Evain lets go when Leth moves. He doesn’t think that’s the question Leth meant to ask at first. “I’m sure they’re fine. And one of their gods will be able to tell them we’re not dead, so it shouldn’t be too much of a fuss.”
“We should try praying,” Leth says. “Maybe Radiant Vara or Mother Sephine can tell their paladins to meet us at the nearest village.”
“I don’t know how free they are with their answers these days, but maybe they can tell us where the nearest village is too. My sources are a bit out of date.” By a couple of centuries.
“No need.” Leth slides his hands into the coat pockets. “I know a finding spell.”
Fuck. Evain can’t concentrate on gods and villages anymore. That coat looks even better on Leth than the red scarf. It’s far too big on him, and every hang and fold make it clear that it’s Evain’s coat. Evain’s warmth and scent surrounding Leth. Evain likes that a lot.
He likes it so much that he can’t help stepping closer and pushing Leth to the wall. After the slightest instinctive resistance, the way Leth allows him makes Evain’s cock stir. He tilts Leth’s face up with two fingers under his chin. “Hey, there.”
Leth swallows, his throat moving under Evain’s fingers, and doesn’t say anything. His eyes are bright compared to the dead, charred runes.
This is too quick, especially when there’s so much he can’t tell Leth yet—but self-restraint is a human trick he’s never been good at. Not when he really wants something. “I wanted to let you know that we’re dating, by the way.”
Leth blinks. “We’re what?”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t make assumptions.” Evain slides his hand behind Leth’s neck, savoring the softness of his skin and hair. Logically, he should stop talking. Stop rushing this. Leth just drives him a little crazy. “ButI’mdefinitely dating you. Exclusively. I don’t want anyone else.”
Leth’s throat jumps again under Evain’s hand. “That’s easy to say when we’re alone in the wilderness.”
“It’s very easy to say, wherever we are.” Evain nuzzles the top of Leth’s head. He’s pretty sure most human hair doesn’t smell this good. “You’re really attractive and smart, and you smell amazing, and I like the way you look in my clothes almost as much as I like the way you look out of them.”
Pressing a hand to Evain’s chest, Leth doesn’t shove him back. Just puts an inch of space between them. “What if I don’t want to date you?”
That’s easy. “I’ll have to seduce you.”
“What if I don’t want to be exclusive?” Leth asks next.
Evain’s eyes narrow. He can’t read whether Leth is serious or not, and the idea of Leth seeing other people—kissing other people—feels like his bones are strung with too-tight string. Either the string will snap, or he will.
Evain stays silent while he thinks, because every answer he bites back would make him sound insane. His silence is damning enough.
“Fuck, you’re such a hypocrite.” Leth’s fingers tense against Evain’s chest. “Evain Marha, who flirts with everything that moves.”
“I won’t deny it.” Evain adjusts his coat on Leth’s shoulders. “I’m a hypocrite. You’re free to flirt with whoever you like, and I’m free to fume unreasonably about it.”
He meets Leth’s hazel eyes until Leth’s face reddens. Ducking his head, Leth plays with a strand of Evain’s hair. “I guess I don’t mind that,” he says, and satisfaction flushes through every nerve in Evain’s body.
“I appreciate your generous understanding.”
Evain steps back, and his hair slides from Leth’s fingers. Leth gives a hint of a smile. Tugging the too-long red coat closer, he moves to look at the next set of carvings.
“A lot has changed for me this year,” Leth says, looking at the runes and not Evain. “I’ll be honest, I’m not really sure who I am anymore. I don’t want to commit to anything right now, besides the job you hired me for.” His fingertips touch the wall, brushing past the half-melted rune forprotect. “But while we’re figuring this out, I won’t see anyone else.”
That deep, dark feeling crashes over Evain again. Better and worse than obsession. After two and a half centuries in the mortal world, he’s fallen in love.
?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
LETH
What follows is one of the most restful weeks in Leth’s life. No traveling, no rushing to the next task. No looming threat. Once they determine there’s enough game to hunt nearby, there’s little to do but wait until their strength recovers and the weather subsides enough to travel. Leth prays to Radiant Vara and Mother Sephine, asking them to direct Arthur and Freya or Haldis and Marta to meet them. The gods don’t answer directly, but Leth has a feeling they hear him.
In other respects, though, it’s one of theleastrestful weeks in Leth’s life. Muscles hurt that he didn’t even know he had, and he now fully understands why Dravan teachings discourage excessive lust. It would be so easy to forget all his other responsibilities in the ecstasy of Evain’s touch.
When the weather clears a week later, Evain is the one who says they should set out. Leth thinks Evain is being responsible, until Evain adds, “We’re almost out of lube.”
