Page 64 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

Brannal nodded, still looking a little uncomfortable.

“Take your time,” Perian insisted. “I want you to be happy.”

“I want you to be happy, too,” Brannal assured him.

“I am,” Perian answered simply. “Much happier knowing where we stand.”

“Me too,” Brannal conceded. “Thank you for raising the topic.”

Perian sighed theatrically. “The lost opportunities for all the ‘rise’ jokes.”

And thankfully, Brannal laughed. “You can make all the jokes you want. And any physical reactions are acceptable too. I’m simply not ready to do anything about them just yet. I have some things I need to work through, and I’m not ready to talk about them yet. But you don’t need to hide from me, all right?”

Perian swallowed and nodded, reassured. “Yeah, all right.”

More brusquely, like he was very firmly trying to change the topic, Brannal asked, “What do you have planned for today?”

“I think picnicking with Renny is the only thing on the agenda. You?”

“I should go see how ruffled all the feathers are this morning. We didn’t meet before the full Council yesterday, but given the gossip in the castle, I’m sure everyone’s heard about it. What do you think about another defense lesson later this afternoon? I’m delighted you were able to pass on such a pertinent lesson, but it’s better in the long-term if you keep up the practice.”

Perian nodded. “That makes sense. I certainly didn’t learn to ride a horse by only getting on once.”

“You ride?” Brannal asked.

Perian nodded, about to say, “Of course,” before it occurred to him that in the city, it probably was not an assumption, and there were actually all sorts of people who’d never ridden.

Instead, he said, “My father taught me. It’s one of the things I miss most about the country.”

“Perhaps our defense lesson could wait for another day, in that case,” Brannal suggested. “Would you like to go riding with me after your picnic?”

Perian beamed, immediately buoyed by the idea. “I would, very much.”

“It’s settled,” Brannal said with an answering smile. “I’ll get work done this morning, you’ll have your picnic lunch, and we’ll meet after that. Perhaps two thirty? I’ll show you the stables, and we’ll go for a ride. Yes?”

“Yes, please,” Perian agreed.

That sounded like a wonderful day. Maybe despite the fact that it had seemed like everything was falling apart, it had actually broken down so that it could be built back up more sturdily. Only time would tell, but Perian had hope.

Brannal finished his tea as he rose to his feet, as seemed to be his habit, making Perian smile.

Then Brannal added the final layers to his uniform, until he looked every inch the Mage Warrior.

“Meet here at two thirty?” Brannal clarified. “You’ll need to bring the blankets back.”

Perian nodded, Brannal pressed a kiss to his cheek, and then he was gone.

Perian continued to sit at the table for another few minutes, staring down at his mug of tea. He’d meant it that he would be all right if they didn’t ever have sex again. He would miss it, but he cared a lot more about their closeness. It seemed like maybe that hadn’t been lost.

Perian swallowed around the lump in his throat, absurdly relieved, and decided to drink another cup of tea and see if that helped with the feeling. He didn’t want to simply sit here until it was time to go to the picnic. Visiting the Mage Warriors was out in case anyone was still upset. Perian couldn’t be certain that Cormal would stay with the Mage Warriors, but he hoped that if he got out of that wing and also avoided the royal one he’d stand a better chance of missing him.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

It was Nisal.

“Morning,” they said cheerfully. “Thought I’d see how you’re doing.”

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