“You came here for me,” Orinakin confessed. “You came here because I was so taken with you, I couldn’t possibly have left you behind. Kudorin saw it before either of us. He won’t think any less of you for what’s happened.”
“I’m here for you?” Bade asked, his surprise rolling over Orinakin. “Really?”
He seemed so delighted with the concept, Orinakin laughed. “Yes, truly. I didn’t understand that myself, but once Kudorin pointed it out to me, it was nothing but true. I brought you home for me, not for anyone else.”
A shy smile. “I’m glad that you did.”
“I’m glad that you’re all right with it,” Orinakin said. “I wouldn’t be nearly as happy this morning, if you were still after my brother.”
“You sent me after him,” Bade argued, laughing. “You’re the one who pushed me on him.”
“Well, I’ve seen my mistake,” Orinakin said, “and I plan to keep you all to myself.” They were directly in front of a guard, and before a small but constant stream of passersby, but Orinakin couldn’t help but take another kiss, a small moan escaping from him this time in response to the gentle softness of Bade’s mouth. He nibbled tenderly at Bade’s sweet lips until, there, he felt Bade’s hand in his hair, and then-
“Oh, Orinakin! Oh, Bade! Oh, Selorin, Selorin, hurry, you absolutely must come and see this! Oh, aren’t they just utterly beautiful together?”
Extricating himself from Bade’s embrace, sensing Bade’s sudden and horrified embarrassment, Orinakin smiled at Anosanim. “Good morning.”
“It’s the best of mornings,” Anosanim said, and hugged first him, then Bade, who looked surprised and uncertain at Anosanim’s orange, silk-draped affection. “You must come and tell us all about it,” Anosanim said, turning back to Orinakin but holding onto Bade’s hand. “I must know absolutely everything.”
Selorin joined them, planting a kiss on Orinakin’s temple. “Kudorin’s assured us that you’re having a uniquely pleasant morning. You’ll find some time later to tell me about it.” With a sly, speculative smile, Selorin took Bade’s hand from Anosanim. “You must be starving,” he said warmly. “Come and I’ll see to it that your hunger is abated.”
While Bade followed Selorin into the courtyard, Orinakin smiled. Only Selorin would so boldly and immediately appropriate his lover. “You seem happy this morning,” he said, his arm around Anosanim’s waist as they started down the pathway together.
“I’m wonderfully happy, for you,” Anosanim said brightly. “Oh, Orinakin, I’m so thrilled for you! It must be simply glorious to be in love. And our dear Bade is so sweet and so kind, I’m sure that you’ll be endlessly happy with him.”
Gazing around himself in wonder, Orinakin asked, “What happened?” The grass was vivid and lush, the flowers were a riot of brilliant color and unusually abundant; even the trees looked larger and fuller than normal.
With a delighted laugh, Anosanim said, “Kudorin’s happy for you, too. He even turned the grass purple, for a few minutes, but I think that it unnerved Desin.”
Amazed, Orinakin let his gaze find Kudorin among his other brothers on the grass. He’d known that making love with Bade was vital for him, and the very thought of sharing love with Bade made his heart rejoice, but to have Kudorin this happy was significant. It meant something, something very real and good, if Kudorin was turning the world purple with happiness.
