Page 4 of Storm In The Sky

“No, and I don’t see a reason for us to talk about it. I need to go.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve been avoiding me since you arrived here. This problem isn’t going to solve itself. It’s not going to disappear because you run away from me.”

“I’m not running away from you. I have things to do.”

“Like what? You’re here as my shield, which means your job is to protect me. Are you protecting me right now? Because if you are, I don’t know what from.” Keylon looked around. “Is there something hiding in the walls?”

They both knew that wasn’t possible, since the walls were stone. Keylon hated that his first reaction to Winter was to be snarky. When Winter snapped at him, he found himself snapping back because it hurt.

Winter had the power to hurt Keylon like no one else did. Keylon found it easier to attack rather than wait for the knife to come at him.

“Fuck off,” Winter said as he turned.

Keylon grabbed his arm, but Winter shook him off and stormed away.

Keylon was tempted to go after him, but he didn’t think his heart could take it. “You’re running away again,” he called after Winter. “Typical of the man you are now.”

That didn’t stop Winter. He turned the same corner from which Keylon had arrived while Keylon leaned against the wall. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, wondering when things had become so complicated.

He knew when. It was when Carlyle had cast his spell and taken the dragons away. If he hadn’t, Keylon would still have Alvin. He would never have lost him.

If Keylon ever got his hands on Carlyle, he would strangle him.

“I know it’s not my place, but I’m sorry for what he said.”

Keylon opened his eyes. He hadn’t realized Samuel was there, but he’d probably heard everything. Samuel had no fault in this, but it was impossible for Keylon not to feel like he did. He couldtell how important Samuel was to Winter, and he hated Samuel for that. He hated him for the years he and Winter had spent together when Winter should have been with Keylon.

Keylon shook his head. “You’re right. It’s not your place.”

He turned and walked away. He heard Samuel call for him, but just like he’d accused Winter of doing, he was running away.

No one would blame him. Why would he want to talk to his shield’s new mage? It was hard enough to know that he’d have to break his bond with Winter and watch Winter and Samuel bond. How could he accept that?

How could he survive it?

* * * *

Winter wasn’t sure where he was going, but he didn’t want to be in the same hallway as Keylon. Actually, if he had things his way, he wouldn’t be in the same castle as him.

The thought of talking to Keylon made Winter feel panicky. He wasn’t sure why. He already knew what he wanted and didn’t want, and it should be easy to explain to Keylon that the two of them weren’t suited as a shield and mage.

Winter wasn’t the man he’d been before. Part of him was afraid to find out how close he and Keylon had been. Winter didn’t want to hurt Keylon, even though it was what he found himself doing every time they were in the same room. He didn’t know Keylon, and he resented the fact that they were mage and shield, but none of this was Keylon’s fault.

Why did Winter snap at him every time he saw him, then?

“Winter! Wait up!”

The only reason Winter stopped running away was that he recognized the voice behind him as Samuel’s. He paused and turned, watching as his friend rushed to reach him. He was smiling when Samuel stopped in front of him, but that smile didn’t last long.

Samuel punched Winter in the shoulder. Winter yelped and rubbed the spot, glaring at his friend. “What did you do that for?”

“Do you really need to ask? You were an asshole to Keylon.”

Winter swallowed. He hadn’t realized Samuel had heard them. He hadn’t even known Samuel was there. “I didn’t want to talk to him.”

Samuel still didn’t look happy. “Well, you’re going to have to. Like it or not, you and Keylon are dragon and mage. You’re bonded, and you need to honor that bond. You shared a past, even though you don’t remember it. Keylon doesn’t deserve to be treated the way you’re treating him. He had nothing to do with what happened to you, and it’s not fair to treat him like it was his fault.” Samuel’s expression softened. “I think you were fully bonded to him.”

The thought almost made Winter run. “I don’t think so. I can’t see myself bonding like that with anyone.” Anyone but Samuel, but Winter couldn’t tell him that.

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