“Where’s the room?” I ask.
Rainer turns around, and we follow him. Drystan practically runs, his entire body humming with nervous energy. I can practically feel his stress turning into fear again.
The room Rainer brings us to is an archival room. It’s designed to protect the contents from everything—fire, weather, human destruction. Strange that such a small library in anequally small town would have a room of this quality, but right now, I’m simply thankful for it.
Rainer’s right. The sound of the rain hammering on the room has dulled. As soon as we shut the door, the room is plunged into darkness except the constant flickering of the light breaking through my skin and Keary’s sunny eye shine.
“Come here, Rainer,” Keary says.
There’s shuffling around, then Keary’s hold on Drystan is replaced by Rainer’s.
“Where are you going?” I demand.
“I’m going to find a book,” Keary says. “And a flashlight. Maybe if I read a story, combined with the room hampering the noise, it’ll be enough to keep Drystan in the present.”
“Hurry up,” I tell him.
“Yes, commander,” Keary mutters as he leaves the room again.
“So insolent,” I mutter.
Rainer snorts. “You guys are exhausting,” he says. “I don’t understand how you have the energy to constantly fight all the time.”
Ah. That’s why he left the house.
“Because he’s being a pain in the ass,” Drystan says, sighing. His weight leans heavily on us. I can feel it in both directions, which is kind of impressive.
“No offense, but neither of you help the situation. Every time the fighting stops, one of you—mostly Notto—can’t just let it rest. Youhaveto say something to piss him off again. Why?”
Drystan doesn’t answer. Why? That’s a good question.
“I’m sorry,” Drystan says. “I guess I didn’t realize… I bet it is exhausting for you.”
“I don’t know what’s going on here,” Rainer says. “Most of the time, I don’t care, but I really don’t want to be involved inwhatever this is. When the storm is over and Drystan feels safe again, I’m leaving.”
“You don’t dare say that to Keary, do you?” I muse.
“No. I have a feeling he’ll just follow me.”
“He’s going to follow you anyway,” Notto says. “Don’t have any delusions that you’ll be able to lose him for long. He’s a monster, pet. He’s a damn god that gets his magic from the sun. The sun that reaches every single place on this Earth. Hewillfind you, and it likely won’t take more than a day to do so.”
Rainer sighs. “You’re fucking exhausting,” he repeats, resigned.
“I know,” I admit. “We’ll… figure this out. I’m sorry too.”
“Good. Now that you’ve all apologized to me, maybe you ought to try these conversational skills in a civilized tone with each other and talk about it.”
Drystan snorts. “Right. Did you know gods are hot heads?”
Rainer doesn’t get a chance to answer. The door opens, and Keary returns with a flashlight and a book. “I brought a fairy tale, an epic fantasy, a monster romance that promises tentacle fun, a dystopian adventure, though I think that might feel too real at this point, and… a dirty romance. What’s your fancy, Drys?”
Drystan gives his weight entirely into my side, sighing. Rainer huddles in close. His lut settles her long body into our laps, offering Drystan her comfort.
“Is it an original fairy tale or a child-friendly retelling?” Drystan asks.
Keary examines the back of the book. “I actually think I managed to pick up my favorite kind of fairy tale—a gay retelling. I think we can all agree that succulent women-holes are lovely, but there’s nothing hotter than two swords crossing.”
“Two. Three. Four. More,” Drystan agrees. “Notto has all the holes we need anyway.”
