Page 97 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

“I’m pretty sure you’re stuck with them,” Perian said. “Forever. I think Molun just turns up wherever you go, even when you try to shake him. And Arvus actually pays enough attention that he’d have all the directions.”

Brannal pulled back with another sigh, but he was smiling. “I think you’re right.”

“Come on,” Perian said, amused. “We’d better go assure them you’re alive and well before the rumors get started.”

They were still wearing sleep trousers, though they needed to be adjusted back into place, and they were in no way ready to face the day. Perian didn’t really care, and after a moment, Brannal shrugged.

“Fine.”

They both headed into the sitting room, and when he saw the two of them, Molun’s expression grew to the biggest grin.

“Everyone looking alive and well, I must say.Verywell, even.”

Perian rolled his eyes. “It is only because you were helpful yesterday that I even bothered to come out here,” Perian told him. “You interrupted.”

Molun’s eyes were definitely not directed at Perian’s. “I can see that.”

Arvus was looking at the two of them a little more seriously. “Everything’s all right?”

Perian nodded. “Everything’s fine, thank you. I really do appreciate your coming to check.”

“No bandages?”

“Brannal was applying the salve. What can I say? He’s better at it than you are.”

Molun barked out a laugh, and Arvus’s lips tipped up. “I’d offer to try again, but—”

“Thanks for stopping by,” Brannal interrupted loudly. “See you later.”

And they all grinned at one another like idiots.

“Dinner?” Molun asked.

Perian looked at Brannal. “I asked if we could have dinner sometime.”

“Oh, of course,” Brannal said, looking a little surprised.

Molun popped over to nudge Brannal in the ribs. “You’ve been keeping him kind of close. I think everyone thinks you’re exhausting him in bed.”

The expression on Brannal’s face was one of those complicated ones Perian couldn’t quite interpret. Some confusion, a little bit of panic, upset, and displeasure.

Arvus tugged Molun back into his arms. “Some people don’t know when to stop talking. So, dinner?”

Brannal eyed Perian, who nodded, and Brannal said, “Dinner. Definitely. Perian and I have a couple of things to talk about, and I’ll confirm details later.”

“But I want to—” Molun started.

“Sounds great,” Arvus overrode his partner. “Glad to see everything is going well this morning.”

“Did you two want to climb all over one another so I can casually mention I saw you making out the next time I see Cormal?” Molun asked hopefully.

Perian laughed, but he was totally taken by surprise when Brannal tugged Perian into his arms and kissed him. Perian was no dummy, so he wrapped his good arm around Brannal’s neck and kissed him back, melting into him and soon feeling like they’d taken up where they’d left off.

“Oh, wow,” he distantly heard Molun say. “I did not think that was going to work, but that’s so pretty.”

“You’re distracting them.”

“Please, we could be mud-wrestling naked, and they wouldn’t notice a thing.”

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