And now that Kinan was with him, well—maybe they could see right away if Perian could help him. Surely, Perian wouldn’t turn Kinan down to his face, no matter how he felt about Cormal.
When Cormal had left the castle, he’d headed east towards the second watch station. Perian lived about two thirds of the way to the watch station, but a bit further south. They’d passed out of the more built-up area around Royal City and into farmland and scattered copses of trees, many looking skeletal but oddly beautiful without their leaves. The evergreen trees offered welcome color to the landscape.
Since Cormal hadn’t ridden this much in ages and wasn’t actually in a hurry—apart from the fact that he wanted to get this over with—they took their time, not straining Fireball. They took relatively frequent breaks, giving Cormal the chance to stretch his legs and use his fire to warm himself. Hecouldsummon fireballs on his horse’s back; of all the horses of his acquaintance, Fireball was the most tolerant of such behavior, but he still didn’tlikeit. While Cormal’s clothing was immune to burning while he was wearing it, the same was not true for the horse he was riding, and Cormal didn’t like to make him nervous like that, not when they weren’t fighting demons and hurling fireballs from horseback was actually necessary.
It was easier to bundle up on the horse and warm up on his breaks.
“You’re never cold, huh?” Cormal said, observing the way that Kinan was dressed just the way he usually was, and he didn’t look the slightest bit uncomfortable.
Kinan shook his head, his expression rueful. “I know it’s actually a good thing in circumstances like this, but you don’t know how much I wish…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, but Cormaldidknow. Of course he’d trade these moments of discomfort for everything else he would gain.
“I wish we could trade places,” Cormal told him.
Kinan swallowed visibly. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, least of all you. But thank you.”
It was awful when someone you cared about was suffering and there was nothing you could do about it. Cormal really wouldn’t be able to blame Brannal if he wouldn’t even listen to Cormal’s attempt at an apology.
The days were short this late in the year, but Cormal had arranged his stop at an inn they often frequented on the way to the second watch station. The Bluebell Inn was a small, cozy place where Cormal was recognized, so they had to be careful that no one realized Kinan’s… unique circumstances. It had been impossible to prevent all the rumors from leaving the castle, and a man who couldn’t be touched would give too much away. It might not be possible to hurt Kinan physically, but Cormal didn’t want him hurt emotionally, either. People would gawk, and Kinan would hate that.
So Kinan dismounted behind a screen of trees, and then Cormal headed into the yard alone, as previously planned—and Kinan sneaked in once the coast was clear. (It was way easier to sneak around when you could pass through walls, making locks no impediment at all.)
Cormal had asked for an early dinner in his room, claiming he wanted to make an early start the next morning, so could he please not be disturbed again. With a laugh, he’d assured the innkeeper that he could definitely tend to his own fire.
The room was small but well-appointed, with sturdy oak furniture and a beautiful orange and yellow quilt on the bed.
Cormal made quick work of the hearty stew and warm, crusty bread, soon pushing his bowl aside. He got ready for bed quickly, stripping out of his clothes but leaving his shirt and sleep trousers aside—because then it was just him and Kinan alone in the room together.
“We’re going to have to be quiet, you know, since they think I’m in here by myself,” Cormal pointed out.
“I can be quiet,” Kinan promised, gray eyes luminous.
Cormal had always encouraged him tonotbe quiet at the castle. Kinan had been forced to be quiet—or at least unheard—for too long. Kinan had confessed how he’d occasionally screamed and yelled back then. The only person who’d actually been able to hear him was Princess Larenia, and she’d known he needed to get it out.
Cormal had told him he could come scream in his workroom any time he wanted.
And then, of course, they’d come up with a much nicer reason for making Kinan yell, and Cormal had always taken great pleasure in achieving it.
But it wasn’t practical today, so they’d have to come up with something else to do.
“Maybe you need something to fill your mouth,” Cormal suggested.
Kinan looked at him in surprise for a moment, and then he dropped to his knees, eyes bright, expression both eager and wistful.
“You don’t know how much I wish I could taste you,” Kinan whispered, facing Cormal’s cock.
Cormal couldn’t feel the man’s breath. He wrapped his own hand around his cock.
“I wish it too,” Cormal said roughly. “So much. You’d feel so good, your mouth so wet and hot as you sucked me in.”
Kinan whimpered and edged closer, repositioning himself and opening his mouth. It didn’t feel like it, of course, but itlookedlike Cormal’s cock was in Kinan’s mouth.
“Oh, that’s so beautiful,” Cormal praised him. “You’re so beautiful.”
He pumped his fist, ignoring the way this dispelled the illusion a little. It took Kinan a moment, and then he managed to catch the rhythm, bobbing as though he really were sucking Cormal, eyes fixed on Cormal’s face. Cormal was gazing down avidly at the picture that Kinan made, so eager to please.
“Touch yourself,” Cormal told him. “I want to see you come.”
