Chapter Forty
Three Months Later
Aridia was undergoing a metamorphosis. Large grooves had been cut into the granite lining of the river, and irrigation ditches carved through fields in regular rows.
Furrows in the once sandy, bleached soil were earthy and brown, with the first sprigs of green growth breaking through the surface.
The evening sun turned the buildings into long, reaching shadows.
Squares and blocks from the flat roofs, the odd triangle when the sun caught a building at an angle.
Nothing sharp or pointed; the church spire was gone.
Connor expertly navigated around wide riverboats crowding the dock, cutting the engine to slide into the nearest empty place.
The waterfront was awash with activity. Kits, men, and oddities bustled along, all seemingly busy with work.
Most stopped to stare at the yacht as it came in.
A young kit ran forwards through the crowd, bouncing on his toes, hands at the ready.
Nick trotted the few steps to Connor at the helm.
“Can’t we have Sam paint the hull to look like wood?
” he grumbled. But it wasn’t just that, even the sails were a brilliant shining white, not like the yellowed canvas of the other boats.
Not to mention the shape was totally different.
All the boats in the dock were clearly fashioned for hauling cargo, not speed like Connor’s vessel.
“Can you toss the rope to that kid?” Connor asked, focused on parking. The chain at the front of the yacht tinkled as Adonis guided them in.
Nick did as asked, and the waiting kit, though he looked no older than seven or eight, expertly tied a nautical knot. Nick tossed the rope from the back too. Once they were secure, he went to the middle to line up the gangplank the kit had ready for him.
“It’s busier than before,” Connor observed, joining him. “Do you remember where his house is?”
Nick looked at the busy streets and then the waiting kit at the end of the gangplank. “He’s left me a guide.” He walked down the wooden plank to the kit. “Are you here to show me where to go?”
The kit nodded enthusiastically, tail wagging in excitement.
“Right, I’ll…” Nick glanced over his shoulder at Connor.
Connor buried his hands in his pockets and raised a brow. “Enjoy,” he said, making no indication that he was going to follow.
Laurence had tried to make Connor swear, under threat of a temper tantrum, that he’d stay with Nick every second of their trip.
Connor had replied with an ambiguous hum.
And then Connor had let Laurence do all the sailing for the last twelve hours; exhausted, Laurence had collapsed into sleep an hour before they reached Aridia.
“Thanks.” Nick waved and then turned to his guide, who took off in an excited jog.
He led him through unfamiliar streets to paths filled with children running around with laughs and hoots, some drunk and tottering older kits, and then dancing kits.
It took a few streets before Nick could hear the music they were dancing to.
They stopped on the edge of a large square, musicians gathered on a stage, playing to a manic, dancing crowd.
The air smelled of wine and fragrant wildflowers.
In the corner of the courtyard, Nick saw collected Lua casks, and older kits being led through them by children letting them taste-test their home-brewed wine.
His guide jumped in place, trying to see through the crowd.
“Can I lift you?” Nick asked before scooping up the kit.
He peered around too, searching for a particular lean, elegant figure.
His heart raced in anticipation. The last three months had been long.
Every day was filled to bursting, yet the more Nick thought of Kit, the more time seemed to stretch out ahead of him, swelling until each day felt like a week.
“There.” The little kit pointed somewhere to the right of the crowd.
Nick followed his finger but still couldn’t see, so he let down the kit to lead him through the dancing bodies.
Nick first spotted Ios and Seche. Seche was without his brilliant blue cloak to show off that he was a captain, but he seemed content with Ios under one arm and a goblet of wine in the other hand.
Standing opposite them was Kit.
Kit was dressed in his finery: long-sleeved shirt with intricate stitching, jet-black leather pants tucked into matching boots, and brown leather gloves.
His tail lashed through the air behind him in an agitated manner, and the other party-goers were giving him a wide berth to avoid getting smacked.
Kit’s brow furrowed, an irritated look fixed on Ios.
Ios flashed his teeth. Kit mirrored the gesture, and Ios tucked himself tighter to Seche’s side, still displaying his teeth in a snarl, yet hooking his tail at the same time, offering conflicting physical cues.
Seche’s tail hovered around Ios, but swished in a relaxed manner.
Whatever was playing out between Ios and Kit, he was clearly not concerned.
Nick’s guide surged ahead.
Kit’s gaze moved sideways, eyes flicking over the young kit before idly sliding past him, landing on Nick. The irritated scrunch between Kit’s brows vanished, his tail swinging into a hook, and above the hum of the crowd, Nick heard the purr of delight that burst from Kit.
Nearby kits turned curious looks on Kit, while Ios and Seche followed his gaze. Nick crossed the last of the space between them, grinning, loving the way that purr sounded up close, so delighted that Kit was happy to see him that –
Kit seized his face and licked his mouth.
“Hey!” Nick laughed.
Kit’s purr shook his hands as he delivered several more licks to Nick’s face in quick succession.
A burst of ochre washed over Nick, flooding him with warmth.
His fingers twitched, aching to seize a hold as Kit plastered against his chest. The kit who had guided Nick made a choking noise and sprinted away, calling, “Mission complete!” over his shoulder.
“You are early!” Kit’s purr grew louder. He rubbed his cheek against Nick’s, his tail hooking side to side incessantly.
“A little,” Nick said.
Kit attacked his mouth, tongue sweeping in to taste and feel. Nick’s eyes slid shut as he kissed him back. He carefully touched Kit’s sides, paying close attention for any sign of discomfort, but Kit hummed in approval. His tail swept up and wound its way around Nick’s arm.
Nick smiled against Kit’s mouth, holding him tightly, basking in his warmth, his touch, his smell, before finally realising that Kit wasn’t going to stop kissing him.
Nick seized a modicum of control and wrestled it to the front of his mind; he leaned back—Kit followed—and Nick pushed him at the same time, breaking the kiss.
Kit made a soft objecting sound as they parted, gazing at Nick through hooded eyes, breaths sliding through glistening pink lips in soft pants. A glorious red had spread across Kit’s cheeks, and Nick’s fingers tightened on Kit’s sides as he took him all in.
“You are three weeks early.”
“I expedited training. And the journey here was only a week.” Having an engine to get upriver made the trip much faster. “The river was busy. And here too,” he noted. “People seem happy.” Three months and the evidence of hunger had disappeared.
“We have been trading the council’s riches for resources. There is enough food for all, and we have begun to replant crops.” Kit remained standing overly close to Nick, staring right at his face as he spoke.
A figure appeared at Nick’s side, and with his nose plugged, Mini offered Nick a goblet. “This one’s from my keg. It’s the best one,” he added, certain. “Kit said so.”
Mini had grown a good three inches, coming to Nick’s shoulder now.
Nick accepted the wine. “Lua?”
Mini nodded.
“Did your family accompany you?” Ios asked. He slid away from Seche’s protective arm but positioned himself on the far side of Mini, as though to use the child as a shield from Kit’s tail. Kit didn’t even bat an eye at Ios getting closer, full attention remaining on Nick.
“My brothers, Laurence and Connor, are here. And Connor’s boyfriend, Adonis. He’s the merman you met in the church.” The one who had killed their nightmare.
“Will they be attending the party? I can show them around,” Ios offered.
“Laurence is sleeping, and Connor won’t want to leave him on his own.
Thanks for offering, though.” Connor was oddly averse to new people.
Not that he wasn’t sociable—because he was, and he never shied away from spending time with any of them—but despite Laurence’s bounding interest in the city just by The Tear and his persistent begging to be brought there to have a look, Connor was far more inclined to disappear with Adonis and a book and spend his days lazing around in the ocean.
“I am glad to see you returned, Nick,” Seche greeted.
The last time Nick had seen Seche, the kit had an arrow stuck through his back. “Ios has you all healed up?” he asked.
Ios’s chin rose, clearly pleased to be mentioned in regard to Seche’s recovery. “I’ve been tending to his every need. Even –” A tail swipe swiftly shut Ios up. Seche smiled.
“We will leave you two to catch up. Enjoy your night,” Seche said.
He walked away, managing to tangle his tail with Ios’s and drag the protesting young man along without batting an eye.
Nick eyed Seche for any sign of injury, but the man seemed unharmed, walking with a steady, sure stride.
Dating a healer probably helped him along considerably.
“This way.” Kit pressed his hand to Nick’s lower back and guided him out of the courtyard.
Mini followed on the other side with a fixed glare until Nick sipped the wine.
The moment he tasted it, without waiting for a reaction, Mini turned on his heel and trotted off, joining a gaggle of kids waiting for him.
“He looks well,” Nick noted.
“Mini performs every task he is set to with excellence,” Kit agreed. They began walking in a different direction than Nick expected. “I have moved my quarters to the outskirts of the town. A school is nearby, so it’s easier for me to go next door for lessons.”
“How are all the kids?”
“Adapting well.” Kit led him through the streets, not releasing his physical touch of Nick for even a step.
The dead trees that had lined the road on his last visit had been replaced with green-leafed saplings, brown soil heaped around their roots.
“I have tracked down suitable relatives to take them all in…apart from Mini. He’s staying with me.
He had no interest in being settled elsewhere.
” Kit paused a beat. “I did not wish for him to go either.”
“I had a feeling it was going to end up that way.” Nick hummed.
“I’m glad. I worried you might end up by yourself.
I should have guessed Mini would stick with you.
” There were so many who adored Kit, but surprisingly few who Kit seemed willing to rely on, and the last time Nick had been in Aridia, his trust in his uncle, Valor, had been completely broken.
They finally stopped on the outskirts of the town.
As far as Nick could tell, this was the furthest house upriver, surrounded by newly planted saplings.
The house was one storey, with the front door leading into a large main room containing a dinner table, a study and a kitchen.
On one side of the room, chairs were neatly arranged around a large table, a blank slate, and chalk at each spot.
Kit’s wooden trunk from the ship was tucked against the wall, and a second, smaller table was covered in paperwork.
An upright wooden pallet held a collection of wooden swords of varying lengths.
A smile tugged at Nick’s mouth. “I thought you had the school for lessons?”
“There are often kits seeking instruction outside of school hours,” Kit said.
“I have an arena for swordplay out here. Come.” He led Nick through the large room and outside once more.
A finely raked sand pit was lined by tall garden walls, a gated archway leading to the river only a stone throw away.
Three tall bushes lined one of the walls, ripe red berries weighing down their branches.
Nick stared at the familiar red cherries, understanding coming slowly. He sucked in a sharp breath, eyes going wide. “Wait—Kit—how?”