Chapter Nineteen of A Mirror for the Prince's Shadow - a historical m x nb romantasy featuring dark academia, hurt/comfort, and dragon royalty - is now on Patre♡n! Wherein feelings are denied.
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“Have you done that before?”
“Done what?”
“Kissed someone.”
An unaccountable shame bloomed in Emlyn’s chest. Xe’d never felt xe’d done anything wrong in this regard before. Now, however, with Rat asking xir the simplest question… Still, xe could do no less than answer honestly. “Yes.”
Rat deserved that much, at least.
Though he didn’t seem happy to hear it now. Nor did he say anything. No matter how dearly Emlyn wished he would. A horrible silence drew out between them.
Before Emlyn could stop xirself, xe added, “And more.”
This did nothing to improve Rat’s aspect. Nor did it induce him to speak. His eyes darted away from Emlyn’s. Over the room. Clear across it. Fixing on a point in the middle distance and focusing on nothing at all. His jaw clenched and unclenched. Yet he remained silent.
“Does it bother you?” Emlyn asked—though the answer was already evident.
“No,” said Rat.
There was something off in the answer. Too quick. Too sharp. It had a strange undercurrent that sounded utterly unlike the Rat that Emlyn had come to know and love.
All at once, Emlyn realized xe couldn’t recall Rat ever lying to xir before.