Tiiran got his eyes open at last.
Orin, fully dressed, stared down at both of them, Nikoly’s cup still in one hand. He gave Tiiran a fond smile before looking to Nikoly. “But for all your determination, pup, if he didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t even be in the library. Tiiran chose you. I’d warn you not to take that lightly, but I don’t think you will. Should I apologize?”
Tiiran harrumphed. “Yes.”
“No.” Nikoly sighed. “You’re worried too.”
“For both of you.” Orin lost his smile. “You named me Master of Strays. I don’t believe that’s something to be taken lightly either. Now,” he placed one finger over Tiiran’s mouth when Tiiran opened it to argue, “rest. I will head downstairs and beg Po for tea. And if you argue, pup, I will walk you downstairs on a rope lead like the hound you are, with Tiiran’s full approval.”
He smiled again, mean and Orin-good.
“The rope is for me.” Tiiran frowned, because Orinhadsaid that, or something like that.
Orin tapped the tip of Tiiran’s nose, then brushed his cheek. He swept a similar touch over Nikoly’s mouth, then turned to the table and the waiting tray.
He was on his way downstairs before Nikoly turned to Tiiran.
“I’m meant to be of use to you,” he said quickly.
Tiiran was not quite ready to think sensibly yet. “Your clothes are softer than Orin’s,” he observed, nuzzling Nikoly’s shoulder again to prove it, then leaving his head down because he was so tired.
Nikoly didn’t hold him as tightly as he might have, but Tiiran burrowed into his arms as much as he could and closed his eyes again.
“Oh.” Nikoly must have realized something, but if so, he didn’t share it. “Rest, then,” he murmured, moving to exhale into Tiiran’s hair, possibly offering a kiss.
“Yourest,” Tiiran scolded sleepily. “You did all the work. And Orin said so.”
“So he did,” Nikoly agreed. “But I’m not—” He stopped himself. “Yes, Tiiran.”
Tiiran gave a nod, then a sniffle, and moved to get more of his backside off the seat of the chair, cushions or not. “You’re plummy and perfect.” Tiiran knew a few good words. “Sorry I hurt you. Tell Orin to hurt me back if you like.”
“Ifyoulike.” Nikoly dropped another kiss on the crown of his head. “You weren’t wrong.”
“I’m not a stray anymore.” Or so Orin had told Tiiran, or something to that effect. “That means thinking about a future.”
“A future?” Nikoly echoed, scarcely more than an exhale.
“This is nice,” Tiiran murmured in return, then had no further thoughts on the matter, or on any other matter, his eyes firmly closed as he fell asleep once again.
Chapter Sixteen
Tiiran was allowed to think again once in his room with Nikoly and Orin speaking and moving quietly around him. Not that he did much of that at first. He dozed and woke and dozed again, then was gently prodded awake and given food, which he was instructed to eat by two irritatingly tall figures. Since arguments did not seem ready to fall from Tiiran’s tongue, he ate, then tipped his head to the side and dozed some more.
He was vaguely aware that he’d had work to do before the incident in the library, but concern, like arguments, was a far away, unpleasant concept when he could instead watch Orin and Nikoly through his eyelashes.
Lovers, he thought with rising, though confused, delight.I have lovers.
It was his only thought for some time, aside from fleeting admiration for Nikoly’s mouth or Orin’s hands, or the mellow sound of their careful, quiet conversation. He suspected he was deliberately being left to think, or not think, because they were both overly cautious with him when it came to feelings. Which was perhaps fair, since Tiiran rarely knew what his were.
But acknowledging that made him realize his thoughts were returning to him. Fortunately, the strength had not returned to his body, so he had little motivation to move to inform the two across the room from him that he was beginning to properly wake. Even speaking seemed like too much bother.
Tiiran had never sat like a lump with no purpose before. Another realization, and one he also didn’t have the strength or motivation to consider. The day had had enough new experiences. Lying, or really half-sitting, propped up against the headboard of his small bed, and doing nothing while his mind drifted, was something that would have to go unexamined.
“So the housekeeping staff likely have no idea he even occupies this room?” Orin was thunder in the distance. Which was worrying, but not enough for Tiiran to make the effort to speak.
“I explained the situation to them,” Nikoly explained, leaving Tiiran to wonder exactly what had needed explaining. “He has more blankets now, at least. I’ll work on curtains next.”
The light through the window was what woke Tiiran in the mornings. But that wasn’t worth an argument either.
