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Matthias laughed. “You know that’s not true. Samuel’s fine, actually. You know it. He’s a lot, but he’s been trying.”

“I know. I’ve seen that.”

“Still not ready for a vacation?”

“Like I said, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I’ve been here for so long, working and living, that I don’t know what the world is like beyond the castle anymore, and that’s fine with me. I like my life.”

“Don’t you wish there was a little more to it sometimes?”

“I think we all do. I know how lucky I am, though. When I found this job, I didn’t only find a job. I found a home and a family. People who care about me. Yes, I technically work for them, but there’s more to it than that.”

“Going on vacation wouldn’t be like abandoning them.”

“It wouldn’t be, but I don’t see the need for one. I’m perfectly fine with what I have. Besides, what would I do in a hotel room that I can’t do here? There’s no reason for me to take a vacation just to be alone.”

Matthias suspected that was the root of it. If Thorne went on vacation, he would have to go alone, and that clearly wasn’t something he was willing to do. Matthias couldn’t blame him. Thorne was used to being surrounded by people here. He might crave peace sometimes, but there was a big difference between craving it and actually obtaining it. It could turn lonely very quickly.

“It was just a thought,” he murmured. “Obviously you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

Thorne nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Well, I don’t want to go on vacation. I have too much work to do.”

Maybe Matthias could mention a staycation instead.

* * * *

SAMUEL WAS WALKING past the library on his way outside when he heard two voices he recognized. He stopped walking, cocking his head, trying to think of a time when Thorne and Matthias had been in the same room together. It happened fairly often, but Thorne wasn’t usually one to stop and talk to the people who lived in the castle, at least not that Samuel had seen. He was more like a shadow, moving amongst them and fixing things. It was his job, but at the same time, it kept him separate from the mages and the dragons, which Samuel thought was a pity. The man might technically be working for them, but he’d also been living here for decades, much longer than any of the dragons. It felt like this should be his home rather than his job, but he didn’t behave like that.

But now, he was animated, or at least, that was what it sounded like. He seemed to be talking to Matthias easily, and while Matthias wasn’t saying much, Samuel could hear the amusement in his voice when he did speak.

Hearing the two so relaxed did something weird to Samuel. He didn’t think Matthias should only have one friend and that friend would be him. That was ridiculous. Matthias could make as many friends as he wanted, and that included Thorne. At the same time, he didn’t like feeling left out. Maybe it was because in his birth clan, he’d always been at the center of attention. He had a loud personality and many friends, so moving into the castle had made him feel a little lost. He still felt that way sometimes, especially when he wasn’t spending a lot of time with Winter. He’d kind of latched onto Matthias, and now, Matthias was spending time with Thorne.

Samuel knew that he should turn around and leave, but instead, even though he hadn’t been headed that way, he walked into the library. He didn’t have to wonder where Matthias was. He always chose the same spot.

Sure enough, the first thing Samuel saw was Thorne’s back. He was turned toward one of the armchairs by the window, and when he moved, Samuel saw Matthias sitting in it. He was leaning forward, clearly interested in what Thorne was saying.

Samuel was interested, too, even though he was pretty sure that Thorne was talking about him. If he was, it wasn’t anything good. He never had anything good to say about Samuel.

“Matthias,” Samuel said, interrupting the conversation and only feeling slightly guilty about it.

Thorne stood and turned around. For a second, his expression was more relaxed, but then he saw Samuel, and it turned neutral. He didn’t look angry or anything like that. He just looked like Samuel wasn’t important, and to him, Samuel wasn’t. They didn’t exactly have to like each other.

It wasn’t that he wanted to be important to Thorne, but he did enjoy bickering with him almost as much as it pissed him off. There was something exhilarating about someone paying that much attention to him in a house where no one else was.

Well, Matthias had been paying attention to Samuel, but only because they were becoming friends. In Thorne’s case, it was for an entirely different reason.

“Am I bothering you?” he asked as he stopped next to the two of them.

Matthias got to his feet. He looked cozy, wearing a too-long sweater, and he smiled. “Of course not. You never bother me.”

Samuel suspected the same couldn’t be said about Thorne. “What about you?” he asked. “Am I bothering you?”

He expected Thorne to glare. The man would never say yes to that question because he was too professional for that, but it was clear that he was irritated.

That was why Samuel was surprised when Thorne arched a brow at him. “Of course not. Why would you be bothering me?”

“You two are having a nice conversation. I’m interrupting it.”

“Or maybe you could participate,” Matthias suggested.