Darkness was winding its way between the trees like a lover settling in for the night. The People, however, were only beginning. It had been nearly two years since the last time Silvereye’s clan had made it to a gathering. They were not going to let the opportunity go to waste.

Silvereye sat next to Her Majesty, Queen Vyrenna. They were on a raised wooden platform that was reminiscent of a dais. Vyrenna lounged on a pile of colorful cushions, gazing languidly into one of the bonfires that was roaring cheerfully nearby. Silvereye sat next to her, but his gaze was aimed somewhat beyond the nearest fire.

He hadn’t spoken, but as if she was continuing a conversation Vyre agreed, “He’s quite lovely, Silvereye. So why is he there while you are here?”

Silvereye’s response wasn’t anything so unseemly as a snort or a grunt. It was more a burst of exhaled frustration.

“He is certainly not paying attention to any of the females,” the Queen noted in the slightly bored tone she used most often. “So if that isn’t the problem, what is?”

“My Queen, don’t trouble yourself,” Silvereye admonished.

Vyrenna threw her head back as she laughed, the sound rich and musical. The shadows danced over her beautiful face. “I sense brewing intrigue, lovely Silvereye.” She sat up, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I enjoy nothing so much as that, and you know it.”

This time, Silvereye groaned. Now, his urbane voice was pleading, “Please, Vyrenna, can we not?”

She pouted. Silvereye just gazed at her placidly, unimpressed by the display. Vyrenna flung herself back down onto her cushions. “Oh, you are ruining all of the fun,” she complained. Demandingly she continued, “You will at least tell me what the problem is.”

Silvereye folded his arms across his chest, shooting her a disgusted look. Vyrenna tried to suppress her amusement. Silvereye was perhaps the only human in the world who would dare look at her like that. Just to repay the novelty of their interactions, Vyrenna considered him to almost be a friend.

She took a moment to observe him, trying to intuit what the issue was. He was beautiful tonight, as always. The firelight suited his angular features just as well as it did her more rounded ones. He had smooth olive skin and dark hair that was pulled into a low ponytail and secured with a leather cord.

And of course, those shockingly silver eyes. They were beautiful, eerie, otherworldly. And Silvereye knew how to make the most of them. Tonight he was dressed in midnight blue. He wore snug leather pants and knee-high boots. He had a vest that was secured with three silver buttons which he hadn’t bothered to put a shirt underneath. His arms and part of his chest were visible, showing off a leanly muscled form. He had a silvery scarf twined around his waist as a belt. The dark blue of his clothes, broken by the silver accents, made his eyes even more noticeable.

His only flaw, one which Vyrenna thought wasn’t a flaw at all, was a relatively recent scar along his jaw. It still had the faintest trace of healing pink about it, but Vyre was quite sure that it would add a hint of the rogue to him once fully healed. Honestly, he was too perfect. The scar just made him look more human, a necessary flaw to bring the rest of his perfection into focus.

She sat up again, leaning forward and caressing the scar on his jaw. Silvereye furrowed his brow. “So that is the problem,” she murmured.

She could tell he was angry with her; his shoulders were tight and he wasn’t meeting her gaze. Vyrenna tried not to laugh; it was so novel, these emotions he directed at her. Most humans were too afraid of her to dare anything like anger or disgust.

“Well, I told you already that you’re being ridiculous about that. It’s the exception that proves the rule. The flaw that highlights your sublime perfection,” she proclaimed. “And I shan’t have you missing opportunities for that foolishness,” she informed him.

Before Silvereye could protest, Vyrenna was waving at the man Silvereye had been admiring across the clearing. Not a wave of greeting–it was a summons. She saw someone nudge the man, who turned and saw the Queen. Even at this distance she could tell he went a bit pale at her attention, but he obediently rose to his feet and began to approach.

Vyrenna’s expression remained bland, but she whispered in amusement, “Oh, so pale. He’s terrified I’m going to want to spend the night with him.” She wrinkled her slightly snubbed nose at the thought. She had yet to meet a human worth the effort. No, she had her power, and that was a better lover than any being of flesh and blood could ever be.

Silvereye tried to look unphased. However, he felt his pulse quicken as the man approached. He had encountered Nilo a few times in the past but always in passing. 

Nilo was a bit taller than Silvereye, his complexion a bit darker. His hair was the shade of brown that would pick up golden streaks from the summer sun. Silvereye felt his fingers twitch slightly as he felt the urge to brush that hair back away from Nilo’s face. He wasn’t so pretty as Silvereye, with a stronger jaw line and the faintest hint of a broken nose long in his past. In short, he’s perfect, Silvereye sighed mentally.

Nilo had almost made it to the dais. Vyrenna leaned towards Silvereye, whispering, “If you’re curious, he’s terrified that he’ll have to touch me, and trying very hard not to think about touching you.” Silvereye’s heart was beating even faster. He knew Vyrenna couldn’t actually read thoughts, but she could sense emotions and seemed to have an uncanny knack of determining what caused them.

“What is your name, handsome?” Vyrenna purred at Nilo.

The man looked like he had swallowed a bug. “Nilo,” he mumbled. “Ah, your Majesty, I mean,” he added, obviously flustered.

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She patted the cushions next to her. “Come. Sit,” she commanded. “Silvereye, don’t hog me, scooch over,” she made a shooing gesture at Silvereye.

Silvereye could have strangled her. He didn’t want Nilo to see him behave rudely, so he placidly made room. He let his seething rage and annoyance loose, however. Vyrenna glanced beyond where Nilo was gingerly settling down, smiling in amusement to acknowledge Silvereye’s unspoken message.

Enjoying setting both men off guard, Vyrenna leaned in close to Nilo. Her voice was breathy. Doing her best to project eagerness, she whispered, “Oh, don’t mind Silvereye. He’s just cranky, worried about having to share attention.”

Nilo shot a brief, surprised glance towards Silvereye. Vyrenna could easily read the disappointment on Nilo’s face. As Nilo turned back to look at the Queen, she could see Silvereye staring daggers at her. Oh, this is far too much fun. This Nilo fellow is so open.

Still, Silvereye always indulged her. She didn’t want to torment him too much. Vyre leaned even closer to Nilo, gently touching his shoulder. “I don’t mean my attention, Nilo,” she explained. Conspiratorially she whispered, “He’s been positively mooning at you for the last hour, you fool.”

A ridiculously innocent grin broke across Nilo’s features like the sun breaking through clouds. Vyrenna released another melodic peal of laughter. “Boys, the both of you,” she rolled her eyes fondly.

Nilo shifted so that he could look at Silvereye. His voice was surprisingly soft, “I’m a bit off balance, I admit. You’re certainly more my type,” suddenly Nilo went pale. He looked back to Vyrenna, stammering, “Apologies, Your Majesty, you are beautiful and powerful and–”

Vyrenna held up a hand. “And a woman. Don’t be foolish. Go back to flirting, it’s entertaining.”

Silvereye dropped his face in his hand. His voice slightly muffled, he groaned out, “She’s always like this, equal parts fascinated and horrified by our meager human existence.”

“Should I have someone bring me something to write with? I could take notes, try and learn to mimic this…” her voice trailed off. “Oh yes, meager human existence.”

Silvereye didn’t even acknowledge her this time. He was gazing intently at Nilo. “I remembered you. When our clans passed by last spring, I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself.”

Nilo’s smile was open, almost boyish. “You don’t need an introduction.” He paused, letting his eyes travel along Silvereye’s form. “Everyone in the Forest knows of the beautiful Silvereye,” his voice was full of admiration.

Silvereye sighed as a pained look crossed his face.

Nilo’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“The scar, Nilo,” Vyrenna piped in, deciding to short circuit Silvereye’s melancholy.

“Really, Vyrenna?” Silvereye snapped.

Vyrenna shrugged. If he didn’t want it acknowledged, he shouldn’t bother feeling it around me.

“I don’t understand,” Nilo looked between the other two. When nothing more was forthcoming, he continued, “What about the scar?”

“Ugh,” Silvereye’s response was more groan than actual word. “Apparently I’m incredibly vain. I find it difficult to know I shan’t be known as the beautiful Silvereye once word spreads,” he confessed. Silvereye knew Vyrenna wouldn’t leave it alone, so he might as well get the misery over with.

Nilo blinked at him. He leaned closer to Silvereye, inspecting his face from different angles. “No, I’m sorry,” he apologized, “I still don’t understand.”

Vyrenna’s laughter floated around them. Silvereye heard her mutter, “See, I’m right. As I always am.” He ignored her.

“Once everyone hears my face has been scarred, I doubt I will be so admired,” Silvereye flopped backwards onto the cushions. He was mortified. At least before Vyre had summoned Nilo there had been the entertainment of imagining an interaction. Now she had gone and ruined everything and was rubbing his marred face in it as well.

Vyrenna’s voice was as close to kind as she could manage, “He has been like this for weeks. Nevermind that it’s healing into a devilishly handsome mark. Nevermind that he got it while assisting me as I stopped a wildfire.” She paused suddenly.

“Did you know that part?” she asked Nilo. “A lightning strike caused a brushfire uncomfortably near our encampment. He got everyone organized while I was holding the fire back. Then he came to find me. I was focused on bending the fire back on itself so it wouldn’t spread. Unfortunately a family of javis was in the way. They panicked and burst through where I had the flames held. Silvereye saved me from being trampled but ended up taking the brunt of a panicked javi attack.”

Vyrenna glanced towards where Silvereye was laying on the cushions, looking away from her and Nilo. “And then he refused treatment, staying with me until I had everything contained. Only after the fire was corralled would he go get it looked at.” She smirked, “You’d think if he truly loved me as he says, he’d consider it an honor to be scarred protecting me. But no, he thinks he’s ruined!” she pouted.

Nilo moved closer to Silvereye. He reached out, taking Silvereye by the chin and turning his head so that the scar was visible. Nilo traced it with a fingertip. Silvereye couldn’t meet his eyes. Nilo’s touch was soft and electric. Silvereye sighed.

“So, you earned a scar protecting the most valuable member of your tribe,” Nilo pointed out. His soft voice was warm with admiration, “And you managed to make it a roguish accent to your beauty?” Silvereye felt the blood rush to his cheeks. “I don’t think many of us could have managed that.”

Nilo’s hand was still on his face. Silvereye finally met the other man’s gaze. He saw the desire in Nilo’s eyes. Perhaps… “I suppose,” Silvereye offered, smiling now, “I hadn’t considered it in quite that light.” He raised one dark, elegant eyebrow invitingly.

Both men ignored Vyrenna’s snort from behind them, far too focused on each other to pay attention to their audience.

Nilo leaned down, only too happy to answer Silvereye’s unspoken request. His thumb gently stroked the small scar as he pressed his lips to Silvereye’s. The kiss escalated from tentative to passionate with incredible speed. Silvereye finally indulged the urge to touch Nilo’s hair. He slid his hand up until he could firmly pull Nilo’s head closer to kiss him more deeply.

Silvereye completely forgot where they were. In the tribes, love was a fairly open matter, but they were on a dais just a few feet from the Queen. Nilo’s hand was sliding slowly down Silvereye’s chest. Silvereye eagerly waited to find out if Nilo’s goal was one of the buttons on the vest or something somewhat lower.

“Oh, that’s quite enough,” Vyrenna announced.

The two men froze, lips still touching. Regretfully, Silvereye broke off the kiss.

The two men could almost hear Vyrenna rolling her eyes. “Yes, yes. You two are both incredibly lovely. You’re welcome. I know you’re eternally grateful for my bringing you together,” she drawled.

“Now, get off of my dais. I can only handle so much humanity at a time.”

With a laugh, Silvereye got smoothly to his feet. He reached a hand down to Nilo, helping him up. “Apologies, oh Queen of my Heart, most gracious and beautiful matchmaker.”

Vyrenna smirked, appeased. “Now go play somewhere else, boys,” she dismissed them with a wave.

Silvereye took Nilo’s hand, “We can’t disobey the Queen, now can we?” he said archly.

Nilo licked his lips, admiring the full view of Silvereye now that the man was standing. “Certainly not,” he agreed.

As the two descended the dais, Vyrenna called out one last command. “Nowhere near my tent, Silvereye! I don’t want to be kept up all night overhearing your emotions.”

They did

n’t answer her, far too busy with each other to care.