“How long are we supposed to remain in it?”
“I don’t know, Rorie. I was asking myself that when you came in. I think I might be getting a little homesick.”
Rorie raised his head and their eyes met. “I understand your fear now of how our relationship will work. I have trusted Bétea to sort things out, but my realm is a mess. It is going to take a great deal of energy to fix all that is broken. Do I leave it to Drekkoril and spend eight hours at his side to make sure he does not grow ill? I once thought it my place to stand at his side, but I was wrong. This is his job. It is his sacred duty to lead, not mine.”
“Is that what you want? To take a step back and allow Drekkoril to do his best to manage it?”
“I know not what else to do. I think I am doing the right thing, yet I wind up making a bigger mess for him to clean. My impulses cannot be trusted. I have no faith in the sioskallos and although I have read many books, I am inexperienced. I spent my entire life in this castle and do not understand how the people around me struggle. If this dream continues by morning, I am going to try it out. I will stop going to the siofllar’am unless Drekkoril summons me, and I shall let him lead on his own. It can only aid the Fae to have order restored with the power rightfully returning to the Noble Protector, and it would leave me more opportunity to pursue my v’airsell nioll.”
“You’ve done a pretty good job of pursuing me already,” Renny told him with a soft kiss.
“I still feel as if I know so little of you.”
It surprised Renny to hear it. “What don’t you know about me?”
“Tell me of your kidnapping.”
“Okay, well, there was that evil warlock I mentioned named Carvallius. He started the war that nearly ended my people. He had a granddaughter called Latarian whose magic was weak. To help her and to get Dra’Kaedan out of the way to keep the war from being successful, Carvallius kidnapped him and used a bunch of spells to essentially turn him into her familiar. When Dra’Kaedan met Brogan, the magic broke and his identity was revealed. Since she had nowhere to go, there was no urgency to take her to the fallen knights to have justice served, which was a mistake. Latarian ran away and came up with a plan to tie Dre’Kariston to her. Instead, she grabbed me with the help of Idris, who was a teenager at the time. I was stabbed with a knife coated in the dust of a Cwylld rock that slowly drains magic. I lost consciousness as I was being teleported. Thankfully, Skeleton Lord Gedeon hopped into the spell and came along with us. If he hadn’t done that, I don’t know if my family would’ve found me before I died.”
“I am most grateful to him for his bravery and quick thinking.”
“Me too. I don’t remember a lot, and it led to both Idris and Talfryn—who was sold to Latarian by his awful fucking parents—to becoming D’Vaires, so I can’t really be angry about it.”
“This Latarian is dead, yes?”
“Yep, very dead.”
“And Carvallius?”
“Same. No trying to kill people.”
“I am most happy for your survival.”
“Me too, and although I’m scared of the future, I am glad I’m with you.”
“There are perils ahead, but let us not discuss it now.”
Renny blew out a frustrated breath. “You never want to talk about it, and we need to.”
“Tomorrow. You have my word as Protector Roriethiel of the Fae that we will discuss it.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I would expect nothing less.”
“You ready to get some sleep?”
Rorie shook his head. “I had something else in mind.”
“Like what?” Renny asked. His dick perked right up when Rorie smiled at him. All the sadness and tumult of the world around them went out of Rorie’s eyes as his focus switched to sex.
Holding out his palm, Rorie produced a tiny pouch. “Inside is a potion I have created, though I have not had the chance to experiment as much as I would like. I designed it to relax, warm, and please. Will you use it on me?”
Accepting some of the clove-scented liquid, Renny whipped Rorie’s nightgown out of the way and wrapped his fist around his cock. “Absolutely.”
Rorie dropped his little bag and tore off his clothing; then he leaned back. “This feels incredible, but it is not what I had in mind.”
“No?” Renny asked, slowing his motion to drag out the pleasure.
