Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
“ I finally get to meet your new pet,” Sebah said as Rohan walked into the dining room with Nate close behind.
That was about the worst thing his brother could’ve said after Rohan had been telling Nate that he was his own man. And while Sebah meant it in jest, Rohan felt Nate bristle.
“Brother, he is not my?—”
“You are always finding little things to rescue,” Ireni said with a sweet smile. Her eyes betrayed her concern.
“I cannot help if the fate lines draw them to me.” Rohan turned, wishing that he hadn’t given in to desire and that Nate didn’t smell of sex and cum. He would take the lesson to heart—no more fucking before dinner, in case his brother decided to show. “This is Nate, from Earth.”
Sebah considered Nate for longer than was polite. But then he was the king, and no one was going to pull him up on it.
“Nate, sit with me and let the brothers butt heads,” the Strega said from the end of the table. Except her. She had the power to argue with the king in public and put Sebah firmly in place.
Nate jumped as though he hadn’t noticed her there. Rohan gave him a gentle push in the Strega’s direction and watched him leave. He hadn’t been avoiding his brother…though he hadn’t been expecting him to be at supper. Most of the time, they dined with their children.
“You brought a thief into our home,” Ireni said.
“He isn’t from Tariko. I couldn’t leave him to struggle.”
Seba frowned. “All the more reason to be cautious. He is the kind of temptation someone might set to create trouble.”
Rohan opened his mouth to argue, but Sebah placed a hand on his arm. “The Strega has assured that is not the case. For which I am glad, though I am questioning the way he is repaying his debt.”
His nostrils flared in warning at his brother’s insinuation. “He will repay it by teaching about his world. Anything else is by mutual desire.” His gaze flicked to Nate, who was talking to the Strega. Nate must have felt his stare because he turned his head and smiled. “I am disappointed you think so little of me.”
“I worry your heart will lead you into trouble.”
“Better to have a heart that finds trouble than to live without both.”
“True. He is not to roam unattended,” Ireni said. Her concern was for her children, and there was no malice specifically toward Nate.
“I have explained that to him, and I have assigned two guards. He has sworn to obey the rules I have set.”
“Did he swear by elf?” Sebah pressed.
“No. That will not be necessary.” He didn’t want it to be needed. A forced vow was only kept out of threat of pain, and he didn’t want that from Nate.
Sebah placed his hand on Rohan’s shoulder. Their horns tapped in a warning Rohan would heed. If there were trouble, it was his head at risk. “I pray you are right.” Then he leaned in. “And I pray that your heart has not led you astray. A human from Earth? There are those who believe them nothing but stories.”
“His people think much the same of us.”
Ireni tilted her head. “Interesting. Perhaps he will share some of those stories with us.”
“The Strega believes he is here to remind us of Earth, so we can learn how it has changed since our stories were first told.” Perhaps it’s time to make some new tales. Though why they needed to learn about Earth, Rohan wasn’t sure. Neither was the Strega, which was far more concerning.
“If more Earth humans are going to wander across, then we need to learn something about them and their language,” Sebah conceded. “He is your responsibility.”
“I am aware,” Rohan said dryly.
Sebah grunted. “Perhaps next time you might consider asking before buying out someone’s debt?”
“If not for the Strega’s request…”
Nate laughed, and Rohan turned, a smile forming on his lips. Nate would have caught his eye regardless, though it would’ve been harder to argue with the guards, and he’d have needed the knight to intervene.
“While it was her request, you need it, so clear it with the knight,” Sebah said as if Rohan didn’t know there were things he needed to do to formalize the arrangement.
“That is a job for tomorrow. I was out of town today.”
“So I was informed. Is he aware we can smell how well you bathed him before dinner?”
Rohan winced. He’d been hoping his brother would be too polite to mention it. It was one thing to make threats of everyone smelling his cum on Nate, but another for the threat to be made true. “I did not expect you to be here. It won’t happen again.”
Ireni rang a small bell. “Enough has been said. Let’s dine and hear some tales from Earth.”
“ Y our brother—er, the king—doesn’t seem to like me,” Nate said while cleaning his teeth.
“He does not know you or trust you, which is different.”
Nate stared at him, his finger still in his mouth as if he didn’t understand. “Why do you trust me?”
That wasn’t the question Rohan expected, but it was easy to answer. “You haven’t tried to kill me. You are genuinely grateful to be able to speak our language and to have been given a chance. And you are curious because you have a love of learning.”
Nate lifted an eyebrow. “I might be pretending.”
Rohan laughed. “I can smell your desire. And you cannot hide your true intentions from a Strega. She read your fate lines.”
Nate spat in the sink. “And what did they say?”
“You already know what she told me.” The Strega only told what she was certain of. Fate lines were always changing. The choices a person made created ripples that had far-reaching consequences. That she and her sisters were concerned about the recent crossings was enough to make the rulers of many cities wary of strangers, as if they expected the humans to launch an attack on a place they had forgotten about.
If the humans were planning an attack, they would not send through unprepared teachers. They’d send scouts or traders, people able to slide into society and report back.
“That I’m here to teach about my world.” He frowned. “But why?”
Rohan shrugged. “I do not have the answer, but we all enjoyed your stories tonight. Tomorrow, I will show you the palace gardens. You might enjoy our maze.”
Nate’s eyes widened. And Rohan found it far too easy to imagine himself stalking Nate through its winding pathways after listening to his stories.
“And I will also ensure you are given a place to prepare lessons and teach.” He cupped Nate’s jaw. “Do not wander without a guard. There will always be one with you.”
“What if he doesn’t like me and leaves so I get into trouble?”
Rohan frowned. “Are you always this distrustful?”
“I don’t want to accidentally find myself in trouble.”
Rohan pulled him close, and Nate pressed his face against Rohan’s tunic. “No one is trying to trip you up. My guards are loyal to me, and you will come to know the ones I assign to you.”
Nate leaned into him, his muscles easing with each breath. “I am grateful for this chance.”
Rohan smoothed his hand over Nate’s back, waiting for him to finish unburdening his mind.
“What happens when you have learned everything I can teach, and you find a new lost thing?” Nate’s voice was soft, as though he didn’t even want to speak the words.
Rohan kissed the top of his head. “You haven’t started the journey, but you are already counting the last steps. How do you know what you will have learned along the way? No matter the paths you choose, you won’t be the same person you are today. And neither will I.” He couldn’t give Nate the reassurance he needed, in part because Nate would return to his world the moment he had repaid his debt. “Let’s enjoy the journey together.”