Page 106 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

He eyed them uncertainly. “Thank you?”

They waved this aside. “No, I just mean… lots of people are very attracted to you. But you mostly don’t seem to notice.”

Perian considered this for a moment. “I’m not everyone’s type. I’m a very particular type, actually. But for those whose type I am, they do seem to find me… very attractive? And of course, at least until I met Brannal, I was happy to connect with lots of people. But I’m not really attracted to women, and just because someone finds me attractive or I find someone else attractive doesn’t mean I need to do anything about it. I mostly don’t really think about it.”

He eyed Nisal, wondering if they thought he’d done something wrong, but they waved a hand.

“You’re all right. Eat a pastry.”

After offering one to Nisal, that was exactly what Perian did. It was a little too sweet for him, but the quality was superb. The crust was flaky and buttery with that perfect mixture of crispness on the outside and softness on the inside, and the filling actually melted in his mouth.

“Oh, wow,” he breathed.

“Right?” they said a bit thickly, happily eating their own. “The ones in the castle just aren’t as good, but we don’t like to eat out too often. These are definitely the best, though, and Delana has looked widely.”

Nisal polished off their pastry, and Perian held out the bag.

“Another?”

“I thought these were for Delana?”

“And she will get an entire bagful. She just won’t know how many were in the bag to start with, right?”

Nisal snorted and then took a second pastry. Perian was content with just the one. It hadn’t been that long since breakfast, and he had the picnic to look forward to with Rennyandthe dinner with Molun and Arvus. He wasn’t going to be lacking in food today.

They made their way back to the castle in companionable silence, and then Nisal directed him to the training room where Delana was likely to be.

“I wouldloveto watch this,” they told him, “but I think it will go better if you don’t have an audience. Tell me all about it later?”

Perian nodded. “That’s a promise. Thank you for all the help.”

They gave him a cheerful wave before heading off. He squared his shoulders and tapped on the door.

He popped his head in when he heard Delana’s voice call for him to enter.

Nisal was right—no surprise there—and Delana was alone in the training room. It looked like she’d been practicing knife-throwing, or so he assumed based on the knives in the targets across the room. She was sweaty, which was definitely a good look for her.

She drew a deep breath, and then her gaze zeroed in on the bag in Perian’s hands.

“Is that—?”

“You can smell them from over there.” Perian was impressed. “Wow, they really must be your favorite. This is an entire bag full of bribes.”

Delana raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to lead with that, huh?”

He nodded cheerfully. “I don’t really like to beat around the bush.”

“I noticed,” she said, grabbing a towel and patting at her sweaty face.

Perian was not at all certain that he’d got it right, only then she smiled at him.

“I can respect that. Most people seem to think I’ll not notice what’s going on if they hand me a bag of sweets and then happen to ask me some really pointed questions or suggest a new Warrior rotation.”

Perian rolled his eyes. “People are dumb.”

She smirked. “You’re not wrong.”

He handed over the bag. “It’s not questions, actually. Or Warrior rotations. I’m not sure what people are questioning you about, and if it’s about you and Onadal, that’s your business. I have an opinion, of course, because you’ve met me, but I do recognize it actually has nothing to do with me. I’m actually hoping for a favor.”

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