Tributes

Chapter Twenty Three

"Luke! What happened?" Julia called, running over to him as he stumbled down the stairs. She had heard Tyreol's yelling and seen him dragging Chris off beyond where they were allowed to go. The twins and Paul were close behind her but looking considerably more cautious and wary. Julia moved to help support Luke as it became apparent that he was struggling to walk.

"I did a stupid thing," Luke gave her a weak smile but accepted the help from Julia. He guided them towards Tyreol's room, not wanting to get into any more trouble than he already was in. Angering Tyreol on purpose was not a good move to make.

"What did you do?" She demanded as Paul got the door for them. The teenager watching silently with unreadable eyes but tense shoulders. Paul was unnerved by what had happened. "What happened between you and Chris? Oh!" She dropped him on the bed not quite as gently as Luke was expecting as she had a moment of realisation. "You didn't!" She growled at him angrily, though she was already yanking Luke's top up to look at the damage. "You know he still isn't used to it yet!"

"Used to what?" Silas asked innocently enough, having followed them into the room.

"Flirting," Luke shrugged, wincing in pain as Julia poked at some bruises but let her do her thing. "I did, but I didn't say anything too graphic or scandalous but... I got annoyed at his stubbornness and said a few things I shouldn't have," he admitted.

"What did you say?" Julia demanded her tone dangerous, narrowing her eyes at the technically much older man.

Luke shivered under her glare, suddenly glad he wasn't under her watch. She was going to be stricter than the woman who had played the matriarch in his own group. "I called him Master's latest toy. Which technically he is," Luke half explained, half defended. "But I was trying to prove a point! He can't keep denying ... Forget that, he can't keep thinking that two men sleeping together is an abomination!" He exclaimed, laying back frustrated as she let his top fall down again. He sent som healing through his bones to stop any from breaking and to make sure the ones that had cracked would heal up. The rest would have to heal in its own time. He wasn't that great at healing magic.

"Is it?" Silas asked innocently, looking up at Julia.

Julia bit her lip and tried to find the right words, glaring at Luke again for putting her in this position. "In the northern villages, it's generally considered an acceptable thing. But the southern villages don't share the same sentiment," She explained gently. "I knew one or two boys were preferred that way. And obviously, in the fae courts and the god's circles, it's all considered normal," she expanded, sneaking a glance over at Paul. The boy looked whiter than normal and she was slightly concerned he was going to pass out on them. The expression on his face was stone and it made something shift in her stomach uncomfortably. "Men tend to be more defensive about the topic than women though," she ended on a softer tone.

"If the gods don't find it wrong, why is it in the human circles?" the two young twins continue to ask, still sounding distinctly confused.

Luke and Julia shrugged looking at each other helplessly. They had no answer for that.

"The fae and gods don't have to worry," Paul murmured, every eye turning to him. "Human, we have things to worry about. Farming, weather, harvest. Feed everyone, keep everything tended. We have things we have to ensure, including children. So when men prefer men, some believe it wrong because it is different." Paul's words were steady and his tone was almost numb from the neutrality in it. It tugged at Julia's heartstrings and she quickly pulled him into a warm hug, the kind she had given her siblings after nightmares. She murmured gentle words on to his hair promising he was safe while Paul held on to her tight.