Page 47 of Fox of Fox Hall

“Do as you please, Fox,” Conall agreed softly,“but consider perhaps that you already have.”

Conall was ruthless, Fox reminded himself. Heeasily levelled opponents far greater than Fox. Fox could not beblamed for his pounding heart and trembling limbs.

“There is another part to the granting offavors,” Fox’s voice went still higher. That other part involvedFox placing the favor on Conall and then, for some, bestowing akiss.

“I wouldn’t ask you to risk yourself.” Conallprobably thought his gentle voice would soothe Fox’s worries.

Fox continued to shake, not even sure why he wasso wound up except Conall’s gaze would not leave him. “Keep itclose,” he instructed. “That will do. And try not to gettoogrievously injured.”

Conall bowed his head as he would have for theking.

Fox exhaled. That was shaky too. “Domvoda willlikely call me back to his side for the rest of the day.”

Conall bowed his head in another nod. His regardwas the sun.

Fox could hardly breathe. “So. I will owe youthat kiss then.”

It got him a hint of a smile. “Anotherprize.”

“Another victory,” Fox returned with bite. “Youlike those.”

Agitation had him showing his teeth and thething that might have calmed him was impossible in that moment.

He must have lowered the shade again. Conalllightly pushed it up, leaving Fox with no shield whatsoever. Theend of the ribbon dangled before Fox’s eyes.

Conall was gentle. “You don’t need to worry so,Fox.”

Fox was not gentled. “When in the history ofanyone worrying has being told not to worry done anything?”

Conall stepped in, bringing the two of themdangerously close, Fox’s shade tipped up even higher to accommodatehim. “I meant that your energies would be better spent elsewhere.You have your own battles to focus on today.” A line marredConall’s brow. “Unless I imagine them.”

Fox looked past the costly ribbon of berry-redsatin to Conall’s face. Conall wondered if Fox had wanted to sit atDomvoda’s side. Admittedly, last year Fox would have fought to sitthere and been smugly pleased about it. The situation was differentnow, obviously. Or not so obviously.

Fox had brought Conall a favor, yet Conallthought Fox wanting Domvoda’s attention a possibility, so Foxsupposed it was. Domvoda had looked at Fox with desire. Fox couldpress that for whatever it was worth. He stared at Conall instead,feeling a frown grow when Conall watched Fox in return, asexpressionless as he was at court.

Fox reached for the ribbon to snatch it backonly for Conall to raise his hand to keep it from him.

Fox pulled himself up, draping his tailelegantly over his elbow and shifting the shade to keep half of hishot face in shadow. “Keep it then,” he told Conall as though suchribbons weren’t expensive and he hadn’t debated giving up this one.“Maybe favorsdoprotect knights.Icertainly don’tknow how the world works. The Fox isn’t learned or prone tomysticism. He’s just a musician good for bedding a few times, boththe king and the Dragonslayer think so.”

The handle of the shade was seized and the shadetipped out of the way. Fox had no time to dwell on this before anarm was around his back and he was hauled up against Conall’s chestand kissed. He had a moment of shuddering relief before the heatleft him reeling. Conall was fierce, taking Fox’s mouth as heshould have that morning before leaving Fox alone in the dark, andthen almost immediately softening to try to soothe Fox’s whimperedcomplaints with sweeter, slower kisses, one after another.

Fox barely had a second to finally register thatanyone could find them as they were and then Conall set him back onhis feet. Fox stared up at him, licking his lips, much weaker inthe knees than he’d been a moment ago. Conall tucked the ribbonaway and watched Fox wobble and struggle to raise the shade backup.

“I did not like seeing you there at his side,”Conall said, voice hoarse. “Does that make you feel better?”

Fox slowly shook his head.

“I worried for you,” Conall added as though itwas torn from him. “But I also did not like it. You have to knowwhy.”

A shiver went through Fox. Domvoda had alreadyhinted several times that he suspected or had heard something ofhow Fox and Conall had grown closer. He might even have tauntedConall with it today. Conall had claimed that didn’t worry him, butit must. Of course it must. No other reason made sense.

“I should return.” Fox wet his lips one moretime, wondering if they looked as kiss-stung as they felt. “Ishould go,” he said again. He would do something foolish if hedidn’t, like leap back into Conall’s arms.

He moved away without looking for anyone in hispath, and walked quickly to let that explain his flushed cheeks andheaving chest when he returned to the king’s party.

“Sit down before you faint,” one of the olderknights ordered gruffly, gesturing for Fox to rest next to him andsparing Fox from having to fret over taking the empty place byDomvoda.

“The heat,” the knight across from him remarkedwisely.

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