Page 31 of The Lost Art of Revealing Hidden Truths (The Lost Arts #3)

They ground against one another a little more than was actually wise given how close they were to camp and the fact that they weren’t about to get off. Perian hummed a happy noise, loving that feeling of joint arousal growing between them.

“Now we’re going to look like you didn’t do a very good job,” Perian said.

Brannal hauled him closer and devoured his mouth once again. Perian just leaned into it and took it, melting into the other man, glorying in the aggressive kisses and the intensity of the want that snapped between them.

“Maybe we should—” Perian started between the kisses.

“Hey,” Molun called into the forest, startling them apart. “We’re hungry. Are you two going to be in there forever?”

Perian huffed a breath and muttered, “You know, for someone who likes sex as much as we do, Molun can be a bit of a cock-block.”

Brannal laughed, grabbed his hand, and gave a tug, and together they headed back out to the campground.

Molun took one look at them and said, “Wow. You were gone long enough I didn’t think it would be possible that you would still be in that state. You can go finish. Sorry.”

“What took you so long?” Delana wanted to know.

Perian eyed them. “You don’t think he can get me off and then get me ready to go again? Let me tell you—”

Brannal slapped a hand over his mouth. “Did someone mention something about food?”

Perian pressed a kiss to Brannal’s hand, and Brannal’s lips twitched as he released Perian’s mouth. This sort of distraction, Perian could definitely provide.

The sun was much lower in the sky—Perian wasn’t sure when that had happened—and it wouldn’t be that long before it was dark. The days were getting shorter, and it definitely showed in moments like this.

The others decided that only people who had practice should try heating anything on the fire after Perian accidentally set the rolls on fire. Molun put them out for him.

“Dear heart,” Brannal said, “would you like to ensure the horses are fed?”

Perian snorted and conceded that would probably be a better allocation of skill.

Molun came with him, since he could ensure they had enough water in the makeshift trough made from a hollowed-out log.

The horses had cropped most of the grass in the area, which was really the only viable section this close to the lake. Perian filled the feed bags and then Molun efficiently slipped the ropes over the horse’s heads—and then Prince Horsey snapped at him.

Molun handed Perian the bag. “You feed him.”

Perian headed over to Prince Horsey, who eyed him with tail flicking, his ears pricking forward again. “Hello, my big, brave horse. Thank you for bringing me here. Would you like some oats?”

Prince Horsey snuffed at him, nudged him in the shoulder hard enough that Perian was knocked back a step, and then let Perian hook on the feed bag so he could lean down and happily eat.

Molun was shaking his head. “I mean, I know you’re irresistible, but—”

Perian laughed. “Thanks for that.”

Once they’d all eaten, the two of them removed the feed bags and tied the horses onto the picket line for the night.

Once they were sure all the horses were settled, they headed back to the fire, where the food was ready. They settled down in front of the cheery blaze, more grateful for the flames now as the sun set, sending colors dancing across the water.

Perian leaned against Brannal, relishing in his warmth, the two of them cuddled up together the same way that Molun and Arvus were.

Perian felt a little bad for Nisal and Delana, but they looked comfortable enough, and Perian was glad they’d been able and willing to come.

It was nice to spend time with friends as well as Brannal—and it wasn’t like Perian hadn’t gotten any orgasms today.

He was quite confident he was going to get more tonight, so he was feeling pretty good about this whole thing.

In the morning, he’d try to find Brannal’s team’s ribbon before they found his.

Even if they lost, he was pretty sure it was going to be fun.

He’d never done anything quite like it before, and he felt a little bit like he imagined Renny did sometimes, suddenly realizing that he’d missed out; children who grew up with other children probably did this sort of thing a lot.

Perian had been schooled at home, but he knew most children weren’t.

Brannal nudged him.

“You’re quiet.”

Perian smiled faintly. “So unusual you feel the need to bring it up? ”

Brannal’s expression softened. “You seemed a little sad.”

The man knew him so well in so many ways.

“Just thinking about the game today.” More or less. “Is it the sort of thing you did when you were little?”

Brannal nodded, and then his eyes widened slightly as he realized. “You didn’t.”

Perian shook his head. “I mean, my father played with me a lot, so I can’t complain. But it was just the two of us, and he wasn’t a child. I think the experience must have been different for other children, you know?”

Brannal pressed a kiss to his hair. “I’m sorry I made you sit out.”

Perian hadn’t even been thinking that, but he appreciated the sentiment.

“It’s totally fine. I’m not a Mage Warrior, and you’re doing Mage Warrior training.”

“You can participate tomorrow,” Brannal told him, and there was a murmur of agreement from everyone, like they all wanted to make sure he felt included now that they’d realized he’d sometimes been left out.

Perian sighed happily. “I love you all. You’re wonderful.”

They laughed, but they were smiling warmly in the waning light, and Perian thought that it really couldn’t get much better than this.

The sun set completely and darkness crept over them, except for the cheerily crackling flames.

“What do you normally do around a fire?” he wanted to know. “When you’re traveling doing all your Mage Warrior things?”

They snorted collectively.

“Doing our Mage Warrior things?” Molun repeated.

Perian was grinning now, too, realizing that had been a silly way to put it.

“Yeah, your Mage Warrior things. Important things; sorry, I should have clarified.”

“We don’t actually have that many fires out in the wilderness,” Brannal admitted.

Perian made a booing sound.

“We usually stay in inns,” Molun added.

“You’re destroying all my illusions,” Perian screeched, like he was outraged.

They were all laughing.

“We do have to stay out of doors sometimes,” Delana admitted.

“You’re my favorite,” Perian told her.

Brannal slung an arm around him and tugged him close.

“My second favorite,” he amended. “For reasons.”

“Uh huh,” she said, still sounding amused.

“Depending on where we need to go for a demon hunt, it’s not always close to anywhere we can stay.

In those cases, we sleep outside, and we’re probably on watch half the night, with the other half sleeping to be ready for their own shift and what’s coming next. ”

“Oh,” Perian said, frowning a little. “That’s actually really practical and not at all the answer I was looking for.”

“Did you think we shared sexy stories?” Molun asked hopefully.

Delana threw something at him from across the fire.

Perian laughed. “I didn’t actually think you collectively sat around the fire and told sexy stories, no. It didn’t seem like the sort of thing Brannal would approve of.”

Brannal raised an eyebrow, which Perian could only see because of the firelight dancing across his face, making the shadow of the brow leap up.

“You don’t think I like sexy stories?”

Perian grinned at him. “I trust that you like lots of sexy stories, but what would be the point of telling them without me being there?”

Brannal laughed and leaned over to give him a quick kiss. “There is that. It’s much more fun with you than without you.”

There was a chorus of “awws” from the watching people.

Yes, Perian was so glad for these friends.

And then, since apparently they didn’t do anything fun when they were around the fire, it was time to go to bed. And because they were Mage Warriors, they set up a watch.

“We can handle it,” Delana said, gesturing between herself and Nisal. “We assume the rest of you will be busy.”

But Brannal shook his head. “No, it’s silly to make both of you stay up half the night when there are so many of us. How about I start the watch?”

Perian pouted.

“Then I’ll be yours the rest of the night,” Brannal promised.

Well, that wasn’t so bad. And it increased the chances of morning sex, too.

“Acceptable, I suppose,” Perian said. Then he froze. “Wait, am I supposed to be on watch?”

But Brannal shook his head. “Sorry, this is another one of those Mage-Warrior-only things. ”

Perian huffed, but said, “I’ll allow it,” because he absolutely didn’t want to be stuck on watch.

The rest of them quickly worked out how to split the shifts.

“I suppose if I sit up with you, it won’t be the most effective watch ever?” Perian asked.

Brannal eyed him. “If you think you can keep your hands—and other body parts—to yourself, I wouldn’t mind the company, but I do need to actually pay attention.”

“Do you expect anything to happen?” Perian asked, suddenly feeling slightly uneasy.

Brannal shook his head. “It’s highly unlikely, but I would much rather have a quiet night at watch than be caught off guard without one.”

Perian nodded. That sort of attitude was what made Brannal a good Summus. It was a good thing he’d mentioned the need to pay attention, though, because there was a good chance Perian would have tried something otherwise.

They tidied up, not wanting to attract any animals, and then the people who were not on watch waved goodnight and disappeared into their tents. They weren’t that far apart, and Perian realized they were going to need to be quite quiet while they were having sex. Well, Perian liked a challenge.

Brannal put out the fire using his control over the element; he could have used water, but no, it just suddenly went completely out, leaving only charred remains.

Perian sighed happily. “You’re so hot.”