Page 56 of Fox of Fox Hall

Fox sipped wine in defiance of Byr Din, the onePotential currently at the king’s table, although Byr Din had notoffered tea again or otherwise commented on Fox’s choices. Despitethis, he observed Fox fairly openly, and when he wasn’t watchingFox, he was watching Domvoda.

Domvoda had yet to confront Din about it. Maybehe didn’t care.

What the king truly cared about was a mysteryknown only to him. Like why he had wanted Fox to sit near himtonight after ignoring him—pretending to ignore him—for so long. Orwhy he had pretended to ignore Fox at all when it was increasinglyobvious even to the Potentials that Domvoda noticed much more thanhe let on, particularly where Fox was concerned. Why he wouldn’tparticipate in some of the tournament events although he couldhave. Why he hadn’t looked for a consort on his own, especiallywith so many byr throwing themselves at him. Why he’d closedhimself off from Conall when it sounded as if they had beensomething like friends. Why he hadn’t sent Fox packing when he’dbeen done with him.

“Everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves,”Domvoda remarked.

No one else remained at the table but Fox andByr Din. Fox glanced to Din before he could stop himself.

Din said, “Oh?” politely, as if that look hadbeen a prompt for him to speak.

“The largest purse, perhaps ever, and asuccessful tournament that concluded with a battle that will bespoken of for years to come.” Domvoda clucked his tongue. “I havedone my duty and they are happy.”

“Is that… the point?” Byr Din wonderedtentatively. Fox snorted into his wine.

Domvoda cut Fox a look while answering Din. “Itis expected.”

“Is that really why you do it?” Fox asked,raising his head. “Do you even like it? Areyouenjoyingyourself?”

Domvoda leaned against the back of his chair andgave such a tired sigh that anyone might have assumed that he hadfought in that mock-battle with the others.

“Fox has ideas about what I might need,” heexplained to Byr Din. Why Din got an explanation was anotherquestion on the tip on Fox’s tongue. He drowned it in wine. “Foxgot those ideas from a friend of his.” The emphasis onfriendwas slight but unmistakable. “Speaking of which,where is Byr Conall?” It would have been better if Domvoda hadsmirked while asking instead of regarding Fox seriously. “Henormally knows his duty and puts in a small appearance.” He metFox’s eyes. “I think you hurt his feelings, my Fox.”

Fox lowered the cup of wine, then set it on thetable to slide it away from him. “Am I?”

Domvoda stared at Fox for several seconds, thenarched an eyebrow in question.

“Am I your Fox,” Fox elaborated recklessly, butonly Byr Din was there to hear, and at least if Domvoda had Foxremoved from his presence or the castle, Fox had gotten one lastsolid meal in. Although then he reflected on the fact that he hadnot done much eating, his stomach as unsettled as it had beenthroughout the tournament.

Well, he’d set out on many a road with an emptybelly before and could do it again if need be. He ignored how coldthe thought left him, how much more terrible it seemed now thanwhen he had done it because he’d had no other option.

Domvoda went very still.

“Are you going to ignore me some more?” Foxpressed, deciding to snatch up his wine again. “Your Fox?” hefurther explained to a stunned, staring king. “I am or I am not.You can’t say something but not act on it. It makes the wordsmeaningless. If I were yours….” Fox stopped with a frown. He had nointerest in whatever was at the end of that thought, not as thingswere. It was important to say what he did not want. “I had nodesire to be a consort,” he declared with his chin up. “I’m wellaware that is out of reach. I am no one. You are king. Ineverthought that was possible.”

Domvoda pushed out a small breath. Shocked,disbelieving, or annoyed, Fox didn’t know and Domvoda, of course,would not say.

Fox leaned toward him. “But also I have nodesire to beyourconsort. Even if I were a bearer, Iwouldn’t be one for you because you… you don’t allow me close,Domvoda.” The name was strange in his mouth now. “You allow mecloser than many others, but still not as lovers should do. Not asfriendsshould do. And that was so,” Fox gestured with hiscup, grateful it was empty, “confusing.” He looked intoDomvoda’s dark eyes. “I would have been your friend. Iwouldbe, lovers or not. I would have been friends with you. Everyonesays I am alone, but we would have had that in common, wouldn’t we?We could have been alone together.”

“Fox.” His name from Domvoda was hot asan ember.

Fox shivered. “Did I anger you? The King’s Foxcan be a cruel creature. I thought the king liked that abouthim.”

The comment seemed to recall Domvoda to himself,make him slouch and feign disinterest for another moment, as thoughFox would be fooled. “You’re drunk.”

Fox shook his head. He was nearly drunk, but hewas not yet lost to the wine. He leaned in, whispering to showDomvoda some gentleness. He didn’t like being cruel. “I’m notafraid of you, my king,” he revealed. “I am afraid of havingnowhere to go and no money, of starvation, of growing older withoutfinding a place for myself, but I am not afraid ofyou.You’re cold, and distant, and either uncaring or so powerful youdon’t realize how it is outside of your sphere. But you’re lonely,and you enjoyed what I said to Conall because it made feel you lessalone. To you it means I’m like you, that I pushed him away out offear.”

Domvoda didn’t shout for Fox to be dragged away.He didn’t sneer or belittle him. He stared, then said, almostevenly, “You don’t know what you say.”

“The truth stings,” Fox told him with somesadness. “Did you get what you wanted with him? It wasn’t just theknot.”

Despite his earlier words, Fox flinched whenDomvoda snarled. But when that was all, he continued.

“Although you could have had that too.” Foxexhaled shakily. “If not from him, then from any of those who’vebeen pushed out of your bedroom. I would have, if you’d asked.” Helowered his gaze to the table. “I would have liked to have made youhappy,trulyhappy. More than….” He rolled his wrist insteadof vocalizing anything else about their bed play. “I meant what Itold you. You should get to be happy. But that would involve doingsomething other than what you have done. Using me to scare off yourpotential consorts?” Fox jerked his head up for that question,raising his voice again. “Any of them might have cared for you ifyou’d tried.”

“I don’t know what you heard.” Domvoda was icy.If his tail was a warning, Fox thankfully couldn’t see it. Neitherof them spoke for several moments.

Then Fox softly broke the tension. “He worriesabout you. Who you used to be and who you are now.”

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