Page 26 of Minotaurs and other Magic

Sebah placed his hand on Rohan’s shoulder. Their horns tapped in a warning Rohan would heed. If there were trouble, it was his head at risk. “I pray you are right.” Then he leaned in. “And I pray that your heart has not led you astray. A humanfrom Earth? There are those who believe them nothing but stories.”

“His people think much the same of us.”

Ireni tilted her head. “Interesting. Perhaps he will share some of those stories with us.”

“The Strega believes he is here to remind us of Earth, so we can learn how it has changed since our stories were first told.” Perhaps it’s time to make some new tales. Though why they needed to learn about Earth, Rohan wasn’t sure. Neither was the Strega, which was far more concerning.

“If more Earth humans are going to wander across, then we need to learn something about them and their language,” Sebah conceded. “He is your responsibility.”

“I am aware,” Rohan said dryly.

Sebah grunted. “Perhaps next time you might consider asking before buying out someone’s debt?”

“If not for the Strega’s request…”

Nate laughed, and Rohan turned, a smile forming on his lips. Nate would have caught his eye regardless, though it would’ve been harder to argue with the guards, and he’d have needed the knight to intervene.

“While it was her request, you need it, so clear it with the knight,” Sebah said as if Rohan didn’t know there were things he needed to do to formalize the arrangement.

“That is a job for tomorrow. I was out of town today.”

“So I was informed. Is he aware we can smell how well youbathedhim before dinner?”

Rohan winced. He’d been hoping his brother would be too polite to mention it. It was one thing to make threats of everyone smelling his cum on Nate, but another for the threat to be made true. “I did not expect you to be here. It won’t happen again.”

Ireni rang a small bell. “Enough has been said. Let’s dine and hear some tales from Earth.”

“Your brother—er, the king—doesn’t seem to like me,” Nate said while cleaning his teeth.

“He does not know you or trust you, which is different.”

Nate stared at him, his finger still in his mouth as if he didn’t understand. “Why do you trust me?”

That wasn’t the question Rohan expected, but it was easy to answer. “You haven’t tried to kill me. You are genuinely grateful to be able to speak our language and to have been given a chance. And you are curious because you have a love of learning.”

Nate lifted an eyebrow. “I might be pretending.”

Rohan laughed. “I can smell your desire. And you cannot hide your true intentions from a Strega. She read your fate lines.”

Nate spat in the sink. “And what did they say?”

“You already know what she told me.” The Strega only told what she was certain of. Fate lines were always changing. The choices a person made created ripples that had far-reaching consequences. That she and her sisters were concerned about the recent crossings was enough to make the rulers of many cities wary of strangers, as if they expected the humans to launch an attack on a place they had forgotten about.

If the humans were planning an attack, they would not send through unprepared teachers. They’d send scouts or traders, people able to slide into society and report back.

“That I’m here to teach about my world.” He frowned. “But why?”

Rohan shrugged. “I do not have the answer, but we all enjoyed your stories tonight. Tomorrow, I will show you the palace gardens. You might enjoy our maze.”

Nate’s eyes widened. And Rohan found it far too easy to imagine himself stalking Nate through its winding pathways after listening to his stories.

“And I will also ensure you are given a place to prepare lessons and teach.” He cupped Nate’s jaw. “Do not wander without a guard. There will always be one with you.”

“What if he doesn’t like me and leaves so I get into trouble?”

Rohan frowned. “Are you always this distrustful?”

“I don’t want to accidentally find myself in trouble.”

---