From the way Kian’s mouth had tightened as Adrissu spoke, he knew the human wasn’t fully convinced—but how could Adrissu blame him? Kian was young, and humans were so terribly short-lived. He was sure Kian thought it had been “a long time” since some of his old wounds, too, and felt the pain just as acutely. Decades couldn’t be compared to a century or three, but Kian had no frame of reference for that vast span of experience, even amongst his own shadowy memories of his past lives.
Adrissu knew then that it was a futile argument, at least this time. Kian’s eyes hardened, and he seemed to visibly steel himself before speaking again.
“I understand your point,” he said, his tone sounding far more gracious than Adrissu would have expected, considering his cold expression. “But no. I want... I need to be able to do this for myself. If it’s impossible, then fine. I’d consider the soul transference as a last resort. But this is too important to me, has been too important to me for too long, for me to just... drop it. I have to know that this is something I can do.”
That, too, Adrissu could understand, much as it frustrated him. He had not truly expected Kian to relent—not when he was so very like Ruan, who had fought him until the very last moment to undergo even the soul binding that made their conversation today possible. Kian was so young, and his independence probably still felt new and treasured, something he had to defend against anything that even remotely threatened it. It was illogical, but understandable, that he would resist Adrissu’s solution as the easy way out.
“That’s fine,” Adrissu said, nodding slowly. “I will continue to do what I can to help you, of course. But that option is always on the table. All you have to do is ask.”
Kian smirked. “I know.”
Chapter Six
Kiangraduatedwithhonors,completing his study of transmutation at the Polimnos Academy of Magic. While they had not yet worked out the ritual that Kian would need to transform himself, he had all the building blocks—at least, those that Adrissu could give him.
Adrissu gave his usual speech at the graduation ceremony, forcing his eyes not to remain on Kian, where he sat in his formal robes. And when the graduates lined up for Adrissu to shake their hands and present them with their certificates, his skin burned with need when he clasped Kian’s hand. But he did not allow his grip to linger, despite the mischievous glint in Kian’s eye that flashed for a moment as he took his certificate from Adrissu’s other hand. No one had ever suspected them of anything, and Adrissu had no intention of stumbling at the finish line.
“I’ll see you later,” Kian murmured, barely above a whisper, before he stepped away and the next student took his place. Adrissu watched him go for only a second, returning his attention to the line of graduates still awaiting their certificates. He had been patient so far. He could wait a few more hours.
When he had distributed all the certificates, there was a small celebration with wine and food for graduates and instructors in the courtyard. Adrissu’s eyes kept landing on Kian, but the human stubbornly kept his distance, mingling with other transmutation students and a few instructors. Adrissu remained in the back and watched the gathering with forced disinterest on his face, occasionally sipping from a glass of wine. On the opposite end of the courtyard, Kian’s cheeks were flushed from drink, and he was grinning at another student, nodding as she spoke animatedly to him.
“Enjoying the celebration, headmaster?”
Eris had come up alongside him, looking out at the crowd before turning to him with a bright smile. Though he knew she was now romantically involved with Nethendriel, the half-elf enchantment professor, she often still tried to include him in social events or make a point of speaking with him at school functions. It had confused him at first, but now he was quite sure that she thought he was lonely and was genuinely worried about him. Her heart was in the right place, but he had no need for friends, especially not human ones. But he indulged her concern with a smile, raising his glass toward her.
“Very much so,” he said, nodding.
“This is the largest graduating class we’ve ever had, isn’t it?” she asked, gesturing toward the students.
“It is,” he agreed. “Hopefully that will be true every year.”
“I hope so, too.”
She stood next to him for a little longer, then Nethendriel approached them with a grin. “Cheers to another great year, headmaster,” he said brightly as he wrapped an arm around Eris’ waist.
“Thank you, Ned,” Adrissu replied. The three of them chatted for a while longer, then Nethendriel gestured for Eris to accompany him as he stepped away. They said their goodbyes, and Adrissu was alone again. When he glanced back at where Kian was, he caught the human watching him. Kian looked away quickly, but a slight grin lingered on his features. After a moment, he turned back to Adrissu, holding his gaze for a long moment, then he turned and left.
Adrissu did not need a signal to know where Kian was going. He lingered for a little while longer, speaking with one of the alchemy instructors about his plans for the break and his complaints about having too many first-year students enrolled next term. When it had been an appropriate length of time since Kian left, and a few of the teachers started filtering out, he said his goodbyes and excused himself.
Anticipation swelled in his chest with every step through the uninhabited school grounds and out toward his tower. They had agreed the week before that Kian would stay with him after graduating; in fact, they already moved all his things out of his dormitory. Kian would be there, waiting for him, no longer his student—they had discussed that, too, and Adrissu knew they were on exactly the same page. His cock was already at attention in keen interest, making his gait awkward and shuffling, but luckily the path was empty.
As he approached, he could sense Vesper, a tight ball of contentment in the center of his chest. Kian must have already arrived; she was always glad to see him.Go wait for us in the study, he thought at her. He felt some resistance at first, but then acquiescence—the last thing he wanted was for Vesper to interrupt them. He could see the tower on the hill now, a light on in the ground-floor window.
When he arrived, striding through the heavy wooden door, Kian was standing in the sitting room, already turning to look at him as he entered.
“Headmaster,” he said breathlessly, taking a step toward him. The same warm flush was on his cheeks. “You’re finally here. I wanted to speak with you.”
Adrissu frowned. “Speak with me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. He had not thought there was anything left to discuss.
“Yes,” Kian said, nodding rapidly—and as he did, a playful grin flickered across his mouth and was quickly stifled. “It’s about my transmutation exam. I had to miss it, but...”
Realization struck Adrissu all at once—his teasing smile, his heady flush—arousal flooded his veins like adrenaline. If this was the game Kian wanted to play, he was more than happy to oblige, letting the imperious mask of a stern headmaster fall over his face effortlessly.
“Missing a final is grounds for failure, Mr. Farrow,” he said, relishing in the sharp inhale that answered him. He stepped closer to Kian; they were only about a foot apart now. “There’s not much I can do for you in that regard.”
“Please, Headmaster Adrissu,” Kian replied, his voice breathy, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “I need to pass this class. I’d do anything for you to fix my grade.”
“Anything,” Adrissu echoed, his own breath hitching. Kian slowly reached toward him, his hands settling on Adrissu’s waist.
