Page 51 of Search for the Lost

18

Leopold

Considering that he was made of Chaos, Leo should have been handling all of this better. But in a very short time, he’d gained new insight about his mother—and had basically reconnected with her for the first time since he was a little kid. He’d thought his beloved was dying. And then he’d abruptly switched back into his own body, which was both as comfortable as his favorite couch and also felt weird after living several days as fae.

As a result of all the mayhem, he could probably be forgiven for feeling dizzy. Especially since that kiss—Love’s True Kiss—had stolen pretty much all of his oxygen. But still, he thought he should be doing something more productive than swaying on his feet and gaping.

Luckily, nobody seemed impatient with him. Mom II patted his shoulder, murmuring motherly things about how handsome he was and how proud she was of him, and Minkis chittered soothingly in his ear. Even Aspin nodded slowly at him. Crispin, meanwhile, gazed at him with eyes that glowed with love. Literally glowed, but not in a monster-in-the-dark way. More of a glowing-embers-when-you’re-shivering way. Plus there were occasional little sparkles, like when one anime character falls for another.

Leo enjoyed being looked at that way. Not only that, but at the moment he was surrounded by… supportive people. Which was a new experience for him and, he decided, a pretty damned nice one. He’d spent most of his life on his own. He’d done okay, considering. He rarely felt sorry for himself. But man, it was good to know that others had your back. That they cared about you.

The fog of confusion melted away under all that brightness, and Leo squeezed Crispin’s hand. “I love you, you know.”

Crispin continued to beam. “I know. I never had any doubts, and now we have absolute proof.” He held his chin high, the tips of his pointed ears just a tiny bit pink, and he looked like the epitome of fae royalty. “And I am the luckiest being in all the worlds, Leopold Lane. You are beautiful and complex and strong and kind and forgiving, and I love you so much I can hardly bear it.”

They kissed again. How could they not? This kiss didn’t break any curses or cause any magical transformations, but it did something even better: it filled Leo with the purest joy imaginable, a happiness so intense and glorious that all other happinesses could only look on with admiration and envy. It was perfect.

And if Leo’s life had been a story—one of those romantasies with a title like The Coat Closet of Smog and Crabgrass—this would be the last page, with THE END in a swirly cursive font with a little drawing of a palace or roses or something underneath it.

But this was real life, and Aspin made a rude noise. “Get a room,” he said. “Or better yet, remember that we’re on a quest, and that quest doesn’t involve finding someone’s tonsils with your tongue.”

Leo was too happy to be mad at him for interrupting. Besides, he’s right. There was business to attend to. And the longer they lingered, the more likely something weird and disruptive would happen. So he took a half step away from Crispin, keeping one hand on his shoulder, and nodded.

For once, Crispin didn’t argue with his brother. He nodded too. “It’s well past time we had a conversation with Mother. Before she can do more mischief.”

Although Leo had a high tolerance for hijinks, shenanigans, and carryings-on, he would have classified the most recent events as more than simple mischief. He didn’t say so, however, in part because it was a major turn-on to see his beloved turn all In Charge. Leo would have to remember to tell him that when they next had some private time. And the sooner they completed their quest, the faster they’d get to that private time.

Leo realized he was missing the treehouse, with its shelves containing neat collections of books and fae knickknacks, with the shower that never ran out of hot water and had a magical foot-massaging floor, with the excellent crumpet shop just three trees down. And with the bed that resembled a very comfortable nest exactly the right size for him and Crispin.

“We’re going to make this work,” he said with complete confidence.

Crispin looked slightly confused. “Finding Mother?”

“No. I mean yeah, that too. But I meant us.” Leo waved a hand back and forth between them. “Me and you.”

Crispin’s gaze went soft. “You were worried about that.”

“Yeah. Because, well, I’ve never been in a serious relationship with anyone. Nothing has lasted past the second date, in fact. And we’re kinda… opposites.” Understatement of the year. “Plus you have all sorts of life goals and responsibilities, while I’m just sort of hanging around. And I’m a mess.”

“No.” Still looking regal, Crispin caught Leo’s chin. “We’re not opposites. We’re like complementary colors, each of us more vivid when he’s with the other. You’ve provided companionship to me when we’re home, you’re certainly a valuable partner during our adventures, and I’m positive that given five seconds of peace and quiet, you’ll discover your ambitions. And Leo, you are not a mess.”

Probably more kissing would have ensued, but Aspin made some more noises. Whatever. Leo’s heart—and one or two other important body parts—was swollen with love, and that was good enough for now.

“We’re going to need improved attire,” Aspin announced. He turned to Mom II. “Do you have gold-embroidered tunics here in my size? I prefer mine to be of emerald-green silk, although I can settle for turquoise if necessary.”

Mom II rolled her eyes. “I’m fresh out of tunics, honey. I’ve got a sweatsuit that might fit you, though. The shirt has my favorite superhero on it.”

Aspin looked horrified and spoke in a choked voice. “That’s… erm, that’s very…. No thank you.”

“Why do you think you need better clothes?” Crispin asked. In Leo’s estimation, Crispin already knew the answer, but wanted to hear Aspin say it.

“Because Vexhall has a dress code, of course. I know they sometimes let it slide for, well, lesser folk, but as members of the Moss’caladin family, it behooves us to⁠—”

“We’re not going to Vexhall.”

Now Aspin seemed confused. “But Mother adores that place.”

Crispin shook his head vigorously. “She likes to go there sometimes, yes, but only with her entourage and when she wants people making a fuss over her. Which she doesn’t right now. And anyway, you might remember that Vexhall was left in, um, some disarray after Leo and I visited. I doubt they’ve finished rebuilding.”