I was horrified. “I would never do that to roosters,” I said.
He winked at me. “I wasn’t talking about roosters.”
I threw up a little in my mouth. “I just learned something new. I never want to hear the word cock come out of your mouth again.”
“Because you’d rather just have cock come in your mouth instead?”
“Wow,” I whispered reverently. “That…. Morgan. That was a thing of beauty. And so disgusting, coming from you. What the hell. Thank you for subjecting me to that. And I hate you.”
“I’ve got to keep you on your toes,” he said. Then he sobered. “Are you sure about this, Sam?”
Dammit. Serious time. “The King asked,” I said. “And he has a point. Justin will be my King. Ryan will be the King Consort. One day, I will be sworn to protect them like you do for the King and did for the Queen. It’s our duty, Morgan.”
He watched me for a moment before replying. I knew he was trying to gauge my sincerity. And I thought myself sincere. For the most part. “You’ve grown,” he finally said. “Once, you were this gawky, loud little boy who turned a gang of miscreants to stone. And now you stand before me a man. Making choices as a man. I thought….” He shook his head. “I’m proud of you, Sam Haversford. Sam of Wilds. I am so proud to have you as my apprentice.”
“I’m about to hug the crap out of you,” I warned him. “Like, full-on feelings hug where it goes on for a bit too long and becomes slightly awkward and we both clear our throats and shuffle our feet when it’s over.”
“Must we?” He sighed.
“You’re proud of me,” I reminded him. “You think I’m awesome. You love me. Yes. We must. Open your arms, Morgan. I’m about to bring it in.”
He opened his arms sarcastically. I didn’t know that was possible for a person to do that. But he did. “Hugs, hugs, hugs,” I mumbled as I pulled him in. His arms circled my back and I held on as tightly as I could because without him, I would not have the home I did. Without him, I would not be where I was. Sometimes, things could be hard. Things could be unfair. But Morgan was my friend. More than that, he was someone I could look up to. He would never steer me wrong. I didn’t know how much I needed someone like him until the day he took my hand and led me out of that alleyway, listening to me babble incessantly about pink shoes and the tears of a succubus.
I sighed happily into his neck.
“Sam? I think it’s gone on long enough.”
“Shh,” I said, reaching up to pet his face blindly. “Not awkward yet.”
“No? I would have thought otherwise.”
“You make me have feelings,” I told him seriously. “Like you’re my brother uncle dad.”
“There’s the awkward.”
“It’s not awkward when i
t’s true. Am I your brother nephew son?”
He groaned. “Will that make you let me go?”
“Try it and see.”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, Sam. You’re like my brother nephew son.”
“Good.”
“You’re not letting go, are you.”
“No. That was a lie. You smell good. Like berries and sunshine. What lotion do you use? Is it called Berry Sunshine? You’re my berry sunshine, Morgan.”
He shoved me away as I laughed.
“You’re going to miss me,” I said. “Admit it.”