Page 102 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

Perian had been telling the truth when he said he didn’t need to have sex and he would never want to force Brannal to do anything he didn’t want to do. But that didn’t mean that he wasn’t really happy about having sex now. He wondered if that was part of the underlying tension of the last few days. Maybe it wasn’t even the lack of sex itself but what it represented, the uncertainty, where neither of them had been sure what was going to happen next and both of them seemed to be worried the other person was going to give up.

It definitely confirmed they needed to work on their communication, but they’d acknowledged that. They didn’t need to be perfect, but they really needed to make an effort.

They also needed to let the day actually unfold before Cormal could ruin everything by reporting to the Queen that Brannal wasn’t performing his duties or something equally obnoxious. Perian was confident they could actually have a relationship without it unduly interfering with Brannal’s position as Summus. Maybe some things would change here and there. That was to be expected, surely, when there was a big change in someone’s life. But plenty of people were still able to function when they were in a relationship. Surely, they could manage it too.

Perian still didn’t know what it meant for an actual long-term vision, but yesterday had made pretty clear to him, and he thought to Brannal, too, that they both wanted to figure this out.

He could still remember that expression on Brannal’s face, when he had looked up, face blotchy, eyes red, covered in tears. The man had gone into the bedroom and fallen apart because Perian was hurt and angry, and Brannal was gutted and afraid to lose him. Though Perian wouldn’t ever wish that sort of pain or uncertainty on the other man, it had told him a lot.

Brannal poured Perian a last mug of tea, gave him a quick kiss, and then pulled on the last of his clothes so he became the Mage Warrior Perian could still remember staring down at him as he’d lain in the street and barely been able to see. Strong and majestic, that’s what he was. Perian got at least a little version of that thrill every time he saw the man dressed like this.

And of course, now he had the added benefit of being able to kiss him. He wouldn’t try climbing him right now, given how much he’d delayed the man already, but he was definitely going to propose it in the near future.

“Give me a proper kiss goodbye,” Perian admonished when it looked like Brannal was going to leave.

Brannal leaned in and kissed him, and it was avery goodkiss goodbye, so much so that Brannal pulled himself away with a groan.

“See you later,” he said with difficulty.

Perian licked his lips. “Absolutely.”

Brannal took a breath, then shook his head even as he smiled. “Goodbye, Perian.”

“Bye, Brannal,” Perian said cheerfully. “Have a good day at work today. Think of me often.”

Rolling his eyes, but still looking fond, Brannal said, “You know I will.”

Perian finished off his tea. There wasn’t anywhere he needed to be just at the moment. He might wind up with Warrior lessons at some point in the near future, though he didn’t know if they’d be in the morning or afternoon. He had his mornings generally open, if it turned out Onadal was taking suggestions. Of course, he’d be doing Brannal a favor, so it seemed unlikely he’d want to be extra accommodating. But maybe Delana could put in a good word? Perian was still quite sure that he was right, no matter what Brannal thought.

Yes, Perian decided, he would definitely talk to Delana. He was pretty sure she’d decided she liked him well enough, so there was probably no harm in asking. If she didn’t want to get involved, he had the feeling she was the sort who would just tell him that.

And since Periandidwant a favor, he should probably give her something she wanted. Bribery was a time-honored tradition, wasn’t it? He didn’t know her at all, though, so he would need help. He checked to make sure his hair was still neat, then carefully eased into his coat and set out.

Chapter Nineteen

AknockonMolunandArvus’s door and finally poking his head in confirmed that they’d gone about their day already. Perian would no doubt be able to find some of the Mage Warriors in the training rooms, but he didn’t want to interrupt a lesson as he had done last time he’d needed to find Nisal. But Nisal… well, he had been thinking he wanted to thank the doctor, hadn’t he?

Perian made his way back to the doctor’s rooms. He was in luck. Both Nisal and the doctor were there.

“Your burn salve is amazing, and I wanted to thank you so much,” Perian told the woman.

Nisal’s expression grew pinched, and the doctor considered him for a moment.

“You’re very welcome, though I would prefer you didn’t need it. It’s your right arm, I take it? You’re favoring it.”

Perian sighed, wondering about the speed of the rumors here at the castle.

“Yes.”

The doctor was eying him like he was stupid. “Well, you’re here now. Let’s see it.”

Oh. Perian took off his coat with Nisal’s help, then his vest, and finally his shirt—trying not to smirk about how many people were seeing him bare-chested today—and then the doctor unwound the bandage and inspected the burn.

“This happened last night?” the doctor said, fingers pressing carefully against the skin as she inspected it.

Perian nodded. “Yeah. Blocked a fireball to my face. It really hurt last night, and the salve was amazing. I don’t know how I would have gotten to sleep without it.”

Well, perhaps Brannal would have been able to… relax him regardless. But without the salve, Perian might have just kept fighting with the other man, in too much pain to see things clearly.

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