Page 18

Lune found Narsus in the kitchen fixing a sandwich.

Brightside and Cinder were nowhere in sight, but Lune noticed the lights blazing from his childhood room. This privacy was perfect timing.

Sliding into one of the tall chairs, Lune leaned over the island counter. “Hi.”

Narsus looked up from his task. “Hi.”

The slow, despondent movements of the sandwich creation, and the expression on his mate’s face said it all. Lune fought the urge to reach out and console.

“I didn’t find it,” Narsus confessed, his tone low.

The stern lecture Lune had planned poofed out of existence.

Narsus didn’t need to hear it. “There’s plenty of days left, see?

” Lune held out his compass to show off the five jewels that were still lit.

“Tomorrow, we’ll go together,” he offered lightly, but hiding the leashed panic within.

“We’ll find it then. They’re beacons to each other, aren’t they? So it’ll be okay.”

Narsus’s head shot up and his eyes went wide. “What did you say?”

Lune was just as startled. “W-what? You mean they aren’t?

But isn’t that how we’re supposed to find each other?

I chased you all around Temple Prime during past festivals.

For years. You used yours to avoid me—you can’t convince me you didn’t.

So the magic’s certainly more sophisticated than just luring us to a marriage ceremony. ”

Narsus just stared at him. And stared some more. Until, “N-no—you’re correct. They are…beacons. …To each other.” Then his gaze slowly darted around as that information sunk in. Not looking anywhere in particular, but thoughts focused inward.

Elbows braced on the counter, Narsus covered his face with his hands.

Relieved sobs and hitches cascaded. Lune didn’t have to be an empath to sense the waves upon waves of grief and gloom washing away.

Decades of it. Maybe centuries. He wanted so badly to wrap his arms around those heaving shoulders.

But he dared not touch without permission.

When the sobbing began to taper off, Lune fetched a tea-towel and offered it. Narsus wiped his eyes before tucking the linen away in a pocket.

“Thank you. Five days left. But with your compass to track mine, it feels like all the time in the world has been given back to us.”

Wanting so badly to wrap Narsus in a hug, Lune rested his palms on the table instead. Responding not by asking to touch, but comforting his Intended with his gaze alone. His mate had gone through enough emotional turmoil for the night.

“Did Brightside and Cinder eat yet?” Lune could tell Narsus was grateful for the new avenue of conversation.

“Uh…yeah.” Narsus fiddled with the crumbs scattered around from slicing bread.

“They’re exhausted from all the sun, fresh air, and walking.

They retired with the armloads of books they bought.

We won’t see them for a while. I just might have to do a kitchen-to-bedroom door delivery to see if they’re still alive, later.

Although I’m sure they spied on me sobbing like a baby just now. ”

Lune snacked on the bits of discarded tomato left on the cutting board. “I’m sure they did. They seem like good friends.”

“They are.”

“They’ll be fine,” Lune assured. “But I’m thankful they left us alone.”

Narsus glanced at him again, endearingly shy and demure, but returned to constructing the abandoned sandwich. “I agree. I…think that was the bulk of their plan. To get us together. Do you want half?”

Narsus was already slicing the snack in two. Lune watched, concealing his sympathy that his Intended wore gloves just to throw together a simple meal.

“It would be nice to share.” Out of sight, Lune fiddled with the shell, making sure the tissue paper was still neatly wrapped after removing it from his pocket. “Narsus? I have something for you. A present.” Lune was both happy and saddened at the renewed surprise that flit across his mate’s face.

Narsus nervously reached atop his head for the beaked mask that wasn’t there. “What’s the occasion? I-I haven’t gotten you anything. I’ve been nothing but horrid and disrespectful to you.”

“That wasn’t intentional, Nar. You were only protecting yourself. You’ve realized how harmful that was. To yourself. Me. And everyone else. You’ve been genuinely remorseful. Trying very hard to achieve clarity and reflection.”

Narsus stared at the sandwich. After a few seconds, he plated the two halves and slowly slid one across the counter. “Sharing a snack doesn’t seem like an equal exchange.”

Lune shrugged. “Healing takes time. Marriages aren’t always equal. It’s a partnership where you take care of each other. Sometimes that means a less than equal footing. But that’s what we’re here for. To lean on each other during times of stress, or just when you’re trying to sort it all out.”

“How did you get to be so knowledgeable about such things?”

Lune grinned. “Calico.”

“Ah, yeah, that explains it. Grandfather was always the balancing force.”

Lune place the gift on the table, watching Narsus’s dark green eyes light up with eager wonder.

Narsus timidly reached out, his fingers stroking the crinkly tissue.

As if memorizing the moment, the gesture.

Until he could wait no longer. The binding bow unraveled, and the paper rustled as it was pushed back.

Lune went nervous as Narsus just stared at it. He was unable to read his mate’s expression. “I hope it’s okay.”

“It’s…green.” Narsus said, still staring, transfixed. “A sparkly, magical mix of several shades of green.”

“I’ll find you a different color, if you want.” Lune was starting to feel that maybe this wasn’t the best idea. He reached out to take it, but Narsus beat him to it, with a speed that was incredible.

“Don’t you dare.” Holding it protectively to his chest, Narsus rushed out, “It’s beautiful.

The pearly white band just makes the greens pop.

” He reverently traced the textures and lines.

“As if showing me the path out of the darkness of what I am. I’m so touched at how much thought you put into this. ”

Lune was shocked when Narsus came around the counter and hugged him without hesitation. Lune was obedient, holding still as previously instructed, especially since Narsus’s scarf wasn’t concealing his nose and mouth .

The embrace was extremely short-lived, but Lune treasured it just the same. For it had been given willingly and without prompting.

“Green was always a burden in some way to me. My least favorite color, because of what I am—until now. Lune?” Narsus turned to him. “You’ve seen that I can shine. I want to shine. For you.”

“We’ll shine together, Nar,” Lune whispered. “Together.”

In silent agreement, they brought their sandwiches into their room. Lune felt a little anxious over the intimacy of it. Even though with the discovery of his siren-shifting and the mystery of the Compass-jewels looming on the horizon. They’d figure it out. Soon.

But not when Narsus was further opening up to him. One beautiful step at a time. The burdens that needed to be spoken could wait. Just a bit longer.

They were sitting cross-legged on the bed, facing each other. With the bundling board securely between them. Narsus was having a difficult time accepting this happiness. He wanted to grasp it with both talons and hang on for dear life. And this sea shell was the heart of it, his point of entry.

He balanced his gift on one knee, with the sandwich plate on the other. Lazily alternating his attention between Lune and the shell. His fated mate had taken the time to give him a present. The joy of it did funny things to his gut.

When they were done eating, Narsus moved his shell to a place of honor on his nightstand. Close to the wall peg that displayed his beaked mask. The mask. The symbol of his safety. His ability to hide both himself and others from harm. It kept Lune from harm.

There was a gentle knock upon the bundling board. “Would you cuddle with me again?”

There must have been a look of terror on his face, for Lune tried to calm him. “You can stay cocooned in your fabric fortress if you’ll be more comfortable.”

“Maybe,” Narsus rushed in a sharp, defensive tone. He quickly held up his hands. “Sorry. I’m…trying. It’s still all so new and a bit overstimulating if I dwell on it too much. Even though I crave it.”

“Shhh, I know. It’s okay.” Dusting the crumbs off his fingers, Lune put the plate on his bedside table. “May we remove the bundling board? We’ll be more comfortable.”

Narsus was already working at the latch. Then he removed himself from the bed. Lune took care of his end, and returned the offending barrier to the closet. Unsure of what Lune wanted him to do, Narsus waited as his Intended climbed in and spread himself out right in the middle.

Nervously, Narsus yanked the scarf up over his nose and mouth. “What were you thinking of doing?”

“Another cuddle workshop. Or groping if you want to get naughty—”

“Naughty?” Narsus snorted. The instant idea of tit-for-tat zipped through his brain. He tempered his vocal cords to mimic Calico’s voice and inflections. Then answered with: “There shall be none of that. No talking like Calico, please. That’s not something I need in my head when we’re in our bed. ”

Lune just stared at him, shocked eyes figuratively as big as dinner plates.

Then his mate busted out a raucous laugh.

Lune even had to hold his belly he was shaking so hard.

Narsus couldn’t help the smile that stretched across his mouth.

Seeing Lune laugh was… Narsus had to steady his ragged breathing.

Lune suddenly stopped laughing and blinked those expressive brown eyes.

He pursed those full lips that slightly twitched that large, attractive nose.

Narsus couldn’t stop drinking in the sight.

Then a worried expression flittered over Lune’s face.

Following that expression was a pillow whomping Narsus in the shoulder.