Page 108 of The Prince's Fealty

Pel had an answering grimace. “Yeah, no, that’s definitely not happening. I hope your sister’s all right.”

Tor sighed, desperately wishing the same thing but confessing, “I think it’s going to take time for any of us to be all right.”

They’d been through a lot, and they’d been hurt by people they cared about, and they weren’t going to recover instantly. It helped a lot to be surrounded by people they trusted now, but it was still going to be an uphill battle.

Pel whispered, “I confess I didn’t see those two coming.”

Tor’s lips tipped up. “I had no idea… but now I’m assuming they wanted it that way. They were a bit standoffish when I’ve seen them interact, and I think I know Ada well enough to assume that was deliberate given who she was bonded to.”

They took a moment to digest that.

Tor frowned. “He’s definitely old enough to be her father, and I’m sure people will have all sorts of opinions given that he’s Thurnil’s father… but honestly, she’s been mothering Par and Hena for years, and I’ve already seen him take better care of her than Thurnil ever did.”

Not that that was necessarily the foundation for a marriage… but it wasn’tnota foundation, either.

Pel nodded slowly. “I can see that. Your stance on bonding actually makes a lot of sense now. You were still an ass.” His lips tipped up, and his expression was fond. “But Iunderstand better why you didn’t think anything would come of the two of us, why you thought it wouldn’t really affect me.”

Tor’s lips tipped up. “Thanks. But Ada’s also wasn’t the only example I had. I mean, look at my brother and Fernila. I picked the one that aligned best with my own goals, which wasn’t fair to anyone.”

Pel nodded and spoke around a yawn. “There are definitely lots of ways to make relationships work. Or not work.”

That was very true.

“We’re going to make ours work, right?” Tor asked.

Pel peered at him through sleepy eyes. “Of course we are.”

“Just double checking. There was kind of a lot of drama recently.”

Pel snorted. “I’m getting quite used to it. Don’t worry.”

Tor grinned and pressed a soft kiss to Pel’s lips. Pel made a happy sound and squirmed closer to him.

“So you’ll keep running interference with your brother?”

“If interference is required,” Tor agreed. “I can tell that he’s trying, which is amazing. There’s a lot to sort through. Ada deserves the very best.”

Pel kissed his nose. “You’re a very good man.”

Tor smiled at him. “I’m trying. It’s more complicated than I realized.”

Pel laughed. “I’m starting to get the feeling that everything worth doing is.”

“Fair point,” Tor acknowledged. Then he grinned. “Not sleep, though. Sleep is simple, right?”

Pel eyed him. “It really should be. But I have the feeling that you can make everything complicated.”

Tor smirked. “That’s definitely true.”

“Would it help if I stroked your hair?”

“Probably more than if you stroked anything else,” Tor said with a leer.

Pel rolled his eyes and reached out to ruffle Tor’s hair. He’d thought Pel’s was getting a bit long, but as Pel’s fingers sifted through his, Tor realized that he could probably do with a haircut soon, too. Mm. The rhythmic caresses were actually quite soothing.

He burrowed closer, and Pel’s fingers caressed his scalp.

Tor slept.