Page 55 of The Mage on the Hill
When they’d finished, Toby pointed from himself to each of them. “So I rescued me and you rescued me. Also. In addition. This is some weird stuff.”
“Yes,” Darius said at his driest. “But channeling… undeniable.”
Zubayr nodded. “The guilds can’t classify you as a wild mage any longer. The evidence of your Arcana channeling was all too real, and forcing you into anything had become a clear and present danger.”
“They were thinking about having me die faster before you came, weren’t they?” Toby swallowed hard and forced down some water. Not a happy thought at all.
“Honestly, they didn’t know what they were doing,” Arden said with a delicate snort. “Considering it, yes, but they had no idea how the plants would react if you died. Possible that everyone in the hospice would have been crushed. Darius was both the hero they neededandthe one they deserved.”
“Oh, now you make pop culture references?” If Zubayr’s side-eye had been any harder, it would’ve knocked Arden down.
“You good for now, Toby? We could go argue downstairs and leave you in peace.” Elias rose and stalked pointedly to the door. “Come on, kids. We’ve done all the things.”
Arden heaved a put-upon sigh, but he took the hint. Zubayr gave Toby a quick hug and followed, while Elias sent Darius a mock salute before he left. “You’re welcome, Captain.”
“They’re interesting people, your friends,” Toby said once everyone was safely out of earshot. “And they’re good friends, coming to help like that.”
“They are.” Darius nodded, not a hint of snark or sarcasm in his rasping voice.
Toby ate what he could, then passed the rest off to Darius, who devoured it as if he hadn’t eaten in days.What do I know? Maybe he hasn’t.Finally, tray set down on the floor, the loudest thing in the room the old bracket clock on the bureau, Toby snuggled close again with his head on Darius’s chest. A contented sigh gusted from Darius, and he gave Toby a squeeze.
“So what happens now?” Toby slid a hand under the hem of Darius’s T-shirt to stroke the fuzz on his belly.
“Nap?”
“Probably at some point, but I mean what happens with the guild and stuff.”
Darius tapped a finger on Toby’s forearm. “Youlearn control. Most important. Then….” He shrugged. “I have… ideas. The guild. Looking at it… backwards.”
“Well, good? Still percolating in there, huh?”
“Yes.”
“And what about us? I feel like I’ve kinda invited myself, but am I living here now?”
Darius kissed his forehead. “Yes. If you want.”
“Good. I want to be here with you. Did that sound clingy and pathetic?”
“No.” Darius chuckled, stroking Toby’s back slowly.
Toby took that as an invitation to snuggle closer, his now-interested cock plastered up against Darius’s hip. “You know, if you keep doing that, I’ll probably want to jump you.”
A frown creased Darius’s forehead. “You feel… well enough?”
“I feel great. Maybe not run-a-marathon great, not that I ever ran those, but slow sex in bed with you on your back because, oh my gods, your poor knee, great? Yeah, I’m up for that.”
“I….” Darius’s frown only deepened. Not what Toby had been hoping for.
“It’s okay to tell me no. I want you to tell me no if you don’t feel like it. This cuddling stuff is great too.”
“No, it’s….” Darius cleared his throat. “I don’t… have anything.”
“Oh, is that all?” Toby flipped around and reached over the side of his bed for his backpack. “Usually, I’d be doing PrEP, but the last couple of days…. Yeah, I’m all off schedule.” He fished in the second largest pocket and tossed his finds on the bed. “Anyway, I’ve got stuff.”
Darius blinked at the condoms and lube. “Always… this prepared?”
“Hey, I’m a responsible person. You just never know. Tell me you weren’t always carrying supplies in your old life.”
