Page 31 of Minotaurs and other Magic

Nate sighed as if unable to find words in any language.

Rohan kissed him. “I guess I’ll have to gather you up and carry you back to the palace.”

He slid Nate’s hands free of the leash, and they immediately looped around his neck. His fingers pushed into Rohan’s hair as if he wanted to make sure Rohan didn’t pull away.

He had no intention of pulling out until Nate was ready to get up.

Nate opened his eyes. Still dark, but this time, they weren’t full of lust. They were full of love. It was in the magic of each breath he took. He glanced away as if to hide what was easily seen.

Rohan placed a soft kiss on his human’s lips, not needing him to say anything.

CHAPTER 15

THREE MONTHS LATER

Nate lay on the bench in the center of the maze, watching the sky turn pink as the sun set. It was one of his favorite places to sit at the end of a tiring day. Now that the weather was warming, he was enjoying being outside in the evening again. While there were guards nearby, he was alone, and it felt as if he was miles away from everyone.

He’d spent the day either teaching people about Earth—the humans in Calla were keen to know about the place their families had come from—or learning about Tariko. He’d also met with the Strega as another city had reported the unexpected arrival of a Ferris wheel and other fairground items, as well as people, coupled with an earthquake that damaged part of the city.

He’d spoken English for a few weeks so that others could learn the language. The way they used magic to learn was fascinating. He still struggled to sense the magic, maybe because he hadn’t been born here. Or maybe it would just take more time.

“I thought I’d find you here.” Rohan’s deep voice dragged his attention from the sky.

He sat up, making room for Rohan on the bench. “Are you done for the day?”

“Yes.” Rohan sat and pulled Nate down so his head rested on Rohan’s thick thigh, the way they had sat so many times. His hand rested on Nate’s chest. “There was some deliberation between the knight and the head of the city guard. Then, after the official hearings were done, they asked what I was doing with you.”

Nate tensed. “They are aware I have been teaching. They have been to my classes.”

The Strega has insisted that he teach the knight and the city guard about Earth and English so that if more humans arrived, they’d be better equipped to help them. After the initial lessons, more followed, three mornings each month. She had also learned from him, though her questions were more specific, and Nate was sure she then informed her sisters.

“That is not what they meant.”

“Oh…is there a problem?” His pulse quickened. Everything had been perfect. Too perfect. He’d made a life here. Found love and a purpose and he enjoyed learning about Tariko and its people.

“Not a problem, exactly. My brother also asked about my intentions.” Rohan’s fingers traced the leather collar. “And yours. They believe you have gone above what was needed to repay the debt, but they do not want you to stop teaching.” He smiled. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that.”

“It’s only been four months.”

He put a finger beneath Nate’s chin. “We have both been acting as if we had the year and a day before we needed to think about the future.”

“I don’t understand.”

Rohan’s thumb pressed on his lower lip, and Nate licked the tip. “The knight is ready to commute your sentence, whichmeans you can plead your case with Ishtar. You might be able to go home, Nate.”

Home.

Earth didn’t feel like home anymore. The life he’d had back there felt as though he’d dreamed it. Sure, there were things he missed, like the internet and ice cream–though an elf had made something close with goat’s milk and honey and magic to keep it cold. Though it was rather too magically costly to be anything other than a very rare treat.

He liked his life, and he loved Rohan.

He sat up and climbed onto Rohan’s lap. He put his hands on his cheeks. The perfect man for him was a minotaur. “This is home. You are my home.”

While he couldn’t remember when he’d started thinking of the palace as home, or when he’d stopped referring to Earth as home, it was the truth, and he hoped Rohan sensed it in his words.

“I don’t want to go back…unless you want me gone?” Nate frowned. Rohan had never given any indication that he was done. He could have assigned Nate another room in the palace and never crossed paths with him again.

Rohan put his hands on Nate’s hips and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I do not want you gone. Ever.”

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