Sky Hunter

by Fae Sutherland

  Dagan took a step closer. “Sorry for what, Jadikira?” he asked again, voice soft.

  “Sorry I ruined your life.” And there was the guilt, some of it anyway, rearing up and threatening to choke him. He couldn’t maintain eye contact and looked away, down at the filthy ground of the alleyway. “You’re right, I was selfish. I didn’t think about you when I left, not what would happen to you.”

  He should have expected that. Of course Dagan would be blamed. Jeret was his responsibility, his job. His goddamn duty.

  Dagan didn’t respond right away, coming closer and leaning against the wall beside him. Finally, he spoke. “I don’t care.”

  Jeret swore he hadn’t expected the rejection to hurt so much. He understood it, though. “I know. It doesn’t change anything. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not what I mean.” Dagan turned toward him, still against the wall. Jeret glanced up at him, expecting more anger but instead there was a softness in Dagan’s eyes that made Jeret’s heart thump heavily. “I meant that me getting blamed for your disappearance wasn’t the problem. Christ, Jadi, I’d have happily covered for you a million times over if you’d just asked me. You didn’t trust me enough to tell me what you were planning, where you were going. You just left everything and everyone behind, including me.”

  Jeret wasn’t sure what Dagan was even saying. “What do you mean? Covered for me how?”

  Dagan shrugged. “I don’t know. But if it’d come down to either I help you or you were going to disappear and I’d spend the next six years wondering if you were alive or dead or worse, I’m pretty sure I’d have helped.”

  Jeret let out an incredulous laugh. “You would not. Your honor is everything to you. I know that. It’s why I’m sorry I did what I did. I mean, I’m not sorry I left, but I’m sorry you took the blame for it and lost everything you’d worked so hard for.” Dagan would probably be in the position Kalar was in now, if he hadn’t run away. Powerful, top of the ranks, everything Dagan had worked so hard for.

  “I don’t know. I think I would have. But you never gave me the chance, Jadi. You never gave me the opportunity to prove that you could trust me.” His eyes were unreadable. “I guess I didn’t know I had to prove it, after everything.”

  Christ, the guilt was like a knife twisting in him. Maybe Dagan was right, maybe he would have helped, maybe he hadn’t had to leave on his own. There was no way to know now how different things might have been. The sting of regret lingered, though, and it helped him make a decision he knew had to be made.

  “I want to go see my father. Will you help me?”

  Dagan’s eyes widened and he straightened, away from the wall. “But the traitor...”

  “I don’t mean just waltz in and be all ‘Daddy, I’m home!’ I mean sneak in, see him, tell him what’s happening. I just think I’m making this harder than it has to be, by refusing to go see him. Who better to know the people around him, to know who might be suspect?”

  “I agree, but are you sure?”

  “I am.” It would be hard, especially because he didn’t know just how sick his father was and he was sure to assume that Jeret was home to stay now. But they needed his help, as much as his father needed theirs, and stubbornly refusing to speak to his father wasn’t helping anyone. “I’m sure.”

  “Right now?”

  Jeret glanced up at the sky, the sun setting rapidly. “Now. The longer we wait the more time is wasted.”

  Dagan didn’t question him, didn’t try to change his mind, just went to grab his jacket and tell Torin and Rain they were going. When he came back out, Dagan handed Jadi a gun. “Just in case. Ready?”

  Jeret tucked the gun into his boot. “Yeah. Dagan?”

  “Yeah?”

  He smiled. “Thanks.”

  * * *

  Dark fell on Hadrian like a heavy blanket dropping over the entire planet. It was a nearly instant sort of thing, something to do with the curve of the planet and the density of the atmosphere bending the light in such a way that once the sun dropped beyond the horizon, it was as if there was no sun. The lack of a moon contributed to the almost total blackness, as well.

  Luckily, Dagan knew the streets and side paths as well as Jeret did and the two of them made their way all but unseen through the dark alleys and across dense wooded areas to emerge atop the hill where the palace perched. Now came the fun part.

  “Over the wall or under it?” Dagan asked, glancing down at him as they stood face-to-face with the towering wall that surrounded the entire grounds.

  Jeret reached out to brush his fingers along the cool stone of the wall. This was the bars to the cage he had promised himself he’d never return to. And yet here he was, breaking back into that cage. He pulled his hand away. No time for fanciful nonsense. “Through.”

  Dagan frowned. “Through the wall?”

  “You’ll see.” The Notch was something he and his friends had done together, a hole in the wall dug over the course of several months back when he was about eight. He’d rigged a simple hologram device to mask it and so there was a chance it was still there, undiscovered yet. He had used the holographically hidden hole in the wall more times than he could count, the last time being the day he ran away. He was willing to bet that his friends had kept it as secret as they had when it’d been made.

  “You’re not going through the wall, Jadikira.”

  “You sound so sure. Want to bet?”

  “You’re mental.”

  “Fine, then, it’s a bet.” Jeret grinned and flipped his hood up, slinking ahead along the wall. It wasn’t far, since they were already approaching from the rear of the palace which was also the least patrolled part, hence why the location had been perfect for the Notch.

  “How much?” Dagan asked in a hushed whisper.

  “When I win, you’ll find out.” He didn’t have to look to know Dagan was smiling. It felt good, like old times, except with a different sort of cast to the teasing—a decidedly sexual overtone.

  Jeret came to an abrupt halt, holding his hand up. Dagan stilled as well, listening intently.

  “What did you hear?” he breathed almost inaudibly. Only because Jeret was so attuned to him did he hear the words.

  He shook his head sharply, heart pounding. Two fingers flicked toward the wall and an instant later the faint rustling sounded again. Shit. He really hoped that was an animal and not a guard patrolling. Neither of them moved as the seconds ticked by. Finally the sound drifted away and Jeret let out a breath, glancing behind him.

  Dagan met his eyes, tucking his gun away. Shit, he hadn’t even thought to pull his gun. He wasn’t much of a killer, to be honest. Should he be worried that he found Dagan’s instinctive willingness to draw weapons in his defense sort of erotic?

  He did his best not to think about it as they hurried down along the wall, until he had to slow, examining the stones more carefully, then reached back to slap Dagan’s arm. “Stop.”

  Dagan did, frowning at the wall. “What?”

  Jeret grinned and slid his fingers along the mortar between the stones, seeking that tiny little...there! His fingertip brushed the small notch—hence the name of the spot—in the rock and the stone slipped inward just enough to reveal the solar-powered holographic device. A button press deactivated it and a small hole in the wall, just large enough for a man, became visible where a solid wall of stone had been a second before.

  “Damn, that’s smaller than I remember.” He snickered softly and glanced over his shoulder at Dagan, who was anything but small. “We might have a problem. Or you might have a problem, really.”

  Dagan gaped. “There’s a fucking hole in the wall. Do I need to even ask how the hole got there?” Jeret just grinned and Dagan sighed. “I guess not. Christ.” He crouched down to examine the hole. “I can make it.” He didn’t sound completely
convinced and Jeret bit back another laugh. Dagan threw him a ‘shut the hell up’ look. “Well, do you have a better idea?”

  “Better than you getting stuck inside the palace wall? Uh, yeah, I do actually. You stay here while I go in.”

  Dagan didn’t say a word, simply lifted his brows in that expressive way he had. The move could mean any number of things, and right then it meant ‘I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.’ Jeret shrugged. “It was worth a try.”

  “No, I can squeeze through. It’ll be tight, but I don’t mind tight.”

  Jeret made a face at the smirk Dagan tossed him. “Gross. I go first. At least one of us will make it through for sure, then.” He nudged Dagan out of the way and crouched down, peering through the hole to the other side. “I wish I’d thought to bring some engine grease or something. We could slick you up like a big ol’ cock and shove you right through.”

  Dagan waved a hand at the hole. “Shut up, brat. Go.”

  It was hard to ignore the little bursts of warmth inside every time Dagan would grin or tease. More and more he was having a really hard time remembering why it’d be a really bad idea to just let go and allow his ‘crush’ to turn into something a hell of a lot more grown-up. Something a hell of a lot more dangerous.

  Half the time he wondered if he was even succeeding at all in keeping that from happening. Especially when Dagan would give him those smoldering looks and Jadi could just about taste the heat of his kisses. The man had been hard enough to resist when Jadi had no idea what being with him was actually like. Now that he knew what Dagan was capable of, it was even worse. Or better, depending on perspective.

  “Jadi? You alright?”

  Well, crap. He was crouched down on the ground like an idiot, unmoving, navel-gazing like a twelve-year-old girl. “I’m fine. Just don’t waste time. The Notch is unprotected until we’re done and back through here to turn the hologram back on.” A few seconds later, he was on the other side and did a quick scan around him before he sank down and peered through the hole. “Come on.”

  Dagan blew out a breath—probably a good idea considering the width of his barrel chest—and started to come through headfirst, arms extended out in front of him. It was a good strategy, made him as narrow as possible as he wormed along the ground. Still, it was incredibly tight and it was slow going.

  Jeret shifted anxiously, glancing around again before reaching down to grab Dagan’s arm to try and help him along. “Hurry up, for Christ’s sake, Dagan!”

  Dagan scowled up at him. “I’m going as fast as I can. Sorry I’m not some skinny little kid still.”

  He stuck his tongue out and braced his feet on the wall, using all his weight to pull on Dagan’s arms. And then he just stopped moving. His head and shoulders and arms were on Jeret’s side of the wall, legs and feet on the other side, that broad chest wedged tightly in between.

  “Fuuuuuck!” Jeret glanced around. “Somebody’s gonna see!” He yanked harder, ignoring Dagan’s pained grunts. A second later Dagan gave him a hard shove and a glare.

  “Quit yanking on me!”

  Jeret did his best not to start laughing. They were so going to get caught. “Well then quit being stuck in the damn wall.” He couldn’t hold in a couple of snorts of laughter.

  “Oh sure, because this is absolutely by choice, brat. Just don’t yank so hard.” It was hard to see Dagan’s face but Jeret was pretty sure he was smiling again. “Here, let me turn around on my stomach, maybe loosen things up.”

  “God, this is so suggestive right now.”

  Dagan snickered softly as he twisted in the small hole, trying to turn over. “Get your mind out of the gutter. Here, grab my shirt, pull it off. It might free up just enough space...”

  “Oh yeah, ’cause naked skin is so much less suggestive as you writhe around inside a too-tight hole.” He was barely able to breathe at this point, he was fighting the laughter so hard. But he did as suggested and reached down to catch Dagan’s jacket and shirt, tugging at them until they slid free and came off. His mouth went dry at the sight of all that shadowy muscle, naked and twisting, flexing in the dark. Fuck, the man was so damn sexy. “Better?”

  Dagan managed to get over on to his stomach. “A little bit. Now you can pull.”

  Jeret shifted to brace one foot on either side of the hole, ass on the ground and a tight grip on both of Dagan’s forearms. “Okay, just say when.”

  Dagan paused for a second, then nodded. “Now!” he whispered.

  He put all of his weight into the pull, praying it worked. Half a second later, with a loud ‘oof!’, he was flat on his back on the ground, Dagan shirtless and sweaty on top of him, their faces millimeters apart, panting hard.

  His heart stopped and all he could see was Dagan, all he could feel was Dagan and in that moment all that mattered was Dagan. And then Dagan kissed him and all that mattered was that he never, ever stop.

  “You there! Stay where you are!”

  Fuuuuck.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jeret swore he was going to reclaim his crown just long enough to see this guard minus his fucking head. Dagan got off him so damn fast Jeret was pretty sure he had skid marks. By the time he scrambled to his feet, Dagan had the guy in a headlock and was dragging him over into the bushes where they’d been laying.

  The guard’s eyes met Jeret’s and, after a moment, widened in recognition. “Your Highness!” he gasped, and then crumpled to the ground at Dagan’s feet.

  Jeret stared at Dagan, who shrugged and tucked his gun back into his belt. “He’s alive.”

  “Right. Um...” He supposed it was too late now to go back to the kissing part, so he sighed and gestured to the palace that loomed above them. “Onward, yeah?”

  “Yeah.” Dagan looked like he might wish they could go back to kissing too. Jeret hid a smile as he ducked around him to lead the way. Maybe when they got back they could pick up where they’d been interrupted. God knew he’d spent the last two years giving Torin and Rain private time. They could return the favor.

  They made their way through the garden and down to the lower levels, where it was easier to move around because the place was a maze only a few knew the solution to. Luckily, he and Dagan were two of those few. Being back in the palace struck up all sorts of emotions. It was familiar and yet not anymore. This wasn’t home anymore, Annie was, and being here cemented what he’d already known.

  If only he could show Dagan the truth of that, maybe he would understand why Jeret couldn’t stay.

  One close call with a drunken maid later, they were in the chamber next to the king’s. One of the palace’s many hidden passages led to it, though none led directly to the king’s chamber for fear he could be snuck up on in the middle of the night. Dagan eased open the door and peered out into the hall.

  Jeret shifted anxiously. “Anything?”

  “Hold on,” Dagan whispered, holding up one finger to him.

  He didn’t know what it was, maybe being back in his family home, memories and things he hadn’t thought about in years swelling up inside him, but as he stood there in silence, waiting for Dagan to give the all clear, his fucking emotions decided now was the perfect time to bring up the one thing that had hurt more than thinking his father never looked for him.

  “You never looked for me either.”

  Dagan glanced back over his shoulder, frowning, but almost immediately the frown faded and he let the door slip shut before turning to face Jeret. Like he knew this had to happen. Maybe it did.

  Jeret glanced away, taking a deep breath, then met Dagan’s eyes. “You said the traitor paid off all the people my father sent to find me. I get that. But what about you, Dagan? No one paid you not to find me. Not to even look.”

  He’d spent the last twenty-four hours feeling guilty about not trusting Dagan eno
ugh to tell him what he was planning years ago, but where was Dagan after the fact? He certainly hadn’t had any trouble tracking him down when there was money and the chance to get his life back on the line.

  “No, you’re right. No one did.” He sighed and scratched the side of his partially shaved head. “What do you want me to say, Jadi?”

  “I want the truth. You keep telling me you care, that I’m not just a duty, that I’m your friend, that I was your friend back then too. If that’s true, why didn’t you try to find me?” His heart thumped heavily in his tight chest. He both wanted the answer and was afraid of it at the same time.

  Dagan didn’t answer for a second, then looked up. “Because I was a selfish prick. Self-absorbed and pissed off. I don’t have a white-knight answer for you, Jadi. I wish I did. I wish I had something better than ‘They took my life and you were gone and maybe I blamed you a little.’ Or a lot. And by the time I got done fucking wallowing, it was too late. I felt like it was, anyway.”

  Jeret didn’t know what to say. “So you just did nothing.”

  Dagan cringed. “I’m not real proud of it, to say the least. Hell, if you want total honesty I didn’t really want to take your father’s offer six months ago either. I made a mistake, Jadi, like people do. And then felt like it was too far in the past to fix.” He met Jeret’s eyes and exhaled softly. “I hope that’s not true though. I really do.”

  It was hard to be mad when he thought about it. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t made stupid-ass decisions all along, left and right. Hell, he fucked up like it was his goddamn job. “It’s not too late.” Was it too late for him and his father to find the same sort of reconciliation? Jeret took a deep breath. “We should...” He gestured to the door.

  Dagan turned to ease the door open again and peered out. “Clear.”

  Was it really going to be that easy? Jeret slinked over to peer out as well and, just as he was about to step out, a female nurse came striding down the hall.