Page 58 of Sea and Sky
“Like I said, there was a lonely prince. A… wolf. He loved to hunt and run and play with the other wolves, but the other wolves didn’t like playing with him because he was a prince. They thought he acted like he was better than them, but he just wanted friends.”
“This is making me sad,” Kyler whispered.
Gavin wrapped him tighter in his arms. “It gets better.”
“The little wolf just wanted a friend, someone to play with him and not worry that he was a prince. So the prince wore a cloak to hide his identity and snuck into a tavern by the sea. He watched as everyone else enjoyed each other’s company, too afraid to join in. What if someone recognized him? Would they treat him differently?”
The ship’s rocking turned into a soothing lull and calmed Kyler’s earlier fear. The dragon wrapped around him didn’t hurt, either.
“When the prince wasn’t paying attention, a boy his age walked up to him and asked if he’d play cards. The prince was ecstatic. No one knew who he was, just that he was a boy in the tavern wanting to have fun.”
“I like that. The prince found a friend.”
“He did. And the prince would sneak down weekly to meet his friend, and made new ones. He quite enjoyed his time.”
“Is he still friends with everyone?”
Gavin’s hand wandered to Kyler’s hip. Just a gentle caress, but it meant everything.
“No. Most of his friends were sent to war in other lands. He hadn’t seen them since.”
“Gavin,” Kyler whined as he turned to face the prince. “That’s so sad. I demand a happy story.” He pouted.
Gavin snorted, but the look in his eyes was pure delight. He brushed Kyler’s hair from his face before dropping a kiss on his forehead. Kyler wanted more.
“No one has been themselves around me. Always putting on a mask, but not you. You’re just Kyler, aren’t you?”
Kyler squirmed. “I think Damon is the same.” He twisted to meet the grin on the guard’s face. Damon definitely never wore a mask.
“Very true. Gavin and I have been around each other for a long time. I think it buys me my opinion every once in a while.”
Gavin chuckled, bouncing Kyler’s head as he did. “True, and I trust you damn near more than my own brothers.”
“I should hope so. While they might seem well intending, I do think they’d fuck you over in a heartbeat if it’d save the realm.”
“And that’s why I love you, Damon, never holding anything back.”
The growl tumbled from Kyler without him realizing it until Gavin’s soothing hand caressed his hip again. “I don’t love him like that.”
Kyler’s cheeks flamed. He flopped to his back to stare at the ceiling. “Another story, but this time.” He glared at the prince. “A happy ending. I don’t want to be sad at all. I want happy and laughter and—”
The undignified squeal that left Kyler’s lips when Gavin started tickling him made his face even hotter.
“Mercy, Gavin. Mercy!” Kyler squirmed and laughed until they both lay in a pile giggling.
“Skies, Kyler. You’re just…” Instead of finishing the words, Gavin pulled Kyler back to his side. “Okay, what about how I met the king of the pixies?”
Damon snorted again. “It’s notthatinteresting of a story.”
“I’ll judge that for myself, thank you very much,” Kyler said.
“Okay, this was about three months back. Leander wanted me to investigate pixie dust and His Majesty—”
“Why do you always call him His Majesty instead of father?”
Gavin stiffened in Kyler’s hold. Must be a sore spot.
“He does not wish to be addressed parentally, just as king. He punished me one time for calling him father in court.”
