She smiled kindly at him. “Not at all, Perian.” Her gaze moved to include Trill. “In fact, I’m hoping Trill will stay on as well, whether that be under you or me or jointly. You won’t be able to heal every ailment that occurs in a castle of this size. Plus, I assume that once word gets out about what you can do, there will be an influx of people who want your help. You’re going to need to work in conjunction with one or more doctors, and it will probably take us some time to figure out how best to triage people.”
Perian bit his lip. “And maybe I can keep making salves that heal people better than any other salves do?”
She smiled. “Of course. None of the Mage Warriors show as much aptitude or interest as Nisal did, and I’d appreciate any help you’d like to give.”
Trill was suddenly struck with the certainty that she was lonely. No wonder she’d been interested in Yannoma, and of course she’d like help from Perian and Trill. This wasn’t just about the two of them. She’d have company and assistance, too.
The doctor continued, “Really, I don’t think there’s any doubt that this is the position for you, Perian. And you, too, Trill.” Her gaze went back to Perian. “And don’t think some of us didn’t notice just how many relationships happened while you were here. Happy relationships were at an all-time high.”
Perian looked a little sheepish. “They just needed a little push.” He looked back at Brannal. “Is this really what you want?”
“Dear heart, I think it’s everything that both of us want.”
The happiness that suffused Perian’s face made Trill blink back tears.
“Yes,” Perian said. “I accept.”
“Yay!” Renny cheered, running over to throw herself at a now-laughing Perian.
“What about you?” Molun asked Trill. “You were going to stay with us anyway, but this is better, right?”
Trill could only nod, a bit overwhelmed. This was amazing. He could tell people what he could do. He could help more people because they would know the truth. He’d be surrounded by people who could protect him instead of hunt him. And he’d get to stay with Molun and Arvus!
Truly, he couldn’t think of anything better.
It was Renny who said, glaring at Cormal, “You’re maybe not as totally terrible as I always thought you were, but what’s happening to you if Brannal is going to be Summus again?” Her expression got even more flinty. “You’re not taking Molun’s job, are you?”
There was a weird little smirk on Molun’s face that Trill couldn’t figure out how to interpret, especially when Cormal’s ears went red.
Molun said, “No, I’m going to remain Secundus, and Delana will remain Tertius.”
Perian eyed them all. “I mean, I think we can all agree that I’m not Cormal’s biggest supporter, but I’m not sure that’s actually the best way forward right now. We don’t want to exclude him and risk making him a rallying cry for discontent people—even if he’s not leading it,” he clarified hastily.
“Oh, he’s going to have his own position,” Brannal said with the same expression that Molun was wearing.
Those who hadnotbeen in the meeting exchanged confused glances.
The Prince clasped Cormal’s hand. He was smiling. “It was agreed that under the circumstances, it made more sense to pull Cormal out of the Mage Warrior hierarchy. In the not-too-distant future, he will be a prince at my side.”
There was stunned silence for a moment, which was broken by Renny. “I reserve the right to dump buckets of water on you. As long as you treat my brother right, we can maybe preserve other body parts for his enjoyment.”
Laughter swept round the room, and everyone pulled themselves together enough to go hug and congratulate them. Cormal still looked a bit stunned, but Trill could see the underlying connection between him and the Prince, far more solid than simply sex. For all he still looked a little embarrassed, he lookedsettled. And happy.
And Prince Kinan looked so incrediblyproud, like this was everything he’d ever wanted, and he couldn’t believe how lucky he was. Trill understoodthatfeeling well.
Hours later, Molun, Arvus, and Trill were back in their room. Yannoma had gone off with the doctor again, and Trill was glad they were enjoying themselves—and appreciative of the time alone with Molun and Arvus. So much had happened, an outcome that he really hadn’t expected, and he felt like he needed a little bit of time to catch up.
They hadn’t made it very far into the room before Molun caught him up in a hug, and Trill buried his face in the man’s chest even as Arvus wrapped his arms around both of them.
“It’s all right,” Molun said. “Everything’s going to be all right.”
Trill sagged against him, trusting the two of them to keep him upright and support him. They had always done so—before they really knew him, once they found out what he was, andevery moment since. They’d helped heal Prince Kinan, argued for saving Trill’s people, and just… been there for him, always.
Trill swallowed thickly. “It means so much to me. You and everyone, all the support. Thank you.”
He’d always felt like a liability to his family, never quite what they wanted at best, and actively despised and feared at worst. His father hadn’t wanted him—though it hadn’t been personal—and Yannoma had cared for him in large part because he could also care for her.
But these two. Sure, they were getting good sex from him, but they were already having good sex. They already had a system where they pulled in a third when they were in the mood. They didn’tneedhim.
