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“So…What are you going to do?” Iasked.

He shook his head.“I have no idea. My dad has been unhelpful. He’s as spineless asever.”

“I’m guessingyour mom isn’t on your side either,huh?”

“Well,”he said, “No. She died four yearsago.”

“Oh,”I said in a tone of surprise that might’ve sounded a bit too pleasant. “Sorry,” Iadded.

Perry smiled.“The world’s better off without her. Especially me and mybrother.”

“Dimitrius,”I said, “My brother told me he’s studying at the Fighting ArtsSchool.”

“Afirst year.He’s all fired up to become a master fighter,” Perrysaid.

“He was justa little kid the few times I met him. So… you have a kid,huh?”

“That’s right,”Perry said, a bright smile spreading across his lips. It was like his entire aura changed at that moment, and I saw a glimpse of a Perry that Ihadforgotten. “Jupiter. She’s my light, and the one single good thing that’s come fromGregor.”

“How old is she?”

“She’s three and a half.”

“She must be wonderful.”

He nodded.“She is. She’s a treasure.” Then that spark in his eyes faded, and I could see the conflict stirring there like a churning grey sea. A thought came to my mind that boiled myanger.

“Perry,he’s not harming you or Jupiter, is he? Has he raised a hand toyou?”

“No,”he said. “He’d never do that. He’s not that much of a monster, thankfully. Just a man with total disregard for anyone buthimself.”

“Alright,”I said. I didn’t know what I would’ve done if his answer had beendifferent.

“I’m goingto have to go back to him,” Perry said. “After all this, Jupiter and I will end up back there. I can deal with it, but I’m afraid for my daughter. She’s already growing up in such a terrible environment. The arguing is one thing, but there’s the gambling, the drinking, the whoring… He’s a wolf-cycle racer too, actually.” His smile was sad now. “I never in a million years would’ve thought I’d come to feel distaste for the sport, but… I hardly ever watch it these days. Yours was the first race I’d seen inyears.”

“Hounds of Hell,”I muttered. “This all feels so familiar. It’s like… reliving those last few weeks we spent together before you were sweptaway.”

“I’m sorry,”he said, placing his hand on the back of mine. “I hate that I’m unloading all of this onto you, Arthur.” I felt a chill run up my arm, a shiver of excitement that had long been absent from my life. All the women I’d brought into my bed, and none of them could cause that reaction in me. “Being here with you like this, seeing you again… I feel comfortable. This is the first time I’ve felt this comfortable in years. Isn’t thatweird?”

“No,”I said. “I know exactly what youmean.”

The last glimmerof sunlight cast deep purple hues across the sky. My heart ached as I remembered everything we’d shared, and all the memories I’d suppressed were fully released. It felt like I was remembering a whole ‘nother life that I’d lived. I guess it was. I was a different person then, and the man next to me was at the center of it. Amazing, how a month could feel like a lifetime, and yet not enough time when spent with someone you cared about somuch.

“I’ve really missed you, Perry,”I said. It wasn’t so much a declaration as it was a realization, and I was surprised to hear the words as they escaped my mouth. “I didn’t even know howmuch.”

“Me too, Arthur,”he said. I looked at him, and in the dusk light his eyes seemed as deep as the sea. He gazed back atme.

Then,we were back thirteen years ago. Right here. This spot.Our first kiss. The first time we made love. Ourgoodbyes.

His hand snuck into mine,and our fingers intertwined. I leaned in, and he met me with his lips. His kiss sent lightning through me, waking up parts of my soul that I hadn’t even realized had gone dormant. I’d shut him out of my memories for thirteen years, along withthisfeeling. Hounds of Hell, I’d forgotten what it felt like.Love. I still loved him. It’d been there, locked away all this time, unavailable to anyone else except for the one man who had thekey.

Islippedmy hand around the back of his neck, drawing him closer to me. Our tongues met, teased and intertwined. I felt a life surge between my thighs that I hadn’t even realized I’d beenmissing.

“Damn,”Iwhispered.

“IthinkI’d forgotten how good a kiss could feel,” Perrymurmured.

Iwrappedmy arm around his shoulder and he rested his head onmine.