It was only when Maric tried to lift his head that Dara released he was still gripping his hair — and much too tightly — and abruptly let go. Maric rested his head against Dara’s thigh, looked up at him, and smiled.

“Thank you,” Dara said. He didn’t know what else to say.

Maric let out a huff of laughter that tickled over far too sensitive skin. “You’re welcome.”

“Do you want me to…?” Dara made a vague gesture with his hand.

“Ah, no.” Maric sat back on his knees and looked down. He was flaccid and there was evidence of his own release on his stomach. “I wasn’t looking to satisfy myself with this, but I have to say, having you fuck my mouth like that was something I hadn’t realised I would be so into until it was happening.”

“Oh,” Dara said, because… oh. “Well, I can do that for you. Apparently.”

“This was explicitly not supposed to be about what you can do for me. I hope that was clear.”

“I know. I didn’t think—” Dara bit back on a smile. “Actually, I didn’t think much of anything after a while.”

Maric smiled, open and proud. “Good. That was the idea.” He found an old rag on the table, wiped his stomach off, and then climbed onto the bed. As he lay down, he pulled Dara down with him and cuddled in against his side, Dara still completely clothed and Maric completely naked. “I’m tired.”

“Okay,” Dara said as he wrapped an arm around Maric and Maric snuggled closer. “Maric?”

Maric’s head lifted slightly. “Mm?”

“Can I stay with you?”

“I don’t know how we’re going to make this work, but I won’t give you away again, Dara. Not unless you ask me to.”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

“Okay,” Dara whispered back.

Maric was already half asleep, but Dara was wide awake, his magic a raging inferno deep in his gut that sent waves of heat out through the rest of his body every now and then. If Maric had been hurt right then, he was certain he would have been able to heal him. To harness that energy and shape it to his will.

He just needed an opportunity to test it, to prove it to himself before he had to finally be honest and tell Maric the full truth of what he was. Just one clean, pressure free attempt. Maybe next time they stopped for the night, he could ask to spend some time alone in the stables. The horses were well cared for, but he could surely find a few small scratches here and there to confirm his magic was within his reach.

And then he would have to tell Maric.

He had no idea how Maric would respond. Surely he would be happy to find out he owned something as rare and valuable as a healer. Dara had been told many times that there was nothing in this world worth more than a healer.

But there were feelings involved now; ones that were starting to run far deeper than Dara had ever anticipated. And they went both ways. Would Maric be angry? Would the nature of their relationship have to change?

As the fire in his belly began to settle, Dara pushed those thoughts away. He couldn’t let fear kill his nerve now. He needed his magic back.