Tan

Tan was giddy with his success. Not only had he successfully infiltrated Devan’s bed—go, him!—but he’d been sincerely thanked. Devan had thanked him without prompting and even agreed to be allies with him. Would the wonders of the world never cease? He even got cuddles!

Really, those sincere words meant a lot to him. Tan was rarely thanked like this, which was part of it, but having Devan thank him took it to a whole new level. Tan still vividly remembered the first time he’d met Devan, not that Devan seemed to remember it. Well, granted, at the time he’d been a nobody, a sorcerer just past his training. Devan was a new knight then, his reputation just beginning to build. It had been one of those turning moments for Tan, though, as he watched this knight circumvent the law in order to protect those in need. He’d found the man wholly attractive because of that and the crush had stuck since.

Now that Devan was in his sphere, trusting him like this, Tan absolutely refused to let go of him. Devan thought of him as a dependable ally. That was fine. For now. Let it be a building block of what they would become.

Tan dared to slip a hand around the man’s waist and under Devan’s hand. In his slumber, he latched on, gripping Tan’s hand like a child would a security blanket. It was so cute. Why was the man so cute? It severely damaged Tan’s already fragile willpower.

Not that he was doing much to shore it up.

Usually Tan asked for practical things as payment. Things that paid the bills or gave him much needed spell ingredients. Devan was the first and only he’d demanded cuddles from, but Tan must say, they were absolutely delightful. Good payment system. He’d use it more going forward. He was so utterly giddy with success and high on cuddles, it took Tan forever to fall asleep. Tan did so while still curled up against Devan’s back, breathing in that warm body pressed close. His dreams were all happy scenes and steamy kisses.

No guesses on who the star of his dreams was.

The dreams were so nice that it was hard to pull himself out of them. When he finally managed to wrestle his eyes open, it was to see an empty space in the bed. Devan, the rat fink, had escaped at some point.

Never mind that it was morning and clearly time to get up. That was beside the point. Tan hadn’t gotten either morning kisses or cuddles, dammit. THAT was the point.

Grumbling, he threw back the covers and stomped back into his own room across the hall. Fine. Fine, be that way. Devan might be a workaholic, but Tan wasn’t. He’d win the knight over to the idea of morning cuddles eventually.

He washed up, changed into the dashing and formfitting black pants that made his ass look amazing, followed by the white shirt and red vest that did wonderful things for his skin, and pulled his boots on. The slimming black jacket went on over top. There, he looked good. His magic was mostly recovered too, so he was back in action. He still had days yet with Devan because the man had been ousted for seven days by that bitchy princess. Surely he could convince Devan to stay until he was due back.

Skipping down the hall, seduction plans whirling in his mind, Tan went downstairs, hunting for Devan in particular, people in general. Where or where had his white knight gone~ Oh where oh where could he be~

Ah, there he was, talking to the mayor. Tan got around the bend in the hallway to realize that, in fact, the first group of people were almost ready to go, the back part still gathering in the large portation circle just outside his back door. Well, well, color him not surprised that Devan had been busy while he snoozed.

Tan skipped right up to Devan, threw both arms around his waist, and snuggled up against his broad back.

“—shouldn’t take long,” Devan was saying, only to cut himself off. “Speak of the devil, here he is. Tan?”

“I’m still suffering from SCD and how dare you deprive me of morning cuddles.” Tan tightened his hold, snuggling in against Devan’s side as much as he could.

Devan ignored this. Really, one would think he’d spent the majority of his adult life ignoring outlandish statements. “The first wave is almost ready to go. Hans has breakfast waiting on you.”

Tan didn’t even try to let go. “I want cuddles first.”

“We don’t have time for cuddles. Go eat.”

“Cuddles.”

“No.”

“Cuddles.”

“No.”

“Cuddles.”

Devan wiped a hand over his face. “Why are you so incredibly stubborn? We don’t have time for cuddles, Tan. What will you take that isn’t cuddles so I can get your ass in motion?”

Well, that didn’t take more than a second of thought. Tan lifted his head and pursed his lips hopefully. “Morning kiss.”

The mayor hid a snicker behind his hand. Quite poorly, too.

Devan rolled his eyes, possibly prayed for patience, and then caught Tan’s head with one hand. He leaned down enough to smack a kiss against Tan’s forehead.

“Kissed. Go.”

Well damn. Tan had not actually expected that to work. Wrong spot, but that was his fault, he’d forgotten to specify. Beaming at him, Tan let go and airily skipped away. “Thanks darling, be back in a moment!”

“Wait, Tan, you’re recovered enough to portal, right?” Devan called to his back.

Tan whirled to walk backwards, beaming. “All good. No worries.”

Then he turned and skipped for the kitchen.

Behind him, he heard the two men pick the conversation back up.

“It’s alright if you’re really courting, Sir Knight,” the mayor assured him.

“I assure you, it would not be, and we aren’t. He’s just an incredibly terrible tease. Now, where were we?”

Tease, eh? Oh, Tan would prove that he wasn’t teasing.

Tan was the epitome of a good boy as he ate his breakfast and portaled people home again. Devan lined them up after Tan took a group, so that he had them all ready to go when he returned. It was an incredibly efficient system. On the final wave, the mayor went with them. He was short on daylight at this point, so portaling home again was a priority, but Tan spared a few minutes to settle things first.

He caught the guard captain, mayor, and Devan before they could be pulled away.

“No, no, gentlemen. I have things for you. First of all, Mayor, I’m not about to abandon this town after I spent so much energy protecting it. With your permission, I want to take you under my protection.”

The mayor startled visibly, jaw dropping. “You’d do that? But we can’t pay you.”

Tan waved this away. “I need no payment. It’s personal, now. If those damn barbarians dare to return, I want to make sure they get nothing but pain in return. I happen to like all of you. You’re mine now.”

“Think of it like being adopted by a particularly lethal cat,” Devan advised him. “You’ve no choice in the matter but at least you’ll be well protected.”

The mayor looked happy about this. He took Tan’s hand in both of his and smiled hard enough his crow’s feet had crow’s feet. “Thank you. So much. After all that’s happened, it’s nice to know who our true friends are.”

“Too right, there. Now, in the spirit of things, I’ve got two gifts for you. First, I’ll return in about a week to put up a proper ward around the whole town. It’ll take me a good week’s worth of work to get it up, so be prepared to house me for several days, alright?”

“You’ll have the best room at the inn, I promise you.”

“Splendid. Now, second gift.” Tan pulled out the little mirror on a chain and handed it over to the mayor. To the outside viewer, it looked much like a pocket watch, as it would pin to a man’s coat lapel. It did not, of course, match appearances. “This is a charmed mirror. It has direct access to one of my mirrors and is the surest way to communicate with me. If there is anything wrong—I stress anything—you are to call me immediately. Guard Captain, one for you as well. Any sign of trouble, or if you have another fire like the last one, anything like that. Call me, alright?”

The guard captain took his with a bow of thanks. “Thank you, Sorcerer. I’ll use it well.”

“As you should. Good, I’ll let us all go home now. I’m running out of daylight.”

There were thanks and even a hug—as in, Tan hugged them because hugs, yes—and then Tan whisked he and Devan back to the castle. He was magically tired after all of that, of course, but not tired enough he was on the verge of collapse. He’d definitely need to properly rest for a few days after this. His magical core wasn’t anywhere near full strength. It’s why he said he’d be back in a week to build that ward. He didn’t have the strength to do it right now.

Devan eyed him in worry. “Are you alright? That was a lot of magic use.”

“I’m definitely feeling it, too, but I won’t collapse on you. Some food, sleep, more cuddles, I’ll be right as rain.”

Devan did seem relieved even as he shook his head. “More cuddles, huh? Alright, good, I don’t want to drive you into the ground again.”

Before Devan could do more than turn for the castle, Tan caught his arm.

“I have something for you, too.”

Devan eyed him sideways. “I’m afraid to ask what.”

Tan slipped the ring off his thumb and took Devan’s hand, intending to put it on.

Devan clenched his fingers shut. “Uh. No. You’re not giving me a ring, especially not on that finger.”

How dare he thwart Tan’s cunning plan. He’d totally sized the ring so that it would be on the ring finger and make it look like Devan was taken. (He was, he just didn’t know it yet.)

Tan pulled on his most innocent expression, blinking up into that frustrated face. “So you don’t want protection against enemy spells?”

Devan hesitated, golden brown eyes darting back to the ring. “Is that what that does?”

“It also protects against fire, severe weather like lightning, and plagues. You sure you don’t want it?”

Look at that willpower crumbling into dust. Ah, so satisfying.

“Dammit,” Devan muttered. He was already resigned. “But does it have to be that finger?”

“It does,” Tan assured him solemnly.

Growling, Devan hesitated another second before opening his hand again and letting Tan slip the ring on. It was a perfect fit, too.

“This also lets you communicate with me, much like the mirror does. Just say my full name and it will get my attention.” Tan linked hands with him, smiling up at him as he did so. “Just so you don’t have to ride eight hours to get my help.”

“My sore back appreciates it.” Devan eyed the ring curiously. “Did you have this lying around or did you make it for me?”

“Little of both. I already had the ring, I just tweaked it last night so it had more protection spells on it. See? Aren’t you glad I adore you?”

“I take it I’ve been adopted too.”

“There’s no hope for you either. You can’t get rid of me. I like you too much.”

Devan just shook his head. He didn’t seem that bothered by it, though. He was smiling at Tan like he found him amusing. Maybe adorable.

Tan could totally work with adorable.

Devan retrieved his hand and turned for the castle. “I promise to use it. For now, though, I best leave in the morning—”

“What!” Squawking, Tan hurried after him. “No, you can’t!”

“You’re only saying that because you want to keep sneaking into my bed.”

“I’m still suffering from SCD, I’ll have you know. It’ll take days to cure me. Days! How dare you leave me while I’m languishing so.”

“I’m just curious, are you ever aware of how ridiculous you sound?”

“Deeeeevan! Don’t leave me! You have three days before you have to be back at the castle anyway, right? Wouldn’t you rather stay here, relax, eat delicious things, and have me to entertain you?”

Ha, he did look tempted for a second. Those chiseled features actually looked wistful at the idea of relaxing. Tan redoubled his efforts.

“I have an underground natural hot spring you can sit and soak in. I’ll even rub oil into those lovely muscles for you afterward.”

Truly, seriously tempted now. Ha! Devan was not as eager to go home as he claimed to be.

Devan paused at the back door, holding it open for Tan even as he challenged, “It won’t look good if someone sees me coming out of this castle after several days of staying here. A white knight of the realm isn’t supposed to be vacationing in a black sorcerer’s castle. You have that adventurer’s town not far, right? Odds are good of someone catching me here if I linger.”

Tan countered this readily. “I can portal you to outside the capital’s limits so no one can track you back here. If you leave now, though, you run the risk of the princess putting you to work on some other screwup. I think you deserve a vacation, don’t you?”

That offer hooked him as nothing else would. Devan looked away, calculating, then shrugged. “Fine. It can’t hurt to lay low here instead of at home.”

Ha! Tan patted himself on the back for a round won.

He’d be so good to Devan the man would never want to leave. Just wait. He totally had this.