Page 18 of Storm In The Sky

“I can’t believe it,” he murmured.

With his computer in hand, he ran out of the room. Winter ran after him because he didn’t have anything else to do and because he was curious. He knew it was too much to hope that Carlyle had dropped dead, but he might get lucky.

He was starting to remember where everything was in the castle, and he wasn’t surprised when Keylon ran in the direction of the hallway in which the mages’ offices were located. He stopped in front of a door that wasn’t his, barely knocking before barging in.

“I have them,” he said.

When Winter went in after him, he saw that Keylon was talking to Ansley. Ansley blinked at him, clearly as confused as Winter.

“What do you mean?”

“Graham and Simon Newcastle. It’s their name. I finally found them, and I think this is enough information for you to locate at least one of them.”

Keylon placed the computer on the desk and turned it so that Ansley could see the screen. Winter still had no idea what was on the screen, but he didn’t think it mattered. He had a general idea of what was going on, and it sounded like a good thing.

Ansley frowned as he read whatever was on the screen. He never looked away, not even when he opened a drawer and pulled out a map. Winter watched in awe as he spread it out on the desk and grabbed a few more things from the drawer. He’d seen Jarvis open portals, and he’d watched many mages cast spells over the years, but never anything like this. By the time Ansley was finished, there was a burned hole in the map. He and Keylon looked so excited that they might explode.

“We need to tell Jarvis,” Ansley said.

“Text him,” Keylon said. “No, actually, call him. Call everyone.”

“I take it this is good?” Winter asked as Ansley took out his phone.

Keylon blinked at him as if he hadn’t realized he was still standing there. The joy in his expression vanished, and Winter hated that he’d been the one to cause it to disappear. He wanted to fix things with Keylon, but how could he if Keylon didn’t let him?

“We were able to locate one of the people who work for Carlyle. I don’t know if the guy is in the same place as Carlyle, but there’s a good chance he is or will return there, which means we might be about to get Sol back.”

That meant a fight was about to happen. Winter was an idiot, but he was an idiot who cared. “I’ll protect you,” he told Keylon.

Keylon didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “I know. You’re still my shield, since I haven’t broken the bond.”

Winter wanted to tell him that wasn’t the reason he’d protect him, but Keylon wasn’t running. From the sound of it, he’d let Winter go with him and protect him, and Winter didn’t want to ruin that.

He was sure he’d find another way to ruin everything, but for now, he was glad that Keylon was letting him close.

* * * *

Keylon believed that Winter believed what he was saying. He didn’t think that Winter would allow him to get hurt just because he resented him for the bond they shared, but that didn’t mean Keylon wanted to be with Winter during whatever was about to happen.

Once, he wouldn’t have hesitated. He’d trusted Alvin with his life, and he wanted to do the same with Winter, but he couldn’t. What if Keylon trusted him, only to get hurt? Keylon had gone many years without a shield, and even though he’d been protected in the castle, he’d encountered a few situationsin which he’d had to defend himself. He was still alive, which meant he wasn’t that bad at it.

But Winter was looking at him with big puppy eyes, and Keylon wanted to give him everything he asked for. It was an expression Alvin never would have worn. He’d been a strong man, sure of himself and of his place in Keylon’s life. He’d taken the lead when they were in dangerous situations, and he wouldn’t have dreamed of asking Keylon if he was okay being protected. He would have done it and would have apologized later if he’d had to.

No matter how much Winter looked like Alvin, he really wasn’t him.

“Fine,” Keylon said, because he didn’t want to fight. “You can protect me when we go find this guy.”

Winter beamed at him. It made Keylon’s heart race, but he told himself he needed to calm down. Winter might be able to protect his body, but he’d already shattered his heart.

Once Jarvis knew what was happening, he was quick to give orders. Fifteen minutes later, the mages were gathered in the courtyard, their dragons hovering behind them. The only one who didn’t have his was Dallin, and that was even more obvious now that all the others were there.

Tyne had told Meyer to fuck off when he’d tried standing next to him, which Meyer hadn’t taken well. He looked like his best friend had just died. Keylon didn’t blame him for that. He didn’t remember Tyne, and he had no idea what he’d done to make Tyne so angry, but he was trying.

Since Tyne didn’t want Meyer, he was now hovering next to Dallin, who was gently talking to him. It was an okay solution, but in the long term, someone would have to do something about Tyne’s anger and his apparent hatred for his dragon. Even Keylon didn’t hate Winter that much, and Winter had asked him to break their bond.

“Wait!” someone yelled.

Keylon turned to see Samuel running down the stairs. He had no idea why Samuel was here, but he could take a guess.

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