“The part where you want me.”
“Marek.” Sei leans forward. “I want you.”
The vast hall fades away. The only real place in the world is the breath between them.
“How long did you tell everyone to leave the room for?” Marek asks, his eyes dark.
“Half an hour.” Sei chews his lip. “Do you think that’s enough time?”
“One way to find out,” Marek says, sinking to his knees.
Marek’s cheek rests against Sei’s thigh, mere inches from Sei’s hardening cock. At Sei’s nod, a wicked smirk curves Marek’s lips. He unlaces Sei’s trousers.
“Stay quiet—if you can.”
Covering his mouth with one hand, Sei clutches the altar with the other. He nearly chokes with the effort of keeping quiet as Marek’s hot mouth closes around him.
They have enough time for Sei to come twice before the rehearsal resumes.
?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Marek
Marek hasn’t seen Julien Sandry in years. There’s been plenty of hostility and one outright war between their countries in the meantime. But Julien arrives with only two other men in his entourage, which means he’s on the same page as Marek today.
They want a real conversation.
Prince Julien is a dark-haired, confident man. A smirk hides in his smile, and a pointedly Silaisan green and gold cloak hangs over his shoulder. At his left is a slight man around Sei’s height, perhaps a bit taller. With his golden hair and Draskoran purple eyes, that must be Julien’s lover Whisper.
Intelligence on Whisper is hazy and prone to hyperbole. The most dramatic rumor calls him a former Kennel assassin. Marek wouldn’t believe that from Whisper’s unassuming presence—which might mean Marekshouldbelieve it.
At Julien’s right is a man in a dark green coat. Nearly Marek’s height, with striking red hair and a watchful blue glare. Marek doesn’t recognize him on sight.
As the door closes on the hallway full of guards and aides, Marek extends his arm. “Good to see you, Julien. Let me introduce my claim, Sei Mallory.”
Julien clasps Marek’s arm quickly, then turns to Sei. “A pleasure to meet you, Sei. Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Sei grips Julien’s arm in greeting too.
He doesn’t seem at all intimidated, which shouldn’t surprise Marek anymore. Sei thrives on social situations as long as he knows what to expect. Marek spent the brief time after the rehearsal running through the protocol. As Marek’s claim, Sei doesn’t bow to foreign royalty.
“No drasgard lurking under the sofa?” Julien asks. “You’re a bold man, Marek, meeting us two to three.”
“You’re the brave one, Julien, meeting us three to two,” Marek counters cheerfully.
Julien considers him, then chuckles. “Good thing there’s no need for bravery today. It’s been too long, hasn’t it?”
“Have you met before?” Sei asks.
“I spent an equinox festival in Greenhaven, not long after joining House Dire,” Marek explains.
The red-haired man’s glare sharpens. “Before visits to Greenhaven became diplomatically awkward.”
A chill shivers through the room. Everyone in this room is well aware of the scars left by the Long Summer War. Today’s meeting will only work if everyone refrains from clawing them open.
Sei extends his hand to the stranger. “Welcome to Raya Keep. I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.”
