Page 62 of Fox of Fox Hall

“What?” Fox demanded.

Conall answered slowly. “The situation haschanged. You don’t believe I could—that anyone—could bepassion-struck at the sight of you.” His tone implied Fox was anidiot but he didn’t say it. “But you don’t object to me, only thatI am byr… and the Dragonslayer. And that I wish to make you mymated one and marry you. Because you are the Fox of scandalouslegend and you worry that if I tire of you,” there was that toneagain, “you will not even have the scandalous legend to rely on.And,” Conall paused, “you never looked at me because youwantedto look at me. You find me warming. You find me bothcomforting and overwhelming. You gave me a favor with a ribbon thatcost you dearly.”

Fox scowled though Conall couldn’t see it. “Areyou making plans? Conall, you don’t need to.”

“But do you want me to?” Conall asked andsighed, a happier sigh, when Fox growled in frustration for Conallcontinuing tosay things. He put a finger beneath Fox’s chinso Fox would look at him and his gaze made Fox bite down on awhimper. It held decisions Fox could not guess at and fires toleave Fox silent and shivering. Conall leaned in to speak againstFox’s parted lips. “Would you like me to try to convince you? Areyou giving me permission to save you?”

“Conall.” It was a pitifully smallcomplaint, barely anything, but it got him a kiss.

“You should sleep,” Conall told him when Fox waspliant against him and leaning in for more. The weakened, softlypleading Conall was gone, the Dragonslayer in his place. Hedirected Fox as if Fox was the one who had spent two days runningaround without rest. “You had a long day, didn’t you?”

Fox couldn’t tell if that was meant to beteasing. “I’ll sleep if you sleep. If it’s not our—”

“It’s not.” Conall was definite, then less so.“It is not our last night. Not yet, anyway. So sleep.”

“But…”

“Long day tomorrow too, I think,” Conalloffered, lulling Fox with another kiss before urging Fox to burrowin next to him again.

The final day of the tournament, which wasactually for the prizes to be awarded and then more feasting beforethe knights and visiting byr began to leave.

Conall might leave too. Fox had known that buthadn’t felt what it would mean. He forced himself to breathe beforeConall could remind him, slowly drawing in air then letting it outthe way Conall was doing. Although Fox doubted Conall was asleep.Conall was making tricky plans.

Like a fox.

Fox’s heart pounded. “Finding me a place to staywas dragonslaying enough.”

“You think so?” Conall asked lightly, thenpatted Fox’s shoulder before Fox could even think about moving tolook at him. “You haven’t said yes but you haven’t said no. Knightsare romantic fools, Fox. Musicians might not have such dreams butwe do.”

“Of course we have dreams.” Fox should have spatit but he couldn’t feel any anger. “But we don’t expect them tocome true. I,” he corrected moments later. “Idon’t expectthem to come true. But if anyone could manage it, it would beyou.”

“Then let me, lovely. Please. Grant me yourfavor one more time.”

Fox closed his eyes. “Domvoda doesn’t know thethreat you are. If he had, he wouldn’t have given you thatknife.”

“He knows exactly what I am. That’s why he ranfrom me.” Conall’s hand found its way to Fox’s hair. “It’s possiblyalso why you avoided looking at me for so long. Let me try, Fox.Please. Let me keep trying.”

Fox did not open his eyes or raise his head. “Aslong as you don’t risk yourself.”

A rumble went through Conall, words he held in.He continued to stroke Fox’s curls. “My heart is already in yourkeeping. But if you mean that I shouldn’t risk my place at court,then I accept those terms.”

Where Conall could not see, Fox frowned. Conallhad tricked a capable knight that very day. Fox ought to be wary,especially when Conall was abruptly calm and pleased aboutsomething.

“Foxlike,” he complained.

“No need to worry for me, though I know youwill.” Conall brushed his thumb over the base of Fox’s ear. “Justsleep for now. We’re both too weary for the rest of the world. Wecan stay here together tonight, where all is as it should be.”

All was not as it should be, although it didfeel that way with Fox comfortable and pressed to Conall’s chest,and Conall releasing a deep, contented breath. His hand rubbing asoothing circle on Fox’s shoulder also helped. Ithadbeen along day. Fox was suddenly more tired than he’d realized and he wasso very safe, cozily so, in Conall’s arms.

He muttered something, nonsense more than words,and slipped an arm over Conall’s side. Then, without meaning to,went right to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Opening his eyes and finding himself alone sentFox scurrying from the bed, convinced he was going to be tossed onhis ass the moment the door opened. Then he finished waking up,remembered he was in Conall’s room and Conall had promised Foxwould always have a place, and stopped dead in the middle of thetiny space not occupied by his trunks.

Conall had promised several other things aswell.

Fox stood there as his panic faded, very muchawake as stared at the bed and the rumpled patch where Conall hadbeen when he’d said fantastical things he had felt Fox should hearand then put his tail into Fox’s hands.

---