Chapter 34 of Season of Blossoms is up!
You can start reading (for free) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/105203021
In the nation of Tithly, it is custom that those of marriageable age travel to the city of Philsia for the yearly Season of Blossoms– four summer months of parties meant to provide its participants the opportunity to find their next spouse. This year will be the first year that all three siblings of the Tsylgahra family attend: Mithleem, Anli, and Lisanth.
Mithleem has been to the city of Philsia for the Season before– eight years ago, when he met his wife and mother of his two children. However, two years after her tragic death, Mithleem has decided that he’s ready to start his search for someone new. As a successful doctor, runespeaker, and war hero, he’s generated a stellar reputation among his peers, so he’s a hot commodity at parties, including one thrown by Tithly’s most renowned painter. It’s here that Mithleem is called to the bedside of the painter’s equally famous spouse, Ysaika Talorilau. They have thrown themselves off a balcony. Through healing them, Mithleem learns of a “rotting rune” that is threatening their life, and it may take someone of Mithleem’s skill to save them– in more ways than one.
Anli’s been to Philsia three times already for the Season, but she hasn’t had much luck. Unlike her older brother, she’s never been a person of much interest to the social climbers of Philsia society. However, this time she’s managed to find two men with promise, and she’s eager to find her future husband. Through every high and low of this journey, her family’s new valet and bodyguard Thyla Daschanhildi remains a constant–loyal, kind, attentive. It’s enough to make Anli wonder if her options are broader than she thought.
As the youngest Tsylgahra and the “wild child”, Lisanth has no interest in marriage. Lisanth is far more interested in racing horses, starting squabbles in the local tavern, and worrying his parents on the nights he doesn’t come home. However, he knows he can’t put off Philsia forever, and at the insistence of his mother, Lisanth grudgingly makes the journey with his siblings to the City in the Sky. After winning a horse race and exploring the darker corners of Philsia,, he’s approached by a stranger who wields charm with just a hint of danger. Only later does Lisanth come to realize that the stranger is in fact a prince– Prince Jafkar A’nesh to be exact. And when Lisanth gets entangled in a conspiracy difficult to extract himself from, it’s always helpful to have a prince on your side.
Three siblings, three tails of mischief, drama, and budding romance– all to be expected in the Season of Blossoms.
Rating: 18+ Contains: mxm, mxnb, and fxf romance, very slow burn, sex, idiocy, and tomfoolery Content Warnings: Spouse death (only mentioned), spousal abuse (emotional, on-page), suicide (only mentioned), mildly dubious consent (on-page, not with any main pairings), brief sexual assault (on-page, not with any main pairings)
EXCERPT:
“Was it okay?” Anli had to ask. “I know there are some… complexities to our relationship, considering who I am and who you are, and I certainly don’t want to take advantage or make you feel like you must do as I say, because that’s not how I see things and you mustn’t—”
“Anli,” Thyla interrupted, voice still groggy and fried. “It’s one in the morning.”
“Is it? Oh. Right. You get up very early, don’t you? I shouldn’t have—I’m sorry, I can leave—”
“No, stay.” Thyla released Anli and scooted back onto the bed, patting the space beside her. “Not much room in this bed but we can make it work.”
Anli felt her face grow hot, and she wasn’t sure how to ask what Thyla had in mind so in the end she just nodded and sat down onto the bed next to Thyla. The mattress was soft enough that Thyla’s weight created such a dip so as to force Anli’s hip against hers. Anli tried to put distance between them out of courtesy and habit, but then Thyla twisted, lifting a folded leg up and grabbing Anli behind the neck to pull her into a kiss.
Funny how little it took to make Anli’s mind quiet for a few seconds. Anli hummed with satisfaction, and she felt Thyla’s mouth smile against hers. Her thumbs pushed up under Anli’s ear lobes before she pulled back a few inches.
“I had a dream about you,” Thyla murmured, pressing a kiss to Anli’s cheek, then lower to her jaw. “I don’t remember what it was about though.”
“I hope I didn’t lose all my teeth,” Anli replied, voice strained as she shuddered. “I hate those.”
Thyla chuckled against her skin, then dropped an array of kisses down Anli’s neck. Anli felt her body curl into itself, tight with pent-up energy she had no clue what to do with. She resisted the urge to talk because talking was always how she relieved anxiety. She didn’t think Thyla wanted to talk. But she also had no clue what to do with her face or hands, so she just touched whatever was closest, that being one of Thyla’s curved ivory horns, then strands of her silky light purple hair that was shaggy on top and shaved close to the skin at her nape.
Thyla lifted her head, her face hovering inches over Anli’s. “Is this all okay with you?”
“I should think so,” Anli replied with a scoff. “I’d surely say so if I wasn’t. I am very opinionated, as you know.”
