Aurin would have to face Ciaran at some point, though he was in no hurry for that. His main priority was Salem.
He wasn’t sure what he could say, anyway. That he’d lied to them? That he’d known not just who Salem was butwhathe was, and he’d known it for a long time?
That he was a Mimic. Well, half Mimic. The other half of his heritage was a little harder to explain.
“If I had a penny, I’d give it to you,” Salem said. It was midafternoon, and he was sitting up in bed, drinking his medicinal tea like a good patient.
Aurin scoffed. “What?”
“A penny for your thoughts.”
Aurin couldn’t help but smile at him. “You have the weirdest sayings. What does that even mean? A penny for your thoughts.”
“It’s an old saying.”
“I gathered as much. Most of your quirky idioms are old.”
“Well yes, I would think so,” he said, smiling behind his cup. “Anyway, ‘a penny for your thoughts’ is a conversational prompt for someone to share their thoughts. When a person is being pensive, perhaps. Back when a penny was worth a bit more than it is today.”
Oh, Aurin loved how Salem spoke.
Aurin sat on the bed next to him, resting his hand gently on Salem’s thigh. “I was just thinking that you’re very handsome and you have some of the sparkle back in your eyes. I’ll never take it for granted, you know. Not for a minute. To see you smile, to see the light in your eyes.” Aurin sighed. “I love you, and I will live every day as the second chance it is.”
Salem put his cup down on the bedside table. “Okay, so, first of all, that’s not at all what you were thinking about just now. I know it wasn’t because before, you had a tiny line of worry between your eyebrows, which tells me it was something you deem unpleasant. Yet when you were talking so sweetly just now, there was no line. Secondly, it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me yet. I’ll be here when you’re ready. Though I can hazard a guess that it pertains to going home. I know you’re reluctant, but you know my thoughts on this?—”
“And you know mine.”
Salem’s smile widened. “Yes, you were quite adamant.”
Aurin wanted to go home, he just didn’t want to face Ciaran and his disappointment. He also didn’t want to talk about it again. “You can stop being so cute. You’re supposed to be resting.”
He chuckled. “And thirdly, I love you too.” Salem studied Aurin’s eyes, a soft smile at his lips. “I loved you before you saved my life.”
“And I loved you before you almost died.”
“You were so brave that day,” Salem said. “And I think we should talk about how you put your own life in danger to save mine?—”
“Shh,” Aurin said, knowing all too well how this conversation would play out. “Just say thank you, and we’ll leave it at that.”
Salem sighed, but there was the hint of a smile as well. “Thank you, my love. I shall be forever in your debt.”
“You owe me nothing,” Aurin said, and he meant it. “There’s no ledger here. No tally to keep. But if we were, now that you can be human more often, perhaps you could cook me dinner sometime.”
His eyes sparkled. “Ahh, like a date?”
“Yes. A date, in public, so the others can see us together, maybe even holding hands. Now that we can. No more hiding. And dinner doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just so you know.”
He chuckled. “Good. Because it’s been so long since I’ve cooked anything, I doubt whatever I serve you would be edible. I’ve lived on raw fish, cheese, and canned tuna for many years.” Then he screwed up his nose. “Otis once offered me actual cat food. Bless his heart. He meant well, but...”
Aurin smiled at the memory. He hadn’t known Salem was not exactly just a cat at the time, and when he’d seen how Salem had recoiled from the processed cat food, Aurin had taken pity on him and offered him some grilled fish instead. But then, of course, the mention of Otis was bittersweet, and it clearly showed on his face.
“You miss them,” Salem said gently.
“Of course. But I also don’t know if I’m ready to go back yet.”
Salem slid his hand over Aurin’s, lacing their fingers together. “You need to swim.”
“There’s a river not far from camp,” Aurin said. “I put my feet in when Cern suggested it.”
