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The bag of gold landed heavily beside Anthony. He paused his sketching of a breastplate to look first at the satchel and then at the prince responsible for dropping it.
“I was unaware you owed me coin,” Anthony pointed out, quirking an eyebrow at his friend.
“I believe you requested it,” Loki said, his voice soft and his gaze locked on Anthony. “Gold and jewels were your stipulation.”
It took a moment but Anthony soon sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes widening as he realised what Loki was referencing.
It had been a joke three nights ago. He’d been at a tavern with his friends. While Loki rarely joined him when he went out with others - not liking the noise or the crowds - he had acquiesced that night. Anthony’s friends had been wary of Loki at first, but they had grown to be at least reasonably friendly with him.
Anthony had turned down a barmaiden that night and one of his friends had joked, “What will it take then to gain a kiss from you, Anthony?”
“Why, jewels and gold of course,” Anthony had replied. “I expect nothing less.”
The table had all laughed and it had quickly been forgotten. But clearly, not by Loki.
Anthony put down his quill and turned to fully face his friend. Loki would no longer hold his gaze. Instead, his attention dropped to first the sketch and then the satchel. He made a gesture with his fingers and the ties loosened to reveal coins as well as green, purple and red gems.
It was a small fortune – and yet, nothing to a prince as rich as Loki.
Anthony didn’t touch the offering. He looked back at the prince – his friend.
“Why did you not tell me?” Anthony enquired softly.
Loki’s mouth twitched with wry humour, but he didn’t answer. Anthony supposed, the truth was obvious. If he sought to bargain for the opportunity, he obviously believed his chances too low to risk an overture.
And yet, Anthony knew Loki. The satchel was as much an overture as any standard declaration of interest. Because Anthony had been joking and everyone at the table knew it. But Loki had used the scenario as a bridge to express his feelings without saying them.
Because to Loki, an honest statement is so much harder than an underhanded one.
It actually made Anthony smile, fond and affectionate for the ludicrous, mercurial prince he called his friend.
He looked back at the satchel and made a decision. He stood and picked it up. He felt the prince’s gaze on him. Anthony closed the bag once more and stepped up to his friend. He caught Loki’s wary green gaze and pressed the satchel against the prince’s chest. He saw the sharp pain and angry resignation form on his face – but Anthony stopped it by ducking forward and kissing the prince’s cheek.
“I think you should use these items to pay for our evening meal, and perhaps a gift or two. One should expect much expense when courted by a prince, shouldn’t they?”
Loki’s expression cleared and when he smiled it was small and soft. He brought up his hand to take the satchel, but curled it around Anthony’s as he did.
“I suppose that is a good way to spend my coin.”
Anthony’s eyes twinkled and he winked. “I expect nothing less, Loki.”
Loki’s grin widened and Anthony found his own doing the same. Because while it had certainly been unexpected, it was not unwelcome.
And Anthony was curious and excited to see exactly what would happen when courted by the friend he already cared so very much for.