Page 121 of Gemini Queen
Of course, my guys already knew this particular secret, so Lucius’ big reveal is only news to Racetrack and Dez. And neither one of them even looks surprised.
Dez catches my eye and lifts her shoulders in a wry shrug. “I’m Valyrian, yeah? My gifts are telepathy and precognition. And I’ve been living under the same roof with these two since I got here. Kinda saw that one coming, didn’t I?”
Which pretty much explains how Racetrack, who’s adamantly Mogadon and doesn’t have a telepathic bone in her whole body, knows as well.
“Afraid that particular secret turned out to be a bit of a non-event, love,” Ronin murmurs, circling the table and crossing to Lucius’ side.
Lucius still looks wary and skittish as fuck about being touched in front of his students, like he might actually bolt at any moment now the cat’s out of the bag. He stiffens and lifts a hand in a subtle gesture to ward Ronin off.
But Ronin’s a man on a mission. There’s no warding him off. He slides an arm around Lucius’ waist and tucks himself into Lucius’ side.
For a second I’m afraid Lucius will push him away. Which will be devastating for Ronin. But I’ve clearly underestimated the power of the mating bond, because Lucius can’t reject his mate when Ronin’s right there needing him.
My prof sighs and softens and leans in to rub his face against Ronin’s shoulder.
Which is the closest he can get right now to nuzzling Ronin’s mating bite.
I sigh too, because it’s so wonderful to see Lucius acknowledge their bond, to see him admit even briefly to needing anyone, and because Ronin deserves this acknowledgment that Lucius is asserting his claim.
And the sight of those two together in all their shared hotness—Ronin with his sleek raven ponytail and his black flame tattoos licking above his collar as he turns his face into Lucius’ neck, Lucius looking tidy and professorial but positively feral with Ronin’s mouth on his skin—is more than enough to light my fire.
Now that Lucius is actually admitting they’re together, I really want to see Lucius bend Ronin over my big medieval bed and fuck him through his next heat. And now that their secret’s out in the open (at least under this roof), I wonder if I might actually be that lucky.
Vasili’s watching the two of them with a look hot enough to scorch anyone’s skin, so I’m guessing I’m not the only person in this room who’s entertaining that particular fantasy.
Ronin meets Vasili’s smoldering stare with a slow smile.Ready to spill one of ours, then, love?
And, because I’m a telepath and my powers seem to be growing by the minute, I can listen in on their link.
“Oh fuck.” Vasili sprawls carelessly and waves one hand in a languid gesture, but I can see the pulse fluttering hard and fast in his throat. “Go ahead then, darling, if you must.”
Ronin’s tiger eyes go lidded as he holds Vasili’s insolent stare. “Vasili and I have been lovers for two years.”
Neo blurts out a surprised sound. But no one can tear their eyes away from those two.
“And you don’t ever have to worry about losing me. Because I’ve been bonkers in love with you,” Ronin finishes softly, looking only at Vasili, “since the day I pitched up at Icarus and you knocked me on my arse with your fucking telekinesis.”
I suck in my breath with a gasp. Somehow, with that one, he’s managed to knock all of us off balance. Not about their being lovers… which, again, I’m sensing at least some of my housemates might have guessed… but with that declaration of love.
Racetrack’s mouth is hanging open wide enough for sparrows to fly into.
Dez is hugging herself and looking happy, since she’s apparently known this whole newsflash too for a while.
Neo’s gaze swings between them. He’s blank with shock and more than a little appalled.
But Vasili looks absolutely shattered. His face looks like someone’s broken him. His cheeks flame with sudden color and his pupils blow so wide his eyes are all black.
And I realize with a pang it’s because he doesn’t believe anyone could ever actually love him.
Because no one ever actually has.
Unexpectedly my own eyes flood with tears.
“Ronin,” he scrapes out, putting out a hand like he’s warning the guy away.
“It’s true, love.” Ronin releases Lucius with a soft glance and goes straight to Vasili. He hunkers down before the Goblin King until their faces are level and rests his hands over Vasili’s. “You don’t have to say it back. But I’ve wanted to say it to you for so long.”
Vasili’s struggling, like really struggling to keep his mask on and his defenses up, and my heart aches to see him. He blinks rapidly, mouth opening and closing as if he’d like to speak but can’t. His face turns toward me, and I try to convey silently that it’s okay, he can trust us with this.
