Page 12

Lune woke up to the clap of thunder. Seconds later, torrential rain pounded on the roof of the little beach house.

Snuggling back down into his own covers, Lune was startled even further when he heard the sliding glass door bump shut.

He sat up. He’d forgotten all about his guests as soon as his head touched the pillow.

He’d been so exhausted over the last few days, and yesterday had been a doozy.

He knew his old room was secure, having heard the slider-wall close earlier in the evening. Brightside and Cinder should be fine, as there were also extra blankets in the closet should they need them.

In the parlor, if the slider door was open, of course rain gave the room a good soaking. The furniture was made to take a beating from the wet weather, but there’d be a new lake across the tile floor. Where Narsus slept.

Why should he be worried about the phoenix jerk who was out there with two little blankets that were now probably drenched from the storm?

Gritting his teeth, Lune flipped back the covers. Why should he be feeling sorry for someone who’d been dismissive, abrupt, and rude? Someone who didn’t even care about his feelings? Lune felt the apology had been valid, but also sensed Narsus was holding back.

Throwing on a robe, Lune padded out of his suite. A glance down the hallway showed the door to his childhood room remained shut. He could pick out the faint snores from one of the men.

The quiet grumbling from the parlor had Lune creeping forward. Peeking out from the hallway entrance, he watched Narsus peel off soaked clothing and try to dry his long hair with a kitchen tea towel.

Before Lune could stop himself, he pulled two thick bath towels from the hallway washroom’s linen closet. On second thought, he collected a robe and other items. Then marched right into the waterlogged parlor.

Startled at the rapid, unannounced entry, Narsus grasped at his cloak, pulling it against his body. Lune was splashing forward. Without a shred of caution. At that rate of speed, they’d likely collide. Automatically, he tried to make himself smaller, to take up less space.

Narsus wasn’t sure if it was to hide his naked body, or to keep Lune from coming into skin-to-skin contact. Maybe it was both. But the former thought was a silly one, as Lune already knew what he looked like. Right down to his dick. And already knew not to crowd him. For both their safety.

“STAY BACK!” Narsus immediately covered his mouth as soon as his gums itched and his teeth clacked. His fangs had appeared in all their glory. There’d even been an embarrassing warning hiss.

“There’s no need to shout.” Lune winced, dumping dry linens on the end table against the far wall. “Even I know sleeping in soaking wet clothes, in a puddle of water, isn’t good for a phoenix. Come see me, first door on the right if you want somewhere warm and dry to sleep.”

His Intended made a quick, smooth loop and returned to the hallway.

Lune sank against his bedroom door once he closed it.

Oh, dear gods. Those fangs! Bright white and flashing as Narsus shouted at him.

But the clamor didn’t fill him with fear or dread.

He knew Narsus wouldn’t hurt him. If his Intended wanted, he could’ve already done so, out here where it was so isolated no one would find a body for weeks.

Land and oceanic scavengers as well as the humidity would take care of the rest.

But what had he been thinking! Inviting a stranger to come sleep in his personal private bed? Even if that stranger was his fated Compass-mate. Lune sighed. Couples usually got to know each other before committing to their sacred union of a single bed. A marriage bed.

It was no use. The poisonous oils of Narsus’s skin and phoenix feathers would never let Narsus take the chance, even if he himself was willing. Because Lune believed in the compass and the magic, even if Narsus did not.

Dejected, Lune didn’t even bother to shed his night robe. But just flopped face first into his pillow. Embarrassed he’d made Narsus feel threatened enough to bellow at him. With those fangs. Fangs that gave him little, shivering hot flashes. Of lust. Lust? Really?

Lune was equally embarrassed he’d come off as offended and prickly. He tried to tell himself they’d both been startled, with Narsus being the more vulnerable party .

Those fangs, though… What would it feel like to have them glide across his skin?

As a gentle nibble. A nudge? In a warm, laughing smile pressed into the crook of his neck?

Lune twitched in surprise. A smile coming from Narsus felt like a foreign concept, but it was one that invaded his thoughts and lingered.

Lune grabbed his pillow and shoved it over his head as a distraction. The only thing soothing him back to sleep was the damp hem of his robe and his wet feet.

When the bedroom door clicked shut and echoed from the hall, Narsus eagerly reached for the dry towels. Among them was a robe, socks, and gloves that surely belonged to Calico. Narsus held those gloves to his heart. Items he didn’t even have to ask for.

Lune had come to his rescue without him having to ask. Or grovel. First impressions mattered, and Narsus knew he’d failed miserably, time and again. Head bowed, he indeed knew himself an asshole.

What to do? He really didn’t want to sleep in a room with an inch of rain on the cold tile floor.

That would make a phoenix seriously ill—even an undead one.

So he could either throw a tantrum and sit here and be miserable, or he could take the scary step and admit Lune was right.

In doing so, he had to be an adult and go knock on the door as instructed.

Acting like the adult he was, was…exhausting. Bracing himself, he dug through his pack for more blood pills. He swallowed another handful of the delicate gelatin capsules. Shivering in excitement as one popped on impact. A quick glass of water rinsed his teeth clean of any residue .

Then he pulled himself through the hallway. But he was having trouble lifting his hand to knock for entry. Gritting his teeth, he squeezed his eyes shut and put a single knuckle to the polished door. The sound was soft. To his mind and ears though, it was a pounding force, and he cringed.

When the door opened, he was more surprised than anything. He really hadn’t expected entry, even at the previous invite. He’d tried to convince himself it was just a polite formality. That it didn’t mean he should accept.

Lune stood there, looking all drowsy and sweetly rumpled, robe nearly hanging off one shoulder. Narsus was grateful there were no I told you so’s, or visible gloating. Just Lune stepping aside.

Narsus stifled the urge to tell him to cover up for his own safety. Lune was an adult. He’d welcomed literal poison into his room, and knew how dangerous physical contact would be.

Lune grunted. “I’m about to fall on my face I’m so exhausted.”

He looked it. While Lune might sleep tonight, Narsus knew he certainly wouldn’t get any. He was too afraid of hurting this person who obviously had more faith and trust in him than he did himself.

“Come to bed.” Lune motioned to said contraption.

Narsus stood ramrod straight. “Bed? This one bed? Where’s the other?”

Lune made a sleepy noise that sounded a lot like mocking. “There is no other bed, because Cal’s never had guests stay over. Doesn’t matter, anyway. We’re married. My bed is your bed. It’s late and I’m super grumpy. Get your perky little ass in the bed.”

Heat seared across Narsus’s face. “Perky…? Ah, uh, this bed. Is it your personal private bed? ”

Narsus white-knuckled the closure of his robe. Was he ready for this step? Personal private beds were only for general family bonding. Or cementing the intimate commitment of wedlock. Or for marital pleasure. Or to make babies with your chosen life-mate.

Lune rolled his eyes and made a rude noise. “Yes. We’re married,” he repeated.“It’s fine.”

“But—”

Lune rounded on him. “I’m sure Brightside and Cinder are squeezed onto the one in my old room. And yes, there’s only one bed in there, too.”

“That’s different,” Narsus defended. “Bree and Cinder are family found. And besides, that isn’t their personal private bed, anyway.”

Rolling his eyes skyward, again, Lune sighed. “Dear gods, you are sooo related to Calico. Proper and stuffy to the core. I wonder if this stupid custom is followed outside the Star Land Islands.”

“It is,” Narsus clarified.

Narsus knew this was ridiculous. His fears were ridiculous.

Technically, Lune was right. They were married.

Narsus pursed his lips, wondering what he was really worried about more.

Proper custom or his poison soaking into the sheets?

Both maybe? Or was he just too nervous, and he was trying to find flimsy excuses?

Wrapping himself in a blanket should do.

He also had dry gloves and socks to safeguard against any transmission.

Coming over, he saw the bed was indeed large enough.

A quality mattress that didn’t sag in the middle.

They wouldn’t be rolling into each other, at least. Narsus hoped his relief didn’t show.

He would crowd himself upon the edge, rigidly locked and shrunk in on himself.

But he was even more surprised when Lune opened the closet and brought out a long, narrow foot board.

“What is that?” Narsus asked. It wasn’t wide enough to sleep atop of.

“A bundling board.”

“A what?”

Lune didn’t answer, but neatly slid the plank into slots on the head board and foot board. Then threw him a pile of his own blankets. “A compromise. If it will make you less stressed out, you have your side, and I’ll have mine.”

Narsus couldn’t make up his mind if he should be relieved or insulted. In the end, though, it was a relief. He was too tired to inquire of its existence. He might catch a few winks tonight after all.