The Stars Over Bittergate Bay

Chapter 51

51

T he lighthouse was dim, but homey. Dustcloths draped over the large pieces of furniture, their owners very clearly planning to be gone for some time. Jonas took a deep breath, the tang of the bay mingling in the air with the scent of rain and the warmth of Sidney’s skin. There was a soft thud as Sidney put his bag down and toed off his shoes. Jonas did the same, bending down to untie his laces. They stripped off their soaked outerwear in comfortable silence. Jonas hung Sidney’s coat on the hook by the door, and Sidney nudged Jonas’s boots under the shoe rack.

“You’re sure they won’t mind?”

“I’ve known Magda for a long time. She’s a distant cousin of Asterion’s. We grew up… ‘together’ would be a strong word, but close enough. And, like I said, it looks like they’ve closed shop for the time being.” Jonas leaned back to look at the lintel above the door where several runes were glowing brightly in the wood. He frowned, narrowing his eyes as he read the protection incantation. Then he grabbed up his bag. Sidney had wandered over to one of the windows on the far wall.

“This would be a great vantage for stargazing.”

“Come here a moment,” Jonas said. Sidney padded back over in his socks, as Jonas produced his folded workman’s knife from the inside of his pack.

“What are those?” Sidney pointed up to the glowing runes, his eyebrows arching apprehensively.

“It’s a warding spell, to keep out unwanted guests.” Jonas sliced the tip of his thumb and pressed it to the edge of the last rune in the series. The light shimmered. Jonas pursed his lips.

“Do I need to do that too?” Sidney asked. The rune light stayed firmly blue.

“I think so. But since you haven’t been marked, it might not work. We may have to leave. Try our luck on the path back to the boat.”

Sidney exhaled and took the knife out of Jonas’s hand before Jonas could protest, or suggest that they just try to get back to the boat. But then Sidney’s blood was in the air and Jonas could smell it as clearly as though he was holding his thumb directly beneath Jonas’s nose. Which was odd. It had been like that in the chapel too, but there had been so much more blood there, he’d written it off.

Sidney pressed his thumb alongside Jonas’s on the final rune. The blue light shimmered and shifted, fading slowly. Sidney glanced at Jonas, and Jonas shrugged.

“There’s usually some sort of sign, or a—” Beneath their thumbs the final rune glowed a deep, emerald green, pulsing twice, before falling dark alongside the others.

Jonas looked at the runes as he lowered his hand. He could feel Sidney staring at him, and knew they were thinking the same thing.

“So, I am marked?” Sidney asked. Jonas bit down gently on his bottom lip.

“I suppose.” He looked at Sidney, a thousand thoughts and worries crowding in his head. Maybe it hadn’t been him. Maybe it had been Morrow’s demon friend, Mears, or maybe when Jonas had touched Sidney’s soul in the watch.

“I don’t feel—” Sidney paused and reconsidered, cocking his head to the side. “I don’t think I’m any more or less drawn to you than I was before. I mean, I always have been, I suppose.”

“I’m sorry.” Jonas apologized. Would keep apologizing.

“No,” Sidney shook his head. “Please don’t be. I don’t feel any different. I want to be here. And if I didn’t want to be, I wouldn’t be. I think I’ve proven that.”

That was true. And compelling. Jonas frowned as he considered this for the first time.

“Marking without a contract has always worked a little differently.”

“What about for a couple in love? A wedded couple. I mean, we’re certainly not the first,” Sidney said. Jonas nodded. How had he never considered this? He knew of several magical and human pairings, his own sister among them. He was so quick to assume there was always going to be a power imbalance, but what if there wasn’t? What if it could be counteracted by intention. Or by love.

“I don’t know,” Jonas said. Sidney hummed, stepping closer to Jonas, his hand resting on Jonas’s hip, as he looked up at Jonas through his lashes. Jonas could feel himself warm toes to horns, chasing away the lingering chill from the rain. He wrapped an arm around the small of Sidney’s back, and Sidney smiled.

“Maybe we ought to find out.”

The guest room on the second floor faced the water. A small balcony jutted over the edge of the cliffs; a wide view of the bay spread out in front of them. Or spread out in front of Sidney. Jonas still had his eyes closed, chest rising and falling slowly in sleep. Their clothes were scattered about, drying wherever they’d landed, and Sidney sighed, deeply content to be wrapped in Jonas’s arms.

Their line of scientific inquiry had quickly been forgotten, as pleasure had mounted in the narrow double bed. Wherever they ended up, Jonas’s large, soft mattress would have to be made room for. As it was, Sidney was half stretched out on Jonas’s chest as he looked out at the clear purple sky. The sun was sinking into the distant bay, sending streaks of pink and orange across the water.

Sidney had loved the cosmos for years because they felt infinite. To a boy trapped in a life with little control over his own future, they’d captured his imagination, and he had been convinced that there was nothing so vast and incredible that he would ever be able to truly grasp. His world had seemed so horribly knowable against the ever-changing stars.

But there was more wonder to be had on earth than he’d ever allowed himself to imagine. In magic, certainly. In adjacent realms and portals and demons and fae and all kinds of creatures he hadn’t encountered yet. But more than that, he understood that there was an infinite space inside himself. That he could do things he hadn’t thought possible before, and it had all started with letting himself do one thing.

The first time he’d kissed Jonas had been foolish and brave. But he wondered now if he’d had some inkling even then, of what it might unlock in him if he could just do it. That Jonas was special, different from Sidney but so much alike. They understood each other from their first conversation, and Sidney knew something deep within him had been recognized. By himself and by Jonas. And there was true magic in that.

Jonas kissed Sidney’s collarbone softly, and Sidney ran his fingertips down Jonas’s ribs, tracing the lines of ink on Jonas’s skin.

“We fell asleep,” Jonas murmured. Sidney yawned, nodded. “When did you wake up?”

“Ten minutes ago.” Sidney yawned again. “Do we need to get back out there? The weather’s cleared up.”

“I can’t do the unbinding until the full moon. And I think perhaps I’ll just call around to some alchemists I know. Can’t risk you getting drenched again.” Sidney rolled his eyes, but the gesture made him smile all the same.

“In that case, can we stay here tonight?” Sidney asked.

“I don’t see why not,” Jonas said. “Although, are you sure you don’t want to try and get back for the Ascension party? There are bound to be some realm-based professors there who would be good to talk to about your dissertation.” Sidney stared out at the evening sky, and took a deep breath.

“I wanted to talk to you about that. My dissertation.”

“Oh?”

“I was thinking. I mean, I was wondering if you’d consider working with me.” Sidney glanced up at Jonas, appreciating the way confusion made his brow crease in the center. “On researching the celestial skies. Determining what kind of an impact they have across the realms. Karolina thinks it’s a good line of inquiry. She said you had connections at some of the universities, and we’d be a good team to—Not that— I know your research partners in the past, haven’t been…” Sidney trailed off, looking down at Jonas’s arm as his cheeks flushed. Come on, Quince. Come on. “Maybe he put you off the idea, which I do understand, but?—”

“But you’re not him.” Jonas said softly.

“No.” Sidney said. “Jonas, I would never—” Jonas slid his fingertips over Sidney’s skin.

“I know,” Jonas said. He was quiet for a long moment, and then kissed Sidney’s chest, over his pounding heart. “As your research partner, it would be silly of me not to remind you that eventually we will have to try to get someone to peer review our work.” Sidney beamed. He leaned in and kissed Jonas, trying to imbue it with a thousand meanings. Thank you. I love you. I can’t wait.

“We have plenty of time to network,” Sidney said, as he pulled away. “And also, I hate networking, so Karolina suggested I give my information to Asterion, who can pass it on to a couple of the academic types who’ll be at the party.”

“Did he say he’d do it?”

“He did, actually. Although that might’ve only been because Leo was in the room.” Jonas laughed beautifully.

“Good luck to Leo.”

“Oh, Leo can hold his own, believe me.”

“I can’t wait to see where the dust settles there.”

“Disgusting.” Sidney nuzzled his head down into Jonas’s shoulder. “I can’t think about it any further than that.”

“I have something else you can think about,” Jonas murmured. He wrapped his arms around Sidney’s waist, dragging his hands across the small of Sidney’s back. Sidney sighed arching into the touch, his mind immediately occupied by the compelling evidence that Jonas was presenting.

“I wish I had a telescope,” Sidney said, half an hour later as he lay, once again, in Jonas’s arms. The stars were twinkling in the deep purple sky, winking in at him from the balcony window. Maybe it was tedious, but Sidney couldn’t help himself. It was the only thing he was missing. “I’d love to see the stars from all the way up here.”

“Good thing I brought one.”

“What?” Sidney demanded. Jonas eyes were still closed. Sidney poked him and Jonas grunted. “What?” Jonas batted his hand away. “You have a telescope?”

“I have your telescope,” Jonas yawned.

“Were you planning this?”

“Was I planning for us to get trapped in a lighthouse by a rainstorm?” Jonas snorted. “I saw it on the bedside table, and I picked it up and put it in my bag. Just in case.”

“In case we got stuck out here?”

“Did you know you can look at things besides the stars with a telescope? Like if you get lost on top of a caldera, and you need to find your way back to a boat?”

“No.” Sidney shook his head, poking Jonas again. “That doesn’t sound right.” Jonas reached up and grabbed Sidney’s wrist, flipping Sidney onto his back. Jonas straddled his thighs with a smirk. Then leaned down and kissed Sidney’s throat. Then his chin and his jaw. Then his lips. When he spoke, Jonas’s voice was soft.

“And maybe I thought it might be nice to have, in case we spent the night on the boat or in the woods. I have your notebook too. If you need it.”

“Thank you,” Sidney said. Jonas hummed, laying his head on Sidney’s shoulder.

“You’re welcome.” Sidney took a deep breath, reveling in the joy of being fully understood. He smiled as he reached up, and ran his fingers through Jonas’s hair, stroking lightly against the base of Jonas’s horn. Jonas shivered and Sidney kissed his cheek.

“You’ll stargaze with me tonight?” Sidney asked. Jonas nodded.

“I’d love to.”