Tedrey’s head snapped back so fast to catch Lorenz’s eyes, he felt pain at his neck.

“My family?” he asked.

“I have a vast and beautiful family, Tedrey. My wife, and the children she will one day give me. My mother still lives, and both of Nyx’s parents live, as do her two sisters, and mine. My brothers, who are soldiers. My king, who is my closest brother. My lovers, Persephone, and you. If we live them right, our whole lives are filled with family and that means you will one day be uncle to my children. Does that feel insignificant?”

Tedrey’s heart was beating ever faster.

Uncle?

He would be uncle?

“Take these things, Tedrey,” Lorenz ordered.

“The book is leather-bound. It is costly. And the pen—”

“If these things mattered to me, I would not have handed over the coin or I would keep them for myself. They don’t. You matter. Please pay attention. This is my point, amico.” He shook his hands again. “And take them.”

Tedrey felt his throat close.

“Tedrey…”

“They are too much and I…I do not…I could help around the house. I could—”

Lorenz’s arms dropped, and his gaze grew acute as he studied Tedrey. “What manner of parent raised you?”

“I…sorry?” Tedrey asked.

“If I wanted a servant, I would hire one. If I wanted an injured man to work for his supper, I would be a beast. I am offering a gift to a friend. What manner of parent raised you that you would not accept a kindness offered with a true heart?”

Taking in these words, slowly, Tedrey reached out his hands. It was not slowly as Lorenz again extended the gifts.

Tedrey took them and felt his throat cinch.

“Thank you,” Lorenz said, making Tedrey blink.

He was thanking Tedrey?

“Now I will leave you to your musings,” Lorenz muttered, turning again to leave.

“I still wish to help around the house,” Tedrey called to his back, making Lorenz face him.

“If you wish to help, most of the Go’Doan priests have left the city. Their schools have no teachers. If you are well, you can go back to teaching. You are needed there. It is your choice, but I would hope you did not go wearing the robes. The priests that are left, they will not turn you away, either way you return to them.”

His heart leapt at the thought of being back with his students, which Tedrey found odd, but even odd, it was undeniable.

His feelings were entirely different about the Go’Doan leaving the city.

“Are you well enough to do this?” Lorenz asked.

“The Go’Doan priests have left the city?” Tedrey asked back.

“They were behind the attack. This is twice they have beset our sovereigns. It would have been ferreted out. Thus, in the end, they have shown some modicum of wisdom, for they chose flight rather than tar.”