Ghosts & Ashes by F.T. Lukens

Author:F.T. Lukens [Lukens, F.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: action & adventure, broken moon, Fiction, Gay, gay fiction, science fiction, space opera
ISBN: 9781945053313
Publisher: Duet Books
Published: 2017-03-09T20:29:59+00:00

8

They found a fire and a ring of rocks. No one was nearby, which was a blessing, and the fire was large enough that it created a comfortable circumference of heat. They sat down, and Jakob kicked a bundle of firewood.

“I’ve been here less than a day and I already want to get the hell out of here.”

“Me, too,” Ren said quietly. He rubbed his hands together, then splayed his fingers toward the fire.

“My father wanted to know why I didn’t come back sooner. He said I had shirked my duties here and said I was a coward for staying away so long.” Jakob crossed his arms and frowned. “It’s not like I almost died or anything.”

Jakob’s admission was a surprise. To Ren, Jakob had led a charmed life of privilege, the only son of the head of the village council, the wealthiest man in the village. But there was more to the story, and, seeing Jakob hunched over his knees, Ren empathized.

“We could leave,” Ren said softly.

Asher snapped his gaze to him. “I thought you would want to stay. Coming home was what you wanted from the beginning.”

Ren furrowed his brow. “I have wanted to come home. I’ve wanted to find Liam. But this isn’t my home. My home doesn’t exist anymore.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Jakob said.

Asher looked at them. “If you don’t want to be here, we don’t have to stay. We could head back to the port and find transport.”

Jakob shifted. He stared at the fire. “I don’t know.”

Asher gazed at Ren, searching.

Ren shrugged. “I don’t want to be stuck here. And if I stay, I will be. And I… I don’t want to lose you. And the family I’ve built.”

“Are you sure?” Asher asked.

“No. I’m not.” Ren took a breath. “I’m not well on the ship. I’m a liability, a prisoner to the Corps there. But I don’t belong here either.” He swallowed. “I’ve outgrown it here. And Liam is still out there. But I….” Ren trailed off.

“Face it, Ren. We don’t belong here. I don’t want to leave my sisters, but they are safe. And I have other things to look for.”

Ren nodded. “Yeah. Yeah.” He scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “I wish I had a place where I belonged.”

Asher touched the back of Ren’s hand. “We’ll leave and if we don’t find a place, we’ll make one.”

“But what about…” Ren trailed off. He hadn’t heard anyone mention Sorcha’s name.

Jakob kicked the firewood again. “She’s not here, Ren. No one has seen her. I asked about her family and… well… apparently there is a gravesite at the village.”

“I know.”

Jakob pressed his lips together. “You didn’t tell me.”

“Because I didn’t want to take away your hope.”

Jakob nodded. He tossed a twig into the flames. “I am going to keep looking for her. I’m not going to give up.” He sighed. “So what happened with you? I saw you two had made up.”

“We’re working on it,” Asher said.

“My mother and I had an argument,” Ren said. He tilted his head and looked at the canvas above him.

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