Page 64 of A Glint of Steel and Roses

“How do humans judge marital compatibility?” Cian asked.

I shrugged. “I guess they just go for it and hope for the best. Most humans, anyway. I can’t speak for the kings and queens. I think they just have arranged marriages.”

He put the empty teacup upside down on the table and scooted up closer, his knees resting against the table. “A courtship is a sort of trial engagement, but less committal, and not always necessary. It’s…Gods, I’m terrible at explaining this, aren’t I?” He sighed and looked to Hellion for help.

“It is a formalizing and public recognition of commitment between all the involved parties,” they said plainly. “Think of it as a test of compatibility in every way that extends for an agreed upon time. Subjects such as titles, future residencies, and childbearing are all openly discussed and expectations are clearly laid out. Boundaries can be tested, limits freely explored without fear or judgement. Everyone tries everything to determine if the relationship in all of its facets is a good fit for long-term commitment. The formal agreement allows people in positions of power—such as Cian and I—to extend certain privileges to someone who is outside of that power structure, and provides some flexibility for us without forcing either of us to leave our positions or alter lines of succession.”

“Thank you,” Cian said quietly.

I frowned. “That sounds…complicated.”

“It’s less complicated than it sounds,” Hellion offered. “Essentially, we get to try out what it’d be like if we were married. You get elevated to a position of equal social status, and it becomes clear to everyone else that this is something serious and not a passing fancy. It gives what we have already some political power, and all of us the freedom to pursue it openly in a way that others on the outside don’t have to question. Our intentions are clear.” Their trademark smirk made an appearance. “And there’s lots of fucking.”

I drank the rest of my tea and put my teacup upside down, as they’d done with theirs. “Is that why everyone was acting funny to me on my way down?”

“Well, sexual compatibility is part of what we have to test out, isn’t it?” Hellion’s voice dipped an octave, their tail waving.

“Haven’t we already tested that?” I asked, genuinely confused. We’d already had sex several times, unless there was something I didn’t know.

“There are still some parts of you I’d like to test,” Hellion purred.

I scratched at my head. Why was this so complicated? And why was I feeling so hot? I knew Hellion liked to get me worked up sometimes, but this was something else, almost like I was losing control over my own body.

“I wanted to wait until after the war and things had settled,” Cian said with a sigh. “But then you agreed to the Shadow Rite. Our time could be limited. I want every minute with you two I can steal.”

“Selfish prick,” Hellion muttered, and gave Cian a playful shove.

“That’s supposed to be my line,” I said. “So do I have to answer any of this now or…”

He cleared his throat. “No, you can take as long as you need.”

“But not too long,” Hellion said, tucking their hair behind their ear. “I’ve already agreed. The tea we just drank is a powerful aphrodisiac and I’m impatient.”

Cian gave them a quizzical look. “How many cups have you had?”

Hellion glanced toward the sky, counting on their fingers. “Four.”

Oh, gods. I’d only had the one, and I was definitely feeling it. I couldn’t imagine what four would do.

“Nevahn?” Cian closed his hand around Hellion’s.

“Yes,” I blurted immediately. “Yes, this is what I want.”

They rose hand in hand. Cian extended his other hand toward me.

A weight settled in the air between us. This wouldn’t be like the other times. Something about this felt more meaningful, almost sacred. Maybe it was. I didn’t care. I knew I wanted to be with them. We had come through all of this together, and that was how I wanted it to end. Whether that end was in two days’ time during the Shadow Rite, a week from now in the pass outside Ezulari, or fifty years from now didn’t matter. We were already bound to one another. This was only a formal acknowledgement of that bond.

I stood and put my hand in his.

Silently, they guided me around the table and into the small, padded yurt. There was no bed and no floor. Just a soft inner space lined with pillows and silky, cool bedding. The only other furniture in the shelter was a small shelf laden with several creams, oils, and perfumed salves.

Cian brought me to the center, where the ceiling was highest, before moving behind me while Hellion stopped in front of me. They shed the long white coat and let it pool on the floor around their bare feet, leaving them in just a pair of white silk pants. Anticipation thrummed through my body as Cian’s big hands brushed several stray red hairs aside. Hellion’s fingers trailed over my chest to caress my jaw, the touch so hesitantly gentle it was barely there. I leaned into Cian, just to feel more of him, as Hellion’s lips whispered over my neck.

Cian tugged loose the tie at my waist. He let it go, and it fluttered to the floor like a tired butterfly. Slow, sensual kisses trailed my neck and jaw on both sides, the sensation so overwhelming it was difficult to track who was kissing where. Silk and brocade whispered against each other as the outer layer of my clothes fell away, leaving me in just the plain white undertunic. Hellion tugged the collar of it to one side, exposing a shoulder and peppering the skin with more teasing kisses while Cian tipped my head back to fully explore my throat. Teeth grazed the tender skin over my Adam’s apple. I buckled and wound up on my knees.

Cian closed a hand over the top of my head. “Stay.”

The command shot through me like lightning. I shuddered and obeyed, remaining where I was.

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