Cloudtree crossed his arms over his broad chest, which looked a lot less sparkly here, seemed to blend in more.
“Is he very good at this kind of thing?Your bloodsu—your…what do you call him?”
Theo was glad the hood was covering his face.“I call him Peter.”
Cloudtree hummed.“Yes, of course, but I meant…is there a word?In the human realm.There must be, yes, for when someone takes you as their pillow servant—”
“I’m not his fucking pillow servant, okay?We have…we’re…uh…we’re roommates.”
Theo felt immediately guilty on behalf of the ghosts of every queer elder before him, but this was an unusual situation, and he was feeling very stressed.
Cloudtree nodded.“I see.I…was hoping for a roommate myself.”
Miel made a mean, dismissive noise, almost laughter.Theo brought the hammer down on the floor tiles barely a handsbreadth away from his face, which shut him up nicely.
“I’m sure you’ll find someone.”
Cloudtree looked at Theo with wide eyes before smiling ever so slightly.“I hope that, yes.Although I am not sure who would want me.I am not good at a lot of things.The cloak you’re wearing, for example.It carries strong magic that can hide the wearer, maybe do more things on top of that.But I wouldn’t know.I didn’t even notice until Laurette bid you pull up the hood, and he had it out there on that dining table in his house.I was looking directly at it.And then, while I could tell that you were…roommating with a bloodsuck—with someone like that, I didn’t know you hadn’t been thralled.”He hunched.“And on top of all that, I am not a fighter.In all the ways a Fae should be, I have failed.”
Theo lifted a hand to the hood of his cloak.“So it is a magic cloak.That’s cool.I wasn’t sure whether he meant it would just make me blend in with the landscape, like camouflage.Oh, and Peter’s a vampire, that’s the word we use.In the human realm, you know.”Theo shoved his hand back into his pocket.“Not all vampires are nice though, so watch which one you pick.If you’re going for a vampire, that is.”
Cloudtree nodded.“I see.By going for a vampire, you mean ask him to be your roommate rather than come after him or attack him.”
Theo snorted.“Not unless that’s what you’re into, I guess.”
“How did you choose your vampire, then?Is there a trick to it?Did you give him tests to solve?Maybe a riddle?”
“Uh, nope.We ran into each other at work and…” Theo shrugged.“Now I’m here.”
“Ah.That is another reason to find something to labor your days away with.To findwork.”Cloudtree looked excited.“What is your work?Perhaps I can do it too?”
Theo looked up at Cloudtree.He was tall and still handsome, even if Faerie had dimmed his shimmer, still had the purple eyes.“I mean, Celeste could probably find something for you to do.Especially after you already cleaned the floor there.”
“Ah!That was work?”Cloudtree frowned.“I thought it would be different.”
Theo couldn’t help himself.He laughed, tension easing from his shoulders.He glanced at the doorway through which Peter, Laurette, Carl, and Getrude had vanished.
“Is this house big?And your other brother, is he—”
“Stepbrother.He might be in the wine cellar.He always did find pleasure there.My mother kept bottles and whole barrels, sweet wines and dry wines, the finest drops from Faerie’s vineyards.He drank it all.”
That bothered Theo.Not because he cared all that much about Cloudtree.He barely knew Cloudtree.But he was pretty sure that he wasn’t even half as bad as his stepbrothers, and everything he said reinforced that impression.He knew Peter was willing to fight, but the idea of him going up against an evil, wine-loving Fae sat wrong with Theo.
He’s not alone though.And they can call me if he needs blood.It would be worse if I hadn’t come.
“About your mother, what happened to her?Is she no longer around?”Theo took a few steps toward that doorway, fully aware that Miel’s cold glare was following him.
Cloudtree uncrossed his arms and instead folded his hands in front of him.“She left.It was when I was very young.She didn’t wish to take me because of my youth, but she and my aunt wanted to leave.Hence, she sought to wed.And my stepfather, he played the kindly man, competent and mild.My stepbrothers were good playmates then, sharing their toys with me and letting me partake in their games.Mother thought I’d be raised well in the ways of Faerie here, but it was not so.When she left, things changed.”
Theo’s mouth fell open.“Are you telling me your mom married some dude and then left you with him?And he turned out to be an asshole?”
Cloudtree blinked.“I…am not certain what an ass hole is?A waterhole for asses to drink at?But yes, she left me.It was well-meant and in accordance with the ways of Faerie.I did not wish to be fostered out, but then I didn’t think my stepfather would ever be—”
A noise from the door interrupted Cloudtree, a key turning in the lock.On the floor, tied-up Miel strained against the ropes and tried shouting, despite his gag.
Theo and Cloudtree looked at each other.
“Shit.”Theo’s head snapped to the doorway.“Come on, run!”
