Finally, Brannal spoke, “You mean that?”
Cormal met his gaze squarely, nodding. It was hard to do, with those piercing dark eyes staring back. “I do. Even if you don’t want to come back, though I will campaign endlessly if you do. I don’t need any placement at all. I know I’ve betrayed people’s trust. I’ll become a Mage if that’s what everyone wants.”
Kinan made a noise at his side, but by the time Cormal looked at him, he’d schooled his expression to one that was almost as neutral as Brannal’s.
Perian and Brannal exchanged glances, and Brannal said, “I need to think.”
Perian squeezed his hand, and then without another word, Brannal walked out of the room.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cormal
Does he really believe I’m not going to hurt you?” Cormal asked hopefully.
Perian tilted his head back and forth. “I’m not totally sure. I think he’s got a lot to process. But he does know that I can bring you down before you get anywhere near me. I mean, assuming that I can duck a fireball.”
Kinan shifted uncertainly.
Perian said, “Not a threat. Just making sure everyone understands where we stand.”
“I did always wonder,” Cormal admitted. “How much you were restraining yourself.”
“Every time you surrounded me with a bunch of aroused Mage Warriors, you mean?”
He sounded a bit amused, thankfully, and Cormal groaned. “Surely, they couldn’tallfind you attractive. You’re notthatpretty.”
Perian laughed outright. Kinan turned to look at him incredulously.
“I prefer you?” Cormal tried, looking at Kinan.
Kinan snorted, finally, and seemed to relax a bit, thank goodness. He reached out to pat Cormal’s leg as best he could. “So smooth. Wow.”
“It’s definitely not my best skill,” Cormal conceded. He looked back at Perian. “I wish I’d listened better. I know I keep saying it, but I really am sorry I didn’t.”
Perian blew out a breath, nodded, and then admitted, “I never really liked you, you know.”
“Ah, so the feeling was mutual?”
Kinan’s elbow went through Cormal’s ribs as he hissed, “Cormal.”
But Perian just laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think we brought out the best in one another. But it means that I was never really invested, right? I mean, I was totally taken by surprise when you grabbed me, obviously, but it wasn’tquiteunexpected. Brannal took it a lot harder.”
“I betrayed him, and I hurt you,” Cormal said with a sigh. “I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get any worse than that.”
Well. Had it gotten worse than that, Cormal would be dead.
“He needs some time to process,” Perian repeated with a nod. “And you know, speaking entirely selfishly, although being banished and restricted to the estate is kind of awful, it has the benefit of giving me so much time with the man I love and ensuring he’s not doing a job that might kill him, so there’s that.”
Cormal made a face. “He hates it?”
Perian glanced down for a moment and then up again. “He always assures me not?”
Cormal grimaced. “Fire and water, I didn’t mean—”
Perian shook his head. “No, I know you didn’t. And he picked me over everything else in his life. I will always cherish that. But he’s so good at protecting people.”
“And now he has you to protect,” Kinan pointed out.
