Chapter 58

“I think…” Ellis ran his hands through his hair and stood up. “I think I’ve got to…”

“Yes, you do,” Daniel said.

“If you must,” Lucian said, and there was worry in his steely eyes.

“I’m sorry about—” Ellis started to say, but Clark’s sharp look made him stop. “Thank you.”

Clark nodded, pleased, and rose to give him a hug. “You need anything…”

“I’ll call. Or come by. Again.” Ellis laughed nervously.

“Do,” Kris said. “First interesting thing that’s happened all week.”

Ellis said his good-byes and left. On the elevator ride down, he thought about wise wizards in crystal palaces. He also thought about trust as he made the journey toward Bryn’s building. What would it have been like if Ellis’s first example of kinky play had been like Bryn’s? Or if even one example had ended in a suicide? Ellis tried to imagine how Clark would feel if he had played with Ellis and then Ellis had offed himself. Clark would be…crushed. Devastated. Would likely never get over it.