Asher smiles gently, kissing Nathaniel's fingers as they brush against his lips.

"There should be more of a ceremony for this," he murmurs. "I fear we shall have to make do with each other's company for some time, yet." He's scared to leave the room, not wanting Nathaniel to wake up alone, and utterly terrified of facing Jean-Claude, of what his friend, his master, his lover, will say. Now is when he will find out whether having Nathaniel in his life will cost him the thing he once held most dear.