Page 45 of Eryx

Axios punched Theon’s arm as a deep blush formed in his cheeks.

Haden had witnessed my and Axios’ first kiss, so he’d known about us for a while. Our other friends knew now, too, and they had never made us feel wrong for it. They enjoyed teasing Axios, and I enjoyed watching him blush.

“Why do you ask?” I spoke, gliding my fingers down Axios’ forearm. “Jealous?” I puckered my lips and made kissing sounds.

Axios beamed beside me. He liked when I showed my playful side, which wasn’t very often. But I was filled with too much joy that night.

Theon gagged. “I’d rather eat shit than go anywhere near that mouth of yours, dear friend.”

“I might have a go with you,” Quill said to me, waggling his eyebrows. He then looked at Axios and winked. “With one’s eyes closed, I’m sure it’s not much different than a girl’s mouth.”

“Like you would know!” Haden laughed and crossed his arms, flaunting his thick biceps. “You’ve not kissed a girl, so you have nothing to compare it to. However, the night is still young… and there are many girls.”

With wide grins, the three of them walked toward several girls who stood in a circle, chatting and throwing their heads back as they laughed. Axios didn’t move, so I grabbed his hand and followed after them. Once we were back beside our friends, I let go of him. He frowned as my hand fell away.

I wished I could take hold of him again, but we had to be cautious. Any public display of affection—whether it be between two men or a man and a woman—was still looked down upon. The festival that evening might’ve been cause to go against those customs, however, I dared not risk it.

Axios and I stood back as Haden and the others chatted with the girls. Quill told jokes and made them laugh. He might not be a charmer, yet he had a talent for humor. Theon kept looking at Quill, a smile in place and joy shining in his eyes. Joy… and perhaps something else.

Haden approached one of the girls, his gait slow and his expression confident. Then, in a horribly off-key tone, he began to speak in rhythm to the music, “Your hair is as soft as the fur on a bird’s back, and your nose is as pointed as the tip of my spear.”

Theon howled with a laugh as the girl scrunched up her face in disgust and walked away, taking several of her friends with her.

“What wrong did I say?” Haden asked, genuinely confused.

“Apart from confessing she had a pointy noise?” Theon answered, giggling so hard his eyes watered. “And, my friend, birds have feathers not fur.”

Haden’s puzzled look made Axios laugh. The bigger boy glared at him.

“I quite liked your ode to her,” I said, keeping a straight face.

“Really?” Haden asked.

“Yes,” I lied. “Go repeat it to another. I’m sure it will be more successful the next time.”

My wicked sense of humor made Axios smile.

“I shall!” Haden puffed out his chest before approaching Axios and slapping a hand to his shoulder. “Axios, where is your sweet sister?”

“Leanna?” Axios gaped.

“Who else?” Haden asked. “Unless you have another sister we do not know of.”

“You would do well to put any notions of wooing her aside,” Axios said. “She is not like most girls. You have a better chance at wooing Gaius than her.”

A challenge sparked in Haden’s eyes. “One day you will eat those words.”

Haden flashed a mischievous grin before surveying the area. Leanna sat on the ground a short way away, staring at the blazing fire. Haden took off toward her.

Leanna was going to eat him alive. I couldn’t wait to see it.

“How long do you suppose he will last before she strikes him?” I asked.

“Perhaps until he says the wordfur,” Axios answered, shrugging.

I laughed and grabbed his hand, deciding in that moment that I didn’t care if anyone saw. The glow of the flames moved across his face, but not even the shadows could hide his beauty. He met my stare and a deep understanding passed between us. I needed him closer… closer than he’d ever been. I knew he felt the same.

Hand in hand, we turned away from the crowd. The laughs, excited ramblings, and music faded the farther we walked. No one called out to us. No one cared. They were too taken with their own pleasures to notice us slipping away. As a cool breeze slithered across my skin, Axios shivered and stepped closer to me.