Just like Roque had said, Reyni was with Berith, poking at a small wound on the side of Berith’s chest.Berith grimaced every time Reyni touched him, and when he tried pushing Reyni away, Reyni narrowed his eyes at him.
“Really?”he asked.“You think that’s you being fine?”
“I’llbefine, then.I’m sure there are other people who need more help than I do.”
Reyni leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.“Should I fetch your consort?”
Berith’s eyes widened.“Leave Mel where he is.I want to be sure the palace is safe.”
“I’ll talk to Mikal,” Roque said as he leaned over and gently deposited Dimri on the steps next to Berith.“He’ll know if we can allow your family out of their rooms.”
Berith looked up at him.“You do that.”He turned his attention to Dimri, grimacing.“You look even worse than I do.What happened to you?”
“Mostly, it was the fighting.Someone let Thessia out of her cell, and she wasn’t happy when I tried to stop her from leaving.The tunnels partially collapsed, too.We need to send people there to open them up and find the rest of the team.”
Berith looked at Roque, who nodded.“I’ll take care of all of that,” he promised.“The two of you just focus on letting Reyni take care of you.I don’t want to hear complaints.”
“The way you talk, it’s almost like I’m your friend instead of your prince,” Berith said.
“That’s because you don’t behave like a prince.Now shush.”
Dimri would have laughed if he wasn’t sure it would’ve hurt.Instead, he reached for Roque before Roque could leave.Roque noticed and moved closer again, crouching next to Dimri and bringing them to the same eye level.
“What is it?Do you need anything?”
Dimri reached out and grabbed Roque’s shirt.He pulled him close and pressed her lips together, smiling into the kiss.He was relieved he’d gotten another opportunity to do that.He hadn’t been sure that he would.“I’ll be here when you’re done working,” he murmured.
Roque snickered.“Only because you won’t have a choice.Reyni won’t let you leave.I’m not even sure you’d be able to leave if you tried.”
Dimri scowled.“I was trying to be romantic.”
Roque’s smile was bright, and he leaned forward to kiss Dimri again.“You were.”
“Not really.If I was romantic, I wouldn’t tell you that I love you in the middle of the throne room while bleeding out on Berith’s nice carpet.”
Roque leaned back.“Is this you telling me that you love me?”
Dimri shrugged, regretting it instantly when pain flared in his shoulder.“I guess I don’t want to waste time.”
Roque shook his head.He looked fondly exasperated.“Well, I love you, too.Now stay here and let Reyni take care of you.I’ll know if you don’t.”
“And what will you do then?”
“Whatever you’re thinking of, get your mind out of the gutter.You need to heal before we get anywhere near that part of our relationship.”
Dimri pouted.He felt a bit like he was floating out of his body, which he didn’t think was a good thing.“But I want that.”
“Then stay still and heal.You’ll get it so much faster if you do.”
“Is that a promise?”
Roque cupped the back of Dimri’s head and pressed their foreheads together.“It is.”
That was good enough for Dimri.
Epilogue
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