"I'm a man of the goddess but even I can't always figure out her ways. In some cases, wars must rage in order for mankind and dragonkin to learn their lessons. I'm not saying people don't deserve a prosperous and happy life, but I think sometimes we need to learn things as a culture before we can thrive as a people. One of the kings married a son of our goddess. He seems to find her more annoying than anything."
"I think most kids find their parents that way." Lian blinked back the unexpected onset of tears. As much as his mother had annoyed teenage Lian, he still missed her like an open wound in his chest.
Nevair led Lian behind the pulpit and up what seemed like an endless flight of stairs.
"Why don't you put an electronic transporter here?" Lian huffed.
Nevair laughed. "Sometimes this is the only exercise I get in a day. It keeps me in shape."
"Ah." Lian bypassed the obvious chance to offer the man as much exercise as he wanted.
At the landing, a hallway opened up before them. "My quarters are at the end," Nevair pointed.
Lian examined the portraits as they walked. "So, I take it these are previous leaders?"
"Yes and my ancestors. Although the position doesn't have to be hereditary, we are one of the few orders where it has been passed from father to son for generations."
"But you're gay. The line will stop with you right?" Lian didn't want to hear that Nevair planned on having children with some pretty dragoness.
Nevair shrugged. "My father also preferred men. He had sex with a woman in order to continue the line. Now the technology is different. When the time comes I'll have my sperm inserted by artificial means. My father never found his mate so it didn't matter to him. I have hopes that I haven't been dealt the same fate."
"Sorry, occupational hazard," Lian backed off.
Nevair stopped in the middle of the hall. "If we are truly mates it is completely your business. I want children but I want you more. Not to mention your job is to learn about fertility. I won't be offended by your questions."
Lian nodded his appreciation. He hadn't considered children as an aspect of his life before. Stupid since as a doctor he'd seen all kinds of family arrangements but he'd never considered them for himself.
"We'll worry about that if it becomes an issue," he finally said.
Nevair wrapped a hand around Lian's arm and continued down the hall. Nevair's rooms weren't what Lian had expected. They weren't completely stark or unnaturally luxurious but something in between. The stone walls added an austerity to the room but the large bed with silk swathed comforter and thick carpets screamed of a man who enjoyed soft textures. A high-end communications screen covered one wall and a small desk sat on the corner.
"Nice," Lian approved.
"Thanks. All my books and a larger desk are in my office. I pretty much just sleep here."
From what Nevair had told Lian, he'd never used that bed for anything else either. "Want me to help christen the bed?"
Nevair's grin brought Lian's nervousness back. He wondered if the goddess would consider it sacrilege to have sex in her cathedral.
"It's okay, right? There's not a problem with you bringing someone for sex in the chapel, is there?"
Nevair shook his head. "Others in my position have had families filling the entire top floor. I'm certain they'd have to have had sex for that to happen."
Lian laughed in relief. "Good. I don't want to cause a scandal." He might not mind being in Nevair's bed, but he didn't want the hit to his reputation by having a major religious leader defrocked or whatever they called it. Rainbows would shoot out of Bourne's ass before Lian gave him that kind of ammunition to use against him.
A soft kiss derailed Lian's inner rambling. "It will be fine. I didn't know you were such a worrier."
"I'm not, but then religious guys aren't usually my thing." Lian had beliefs but they were murky. He tended to stay away from people who preached for him to see things their way. "I don't have to convert to your religion or anything, do I?"
Nevair had been leaning in for another kiss and froze. "I'll expect you to attend the occasional service. You don't have to follow my beliefs, but if we are mates, I'll expect you to put in an appearance from time to time. Do you have your own religion?"
"No. I'm not particularly religious."
Nevair laughed. "Trust me to bond with the one man who doesn't worship my goddess." Nevair latched onto Lian's wrist. "We can settle our differences later. Right now I want to see you naked then I'll order us some food."
"You've already seen me naked," Lian said.
"My memory isn't very good. I'd best examine you all over again," Nevair's leer made Lian harder than the stone walls.
