting away the chill.

  He reached the village without incident, and he set about to purchase the items his family needed. Spools of thread and fabric went in his bags first, then a perfume. Everything was for Eva, Alexei realized. Why had she even come to point out her need for violets?

  Feeling irritated, Alexei finished his tasks and went about to seek the flowers. People gave him odd looks as he asked, but in the end, they told him he didn’t have a chance of finding violets here. It seemed to be getting colder and colder, so Alexei resigned himself to failure. Eva would have to be satisfied with the rest of her presents.

  However, upon his return, the first thing Eva asked about was the flowers. She met him in the hall of their home and gave him an anxious look. “Well, did you get them? Did you get the violets?”

  Alexei shook his head. “I’m sorry, Eva. I didn’t find them.”

  For a few seconds, they just stared at each other, then Eva rushed off. “Mama,” Alexei heard her say in the next room, “he didn’t buy me violets. I want my violets.”

  Alexei sighed, readying himself for a session of nagging. For whatever reason, Elga always preferred Eva over him. His mother stepped into the hall, a frown on her face. “I asked everyone,” Alexei said before she could even begin. “There are no violets anywhere.”

  “Surely there’s some other place you can look,” Elga replied. “Go on now. You can’t disappoint your sister.”

  Alexei desperately waited for his father to show up. Igor always took his side in these unreasonable debates. Alas, this time, Igor didn’t make his appearance. “Well? What are you waiting for? Go,” his mother insisted.

  “But, Mama, where am I to find violets in January?” Alexei asked.

  “Go to the forest,” she suggested. “I hear there’s a grove at the very edge. Folk say flowers grow sometimes, in spite of the cold.”

  Alexei gaped at her. How could she ask him to brave the icy winter through a peril-filled forest, all for a whim of his sister’s? Did she not love him at all?

  Disheartened, Alexei nodded and obeyed. What else could he do? When his mother decided something, no one but Igor could make her change her mind, and even Igor had a difficult time.

  He set out one more time, this time riding in the opposite direction. He knew his way there well, as he often went to the forest to gather firewood or fruit. Of course, this was the first time he’d actually come here during winter.

  At last, the forest loomed ahead. Alexei idly noted it looked very different than he remembered it. A few months back, its lush and verdant vegetation welcomed Alexei. Now, the leaves had all fallen, and just snow covered the trees.

  Still, the woods provided a welcome change to the extent that the winds no longer beat Alexei so heavily. Acknowledging the treacherous path, he rode slower. He had no idea where he needed to go. Even if he knew these woods well, he’d never heard of the grove Elga mentioned. Other than the vague indications his mother had given him, he just followed his instinct and hoped for the best.

  Onwards he went for the longest time. Finally, just as he started to consider returning home, he saw something ahead. A grove, just like his mother had said. Four tall standing stones rose in the center, the only change in the sea of white. Alexei could see no fl
owers, no violets, nothing. His tiredness turned into sheer hopelessness, and a heavy chill started to take over his limbs.

  His eyes began to close, and Alexei struggled against the weariness. Unavoidably, he lost the battle, and his grip on the horse’s reins. He slipped off the animal, and expected falling into the snow, perhaps to his death. Instead, he fell into someone’s arms. “Easy there, young man,” a male voice said. “Be careful.”

  Alexei’s vision swam for a few seconds, but as the dizziness faded, the sight that met his eyes shocked him beyond belief. The man holding him had hair as white as the pure snow and icy blue eyes, just like Eva. The resemblances stopped there, as Alexei felt a very strong and warm male body against him. The chill ran off as if it had never been, replaced by pure heat.

  “What are you doing here?” another voice said. Alexei looked over his rescuer’s shoulder and caught sight of a second man. Alexei couldn’t be certain, but he thought his eyes and hair were green as grass. Who in the world had green hair? The second man lay reclining against one of the stones, his gaze filled with a peculiar warmth.

  To Alexei’s surprise, he realized two other men waited in similar positions. The third one gave Alexei an amused look, his bright blond hair and amber eyes seeming to shine in the wane light. “I’m guessing his sister is being troublesome again. Isn’t that right, Alexei?”

  At last, Alexei found his voice. “How do you know my name? And how do you know about Eva?”