FIRENZE

Fortunately, it was not unusual for a man to move through the narrow alleyways of the Heden District wearing a short, belted sarong at his hips, crossed straps on his chest, and a short cloak with the hood pulled over his head.

For this was how Tedrey had left the home of Nyx and Lorenz after receiving the message from Faunus.

Taking the alleys as instructed, he was deep within the District when he saw the purple lotus flower painted on the shingle above the purple door.

He moved through that door, turned to the burly Firenz man sitting directly inside, and handed over his coin, not lifting his gaze, thus his visage, as he gave this token.

He then grunted, “Faunus.”

“Up the stairs, second door on the right,” the man said in Firenzii.

Tedrey did not waste time below stairs.

He wound his way around the couches, cushions, thus the lounging bodies embracing or smoking ashesh or sipping spirits.

The air was cloying.

The noises he heard and gazes he felt were discomfiting.

He rushed up the wide steps with their thick purple carpet and down the hall.

Second room on the right, he knocked twice, then a pause, and once, as the missive had instructed.

The door opened, he was caught at a strap at his chest and pulled inside.

The door was then closed behind him.

“Faunus!” he snapped.

But he stopped speaking when his warrior shoved him to the door and pressed up against him.

Faunus said nothing.

Tedrey said nothing.

Faunus did nothing.

Finally, Tedrey whispered, “Fau—”

“Shh,” Faunus shushed him harshly.

“This is so unwise, it is downright reckless,” Tedrey hissed.

And it was. So much so, he did not know why he was there.

Except he now had Faunus’s handsome face filling his vision and pressed to him was Faunus’s powerful body.

Tedrey was weak.

But his warrior was so beautiful.

And he missed him.

Faunus dipped that handsome face to Tedrey’s.

“I…said…shh.”

Tedrey scowled at him.

Faunus grinned at his scowl.

A knock came at the door and Tedrey tensed.

One, a pause, then two.

He felt Faunus relax.

He then felt his eyes narrow.

“You had me followed?” he demanded.

“How else would I be certain you weren’t trailed by someone I did not wish to track you?” Faunus asked in return.

“You could have mentioned that in the missive,” Tedrey pointed out.

“How would that be exciting?”

Tedrey pushed at his chest.

And found himself flung across the room, landing on his back on a pile of cushions.

He came up on his elbows as Faunus stalked toward him.

“Your sarong is very nice,” his warrior drawled.

“I should not be here. I should be anywhere but here,” Tedrey returned as Faunus crouched at his feet.

“It will be good when all of this is done, and you can wear the garments of your land at all times.”

“Trousers, boots and a frock coat?” Tedrey asked. “Wearing all that, I would melt in this heat.”