Page 48 of The Mage's Rake
“I told you. It was my choice, Corrin,” Hugh intervened. “I didn’t wish to ruin Landis’s first real Wintermas with the tom he loved.”
“It would have been ruined!” Landis whipped around, seething. He poked Hugh in the shoulder. “Imagine how I would have felt, not knowing and then… finding out…”
Landis’s voice cracked with emotion, and he wrapped his arms around Hugh’s waist and buried his face in Hugh’s chest.
“Wintermas would never be the same ever!” he sniffled and then leaned back to glare at Hugh again with eyes half-filled with unshed tears. “You’ve… you’ve always been there, Hugh! I can’t imagine you gone… What would I do without you? Without either of you?”
I winced, realizing that Landis was including me in the last question.
“It was perhaps not the most sensible decision,” I admitted. “But I can’t regret it, Landis. I had to do it… for Hugh. I knew how important he was to you. I felt as though I had no choice. And, uh… Hugh is, well, he is important to me as well.”
“I suppose that does make sense,” Landis said, blinking away tears. “But next time, do tell me, Hugh!”
“You would do anything for the one you loved,” mused Corrin aloud. “I recall you telling me that one day when I needed to hear it the most. I should have guessed that Alan would be the most reckless when in love.”
“Love?” Landis moved away from Hugh to stare at the two of us with dawning hope and excitement. “So… you two are… in love?”
“I suppose the Goddess Meryn had pity on the two of us and offered us a chance,” I said, moving to Hugh’s side. I hesitantly reached out, only to be pulled heartily into Hugh’s arms.
“Once I got past Alan’s… defenses, I was enamored,” he joked. “Alan is a tom of many layers… and I am not just referring to his robes.”
“Agreed,” Corrin said, clearly amused.
“Alan has a lot of spirit… and courage and kindness… and a sense of humor as well.” Hugh continued.
“You’re much better at all those things,” I blushed and muttered. “You’re practically a knight in shining armor.”
Hugh grinned at me and kissed me on the nose, which instantly raised my tail with a mixture of embarrassment and interest.
“We shall have to get the full tale from the both of you tonight at dinner,” Landis said. “I do hope you are coming to dinner. Everyone will be with their families, so…”
“You are all my family,” Hugh said softly, but his golden-flecked gaze never broke away from mine. “I am happy to be able to spend Wintermas Eve with you.”
“And no more running about doing secret rituals,” Landis frowned. “Really, Alan, you have no idea how close you came! Lying about in the cold like that a moment longer, and you might have lost your toes!”
“Or his head if that scoundrel had not been superstitious enough,” muttered Corrin.
“Scoundrel?” I asked, glancing over at the two of them.
“The redhead that Gareth was hunting down. He was skulking about the woods. Up to no good, no doubt, especially after the failed assassination attempt.” Hugh mused slowly aloud. “It wasodd though. He didn’t seem too keen to go after you or to tamper with the Standing Stones. I got a sense…” He trailed off and then shook his head. “I shall leave my conjecture for the report I shall have to write to Gareth, along with a groveling apology for allowing the rogue to flee.”
“If I had to choose between chasing the scoundrel and securing Landis’s safety, I would choose Landis any day,” Corrin said quietly. “Do not blame yourself too harshly, Hugh.”
Landis twined his arms around Corrin’s muscular bicep and kissed his lover on the shoulder tenderly.
“I love it when you say such things so matter-of-factly,” he whispered.
As usual, Landis’s fluffy golden tail betrayed a shiver of desire. Corrin smiled down at Landis, a look shared with Hugh, I realized. I blushed a little, but couldn’t help but let my tail swish back and forth happily.
“So, we shall meet at dinner,” I said brightly. “Warm drinks and pasties and all manner of sweetmeats before a warm hearth and the lighted tree! Nyria and Meryn will bless our Wintermas Eve with cheer. I know it.”
“I’ll be more cheery when I get to the bottom of the mystery,” Corrin said, “but I shall take such victories where I can.”
“I know a couple of reports came in an hour ago,” Landis noted. “The couriers didn’t say much in terms of any verbal messages. More focused on reuniting with family tonight, but I sent the reports to the main guardhouse. Did you take a look at them?”
“I picked them up,” Hugh said, turning about to pick up a thick packet of parchment that had been sealed with various wax seals. “Haven’t read them though.”
“Let us see!” begged Landis.
