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Lithian flushed darker, venturing another fleeting glance towards his friend. At length, though — after looking about once to make sure Casseth was not in the vicinity — he gave in with an understated shrug.

“Perhaps…? I wish I didn’t…it’s — it’s something I’m working on. I’m trying not to. I know he won’t be interested to begin with and…well, it’s really unfair in the first place, considering I…” An uncertain smile tugged at the edge of his lips, and he studied Ara’s expression as he said, “I do already, sort of…that is, there’s this boy…he…” Lithian cleared his throat, fingering through the tips of one of his braids with his spare hand. “I don’t know if I’ve even spoken of him to you? Perhaps in passing…have I told you of Vyren? He’s quite attractive…very aggressive. I’m not all too sure that’s a plus, but at least…I mean, he seems quite dedicated and interesting. Though I haven’t spoken a word to him of Casseth yet, of course, I — well, to begin with it didn’t need to be brought up, but besides that I worry, Cas being a hybrid, and…what I’m trying to say is, I kissed him.”

Lith paused, and then frowned as it dawned on him how that could have been misinterpreted.

“Kissed—kissed Vyren that is, not that anyone knows yet…I mean, anyone but you, that is, and I know this has nothing to do with Casseth. What I was…trying to get at is…” Lithian drew a breath. “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m sorry…yes. You’re right. I care a great deal about Cas, perhaps far more — definitely far more than I should in a way that I shouldn’t, considering he’s obviously interested in women. I haven’t seen him bat an eye at a man and…not that, I mean…I haven’t, really…not in Cas’ presence I haven’t — he doesn’t even know that I…” Lithian sighed, huffed, and then took another drink, mumbling, “M’not sure this is doing well for my coherency…”

His gaze flit sidelong.

“ …have you seen Cas…?” His stomach sank, briefly. Had he left with that girl? Were they that serious already? It was entirely possible. He could imagine it easily. Unfortunately, the imaginings came with a wrenching yank in his gut, coupled with guilt. He liked Vyren. He really did. Why was he still so hung up on—?

“Oh,” Lithian said, breathing out in far more relief than he was justified in having when he spotted Cas through the crowds speaking to Detraeus. “There he is…”



Detraeus, meanwhile, blinked, surprised that Casseth had even chosen to approach instead of continue gallivanting — or whatever it was they’d been doing — with his lady friend. He’d half — or wholly — expected the two to leave together and, between Casseth distracted and Araceli dancing with that mad dovaa and his hands all over her, he’d been edging on ready to leave with the assumption no one would notice. He didn’t fit, not really. And how was he to blame them, to begin with?

At the alcohol, though, he only waved it off, and answered Cas’ other question instead. “They danced. That direction.” He nodded his head towards one of the booths selling spirits, since the tall dovaa’s horns could still be seen through the crowd, alongside Ara when the crowds parted enough to allow it. ‘Who was the girl?’ lingered near the tip of his tongue, and he debated long before pushing the words out, feeling like it was his duty, somehow, to engage Cas in conversation if he could. “The one who left — friend of yours?”

At Ara’s last question, Lithian winced. “He is, I just…I don’t want to drive him away…” Brow furrowing, Lith’s voice quieted. “I fear what might happen if he doesn’t understand, or if it upsets him. I couldn’t bear for him to no longer want my company…”

Lithian flushed, stumbling after Ara when she began to pull him along. He opened his mouth, intending to object, but the words somehow failed to arrive properly on his tongue, and too soon they were directly before Casseth and Detraeus. His cheeks warmed all the brighter, but he did want to speak with Cas about such things — he’d simply been waiting for the best time — and now, if ever, seemed to fit the bid. Again, however, when he opened his mouth, eyes focusing on Cas, the combination of the warmth in his gut and flutter of uncertainty in his chest prevented him from saying anything along the lines of, ‘Can I talk with you a bit?’ or ‘Can we find someplace private, briefly?’

Instead, he took Ara’s other advice, catching Cas’ hand and then leaning in and down to speak close to Cas’ ear — so he could be heard over the crowds, of course, not because it felt good to stand this close or because Casseth always smelled earthy, rich, and comforting. “Dance with me?”

Beside him, Detraeus tensed, eyes narrowing on the pair as he took an unconscious step back.

Detraeus flushed, eyeing Araceli’s hand warily. Again? Hadn’t he answered her last time? And if that hadn’t been answer enough, what was with the persistence? Did she truly want his company that much…? In that regard, in a strange way, she reminded him of Casseth. Stubborn enough to wheedle him into things he never intended to involve himself in. Like this ‘party’. Flush darkening, he opened his mouth, and then caught a glimpse of the drink she’d been downing. Perhaps that explained some of it. Though, he wasn’t yet sure he wanted to be something she’d willing to share space with only because she now lacked the sense to see his company wasn’t pleasant.

“I—”

“And if you don’t,” Lithian cut in with a light, teasing slur to his words, “you can be sure I’ll take her back up on the offer soon, hm?” The mad dovaa leaned in, pressing a light kiss to Ara’s temple before allowing himself to be guided — firmly — back away by Casseth.

Detraeus narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth before reaching out stiffly and taking her fingers in his. Heat crawled out to the tips of his ears, overtaking his face and making its way down his neck as he muttered beneath his breath. He felt his muscles bunch with tension, gaze darting everywhere and then nowhere, out into the crowd, to avoid flustering himself more. She was ridiculously pretty, though why his body had to take notice now or why he even cared was beyond him. He decided, privately, that perhaps leaving soon for Soudul was a far better idea than he’d ever considered.

“Lead, sky princess…” ‘Because I don’t have the first clue what I’m doing, and the sooner this is over with, the better.’

“You…do you?” Detraeus said in spite of himself at the ‘sky princess’ commentary, but it was soon lost to the change in the music, and his felt his pulse lodge itself in his throat. This had been a bad idea. A terribly idea. What had he been thinking? Why was he letting—? He swallowed, hard, rigid as a steel blade when her fingers drew down his neck to settle at his nape. Breathe. In, out. Breathe.

There were far too many people.

Who considered this enjoyable?

And yet, despite the rigidity to his posture and the deeply unsettling feel of being trapped amidst the dancers, Ara hadn’t taken him in far. Purposeful? Perhaps. And her voice was soft, like a good wind. The ones that guided his arrows home and lulled him to sleep. He breathed out, relaxing to the currents of her voice and forcing himself to focus only on her — not the crowd — because she was easier to handle.

“M’ trying…” he murmured, though he was already more relaxed, surprising even himself. ‘You make it easier…somehow.’ His brow furrowed in confusion, but he pushed his attention back inward. To the rhythm of the music. The heat of her body. So soft. All smooth edges and warmth, plus the swish and sway of her dress, light enough to catch every wayward gust. Like her.

Detraeus mind spun in confusion. What had she been trying to do? Or had he imagined it? Surely, he’d imagined it. Still, his heart beat at his ribcage like a wild bird trying to break its way free, and his fingers clung to her hips, uncertain. When she laid her weight against him, close and warm, he knew she must have felt it, and his cheeks burned all the darker, frustrated with himself and his body. Why weren’t such interactions just…easier? Casseth seemed to find them near-effortless, and for that, Detraeus almost envied him. Aloud, he only sighed, resigned, and worked on relaxing the tension in his fingers.

“You dance better than I.”


Lithian, meanwhile, laughed aloud, wholly caught up in the warmth in his body and the closeness of Casseth. He made a point, though, not to get too close in certain areas, lest Cas learn more than he needed to, too early. Instead, Lith leaned down, grinning and resting his forehead against Cas’. “So that I can appreciate all of you at once without looking up. Clearly, Abronaxus has blessed me…you look good from up here.” He grinned, and slipped a hand lazily around Casseth’s waist without thinking. “Besides…I have to have the upper hand on you somewhere, don’t I?”

At her words, Detraeus immediately tensed. “Has he touched you again? Threatened you? If he’s gone anywhere near you—I—” He grit his teeth, seething just at the thought. He should have killed him when he had the opportunity. He knew he should have. Between the two of them, though, he said only: “If he comes within my sights again, I will see him breathe his last breath…”



Lithian flushed at the commentary — both of them — and between the alcohol, the closeness of Casseth’s body, and the slow pulse of the music, he found himself increasingly less adept at keeping himself from pushing closer, dragging Cas in, and crossing lines he didn’t dare to. Thus, with a hearty exertion of willpower, he made himself pull away, tugging Cas lightly along with him and guiding him out towards the edges of the crowd and more privacy. Detraeus and Araceli seemed busy enough, and if he was ever going to work up the courage to speak to Cas about this, now was the time.

“Casseth, I…” Lith swallowed, blushing darker. “There’s something I need to speak to you about…tell you about, that is. It’s not bad!” he hastened to add, abruptly concerned. “Or, at least…it’s nothing bad to do with you and I hope you don’t find it terribly objectionable, I…” His voice quieted, nerves building in his chest the further along he made it. “I truly…it’s just…you’re my best friend in all the world, and I couldn’t bear if…”

Detraeus opened his mouth, the rivulets of anger still coursing through him at the thought of the man he’d nearly killed, but when Ara’s fingers tangled back in his hair, his breathing stopped, catching up in his throat like an overly large chunk of gruel lodging itself there, and temporarily all he could think of was the brush of her touch. As she laid her head back down, resting the weight of it against his shoulder, he curbed the urge to groan: tense, confused, and utterly off-balance. What was she doing, and why did it have to involve him? He ought to leave for Soudul tomorrow. Separate himself as far from this madness as possible. Perhaps that would give him room to breathe, and think, and…

Araceli smelled like perfume, rich soap, and a coming storm on a summer wind.

He grit his teeth, and swallowed. Soudul tomorrow was definitely for the best.



“I kissed a boy the other day.” The words left Lith’s lips faster than he could think them through, and immediately, he strongly desired to shove them back down his throat before Casseth could hear them, as if that were possible. “What I meant was—! You know…as you, clearly, like girls I—I just…for me it doesn’t…it never…I’ve wanted to want, and be interested, as you and most people seem to be, but it never happened. I didn’t think much about it for a good while, but as I got older, it just…got more and more obvious something was…different about my interests. I didn’t know what to think of it — I thought something was wrong with me — I still think something might be wrong with me, I don’t really know, I…all I know, is I prayed to Abronaxus…I prayed every day for weeks…months, and I…nothing has ever changed. I don’t feel for women, ever, as you and others seem to, and I’m quite convinced I never will no matter how much I wished for it, but I don’t want that to change anything between us Casseth, please, I won’t let it affect how I am with you, I swear to you I just—”