Page 56 of A Winter Redemption
“I’m sorry. I knew it was bad, but I hadn’t known how bad,” Sero said, his voice gentler. “But, Ketho, you were a child. You were still a youngling when you left Bordertown. It’s been what, fifteen years? More?”
Ketho shrugged.
“Surely you can try trusting again. Try letting someone close.”
But even the thought made Ketho feel vulnerable and sick. “It’s not that simple.” His skin itched. “I can’t. I just can’t. Even the thought makes me feel the need to flee. Even if I care about him, I just can’t.” The muscles in his body tightened. “Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I could. I don’t think I could trust someone again.”
Sero sighed and looked out of the cave. “I need to get back soon. But, Ketho, don’t shut yourself off from a chance for love.” He stood and ducked his head so it wouldn’t bang on the cave ceiling. Sero waved at the smoke gathering around his face. “Jarne isn’t your brother, and you aren’t that youngling anymore. I think you could be happy together. Please think about it.”
Reaching down, Sero squeezed Ketho’s shoulder. Then he left Ketho alone to stare into the dwindling fire.
ChapterThirty-Three
“Do you think they are settling in?” Aryn asked, voice low. “I worry they aren’t settling in.”
Aryn stared at the door to the room where the boys rested. It had been Sero and Aryn’s room, but they had converted it for the boys. Aryn and Sero now slept in the main room.
“I don’t know much about parenting. I don’t think we had good examples,” Jarne said. “But you and Sero care for them, and I think they’ll be happy here.”
Aryn gave him a grateful smile.
“Hopefully they just need some time to settle in,” Sero said.
A knock sounded on the front door. Aryn got up, opened the door, and froze.
“Who is it?” Sero called.
Aryn didn’t respond.
Jarne and Sero rose and came towards him.
Every muscle in Jarne’s body tensed.
“Oh, there you are,” Sasha said, looking past Aryn and straight at Jarne. Without being invited in, Sasha pushed past Aryn, as if Aryn didn’t matter at all, and glided towards Jarne.
Glaring at Sasha, Sero put his arm around a shocked Aryn, pulling Aryn against him protectively.
“I’ve been so worried about you, Jarne,” Sasha drawled.
“What are you doing here?” Jarne said, voice tight and clipped.
Sasha put a hand to his chest. “Is that any way to speak to your husband?”
“I told you it was over,” Jarne snapped. “I told you we were done!”
Sasha pouted. “Jarne, please. I’m sorry. It was all a misunderstanding.” Sasha reached for him.
Jarne took a step back. “A patron fucked you up the arse. I was there. Please tell me how I misunderstood that?”
Sasha’s eye twitched. “It was a mistake. You can’t throw away all we’ve been through together over a silly little thing.”
“A silly little thing?” Jarne repeated, pouring every ounce of disdain into the words. “How many silly little things have you done? I doubt that was the first. Not to mention you told me you and Aryn were done when you offered to suck my cock.”
“We werepracticallyfinished,” Sasha proclaimed.
“We were still sharing a bed when you were fucking Jarne!” Aryn yelled.
Sasha rolled his eyes. How had Jarne never noticed how big a knobhead Sasha was?