Page 25 of Suffer No Fools
He led the way across the sand to where Stan had lifted Frost sideways onto his shoulders.
"That's more than one thousand miles," Hugo said.
Frost agreed. "It still might not be enough."
"How could you tell the distance?" Tovey asked. "I can feel it through the distorted air currents, but you ..."
"I know how far it is to the palace. If Coryn is following us, she'll hit our block of ice two days out."
"What do you mean, you know the distance to the palace?" Tovey asked. "Did we miss another tracking device?"
"It's in his blood," Frost said. "There's no way to remove it."
"Dad said we could always find our way home." Hugo dredged yet another sad memory. It wasn't sad at the time, though. He'd been so happy to have his parents to himself for the day, even if it was to walk between the shadowy stone markers. "Fire speaks to fire, and our ancestors' ashes are all interred beneath the palace, in the crypt."
"If Coryn could have used them to track you, she wouldn't have needed those disks of iron." Stan sounded relieved.
They walked the rest of the way to the lifeboat in relative silence, with only the melody of birdsong and the buzz of wildlife. With his focus so sharpened on his magic, Hugo was now very much aware of other things, like the rough calluses of Tovey's hand against his smooth palm, and the brush of Tovey's hip against his robe as they walked. The only improvement Hugo could imagine was if Stan had taken his other hand.
Gods, he was a fool. He wanted so much more from Stan and Tovey, more than he had asked, and more than they were probably willing to give. They would land on Aquarion in another day, weather willing, and then he would be passed to other guards, or other love interests, or both.
He snorted at the thought of other love interests, though. He was talking like the books Klaus had given him. One of them detailed the trials of a polyamorous throuple with one partner constantly jealous of another. Hugo hated that aspect of the book so much he'd thrown it against the partition in the hold so hard it had startled Jermain and Frost.
No, Hugo didn't want to come between Stan and Tovey.
If Stan and Tovey wedged Hugo between them, and they all came together? That was something he wanted very much. He only had to convince them they wanted it, too.
#
Stan
Stan and Tovey were chosen for the away team to escort Frost and Hugo to the island that afternoon. It was their time to guard Hugo.
Hannah had fully recovered after the storm. They asked for their wash before they left. Once the captain dropped anchor on the other side of the island, the pirates would either dive off the railing for baths or use Hannah's camp shower on deck.
In lieu of those shenanigans, Stan was glad to accompany Hugo on his first outing away from the ship. The emperor was even more attractive in the sunlight with a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead and a bright smile for each new discovery.
Their task burned most of the remaining daylight. When Frost and Hugo had finished, leaving ice as far as the eye could see to the north, east, and south of the Equis Island chain, they returned the lifeboat toStarlight Specter'smain deck. The orange sun hung low on the horizon as they sailed west again.
"Watch the sunset with me?" Hugo took Stan's hand, his other arm already linked with Tovey's.
"There's only room for two at the prow." Jermain and Trin had blocked Stan from the physical space and their conversation, almost forgetting he was there.
"We'll make room," Hugo said. "Please?"
The emperor's voice was low and far more alluring than Stan wanted to admit. He remembered the low moans in his ear as Hugo had come undone from his touch. Gods, he shouldn't be thinking about that now.
Hugo seemed to float across the deck in his makeshift robe. It wasn't as intricate and detailed as the one he'd worn when they'd taken him from the palace, but it was far fancier than Stan's tunic and trousers. His sash was orange brighter than the sunset and drew out the amber flecks in his brown eyes.
When they reached the prow, Hugo turned to face them at the point where the two railings met and studied them with an intensity that made Tovey squirm. "I have a proposal for your captain, but I wanted to ask you, first. Both of you."
Stan would gladly give Hugo anything he wanted, but he kept quiet, for once. Tovey already thought he was too far gone. Tovey was, too. Stan could see it in the soft looks he spared the emperor when he was talking to Frost or laughing with the crew at dinner.
"I will need guard detail on Aquarion," Hugo continued.
"Petri and Jermain--"
Hugo cut Tovey off with a frown. "I've heard the name, but I have not met Petri. I also have reason to believe they will be otherwise engaged with Olivia and will not have time for me."
