Free Rise: A Gay Fairy Tale by Keira Andrews, Leta Blake Page B

took a long breath and blew it out. “And forgive me for coming here. For attempting to steal from you. It was wrong. I have no excuse.”
    Rion leaned a shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms. “What is this debt? For a friend, you said. Yet you also said you are hated by all.”
    A wave of grief washed over Jack as he thought of poor Inga. He remembered the warmth of her blood splashed on his skin, and closed his eyes as nausea flared. “My only friend was killed, and I must pay the butcher who returned her body.”
    “A butcher? I don’t understand.”
    “She was…a cow.”
    Rion stared at him quizzically before laughing harshly. “Is this some ploy? Cows are for milk and eating. I may have grown up here in the clouds but do not think me a fool!”
    Jack pushed back his own chair, defensive anger jolting him. “She was my only companion. My mother sold her from under me, and I made a bargain with the butcher. He didn’t tell me he’d already slaughtered her. I realize it must sound unimportant to you, but it was a great loss to me.”
    Rion’s face softened. “Then I am sorry. Truly. I did not mean offense.”
    Nodding, Jack exhaled. “Perhaps I will take some air. Is there a terrace?”
    Rion led the way upstairs. In all of Jack’s searches, he hadn’t come across any entrance to an outdoor space, and since they were up in the clouds, hadn’t wanted to. But now he yearned to fill his lungs with fresh, clean air. He followed Rion through an archway that seemed to lead only to a stone wall.
    Yet when Rion pushed on one of the stones, a door opened and light streamed in. Jack realized it must be morning, and he’d been in the castle two days? He wasn’t sure. Time had lost meaning. And here he was with his captor turned prisoner turned…what, exactly?
    He examined the door as he passed through. Secret doors. Perhaps I’ve been looking in the wrong place for the treasure . Jack gave his head a mental shake. No . He’d been wrong to try to steal. He’d gotten himself into the debt, and he would find another way to repay it.
    Jack’s breath caught in his throat as he walked outside onto a wide terrace. Climbing flowers curled over the low walls, and a fine mist filled the air, huge droplets of water all around, shimmering in the sun above through the veil of cloud. He was quickly soaked to the skin. “What…what is this?”
    Rion ran a hand through his wet hair. “It’s rain. Surely you’ve seen rain before? It goes down to the valley, does it not?”
    “Yes, but it falls heavily to the ground. Here it seems to float.” He reached out his arm, waving it through the droplets. “It’s beautiful.”
    “I suppose so. I’ve never considered it before.” Rion glanced about, and a bloom of colors reflected across his face.
    Jack turned. “A rainbow!” Laughter bubbled up from his chest as he stared in wonder. The color seemed to exist all around them, as if they were inside the rainbow itself. He spun with his arms wide.
    Rion smiled hesitantly. “Can you not see rainbows in the valley?”
    “Not like this.”
    The castle had seemed so dank and cold, but here the warmth and brightness of the rainbow seemed to warm Jack from the inside out, despite the wetness. Rion stood before him, his tunic clinging to his lean, muscled chest and arms. His hair curled even more in the rain, and a droplet of water hung from the end of his nose.
    Without another thought, Jack stepped forward and caught the drop on his fingertip. Rion took his hand, so gently now, and kissed his palm. Jack’s heart hammered. It had never been like this with Adair. Not once. A shiver flew down his spine, and as their eyes locked, he stepped close, lifting his face and searching for Rion’s kiss, pleading for it.
    Their mouths connected with a jolt that set Jack’s blood racing. Rion wrapped his powerful arms around Jack’s back, molding their bodies together. As Rion took a ragged breath, Jack slipped his tongue inside,