Page 45 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

After breakfast, Perian headed to the Warriors’ training yard out of habit and boredom more than a belief that he was going to be allowed to practice.

Sure enough, Onadal took one look at him and pointed to the sidelines.

“You may watch to your heart’s content. I see you with a weapon or grappling with someone, and you’re going to regret it. So will they. Understood?”

“Yes, Captain.”

That was really quite clear.

But still, it wasn’t a hardship to sit and watch strong, pretty people fighting.

Mid-morning, he was joined by Bennan.

“How are you feeling?”

“Pretty good,” Perian answered. “Thanks again for your help yesterday. I’m not sure I would have made it to the doctor on my own.”

“You’re very welcome.” Bennan flashed a devastating smile. He really was stupidly attractive. “She gave you a goodprognosis?”

“Yup. Checking in tomorrow, and no redness or heat or fever or dizziness that could all be signs of infection. I think it might just take a while to heal, unfortunately. She said the knife hit bone.”

His lips tightened, and he said firmly, “I’m glad he’s gone.”

“Me too,” Perian admitted quietly, and then: “It seems like so much unnecessary dislike. I mean, I’m not demanding that everyone like me, but he didn’t seem to have a good reason, you know?”

“Definitely not a good reason,” Bennan agreed firmly. “I mean, even if you do strongly dislike a person, doyougo around trying to stab them with a knife?”

This made Perian laugh. “No, that’s true. It just… sometimes it feels like there must be something, you know? To cause that sort of reaction. But I reminded Brannal the other day that no matter what the provocation was, each person is ultimately responsible for their own actions. As you said, even if I had a good reason to stab someone, the only person who actually chooses to do it—or not—is me.”

Bennan nudged him, pressing their bodies together in a moment of camaraderie.

“Exactly,” he said firmly. “I’m glad you’re here, and I’m not the only one.”

Perian couldn’t help but point out, “He probably wasn’t the only one who wishes I weren’t.”

Bennan shrugged. “Also probably true. But they’ve learned what happens if they attack someone without provocation, claiming it to be training or not. And that doesn’t just benefit you, that benefits everyone who might turn into one of their targets. That sort of behavior is not all right, and it needs to be stopped.”

Perian blew out a breath. “You’re really kind of awesome.”

They didn’t know one another that well, but Bennan had still taken the time to come check on him and reassure him.

Bennan grinned at him. “Thank you.”

“Bennan,” Onadal called, “are you finished flirting or do you need another minute?”

They both laughed.

“Oops, duty calls,” Bennan said with another ready grin, rising to his feet. “I’ll see you later.”

Perian nodded and watched Bennan jog off. (The view from behind was as good as the view from up front. Perian could honestly not decide which was better.)

He realized he wasn’t the only one staring when he raised his gaze from his blatant appreciation of the other man’s ass and saw that someone across the training yard was staring exactly where Perian had been. He eyed the man, who immediately averted his gaze once he realized he was being observed. Hmm.

Over the rest of the morning, Perian kept an eye on the man. He was big, bigger than Bennan, bigger than Brannal or Arvus, even, but his demeanor was entirely different. He had lots of freckles and a shock of bright red hair—even brighter than Cormal’s—but heactedlike he wished he could disappear into the background. Now that Perian was looking, he could see the man’s eyes strayed to Bennana lot. Even more interesting, Bennan’s eyes strayed back a little more frequently than Perian would consider natural.

He wasn’tpositiveuntil he watched what he was certain was a gratuitous removal of Bennan’s leather armor, tunic, and then shirt. (Perian considered himself a very good friend. Instead of ogling as much as he very much wanted to, he looked to see how others were reacting instead.) The shy redhead’s mouth actually hung open for a second—but by the time Bennan got the shirt all the way off and could see again, the other man was looking elsewhere.

There wasdefinitelya lingering glance from Bennan to see if he’d been watched. And then, of course, he noticed that Perian had noticed and sent him a wink. Which, naturally, the redhead saw, and then he was suddenly very busy going about his business. Oh, no, that wouldn’t do at all. Perian was going to have to try to fix this.

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