Page 109 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

“Wait a second,” he said. “Where are we? Are we going to make it back to the castle before dark?”

“No, we’re not,” Brannal told him simply.

Well, at least Perian was still a decent judge of distance.

“Are we… sleeping outside?” he asked.

Because he was definitely up for some outdoor sex, but with no supplies, he wasn’t really excited about the idea of spending the night out here.

“Wait and see,” Brannal said cheerfully.

Perian promised himself that even if theydidend up sleeping on the ground, he was going to love it because Brannal had set this up and was so happy about it.

A small town sprang up ahead of them, and they were soon making their way through it. There was a main street, with an array of little shops, and it looked like there was an inn… which they were stopping in front of?

Perian dismounted when Brannal did, turning to look at him.

“Surprise!” Brannal exclaimed, looking so veryhopeful. “I thought you might like a few days away together.”

Perian just stared at him for a moment, the realization washing over him. Brannal had planned this. He’d arranged for people to take over his duties at the castle while he wasgone. That was why Renny had been smiling like she had at lunchtime, why she’d been so noncommittal to Perian’s comment that he would see her tomorrow.

“You planned this!” he exclaimed belatedly. Which… obviously. He laughed as he realized. “You didn’t want the stable hands here to have to deal with Prince Horsey.”

Brannal made a bit of a face, then smiled. “I was worried it wouldn’t go entirely smoothly, and I didn’t want you to have to spend the next three nights in the stable with your horse. I have plans for you?”

It trailed off into a bit of a question at the end, and it occurred to Perian that he hadn’t really responded properly.

He flung himself forward, and Brannal caught him. Perian kissed him, then started pressing kisses all over his face in between words.

“This is amazing! You’re the best! Thank you so, so much! Oh, you’re going to get so much sex!”

Brannal was laughing and hugging him. He even picked Perian up and swung him around, Perian clinging and laughing giddily. (No one had ever done that to him before. It wasamazing.)

“I’m so glad you like it,” Brannal said, looking relieved and happy. “Come and see everything.”

First, they made sure the horses were well-settled. The stable looked to be in tip-top shape, everyone well cared for. And since Lily wasn’t as difficult as Prince Horsey, the stable hands were actually able to do their jobs and take care of her.

Perian patted her velvety nose and then headed inside with Brannal. They were promptly greeted by the innkeeper, a solid, plump woman with dark hair, sharp green eyes, and an evident love of bright colors. Her coat and vest were both patterned, and her shirt had been dyed a vibrant orange which matched the large square beads in her hair. Even her trousers were dark red. She clearly knew who Brannal was, because she bowed low and thanked him for his patronage, then offered to show them around herself.

It was nothing like the large inn Perian had been staying at in the city before he’d moved in with Brannal, but it had plenty of small-town charm. There was a tap room that was clearly patronized by the inhabitants of the town as well as visitors.

There were private rooms, and the innkeeper showed them the one Brannal had already reserved for them, up on the second floor. Perian immediately preferred it to the noisy public room. It had its own fireplace and a solid wooden table that looked like itwould seat six but wouldn’t be utterly ridiculous just for the two of them. There was a couch by the window and two chairs in front of the fire. Everything was a little bit dated but meticulously cared for.

“It’s lovely,” Perian said. “It looks as though you care for it with so much love.”

Brannal smiled almost as brightly as the innkeeper. The woman explained how all the meals had been ordered and would be served here in this room, and that they wouldn’t be disturbed at all, but they had only to request anything they wanted, and it would be brought to them immediately.

Perian eyed Brannal, because that seemed like an invitation to have sex here if ever he’d heard one. Brannal winked at him, and Perian had to suppress a grin. He had no idea if the innkeeper knew their plans, but he would assume Brannal was paying well enough to excuse any impropriety.

And then it was up another floor to the bedrooms, where the innkeeper bowed them in to what she assured them was their very best room, and she hoped they would find no fault with it.

“I know it’s not what you’re used to in the city.”

Perian spun around, taking in the sitting room and the glimpse through a doorway of the bedroom. Everything was bright and airy, the leaded window reasonably large. There were armchairs by the fire, fresh-picked flowers in a vase on the mantel, and a landscape painting hanging above it. Everything looked scrupulously well cared for.

“It’s charming!” he assured her. “It looks so comfortable.”

The innkeeper beamed again and gestured to a screened off area.

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