A Suitable Stray (For an Outguard and an Assistant)

Tiiran is just trying to keep the Great Library running. The library has existed for centuries, but after decades of political upheaval, everyone in charge of the revered institution seems to have vanished, leaving only Tiiran and a handful of assistants to keep the lights on.

With a creatively foul mouth and no patience for nobles, Tiiran has a ferocious reputation for defending the library, which is the only home he's ever known. Abandoned by both his fae and human parents, Tiiran learned to fend for himself long before the older librarians abandoned him too, meaning he's more hissing alley cat than well-mannered administrator.

About the only person Tiiran softens for is Orin, an unusual outguard with a taste for poetry and a string of eager submissives trailing after him, or so rumors suggest. Big as a bear, but patient and gentle with Tiiran, Orin has been trying to warn Tiiran about the dangers in the palace, especially with Tiiran's temper and too-honest way of speaking. No one has ever been so concerned for Tiiran, or worked so hard to get Tiiran to trust them... or playfully threatened to put Tiiran over his knee. Orin makes Tiiran feel things that Tiiran has no words for.

He's equally flustered when a new assistant as the library seems determined to help him. Nikoly is friendly, beautiful, and likes to joke about serving Tiiran... if that is a joke. If Tiiran were anyone else, he'd say Nikoly has been flirting with him. But Tiiran is spiky and difficult on a good day, and doesn't know anything about that sort of bed sport. Someone like Orin is probably more of what Nikoly is looking for, so Nikoly must be after something else, possibly even Orin himself.

Tiiran would much rather focus on library business than on feelings he doesn't understand or expect to be reciprocated. But Orin and Nikoly are set on luring this stray cat to a cushion by the fire so they can show him what love is, one with a firm hand and the other with sweet submission. Neither of them considered that taming a fae-touched, fiery spirit like Tiiran means he will love as fiercely as he does everything else, and will do whatever it takes to protect who, and what, he cares about, no matter the danger.

m/m/m romance