Rise: A Gay Fairy Tale (12 page)

“It is my responsibility. I must honor my family’s wishes.” He’d said the words to himself so many times, yet now they sounded hollow to his own ears.

“To what end?” Jack reached out, but Rion dodged his touch. “That treasure does nothing but gather dust, generation after generation. You can’t take it with you to the other side. You could help people with it now. Orphans with no hope. No one to care for them. You could change that.”

Jack’s words echoed thoughts Rion had ruthlessly silenced for years. He shook his head roughly, driving those traitorous thoughts away. “Stop. I see your game. I’ve been reckless. A fool.”

“We’ve both wasted so many years. For what?” Jack grabbed Rion’s shoulders, his eyes imploring. “Aren’t the days endless here in the clouds? There are only so many books to read.”

Yes. Endless and lonely and dreary. Until you
. Rion was at war with himself. “I…”

“Now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to let you go. Leave with me. We can’t stay here forever. There’s a whole world waiting. We can’t live in fear. Not anymore.”

Rion fought the desperate urge to crush Jack to him and say yes
. Yes, yes, yes
. “Jack, I…”

“All my life I’ve lived in books. I want to live for real. I want to touch and taste, and hear the songs of other lands. I know you do too. We could go together. Say we’re brothers—no one would know. We could do it.” He cupped his hand to Rion’s cheek. “I’ve longed to meet a man like you. I know we could have a good life together.”

“It falls to you now, Rion. My brave boy.”

He held Jack at arm’s length as his father’s voice echoed in his mind, bringing the pierce and jag of guilt with it. How could he abandon his duty? “I can never be the man you want me to be.”

Jack’s voice was thick. “All I want is a future with you beyond these castle walls.”

“A future?” Rion dropped his hands. “We barely know each other. It’s been days. A week, perhaps. How can we speak of a future?”

Reaching out and clutching Rion’s hand, Jack’s gaze was fervent. “How can we not? After what we’ve shared? I’ve never experienced such joy. Such kinship. I know you feel the same. I’ve seen it in you. We’ve both lived our lives thirsting for a connection such as this. Not only our bodies, but our minds. Our…” He trailed off, his eyes pleading.

Hearts? Was it possible?
A tumult of emotion clashed within Rion. He wanted to take Jack in his arms and never let him go, madness though it may be. But the responsibility his parents had left on his shoulders still bore down pitilessly. After countless generations, could he be the one to break the legacy?

Rion tore his hand away and spun around. He couldn’t bear to look at Jack, and the images of his parents on their deathbeds haunted him. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Something like a sob echoed through the terrace. Rion closed his eyes, the sun still achingly bright behind his lids.

Jack spoke softly, his voice breaking. “If there is no future between us, then I suppose it’s time I go.”

Rion wanted to whirl around and scream a denial. How had it come to this in the blink of an eye? He wanted to drop to his knees and beg Jack to stay with him forever. But how could he condemn Jack to this life in the clouds? For it was a prison indeed. He clasped his hands, digging his nails into his skin. He couldn’t bear the thought of Jack leaving. But neither could he walk away from his duty.

Could I?

Dread was heavy in him and he pushed away the notion. Duty was all he’d ever known. “I suppose it is.” His voice wavered. “But Jack, you must know that I…I…”

But when he turned, Jack was already gone.

Jack stood at the edge of the opening in the great hall, staring down numbly at the beanstalk poking up through the clouds. They’d been fooling themselves, pretending they were something they weren’t. Friends. Lovers. It had been a wonderful dream, but it seemed it was over, just like that.

He wanted to fly back to how he’d started the day, waking in Rion’s arms, so safe and secure. He’d told the truth about Adair for the first time in his life. He’d said the words aloud, and the shame and humiliation had somehow withered away like the stalk in winter. He’d told Rion how he’d allowed himself to be degraded, yet Rion hadn’t blamed him. Rion had understood. He’d held Jack and kissed him, and still wanted him.

It had been nothing short of miraculous.

Yet here Jack stood.
I shouldn’t have pushed him. I could have stayed for longer. We could have had more time
. But what was the sense when it could never last? It would only make it harder to leave when the time came.

And suddenly the time was now. He’d woken so full of hope, as though he was a new person. Rion had seen him for who he really was, and hadn’t turned away. They saw each other, down to their core. He knew it was fear that kept Rion locked away in the castle, but Rion was immovable. He insisted on his choice, and who was Jack to argue? They were grown men, and their destiny was in their own hands.

It seemed that Rion would not even say goodbye. Jack listened for approaching footsteps, but the castle was as silent as a tomb. He peered down again at the stalk. It had grown in the sun and rain, but was still a dangerous distance away from the opening. But greater than the fear of plummeting to his doom was the terror of returning to his real life.

What am I going back to? A debt I can’t pay. A family and village that abhors me
.

Even if he left the valley, what would he do on his own? What if the suspicion and hatred of his hair extended to other parts of the world? The idea of leaving with Rion at his side had made so many of his anxieties disappear. Now they’d all returned tenfold.

Sighing, he sat down on the edge, dangling his feet into the air.

“Wait!”

Rion appeared, as if he’d been watching from some hidden position. Jack got back to his feet to face him. Rion held out a small velvet pouch. “For your debt. And to start a new life.”

Jack shook his head. “I can’t.”

“You must take this.” Rion took Jack’s hand and slammed the pouch into it. “Don’t be a fool. You owe a debt.”

“So instead now it will be you that I owe.” The pouch was heavy in Jack’s hand.

“No. It’s a gift. There is no debt between us.”

Jack opened the pouch, his eyes going wide. “This is gold! It’s far too much.”

“It’s nothing. Take it. Use it well.”

“Why will you not reconsider?” Jack stepped in, wrapping his arms around Rion’s waist. He dropped the pouch to the floor with a dull thunk. “It’s you I want. We could be happy together. I know we could.”

Rion was unyielding, his gaze distant over Jack’s head. “I’ve told you why I must stay. Next winter I…I will find a wife. I will honor my family.”

Anger lanced through Jack. “But you won’t. We both know it. You’re just afraid to face the truth.” He grabbed Rion’s face in his hands and kissed him roughly. Rion was a statue, and Jack bit his lip. “Stop denying yourself.
Please
.”

With a groan, Rion came to life, kissing him back. They stumbled to the floor, and Jack straddled Rion’s hips, grinding down as their lips met and tongues dueled. They kicked and yanked off their tunics and trousers, both moaning as their skin and straining cocks rubbed.

Jack lifted up to his knees and lowered himself onto Rion’s shaft. Without the oil it was rough, but he wanted it that way. “Going to feel you even in the morn.”

Eyes darkening, Rion growled, thrusting up into Jack’s arse. “And the next morn.”

Rion gripped Jack’s hips with fingers so tight Jack knew his fair skin would be bruised. He moaned and pinched Rion’s nipples. “Harder.
More
.”

As he rode, Jack explored with his hands, taking in every detail of Rion’s face and chest, his neck and shoulders, and the curl of his hair as sweat dampened it. He felt complete with Rion inside him, as if the missing piece of himself had finally been found. Not only his physical hunger was sated, but the hollowness in his soul.

Their eyes locked, and they fucked as if their lives depended on it, striving together hard and all too fast. Jack never wanted it to end, but Rion took hold of Jack’s cock, pumping it in time with his upward thrusts. He reached up with his other hand and threaded his fingers in Jack’s hair.

The pleasure was a tidal wave crashing over him, and Jack tipped his head back, riding each spasm. When he opened his eyes he saw he’d splattered Rion’s chest and neck. As Rion pumped up into him, breath coming in short bursts as he bent his legs for more leverage, Jack spread his seed across Rion’s skin.

The hot rush deep inside him as Rion spent was something he wanted to treasure. He squeezed, and Rion moaned his name as he jerked with another spurt. Jack kept Rion’s softening prick inside him as they came down from the heavens, and Rion reached up to trace the curve of Jack’s lips. Jack kissed his fingertips.

And then it was over.

Jack’s knees had scraped on the cold stone floor, and they were sticky and shivering. They dressed quickly without cleaning themselves. The pouch of gold sat on the floor, and Rion bent to pick it up. There was a ribbon to keep it closed, and Rion pulled on it, producing a longer loop that he put around Jack’s neck before tucking the pouch beneath Jack’s tunic.

Jack relented. “Thank you. One day I’ll repay you.”

Rion turned away. “You should go now.”

It might have been Jack’s imagination—or wishful thinking—but Rion’s voice sounded strained. “Rion. If you would just—”

“Goodbye, Jack.” Rion faced him again, eyes dry. “It’s for the best.”

His heart a lead block in his chest, Jack went to the edge. Without a word, Rion gripped his hands and lowered him down. Jack let go with one hand and reached out for the stalk. Rion lowered himself to his stomach, and Jack was able to get a firm grip.

“I’ve got it.”

But still Rion held on.

Jack peered up at him. “You have to let go now.” He said a silent prayer that Rion would haul him back instead.

With a final squeeze, Rion released him. The wind was calm, and Jack shimmied down until he had the stalk with both his hands and feet. It felt solid in his grasp, and the wind was mercifully calm.

Although he felt Rion’s eyes on him as he began his descent, he didn’t look back, even when his feet reached solid ground and the heartbreak brought him to his knees.

Chapter Nine

As Jack made his way to the slaughterhouse after a visit to the banker to exchange one of his gold coins, the stares and whispers were tenfold what they normally were. He wore no cap, and he could feel the villagers’ avid gaze as if it was a physical thing slapping against him. Head high, he walked on.

The butcher’s eyes widened as Jack crossed the threshold of the abattoir, and the old man herded him out with insistent shoves. He gave Jack an appraising look before clearing some phlegm from his throat and spitting it onto the blood-soaked grass. “Yer late.”

“Here’s my debt. Plus interest.” Jack held out the coins in his palm.

The butcher snatched them up as if they might disappear into thin air at any moment. “Good, good. Now be gone.”

Jack was only too happy to oblige. Instead of taking the long way back to the cottage, he went straight through town once more. Even more people had gathered, their words only hisses on the wind as Jack passed by. Mothers herded their children inside, their playthings abandoned in the dirt. Jack considered making some kind of display to frighten everyone even further, but it made him think of Rion, and he had to take a deep breath over the twist of pain in his chest.

In the cottage, he surveyed his meager belongings stacked by his pallet. While he felt a pang at leaving the books, he realized there was nothing he wanted to take from his old life but some necessary clothing. The sun was setting, and he knew it was wise to wait for morning to head out, although the thought of spending another night in the wretched hut made his skin crawl.

The sensation increased a hundredfold as Adair burst through the door, golden hair gleaming. He wore a vest adorned with shimmering silver threads over his tunic, and his eagle-head belt held his breeches snugly, its ruby eye gleaming.

“You’ve returned! Thank God. We worried you’d met your end.” Adair brimmed with empty concern. His eyes flicked up to Jack’s uncovered hair, and he flinched.

Jack’s smile was wry. “Yes, I’m sure my mother and sister have had many a sleepless night.” He turned away and began opening and closing kitchen cupboards, pretending interest in their contents. His pouch of gold hung around his neck, resting safely against his chest beneath his tunic, and he resisted the urge to clutch it in his fist protectively.

“Come now, let’s not quarrel.”

Jack snorted. “Whyever not? What do you want? Leave me in peace.”

Adair’s voice lowered as he drew near. “There was a time when we were the closest of friends. I realized these past days how much I’ve missed you.”