Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

distaste at the image of Ren being treated like a prisoner yet again.
    "That may work for daylight hours but you forget Gael, we have no holding cells here in the upper realm. Even your own brother was merely confined to his rooms, with a guard posted at the entryway. And Anzel was not nearly as clever as Ren is bound to be, you know. Also, the boy deserves to be treated better than a common criminal; he had enough of that while he was in the lower realm. No, Gael, I think you're going to be forced to come up with a better solution than that for the boy."
    "My thoughts exactly! That's why the boy will bunk in with you."
    "WHAT?" Gael watched as Con sputtered and shook his head in denial. Inwardly Gael smiled as he spoke to his flustered second in command.
    "We'll set a guard during the day to ensure he doesn't roam the palace unattended, but he'll be your responsibility to watch over at all other times Con, and the best way for you to do that is to keep him close! Remember what you always tell me? Keep your friends close…"
    "And your enemies closer."
    Con held Gael's eyes for a moment and the memory of a friendship that had spanned countless years changed the visible anxiety to determination. His friend was right. Regardless of what Anzel had planned for Ren to do, the boy deserved the right to live a better life than fate had thus far dealt him. Perhaps by showing the boy love and respect Ren would come to believe that he was worthy of both.
    Con would wipe away the stain of all those months at the hands of that bastard Anzel. Con felt his years of military training take over and his worry recede to the background. He was a commander of Orestes, and he'd be damned if some two-bit whore of a leader from the lower realm would best him!
    "Fine! I'll secure the boy immediately." Con prepared to leave. Gael called out to him as he strode from the room.
    "Remember Con, if this boy is an assassin sent to murder us, you best sleep with one eye open…or perhaps find other activities to amuse yourselves with at night."
    Con hesitated in the doorway for just a moment. He recognized the lighthearted attempt by his best friend to set him at ease. This is why he and Gael were so close. They always managed to find a way to bring each other back from the edge. Con turned around and said, "Thank you Gael, I won't let you down." Constantine swept from the room. Gael strolled over to the window and looked down at the lone figure on the rocky ledge below.
    "Well boy, now we'll see just how strong this love of yours is after all. God help us all if I'm wrong about you." Gael sighed and turned to look at the door his friend had just left through. "And god help my friend if the fierce love that I believe once beat in your heart didn't survive that hell you were forced to endure."
    Gael looked back and rested his forehead against the window, maintaining his watch over the boy below.
    ****
    The mountain was cold, colder than Ren thought possible. He clenched his teeth together to keep them from chattering endlessly. He couldn't believe that Anzel had ordered his men to strip him before dumping him on this godforsaken mountaintop. He felt his gut clench as hatred for Anzel coursed through him. Fucking bastard! If it's the last thing I do, Anzel, I'll see you choke on your own blood, right after I run you through with my sword! Even as the threat flew through his mind, he knew that it was wishful thinking at best and felt the overwhelming despair return.
    How was he going to do anything to anyone sitting naked on this damned mountaintop? Ren dropped his head to his knees and felt the tears begin to well up in his eyes. On top of everything else, the weight of the job he was being forced to do for Anzel hung over him. Ren was to help an assassin slip into the palace and murder Gael and Con. How had he gotten himself into this mess?
    If only he'd just let Lord Gael's remarks slide off his back that day, months ago. But no, he had to prove that he was just as capable on the battlefield as everyone else, that he wasn't just some pretty boy! He had to prove to Con that he was worthy of the praise that had been heaped on his shoulders that night. That somehow he was worthy of that kiss…Oh god, that kiss. Con…Ren felt his heart leap at the thought of seeing the commander once more. Reaching up with one hand, he let his fingers glide across his lips. Closing his eyes, Ren felt his thoughts begin to drift away. He no longer felt the wind or the