Krem hummed vaguely, thinking of the brands some Altus houses put on slaves to keep them in line, to make them more easily found if they ran away from home. He shivered a little at the thought, tucking himself against Thomas's back, forehead against the nape of his neck, the little mark Thomas had there.

"I understand that," Krem said with a little nod. He kept running his fingers over Thomas's skin, fleeting touches on his narrow, firm stomach. "I spent most of my life trying to be as unremarkable as possible."