Trill wasn’t sure how he would still heal—wait, what?
“What?” he repeated out loud as his thought processes ground to a halt.
“We hoped you might be interested in staying with us while you’re here in the city.” Arvus, this time, like a different person saying it might give it more meaning.
Trill looked at the two of them and tried to figure out what it was theyweren’tsaying. Because he was sure there was something. Perhaps he shouldn’t question this, not when it was exactly what he’dliketo do and what would be best forMolun, but… he didn’t like not knowing what it was.
Mage Warriors, Trill reminded himself. Should he get ready to run? He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to make it far, especially since he didn’t have his own clothes. Or shoes. Wait a second…
“Did you take my clothes so I couldn’t run off?”
Another exchange of glances, and Trill stiffened with alarm, wondering if he reallywasgoing to need to run for it. He’d run barefoot before, though admittedly not in a castle. He eased out of his chair.
Molun held up his hands. “No, no. I mean, yes, but not anything bad, we promise.”
And this actually made Trill laugh a little and relax a tiny bit, because that seemed like a very Molun thing to say and not a particularly… Mage Warrior thing to say?
One last exchange of glances, and then it was Arvus who said, “We noticed that you didn’t seem to have anywhere to stay.”
Trill blinked. “What?”
He was saying that a lot this morning.
“At the pub. You always picked someone up. Or went to another pub and picked someone up. And you always went home with someone. You never left on your own. You didn’t change clothes, and you seemed to be spending a lot of time in the pub. We thought that you might like somewhere to stay that was a little more stable.”
Trill sank back into his chair. Well. Mage Warriors, indeed. He hadn’t realized they’d seen so much, and he was pretty sure this meant that Arvus must have followed him at some point. Had Trill really not noticed him? He was pretty sure his energy would stand out too much now, but it was true that Trill had spent more time focused on Molun at the beginning, trying to figure out how to touch him.
“Only if you want,” Molun put in anxiously, and Trill realized that he’d been silent for too long. “If you prefer to go person to person and you’re happy with that, then we don’t want to get in your way, of course. We just thought you might like this better.”
Trill considered them. “Might like the stability better or you?”
Molun narrowed his eyes at Trill. “Well, we don’t really know what situation you’re in, so it’s possible that the stability wouldactually be of more use to you, but personally, I hope you’re enjoying this as much as we are.”
And Trill couldn’t help but smile at that, because there was just a hint of affront in it. Trill didn’t want their pity, but he wouldn’t say no to theirhelp, especially if it came with a lot of sex that they all enjoyed very much. Plus, the ability to help Molun like Trill wanted. And maybe even the chance to see his uncle! That was still possible.
Trill let out a theatrical sigh. “Well, Isupposeif you insist on having fabulous sex with me then I could stay and get some more.”
Molun actually let out a little cheer, and that made Trill laugh. Arvus was smiling at him, quieter but still looking pleased.
Trill looked down at his clothes. “Seriously, though, while I do appreciate the loan, do you think I could get my own clothes back?”
Arvus nodded. “Yes, we’ll instruct the people we told to take a suspiciously long time that we would like them back now.”
Trill laughed. “You really don’t mind if I stay?”
“We’re very happy if you stay,” Molun corrected, a little bit sharply.
It settled something inside Trill, that part of him that had always felt like an imposition to his mother, once he was old enough to understand that she resented and blamed him for his birth.
Molun reached out and covered Trill’s hand with his own. “We want you. We mean it.”
He flipped his hand so that they could twine their fingers together, and Trill squeezed gently.
“Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate that. But since I assume that your job isn’t actually to spend half your day with me, I will totally understand if you both have to leave today. I can read thebooks you got me and keep myself occupied while you get your work done. I’m not going to run away or anything.”
Molun didn’t look totally convinced.
Trill eyed him. “As you pointed out, this is nicer than anywhere else I have to go.” He looked at Arvus. “No following me necessary. I’ll stay right here.”
