pay for their tickets to the fights.
Moments such as now. Bacoj skewered Japohn with a steady scrutiny that wordlessly demanded an answer. It was a silent command the Nobek couldn’t fight against.
Japohn swallowed, hating to admit to his greatest weakness. “I don’t work well with others.”
“As you’ve said.” Vax patted his knee.
“And?” Bacoj made that single word a ruthless interrogation.
“It’s just that after spending the last hours with you two, I wish I could do better. I have no hope of winning clanmates, at least not men like you. I’m trying not to think about it.” Japohn used scanning the crowd as an excuse to escape the Dramok’s stare.
“I’m certain you’d do fine with a clan.” Sweet Vax, who was relentless when it came to lifting everyone’s spirits.
“I’d do everything in my power to keep my clan safe, if I were so lucky.”
“Luck has little to do with proving your worth. You’ve proved it to us. It’s too bad the war will send you where we won’t be.”
Japohn turned to the Imdiko with surprise. “Really? You’d give a man like me that kind of chance?”
“Not a man like you. You.”
Bacoj’s jaw tensed. “It’s early to be thinking along those lines. We’ve known Japohn for all of a day.”
“During which he kept me from getting my throat cut, and you from who can imagine what sort of awful death. Karil wouldn’t have let you off without trying to kill you too.” Vax favored the Dramok with his most adoring smile. “You have to admit, a day isn’t much longer than you and I have been with each other. We three connect well.”
Bacoj’s assuredness showed hints of crumbling. “So far, yeah. But as you said, we’re about to be separated from Japohn. Maybe for months. Who can say what could happen in that amount of time?”
“True. So let’s invite Japohn to look us up after the war and go from there.” Vax snuggled against Bacoj, kissing his cheek, appealing to him with that underhanded sweetness he wielded all too well. “What can it hurt to reconnect later down the line? Remember, this is coming from the guy who was all about career before clan.”
Bacoj’s slight scowl told Japohn he was wise to Vax’s machinations. The Imdiko was pushing him away rather than bringing him around to his point of view.
Japohn would have to expose the bald truth, no matter how clumsily he spoke it, or how humiliating it would be if Bacoj rejected him for it. “Bacoj is right, Vax. It’s early to be discussing any long-term relationship. But I can’t help but think about it.” He hunched, meeting Bacoj’s gaze as he did so, willing him to not find him ridiculous. “I saw you at breakfast yesterday, before your run-in with Karil. I couldn’t stop watching you. It’s as if something in me knew—ah, forget it. I don’t know anything.”
It was too much to tell them after all. Japohn knew exactly what he’d felt the moment he’d seen them—an instant infatuation. The ridiculous but insistent notion that Bacoj and Vax might be all he’d ever wanted in lifelong companions. He’d rushed through his breakfast and the conversation with Lomek so he could leave the inn and catch sight of them on the street.
Vax beamed at him. Imdikos fell in love easily, or so Japohn had been told. If it were up to Vax, they’d all three be well on the path to clanship.
Bacoj, though—the remote cautiousness was firmly in position. He couldn’t be blamed for that reluctance. In his place, Japohn wouldn’t have believed a word of his admission either. Yet it hurt to see Bacoj didn’t feel what Japohn did. With so little time to prove himself, it was doubtful Japohn would convince him of it.
He was astounded when the Dramok released a breath, relaxing a touch. “Courtship is worth considering. We can stay in contact. If we’re all still of a mind to do so, we can get together after the war.”
It was a chance, the most Japohn could ask for. His tone warm with gratitude, he said, “I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”
Bacoj smiled and shrugged. Before any further conversation could happen, the lights lowered, and the announcer stepped in the middle of the fighting circle to introduce the next bout.
The fight got underway, the fighters landing punches and kicks that reverberated in the air. Bacoj had no idea if it was a good match or not. His mind was far from the contest. Vax had made his feelings