Milo scowled at his glass. "Damn, it's the perfect way to kill us off. No one truly gets sick because the poison is subtle. In fact, I doubt anyone but you would've noticed it."
Lian basked for a moment in the praise before he nodded. "I need to get blood samples of you and your guard, from men and women who are poisoned, and samples of the water."
Milot stroked his chin. "All the women in my family drink the same water. I'll have them come and give you samples so you have a good variety. My men and I can give you male samples. Will that do?"
"That'll be fine, thanks." Lian couldn't believe his good fortune in finding the perfect group of people to fall into.
They finished their meal in companionable silence. Milot ordered wine to replace the water. After dinner, a servant showed Lian to a lovely suite with a balcony and an excellent view of the city. Not that it amounted to much as far as cities go, but it had a pretty, quaint feel Lian appreciated after visiting so many smog-filled, industrialized towns for his job.
Memories of the various places he'd gone brought his thoughts to Nevair. Absently, he scratched his back. Stepping out on the balcony he wondered what his life would be like if he agreed to be Nevair's mate.
A flapping of wings was his only warning before a familiar multi-colored dragon settled beside him. "Good thing these landings are so large," he muttered to the beast.
Nevair-dragon gave a snort.
"I would've come back to you." Lian scratched the dragon along his eye ridge, causing the creature's back leg to thump. "Like that, do you?"
Before he was ready, the beast stepped away from Lian and the dragon shrunk to human-sized Nevair.
"Let's get inside before we really do start some rumors," Nevair said with a self-conscious smile.
"It would serve you right," Lian said, unrepentant. "I told you I'd return."
"I know. I know, but not all of me was in agreement. I had to come find you and make sure you were all right." Nevair's expression pleaded with Lian for understanding.
"I'm fine. See?" Lian held out his arms to display his body.
"Yes, you are very fine, but knowing it and seeing it aren't the same," Nevair said.
"So what, you're going to stalk me until the medical team arrives?" Lian asked.
"What medical team? When I showed up at the medic center they told me you quit. Bourne was quite adamant about your resignation." Nevair frowned.
"I'll bet he was." Lian quickly gave Nevair the run down while the other man made growly noises that would've made his dragon half proud.
"What do we do now?" Nevair asked.
The question niggled in the back of his mind. "How did you find me? Last time, you knew the name of the bar but I didn't give you any clues this time."
Nevair's sweet smile punched Lian in the gut. "Honey, I'll always be able to find you. I can't explain it. It's as if you have a homing beacon only I can see."
Lian thought about it for a minute. "I don't know if that's romantic or creepy," he said finally.
"Let's go for romantic," Nevair pulled Lian into his arms.
"Okay. You can't stay with me. You've got stuff to do," Lian muttered into Nevair's muscular chest.
"You let me worry about my stuff," Nevair said. "Nothing has higher priority than you."
Lian locked away his cynicism. After the newness of their relationship wore off, he had no doubt other things would take precedence. "Since you're here, you can stay the night. Tomorrow, though, you need to go back to your cathedral."
"Yes, dear." Nevair's amused response made Lian hands twitch with the urge to smack him upside the head. He resisted, barely. Besides, Nevair stark naked and needing wasn't anything Lian wanted to pass up.
"Let's go inside so you don't have anyone staring at your bare ass," Lian said feeling oddly possessive.
"Good plan," Nevair agreed.
Lian took Nevair's hand and led him inside.
