"I'm not going anywhere," Quin declared firmly.

"If you’re not leaving, I’m definitely staying," Sy said, crossing his arms. "You’d probably just ravish him and leave him brokenhearted."

"What kind of strange misconceptions do you have about Unicorns? I’m not some grand-scale heartbreaker," Quin protested. "Sure, there are bad Nightmares and Unicorns alike, but I’m not one of them." His gaze grew distant as unpleasant memories surfaced. "Just... enough already."

"So you’re saying you wouldn’t push and pester the maiden to steal his chastity?" Sy asked, brow raised. "And you wouldn’t just trot off to the next thing that caught your eye?"

"I wouldn’t at all," Quin sighed. "First, I don’t take what’s not freely given. I’ve had some bad experiences with that. And second, whoever I end up with will be my one and only. I don’t plan on leaving them, ever."

Sy leaned forward, placing his hands on Quin’s broad shoulders and peering into his face.

"I almost believe you," Sy admitted quietly. "Is it just chaste maidens you don’t take advantage of, or anyone?"

Quin met the Nightmare’s shifting peacock-hued eyes, violet, green, and blue blending together. "I never said it had to be a chaste maiden for me. Honestly, I’m not even sure who would fit best with me."

"For me, it has to be a human," Sy sighed. "I need the status a maiden would give me." He leaned back, arms wrapping around himself. "I won’t go back to where I was before. I have to make sure of that."

"Higher status can’t protect you from everything," Quin pointed out, curiosity piqued by Sy’s reaction. "There are other ways to gain strength and status."

"Like what?" Sy asked, suspicion coloring his tone.

"For example, you could study for higher positions. That’s what I’m doing in college right now, I’m in my third year," Quin explained.

"I can’t..." Sy’s voice faltered as he turned away. "I never finished primary school. Never even completed my Nightmare training. That’s why I’m here, not in a maiden’s dreams." He sighed. "I’m too stupid for college anyway. But I’m good at making someone feel physical bliss. That’s all I’ve got."

Quin forgot everything else, his focus narrowing on Sy. "It’s never too late to start learning," he said gently. "I have Nightmare friends who can dream travel. I can find out the details and teach you myself." Quin despised injustice, and the idea of a Nightmare who’d never dream traveled pulled at him. "Listen, I know we got off to a rough start, but my name’s Quinton." He pressed a light kiss to Sy’s cheek, the customary greeting for close friends. "Would you let me be your friend?"

Sy sat stiffly, suspicion still in his eyes, but leaned forward to kiss the corner of Quin’s mouth, missing his cheek entirely, not that he cared.

"I’m Synan—or Sy. Never, ever Sin," the Nightmare said, shivering. "Don’t call me that. And if you try anything nasty, don’t expect me to fight fair."

Quin almost laughed in surprise but caught himself, not wanting to offend. "Synan is a lovely name. My friends call me Quin." He paused, then added, "I want to make a pact, Sy. Since we’re both going to try for this maiden, let’s keep it fair and square. I won’t put my all into courting him until you can dream travel properly."

"You have no reason to do that," Sy said, frowning in confusion. "You should take every advantage you have. You could just get rid of me, rough me up so I can’t come back for a while. So why would you help me get stronger?"

Quin shrugged. "I like to fight fair. Too many people take advantage of others’ weaknesses, I refuse to be one of them." His voice was earnest. "Even if it means you might win the maiden’s favor first, I want us to be on even ground."

Sy sat awkwardly, unsure what to make of the hunky Unicorn. It was hard to believe this wasn’t some trick. But he’d wait and see; he was always ready for trouble. At least Quin didn’t seem likely to rough him up, which was a relief. Sy was quick on his feet, but when caught, he rarely got away.

A tapping at the door pulled the Nightmare from his thoughts.

Fin rushed down the stairs two at a time. "Oh boy," he breathed, peeking through the peephole. Opening the door, he shot a wry smile at his best friend and Lee. "Dad's not home yet, but I have a couple of... guests. Let's head to the living room."

"Guests?" Lee echoed, suspicion in his tone.

When the three entered and came face to face with Quin and Sy (who Jack couldn’t see), Fin motioned in their direction. "Jack, Lee'en, these are..." He faltered, realizing the names escaped him. "Sorry," he said to Quin and Sy. "If you told me your names, I’ve forgotten them."

"My name is Quinton," the Unicorn supplied. "And this is Synan."

Fin quickly began signing to Jack, spelling out the guests’ names as best he could and explaining how loud and lewd they’d been in the backyard. Jack wanted every single detail.

"I’m Lee'en," the magenta-eyed Unicorn said dryly. He shot a glance at the two humans, still signing rapidly. "He’s already practically chosen someone, you know," he told Quin and Sy, blunt as ever.

"Practically chosen isn’t chosen," Sy said with forced bravado. "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, right? Until he chooses, I still have a chance to prove I’m best for him." The Nightmare straightened, eyes flashing. "I won’t give up."

"And I think the Nightmare he’s with might not be the right one," Quin added. "If he treats him badly and Finian chooses me, I’ll take great care of him."

Lee'en shook his head. "Whatever keeps your monorails running. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The blond Unicorn shot Sy a quick, questioning glance.

"Lee'en, do you remember the details about dream traveling?" Quin suddenly asked.

"I’m afraid not. I only remembered enough magic to pass my exams, then promptly forgot it," Lee replied. "Why?"

"Just personal reasons," Quin said, leaving it at that.

Sy looked down, embarrassed, though Quin hadn’t outed him as the Nightmare who couldn’t dream travel. The erotic energy radiating from Jack, the maiden’s friend, was overwhelming. Lee'en, the petite Unicorn, was impressive too, a rare feat for a Unicorn, but it was Jack who held Sy’s attention. Something about the human fascinated his Nightmare instincts.

Jack, oblivious to Sy’s intense stare, finished his conversation with Fin.

"Have you eaten?" the hazel-eyed human asked his friend. "Lee and I worked up an appetite and I want Falbos pizza, stuffed pepperoni and extra cheese! It’s a moral imperative. You in?"

"Sounds good to me. I’ll order five boxes," Fin agreed.

Twenty minutes later, four teenagers and a twenty-one-year-old dug into the first pizza. Fin could only imagine how strange it must look to Jack, seeing slices disappear seemingly on their own.

"Your world’s pizza is similar to ours, but a little different," Quin remarked.

"It’s the water. Long story, I’ll explain later," Lee'en replied.

Jack moaned in bliss at his favorite pizza, licking a bit of sauce from his lip. "Fuck, so good," he murmured around a mouthful.

Lee immediately draped himself along Jack’s side. "This human is mine, by the way," he told the others. "As soon as Finian crosses Jack over, he’ll officially be my partner on the other side."

Quin was about to reply when Fin let slip a guttural moan.

"Garlic butter’s the best..." Fin groaned, then caught himself. "Good grief, I did it again! I promised Alistair I’d control my reactions to food," he added with a frown.

"Fin, asking you not to enjoy food out loud is like asking me not to enjoy a blowjob," Jack laughed, biting into his pizza.

"Well, yes, but he only asked me to curb it in front of anyone but him," Fin replied with a pout.

Alistair? Why did that name sound so familiar? Maybe Quin recognized it from somewhere.

"So, you’re mated, and he’s accepted your claim?" Sy couldn’t help but think Jack would make a delightful mate, maybe even better than Fin.

Jack hadn’t heard Lee’s proclamation or Sy’s question, but he could sense something was up by the way the pink-haired Unicorn clung to him. He leaned over to nuzzle Lee before turning back to his food.

"Consider it a ninety-nine point nine percent acceptance," Lee'en told Sy, testiness in his voice.

Quin wisely chose not to ask about the remaining 1%.

Sy grew dizzy trying to follow the overlapping conversations. He gave Lee an absent nod and focused on the humans. Time would reveal just how lustful these humans were, and if there was an opening, he’d take it.

"I think they’re very nice noises," Sy told Fin. "And I like your noises too, Jack."

Fin gulped, suddenly understanding why Alistair had warned him about eating sounds around others. He glanced at Lee, who wrapped himself tighter around Jack’s arm and snuggled so close, it would take a wrench to peel him away from his bestie.

"Alright, I can’t dictate what you two do, but I’m only offering friendship," Fin told Quin and Sy as he stood. "Jack, Lee, and I are going to be busy studying for exams, so could you both please take your leave for now?"

Quin let out a long sigh. "What time would be best to visit?" he asked.

"Between four and six in the evening. Jack and I finish schoolwork by four, and my dad gets home around six," Fin said.

"Then we’ll see you at four tomorrow," Quin agreed as he and Sy headed out to the backyard, toward the dimensional boundary. "Sy," he added after crossing over, "let’s meet here around one tomorrow. We can work on your training while the maiden studies."

"Okay," Sy nodded, glancing around. "This is public land, right? I might get my stuff and stay here, so come whenever." He tugged on a low, thick branch, testing its sturdiness. A couple of blankets and his jacket for a pillow might make it bearable, and it was off the ground. "It’s better than where I’m staying now," he muttered, thinking of the spot he’d staked out under a monorail bridge: dry but loud and uncomfortable.

The Unicorn frowned at Sy’s implication. "Hey, my dorm is big enough for both of us. I could toss a mattress down for you. It’s much drier and warmer," he offered, not liking the idea of Sy sleeping outside, rival or not.

"I promise I won’t cross over without you," Sy sighed. "You don’t have to keep an eye on me."

Quin held out his hand for Sy. "This has nothing to do with our rivalry. Please—I just don’t like the idea of you being out in the cold."

"Alright, but what do you want in return?" Sy asked hesitantly, taking Quin’s hand. "I’ll blow you, but nothing heavier than that, and no getting rough..."

Quin’s face flushed, but he shook his head. "How about you just help me clean up a bit? We’ll think of something." He grinned. "Your offer is devastatingly tempting, but I only take the completely willing to my bed." As they crossed over and reappeared on the wooded path to campus, Quin couldn’t help but notice how perfectly Sy’s hand fit in his own, something he tried, unsuccessfully, to ignore.

"Devastatingly tempting, huh?" Sy laughed, walking with Quin. He’d leave his stuff under the bridge for now; nothing valuable there. "You poor Unicorns are way too pent up. You need to get your freak on every once in a while." The Nightmare smirked, lifting their clasped hands to nip one of Quin’s knuckles, then flicking his tongue over it.

Quin froze, his blush deepening. Then he sped-walked the rest of the way to the dorms, tugging Sy along. Once inside, he pulled down a spare mattress, dressed it with fresh bedding, and handed Sy an extra pillow.

"There you go," Quin said, stepping back.

"Umm, thanks." Sy stood in front of Quin, then dropped to his knees, reaching for Quin’s zipper. "Can we do this now? We can wait if you really want, but I’ll be tired soon." He looked away, embarrassed. "I don’t have much magic, so crossing takes a lot out of me."

"Whoa, whoa, I thought we talked about this," Quin nearly squeaked, taking Sy’s hands and helping him stand. "We’ll discuss payment later. Just get some rest, alright?" He gave Sy a gentle smile.

"Alright," Sy said hesitantly, tugging off his boots and lining them up by the mattress. "No funny business, though." He left his clothes on as he slid under the covers. "I don’t want to wake up with a surprise cock or chains on my wrists..."

Quin snickered and shook his head. "Trust me, I’m not the type."

Sy let out a soft sigh at the comfort of a real mattress and pillow. His eyes drooped with sleep, and any distrust of the Unicorn was quickly forgotten.

Quin gently petted Sy’s head and pressed a soft kiss to the top of it. "Sleep well, little one," he whispered, then crossed to his own bed, stripped down to boxers, and climbed in. With a wave of his hand, the lights dimmed, leaving one slight glow in case Sy needed it during the night.