Stone Rose by Megan Derr

garb, but one cool look had sent them scurrying off to gossip where he did not have to hear it. He knew he looked ridiculous, but there was nothing for it.
    Leaving his cabin, he joined the crew and his companions on the top deck and watched as they pulled into Piedre. It was so drastically different from Kundou—from all the others, really. Pozhar was beautiful, solid. It was well-built to contain its fiery god. Verde had a clean-cut, arranged feel to it, as if the entire country was a carefully-maintained garden. Kundou, of course, was the kingdom of the sea and always seemed a moment from succumbing to its embrace.
    Piedre was more like a solemn temple, where no one dared to speak above a whisper. It was also a violent place, as Midori knew first hand. He could not see much clearly, yet, but he could see at least a dozen soldiers assembled around a lavish black and silver open carriage.
    The four men who had accompanied him tried a few times to attempt conversation, but Midori brushed them aside. Just as he was beginning to lose all patience, the captain gave them permission to disembark. Midori thanked him and strode off, walking as slowly as he could manage down the gangway.
    He faltered to a stop when he set eyes on a man who was shockingly white in a country of dusky skin and dark features. When he had traveled before with Prince Culebra, his mind had been entirely on Culebra's grief and doing whatever he could to help him through it.
    Between that and the chaos wrought by Prince Nankyokukai, he had somehow missed completely that Prince Culebra was breathtaking. The man who stood before him was of average height, but seemed taller. His eyes were wrapped in black bandages. The dark material cut a livid line across his pale face, while loose, feathery strands of short, white hair fell across it.
    He had a pretty mouth, the kind that inspired very crude thoughts. He was dressed completely in black with buttons and lace of gleaming silver. The buckles of his shoes were silver as well and his black stockings were decorated with silver swirls.
    Midori walked toward him, taking care to ensure his steps were loud enough to be heard. An arm's length away he stopped and swept a bow. "Greetings, your highness. It is an honor to be once again in your fine company."
    "My lord," Culebra greeted and extended his hands, palm up. Midori placed his own in them, smiling at the way Culebra ran his thumbs over them, gripped them. He wondered, as he had two years ago, what Culebra felt, if it was so different from what he felt. "The honor is mine. I will never forget your kindness to me. I am very happy to welcome you to Piedre and hope fervently that you will enjoy your time with us."
    Squeezing his hands, Midori gave in to an impulse and bent to brush a soft, casual kiss along Culebra's cheek. To the dragons with protocol when so much of it required being able to see. "I cannot imagine finding anything but enjoyment, highness."
    "Good," Culebra said and smiled at him. Midori reluctantly released his hands and stepped back before he let sudden, unexpected lust get the better of him. He stepped out of the way while everyone else went through the protocols and tiresome pleasantries, ignoring the warning looks his companions cast him.
    An hour later, they were finally on their way to the palace. Midori sat beside Culebra in the open carriage with guards on either side of them and the rest of the entourage in the seats across. More guards surrounded them on horseback.
    "So how have you been, my lord?" Culebra asked, and Midori saw his hand move, saw Culebra almost immediately stop it and start to withdraw.
    He remembered how desperately Culebra had needed touch back when they had sailed together. Reaching out, Midori took Culebra's hand and curled their fingers together. "Busy, mostly. It is strange no longer being a sailor. I hope you will forgive me any unintended slights; I make a poor civilian."
    Culebra laughed. "Well, as I made a very