by Toby Aden
“So Funchent, huh?”
Chapter Eight
Finc whipped his head to stare at his mate in shock. “H-How…how did you know?”
Galen chuckled and then nodded to the desk, and though the books were not visible from where they sat on the couch since it was on the other side, Finc immediately understood. “I saw your work.”
“Oh,” Finc breathed, flustered, and ran a hand over through the slowly drying strands on his head.
“Yes.” Galen moved back on the couch, lifted one leg, and then folded it on the seat in front of him, one hand casually swung over the couch as he positioned himself so that he was staring directly at his mate. “Want to tell me about it?”
Finc shrugged his shoulders. “There’s not much to tell.”
“How about why you write and how you started?”
“Well, I-It was a way for me to get out of my own reality, you know. Just a way to get away. To be consumed by something else. I did not intend to have my books out at stores, but my best friend, Jory, convinced me to send the book to one of our popular bookshop in the area. He kept badgering me about it until I just gave in to him to shut him up,” Finc said, smiling as he remembered the memory of how it had happened. “When the bookshop owner told me that he really loved the story and had been completely sucked in by it, I did not believe him at first. I thought he had only been saying that to not offend Jory and my family, but I explained to him that no one in my family knew I was the one who wrote the book or that I even write.” Finc shrugged. “I thought it would make him more amenable to telling the truth, but he kept insisting that he wanted to see what happened next in the book, and even his wife wanted to read the next one and had not given him any peace until he promised to get her the next one. It was then I finally believed him.”
“And you wrote another one and gave it to him?”
“Yes.”
“How long did it take to get it out?”
“Well, I already had a few of them written, though not on good quality papers. It was just something to amuse me and while away the time, you see. So all I had to do was give him the next book to read, and then he declared that he would invest in me. I was reluctant at first because there was no guarantee it would not all be for nothing, you understand. But he and Jory would not let off until I agreed to write out thirty of each book onto fine quality paper. I told them that I did not want anyone and my family especially to know about this, so together, we came up with a name to go with the books. The shopkeeper gave me the ink and the paper, and it took me a long time to get it all transferred and at Jory’s prompting, a little while longer to make up a drawing to match my ideas.” Finc smiled once more. “When I delivered the finished work to him, he was so impressed by them that even scared of failure and reluctant to put myself out there, I could not tame the little joy that filled me at seeing him impressed by what I did.”
“I am glad you did not let fear hold you back, Finc. Your work is so amazing, and even though I have not read them for myself, my twin is a huge fan of yours,” Galen said, reaching out to take Finc’s hand in his and giving it a squeeze of encouragement.
Finc ducked his head, pleased by the compliment. “He is?”
“Oh yes. Kalen always regales me with tales from your books after he has read them. He is always first in line whenever a new one comes to the market. He’s a dork like that,” Galen said, laughing.
Finc smiled and then saddened, frowned. “You have not read any of them before?”
Galen shook his head. “Not really, no. I am not a fan of reading materials that do not have anything to do with my duties.” Galen tapped a finger on his lips, eyeing Finc. “Though since meeting you, duty has been the furthest thing from my mind.” He shrugged. “I might change my mind one of these days and actually read them, or maybe I will get you to read them to me.”
“I would like that,” Finc said shyly, a smile flirting on his lips.
Galen chuckled again. “Me, too. Now get back to your story. What happened after the books were on the market?”
Finc laughed self-consciously. “Well, at first, no one knew about them, but Jory said we should do more artworks to announce the books on the market, something to tease the minds of others so that they would buy it. The shopkeeper agreed to hold the first thirty of each two books back and only reveal them to the elite class and the nobles. A small celebration was held, and a few of the women and men were invited, all exclusive of course. We made it into a fun event, and the books were sold off, all of them bought by the nobles. When they read them, they loved them, and the nobles began spreading the word to other nobles. The other nobles who had not been present for the first show became jealous when the book became the most talked about in their circles and they knew nothing about it, and then demand began pouring in for more books. The nobles who had been present and bought the first two books really liked them as the shopkeeper predicted that they would.” Finc laughed at that, shaking his head.
“And the shopkeeper advised to exploit the demands for more books, huh?” Galen asked as though knowing where the story was going.
Finc nodded, smiling widely. “He did. Jory was also very pleased, but the demands were more than I could fulfill all alone, so we turned a part of Jory’s room into a workshop. I rewrote it several times over into more books and did more arts to go with each book, and Jory bound them, sorting and ensuring they were in the proper order. The demands were still pouring in and people were frantic about it. Apparently those who had come for the first reveal had spread it throughout the kingdom.”
“I remember that time. Kalen was quite displeased that he had no idea what the books were about even though news of it had reached the castle, and no matter who he asked where he could get more from, he was always told there were no more in store. He was such a pain in the ass until he finally got word that a limited amount were now available in the market. He had to send a servant all the way to this region before he could get the book. When he finally did get it though, he was like the cat that got the canary. He loved them immediately and wanted more. He then wanted to meet the author, but when he sent the servant back here to inquire, he was told that under no circumstances would the author show his face.”
Finc nodded his head. “I had many requests like that. Even those who bought the first batch were not told who the author was. I did not want anyone to know about me.”
“May I ask why?” Galen asked, curious even as he played with Finc’s fingers in his hand.
“It is too much hassle, and everyone would know if they knew me as the author,” Finc said, not looking at his mate.
Galen raised a hand and used it to lift Finc’s chin so that his mate had no other choice than to stare at him. “You did not want your family to know you were that author.”
Finc stared at Galen awhile, pleasantly surprised that his mate got the point so quickly and easily. He then shook his head slowly from one side to the other. “I did not want them to know,” he whispered.
Galen nodded, using his thumb to caress Finc’s silky smooth cheek. “I understand.”
Finc slipped the tip of his tongue out of his mouth and licked his lips slowly before pulling it back into his mouth. He raised his hand slowly and clamped it around Galen’s wrist, holding on to the hand gently caressing his cheek.
“Keep talking,” Galen said, his voice husky.
Finc blinked slowly at his mate as though not comprehending what the man was saying. “Hm?”
“The books.”
“Oh…oh. Um yes. Um, so we got hundred a piece each of the first and second book, and the shopkeeper spread news of the day the books would be out to the market. Obviously, word of mouth made sure the news spread faster and wider, and within a few hours of delivering the books with Jory to the shop, they were all sold out. The shopkeeper priced them very high, too. I was in shock and so was Jory, but we were very happy. I was able to pay back the initial investment the shopkeeper made to get my work out to
the public and buy more material to make more. We made a deal, the shopkeeper and I, about how much percent of the sales went to him, and we agreed at twenty-five percent of total sales. It was a good deal, and we worked tirelessly for months, making more and more copies of the first two books, me and Jory. Soon other shops wanted to carry the books in their shop also.” Finc shook his head, a look as though he could not believe it on his face. “It all became too much for us to handle, so we went to Ashdal. Well, Jory talked to him to help us out.”
Galen frowned. “Who is Ashdal?” he asked, his voice hard.
Finc stared at him in confusion. “Jory thinks he is his fated mate.”
Galen sighed and then smiled once more at his mate. “Hmm. Good. Wait, your friend is not sure?”
Finc shook his head. “Not really. Ashdal is several centuries older and would not allow Jory to entertain any romantic thoughts. Personally, I think it is because Ashdal wanted Jory to hit his maturity age before allowing anything to happen between them. I see the look he gives Jory when he thinks Jory is not looking, and Jory is quite open and blatant in his interest in Ashdal and does not understand why Ashdal holds him at arm’s length.”
“Ah.” Galen nodded. “I see the problem.”
“Yes. Anyway, Jory convinced Ashdal to help us, and ever since, Ashdal has helped us handle the business aspect of the whole thing, getting us more shelf space in other bookstores and cutting a deal with them to benefit us. We maintained the twenty-five percent deal with Ariad since it is his shop that helped us get out and the first shop everything started with, but every other shop goes through Ashdal before we agree to anything.” Jory blushed and then smiled. “Once enough of the first and second books were out on the market that most everyone even the peasants and middle class had them, I was able to focus on writing out more different books.”
“Do you still do it all alone? The writing and duplicating it into several copies and art?” Galen asked.
Finc nodded. “Yes. I do it all.”
Galen frowned. “That is not good for you. I cannot allow you to keep working yourself into the ground like that.”
Finc smiled and squeezed Galen’s hand. “I do not mind. I am happy doing it.”
Galen shook his head. “Even if you do not mind, I do mind. I mind very much. Once we move back to the castle and are mated, I will have a studio built for your use. You can hire as many as you like to assist you in duplicating the books, focusing only on producing the first copy.” When Galen saw the protest already forming in Finc’s eyes and lips, he shook his head and pressed a finger against Galen’s lips. “Do not argue with me, Finc. It can be your mating gift from me.” His gaze then turned mischievous. “You would not deny my first gift to you now, would you?”
Finc pursed his lips. “You do not play fair, mate.”
Galen threw his head back and laughed at that. “I never said I did, Finc. Now answer me.”
Finc blew out a breath but could not stop the smile tugging at his lips. “Oh, all right. I will let you do this.”
“Good.”
“Do not be so smug about it either.”
Galen smiled then pulled Finc until the man tumbled into his arms, and he dropped back onto the couch so that Finc lay on top of him. “And why not? I got what I wanted, did I not?”
Finc could not help the laugh that escaped from him. “You are too much, Galen,” he said, shaking his head in mirth.
“But just right for you,” Galen teased.
With a smile, Finc stared down into his mate’s face and then leaned down ever so slowly and placed a kiss onto Galen’s cheek, remaining there for a while until he pulled back, stared into his mate’s surprised eyes and felt his smile stretching wider. He leaned in and placed another quick kiss to Galen’s nose before leaning away once more.
“Perfectly right for me.”
Chapter Nine
“Ready to go in?”
Finc turned to Galen nodding his head. “Ready.”
Finc and Galen strolled into the moderately large ballroom of the Jory’s family home. The place was filled and crowded with well-wishers and potential suitors, the music thrumming loudly and a tableful of deliciously decorated food and wine to each opposite corners of the walls. Everyone was dressed to a tee in their finery, no doubt there to curry favor with the celebrant’s family and seek eligible matches with Jory.
The lighting was bright but not too bright. Just low enough to create some sort of ambiance and the music lively and classical. Couples danced on the floor, and others were gathered to one corner, chatting it up between and among themselves. It was a festive day as they were all celebrating Jory’s coming out and maturity day. His own coming out day had gone unnoticed, but he did not begrudge his friend this.
Instead, when he had gotten the official invite, he had shown it to his mate, Galen, and asked the man to come along as his plus one. Over the last few days, staying together in one bedroom had indeed tested the limit of their self-control, but they could do nothing if they wished their mating officially legal and recognized by all. They needed to hold the mating ceremony first before they could give in to the lust brimming between them.
As a result, Galen had taken to sleeping on the couch, claiming that he could not sleep in the same bed a Finc because he would be unable to hold back. When Galen had first said that, Finc had smiled to himself, pleased that his mate desired him and had no shame in letting him know it. That had changed somewhat over the next several days as sometimes, it was all he could do not to throw himself into Galen’s arms and demand that the man fuck him into unconsciousness.
The tension between the two of them was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. Finc mainly stayed out of the way of the rest of his family members, but when he could no longer withstand it, he’d leave the room to go roaming out in the wheat field or spend as much time as he could with Jory until he had to return back home.
Finc walked through the crowd, his arms around Galen’s as he moved to find his friend in the adoring crowd come to celebrate with him. The moment Finc spotted Jory and made a beeline for him with Galen along with him, and Jory saw them, a smile drew up on his lips.
“Finc! Your Highness,” Jory exclaimed as he also began making his way toward them.
A sudden hush came across those who had been around Jory, proof that they had heard his words, and soon, news of the royal king-to-be’s presence filled the room, causing heads to turn and conversations to halt as they stared in Finc’s and Galen’s direction.
To say that they were all surprised to see their future king at a noble’s house and his coming out celebration was putting it mildly. With the particular region so far away from the central ruling and largest city of the Earth Kingdom, it was quite sufficient to say that they did not know what to make of his presence.
And to see their future king out and about on the arms of the illegitimate son of another powerful noble family must have stunned them into silence. Galen waved to them, a gesture to ensure that they carry on and never mind him. It was with some reluctance and hesitation, but they resumed their activities, even if some of them were still glancing at them out of the corner of their eyes.
Finc, ignoring the attention no matter how subtle, stepped forward and hugged his best friend. “Happy maturity day, Jory,” he whispered into his friend’s ear.
When they pulled apart, the friends smiled at each other before stepping back, and Galen held out a hand for Jory to shake. When the other man slipped his own into Galen’s and squeezed in a handshake, Galen directed a heart-melting smile, which seemed to impress Jory and cause him to blush.
“Happy maturity day to you, Jory, and a lovely coming out party it is too,” Galen said, his voice warm.
With Jory blushing, Finc found the situation amusing. After all, not a lot of people could resist Galen’s charm, and he was definitely among the number of those who could not resist his mate’s potent charms.
“Thank you, Highness,” Jory sai
d and then turned to glance at Finc with a smile on his face.
“Don’t turn around now. I think someone’s heading your way, and trust me, you’ll finally be getting what you thought you couldn’t,” Finc said, staring at a figure over Jory’s shoulders.
Finc heard more than he saw his friend stop breathing entirely before releasing his breath in a harsh exhale. “Don’t tell me…”
Finc nodded and then with a smile said, “He’s almost here. Now pretend as though you aren’t about to die of excitement.”
“Then you shouldn’t have told me. Now I can’t remember how to breathe properly,” Jory said, twitchy and fidgety.
Galen laughed. “Relax, Jory, and you must introduce me to the man who has caught your attention. Ashdal, was it?”
“How did you…” Jory glanced over to Finc and then sighed. “Of course he told you. You must think I’m an idiot, fawning over a man who does not give me the time of the day.”
“You are not an idiot,” a voice called over Jory’s shoulder, and it took him a while to notice that it was neither Galen nor Finc who had spoken those words.
Finc stared at his friend as the man flushed furiously, his eyes going impossibly wide before turning slowly to face the object of his fascination. He and Galen watched in part amusement and part worry for Finc’s friend as the man stared wide-eyed at Ashdal, breath stuck in his throat and nothing coming out of his mouth.
Ashdal, Finc noticed, looked dashing in the pants he wore and a white tuck-in overlaid by a cravat. He was gorgeous with his hair held back from his face and tied off at his nape and his muscular figure emphasized by the clothes he wore. Ashdal might be handsome, but he definitely was not as striking as Galen. In fact, Galen was on a whole other level than anyone he had ever met and known.
“You look beautiful,” Ashdal said, and he had eyes only for Jory.
Jory was flushed with pleasure at the unexpected words but not unwelcomed. “Thank you. So do you by the way. Look dashing, I mean. Very fetching. Really. Undeniably so.” Jory blinked. “By the gods, please shut me up now.”