His husband wanted to think about her and didn’t want to use Rain for that. It was a considerate thought, and another reason Rain loved his husband. Rain had been that stand-in before, letting a male whisper some other name while they fucked. Rain had been younger and even hornier than he was now.
When Rain made it back to the camp, Lily was working on her little project again.
“He’s into you,” Rain said with a smirk. “We just talked, so if he approaches you on our way home or when we get back, just know that. I told him I’d warn you, so you didn’t think he was mad about Leria or anything like that.”
“Oh.” He watched her face turn, not the cute light pink but a bright red. “Rain!”
“It had to happen, and now is the perfect time.” He laid back, grinning. She climbed over him, glaring. They had done this before in front of others, so it wasn’t anything new. “You know you’re into him, and I’m tired of you two dancing around it.”
“What if I…wanted to surprise him?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.
“Would you have ever gotten the courage to?” Rain asked, blinking because he never considered that option.
“No…but really, you should have told me you were going to have that conversation.” She seemed so hurt, he felt something stab him in the heart and something else punched him in the gut.
“I…yeah, I should have,” Rain said, looking away. “Sorry.”
“You’ve been more focused on Alchan and me than you have…” She looked up and gestured at the palace behind him. He had purposefully put it behind him when he sat down. “I think you’re avoiding this.”
“That…” Rain felt the thing he didn’t want to feel—fear. “Let’s not talk about that.”
“We’ve been on the road for nearly two months, Rain,” she huffed. “You need to talk about it. He’s your husband.”
“No,” Rain growled. That topic wasn’t up for discussion.
“I think he does, too,” Alchan purred from behind Lily. “This is cute, by the way, but if we’re going to have a serious conversation, maybe it should be done sitting up.” Rain looked around Lily to see Alchan, looking down at them, something incredibly aroused in his eyes.
Lily practically jumped off him, bowing to Alchan once she was stable and not about to crash into the ground.
“I’m sorry. I know he’s yours—”
“I know it’s innocent,” Alchan said, looking to the sky as if he was praying. “Rain’s not even hard, and believe me, if he was even remotely interested, he would be ready to go.”
This time Rain blushed, but he also laughed. “Yeah. I’ll give you that.”
Alchan smiled at him, then sat down, staring at the palace above Rain’s head.
“It’s tradition that the next ruler trying to claim the power should meditate until they are ready. The longest a queen has meditated has been nine days. After dinner, I’m going in. If I survive, I’ll come back. If I die…you’ll know it.”
Rain felt his heart seize as he sat up. Lily gasped.
“Alchan…”
“Rain, listen to me. If I die, you will take Lily back to the village. You will collect all of her things, then take her to Kerit. You will get her out of Anden before everything ends.”
“Of course.”
“I won’t ask you to leave Anden. I want you to, but I know…Your father will stay and fight to the death. So will Luykas, and Nevyn, and Varon…all of them. So, I won’t order you to go, okay? You…”
Rain blinked back tears as Alchan gave him the free will to die with his family.
“Thank you,” Rain whispered. Alchan only nodded, then pointed at the pot, making Lily jump into action. She checked the food and looked between them.
“It’s ready,” she whispered.
Alchan served everyone, moving Lily out of his way. He ate silently, and the sun was down by the time they were all finished.
It was time.
Rain stood and waited. Alchan first looked at Lily, his mouth trying to form words, finally breaking and kissing the female’s cheek. It left her with that insane red blush and speechless. When Alchan turned on Rain, his eyes were hot.
He stormed into Rain’s space and grabbed him, consuming Rain in the flames of passion. The kiss was fierce and real, telling Rain everything Alchan thought he needed to hear.
“I love you,” Alchan whispered harshly as he pulled away. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” Rain tried to choke out, his body controlled by the tears he tried to hold back.