Silver and Solstice by TJ Nichols

Author:TJ Nichols [Nichols, TJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64405-782-7
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2019-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

RAFE MOVED as quickly as he dared through the dark but not quiet streets. The bells chimed, marking the middle of the longest night. He stood quietly in an alley, waiting for a pack of guards to go past. If they saw him, would they escort him home?

When they were gone, he moved on, always heading uphill toward the castle. People spilled out of the taverns, along with music and laughter as they celebrated the night with friends. Tomorrow they’d face family with a hangover—he didn’t envy them.

If he dressed appropriately and smiled and nodded, he was mostly left alone until the topic inevitably turned to marriage. He was so far down the line, most of the time even his family forgot he existed, which was exactly how he liked it. When his mother or aunt, the queen, looked his way, he tried to disappear as quickly as possible before they could mention so and so, the nephew of that important man, or some battle-hungry young general looking to make good ties. He wasn’t some tidbit to be offered up as a reward. He didn’t want a good marriage or any of the things his older siblings aspired to.

Rafe didn’t care about things like titles and propriety. His father’s fault really, for constantly reminding him that he wasn’t needed and had better not have his eye on any of the plum roles that had been picked out for his older siblings. So he’d made his own path, arranged his own apprenticeship, and gotten on with his life, much to the horror of everyone in his family.

They expected him to get tired of living above his shop and to come back to the castle, where he could meander around as some administrative official earning an equally modest sum. He’d rather craft a delicate silver knife and stick it through his eye.

The cold night air slipped beneath his cloak like a thief looking for a coin purse, and his breath clouded. But he kept walking, knowing this road would take him to his family’s door, the prison, and the pens. If Calvin had been arrested, there wasn’t much Rafe could do except argue with his father. Cal had no protection and neither did he.

Every time Cal shifted in the house, they were breaking the law.

Every time Cal went off thieving, it was another strike.

And for all that, Rafe had made his own life. People knew who he was. He was supposed to set an example—he was sure his father had said that at the last solstice dinner. Soon after he’d found Cal in his shop wearing far too many silver rings. Instead of calling the city guard—and having to deal with his father—on the rather pretty crested cat, he’d made a deal.

Cal had stayed long after the deal had finished. That meant something, didn’t it? Or was he a fool for seeing more when there was nothing?

But Cal had been tormented as he’d left. The guards at his front door and Calvin’s claim of doing the job for him….

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