“What are you interested in outside of the library, Tiiran,” Orin explained further as if Tiiran hadn’t understood.
It was a deliberate question. Orin wanted Tiiran to think about things other than the Great Library. He wanted Tiiran to sit in gardens the way that Nikoly wanted him to have fun in the capital.
Tiiran bit his lip and clenched his hands. Orin thought this mattered, so it must. “I don’t have much of an answer,” he said at last. “I like having things to do—but not as much as I have now. I like coming in here in the mornings, especially in the spring and fall when the light is gentler. I like when the assistants are busy, but not so much that they aren’t joking or talking amongst themselves. I like it when my library is well run.”
“Your library?” Nikoly and Orin asked at nearly the same time, both of them smiling wickedly.
Tiiran tossed his head. “Thelibrary. Obviously. Fuck off.”
But Nikoly seemed to realize something. “Yourlibrary, of course.”
“If anyone in this palace had any sense, they’d see it too. Where the library is concerned, he’s the world’s smallest bear protecting its cubs.”
Orin had mentioned bears on purpose but Tiiran gave him a frosty look anyway. “You’re the bear here, Orin.”
“I’m choosing to take that as a compliment.” Orin responded to frost with fire, so hot that Tiiran was jittery again instead of soothed. He wanted to jump to his feet, but then he’d do something foolish, like leap into Orin’s lap even with Nikoly right there.
“Imeant,” he bit out the word, “that he’s at least the size of one. Right, Nikoly?”
Nikoly’s eyes were large and dark as he turned to look at Orin. “I would say so, yes.”
“And have you seen many?” Orin inquired politely, in a slightly roughened voice.
Nikoly licked his bottom lip. “A few.”
“Like your marks,” Tiiran realized aloud, too restless to be quiet or still. “The ivy named for bear paws? Is that to match your dog? Or is it a wolf? I wouldn’t know the difference.”
“On his chest?” Orin pressed with surprise. His voice roughened even more. “When did you see his chest?”
Tiiran twitched in place, fixing Orin with a reproachful look until he saw how amused Orin was.
He was teasing, so Tiiran responded back in the same manner despite the rush of blood in his ears. “The shameless sunflower was helping repair the shelf and grew overheated in the sun.”
Nikoly turned to him with a wounded expression. “Shameless?” he demanded, then stopped, blinking. “Sunflower?”
“Unless your shirtaccidentallycame off,” Orin remarked, still teasing, possibly to unravel Nikoly again. “You’ll have to show me some time. Your marks, I mean.”
Nikoly stared at him, hardly breathing, before giving Tiiran the same curious, desperate look. “Shall I?”
“If you want to. They’re yours to show.” Tiiran answered without thought, then sat up as if someone had yanked on his collar. “Are you going to take your shirt off for everyone, then?” He didn’t know what his tone was but fully expected Orin to chastise him for it.
Orin did not. “Only if Tiiran allows it,” he said, easy. Nikoly let out a small, breathy sound. Orin studied him, almost with pity. “Poor pup. How long have you been waiting for that?”
Nikoly’s answer was faint. “Tiiran said you uncovered things about people.”
“Not to embarrass you.” Orin was abruptly serious. “Only to make things clear, at least for us.”
“It’s no embarrassment,” Nikoly assured him quickly, raising his chin. “It’s worth it.”
“Yes, he is,” Orin agreed.
“And what about you?” The breathy quality had not left Nikoly’s voice. “How long haveyouwaited?”
Orin laughed without any real amusement. “It’s not the waiting that kills. It’s the worry. But you’ll help with that, won’t you.”
Nikoly understood what Tiiran didn’t and nodded with only a moment’s hesitation. “Yes.”
“Good boy.”
