heat. He followed Radek and Emil into a bright interior made up of natural wood. Pine was his best guess, judging by the pale color of the simple furniture, which had been produced by local craftsmen.
Green potted plants and bunches of dried herbs and flowers hung from the beams dotted the interior, which was otherwise sparsely decorated. Yev spotted some photos, a watercolor of a mountainous landscape, a caroling mask, and a wooden sculpture showing the devil in a contemplative pose on the mantelpiece, but that was that.
Emil took their drink orders and walked off to the kitchen, leaving Radek and Yev to sit by the table and watch the crackling fire.
Yev cleared his throat.
“We don’t have to stay long,” Radek whispered, looking up at him. “But I really want that cake.”
Yev tried not to scowl, because he did realize his jealousy made no sense. “It’s just… weird, you know. You and him.”
Radek bit his lip, and his eyes spoke of amusement when Coal tucked his head under Radek’s hoodie. “Is it? Are you not still friends with any of the guys you used to fool around with?”
Yev shrugged. “They were never my friends. Didn’t want to get attached,” he said softly and followed the pattern of the wood on the table top with the tip of his finger.
Radek sat closer until their shoulders kissed. “Well, you have me now. And Emil has Adam. And even if he didn’t, I’d choose you.” The fire danced in Radek’s golden eyes, reflecting more warmth than the flames ever could.
Sparks flickered in Yev’s chest, and only sheer willpower kept him from asking, Really? You would?
He smiled and gently moved his hand under the table, about to touch Radek’s thigh when teeth closed around his fingers out of nowhere. It hurt a bit, so he leaned back, staring at the black muzzle closed on his digits. “Someone’s jealous.”
Radek laughed and petted Coal’s black head. “Hey… It’s Yev who carried you out of that terrible place, remember?”
One brown eye glanced up at Yev, but Coal took his time thinking things through before he let go of Yev’s finger. He made a little whine that had Radek’s face falling.
“I know, I’ll take care of it,” Radek said, still stroking the black fur.
“What did he say?” Yev asked as he placed his hand on Radek’s warm thigh at last.
“He’s asking about the other foxes. And he’s right. Even if I can’t end global fur trade, I need to do something about this farm. I owe it to them.”
Yet the way he slouched made Yev want to take over all the responsibilities pushing his shoulders down. But it was a good thing that Radek was starting to realize he could not hide his head in the sand forever.
Yev pulled him close and kissed the fluff on his head, eyes closed as he relaxed against this boy, who made him feel so illogically protective. “You know I’ll help you, right?”
Radek nodded and smiled at Coal. “Hear that, sweetie? We’re not on our own. It will take time, but I’ll work it out.”
“You guys… need a minute?” Emil asked, and Yev pulled away from Radek as if lightning had hit the bench between their hips. Intense heat flooded his face, but refusing to look up did not help, because he still saw two pairs of legs of the men, who very obviously walked in on them hugging.
Radek’s cheeks inflated like two red balloons, and he squinted at Yev with the what-to-do? question written all over his forehead.
Unsolicited revelations about the nature of their relationship were not coming this time. Yev knew there was no point in lying when both their hosts were gay. He’d never been in this situation before. He’d always been in queer spaces on his own terms. Here—everything felt out of his control, but he needed to be a man about it. “No, it’s fine. We’re… a thing.”
“Told you,” Adam said, even though he’d only ever seen Yev in passing. His short hair was the color of sun-kissed wheat, his eyes blue like the sky in the summer, and the loaf he was holding smelled of vanilla, and yeast, and butter, and sported the most glorious layer of crumbs at the top. And while there was nothing strange about him, Yev sensed a weird jolt under his skin when their gazes met.
Radek released the breath he was holding and his face lit up. "How would you know?"
Adam shrugged as he put the cake on the table. "Oh,