The Proper Form of Address

Chapter 8

Bennet wasn't sure at what time of the night Archer's eyes opened. Bennet had been staring at him blearily, willing the fucking fever to break, and then he became aware that Archer's eyes had opened.

Bennet leaned forward with the intention of telling him that Trix was right next to him.

"Oh," Archer said, looking surprised to see him, and then smiled. It was a blinding, dazzling smile and for some odd reason the force of it knocked every thought out of Bennet's head. Well. Not every thought. He stared at Archer and thought, Fuck, he's lovely. "Hi," Archer said, as if they were old friends.

Delirious, Bennet thought. Archer was delirious. Bennet said, keeping his voice low, "Listen—"

Archer took his hand, shocking Bennet into silence, and played with his fingers. "Do you know who I am?" he asked.

"Yes," Bennet managed, staring at Archer's fingers as they danced over his own. He forced his eyes back to Archer's, wondering if Archer was feeling confused about who he was. It could happen, with a fever. "You're Archer," Bennet reminded him carefully. "You're the Prince—" He cut himself off, because Archer's face had fallen, like Bennet had said something incredibly disappointing.

"Of course," Archer sighed, and closed his eyes and dropped Bennet's hand. "Everyone knows who I am. Nobody knows who I am."

He sounded so sad, so forlorn, Bennet's heart squeezed within his chest. He caught Archer's hand between his own, trying to ground him, trying to make him less sad, trying to make him smile that astonishing smile again. "Hey," he murmured. "Archer. Stay with me here, hmm?"

"I can't," Archer said, and opened his eyes and looked at him and gave him a sweet, sad shadow of his smile. "I can't. It's just that I can't. If I were someone different...or if I were the same...you're very handsome." Archer's eyes dropped closed.

Bennet blinked in surprise. "Oh," he said, sounding strangled. "Thank you?"

"You have very pretty eyes," said Archer drowsily.

"Archer," Bennet said, thrown.

"Mmm," said Archer.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Impossible," Archer murmured. "You're impossible."

Bennet didn't know what to make of that. And when he finally found his voice to speak again, when he finally said, "Archer," again, he got no answer.