“Ow,” Kian grunted as Adrissu shifted slightly.
“Sorry,” he murmured, pulling back carefully. “You’re alright?”
“A little sore,” he replied, a tired smirk returning to his features. “It’s fine. Worth it.”
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Adrissu said, easing his spent cock out, making Kian wince as a stream of come spilled out with it.
When they were both cleaned up and laying in bed together—another first that filled Adrissu’s chest with contentment—Kian nervously curled against his side, one arm snaking across Adrissu’s torso. The human had discarded his formal clothes and was now in a loose shirt and underwear; Adrissu, having sweated through all his layers in the warm spring evening, had peeled them all away and remained naked.
“What are we going to do now?” he asked softly, pulling Adrissu away from the beginnings of sleep.
“What do you mean?” he murmured, tilting his head to kiss the human’s forehead.
“What amIgoing to do?” Kian said, his arm around Adrissu tightening. “Now that I’m done with school.”
“Keep studying,” Adrissu replied. “As an independent scholar, you should be able to access libraries all over the world. I have connections and contacts for most of them. I’ll help you. You can do whatever you want.”
Kian was silent for a moment. Adrissu was unsure what he might have been thinking about, but exhaustion had settled over him like a heavy blanket, so he said nothing. He wasn’t sure how long it had been when Kian’s voice came again, barely above a whisper.
“Thank you.”
Chapter Seven
Forthefirstseveralweeks after Kian’s graduation, he seemed to revel in doing absolutely nothing. He slept late, occasionally helped Adrissu with his own research or experiments, and read a variety of books in Adrissu’s personal library; but he made no move to continue the research that he’d been so doggedly pursuing while in school. The extended break was obviously welcome, if his longer sleeping hours were any indication.
But after a month had passed, he seemed ready to resume his study and asked Adrissu if he would write him a few letters of introduction to scholars and librarians at all the major learning centers—especially the College at Gennemont, which still boasted the largest library in Autreth and arguably the known world. Adrissu sent off a handful of letters the next day, introducing hisesteemed colleagueto various practitioners of transmutation and inquiring if he might study under them, or visit their own libraries in pursuit of his continued education.
Kian spent the next several weeks helping Adrissu with his own work. Now that Kian had graduated, Adrissu had moved his focus away from transmutation and back toward his curiosity about the soul containment and its decay, and he kept a handful of animal souls housed in various gems under careful observation. But before long, replies arrived, welcoming Kian to visit libraries and private collections throughout Autreth and even Aefraya.
“I’ve never traveled out of Polimnos,” he finally admitted, holding the third invitation that he’d received in a trembling hand, not quite meeting Adrissu’s eyes. “I’m—I’m really nervous to actually go.”
“That’s understandable,” Adrissu replied.
“What if I get there, and they see me and don’t believe I’m who I say I am?” Kian blurted, color rising in his face. Adrissu paused—the idea had not occurred to him. That anyone could look at Kian and see anything other than a studious young man seemed ridiculous to him, but he also knew he was biased.
“I will go with you if you want,” Adrissu said softly, reaching over and grasping Kian’s wrist, stilling its anxious quiver. “I can go and introduce you myself. You know I’ll always help you.”
But even that seemed to embarrass Kian. He glanced away, silent, but after a moment gave a sharp nod.
“Maybe just the first time,” he muttered, tension around his eyes. “Just so that... you know.”
Adrissu waited, but Kian didn’t elaborate.
“Of course,” Adrissu finally replied, and gave Kian’s wrist a reassuring squeeze before letting him go again. The human managed a slight smile, setting down the letter with the others.
Kian arranged to visit the library in Gennemont the next month, and Adrissu planned to go with him. The Academy in Polimnos had grown enough that, as the headmaster of their direct competitor, he did not have as free a reign of the library as before, but he could at least visit those he had connections with and accompany Kian through most of the school grounds until he got his bearings.
“We can just... fly there. Can’t we?” Kian asked, not looking at him.
Adrissu hesitated. Though Kian knew about his true form, Adrissu had never been a dragon with Kian, not yet. Kian remembered him. It made no sense to be nervous. But the question—the way Kian didn’t look at him when he said it—sent a sharp sting of anxiety through his chest.
“Yes,” he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. “It might be best to try a... test run first, though. The first time we flew, you were quite nervous about it.” He suppressed a smile, remembering how Braern had clung to him so fearfully for the first hour that they’d been in the air.
“That makes sense,” Kian replied, nodding, then finally looked at Adrissu. He seemed anxious, too. “When can we do that?”
“Tonight,” Adrissu said, glancing at the timepiece on the wall. It was a few hours until dusk. “After the sun sets.”
Kian agreed, and Adrissu kept himself busy until sundown, wondering how the human would react. It wouldn’t be a surprise, so maybe he would have no reaction at all. Maybe Adrissu was overthinking it. Braern had adapted well enough. Wouldn’t Kian be the same? And if Kian hated flying, there was still time to arrange a carriage to Gennemont instead. There was no need to be anxious.
