…And he said Melis’ name sweetly. For that,Melis would do his best to grant the king his heart’s desire, andif Melis could not find someone good enough to make him happy, thenhe should at least try to find someone to feel affection andloyalty to Antero as a friend. That might be tricky with Anterobeing king of the city, but there were other cities to look to.
The polished bronze shield of one palace guarddidn’t show Melis’ reflection, which was fortunate, because Melissuspected he was scowling darkly. The guard, bored, alone, tryingto stay awake while his partner was off somewhere relievinghimself, was thinking of pretty women, but none in particular.
Busy seeking the chambers of the members of theroyal family, Melis left the guard to it, lifting a hand idly as hetracked the thoughts or dreams behind each door.
Long day tomorrow, and yet I can’tsleep.
…Too early to sleep. Moon’s bright enough tosew by, I swear.
“You must think me a naughty creature in need ofpunishment.”
Melis cocked his head curiously at that one,though the voice was not the one that had drawn him here. He didn’tquite understand the meaning of the words, but the desire beneaththem was more than clear. He wondered if he would be thankedtomorrow by the man currently receiving the punishment he’d askedfor, but doubted it. If he or his lover thanked anyone, it wouldThe Fair-Shaped as Physical Pleasure. But they might not evenbother with that. Most humans didn’t.
Sheshouldbe thanked for the loud, andstrangely stirring, sounds of enjoyment Melis left behind as hecontinued on. But so should he. Melis was not only Wanting; he wasthe moment passion struck. He was racing hearts, and flushedcheeks, and the sudden absence of clear thoughts. He cackled overit at times, watching the arrogant trip over their words andcertain know-it-all gods kneeling at the feet of some haplesshuman.
Desire Fulfilled, Antero had rightlynamed one aspect of him. For that alone, he deserved an answer fromMelis.
Melis stopped outside the door he’d avoided fortoo long to consider the solid craftmanship of the door itself, andthen the two human guards directly in front of it.
But they were easy. It didn’t take more than asingle covert glance from one tall guard to the other for him tosee that even the bravest of warriors could fear actions whenactions might lead to their hearts. He reached out to brush hisfingertips over a muscled thigh. The tip of his wing touched theshoulder of the other guard. Both of them gasped, one clutching herleg as if she could still feel Melis’ touch. Then the second guardstepped closer to the one she had long adored in secret.
Melis slipped past them both while they weretrembling and staring into each other’s eyes.
Their shared ache for a kiss lingered along hisskin like the sun’s light and warmth. A shiver carried through hiswings, so he extended them to shake the feeling away. The rush ofair through feathers did not cause the form lying on the bed beforehim to stir.
The hour wasn’t late. Many nights, the kingwalked the length of his bedroom until the moon was high, searchingfor a solution to a problem of governance or unable to sleep forsome other reason. Melis had never stepped into Antero’s privatechambers, but knew the wide window overlooking the sea as if he’dseen many times; that was where the king stood when his thoughtsturned to his loneliness. After long days, he would stand near theledge of stone, the breezes stirring the curtains and gathering hiswords before it brought them to Melis.
The window allowed moonlight into the openrooms, a silvery touch nearly extending to the bed itself. The moonwould not dare go farther. Melis assured himself of that with avicious glare toward the window, then returned his attention to therest of the space. A table of carved wood and lacquered chair, asmaller room connected to this one, possibly full of articles ofclothing or armor, for the king had studied arms and combat even ashe strived to keep his city free of trouble.
The walls held murals, not of any gods, butscenes of their works: a field in the summer sun, a deep forest,the sea, mountains that seemed to tremble before Melis’ eyes. Therewas no cot in the corner of the room as he had seen in some noblehouses in different cities and countries. No servant stayed in theking’s rooms with him at night. There was only the king on his bed,a large shape beneath a light blanket, almost hidden by curtains offine mesh tied to the canopy above.
For now, Antero slept alone. But Melis wouldtake care of that, and perhaps, in the future, visit to make sureAntero was happy.
Not that Melis made mistakes. Hewasagod. Small and annoying, but a god.
Truthfully, War and the others were not entirelyincorrect; the god of Overwhelming Passion, of Desire and DesireFulfilled, Melis the Cruel, Melis the Prankster, Melis the Mercifuland Most Giving, did not actually know much of love beyond thosefirst moments he sometimes helped along. He didn’t reallyunderstand it, but the other gods didn’t seem to either, so theyhad no room to talk.
Perhaps it would help Melis in his work if heobserved human passion and affection and need for each other upclose. And what better human to witness than Antero the Faithful,who had yearned for the other part of his soul for so long?
He yearned for it now. Melis put his feet to thefloor to creep closer to the bed. Antero had fallen asleep with anache in his chest—having also observed the longing glances betweenhis two guards and ensuring they were assigned night duty togethermore often. A similar ache formed within Melis at the realization.Antero had been happy for them, and then also faintly despairing ashe entered his unlit bedroom, stripping his clothes away by himselfto sit on the edge of his bed and look out the window.
Human, Antero couldn’t hear Night’s song begin,but he’d smiled to witness the moon appear. He’d thought,Ishouldn’t let it pain me. I am blessed in many ways. Is it notbeautiful out there, Melis? I wish I could share the sight withsomeone who might find peace in it as I do.But for now, theview is mine, and I will enjoy it.
When, exactly, the king had taken to addressingMelis so frequently, Melis couldn’t recall. But he didn’t mind,which was probably why he hadn’t put a stop to it. It was alsoprobably why Melis had looked up to Night and the moon in the firstplace, and paid special attention to their music; Antero had seenthe view and wanted it shared, and thought of Melis. He hadn’tknown Melis was in his city on his way to him.
It is beautiful, Melis agreed, rubbingthe spot over his heart.I don’t often appreciate the works ofthe elders, but they can be lovely.Is that all you ask for,Faithful Antero? A lover to gaze admiringly at the sea or the skywith you?
Antero, of course, did not answer. He rolledonto his side toward the window as he dreamed. The blanket fellaway, revealing strong shoulders with brown, warm skin, and a headof dark hair, worn short, but still long enough for half a curl tofall over one perfect ear.
He dreamed of his bare feet in the ocean and ahand in his.
Melis didn’t think he’d ever put his bare feetin the ocean. Not to stop and study the feeling at least, since hecouldn’t remember it. The breeze from the window was the breeze inthe king’s mind, a gentle brush against his bare skin, and Meliscouldn’t summon a glare for that because then the breeze came tohim, sudden and electric along his skin, as if lightning werenear.
The wind would always come to Antero if the feelof it was that pleasant for him. Melis could give him that even ifhe also gave him a beloved. That, Melis would always have forhimself, though the king might be happy with another and forgetwhat Desire Unfulfilled was.
Strangely unsatisfied by the thought, Melisstopped to watch Antero’s chest rise and fall.
He didn’t have to do this. Melis knew that. EvenAntero knew that. But Melis should not have been reluctant to doit. The Fair-Shaped had given Melis no answers but shemusthave made Antero so lovely for a reason, some purpose besideskeeping him in her bed, since that she had not done.
