Chapter 13

CHAPTER13

Opal’s horns itched.

That was… bad. Normally he would simply scratch them, but obviously he couldn’t do that with Tristan watching him—and anyway, his horns weren’t technically there, but horns were simply not meant to be kept hidden for so long.

They were probably itching because of all the hiding and all the magic building up around them. There was no doubt in Opal’s mind that they were getting closer to whatever magical location was storing the special sword capable of killing Opal.

Because that’s what the sword was, wasn’t it? It was designed to murder Opal, and Opal maybe hadn’t thought things through properly when he’d agreed to come on this quest. But Tristan was his treasure, and Sapphire was wrong about everything… but Opal really had expected to have convinced Tristan to maybe not murder dragons by this point of their adventure.

On top of the magic, the air was turning humid around them, which only added to the chill. Opal was all set to complain about it when they turned a bend and were suddenly confronted by the source of the humidity.

A waterfall, raging loudly and pouring into a basin.

Tristan stopped in his tracks, staring at it like a prey animal facing a great predator. “It’s beautiful,” he breathed out, his tone one of reverence.

“Have you never seen a waterfall before?” Opal asked.

Tristan shook his head, his eyes transfixed on the downpour of water. “No. I don’t… I’ve never traveled to a place with one before. I’ve seen hot springs, but nothing like this.”

Opal got closer, ignoring Feather’s annoyed snort, and bumped his shoulder against Tristan’s. “Want to check if there’s a cave behind it? Sometimes there are.”

“Yes, let’s see,” Tristan said, walking a bit closer to the shore. The horse didn’t seem enthused, but it followed Tristan without more than a soft whicker in complaint.

With the sun beginning to set, they were losing the light necessary to traverse easily. Well, Tristan was. Opal could see just fine, but he had to pretend not to see, because Tristan would hate Opal if he knew he were a dragon, and also his horns still itched.

Opal sighed and called a small light spell to illuminate the path.

Tristan murmured his thanks, offering a smile at Opal that he wished wouldn’t instantly vanish if he knew the truth about what Opal really was.

They walked along the rocky shore, closer to the waterfall, until they were getting sprayed by cool mist. Opal was about to say this was a bust, until he noticed the angle the water was falling at and the flow of the water.

A small burst of cheer filled him. “Oh. I think something is here!” Opal exclaimed, stepping ahead of Tristan. He tested the terrain, but it seemed safe enough, and a small leap later had him standing behind the waterfall in a fairly shallow cave. “Yes! Tristan, it’s a cave!”

Finally, something was going right.

Tristan squinted as he looked ahead. “Can you make the light brighter?” he asked, and just as Opal had hoped, Tristan sounded energized as well.

Opal increased the light and took a proper look at the space around him. Not too deep, and fairly damp, but the back was dry enough. They’d be able to get a fire going in here, with a bit of magic.

Tristan probably wouldn’t notice if Opal used magic to warm the space more, once the fire was lit.

“I like this better than any room at an inn, other than the chill,” Tristan said. “I’ll go fetch some wood for a fire.” He thrust Feather’s reins at Opal. “Here.”

Opal took the reins with disdain and watched Tristan head out again.

“Well. Don’t ruin this romantic moment for me,” Opal said to Feather.

The horse huffed and shook its head, because it was an evil, jealous beast that wanted all of Tristan’s attention for itself. Opal sighed and pulled the saddlebags off Feather, since he did need the supplies.

The horse was happy to be free of its burden and wandered closer to the water for a drink while Opal began arranging things in the little cave. The blankets first, then he arranged stones in a circle for the eventual fire. They had a little bit of oil with them to help light the fire… and maybe for other things, later.

Tristan returned before long, arms full of sticks and a few thicker branches, and Opal couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles flexed as he carried them.

“I don’t have an axe for anything much larger, but this will at least get it going. It’s cold out there.” Tristan set down the bundle in the spot Opal had designated for the fire pit.

Once they got the fire going, the cave really was cozy. It wasn’t as nice as Opal’s den, of course, but the fire—and a bit of subtle extra magic—warmed the air.

“Here’s the wyvern flesh Izar gave me,” Tristan mumbled, sounding almost apologetic. “It would make a good meal. And at least it’s not chicken?”

Opal laughed. “Yeah. There’s enough meat on a wyvern to sate you for a whole week. Maybe more.” He threw the chunk of flesh onto a rock just inside the flames. “I am sorry about how I acted. I was… immature.”

Tristan sobered as the piece of meat started to sizzle. “You weren’t immature. You’re passionate. It’s one of the things I like about you, Opal. I simply…” He sighed. “I just don’t understand it. That’s all.”

Because Opal hadn’t told him he was a dragon, but Opal didn’t want Tristan to hate him, and sure, Opal could just keep Tristan drugged up forever, but Opal didn’t want that. Opal wanted romance, not just sex.

His mother’s words haunted him now, reminding him about the necessity of talking.

“We’ll just have to… agree to disagree.” Opal reached for the wyvern flesh and turned it over. The scent of charred meat started to fill the air.

It probably would have tasted better raw, but that was another thing Opal couldn’t do with Tristan while Tristan was still under delusions that all dragons had to die.

“Is being a knight just about killing monsters, to you?” Opal asked quietly, watching the flame flicker.

Tristan blinked at him. “No. That’s… That’s just a personal thing, and, well…” He sighed. “I didn’t ask for this,” he added quietly. “But it’s my responsibility to avenge Evan’s death and ensure no one else has to deal with such heartbreak that could’ve been avoided. No, not all men are good, but… all monsters are evil.”

What about my heartbreak,Opal wondered. “All of them are evil,” he repeated. “Like… like horses.”

“…horses?” Tristan asked, looking puzzled all over again. “Horses aren’t evil.”

“I’ve never met a horse that wasn’t,” Opal said with a sniff. “But fine. Let’s kill all the wolves and bears and… and whatever else it is that hu… that everybody is afraid of.”

Tristan sighed. “I don’t want to argue with you,” he said, his voice softening. He reached out to touch Opal’s hand. “Please. Let’s simply eat and relax and enjoy the waterfall before we have to return to our task tomorrow.”

Opal looked at their hands, then turned his palm up so he could entwine his fingers with Tristan’s. His chest warmed when Tristan squeezed his hand.

He was being negative for no reason. It was just that seeing Izar dismember the wyvern like it was nothing that had shaken him a little. Tristan wouldn’t allow anyone to touch Opal.

They were in love, right?

Opal took the wyvern meat off the flame and carefully set it on one of their travel plates.

“This is good,” Tristan said after the first bite. “But I didn’t know wyverns tasted so much like chicken.”

Opal shot him a bemused look. “No they don’t. This is nothing like chicken.”

Tristan smirked at him, taking a second bite. “It absolutely tastes like chicken. I think it tastes more like chicken than chicken does.”

It was a vastly different taste to Opal, but he liked the change in topic and bantered back easily. The wyvern tasted so much better than chicken though. Tristan was simply wrong about that, too.

When they’d finished eating, Opal went to wash their dishes by the waterfall pool. Feather stamped its feet at him, proving that it was, in fact, evil.

Tristan had busied himself with making a sort of nest with their cloaks and the blanket he’d purchased in Bresson. He smiled at Opal and patted the spot next to him. “Thanks for taking care of the dishes,” he said. “How about I take care of you now?” There was a touch of uncertainty—of vulnerability—in his voice when he spoke, and he didn’t quite look at Opal.

Opal’s heart melted, and he smiled back. “I’d love that.” He settled onto the spot next to Tristan and cuddled up against him.

Tristan turned on his side, spooning Opal, and started nibbling on his neck. “I know we don’t agree about… well, a few important things,” he murmured. “But I do love your company. I’m so glad you insisted on coming with me. My life has felt more… more complete since you’ve come into it.”

Oh. Opal’s eyes suddenly began to prickle. He took Tristan’s hand and kissed the knuckles, buying a little time for himself. “Me too. I’d been searching for so long, and you’re just… so perfect for me. I’m so glad you came to rescue me, even if I’m not a perfect damsel.”

Tristan’s smile was shy, awkward even, and he murmured after a moment, “You’re pretty much perfect for me, too, even if it’s taken me a while to see it.”

That sounded straight out of a romance story. Opal’s heart soared, and for a few seconds, he might as well have been in the air. Even the itch in his horns didn’t bother him anymore.

“Please,” Opal whispered. “Tell me you mean it. That you… that is… we’ll be together from now on, right?”

Tristan kissed the shell of Opal’s ear then nipped it. “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” he said just as quietly. “I don’t… I don’t lie well, Opal. I want to be with you, even after this is over. I may want to protect you and keep you from all the danger, but you can take care of yourself, and I would never let harm come to you so long as I live.”

Opal shivered and ground his ass against Tristan’s burgeoning erection. This was what he’d wanted. And Tristan was saying all these things without even drinking any of Opal’s fluids!

Take that, Mother. Opal absolutely did have a fairy tale romance. Never mind the disaster of a few days ago with his failed confession.

“I’ll support you in everything,” Opal said. “Even if we have to kill a few dragons. I promise.”

“I know you don’t agree with my quest,” Tristan said, nuzzling Opal’s neck. “So it means a great deal that you’re willing to participate. Just… We’ll rid Phassis of dragons, then maybe I’ll go back to being a simple knight of the realm.”

As long as none of the dragons were Opal’s family, it would probably be okay. But Opal didn’t want to think about that now. He hiked up the back of his skirt and wiggled his ass. “I want to feel you, Tristan.”

“What if I want to feel you?” Tristan asked, his hand going to Opal’s stomach.

Opal gasped. “You’d… want me to…” He bit his lip. He was a little tempted, but the logistics would be too complicated. He shook his head. “I prefer being on the bottom.” That wasn’t even a lie. Opal preferred being the one getting pounded.

“Not inside,” Tristan said hurriedly, letting out an awkward little laugh. “But… to touch you. I’d like to touch you. I feel like we should share everything, shouldn’t we?”

Fuck, yes. Opal wanted Tristan to hold him. But even in the dim light he might notice… Opal thought about it for a second before nodding. “Okay. Um.” He pulled his skirts up higher, bunching all the fabric around one of his cocks—the one closer to the ground. Then he took Tristan’s hand and licked the palm, coating it with as much spit as he could.

Tristan’s breath hitched. He shivered, pressing his erection harder against Opal’s back. “Opal…” he murmured, sounding a little dazed—which was intoxicating to hear, considering he hadn’t kissed Tristan once and these were all his knight’s reactions.

Opal guided Tristan’s hand to his exposed cock. In this dark, Tristan probably wouldn’t realize the shape and texture was off, right? Especially with the spit to make the slide smoother…

Tristan let out a quiet sound when he wrapped his fingers around Opal’s cock, starting to slowly run his fingers up and down it. “Like this?” he asked.

Opal nodded eagerly, groaning at the sensation. It was so different to have Tristan’s warm hand on him. A little bit hesitant, but it was Tristan, and every touch showed how much he cared for Opal.

“A little tighter,” Opal said as he pushed his ass back to rub against Tristan’s cock.

Tristan squeezed Opal’s cock a little more tightly, kissing his neck again. “Like this?” he murmured, his breath hot on Opal’s neck.

“Yes.” Opal bit his lip to swallow a groan. “Can you… I want to feel your cock against me, please.”

Tristan nodded, but his hand lingered on Opal’s cock for another moment before he drew back. Opal could feel it as Tristan untied his breeches, as he pulled his cock free and pressed it against Opal’s back. “Anything you want,” he murmured.

For you to accept me as I am, Opal thought, but he didn’t dare utter those words aloud.

The warmth of the fire, the humidity from the waterfall, the roar of the water… it all came together to create a dreamy atmosphere. Opal couldn’t think of a more romantic scene.

They rutted against each other slowly, the frenzy of their past few couplings a distant memory. They weren’t fucking.

They were making love.

Opal moaned and reached back to guide Tristan’s cock into him. “Please, Tristan. I need you.”

Tristan didn’t hesitate. He pushed the head of his cock against Opal’s ass, pushing in gently but inexorably. “Like this?” he asked, breathless. “Opal…” His breath caught, and whatever he was going to say was lost in the soft sigh of pleasure that came with his entry into Opal.

“Yes, yes.” Opal thrust back to meet Tristan and tightened his ass just to feel Tristan shudder. His hand on Opal’s cock slackened as he was overcome with pleasure—pleasure that Opal had given him.

His stroking became intermittent, awkward, slow, even as his thrusts gained in speed and intensity. “All right?” he whispered against Opal’s neck, nipping him hard before sucking on his neck. It would leave a mark—and it would leave a mark Opal would be proud of bearing.

“Perfect,” Opal murmured, the scruff on Tristan’s chin sending a shiver through him.

And it was perfect. Everything Opal had ever dreamed of was concentrated here, in this moment. His perfect man, his treasure.

It was almost a shame when he felt his orgasm drawing close. Opal swallowed hard and tried to stave it off. He wanted the moment to go on forever, just him and Tristan together, the rest of the world completely irrelevant on the other side of the waterfall.

Tristan trembled and shuddered as he got closer to his own climax, and he left another mark on Opal’s neck. “Yes,” he whispered. “It is perfect.” He groaned, his fingers tightening around Opal’s cock. “Come for me, Opal.”

Opal shuddered and cried out, finally letting go. He jerked his hips, and his cock spurted all over Tristan’s hand. He dug the palm of his hand against his skirt, pushing against his second cock.

“More,” Opal begged. “Keep fucking me. I want to feel you fill me, claim me.”

Tristan’s breath caught, and he nodded against Opal’s throat, kissing him again and again there as he thrust harder and faster. Moments passed—or maybe it was only seconds—then Tristan was groaning as he spilled into Opal’s ass. “Gods, Opal,” he mumbled, still squeezing Opal’s cock instead of just letting it go even though it was covered with Opal’s seed.

Opal wanted to keep going—he still had one hard cock—but he’d gotten used to denying himself lately. He gently took Tristan’s hand and brought it up to his mouth to lick clean, making sure to get every last bit of his seed.

Tristan groaned as Opal’s tongue darted over his fingers, between them, all over his palm—cleaning his hand completely. “You… I…” Tristan didn’t seem to know how to continue, and instead of speaking further, he simply buried his face in Opal’s neck as he settled against him.

“I love you,” Opal whispered, tensing automatically. He didn’t want to get rejected again.

Tristan nuzzled Opal’s neck, and he fell silent for long enough that Opal’s heart began to fall into his stomach. “I… I know,” Tristan whispered back, his voice awkward. “And I… I care for you, Opal, more than I’ve ever cared for anyone. I just… I don’t know what that means yet.”

That… wasn’t quite what Opal wanted to hear. But he would take it.

“I’ll be here, waiting, until you figure it out,” Opal answered as hopefully as he could.