Page 44 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong (Lost Arts #2)

Nodding again, Brannal acknowledged, “She seems much improved, and I believe this is the longest bout of good health, as well as being better health than we’ve seen in some time.

But she has seemed to improve a little and then faded before.

The doctor hasn’t been able to identify exactly what’s wrong, and nothing has cured her illness. ”

“Makes you wish we hadn’t lost Life Magic.”

Brannal nodded, expression sad. “No one has discovered so much as a hint since the Great Cataclysm. We were saved, but so much was lost.”

“I guess we can only look forward now,” Perian said.

Brannal smiled faintly at him. “Exactly. All we have now is elemental magic, and it simply doesn’t work like that.”

“It can’t be used on a person directly. ”

“Exactly,” Brannal agreed, a little bit of lecture tone slipping into his voice.

“We can harm a person with our elements—though we never would, of course—but that is still an external force acting upon them. Life Magic was said to interact with them, inside them, and elemental magic has never worked like that.”

Perian nodded. He considered for a moment. “It’s part of why being Summus is so important to you, isn’t it? All the responsibility is on the Mage Warriors, and you’re still trying to make up for what happened when the wraiths attacked.”

When so many people had died, including the Prince (as far as most people were concerned), and Renny had been so badly injured, though no one really understood how.

When a wraith attacked, the most likely outcome was that it killed its victim.

If they survived—only if someone intervened and killed the wraith—they would often be weakened, but they recovered within weeks. Only Renny never had.

Brannal nodded, eyes shadowed. “We did everything we could. Molun, Cormal, and I were able to stop the wraiths, but they’d already done so much damage.

We never did discover how they got into the castle, though there has been no hint of anything similar since.

I’ve worked very hard to make sure the castle is well protected.

” He swallowed. “It’s a huge responsibility. ”

And it was why, sometimes, he overreacted and yelled at Perian instead of behaving with the calm he normally exhibited. Why Renny’s wellbeing was so important to him, more than just wanting her to be safe and well.

“It matters a lot to you,” Perian said softly.

“Yes,” Brannal agreed. “I want to try to live up to Tramad’s legacy. He served as Summus for thirty years, and it’s a tragedy we lost him in that attack.”

Perian chewed on his lip. There was a lead weight in his stomach. “I, uh, hadn’t ever thought of it quite like that. Maybe there’s not really room in your life for anything else?”

It hurt to even suggest, but he felt like it had to be said.

Brannal started forward, his eyes wide. “Perian, there is absolutely room. I swear there’s room!”

“No, but I mean…” Perian struggled to find the words. “Are you sure you want there to be? I don’t want to be the reason you don’t live up to that legacy, you know?”

“You could never be that,” Brannal hastened to assure him, his eyes steady and intent on Perian’s face.

“But you said I was reckless and thoughtless and stupid.”

“No,” Brannal said firmly. Perian shot him a look. “I mean, yes, I said that, but that doesn’t reflect on you at all. That was all me and my insecurities. It’s a lot to live up to and sometimes the pressure is suffocating. But do you know what reduces the pressure?”

Perian shook his head.

“You do,” Brannal told him.

Perian sucked in a breath.

Brannal gathered him into his arms. “I’ve spent six years since that attack focused on how to ensure it never happened again.

I spent six years being Summus, and Molun will tell you how hard it was to get me to be Brannal, to let go of those responsibilities a little bit, to just be me. I can be Brannal with you.”

Perian sniffed. “I like Brannal.”

He huffed a laugh. “I like Brannal when he’s with you, too. I mean, I won’t ever stop being Summus, but you’ve brought so much light and laughter into my life. You’ve reminded me that there is life outside of my position, and you make me want things I haven’t wanted in a long time.”

“What sort of things?” Perian asked, waggling his eyebrows.

Brannal smirked. “Definitely all those sorts of things. But also… having someone to come home to. Cuddling in front of the fire. Having breakfast together each morning. Hearing all about your day. No one else would have ridden in circles around the Princess, and that means we would have missed out on that joy and silliness without you. I want to make space for you, Perian. Please.”

Perian blew out a breath and told himself he was definitely not going to cry. He swallowed thickly.

“I want to make space for you, too,” he whispered, staring into those deep, dark eyes. “I was so lonely before I met you.”

“Me too,” Brannal said softly. “I’ve been lucky to have good friends like Molun who don’t let me lock myself in my office, but it’s not the same as having you. ”

Perian was feeling a little overwhelmed, which was probably why he said, “You can have me anytime you want.”

And Brannal read the moment right, because he raised an eyebrow and tugged Perian closer.

“Oh, can I?”

Perian hummed an agreement. “Yes, please. ”

Before he realized what was happening, Brannal had scooped him into his arms and was carrying him into the bedroom, which was exactly what Perian wanted.

The morning was a little awkward. It started just the way the best mornings did, the two of them entwined in bed, but it seemed they both remembered the night before around the same time, freezing up. It had ended well, but it had been an emotional night.

They sighed at the same time, and this made Perian laugh.

“Let’s fix it with sex.”

He could hear the smile in Brannal’s voice as he shifted closer, his cock nestling right against the crack of Perian’s ass. “Does that solve all issues?”

“Mm hm.” Perian hummed a happy agreement.

Brannal slowly pressed inside, using short, slow movements that were akin to torture, but in the best possible way.

When he was finally buried all the way inside Perian, he lay there for a moment, letting them both enjoy the connection, no space between them.

Brannal pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin behind Perian’s ear that made him shiver.

“You feel so good,” Brannal told him. “I love when you’re surrounding me.”

Perian sucked in a breath. “And I love when you fill me up.”

He could hear the smile again. “We make a good pair.”

“Yes, we do,” Perian agreed. Maybe they’d lost sight of that yesterday, and he found himself asking, “Do you think anyone gets to a point where they’re just totally stable with their partner, and there aren’t any more misunderstandings?”

Brannal’s body went still where it cradled Perian. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t—” he cut off, realized that hadn’t come out right. “I’m not saying I expect no mistakes or no arguments or anything like that.”

“You just mean does one person not accuse the other of endangering the life of someone he really cares about because it makes the other person look bad?”

Perian made a loud noise of agreement. “Yeah, I mean, what kind of an ass does that?”

This surprised a snort of laughter out of Brannal.

Perian reached back and grabbed one of Brannal’s hands and pulled it forward to press a kiss to it. This was one of his favorite positions, but it wasn’t good for seeing one another’s faces.

“I’m not even sure what I mean,” Perian admitted. “Maybe wondering if this is normal.”

“Or if we’re doing something wrong?” Brannal asked with wry amusement.

“Well, it sounds silly when you say it like that, but I guess so? Is there something we should know or do that would make it go better?”

“I think any relationship is made up of the two—or more—people who are in it, so no matter what, it’s going to have personal elements.

What works for one relationship won’t necessarily work for another.

That being said, I think there are some fundamentals, and one of them is communication.

I’m embarrassed to admit yesterday wasn’t the first time I’ve needed reminding about how important it is in a relationship. I swear I’ll keep working on it.”

Perian nodded. “And I’ll try to make more allowances for your position as Summus. I do understand the importance of your job. It’s not all you are, but it’s an important part of you.”

“It is,” Brannal agreed. “But this is an important part of me too. The time I have with you is important.” He rocked his hips, making Perian moan. “And pleasurable.”

This made Perian grin. “Why don’t you see if you can improve on that ?”

And Brannal, because he knew full well when not to argue, obediently fucked Perian to a very satisfying orgasm, coming deep inside him as Perian spilled onto the sheets.

He sagged back against the other man with a contented sigh.

“You’re so good at that, thank you.”

Brannal laughed and pressed a kiss to Perian’s shoulder. “I assure you it’s you who are so good at that, but you’re welcome.”

“I kind of want to stay like this forever, but I don’t suppose that will work,” Perian said reluctantly.

“I’ll clean you up and feed you tea if you get up now,” Brannal offered.

Perian made a theatrically loud sigh, but he climbed out of bed happily enough and followed Brannal into the water closet. Because they were here together, and that meant everything .

At the breakfast table, Brannal promptly poured them tea.

“So, what are you up to today?” He frowned. “That’s just meant to be a question.”