Gabriel burned.

The demon thrashed. Something held his hands together, binding him in place. Panic burned his lungs. There was ash on his tongue, blood in his eyes, pain pain pain.

"-odd. Lord Todd!"

Gabriel sat up with a gasp. He doubled over, hands wrapping around his bandaged torso. The discomfort receded.

The anger did not.

"Awake, my Lord?" Advisor Xiang asked.

Gabriel nodded curtly. A hiss of steam at his elbow caught his attention, summoning him back from his dark thoughts. A good portion of the room appeared to be on fire. Xiang Yi was methodically pointing at various burning surfaces, smothering the flames with precisely aimed spells, economical as ever. The sleeves of the advisor's brocaded robes were singed.

Gabriel straightened his shoulders, hiding his embarrassment behind a haughty sneer. "My apologies."

The room flashed red. The fire died out, called back into Gabriel's body.

Xiang Yi watched Gabriel from his post at the side of the bed. His eyes were troubled. "Are you alright, Lord Todd?"

Gabriel sighed. "What is it, Ah-Yi? What did I do? I assure you, I am sorry."

"You have not done anything," Xiang Yi offered hesitantly.

Gabriel laughed shortly. "Leave."

"Gabriel," Xiang Yi protested.

"Ah, so you do remember my name," Gabriel interrupted.

Xiang Yi took a seat at the edge of the bed. When Gabriel made no move to chase him off, he reached across the gap between them and placed his hand over the demon's clenched first. Gabriel turned his palm and interlaced their fingers.

"I thought it would make things easier," Xiang Yi admitted.

"Unusually foolish of you," Gabriel said, and leaned against him. After a moment hesitation, Xiang Yi wrapped an arm around the demon and pulled him close.

"Are you well?" the man asked.

"There's a hole in my chest," Gabriel said.

"I noticed." Xiang Yi's tone was dry enough to blister.

Gabriel smiled wanly. The room was dim around them, intimate and soft and quiet.

"It's not my body that hurts most," Gabriel whispered at last.

Xiang Yi stroked his fingers through the demon's hair. His face was carefully composed. His eyes glittered, wet. Gabriel swallowed over the lump in his throat.

"What are they like? The one who carries your soul?" Xiang Yi asked quietly.

Gabriel's smile was genuine. "A hard-headed, foul-mouthed, tiny little man."

"Just like you always wanted."

Gabriel chuckled. He focused on Xiang Yi's even breaths, his solid body, the soft touch of his fingers in Gabriel's hair.

"It doesn't change anything." Gabriel's voice broke. "I still care for you."

"I know," Xiang Yi said.

Gabriel made a dissatisfied sound. His grip on the man tightened, bordering on desperate. "Do you?"

"Yes. I also know you, Gabriel. You won't let him go, now that you have found him," Xiang Yi said.

"A soul bond does not require a romantic entanglement. Mari and Sonn," Gabriel began.

"Mari and Sonn are not you," Xiang Yi interrupted. "Their circumstances are unusual besides. Do not lie to yourself, Gabriel. Or to me. It is what it is."

Gabriel snarled, frustrated. "It was not supposed to be like this!"

"Life does not concern itself with ought's and should-haves," Xiang Yi said quietly.

Gabriel shook his head. Xiang Yi's words appeared uncaring, but Gabriel knew the man too well to be fooled. Xiang Yi did not respect weakness, in himself or in others. He withdrew when he was vulnerable and was at his most vicious when he was hurt. Gabriel pressed his face into Chi's shoulder. Xiang Yi politely pretended that he did not feel tears soak into the fabric of his robes.

"Promise you won't call me Lord Todd again," Gabriel croaked.

"I shall do my utmost," Xiang Yi said.

The silence was more comfortable this time. Gabriel drifted. His body grew slack, eyes drooping with exhaustion. Xiang Yi looked at the demon in his arms, noting the pallor of his skin. Gabriel's eyes were bruised from exhaustion.

"I should let you rest," Xiang Yi said.

Gabriel pried his eyes open. "I have to see Rae."

"Surely, it can wait another day," the man said with a frown.

"Ah-Yi. I cannot wait another day. Every time I close my eyes, I am," Gabriel swallowed. He did not know where his mind went when he fell asleep. All he knew was that it hurt, and then hurt worse when he awoke to the realization that the pain he had felt belonged to Dimitri.

"What happened up there, Gabi?" Xiang Yi asked.

Gabriel shook his head and said nothing.

Xiang Yi let the demon compose himself, then gently disentangled from Gabriel's body. "I am only retrieving your clothing," he reassured when Gabriel groaned in protest.

Gabriel wrinkled his nose. "I'm not wearing that hideous robe. I'd rather go as I am."

"Nudity is no longer allowed in the High Court, I am afraid," Xiang Yi said.

Gabriel flopped back on the bed and waved his hand in a careless gesture. "So Rae keeps saying."

Xiang Yi maintained his strict expression with some effort. He clapped his hands, the sound like thunder. A charcoal suit appeared on the bed. Gabriel sat up. He trailed his fingers over the jacket's lapel. It was full-breasted and bold, its flare accentuated by a heavy golden pin in the shape of a lotus. Gabriel recalled the last time he had worn this particular suit, the contrast of Xiang Yi's pale robes against the dark fabric.

The advisor cleared his throat. "You left it here. There is a dress as well, if you would prefer."

Gabriel withdrew his hand with a rueful smile. "I fear I am not in the mood for buttons and corsets and frills."

Xiang Yi watched him quietly. "Would you like to borrow something of mine?" he asked at last.

Gabriel's smile was small but heartfelt. "That would be lovely, darling."

Xiang Yi turned away. Hiding a blush, Gabriel suspected. The demon's smile grew. Xiang Yi covered his kindness with barbed words and haughty looks, but his actions often betrayed him.

Xiang Yi clapped again, the thunder of magic splitting the air. The suit disappeared. In its stead lay robes of deep, emerald green. Golden dragons curled up the sleeves. Their bodies twisted as Gabriel watched, the horned heads turning this way and that. Gabriel poked at one of the creatures. The dragon snapped its teeth, coloring a path of stitches down the robe's front in scarlet.

Gabriel turned to Xiang Yi with a delighted smile. "Thank you."

Xiang Yi nodded expressionlessly. Gabriel looked back at the robes, his smile dimming.

"Well. Let us," he began.

The bedroom door shuddered. Gabriel's eyes flew up, startled. Sparks flew over his fingers.

"It's only a Shadow-guard. Do keep from burning my robes," Xiang Yi threw over his shoulder.

The fiery spheres hovering over Gabriel's palms melted into smoke, but Gabriel remained wary. He watched Xiang Yi open the door, angling his head to catch a glimpse of the thin shadow standing just beyond the threshold. It had the shape of a man, but was otherwise featureless and limbless. Two pale crystals gleamed dully in its empty face.

"Report," Xiang Yi commanded.

Gabriel did not hear the Shadow-guard's reply. He would not, even had he been standing at Xiang Yi's elbow. Shadow-guards were meant to retain a house's secrets and protect its masters. Their voices were only audible to those they served. Gabriel had a few of the strange beasts in his own tomb of a home. He made a point to avoid them.

Xiang Yi waved his hand, dismissing the guard. The door closed with a bang.

Gabriel rose to his feet, eyes on the advisor's tense face. "What has happened?"

"Rae requires my presence," Xiang Yi said.

"Why?" Gabriel pressed, but Xiang Yi only shook his head and made to pick up the robes laid out on the bed, possibly meaning to help Gabriel dress before departing. Gabriel caught his hand.

"Ah-Yi."

Xiang Yi looked at him, hesitating. Gabriel would not stand down until he received an answer however, and Xiang Yi knew his temperament too well to bother prolonging the game. "We received unexpected guests. They bear rather troubling news. Now, if you would please."

Gabriel tightened his grip. "What news?"

Xiang Yi's glare would set a lesser man on fire. "You are stepping into private matters."

"Ah-Yi, you know Rae will just tell me later," Gabriel needled.

"That is her prerogative. Not mine." Xiang Yi's tone held a warning. He would do many things for Gabriel, but his duty to his Queen always came first.

Gabriel snorted in frustration. "Fine! Here," he let the man go and grabbed the nearest piece of fabric. "Help me put this on."

"Gabriel," Xiang Yi tried.

"I will not hear it!" Gabriel exclaimed, purposefully sulky, "There are matters I need to discuss with Rae besides. Now, will you help me dress, or do you want me to go into Court looking like an utter philistine?"

Xiang Yi's lips twitched. "Gabriel. You are holding the bed sheet."

Gabriel glanced at the swatch of white and blue clutched in his right hand. He let the bedsheet go and pulled at a green sleeve instead. "Yes, laugh at the injured man. Alright, how does this go?"

"Well, it goes over another robe. No, not that one, that's the sash – Oh, just let me do it!"

Gabriel let Xiang Yi direct him. He moved as Xiang Yi instructed, donned silks and heavy cottons, raised his arms so Xiang Yi could tie a series of increasingly broad sashes around his waist. It took Xiang Yi a good ten minutes to dress Gabriel to his satisfaction. The process would have likely taken Gabriel three times as long, had he attempted it alone.

The embodied robe went on last. It was stiffer than the rest, and required careful arrangement. Xiang Yi helped Gabriel into it, then moved behind the demon to straighten the jacket. The golden dragons followed him with their eyes, tails lashing gently over the robe's sleeves.

Xiang Yi came back around to stand in front of Gabriel. He stared at the demon's body, his thin brows furrowed. Gabriel caught the adviser's hand when it reached forward.

"You fixed the collar already. It's fine," Gabriel said.

"I just," Xiang Yi began.

"Ah-Yi. All is well. I am well." Gabriel squeezed Chi's hand, then raised it to his lips and pressed a kiss to the man's knuckles.

Xiang Yi inhaled sharply. He pulled his hand away and took a step back.

"Yes. You look - you look fine," the man said. "Let us go."

He hurried out, the bedroom door slamming open. Gabriel stared after the man's retreating back with some amusement.

"Ah-Yi," he called. Although it was possible to walk to Court from the guest palace, it was unnecessary when Xiang Yi could take them there in an instant.

Xiang Yi stormed back inside. He wrapped an arm around Gabriel, keeping a careful distance between their bodies. "Not a word," the advisor warned, cheeks red.

"Would not dream of it," Gabriel said.

"And no inappropriate behavior," Xiang Yi added, noting the mischievous sparkle in the demon's eyes.

"Now that, I cannot promise," Gabriel said.

Xiang Yi rolled his eyes, missing Gabriel's grin. The demon's hand slipped from Xiang Yi's waist and ventured lower.

The transportation array under their feet flared to life, cutting off Xiang Yi's indignant yelp and Gabriel's satisfied laughter.