Kalyana made his way to the kitchen in hopes that the lord of the manor, the Viscount Dasmaya, was well and truly occupied in the stable.
"Have you found something special to make for us?" Kalyana asked Makarand, the main cook.
Makarand almost looked offended when he replied, "You doubt my abilities, child? Of course I have. Here, have a look at a sample."
"Makarand, how many times must I remind you I am not a child? You're not even old enough for me to be your child." Kalyana groused, but he forgot what he was complaining about when Makarand pulled a plate of delicacies from a cupboard. Arranged on the plate were six dainty cakes, all in the shape of hearts and elaborately decorated in red, pink, and white. He clasped his hands in front of his chest and smiled wide. "Oh, they're perfect! He's going to love them."
"Try one. They melt in your mouth," Makarand urged, holding the plate out to Kalyana.
"I shouldn't. I should wait until Anandaprema Day next week," Kalyana insisted, in spite of the fact that his hand was already reaching for one of the pretty delicacies.
"Pish! These won't last until then," he said, holding the plate even closer to Kalyana. "I have to make more."
"All right, just one," Kalyana agreed and took one and put it in his mouth. It was a bite of sweetness and heaven.
"Oh, Ava will love these," Kalyana said when he'd eaten it all and licked his fingers clean.
"I know," Makarand said, looking smug. The smug look disappeared and was replaced with one of seriousness. "Kalyana, we are all so thankful you've come to make our Ava so happy. He's never had anyone to celebrate Anandaprema Day with before; never had anyone to celebrate love and pure bliss with until you brought him those things. Anandaprema Day might as well have been set after you came to Ava."
Kalyana couldn't help the blush that stained his porcelain cheeks. "None are as thankful as I am," he insisted softly. "Nothing makes me happier than making Avanindra happy."
"And you do, child, you do. Now, take this tea tray to the library with you. I'm sure his lordship will head there as soon as he's done in the stable." Makarand hid the tray of cakes away and handed Kalyana a tray laden with a steaming pot of tea, two cups with saucers, and a plate of flaky raspberry pastries.
"Yes, sir," Kalyana took the tray and turned away, but turned back a moment later to say, "Thank you, Makarand. This is my first true celebration of Anandaprema Day, also."
Makarand smiled knowingly and waved him away.
Kalyana arranged the tea tray in the cozy parlor that was his and Avanindra's favorite. A fire was already crackling merrily in the hearth, warming the damp winter day. He'd no sooner settled down with a book when it was plucked from his fingers and set aside. He looked up into smiling bright blue eyes.
"I was reading that," he said with a mock pout.
"Were you?" Avanindra asked, one raven dark brow raised. His pale blue cheeks were touched with a rosy glow from the cold outdoors. "Too bad. It's time for tea."
Kalyana smiled and ran his fingers down one cool cheek before Avanindra stood and walked around the couch and sat next to Kalyana. Kalyana leaned forward to pour the tea, but Avanindra motioned him back.
"Sit, dearest. You look comfortable." He poured a cup for each of them and handed one to Kalyana before adding milk and honey to his own.
"Did you get things settled between Darpaka and Jalaj?" Kalyana asked.
"I think our stable master either hates or loves our new horse trainer." Avanindra offered Kalyana a pastry and napkin and took one for himself. "Darpaka likes things just so. He may be a little too set in his ways," Avanindra mused, and then took a bite of pastry and hummed with contentment.
"It may be good for him for Jalaj to shake things up. If they don't kill each other first," Kalyana said, smiling.
"Time will tell," Avanindra said, a smug smile on his face. Kalyana was aware he wore a similar expression. The heat between Darpaka and Jalaj was palpable. Though both were too stubborn to give in to it yet, it was only a matter of time before it exploded. Kalyana was very optimistic the explosion would be just what both men needed.
Kalyana and Avanindra each finished another pastry and were on their second cup of tea when there was a soft knock at the open door. Uddanta, dressed in his official capacity as butler of the manor, but with a fond look on his face that spoke of his role as surrogate father to Avanindra, stood in the doorway, a letter in his hand.
"My apologies for interrupting, gentlemen, but this was just delivered, Avanindra."
"You're not interrupting," Kalyana assured him. "Would you like a raspberry pastry? There's one left, and they were wonderful."
"I should, to save Avanindra from eating it. You'll get big as a house if you keep eating like you do," Uddanta teased him.
Avanindra patted his flat stomach and said, "I have to keep my strength up. Kal wears me out each and every night."
Kalyana couldn't help the tiny gasp of shock or the heat that infused his body as he blushed from the roots of his pale gold hair to the tips of his snowy white wings.
"Now look," Uddanta chastised, "you've embarrassed our angel."
Avanindra just laughed and leaned over to kiss Kalyana's burning cheek. Uddanta handed him the envelope and gathered the tea things to take back to the kitchen with him.
Kalyana thanked Uddanta as he left, then looked at Avanindra. He'd broken the seal on the envelope and was frowning as he read the letter within.
"What is it?" Kalyana asked.
Avanindra sighed and handed the letter to Kalyana. "I've been summoned to the royal court."
"Why? When?"
"Three days hence."
"Three days? That barely gives you time to get there; it's a two day journey! Is it an emergency?" Kalyana asked, finally looking to the letter. Instead of answering, Avanindra waited for him to read the letter, which outlined an Anandaprema Day ball for all eligible lords and ladies in the kingdom. King Narendra Rajam was looking to make favorable matches between his lords and ladies and those in a neighboring kingdom with the goal of strengthening the bond between the two kingdoms. There was a vague hint that the crown prince would be marrying into the family of the other kingdom. The letter further ordered that lords and ladies were to appear without the presence of any close companions.
"'Close companions'? They mean lovers, like me." Kalyana said, his frown deepening, shock making him more blunt than usual.
"I believe so, dearest," Avanindra put his arms around Kalyana and jostled and pulled until Kalyana was straddling his lap.
Kalyana's frown was replaced with a smile of amusement. He put his own hands around Avanindra's neck and asked, "Yes, my lord? You wanted something?"
"Wings," Avanindra said, which was all he needed to say for Kalyana to know what he meant. Kalyana extended his feathered wings to enshroud them in a private cocoon. It had become Avanindra's favorite position when he wanted all of Kalyana's attention, not to mention what it meant when they were naked and engaged in carnal pursuits. Kalyana had always thought his wings useless, a mere nuisance, until Avanindra exploited their sensitivity and showed Kalyana just how special they made him.
Kalyana ran his fingers through Avanindra's blue-black hair, loosening the shining waves from the black velvet ribbon that held them, stopping to caress the elegant ebony horns that extended in graceful curling arcs on each side of Avanindra's head. They were hard, but smooth as silk and almost as warm as his skin. Kalyana had grown to love them and touched them whenever his hands were in Avanindra's hair, which was often enough.
Avanindra pressed his forehead to Kalyana's and, hands circling his waist, pulled him even closer until there was no room between them. "I should ignore it," he groused.
"You can't," Kalyana protested, as much as he agreed.
"Unless I turn around immediately when I get there, I'll miss Anandaprema Day with you. Our first together. The ball is scheduled for that night."
"I am disappointed, too, but you can't ignore this," Kalyana said. He trembled as a shiver of fear ran through him, and he tucked his head into the soft skin of Avanindra's neck.
"Stop," Avanindra said, clutching him tighter. He pressed a kiss to Kalyana's head and started rubbing soothing circles on his lower back. "You have nothing to worry about, precious. You are my dearest angel and no one shall ever replace you."
"I know that," Kalyana said, and he did. But having been manipulated by the Crown nearly a year ago did not appease his fears. He'd had a short-lived affair with Crown Prince Anagha, and when it was discovered by Prince Ipsita, Anagha's younger brother, the king had sent him here, to the Dasmaya Viscounty, to serve as librarian and scribe to Viscount Avanindra Dasmaya, a demon, in spite of the fact that Prince Anagha knew Kalyana was fearful of demons. It hadn't taken long for Kalyana to see into Avanindra's gentle, compassionate, and loving heart and fall in love with him and find his love reciprocated whole-heartedly.
Kalyana was now ashamed of his prejudice toward demons, who were as plentiful in the kingdom as angels, though not as numerous as humans. A visit from the princes Anagha and Ipsita, with an offer for Kalyana to return to the royal court as Anagha's consort might have ended their fledgling relationship if Prince Ipsita hadn't called Kalyana an idiot and pointed out how much Avanindra loved him. All of this passed through Kalyana's mind as Avanindra held him tight. He could not help but worry that the king would force Avanindra to make a matrimonial match for the good of the kingdom. He worried, too, that Prince Ipsita would try again to seduce Avanindra and make up for his failed first attempt. He fretted until he fell into an uneasy sleep, Avanindra's hands gentle on his back.
The day had deepened into evening when Kalyana awoke. His wings had closed, but he was still cradled close to Avanindra's heart, though they had slid down the couch in a more comfortable slouch. Someone, probably Uddanta, had been in to tend the fire and light a soft lamp, for the room was warm and glowing in the gathering gloom.
Avanindra nuzzled Kalyana's neck and asked, "Feel better?"
Kalyana stretched and settled back down against Avanindra. "Not really," he admitted.
"I already told you, you have nothing to worry about."
"I know, but ... "
Avanindra sat up, forcing Kalyana up at the same time, and put his hands on either side of Kalyana's face so their eyes met. "Listen to me. I know I can't ignore the Crown's summons, and it is beyond disappointing that we will miss our first Anandaprema Day together, but I don't need a special day to know that you love me. Or to show you that I love you. No one can ever replace you, my dearest heart. We can celebrate Anandaprema Day when I return, okay?"
Kalyana shook his head. "You're right. We don't need a special day. You show me every single day how much you love me." He leaned forward to press a kiss to Avanindra's lips. "And you know I love you more than anything."
Avanindra's smile was blinding. "I do. Come here," he said, pulling Kalyana to him to press their lips together in a kiss that quickly became scorching, all lips and tongue and teeth, until a knock and loud throat-clearing interrupted them.
"My lords," Uddanta said, amusement clear in his voice, "supper is served in the dining room."
Kalyana hid his face in Avanindra's neck. He should have been used to Uddanta interrupting their private moments—it happened often enough, after all—but he still got embarrassed, even though it never seemed to faze Uddanta.
"We'll be there shortly," Avanindra said. A moment later he kissed Kalyana's burning cheek and stood up, still holding Kalyana to him.
Kalyana sputtered and put his feet down. "You can't carry me to supper! How would that look?"
"I most certainly could, and I don't care how it looks," Avanindra argued.
"Yes, I know," Kalyana sighed, all his indignation gone as he looked up into Avanindra's smiling eyes.
*~*~*
Kalyana flipped over and gave up on getting any sleep. He'd gone to bed early, missing Avanindra, restless, and out of sorts, but now it was the middle of the night and he was wide awake. He slipped a velvet dressing gown over his nightshirt and padded to the fire to build it up. With that task quickly finished, he decided a cup of tea and a book might distract him, so he went to the kitchen to fetch the tea.
Kalyana made a pot of tea and tucked a couple of cookies into a napkin and added them to the small tray to take back to his room. Once there, though, his book couldn't hold his interest and he decided he wasn't hungry enough to eat the cookies. The tea tasted good at first, but went cold while he lost track of time staring into the dancing flames of the fire. He curled into a ball on the soft couch and tried valiantly not to imagine Avanindra in the arms of Prince Ipsita, but his mind kept going back to the kiss he'd heard Ipsita give Avanindra all those months ago, before he and Avanindra had declared their love for each other.
An uneasy somnolence overcame Kalyana as he succumbed to the warmth of the fire and the dark of the room, and so he was surprised to be scooped up and held tight. He looked up into bright blue eyes and asked, "Am I dreaming?"
"Yes, dearest, you're dreaming." Kalyana sighed and nuzzled into his favorite spot on Avanindra's neck. "Aren't you surprised I'm here?"
"Sush, this is a good dream, and I don't want to think about you not being here." Kalyana snuggled closer.
Avanindra laughed and kissed Kalyana's brow. He was silent for some time before saying, "Dearest, you know you aren't really dreaming, don't you?"
"I'm not?" Kalyana asked, not moving from his comfortable spot.
"No, you're not."
Kalyana's eyes popped open, and he sat up so fast he nearly dislodged himself from his perch on Avanindra's lap. "You're really and truly here?"
"Yes, love, I'm really here."
"But ... what of the ball and the king and his decree?" Kalyana buried his hands in Avanindra's waistcoat as his worried eyes searched his lover's face.
"I told him that I was sorry I would not be able to attend his ball and invited him to my wedding."
"Your ... what? Wedding?" A fist of pain surrounded Kalyana's heart as he thought of Avanindra marrying another.
"Oh, you sweet little ninny ... " Avanindra clutched Kalyana to his chest before pushing him off to sit on the couch, and then dropped to his knees in front of Kalyana. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a black velvet box. He opened it to reveal a wide gold ring set with a large diamond. He looked up into Kalyana's dark brown eyes, which had not blinked since the fist had clutched his heart. Avanindra's eyes were soft, shining with emotion. He licked his lips and looked deep into Kalyana's wide eyes. "Kalyana Charu, my dearest heart, will you marry me?"
"Will I ... " Kalyana finally blinked as his eyes went from Avanindra's to the ring and back again.
"Yes, dearest, will you?"
"Me?"
Avanindra shook his head and slipped the ring onto Kalyana's cold finger and curled his own warm hands around Kalyana's smaller hands. "You're freezing. Let's get into bed." Avanindra slipped the robe from Kalyana's shoulders and followed it with the nightdress. He scooped a naked Kalyana into his arms and deposited him into their bed before undressing and joining him. He pulled the warm blankets over them just as Kalyana came out of his stupor and threw his arms around him.
"You're here."
"Yes, dearest, I'm here." Avanindra settled against the pillows and pulled Kalyana on top of him and held him tight.
"You really told the king you couldn't attend the ball? That you're getting married?"
"Yes, but you have yet to confirm my marriage, Kal." Kalyana didn't miss the hint of uncertainty in Avanindra's voice.
"Oh, Ava, of course I'll marry you, love," Kalyana said, suddenly filled to overflowing with happiness. His eyes filled and tears spilled as he leaned up to kiss Avanindra. Avanindra couldn't stop his tears from joining Kalyana's as he clutched him to his chest and kissed him senseless.
When they'd broken apart, much, much later, Kalyana rested his left hand on Avanindra's chest and watched the diamond catch and reflect the soft light from the fireplace, a smile on his lips, until he fell asleep.
*~*~*
"Happy Anandaprema Day, dearest," Avanindra whispered, running his hands through Kalyana's tangled golden curls to wake him.
Kalyana sighed with contentment before popping his head up to look first at Avanindra under him and then around the room. The curtains were open and the pale winter sun shone in the wide windows. The fire had been tended to warm the room and breakfast had been served on the table in front of the fire. Kalyana recognized the sweet red cakes he'd had Makarand make. His head swiveled back to look down at Avanindra.
"You're really here," he said.
"I'm really here." Avanindra didn't bother to hide his amusement.
"You're supposed to be at the royal court."
"Didn't we have this conversation last night?" Avanindra asked.
"You asked me ... to ... "
"To marry me." Avanindra's voice was soft, matching the tender look in his eyes. "To which you agreed. Do you remember?"
Kalyana nodded and looked down at the ring on his finger for a moment then frowned. "This is huge. What made you pick out such an obnoxiously big diamond?"
Avanindra laughed and pulled Kalyana to his chest. "Goodness, how I love you!" he kissed Kalyana breathless, and then separated them, a hand on each side of Kalyana's face. "I got such a big ring because no ring is big enough to show how much I love you and because I don't want anyone, including the king and those insufferable princes he calls sons, to mistake that you are the one and only love of my life, now and forever."
"Oh, Ava," Kalyana said, his eyes filling. "I love you so much," he whispered, snuggling close again.
They were silent for a while, until Avanindra said, "Can we eat? I'm starving and the tea is getting cold."
Kalyana laughed and sat up. "You just want those sweet cakes Makarand made."
"Of course I do," Avanindra said, getting out of bed. He wrapped his dressing gown around himself and handed Kalyana his from the hook it usually occupied, a sure sign Uddanta had been in the room, cleaning up after them.
Avanindra started for the fire, but Kalyana took his hand and stopped him. "Happy Anandrprema Day, husband-to-be."
Avanindra wrapped Kalyana in his arms and held him close. "I love the sound of that. I'll love it even more when we can shorten it to just plain 'husband'."
"Me too," Kalyana agreed, with his whole heart.