Page 13 of Prince of Ruin

“My mom made me take horseback riding lessons when I was younger,” I say as we round the curve of the ring. “There was some jerk who was making fun of my horse for being the slowest, so I challenged him to a race. I was in front for most of it, but then his horse cut mine off, and my horse stopped so abruptly that I flew off its back and landed flat on my back.” I snort. “I swear I blacked out for a moment, and then had to drag air into my collapsed lungs.” My brows arch as I stare at the coral horizon. “It was a good slice of humble pie for me that day.”

“Want to know the most embarrassing day of my life?” Aden asks, his jaw moving against my back as he talks. “I was a junior, slowly coming out as trans in public while experimenting with different things. Well, one of the things I was experimenting with was packing. First time I ever wore a packer, I wasn’t sure where to place it. I put it on the best I could and went to prom. Did I mention my pants were too tight, too? Apparently, I had a semi the whole night, and I never heard the end of it.”

He shakes against my back as chuckles ripple out of his mouth.

“Dude, that’s not that bad,” I say. “You probably looked loaded. I bet it was hot.”

“Oh, no. I’m not done yet. When I went to the men’s restroom, there were men in the stalls on either side of me. I went to pull my pants up, and my packer slipped and bounced into the restroom stallnext to mine. I’m talking the wettest slap on the concrete floor.” He laughs. “Some poor bastard had to see my dick bounce on the floor while they were taking a shit at prom.” He’s laughing hysterically now, and I can’t help but laugh along. “I had to reach under the stall to grab it. The dude cleared his throat, and bro, I have never bolted from a restroom so fast. I stuffed the dick in my pocket and washed my hands and got the fuck out of there before he saw me.”

I’m laughing so hard now, my sides hurt. “I mean, there are worse things to see in a public restroom.”

“I’m really not sure about that. Seeing a prosthetic dick slap onto the floor in front of you has got to be pretty traumatizing, whether or not you’re gay.”

We climb off the horse and make our way back through the faire. The sun has mostly set now, and there’s a fire-eating show taking place on the stage. We watch sword fights, a dragon puppet show, a Viking throat singer whose resonant tones echo the ancient songs of the north, then finish off the night with some crass comedy.

The autumn night has grown pretty chilly by the time we make our way to the gate. I’m about ninety-nine percent certain that Aden has nothing to do with the prank earlier today and is probably unaware of what his partner is doing.

On the other hand, he hasn’t told me he has a partner, either.

“So, uh, you want to come by my room at the inn tonight?” Aden asks as we step out to the parking lot. “I should let you know,” he says before giving me a chance to answer, “that I am polyamorous. I have a nesting partner, and several other more casual relationships. We’re all tested regularly. But, if that’s not your thing, I totally get it.”

There it is. He does have a partner. But he’s clearly not cheating since he’s openly poly. Or is he? Because the way that antlered prick acted, it seemed like they were pretty exclusive.

“Does your nesting partner know you’re poly?”

He frowns. “Yeah…”

“Because if your partner has long white hair and has an unhealthy obsession with the Ren Faire cosplay, then that asshole confronted me just before we ran into each other and told me to stay the fuck away from you.”

Aden’s green eyes widen, and he nearly trips. “Um. Okay. So, Tarsus talked to you?”

“Yes. Theythreatenedtokillme.”

“D-did you recognize them?”

“Why would I? I’ve never seen them in my life.” Unless they were the same person who was dressed up as a bat, which would actually be highly likely. I glance at Aden. What if he was the getaway driver?

“So…why are you here, if they threatened you?” he asks carefully.

I release a shuddered sigh. “Because I wanted to piss them off. Because I’m pretty sure they’re a part of some elaborate prank that’s been going on at my house that’s making my dad go crazy.” I pause and turn to him, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. “Are you…a part of the prank, too?”

He looks me square in the eye. “No. Tarsus isn’t pranking you either. They’re just…” His eyes wander as he searches for the right word to sum up his psycho partner. “They’ve got some trust issues.” He closes his mouth and swallows hard, his brows furrowed in though. “Are you sure you’ve never seen them?”

“Aden, I swear to god, if I’ve ever seen a tall, perfectly built male with perfectly chiseled features like your partner, I don’t think I would have ever forgotten them.”

He snorts and cards his fingers through his hair. “So that’s it, then? You only wanted to see me tonight to piss Tarsus off?”

I lick my lower lip. “No. I wanted to see you before they even crossed my path. I wanted to come because I was super intrigued by you at the library, and now that I’ve spent some time with you, I kind of…want to get to know you more.”

His lips quirk up as he turns to face me, and I notice that adorable dimple in his cheek. “Kindof?”

I stare at him, and it takes all my self-control not to pull him in for a kiss. “Alotof.”

“Hm. That’s what I thought.” He takes a step closer, planting his hands on my waist, and the contact makes my body come alive. “I really didn’t expect to fall for you.”

I snort. “What, when you met me at the library six hours ago?”

His brows furrow. “Sure.” He slowly leans in as if he’s going to kiss me, and my heart rate spikes. The scent of sandalwood fills the air between us. I close my eyes, waiting tofinallyfeel his lips on mine, but then he turns and resumes walking down the street.

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