Page 51 of A Winter Redemption
“We begged at first. Then pickpocketed,” Ketho said. “I hadn’t wanted to. It never stopped terrifying me.”
Fragments of memories swirled through his mind: Dark cobblestone streets, fingers reaching into pockets. Ketho scaling walls, opening windows, being grabbed and kicked. And his brother’s feet running.I’ve always loved you and looked after you… I won’t let anything happen to you.
Ketho couldn’t breathe. He bent over and sucked in air, cursing himself for losing control. Jarne’s arm came around his waist.
“Come on, let’s go to Mila and Rhorton’s,” Jarne said. “No one is there at the moment.”
Ketho let himself be led. “Seeing the younglings brings it back.”
“I’m so sorry, Ketho.” Jarne opened the door, and they entered. Jarne took Ketho to an armchair and helped him sit. Jarne knelt in front of him, eyes concerned as he stroked Ketho’s legs.
“I’m fine.” Ketho nodded. “I’m fine. It’s good that the younglings will have a home like I never did. I’m fine.” He wiped at his cheeks. His brows furrowed. He stared at the wetness on his fingers. Was he crying?
Jarne opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he just opened his arms and hugged Ketho close. Ketho clung to Jarne, fingers gripping his broad back. He closed his eyes and let himself take this comfort.
ChapterThirty
“What is it?” Jarne asked.
Ketho pinned something to Jarne’s coat.
“A Solstice gift.” Ketho gave him a quick smile. “It’s a tradition here that people give Solstice gifts to one another. I’ve been remiss in not giving you one.” Ketho released the gift, kissed Jarne, and stepped back. “How do you like it?”
Jarne lifted his hand and touched the Solstice berries wrapped with a red bow. “It’s lovely.” A feeling of warmth bloomed beneath the gift. “Thank you.” He’d noticed others wearing similar gifts. Now he had one. From Ketho.
“Now come,” Ketho said. “I believe we decided to go ice skating.”
Jarne grabbed his skates, loans from Mila and Rhorton, and they walked out of the store.
The brothers’ arrival two days ago had thrown the family into disarray. Obviously, Aryn and Sero were consumed trying to care for them. Mila and Rhorton had been helping however they could, whether cooking or building beds. Jarne and Ketho had offered to help but otherwise just tried to stay out of their way.
Jarne had taken Ketho to bed after he’d been so upset the other day. When Ketho had awoken, he’d been subdued. He hadn’t brought up his past again. But Jarne had stayed close to him, watching him and being there for him as much as he could.
It had shocked him to hear the truth of Ketho’s upbringing. He’d expected it to have been bad, but still, he’d been shocked.
A cloudless, soft blue sky hung above them. Sunlight reflected off the snow, making it almost a blinding white. Quite a few people wandered through the village.
“What’s that?” Jarne asked.
“That’s for the Solstice festivities. They’re going to build little huts to sell mulled wine, hot chocolate, lots of foods, and trinkets.” Without discussing it, they veered off towards the wood laid out on the ground, ready for construction.
“It’s a lot of work for one day of festivity,” Jarne said.
Aryn and Sero had been making sweets and prepping for all the goods they’d be baking. Or they had been before the boys arrived. Mila and Rhorton would sell mulled wine and the baked goods Sero and Aryn made. Edwin and Sinoe had told them they were making tea mixtures to sell.
“It’s Winter Solstice. The pinnacle of the season, and that means a lot in Ores. It’s a celebration of Ores’s birth. And the celebration of humans and oreads living together.” Ketho smiled. “And it will give you more practice at embracing fun and frivolity.”
Jarne smiled. “I’ve been getting much better at that.”
“You have. I remember the first time I saw the Solstice festivities,” Ketho said. “For an urchin from the streets of Bordertown, it seemed like magic.” His voice took on a wistful tone. “I just wandered around, gazing at everything.”
“I am looking forward to it,” Jarne said. He hesitated. “And I’m looking forward to spending the day with you.”
Ketho smiled at him.
Jarne’s heart thudded. Hope beat in his chest. Ketho had opened up to him about his past. Perhaps it meant Ketho trusted him and knew he could rely on Jarne. And that combined with all the time they spent together, and the Solstice gift, it had to matter. Didn’t it?
Jarne knew now that he was developing feelings for Ketho. Maybe Ketho was for him too.
