“No. Okay, yes, but don’t say it like that!”
Now, Sei asks, “Are you sleeping on the roof tonight?”
Marek regards him like Sei is an aerie piece and Marek is trying to decide the correct move. There isn’t a right or wrong move, though. Just the move Sei wants and the one he doesn’t.
“Go to bed,” Marek says. “I’ll join you after we finish this game.”
Osric swishes his tail.Don’t bother. You already lost three moves ago.
Marek’s eyes narrow. “You’re bluffing.”
“I doubt he’s bluffing.” Sei leans against a nearby wall to watch. “Osric takes aerie very seriously.”
Marek plays out the rest of the game anyway, his army of wyrms swiftly dwindling under the assault of Osric’s wraiths. Sei’s just happy the two of them seem to be getting along. Osric is the closest thing to a real family Sei has. This marriage will work much more easily with Osric’s support.
Today was almost perfect. There’s just one thing that would make it better—sharing magic.
But that’s the part Marek has always resisted most. Sei is too selfish to ruin his perfect day with that argument.
Nice attempt for a novice,Osric says not long after. He telekinetically swipes Marek’s monarch away.Practice a little more, and you’ll begin to approach competence.
“Thanks for the guidance,” Marek says cheerfully. He stretches to his feet. “I’ll take my consolation prize now.”
“What prize?” Sei asks—then yelps as Marek scoops him off his feet. “Marek!”
Marek cradles him easily in both arms, as secure as harness rigging. Like Sei weighs nothing at all. “You look tired. I don’t want you falling asleep on the stairs.”
Sei can’t control his grin. Again. He’s been smiling at random all day. Like he’s drunk on sheer joy and touch. “So considerate, Your Highness.”
Wrinkling his nose at the title, Marek carries Sei away. Sei barely even moves in Marek’s arms as they ascend the stairs. Marek isn’t just strong—he’s completely in control of himself. He isn’t as wild and reckless as Sei first assumed. Marek’s sense of control might be better than Sei’s.
Marek lays Sei on the bed so gently, Sei hardly feels the transition. Like he’s been floating on clouds since the moment he unwrapped the pink wyrmskin jacket. Or maybe he’s just lost in the depths of Marek’s purple eyes.
The first night Sei slept in this bed, he worried that Marek might want to join him. He offered to sleep on the couch. Now, Sei can’t believe he’s become so lucky.
“Thank you,” Sei says. “This was the best birthday ever.”
“Your best birthday so far,” Marek says, and kisses the next smile from Sei’s lips.
Sei is still drunk on that kiss when he crawls under the blankets. Half-asleep, he watches Marek strip down. Sei has plenty of ideas about Marek sliding into bed completely nude. But they remain just that, ideas. Sei drifts to sleep before he can act on any of them.
That’s fine. He has one entire year for great ideas.
***
Radovan looks harried when he answers the door. “I didn’t expect you today.”
“Is this an inconvenient time?” Sei asks.
“No, come in.” Radovan pushes the door wide and gestures for Sei and his guards to enter. “How can I help you?”
“I just wanted to say farewell before the wedding.” Sei and Marek leave for Raya Keep in two days, and the wedding is six days after that. The prospect is overwhelming and absurd when everything feels so new with Marek.
The guards linger at the door. Sei’s getting accustomed to the supervision, though he prefers accompanying Marek. Being followed by dragon corps guards isn’t much different from life at the Porcelain Guild, except the guards never tell Sei what to do or where to go. They just follow Sei’s decisions.
The laboratory is different today. Trunks and cases pile next to the central counter, and many of the shelves are empty. But one thing is familiar—Kazia Dire sits on the counter, swinging his legs.
“Hello, Your Highness,” Sei says, unsure whether he should bow.