n

n

nThe moment Alka left them, Magnus felt the atmosphere shift.

n

"Weed,

" Lucien conversationally told the fire mage.

"It's the bane of my life. Alka makes me labour at every opportunity that he gets.

"

nMagnus chuckled. Lulu felt like a stranger to him. He couldn't reach out and tousle his red hair like he used to. He was dealing with a man, not a child.

n

"Lulu, do you have someone special in your life?

" He asked the redhead.

n

"Syryn is special to me,

" Lucien replied.

"But if you're asking about the people I've dated, the answer is no.

"

nMagnus thought right then that Lucien was the same as he was. His relationships had been built upon the foundation of sex and the desperation for happiness in times of hardship.

n

"What about you, Magnus? Is Mina your special someone?

" Lucien asked as he made eye contact with the fire mage.

n

"I don't know,

" Magnus honestly answered.

"Mina is great.

"

nLucien's hands paused between pulling out stubborn weeds. Maybe he had been wrong about Magnus' feelings for Mina.

n

"I see.

"

nAlka came back carrying lemonade and water. After pouring two tall glasses of sweet and sour lemonade for Magnus and Lucien, the plant mage squatted next to the redhead and began pulling out the deep-rooted weeds that choked his special plants.

n____

nAround an hour and a half later, the group took a break next to a tank of water. Lucien was emptying a bucket of water over his overheated body.

nAlka and Magnus sat under the shade drinking more juice and conversing about what had been happening with Syryn and Rowan. The fire mage was listening to Alka speak but he was distracted by Lucien.

nIt started out with a sly smirk sent his way. Magnus shifted uncomfortably when Lucien began peeling off his wet shirt. Two nubs of pink were exposed to the air like secret blossoms.

n

"Magnus?

" Alka's voice cut through his wandering mind.

n

"Sorry,

" the fire mage replied.

"The heat is uh-

"

nAlka nodded sagely.

"Sure.

"

n___

nLater in the evening, the housemates had gathered for dinner. It was a rare day and Rowan had found time to join them.

nThe redhead was seated next to Rowan and opposite Magnus.

n

"Congratulations on usurping the fake king, Magnus. Their punishment was a long time coming.

"

nThe fire mage smiled at Rowan but it wavered when he felt a naughty foot nudging his leg. His eyes met Lucien who gave him an innocent look.

nThe surprised mage cleared his throat and drank a glass of water to buy himself some time.

n

"Yeah, my mother isn't too happy about being left alone but I have no ambition to rule.

" His reply had Rowan nodding. The blond was seemingly unaware of Lucien playing footsie under the table. As he spoke, Lucien's leg reached the fire mage's knee and parted it with a gentle push.

nThe mage who was being played with made eye contact with Lucien. Whatdoyouthinkyou're doing? his eyes asked him.

n

"Is something wrong, Magnus?

" The redhead asked as if he wasn't the reason the shapeshifter was feeling out of sorts.

nRowan subtly turned and looked at the teenager like he was wondering what he was up to. It was unfortunate for the blond that he couldn't see under the table.

n

"Nothing at all,

" Magnus replied. He wasn't going to let a teenager pull a fast one over him.

nLucien's red eyes widened a fraction when he felt Magnus caress his bare ankle. His thumb circled the graceful arch of the ankle bone before slowly slipping under his trousers and skimming past the smooth skin above his ankle.

"Lulu,

" Magnus said to the redhead,

"Why are you red in the face?

"

nThe individual conversations at the table tapered off as they glanced at Lucien. Magnus was still caressing his leg. Just one thumb doing wonders on his bare skin. Lucien keenly felt the fire mage's branding gaze on his face but he was looking down at his food, mind racing for an excuse for the hot blush on his cheeks.

n

"Summer,

" Lucien casually told the table.

"Is hot.

"

n

"No **,

" Enkansh replied.

"My skin is drying like a potato in the sun.

"

n

"I told you to ask Salem for the special cream,

" Riha told him.

"It moisturises and protects your skin from drying out. How many times will I tell you this?

"

nThe sea creatures began to bicker and it relieved Lucien of the unwanted attention that had been directed at him.

n

"Lulu,

" Magnus sang his name. When Lucien looked up at him the smiling fire mage mouthed a silent warning. Don't play with fire.

nLucien's mouth curved. He was going to do just that - play with fire, poke at it, feed it, and get consumed by it until he was nothing but ashes. He kept his leg on the mage's thigh and peacefully ate his dinner, not paying heed to the blue eyes that were watching him with amusement.

nDespite pretending otherwise, Rowan knew exactly what the redhead was doing and he wasn't going to stop it. If Lucien was going to mess around with older men, messing around with the wily Magnus was their best case scenario. He only hoped that neither would emerge from it with a broken heart.

n____

nAfter dinner had ended, Lucien took a bath with cold water. When he stepped inside the room, Magnus was settling into bed with the grace of a lazy cat. The fire mage's sleepy eyes smiled at the skittish redhead at the door. Lucien was feeling like prey and it was an unsettling feeling.

n

"Come in, Lulu,

" Magnus told him in a low voice.

"What are you waiting for?

"

nLucien found his bearings and closed the door behind him. Leaning with his back against it, the redhead smiled at the shapeshifter who was watching him with a lazy stillness that captured the aura of a resting panther.

n

"Magnus, you really enjoyed touching my leg, didn't you?

"

n

"I've touched many legs, Lulu. And I've enjoyed them all.

"

nThe redhead's smile didn't falter. Whatever number of gorgeous beauties Magnus had encountered, Lucien was confident that no one could beat him for superficial beauty at least. How many men or women the fire mage had bedded was of no concern to Lucien. Beauty alone could not sway the fire mage. He only worried about the ones that managed to affect Magnus' heartstrings.

n

"But touching yours thrilled me more. Do you know why?

"

nLucien's heart skipped a beat.

"Why?

"

n

"Because I shouldn't be touching you at all this way, Lulu.. Not now, not ever.

"

n