Page 121 of Tell No Tales
He was surprised when the young man rushed him and wrapped him in a hug. He never expected people to touch him, but he was getting better at accepting it. He patted Hugo's shoulders before returning the hug.
"Thank you, Vadim. I mean it. I am grateful to be here, and it's all because of you."
"You're welcome." He hugged Hugo hard, squeezing his ribs.
"Let me go, you lummox!" Hugo grunted against his shoulder. "I can't breathe!"
"Tomorrow afternoon." Vadim met Stan's gaze as he turned to the side, easily pulling Hugo with him. "You'll begin training with swords to increase your physical coordination."
Hugo nodded. "I look forward to it. With you?"
"With me." Stan stepped forward. "When you get good enough to best me, Tovey'll have a go at you. He's far more vicious."
Hugo took a step back from Vadim and measured his opponent from head to toe and back again. "I'm not afraid."
Stan chuckled. "Aye, but I am terrified I might hurt you."
"Stan can answer any of your questions, starting with how the physical world influences the flow of your weaves."
Stan blinked. "Aye, I can—"
"I will see you both tomorrow," Vadim promised. He nodded to Hugo and left him under Stan's capable watch.
∞∞∞
Hugo
Vadim didn't grow any less attractive after he stomped on Hugo's heart, gods bless the man. Worse, Vadim's lover was gorgeous in his own right, and their love shone like a beacon whenever they were together, which was all the time. Hugo's parents had been much the same. While he was jealous, Hugo wouldn't stand in their way. Love like that was so rare these days, in the palace, anyway.
Hugo had a feast for his eyes aboardStarlight Specter.Everyone was exceptionally attractive. The ship's captain was ruggedly beautiful, the first mate was an ethereal ocean queen, and the two air weavers put in charge of his safety were the two most statuesque gods made man Hugo had ever seen. Not to mention Hannah, the storm caller. In their spot in the crow's nest, they were the most magnificent human Hugo had ever set eyes on.
Hugo had to wonder what General Coryn had done to keep him from feeling attraction. He'd never once tried to jump his servants or guards, and now, decorum dictated he shouldn't throw himself at the pirates, either.
It was a near thing when Stan interrupted him in the middle of a spicy scene in the pirate romance Klaus had given him. He didn't understand half of the terms the book used to describe the male and female anatomy, but the words still made his heart race.
"Everything all right?" Stan asked.
The earth weaver had been so patient the night before, when he'd explained how physical training would improve Hugo's control of his magic. Gods, what could Hugo tell him, now? He had no finesse when it came to matters of attraction. He'd never been allowed to talk to his guards or servants. Coryn had talked strategy at him for hours, but thankfully he'd never found her attractive. Or maybe he had, but her remedy had kept his libido in check.
He and Vadim had played stones, and it had been a wonderful exercise in pining for a man he knew he could never have. When his mother was still alive, she'd called Vadim his father's special friend, and the far-off look in her eyes had betrayed the truth. Vadim and Hugo's dad had been lovers. Hugo didn't know of any others, but the way Vadim talked, his mother had her own secrets.
Over the years, Hugo had twisted his dad's reality to encompass him, too. He'd dreamed his dad had asked Vadim to care for Hugo. In his dreams, he and Vadim were secretly betrothed, one day to marry. His twenty-first birthday came and went without any fanfare, so he'd set his sights on twenty-five. When Coryn had sent Vadim off on a new ship days before his twenty-fifth birthday with nary a word nor present, Hugo had to admit his dream was a farce.
Still, when Vadim had showed up behind Hugo's changing screen in his room unannounced, he'd imagined his dreams had come true. Vadim had come to take him away to their new life together.
Vadim did take him away to this pirate ship, but then he disappeared with his new lover and Hugo was trapped below decks with a bunch of strangers. Gorgeous strangers.
Stan stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
"It's lonely down here." He dropped the book on the divan and stood. He took a tentative step toward Stan before he lost his courage. The earth weaver would think him an absolute fool if he asked him for a hug. He'd hugged Vadim the night before, and he was lucky the death weaver hadn't killed him for it.
"Tim's in the galley most of the time," Stan said, "if you want to join him."
Codger Tim, the mundane cook, was the least attractive of the bunch, but even he had a symmetrical face, a kind smile, and pleasant words whenever he gave Hugo a second helping of food.
"I don't know if I can trust myself around him, or anyone," Hugo admitted. Should he speak his trouble aloud? Stan's bemused frown made him want to try. He took another step forward. "Is there a way to suppress someone's libido magically? Is that what Coryn was doing to me?"
Stan's eyes widened, and he looked stricken as he closed the distance between them with two giant strides to rub Hugo's arms through the long sleeves of his coat. "Gods, no. That should never be allowed. I'm not saying she can't, but it's wrong. Even if we knew a way, that's not fair to you. It would keep you from experiencing joy."
