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Nikoly drew back slowly, his tongue flicking under the head.

Tiiran broke the trail of spittle leading from Orin’s cock to Nikoly’s lips with his fingers, then his mouth, pushing in to find Nikoly’s lips and lick his way in. “Beautiful,” he praised, barely a whisper, turning to his head lick Orin’s cock too, then Nikoly’s mouth again.

Orin’s fingers tangled in his hair but didn’t pull. His approval was better than any fae blessing would ever be. Tiiran raised his head to look at him, Nikoly returning to his work less than a handsbreadth from his face, the sounds more than Tiiran could have imagined.

“Orin.” Tiiran put his cheek to Orin’s knee, scarcely aware of his body except for the slow heat in his blood and the ache in his cock, although he couldn’t bother touching himself. His voice was strange. “Orin.”

Orin gave one single, small push to the back of his head and Tiiran was practically climbing Orin’s knee to lean in to taste the shaft not yet in Nikoly’s lovely mouth, then edging in to press his tongue to the patch of hair on Orin’s lower stomach, then his balls.

Orin made another sound, fingers loose in Tiiran’s hair, then tight. His other arm was raised. Tiiran hoped he had Nikoly by the hair as well. He wasn’t sure if he should be embarrassed by that thought, but also didn’t care, face burning, mouth wet and growing wetter with every swipe of his tongue.

He moved up, nearly meeting Nikoly’s mouth, and then following as Nikoly pulled back so he could kiss him again, sweet Nikoly with the taste of Orin’s cock in his mouth. Nikoly whimpered for Tiiran, for the kisses, or the press of Tiiran’s hand at his nape, or Tiiran murmuring, “Good,” over and over before directing him back to Orin.

Nikoly took more on the next pass, swallowing hard. His hands were down now, clutching the fabric of his pants over his knees. He was hard, Tiiran noticed with distracted hunger. He did like to be put to use.

“Look at you,” Tiiran told him, swallowing nearly as much as Nikoly was, wiping and then licking the spit from his chin, kissing the wetness at his eyelashes as they clumped together. “So pretty. So useful. I’ll never be as good at this as you. Orin, tell him.”

“Good boy,” Orin responded, more of a purr than a rumble. His hand was in Nikoly’s hair, gentle as he wasn’t for Tiiran, but not relaxed, not about to let go.

“Orin,” Tiiran heard himself again, already inching forward to lick what he was allowed to reach, jolting when Nikoly pulled off Orin with a messy slurp and turned to him.

“Now, you,” Nikoly urged, husky, pressing hot, stinging kisses to Tiiran’s open mouth. His prettily decorated fingers were at Tiiran’s jaw, thumb at the corner of his lips.

“I won’t be choking you today, Tiiran,” Orin said, as if this was a courtesy. Tiiran’s breathing hitched but he nodded. Nikoly held two fingers before Tiiran’s mouth, then pushed them in, over Tiiran’s tongue until Tiiran had to open his mouth wider and was suddenly, acutely aware of an urge to swallow. He locked eyes with Nikoly and Nikoly smiled despite his hungry stare, then pulled his fingers back, leaving them just on Tiiran’s tongue. Nikoly’s fingers wouldn’t let him close his mouth, or rather, they would, but made him want to suck, and he had to focus a bit more to swallow.

Nikoly’s gaze lit up. “Just like that. Bee, oh, please. Please.”

But he removed his fingers, watching Tiiran work his jaw and swallow again.

Orin tightened his fingers in Tiiran’s hair, bringing Tiiran’s attention to him. First to his face, so Tiiran could see the pleasure there, then his cock. “Nikoly.”

As if that was an order, Nikoly took Orin’s cock in one hand, and made a fist part of the way up the shaft.

Tiiran looked up.

“No more than that,” Orin responded. “I don’t care how you frown, kitten. I’m in charge in here, not the Terror of the Great Library.”

Tiiran was not called that.

He narrowed his eyes, though it took some effort. “Yes, Orin,” his mouth said anyway. Maybe because Orin’s cock was in front of his face and Tiiran’s whole body was pulsing and hot, and Nikoly was cooing at him as though Tiiran needed soothing because he was nervous. Perhaps Tiiran was. But he opened his mouth wider and, when, Orin finally gave him his cock, flicked out his tongue as Nikoly had done.

Tiiran made a sound. Or Orin did. Tiiran didn’t know and didn’t care. He moved his tongue again then opened eyes that he must have closed.

“Flatten your tongue,” Nikoly murmured, lips at Tiiran’s ear, an arm around his shoulders while Tiiran opened his mouth wider and almost immediately whimpered at the overwhelming awareness of how much was in his mouth and how much wasn’t . He swallowed and swallowed again. Orin wouldn’t let him look away. Maybe Orin didn’t want to; he had waited for this. He’d said so. He watched because he liked the sight and he didn’t mind that Tiiran was new to the act.

Tiiran relaxed, safe in Nikoly’s arms, gaze on Orin.

Orin firmed his grip on his hair. “Now taste if you like, kitten. If it pleases you, I want see your cheeks hollow.”

Nikoly’s excited breaths in his ear teased his nerves. Tiiran tasted Orin’s cockhead with the flat of his tongue, then curled it. Orin sighed, long and low. Nikoly’s hands were clenching and clenching over Tiiran’s ribs, then his stomach. Tiiran shifted his hips, eyes closing at how simple it was to use his tongue like this, to curl and suck and swallow while Orin breathed hard above him and Nikoly breathed equally hard at his ear.

“ Bee ,” Nikoly exhaled it, “you’re so eager.”

“Yes,” Orin agreed, his rough voice soothing Tiiran’s remaining, distant worries. He inched forward to take more but Orin pulled back. “Not tonight, no matter how hungry you are. So worried we would make fun of you. This is what we would have done, Tiiran. Always. Teach you. Allow you to learn. Suck just like that, you hungry creature.”

Tiiran fought to open his eyes, only to shut them when his tongue seemed to stutter and the noise it made sent embarrassment skittering across his mind.

“No,” Nikoly was cooing again, petting Tiiran’s ribs while nosing his hair. “No, no, keep going.”

Tiiran gave the smallest shake of his head, spit pooling in his mouth faster than he could swallow it, his jaw starting to feel strange, his head empty until it wasn’t. He sucked, drawing hard like Nikoly had done and shivering at the new taste on his tongue, but it wasn’t right, wasn’t enough.

He reached out, grabbing Orin’s thigh and Orin pulled Tiiran off his cock even though Tiiran whimpered. Tiiran opened his eyes to the sight of a line of saliva on the head of Orin’s cock stretching to his lips. He licked it away as he looked up.

“Can still think,” he murmured, hoping Orin would understand. “You’re not spending? Need Nikoly?”

“My kitten.” Orin cupped the side of his face, not appearing to mind Tiiran losing his words again. “What a sweet boy you are. What a giving, loving thing. As though I can’t give you both what you want.” Orin smiled, the mean one again. “Beg for that too. Both of you.”

Tiiran didn’t understand until Nikoly turned to face Orin, eyes closed when Orin petted him. “Please,” he was as sweet as ever, moreso with a reddened mouth and a roughened voice. Tiiran abruptly realized he had no idea how long he had watched Nikoly suck Orin’s cock. Nikoly must be aching, yet his expression was nearly peaceful. “Master of Strays, allow us to finish you.”

Orin didn’t even grant him a smile, but he took his hand from Nikoly’s hand to grip his cock and put it to Nikoly’s lips. Nikoly welcomed it with an eager groan, moving to take it all this time.

Tiiran growled to see him full, then growled again to watch him ease back to suck at the head. His shudders were without end.

“What do I do?” Tiiran couldn’t tear his gaze away from Nikoly’s stretched lips as he repeated his action and Orin petted him for it. “Orin, please.”

“Beg.”

He didn’t miss the breathless tension in Orin’s voice, but it only thrilled him. Tiiran nudged his way closer, licking at Nikoly’s mouth and tongue and the increasingly salty-musky taste of Orin’s cock. “Please,” he managed. “Please. Spend in my mouth.” He whispered it, writhing inside, although of course Nikoly was shuddering with him. “Our mouths. Please. Nikoly was good. Wasn’t he, Orin? He was good.”

“As were you, kitten.” Orin tugged Tiiran away, putting his mouth against his balls, tight and impossibly hot, exhaling roughly when Tiiran sucked and licked before looking up again. “Say it, then beg properly.”

“We were good,” Tiiran said, words a little fuzzy and thick, swallowing over and over at the wet sounds of Nikoly enjoying himself on Orin’s cock. “We’re good. Yours. Orin, please. I want. We want. Please, Orin.”

Tiiran’s every thought was drowned out by the hum of need in his blood and the burn of humiliation at knowing how loud he was in an echoing nook on an empty floor. “Spend in our mouths. Please. Please, Orin.” He rubbed his face on Orin’s hip then leaned back to feel the pull at his scalp as he looked up. His jaw was loose and achy. “Please.” He was a pathetic duckling, stumbling to find the words to make Orin happy. “I want it. I do. Nikoly has been so good. Please, Orin.”

Orin pulled Tiiran to the head of his cock and stuffed his mouth until Tiiran could feel Orin’s fingers against his lips. He gave a start, relearning how to breathe and still failing, growing dizzy quickly but only closing his eyes to renew his attentions to Orin’s cock.

Nikoly squeezed him, whispered soft things in his ears. “That’s it, bee. You like it so much. Look at you.”

Tiiran did like it. Liked being surrounded and held and given a task. Like mindlessly sucking and hearing Orin breathe heavily, liked the hand in his hair and Orin’s occasional grunt, as if Tiiran had done something well. The taste was inconsequential compared to the rest of it; he liked it but it didn’t matter. His job was to service Orin and he wanted to do it right.

He opened his eyes then and found Orin’s attention on him, and Orin’s gaze blazing with approval and desire and something that made Tiiran whine around his cock.

“Kitten.” Orin’s hand moved to the back of his hair, holding Tiiran still as he withdrew, leaving Tiiran with an empty mouth and a wet chin. Tiiran’s vision swam as he tried to moved forward, to follow Orin’s cock. Nikoly did it for him, softly sucking at just the head.

Tiiran’s eyes stung.

“Orin?” His voice was slow and heavy.

“Open,” Orin panted, thumb at the corner of Tiiran’s mouth until Tiiran’s mouth was open again. Nikoly’s was already like that, so pretty Tiiran nearly kissed him.

“Tongues out,” Orin ordered.

Tiiran let his jaw fall open.

Orin grunted, “Look at me,” while stroking his prick in front of Tiiran’s face, then Nikoly’s. Nikoly whimpered. If Tiiran could have spoken intelligently, he would have called him beautiful.

The first rope of spend was hot and Tiiran flinched at the unexpected splash across his tongue and the bow in his upper lip. The second hit Nikoly’s tongue and chin while Tiiran was still gasping, and then Orin’s cock was back in Nikoly’s mouth and Orin was growling, “Clean it.” As though Nikoly wasn’t eagerly doing just that, eyes closed, his tear-stained face peaceful.

Tiiran, still swallowing, sagged against Orin’s knee to watch, one hand on Nikoly’s hip.

When Orin had enough, he clucked his tongue and gently eased Nikoly back. He wiped some of the mess from Nikoly’s chin and cheeks.

“Well, kitten?” Orin’s voice was rough as a sanding stone. “Did we do well?”

Tiiran sagged further against Orin. “I don’t know kind words.” Speaking was strange with his lips almost stinging. “Can insult but I don’t have good words.” He met Orin’s eyes, uncertain why they were burning so brightly. “ Good isn’t enough,” he explained mournfully to Nikoly a moment later, reaching out until Nikoly’s cheek was against his palm so Tiiran could touch . “Very good. Beautiful. Too beautiful. I’ll want more.”

Nikoly glanced up to Orin then looked back at Tiiran, frowning slightly. Tiiran must need to explain himself. He was trying, but his thoughts floated away when he grabbed for them.

“Imagined Orin looking at that dog while he has you. The dog on your neck.” Tiiran hoped they both followed, because his tongue was as heavy as the rest of him now. “Liked it, even when I thought you didn’t want me. This was—oh, is that because I want to? Tup you,” he explained further, mesmerized by Nikoly’s growing smile. “Not sure how. Will be bad there too.” Tiiran’s body seemed to like the idea of Orin doing the tupping more, but Tiiran had to admit that he was curious what exactly Nikoly would accept as “using” him. “I won’t know how.”

Nikoly watched Tiiran with shining eyes. “Maybe we shouldn’t let you say more right now. You’re still pain-drunk.” His voice had never been so husky.

“‘Pain-drunk?’” Tiiran echoed, then said it again. “Pain-drunk. The slow thinking and the… the heat all through me? Never been drunk, not like this. This feels almost the same as when Orin holds me tightly. Or when you make that face at me.” He watched Nikoly’s mouth form a shocked circle. “The lovely face that tells me I did something right for you. Loveli er face,” Tiiran corrected himself.

Nikoly beamed at him, only growing happier when Tiiran petted his reddened lips. “Most worthy, you might say you don’t have the words, but I think you do. What else can I do for you? Would you like me to find Fial and make him sorry?”

That should not have felt as comforting as it did, even though Tiiran doubted that whatever noble sparring Nikoly had done would be up to a street brawl with someone mean like Fial.

“He’s worrying,” Orin observed. It took Tiiran a bit too long to realize it was said about him . “He recovers too fast. Perhaps I should have fucked him.”

Dazed arousal slipped into Nikoly’s gaze, probably at the idea of Orin fucking Tiiran. Tiiran considered it too, and how Nikoly must want to watch. That seemed like permission from Nikoly for Orin to go ahead and do that, though Tiiran didn’t get a chance to ask if that was so. Nikoly glanced from him to Orin, then said, “He’s hard.”

Tiiran was, in fact, hard. He considered his cock with some surprise. He had been very aware of his body for a while, but that seemed to have disappeared along with most of his thoughts. If that had been from his spanking —he wrinkled his nose over the word—it should have faded, not grown stronger after getting a prick in his mouth.

“I think your cock did something to me, Orin,” he complained, accepting Orin’s hand in his hair even though he didn’t care for Orin’s laugh.

“Like a task, don’t you?” Orin mused. “But I think you’ve had enough of those for the day. Rest is what you need, although apparently that will still take some work.”

“Stubborn,” Nikoly agreed, sitting up straight on his knees and not flopped against Orin as Tiiran was.

“Pressure and focus,” Orin added, not making any sense.

“They sent two to him on purpose, I think.” Nikoly smiled, so Tiiran decided to ignore whatever it was they were talking about.

Orin, as ever, seemed to realize that Tiiran wasn’t following. “Tiiran, he’s asking if he can take care of that for you. Will you let him? We’ll likely have to carry you out of here after.”

Tiiran did his best to think. “You want me to have your mouth too, sunflower?”

Nikoly ducked his head. That look entered his eyes, the please look. Tiiran could translate that much for himself. Only to inhale sharply when, taking that as agreement, Nikoly shifted backward in front of Tiiran to get on his hands and knees.

Tiiran had to touch him again, his cheek and his jaw and his soft, already fucked mouth. “You were very pretty stretched around Orin.” He wouldn’t have to do that to take Tiiran’s cock, but hopefully Tiiran wouldn’t disappoint him.

Which he might have said out loud, because Orin chided him. “He’s ravenous, Tiiran.”

Nikoly hadn’t suggested Orin leave. That seemed important, but Tiiran was too distracted with how hot he was, and then the wet heat of Nikoly’s mouth around the tip of his finger.

Nikoly lowered his eyes, lashes lush and pretty, his cheeks hollowing before he eased back.

Tiiran shook. With his head tipped up, his lips parted, Nikoly waited.

Tiiran drew Nikoly closer. “I won’t know what to do. You’ll have to take what you want.”

Nikoly came forward, graceful and perfect, to tug at Tiiran’s clothing until he’d bared Tiiran’s cock. Standing naked before Orin and having just his bits exposed to Nikoly while the rest of him was clothed were different feelings, yet somehow both made Tiiran squirm.

“It’s all right,” Nikoly finally told him in a whisper, dragging his gaze up from Tiiran’s stiff cock to Tiiran’s face. He slid his hands over Tiiran’s knees to his thighs, and then continued reaching up to take hold of the base of Tiiran’s cock. He leaned in, flicking out his tongue as he had for Orin, then bending to get most of Tiiran’s cock in his mouth. Tiiran foolishly put a hand to his cheek, shuddering to feel himself in Nikoly’s mouth.

Nikoly hummed, eyes coming up for a moment to meet Tiiran’s before he closed them again. He shuffled closer on his knees, perhaps making it easier for him to bob his head up and down or to lap at the tip with his tongue and suck as it pleased him. Tiiran did not grasp him close though he wanted to, but Nikoly only hummed again, evidently with pleasure, so Tiiran left his hand where it was until saliva dripped down Nikoly’s chin and he tried to wipe it for him.

“Tell him he’s good, kitten,” Orin spoke at last, gravelly and hot. “Tell him you’re pleased.”

“Your mouth, Nikoly. You’re so good, Nikoly. Please .”

Tiiran tangled his hands into Nikoly’s hair without pulling or tugging. Nikoly’s lips were pretty. His shut eyes and clumped lashes were pretty, as were the vibrations in his throat as he swallowed and pulled back every so often to breathe. His tongue was as mean as Orin’s hand when it struck Tiiran’s backside. Nikoly curled it around the head of Tiiran’s cock with particular attention, a focus that spoke of great reward, but all Tiiran could do was growl and fight not to pull Nikoly down by his hair.

Nikoly hummed, an all-over pleasure that lit Tiiran up inside.

Orin added his approval. “He desires you finish in his mouth, kitten, or on his face. Maybe on that chest he showed off to you. Give it to him. Watch as you do it. Don’t look away. He wants to see you enjoy him.”

Nikoly’s eyes slid open at the words. Tiiran nearly wished, thoughts wild, that his cock were bigger so he might see Nikoly struggle. A greedy desire. Perhaps awful. But then Nikoly’s eyes met his and he was so lovely that Tiiran caressed his cheek.

“You like it?” he asked in awe. “My cock in your mouth? Nikoly. Nikoly, please.” The hums from Nikoly were going to kill him. “It’s good. It’s so good, sunflower. I want to keep it there forever.” Cockwarmer , Tiiran thought, and croaked. “If you want it, I will. Every day. I want to… I’m….”

Nikoly ducked his head to take all of Tiiran’s cock and then hold there, breathing heavily. Tiiran slid a hand to the back of his head, struggling not to push down, then giving in and pressing, gently—not gently.

His cock pulsed, the pulsed again, into Nikoly’s mouth and then onto his open lips and flat tongue. The splash of seed had Tiiran wriggling, then hauling Nikoly up with heavy arm to kiss Nikoly’s open, wet mouth and reached down to find Nikoly’s cock through his clothes and squeeze until it twitched beneath his palm and Nikoly gasped into his mouth.

“Sunflower,” Tiiran praised him, biting at his lips, licking away spit and seed before kissing Nikoly’s hot face. “Sunflower, every day if it pleases you. Tell him, Orin. Tell him he was wonderful.”

Orin’s voice was fire. “Very good, pup. You held yourself back well.”

“‘Sunflower?’” Nikoly asked thickly before Tiiran could wonder exactly how Nikoly had held himself back.

Tiiran didn’t have an explanation for the name. Sunflowers followed the sun, not the other way around. But, “ Pup won’t do for me.” He butted his head against Nikoly’s jaw, then shivered when Nikoly wrapped his arms around him. “You’re sunny,” he said stupidly. “Mine?” He shook his head immediately, withdrawing that. “Orin is going to help me with you. If you don’t mind.”

“Tiiran most worthy.” Nikoly urged Tiiran’s head up to kiss him. When he spoke next, his voice was noticeably rougher. “You’ll use me so well.”

“Yes, he will.”

Orin’s agreement only made Tiiran jump, then twist to look at him. Orin was sprawled in the small chair, thighs parted, his large cock soft along his thigh.

Tiiran leaned to the side to curve against Orin’s leg, taking Nikoly with him. “But, Orin…”

“Oh no,” Orin interrupted, tone pleased despite his words. “‘But, Orin’, he says.”

Tiiran scowled sleepily, petting Orin’s knee, petting Nikoly too, shivering a little because he was hot and the floor was cold. “Want you both pleased. Can’t offer much, but I can do that. Can try.”

Orin leaned down. “No other ducklings, cockwarmers, random pretties, or anyone else who wants to bend to my will in bed could compare.” He sank his fingers into Tiiran’s hair, then apparently addressed Nikoly. “Does he have any work that actually needs to get done right now?”

“We’re always behind these days.” Nikoly’s voice was still rough. Still used , Tiiran thought with a worry followed by a thrill. “A few hours today won’t matter. If he means with the extra projects he gave himself while he was sick and trying to avoid me, then….”

Orin laughed outright. “How did that go for him?”

“Fuck off,” Tiiran muttered, before scooting closer to Orin to pet the sturdy thigh that had supported him through his spanking.

“Perhaps those projects should wait anyway,” Nikoly went on delicately, speaking quieter when Tiiran reached out to take his hand. Not for any reason. Tiiran simply wanted to hold it. But Nikoly let him and even briefly pressed their joined hands to his hot cheek. “Cleaning out the offices of the Master Keepers is risky.”

“Not even using them,” Tiiran reminded him with one moment of sharp clarity. Then he thought that Orin’s hand felt nice. “Never been touched so much,” he remarked, and the other two went quiet. Tiiran let his eyes dip closed.

When he opened them again, he was crushed against Nikoly, half in his lap, half on threadbare cushions. He rested on Nikoly’s shoulder with Nikoly’s chin atop his head until Nikoly moved to take the cup Orin pressed into his hands.

Orin pressed one into Tiiran’s hands too, but didn’t let go, guiding it up to Tiiran’s mouth with noises of encouragement. The tea in the cup was bitter and cold, but Tiiran was parched the moment it hit his lips and drank it all. Then Orin urged Tiiran’s to rest against Nikoly again.

“I can fetch more tea,” Nikoly offered. “Proper tea, and something for you to eat.”

“Shush.” Orin was lovely when he was soft. Tiiran closed his eyes and shuffled in to get more comfortable in the chair.

“You must want your seat back,” Nikoly tried.

Orin came closer; Tiiran could feel his heat, then the brush of Orin’s leg against his knee.

“Did no one take a moment in your training to remind you that others might sometimes serve you?” The tone or the words themselves made Nikoly shiver. Tiiran turned in toward him to nuzzle his shoulder. “That they should, before you give away all of yourself? Tiiran has declared you’re special. I doubt he said it because you bring him tea.”

Nikoly swallowed. “I have always wanted to serve.”

“Oh, that I believe.” Orin did not sound amused now, but Tiiran couldn’t muster the strength to open his eyes to check.

“Orin,” he warned, then fell silent for Orin’s fingers in his hair.

“Competent and friendly, with some money to protect you,” Orin carried on, devastatingly gentle, “they left you here on your own, where you have of course done well. But a devoted thing like you, with your family and master far away, and no one to offer kind words outside of bed? That was cruel of them, though you might disagree. I can see you rushing to defend them, loyal pup that you are.”

“I asked to come here,” Nikoly answered. He could be stubborn. Tiiran hadn’t forgotten.

“Finish your tea and I will bring you more,” Orin said, either unconcerned with Nikoly’s stubbornness or very concerned with it. “You didn’t realize you were a stray until Tiiran said it.”

Nikoly sucked in a breath.

Orin was as merciless with him as he was with Tiiran at his most tangled. “Why else would you be here, now? Why look to him as you do, except you were drawn to his warmth? But fire can wound, and he did when he said that, didn’t he? He worries he will do that, because he does do that, often with no malicious intent. He merely speaks the truth, as he sees it. The painful truth, as most others see it. Shush.” That must have been for Tiiran, who got Orin’s hand in his hair again. “And now I worry for you, Tiiran’s lost, lovely flower. He didn’t mean to destroy you.”

“I know,” Nikoly answered in a whisper, curling an arm around Tiiran’s back.

“He told you to look out for me , didn’t he?” Now, Orin was amused. “I’m not the danger here.”

“Not the only danger,” Nikoly returned swiftly.

Orin laughed. “He chose well. I should’ve known.”

Nikoly shifted as if uncomfortable. “ He chose?”

“Oh, you had no choice.” Orin said it as if he was revealing a secret. “From the first moment he used his fire to shield you, you were his. And, I imagine, seeing how much care he needs was a draw as well. You were helpless. It’s Tiiran with the power here, pet.”

Tiiran got his eyes open at last.

Orin, fully dressed, stared down at both of them, Nikoly’s cup still in one hand. He gave Tiiran a fond smile before looking to Nikoly. “But for all your determination, pup, if he didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t even be in the library. Tiiran chose you. I’d warn you not to take that lightly, but I don’t think you will. Should I apologize?”

Tiiran harrumphed. “Yes.”

“No.” Nikoly sighed. “You’re worried too.”

“For both of you.” Orin lost his smile. “You named me Master of Strays. I don’t believe that’s something to be taken lightly either. Now,” he placed one finger over Tiiran’s mouth when Tiiran opened it to argue, “rest. I will head downstairs and beg Po for tea. And if you argue, pup, I will walk you downstairs on a rope lead like the hound you are, with Tiiran’s full approval.”

He smiled again, mean and Orin-good.

“The rope is for me.” Tiiran frowned, because Orin had said that, or something like that.

Orin tapped the tip of Tiiran’s nose, then brushed his cheek. He swept a similar touch over Nikoly’s mouth, then turned to the table and the waiting tray.

He was on his way downstairs before Nikoly turned to Tiiran.

“I’m meant to be of use to you,” he said quickly.

Tiiran was not quite ready to think sensibly yet. “Your clothes are softer than Orin’s,” he observed, nuzzling Nikoly’s shoulder again to prove it, then leaving his head down because he was so tired.

Nikoly didn’t hold him as tightly as he might have, but Tiiran burrowed into his arms as much as he could and closed his eyes again.

“Oh.” Nikoly must have realized something, but if so, he didn’t share it. “Rest, then,” he murmured, moving to exhale into Tiiran’s hair, possibly offering a kiss.

“ You rest,” Tiiran scolded sleepily. “You did all the work. And Orin said so.”

“So he did,” Nikoly agreed. “But I’m not—” He stopped himself. “Yes, Tiiran.”

Tiiran gave a nod, then a sniffle, and moved to get more of his backside off the seat of the chair, cushions or not. “You’re plummy and perfect.” Tiiran knew a few good words. “Sorry I hurt you. Tell Orin to hurt me back if you like.”

“If you like.” Nikoly dropped another kiss on the crown of his head. “You weren’t wrong.”

“I’m not a stray anymore.” Or so Orin had told Tiiran, or something to that effect. “That means thinking about a future.”

“A future?” Nikoly echoed, scarcely more than an exhale.

“This is nice,” Tiiran murmured in return, then had no further thoughts on the matter, or on any other matter, his eyes firmly closed as he fell asleep once again.