Chapter Thirty-Eight #2
Brannal continued, “We saw the power of having Yannoma, Trill, and Perian speak directly to people. We don’t want to place anyone in danger, but we’ll be trying to maximize the in-person transmission of the message so that people have a real avenue to discuss their questions and fears.
I expect there will be unrest, and unfortunately, the first carnalions and children of two worlds to present themselves will likely be the most at risk.
We plan to set up a center here for them to be housed safely if they need a temporary stay.
We’ll reach out to the Mages and see if they’re willing to do the same. ”
Perian nudged Brannal. “You’re, uh, sounding an awful lot like you’re in charge.”
Brannal looked at him and then over at Cormal, who inclined his head.
Brannal admitted, “I did agree to be Summus again, as long as you were accepted at my side. In fact, pending your acceptance, the Queen would like to offer you the position of Royal Life Mage.”
Perian blinked. “What?”
Brannal nodded. “It would give you a defined position here. It makes it extremely plain that the crown values you, which should make it safer for you. Also, from a purely self-serving standpoint, it would secure a powerful Life Mage to the crown. Having someone here with your healing ability is an extremely wise decision on the Queen’s part. ”
Perian still looked stunned. He turned to the doctor. “Would you mind?”
She smiled kindly at him. “Not at all, Perian.” Her gaze moved to include Trill.
“In fact, I’m hoping Trill will stay on as well, whether that be under you or me or jointly.
You won’t be able to heal every ailment that occurs in a castle of this size.
Plus, I assume that once word gets out about what you can do, there will be an influx of people who want your help.
You’re going to need to work in conjunction with one or more doctors, and it will probably take us some time to figure out how best to triage people. ”
Perian bit his lip. “And maybe I can keep making salves that heal people better than any other salves do?”
She smiled. “Of course. None of the Mage Warriors show as much aptitude or interest as Nisal did, and I’d appreciate any help you’d like to give.”
Trill was suddenly struck with the certainty that she was lonely. No wonder she’d been interested in Yannoma, and of course she’d like help from Perian and Trill. This wasn’t just about the two of them. She’d have company and assistance, too.
The doctor continued, “Really, I don’t think there’s any doubt that this is the position for you, Perian.
And you, too, Trill.” Her gaze went back to Perian.
“And don’t think some of us didn’t notice just how many relationships happened while you were here.
Happy relationships were at an all-time high. ”
Perian looked a little sheepish. “They just needed a little push.” He looked back at Brannal. “Is this really what you want?”
“Dear heart, I think it’s everything that both of us want.”
The happiness that suffused Perian’s face made Trill blink back tears.
“Yes,” Perian said. “I accept.”
“Yay!” Renny cheered, running over to throw herself at a now-laughing Perian.
“What about you?” Molun asked Trill. “You were going to stay with us anyway, but this is better, right?”
Trill could only nod, a bit overwhelmed. This was amazing. He could tell people what he could do. He could help more people because they would know the truth. He’d be surrounded by people who could protect him instead of hunt him. And he’d get to stay with Molun and Arvus!
Truly, he couldn’t think of anything better.
It was Renny who said, glaring at Cormal, “You’re maybe not as totally terrible as I always thought you were, but what’s happening to you if Brannal is going to be Summus again?” Her expression got even more flinty. “You’re not taking Molun’s job, are you?”
There was a weird little smirk on Molun’s face that Trill couldn’t figure out how to interpret, especially when Cormal’s ears went red.
Molun said, “No, I’m going to remain Secundus, and Delana will remain Tertius.”
Perian eyed them all. “I mean, I think we can all agree that I’m not Cormal’s biggest supporter, but I’m not sure that’s actually the best way forward right now. We don’t want to exclude him and risk making him a rallying cry for discontent people—even if he’s not leading it,” he clarified hastily.
“Oh, he’s going to have his own position,” Brannal said with the same expression that Molun was wearing.
Those who had not been in the meeting exchanged confused glances.
The Prince clasped Cormal’s hand. He was smiling. “It was agreed that under the circumstances, it made more sense to pull Cormal out of the Mage Warrior hierarchy. In the not-too-distant future, he will be a prince at my side.”
There was stunned silence for a moment, which was broken by Renny. “I reserve the right to dump buckets of water on you. As long as you treat my brother right, we can maybe preserve other body parts for his enjoyment.”
Laughter swept round the room, and everyone pulled themselves together enough to go hug and congratulate them.
Cormal still looked a bit stunned, but Trill could see the underlying connection between him and the Prince, far more solid than simply sex.
For all he still looked a little embarrassed, he looked settled. And happy.
And Prince Kinan looked so incredibly proud, like this was everything he’d ever wanted, and he couldn’t believe how lucky he was. Trill understood that feeling well.
Hours later, Molun, Arvus, and Trill were back in their room.
Yannoma had gone off with the doctor again, and Trill was glad they were enjoying themselves—and appreciative of the time alone with Molun and Arvus.
So much had happened, an outcome that he really hadn’t expected, and he felt like he needed a little bit of time to catch up.
They hadn’t made it very far into the room before Molun caught him up in a hug, and Trill buried his face in the man’s chest even as Arvus wrapped his arms around both of them.
“It’s all right,” Molun said. “Everything’s going to be all right.”
Trill sagged against him, trusting the two of them to keep him upright and support him.
They had always done so—before they really knew him, once they found out what he was, and every moment since.
They’d helped heal Prince Kinan, argued for saving Trill’s people, and just… been there for him, always.
Trill swallowed thickly. “It means so much to me. You and everyone, all the support. Thank you.”
He’d always felt like a liability to his family, never quite what they wanted at best, and actively despised and feared at worst. His father hadn’t wanted him—though it hadn’t been personal—and Yannoma had cared for him in large part because he could also care for her.
But these two. Sure, they were getting good sex from him, but they were already having good sex. They already had a system where they pulled in a third when they were in the mood. They didn’t need him.
No, they wanted him, and they’d been prepared to hide his true nature from almost everyone to be able to keep him—or even better, to fight for him and everyone like him so they could all live their lives without fear.
“You’re amazing,” he told them. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
Molun kissed him, and Arvus cradled their bodies together, running his hand soothingly up and down Trill’s upper arm.
“You’re very welcome, honey.” Arvus pressed a kiss to the top of Trill’s head. “We’re so glad that it turned out this way and that we’ve learned enough to do the right thing. We’re only sorry we didn’t figure all of this out sooner so we could have caused less harm in the meantime.”
This made Trill squirm out of the kiss and twist so he could face Arvus. “Hey, that’s not your fault!”
Arvus’s expression was soft. “Only it kind of is. We could and should have asked more questions. We should have depended more on what we saw and less on rhetoric.”
“But that rhetoric has kept you alive for years,” Trill countered.
“You were called out in extreme situations. It was a terrible cycle, where both sides reacted violently because they were trying to survive. And we have to learn to let that go, or it’s going to weigh both sides down with guilt and anger we can ill afford. ”
A bit of the tension left Arvus’s face. “That’s true. Easier said than done, but true. We’ll definitely try.”
Molun leaned in to press a kiss to the side of Trill’s head. “We’ll try so hard.”
Trill snorted a laugh. He could feel the rising desire coming from Molun.
“Are you doing that on purpose?” he asked.
Molun rocked his hips against Trill. “Doing what?” he asked with an innocence that Trill didn’t believe for a minute.
Trill breathed in deeply, drawing in the wisps of energy.
“You’re a tease,” he breathed, even as his body began to thrum with desire of its own.
“Who, me?” Molun asked, still trying to sound innocent.
Arvus snorted. “Baby, don’t quit your job.”
Trill could hear the pout in Molun’s voice. “Hey, you’re way more of a tease than I am. I get too impatient to delay anything very long, you know that.”
Laughing softly, Arvus conceded, “Well, that’s true. Would you like me to take charge?”
A shiver of delight ran through Trill.
Molun was grinning now. “Yes, I would. I think we both need to show Trill just how happy we are for him, don’t we?”
Arvus’s dark, hungry gaze snared Trill, and he happily lost himself in that hunger.
“Yes,” Arvus said, voice low and a bit rough. “I think that’s a very good idea, baby. What do you think, Trill?”
Trill couldn’t nod fast enough.
They shed clothing as they headed for the bedroom, discarding boots, socks, shirts, pants, and underclothes (and in the case of the Mage Warriors, those extra layers of leather armor and weapons).