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Neither were hybrids able to become mages.
From his perspective, they promised only a weakening of our species.
But there Lucas was, and he was clever and beautiful and bold. I could not help desiring him when he stood, so little, without a single mark to defend himself, before Crux and my father and spoke his mind.
Only hours ago, I would have expected my father to delight at the chance to be rid of Lucas, to hand him over to Crux to be with the rest of the new human subjects. Now, King Xyren had dismissed us. Together.
We returned to my chamber, and I let out a long sigh. My shoulders slumped. Strangely, around this human, it felt possible to admit to some limitations. I did not have to show my strength at every moment or risk quick dismissal. “I am tired, my Lucas.”
I felt better after Tyber had healed my wounds, but still achy, like I had been shaken around in a pod that tumbled off the cliff, bruised and battered in every way before someone opened the door and let me out.
Still, when the stone panel had slid shut behind us, Lucas stepped into my space, caught my arm, and pulled me around toward him. At once, his hands were on my bare torso, the fleshy heels of his palms dragging up my chest.
When he reached my pecs, he splayed his fingers, the blunt rounds of his pink fingernails tracing the lines of my star marks.
I met his eye, and he was staring up at me with a strange, hooded look. It drew me in, craning my neck to lean closer to him. His hands linked behind the back of my neck and pulled me closer still.
“How tired?” Lucas asked. His voice had taken on a rough, breathy quality. Beautifully, it tingled down my spine. Only two soft words, spoken in that voice, and my cock rose for him, pressing against the blood-stained, torn leather trousers I had worn to the tournament.
“A little.”
“Maybe I can wake you up.” He pushed onto the tips of his toes, dragging me down until my lips slotted over his. His mouth was small and soft, warm and wet. His pink lips were sticky candy, flushed and full and delicious. When I nibbled the bottom one, he opened up.
Lucas fell back on his heels, dragging me stumbling after him. The only thing that kept us both upright was my hand, braced on the stone panel behind him.
He kissed me hungrily, keeping me close, and my head buzzed with need, a vibration working up my throat like a purr. “Lucas,” I rasped, dragging my mouth across the corners of his lips. His skin was so soft, dimpling under the slightest press.
Moaning, I buried my nose in his hair. “I want you.”
I had tried, the last few days, to give him pleasure and to make him happy. I did not mean to pressure him beyond that, but to tempt him to give himself to me.
Now, he made me weak and needy and—and I was tense, rigid, terrified that he would tell me he only wanted to touch my body, explore our differences. Perhaps kiss, a little.
But he had made it so clear to my father that he had not asked to come, and I could not help thinking that meant he did not want to be here at all. Did not want me.
Crux’s gift, his single mark, was to know the thoughts of those around him. But Lucas was right—being unhappy, wanting to change his circumstance, was not informed consent.
It was a great pride, among my people, to have an enthusiastic, happy mate. And Lucas was sorry to be there, with me.
So I wanted him so much my muscles were taut and singing with need, and I felt selfish for it all at once, because he had not chosen me, and never would.
“I know,” he whispered back, his hand dragging down my bare stomach, the other pulling me closer as my breath hitched.
I wrapped my arms around him, and he only wiggled in, pushing against me, straining to be closer.
“Do you... want... pleasure?” I could give him that. If it took a lifetime, I would care for him and see him happy and sated. I only wanted him to stay. To choose to.
He made a tight, strangled sound and nodded. “Yeah. And you. I want you to feel good.”
That made my heart squeeze in my chest, but he couldn’t mean it the way I hoped.
I tried to straighten, but his hand pressed hard on the back of my neck, keeping me close enough that I could still feel his heated breath against my lips. “Why?”
Lucas pulled back, just far enough that I could see the amusement in his bright eyes. “You could’ve died today. Then, I’d never get to try this.”
A grin grew on my face as hope blossomed. He did not want any other Thorzi. “Because you have tied your heart’s desire, your pleasure, to me.”
Lucas huffed, his little hand pushing against my chest. “You big goof, no. Because you’re—”
