Page 38 of The Omega Thief

Attiker chuckled. He knew Benta meant when Raz and Thakeray had snuck out to find him. He also noted that Benta called him sire. He’d only heard Thakeray refer to him as such and wondered if that was a privilege for a trusted few. Satisfaction curled in him. As far as he knew, he was the only one that got to call him Raz.

“I will make sure you’re only summoned if it’s an emergency, sire, Your Highness.” Benta bowed his head to them both as they reached Raz’s rooms. Attiker wished him a good evening.

There were another two guards at the door, and they both inclined their heads. “Your Highnesses,” the one on the left said, “Raynard is inside.”

Attiker watched as Raz acknowledged the words but didn’t immediately walk in, even when the one on the right opened the door for them. “Karter, my condolences to your family. You had no need to return to your duties so quickly.”

The guard shook his head. “Ma’s gone for a few days to her sister. I would’ve been just rattling around.”

“Then just let Thakeray or myself know if you need some time off when she returns or when you’ve made a decision.”

“Your Highness,” the guard acknowledged. “Ma also sends her gratitude for the help with getting the skins moved, well, the ones that could be saved.”

Understanding flashed into Attiker. “You’re Annie Karter’s son.” The guard smiled. They’d never met, but Annie always talked about him with pride.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Attiker pressed his lips together. “Jack was a good man.” Jack and Annie Karter owned the tannery next to the stables. It had been one of the shops nearly completely destroyed in the fire. He hadn’t realized Jack had died, and he should have. He’d been selfishly caught up with—

“As are you, Your Highness,” Karter said. “Excuse me for saying so, but all the city is so pleased for you both.”

Attiker knew that wasn’t strictly true, but it was clear Karter held no ill will against him. It was also clear that his ma wouldn’t be able to manage the tannery on her own, so he assumed the decision Raz meant was if Karter left the palace and went to manage the shop for his ma.

Attiker steered Raz inside after a moment and breathed a sigh of relief. It didn’t last long, however, as a man that Attiker assumed was Raynard exited the bathroom with a folded gown in his hands. One folded gown.

Attiker watched as the man bowed so low it was clearly for show, but as he straightened, Attiker took in the blond hair, the blue eyes, currently lowered very demurely, the very trim body, immaculate clothes that were at least one size too small, and the fact Raynard was younger than him. He’d expected someone of Carter’s age or Benta’s. Raynard flicked his gaze to Attiker, saw him assess the competition, and dismissed it instantly.

“Your Highness,” Raynard said breathlessly. “I started a bath. If you give me your clothes, I will attend to them being laundered and pressed.” He held up a robe as if he expected Raz to start stripping off there and then.

Over my dead body. Attiker stepped forward and took the robe before Raynard had a chance to object. “How kind, but we’ll leave the clothes for later. We just want some alone time at the moment, if you don’t mind.” He smiled and stepped closer to Raz, putting a possessive hand on his. “Sorry, but I’m sure you can imagine what it’s like to be in the honeymoon stage.”

Raynard gaped, but then he seemed to recover and incline his head as regally as Raz’s grandmother. “Of course, Your Highness. But please do summon me if there should be anything you require.” And with that, he left the room.

Attiker glanced up at Raz only to see him firmly pressing his lips together to stop laughing. Attiker rolled his eyes. “Robbing the cradle?”

Raz laughed out loud at that. “Raynard’s uncle is Maxwell Omarry, the tailor. His younger brother, Raynard’s father, was in one of my regiments. Raynard was his original apprentice, and I had need of a dresser after mine retired. It seemed simple at the time.”

“But?” Attiker murmured and stepped in front of Raz to remove his sword belt and start on his buttons.

“Raynard is convinced he has a wolf and has tried…” Raz turned as Attiker removed his doublet. “To create the impression I can bring his wolf forward.”

“Like you did to me?”

Raz turned back, bent, and curled his hand around Attiker’s neck, trapping Attiker’s lips with his own. Attiker kissed him back, but he pulled away before things got too interesting. He had plans. “I can understand enthusiasm, but surely he must know you’re mated.”

Raz clasped Attiker as he would have stepped away to put the doublet down and yanked him forward to press into Raz’s firm body. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

“I’m sorry. A lot’s happened to me this week.”

“I can’t imagine how hard this has all been for you,” Raz said gently, cupping his face. Attiker’s hand drifted lower until he got to what Raz usually kept hidden behind about five layers of clothing.

“You can’t?” he teased, his hand stroking the hard mound of Raz’s very princely package.

Raz groaned. “Why am I still dressed? Perhaps I should summon Raynard—” But Raz’s sentence finished on an oof as Attiker tightened his fingers warningly.

“How about you sit down so I can get the boots off His Royal Impatience?”

Raz bent and dragged them off. He tugged at his shirt, then lost every scrap of patience, royal or otherwise, and simply ripped it apart, scattering buttons all over the floor. Attiker didn’t bother scolding him. He just undid his own very quickly before Raz treated Attiker’s new clothes in the same manner. Attiker was done first because he was dressed so much simpler, and he helped Raz, then finally took his hand, leading him to the bathroom.

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