Chapter Seventy
Narayana looked around. "I expected something more ... opulent."
Envyss slipped off his shoes and socks as soon as he walked in, Ross not long after. Narayana tilted her head, Envyss nodded, she joined them, barefoot.
Envyss grinned. "It's Ross's place. He said that my tastes were... excessive. I still have rooms at the palace if I feel deprived."
Ross shook his head. "Your rooms look like ... " he looked over at Narayana and stopped.
Envyss laughed. "I don't live there. I live here."
"Then why..."
"Did I decorate it like ... how did you put it... 'a dream-tripper's brothel,' wasn't it?"
Ross choked, growled, "That's what I said."
Narayana giggled. Envyss said, "Sometimes I get tired of bare steel and concrete." Narayana looked around. Wood, textured wallpaper, thick carpets... "Not here. Work."
"Right. And it can't be softened. So you overreacted."
Envyss shot a look over at Ross. "It's not excessive. Except to someone who thinks _this_ is a bit borderline."
"I see." She looked from Envyss to Ross and back. "How long have the two of you been married?"
Ross, "I'm told it's been about a thousand years."
Narayana looked at Envyss, expecting him to finish the joke. No, but a fond smile, "Yes. About that. Some years are better than others, of course."
"Of course," Ross echoed. "Not to be rude, but... Envyss, why did you invite her home with us?"
"The security's better. She can sleep in my room -- I'm not going to be using it for a while."
Narayana, "I'm surprised you even have a separate room."
"More closet space. I'm a bit of a peacock. Compared to my partner. This way, Narayana. Let me find you something you can wear."
---
Envyss's room was a lot more what Narayana considered traditional hruss than the rest of the apartment. Envyss slid a curtain back. "You can fit into my clothes... This closet is fine. Don't go into the other ones."
"Slinky lingerie? Something more exotic?"
"Priestly vestments. I have ceremonial robes and other clothing here, both for myself and the Auryn Rhos. Anything in _this_ closet is fine for you to wear. Be content with it."
She ducked her head. "I meant no insult." Her hand went out, touched the fabric. "Do you want to pull some of it for yourself, to change out of uniform?"
"I've got clothes in Ross's closet for now. What else..." A wicked grin, "Explore if you like, don't open any locked doors. Have fun in the kitchen. There's a list of food delivery places by the phone -- feel free."
"You're going to disappear for a few hours."
Big grin, "Yes."
"A thousand years? And you're still behaving like honeymooners?"
"He's special. What we have is special."
She laughed. "What you have is a husband who is going to be knocking on the door in a moment wondering what we're doing in here. Go. Go take care of him."
---
Ross was still in the living room. "Do you want to eat first?" Envyss asked.
Not quite a grin. Then Ross leaned over and scooped Envyss up into his arms. In self-preservation, Envyss threw his arms around his partner's neck. "It's not food I've been without for days."
Collision with the doorframe was avoided -- barely. Ross kicked the door closed behind them. "Lock it."
"Why?"
"Because I told Narayana not to open any locked doors."
"If she wants to watch, that's _her_ problem." Three strides across the room, and both of them onto the bed. "Welcome home."
---
"Are you still conscious?"
"Still? No. Back. I lost it for a little while..." Ross stretched, moving against his partner's body. Hands, mouth...
"Good. You know they're not going to let me go up again."
Ross stopped nibbling long enough to say, "I can insist."
Envyss put his hand on his partner's chest. "No. The stress would kill you. It's not worth it. I can wait until we can both go."
"That's going to be a couple of years."
"I'm not leaving you." Then, in archaic hruss, "I serve the Auryn Rhos."
Ross laughed, nervously. "Someone is going to hear that some day and come to all kinds of conclusions."
Merrily, "Oh, I don't think that's going to be a problem. Anyone who speaks the archaic forms knows what that service is."
Ross nodded. "But I should be trying to keep the stavehleth happy, too, to be fair." Then something from one of the old records, "You are the guardian of my heart and my soul."
Envyss murmured the response, "It is my joy and honor to serve." He watched Ross, pupils dilating.
Yes. It wasn't going to hurt Ross to indulge him, and the deep satisfaction it would bring to Envyss's heart... And they had plenty of time to do it. There was a specific ritual, when the two were mates. Specific trigger words, and a ritual kiss pattern. "By this are you sealed to me." Kiss on the forehead, on each eye, and then on the lips.
Ross expected disbelief -- he had fought the idea for years. But Envyss didn't even change the rhythm of his breathing. "I claim my rose."