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Tiiran had lovers.

He considered that fact while attempting to get some copying done at the desk Nikoly insisted Tiiran needed, watching Nikoly doze sitting up in the window seat but not waking him because Nikoly had risen early to unlock the library for Tiiran and Tiiran had made him spend not too long ago, and anyone might need a nap after that.

He considered it again when Orin walked into the library in the evening to take Tiiran to the kitchens for dinner, and while the kitchen staff eyed Orin lustfully as he ate at one of the long tables with Tiiran, and then again while Tiiran went to get more food for him. Orin had been startled by the gift, then embarrassed, but ate it all and grumbled to himself when Tiiran commented on the fact that he wasn’t the only one who neglected his body’s needs.

Tiiran had a lover he had to push to stay in his room, with Orin all the while telling him the barracks were fine and how he would never take his welcome with Tiiran for granted. Tiiran had another lover who had knocked on his door well after the sun had gone down, prepared to fight for his welcome only to smile when Tiiran had snapped for him to get inside already.

Perhaps it was strange to want them near him again all night, but Tiiran wouldn’t know. He’d never had lovers like this before. But neither had they, or so he believed from how each of them spoke. Lovers of their bodies and of the things they did in bedrooms, but not lovers to share meals or curl up with while one of them sat by the fire to read. He didn’t think even Lanth had had that. If she had, it had been far before he’d known her. But he thought she would approve, even if it meant Tiiran taking time away from the library.

He fell asleep earlier than he’d meant to, but woke to Orin finally getting into bed with them and quietly complaining about the gap between the beds needing more to fill it.

“A bigger bed,” Tiiran agreed, already drifting toward slumber again, “when the palace is run right again.”

Orin’s laugh stirred his hair. Nikoly stretched along Tiiran’s back, then curled in tighter, making soft, pleasant noises. Tiiran forgot about beds or the activities done in them except sleep, only shivering slightly as he settled against Orin’s warmer body.