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Lyr says quietly, “Jareleezi is the descendent of Evangel. She told me so, many times. She is the last Hevelikar, she always said.”

“But that isn’t true,” says the Hare. “Jareleezi might have the Hevelikar name, but she is not the last. King Sarelik married a Hevelikar. “

“Yes,” says Damon, remembering this piece of history. “Queen Perpetu, the first Darek queen. The Twice Traitor Queen. She was the mother of King Damon. She was a cousin of King Maider, I think. Sarelik married her to promote his legitimacy. Perpetu agreed to convert to Zai. And she was his queen.”

“She was his queen and your ancestor,” says Hare.

“Yes, but she cannot be called a Hevelikar.”

“Nevertheless, she had their blood. And she was the mother of your namesake, King Damon.”

“These are things that happened hundreds of years ago,” says Damon.

“Things that happened hundreds of years ago affect us now, every day,” says the Hare. “Much blood has been shed to retrieve the lost Books of Alios. The doomed advance into Ik-Sundal was to retrieve the Books of Alios. The conquest of Jur-Mattan was to retrieve the Books of Alios. Now Selim and the Rose Court will want to send an army into Ismagaar. All for those books… because someone knows what they say about who will be the true saviour of Azuria when the Bellator return.” The Hare glances towards the door. “I will be missed. I should return to the feast. But we should meet again. Let me show you some of the writings of Batraous.”

“Perhaps,” says Damon, wondering if he could use these works to gain more favour from Selim.

The Hare nods. “Shall I tell them you were delayed?”

Damon says, “What do you mean?”

“Only that perhaps you would care to rest in this room. It is mostly unused. I could say you were called away to inspect something in the stables. You could dally here if you wish.”

Damon’s heart is suddenly in his mouth. The Hare’s meaning is quite clear. He shakes his head at the Hare, “No, that will not be—,” he begins, but Lyr slides close to him and takes his hand.

“Thank you,” Lyr says to the Hare. “I think perhaps we need a moment alone.”

“Of course. Do not worry. I will ensure you are not missed.” The Hare nods and leaves them.

Damon looks at Lyr, his heart still beating hard. “Why did you do that? We cannot be alone here. We are only yards from the Hall of Twelve and the entire Rose Court.”

Lyr says nothing. He simply leans closer and kisses Damon softly on the lips. Then whispers. “I am sorry. I know I was the one concerned about the dangers here. I just wanted one kiss.” His voice is breathy with arousal. “I cannot stop staring at you.”

Lyr is looking at Damon with wide eyes.

Damon sucks his bottom lip. He sounds unsteady when he says, “I feel like I’m burning up, having you stand behind me,” he says. “Serving me.”

“I know,” Lyr says. “I could tell from the way you looked at me.”

Damon feels his lust overwhelm him like a great tide. He should control this, he knows he should but he cannot. “Slave,” he says as he grabs Lyr by the shoulders and kisses him again. Hard, so much harder, driving his tongue into Lyr’s mouth like he wants to consume him. Lyr gasps as he responds, moaning his answering desire into Damon’s mouth, as Damon pushes him back against the wall beside the fireplace.

Lyr is a panting mess. Damon can feel Lyr’s hardness against his thigh, he rubs his body against it. Lyr moans.

But that’s all he dare risk. He pulls back. He looks at Lyr’s breathless face. “We should go,” Damon says, his voice rough. “This is not the place.”

Lyr nods. Damon is glad he agrees. If Lyr had protested Damon isn’t sure he would have had the will to argue.

18

LYR

As they leave the room to walk back to the Hall of Twelve, they run into the Hare coming towards them. Quietly he says, “I was coming to warn you. Your brother Atticul comes this way looking for you.

“If Atticul is looking for me I should leave before he tries to drag me to his Pleasure Night,” Damon says, but he says it too late. The words are barely out of his mouth when Atticul rounds the corner.

Lyr notices Damon move subtly in front of him. As a slave, he knows he ought to be walking behind Damon, behind his Master, not at his side, but he can’t help feeling the gesture is protective.

“Ah,” says Atticul, strangely cheery, “there you all are. The bastard and the slave. I heard you had vanished off to the stables for some reason.”