Sleep was a strange thing. To Coradiel, watching someone else sleep was a stranger occurrence.

  Particularly when the subject was an amurrun who was afraid of closing his eyes.

  His house was secure against invasion. Arlo could rest easy here for a little longer before they had to move. Coradiel had already prepared for their exodus. A bag of necessities sat beside the front door, and Diane and Jack waited to be saddled for the day.

  And still he let Arlo sleep.

  The amurrun was beautiful, laying in his bed. The sheets rose and fell with his breaths, and his whiskers twitched lightly in his dreams. He was naked under the comforter, of course; Coradiel had bathed him as well before tucking him into bed the previous night. The paladin had no idea what he’d been through that left him so exhausted, but Coradiel was more than happy to care for him for the night.

  The amurrun stirred. An arm twitched under the covers. The smallest tent lifted the sheets, drawing Coradiel’s attention. Someone had had a good dream. That thought made Coradiel irrationally happy. Who knew what the dream had actually been about? But he wanted to believe it had been about him. Arlo had been frosty toward him for the longest time, but he was starting to warm up. He hugged Coradiel — wasn’t that sign enough that things had changed? Their first time having sex had felt more like a hate fuck — which had unnerved Coradiel until Arlo had done it again; it seemed the amurrun was just a little rough in bed.

  But since those first couple of days in Magnimar, they’d been distant, sleeping alone, staying apart at night. Coradiel was ready to break that streak. He had done everything he could think of to show Arlo what he wanted. But Arlo needed to make the next move.

  “Where… I slept…?”

  “For close to ten hours,” Coradiel provided. “You needed the rest. You were exhausted last night. We’re in my house, and it is eight in the morning. Breakfast has been prepared: a simple affair of scrambled eggs and sausage.”

  “I’m naked,” Arlo said, glancing under the covers. “Did you undress me?”

  “No, you undressed yourself,” Coradiel denied. “I merely bathed you and tucked you into bed.”

  “And we didn’t… do anything? Where did you sleep?” the amurrun asked suspiciously.

  “I slept in the same bed as you. But no, we did not have sex. I refuse to have sex with someone who is unconscious; they can’t say yes or no. And you were far too tired last night, regardless. But!” Coradiel smiled brightly, approaching the bed. “I haven’t said my prayers yet this morning. Would you like to join me?”

  Arlo was silent. Coradiel’s heart sank… but what did he expect? It was too soon still. Maybe someday the amurrun would be comfortable with him, but-

  “Does it have to be vanilla?”

  “Excuse me?” Vanilla… what the fuck was… wasn’t that a spice of some kind? What did that have to do with sex?

  “Does it have to be vanilla? You know… like, do we have to just… masturbate, or suck on each other? Because that’s really all we’ve done,” Arlo said.

  “Uh… no, it doesn’t have to be,” Coradiel replied. “Was… was there some other way you wanted to do it?”

  “Well, hanging you upside down by your toes probably won’t work,” Arlo said with a grin.

  “No, I daresay that wouldn’t work well at all.” Coradiel laughed. “Look at you, being all playful. Here I thought you’d be terrified if I asked you to join me.”

  “Who, me? I’ve faced down man-eating ghouls. Why would I be afraid of sex?”

  “You are afraid, aren’t you?” Coradiel sucked in a breath. He reached forward, cupping a hand to Arlo’s cheek. “There’s nothing to be scared of. We’ve done this before, remember? No one cares. No one is going to hurt you.”

  His hand fell, sliding down Arlo’s face to brush against his neck. Pulling at the covers, Coradiel slowly bared Arlo’s torso, one centimetre at a time.

  “You have an amazing body,” the aiuvarin murmured. “There is no need for shame, not with me. Not with anyone. Enjoy what you enjoy, and I will consider myself blessed to share in that.”

  Leaning forward, Coradiel kissed Arlo’s neck. He heard the amurrun gasp, but Arlo lifted his jaw uncertainly, granting Coradiel further access to his throat. Coradiel kissed along his jugular, nipping lightly at the loose skin. His mouth came away with fur, but Coradiel didn’t mind — it was all part of loving his partner.

  “Tell me what you want,” he murmured into Arlo’s neck.

  “I… I don’t know. You’re so… You’re taking control. I’ve never… I always thought I… was supposed to be in control.”

  “Do you want to be?” Coradiel asked quietly, withdrawing to meet Arlo’s gaze. The amurrun glanced away but Coradiel caught his chin, redirecting his gaze back to the aiuvarin. “I would gladly offer my body for your use. You know I would.”

  “No….” Arlo blinked, his eyes closing for a full second. When they opened, an ounce of the fear Coradiel saw had vanished. “I don’t know what to do. All I know is… to have you suck my cock.”

  “Then that’s what I will do,” Coradiel said.

  His hand slid down Arlo’s body, and the amurrun shivered. Searching his eyes, Coradiel let his fingers drift across Arlo’s chest. Nothing. Even a light brush across a nipple produced little reaction.

  He went lower. Slipping his fingers under the pooling covers, Coradiel brushed against the catfolk’s hip. That produced a light hiss.

  “Good?” Coradiel asked.

  “Uh huh…”

  The aiuvarin peeled the covers back further. Slowly, more of Arlo’s body was revealed, until his cock bounced free of the fabric. Coradiel set a light hand to Arlo’s chest, pushing him back until the amurrun lay down on the bed.

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  “What are you-”

  Arlo gasped as Coradiel’s lips wrapped around his length. They remained frozen for a moment. Coradiel felt the precum dripping from Arlo’s slit, salty and sweet. It took everything he had not to lap at the liquid. But Coradiel wanted Arlo to want this.

  He pulled off slowly. Peering up at the amurrun, Coradiel found Arlo staring down at him.

  “Why’d you stop?”

  Chuckling softly, Coradiel pulled his shirt off.

  “Because it’s time for me to get more comfortable,” he said, slipping out of his pants.

  His own cock sprang free of the confines, smacking lightly against his stomach. Arlo’s eyes followed the shaft, and Coradiel’s smile widened. He approached the bed once more.

  “Is there something you’re craving? You’re rather meek right now. It’s an interesting change, though not unwelcome. I do enjoy a partner who can be so versatile in bed.”

  “I… I don’t think… I can’t do this….” Sitting up, Arlo pulled the covers back over himself. He curled up under them, draping the sheets around his shoulders to hide his body.

  “Is there a reason why?” Coradiel asked gently, sitting beside him on the bed. “Did I do something wrong?”

  Arlo shrugged. That was the only response he gave. It left Coradiel in a state of confusion. But Arlo was clearly saying no. Maybe he wasn’t ready yet.

  “When you’re ready, I am more than happy to have sex with you,” Coradiel said. “Why don’t you dress and head downstairs? You can get started on breakfast while I pray, then we’ll head to the Clocktower to find this Xanesha. Unless you have other plans for the day?”

  Arlo shook his head. He slid out of bed, searching for his clothes. Coradiel stared unabashedly, drinking in the amurrun’s body.

  “For what it’s worth, you taste and look amazing,” he said.

  Arlo grunted as he pulled up his pants. He reached for his shirt, only to be stopped by Coradiel.

  “I mean it,” the paladin said. “I love looking at you. Even with our differences, I love being around you. I would do anything I can to make you happy.”

  “I am happy.” Arlo buttoned his shirt and reached for his bag. “I just… I can’t do this.”

  “Why?” Coradiel asked again.

  Arlo shook his head. “It’s… do I really need a reason?”

  “Is it because of me?” Coradiel pressed. “Or are you really too afraid to have sex with me? We’ve already had sex; you tied me to the bed and had your way with my mouth. Multiple times.”

  “It was a mistake,” Arlo ground out. He crossed the room, throwing open the door. “I don’t want to have sex with you.”

  The door slammed shut, leaving Coradiel in a depressed daze.

  He couldn’t do it.

  The first time, Arlo had been drunk. The second and third times, he’d just figured he was already damned. But now? Now was different. He’d seen what gods could do in this universe. Arlo wasn’t damned anymore — he didn’t know what he was.

  He was a lich’s plaything. That was what he was. What would happen when he found this spellbook the lich was looking for? Arlo doubted he would be able to stay with Coradiel.

  What was he thinking? Of course he couldn’t stay with Coradiel! Arlo was being hunted by an entire church. He couldn’t keep bringing Coradiel into that feud. And having sex with the paladin would only hurt them both.

  “Pharasma, if you exist… call your church off.” He felt stupid talking to the air. As if any deity would listen to him, even if they were real.

  Arlo dropped into a seat, setting his head on the table before him. Why was this his fate? Was this his hell? Being close to a man who wanted him, yet knowing they could never truly be together?

  So be it.

  Grabbing his bag, the amurrun pulled out his spellbook. He spent the next hour copying spells into his book from the tome he’d stolen last night. Then Arlo turned his attention to the [Level Up] notification that had been flashing since his escape from the mill. It took a few minutes to figure out what new spells he wanted — Tier 3 spells had more utility than he’d ever hoped for. He ignored Coradiel when the aiuvarin finally came downstairs, focusing on preparing his daily spells instead.

  Breakfast was eaten in uncomfortable silence. As they prepared to leave, Coradiel finally broke the still.

  “I hope you can find someone you’re happy with. I’d like that to be me, but sex is a huge part of my life, and if you can’t participate, I don’t think we could be truly happy with each other.”

  “Can we skip the theatrics and just go back to hating each other?” It hurt. A lot. But Arlo had to stick to his guns. It would hurt a lot more if he didn’t.

  “Arlo, I never hated you. I do find it interesting that you seemed okay with what we were doing until I got undressed. What happened?”

  “I remembered that I hated nobles.”

  Coradiel fell blissfully silent, allowing Arlo to wallow in his pain. The more the aiuvarin pushed the more Arlo’s resolve wavered. He needed to put an end to this.

  So he stepped outside, into the bright morning air.

  And straight into a kobold holding a crossbow.

  “Wha-” An elf and a dwarf stood on either side of the kobold, weapons ready in their hands. Arlo groaned — they had him surrounded. If he even tried to reach for his musket, the amurrun didn’t doubt he’d be dead before he could touch it.

  “Arlo Green, you are under arrest for crimes against the church of Pharasma,” the kobold squeaked out.

  “Nice group you’ve got yourself, Kaesi. I’ll have to bury you deeper next time.”

  “You’ll be dead before your blow falls,” the elf snarled.

  “Sirio, right?” Arlo asked. “So… how many times do I have to kill you three before you’ll stay dead?”

  He felt Coradiel behind him. Arlo angled his body, making sure no part of the paladin was visible to Kaesi. Coradiel was not becoming a martyr.

  “What are you waiting for, then? Kill me and be done with it.”

  “Oh yeah, because shooting someone coming out of a noble’s house would go over real well with the guards,” the dwarf scoffed. “We’re taking you to the temple, where you’ll be executed for your crimes against Pharasma, and your judgement hastened.”

  “Great. Well, before you murder me, mind if we take a trip to the Shadow Clock first? The person responsible for all the ghouls in Sandpoint lives in there. A lamia by the name of Xanesha.”

  He tried to act cavalier about the whole thing. But clammy skin gave the lie to his bravado. He couldn’t see a way out of this. He was going to die. Again. But this time, he didn’t want to die.

  “You. Coradiel. Is this true?” Kaesi demanded, her voice squeaking in her new body. If she wasn’t currently holding a crossbow to Arlo’s nuts, he’d think it was adorable.

  “Indirectly responsible, but yes. She is the mastermind behind several murders in both Sandpoint and Magnimar,” Coradiel offered.

  “Fine.” Raising a polished obsidian stone to her lips, Kaesi murmured, “Arlo Green is in custody. Backup requested at the Shadow Clock immediately.”

  “What, you’re a cop now?” Arlo snickered, trying to keep a brave face on. Backup… What backup? He could get away from this — Arlo was certain his spells could get him out of this mess. But what about Coradiel? How would Coradiel escape?

  With their weapons stowed for the moment, Arlo felt a little safer. Sure, he was still surrounded by people who wanted to kill him, with more on the way, heading to face a beast who also wanted him dead… but at least he had a modicum of control right now. A [Fly] spell would get them away safely. It took everything he had not to cast one and grab Coradiel. They needed to confront Xanesha, and that meant they needed to go where the Pharasmin Inquisition would be running to.

  There was no escape.