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Ray noticed his lover's slightly enraged state, jumping up to him with a hug.

"Apparently you met Tay?"

"Yes! Impudent! He offered me sex without any embarrassment," Eriolan was indignant. "How do you live with him? And in general, several partners for one fragile boy is too much."

"Honey, it is my choice! And I am not so fragile if I became the parent of a phoenix. His flame is very dangerous and can destroy an unsuitable organism."

"But you couldn't walk for a week. Why such sacrifices?"

"Illy will become a very powerful warrior in fifteen years, despite his pitiful appearance now. He alone with his superpower is capable of replacing an entire army."

"I am not going make war with anyone!" Eriolan exclaimed.

"You are not going to, but others are!"

"What!? Where does this information come from? Not a single oracle predicted this! There are only peaceful neighbors around!"

"They wouldn't be able to see that. This won't happen soon! It will be years before the aliens reach the planet. Rohen promised you patronage and sent a phoenix for protection. He will burn them to the ground!"

"What kind of aliens? Like people or monsters?"

"Beasts and very ruthless."

"But why will this happen to us? What kind of evil fate?"

"Predators are always looking for prey... no one in the universe is safe from attacks."

After the meeting, Eriolan, shocked by the revelations, appealed to the Lord with clarification.

"There are such concerns, my precious one." Said his voice. "You haven't discovered the monsters yet, but this can be stated within the last few years."

"So you decided to protect us? Because of the threat of attack?"

"That's not why... I do not have to do this, there are quite a lot of planets inhabited by life in my presence..."

"So why?"

"The reason is you, I have already explained that I personally like you. You did not refuse to cooperate, you trusted me, and as a result, my army is ready to protect you and your habitat from serious problems."

"Does the phoenix incarnate really have powerful powers?"

"Yes… Illy himself volunteered to be born, for your kingdom and the entire planet as a whole. Your image and Essence inspired him to do this. There are simply no other motivations for such sacrifices."

"Mmm..." Eriolan was taken aback. "Is he in love with me too?"

"Darling, many souls are in love with you, do not you understand? Every night, phoenixes come to talk to you not out of boredom. They always have something to do, but without inspiration it is difficult to do something unpleasant. My warriors participate in the annihilation of all impurity, and the provision of life and love is simply necessary for them to keep themselves in balance."

"But I can't respond everyone..."

"You can… There is no barrier to love, I said."

"What about the agreement between the phoenixes that Lamorie can choose only one of them?"

"So you did not choose! So they crowd into your dream, trying to please you."

"If I choose, what happens next?"

"They will build relationships, sleep together."

"How is this possible in a dream?"

"It is still possible, of course, not the same as in physical form, but an exchange of energies occurs."

"Should I choose Taylor?"

"You like him? Then why were you so freaked out that he suggested a close relationship?"

"He loves Ray!"

"Yeah… They have a long-term relationship, this is accepted. Love begins with mutual sympathy, and It is born only later, through life together. Admit to yourself what you want. If the thought of Taylor caressing you makes you shiver, then It is worth a try."

Eriolan had to think about the current actions, since he was terribly tired of spending nights with pestering spirits.

He sent Taylor a letter of apology, inviting him to visit the palace.

"I knew you'd give up, honey," The handsome man chuckled to himself. "But I did not think it would be so soon. I took my time, I'll torture you a little so as not to spoil you with my adoration."

Before the meeting, Eriolan, in turn, did not carefully monitor his appearance, dressed in a silver-blue gown, and combed his hair back into a hairstyle with a simple tiara, significantly downplaying his excessive femininity, which the visitor had to comment on at the meeting.

"A-ah, what a shame, milord. Why did you remove your wonderful curls? I like them so much..."

"Indeed?" Eriolan answered coldly, leading him into the guest room. "You tied your ponytail too..."

"Do you like my careless appearance?"

Taylor immediately removed the ribbon from his hair, shaking his head, and thin black snake-like strands scattered over his broad shoulders.

"Undoubtedly, it turned on the charm..." the King whispered barely quietly, hiding his eyes.

"I was surprised by your message," said Taylor, sitting comfortably in a carved wooden chair. "There's nothing to apologize for, I behaved ugly. My manners are the same, I am not a nobleman."

"You can become one with my command. Will the title of Earl suit you?"

"Wow! I have not yet done anything to deserve such a service. Will I have my own house with a fireplace?"

"Certainly! If you are my official favorite. In addition, the future savior of the planet must live in decent conditions."

"Oh, that won't necessarily happen. Bloodthirsty creatures can be busy by something else."

"Do you know who we are talking about? Have you met them? Tell me!"

"These are disgusting hymenopteran predators. They love live food. They invade defenseless planets and destroy everything that moves."

"How... how can they get to us?"

"On spaceships! They have retained the intelligence to be able to do this. They did not come up with it themselves, of course, the ships were stolen somewhere."

"Why do not we have such ships?"