The Love of a Wielder (Book Two of The Wielders Trilogy)

Chapter Twenty-One

"You haven't had any problems with Trackers since we left, have you?" Seb asked, one hand playing with Alec's hair.

Seb had the day off and Alec was able to get away from the manor because his father was busy and Maren and Donovan only had eyes for each other since they got engaged the night before. So, Alec went to town to visit Seb. They had had a bit of fun and were enjoying lying in bed together talking.

Alec shook his head. "Thankfully not. And we should be fine now. A friend of mine from the palace decided to make an unexpected visit and assures me we won't have anymore difficulties."

Alec thought Donovan had looked excited about the prospect of fighting any Trackers who might come to the manor. Alec tried not to think too much about it. He was uncomfortable with violence, having spent much of his apprenticeship assisting in a free hospital in the city. He saw a lot of the results of violence. He did not like to think about his friend committing more of it.

"Does this friend of yours have magic powers?" Seb asked with a wink. He knew Alec was friends with Donovan.

Alec shrugged in a way that said Seb was right, but that Alec wasn't going to confirm it.

"What's with him anyway?" Seb asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well...he quit the Selection so early. Everyone said..."

Alec shook his head. He knew there were several rumors about Donovan's preferences, so did Donovan. Court was not a subtle place.

"He just didn't like the Selection. I assure you, he likes women plenty," Alec said. "He's getting married soon."

Seb laughed. "Lots of men who like men get married."

That was true. Alec thought about Lord Braxton. He was as surprised as anyone when Braxton was caught with the driver, but he felt for the man. Alec hoped to avoid marrying a woman for as long as possible. Braxton, of course, might have felt differently since he was an eldest son and would've been expected to produce an heir. Alec was very glad to be a youngest son. It didn't really matter if he produced an heir.

"Well, that's not what's happening in this case," Alec said.

Seb shrugged and then started massaging Alec's neck in a very pleasant way.

"You're tense," Seb said, digging his fingers into Alec's neck muscles.

Alec sighed and closed his eyes. "The last several weeks have been a bit stressful."

"Because of your father's new wife?"

Alec laughed. "Yes and no. But in any case, it fell through.  No one's upset about it though. I can't tell you about it but you'll find out eventually."

Seb chuckled. "Sounds like there's an entertaining story there. I look forward to hearing about it."

"Give it about two or three weeks. You'll know it when you hear it," Alec said, still chuckling.

"But you'll be gone by then," Seb said.

He would be. Alec had only arranged for his colleague who was substituting for him at the palace for another week and a half. He had already left a week early; it would be particularly unprofessional to delay his return.

"Probably, but I'll be back to visit. You know I come out about twice a year or so," Alec said.

Before Seb had gone to Clifton, he and Alec had seen each other off and on for nearly four years. It was only when Alec was home and if neither of them were seeing anyone else, but it amounted to a lot of times over the years.