Page 115 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

Renatus

“QUIT FIDGETING.”

For a soldier, Verian certainly had a difficult time keeping still. And he was sitting on a comfortable armchair, not even one of the complicated poses Renatus contorted Gaius into.

It had only been two weeks since the boy joined them at the palace and already he was fitting in. He’d become fast friends with Gaius, strangely enough, though Renatus didn’t miss the way he fawned after Petran, following the man around like a puppy.

Oh, he and Vita were quite the pair.

His intention had been to push her into Verian’s arms, and now here he was juggling the two between him. A hardship he was more than happy to weather.

Verian was as eager to please as Vita, and that strange warmth—the one that burned where his dead heart should be—ignited with every moment he spent with the boy.

The stoic soldier with a heart of gold.

Who could have imagined such a person would enamor him? Yet here he was, painting a portrait of the boy so it could hang next to the ones he’d done of the others; Vita, Petran, and Aurora. He supposed he’d have to do a self portrait at some point, but that was a problem for another time.

“I’m sorry. I have a knot in my back,” Verian said, circling his shoulder with a wince.

Renatus rolled his eyes. So difficult to find good muses these days. He set the paintbrush down, then motioned to the bed.

“Go lay down.”

Verian obeyed in a flash, practically jumping off the chair to follow the order. A good little soldier, exactly what he loved. But like Vita, Verian submitted because he wanted to, not because he was compelled to, which pleased Renatus even further.

The boy wore a simple tunic, sage green to match the color of his eyes, and oh, he was so beautiful. Renatus knew what Verian wanted, to be filled by him the way he filled Vita, but the time had not yet been right. There were questions that required answers, assurances that he needed before getting in too deep.

Renatus crawled up the bed as Verian’s eyes widened, pulling him into an embrace. The boy slung an arm over his waist, a contented sigh leaving his lips.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Renatus said.

Not a command, but a request.

Dark brows furrowed in question. “What do you mean?”

“I will not compel you. But I want to know your true feelings. About me, about us.”

Renatus needed to know. He recognized where he stood with Vita, the love they shared tangling them together like a mess of wild roses. The same love she had for Verian. But how did the boy feel?

“I… I am happy to be here. With Vita.” Verian looked away, his breath catching for just a moment. “And with you. We haven’t known each other long, but I… hope you will be as happy with me as you are with her.”

The words filled him with warmth, a warmth he experienced only around the people he…

Renatus tilted Verian’s head up to meet his gaze, a smile curling his lips. “I am very happy with you, my dear. We may be connected through Vita, but I wish to know you as well.”

A grin lit up the boy’s face, and Renatus couldn’t resist pressing their lips together. Verian whimpered into his mouth; sweet mewling that he enjoyed oh so much. He would take the boy soon, then, if his feelings were true, if that was what he wanted. And he had more plans for the future, though he didn’t want to rush things, the thought actually making him buzz with excitement.

“What will you do now? Vita has her writing, Aurora, her rose garden. I can get you anything you’d like, anything that would please you.”

It was true. Renatus wanted him to be happy, wanted him to feel at home.

Verian cuddled up to the crook of his neck. “I… I’ll have to think about it. I never had much time for recreation while I was in the guard.”

“Not to worry. We will find something for you.”

Silence filled the room for a long while, and Renatus thought the boy might have fallen asleep before he spoke once again.

“If… if you need any assistance, you know, with your duties…” Verian swallowed hard. “I would really like to help people, help Shadowholde if I can.”

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