But she hadn’t. She continued to follow them, and that worried Tahki. The castle was gone, Dyraien had been detained, and Tahki’s designs were lost in the rubble. He wondered if it had something to do with Sornjia being a mystic. He had no way to speak with Nii, now that the black pool had been destroyed. Maybe his father would have some insight. For a moment, he considered lying to his father but then thought better of it. He was done with the lies. Whatever havoc the truth might raise, he would accept the consequences.
Rye leaned in and kissed his neck. “What’s wrong now?”
“Nothing.”
Rye yawned. “Stop worrying about tomorrow.”
“I still can’t believe I let you talk me into sailing to Dhaulen’aii,” Tahki muttered.
“It’s the fastest way. Plus, it will give you time to forge us new documents.”
“The ship will probably crash into a rock or something and we’ll all drown.”
Rye smiled against his shoulder. “There’s the cynical Tahki I know and love.”
Tahki’s breath caught in his throat. It was the first time Rye had said he loved him. It was casual, maybe even a mistake, but it had been said aloud, which meant it was real.
“You’ll be all right,” Rye whispered in his ear. “Because I’ll be there to distract you.”
“And you’re sure you don’t mind leaving your home?”
Rye moved an inch away. “There’s nothing left for me here.”
“There’s the sullen Rye I know and love.” Tahki kissed him hard, despite the throbbing in his head and jaw.
“I want to see your home,” Rye said once they pulled away. “I want to know everything about you, the truth, this time.”
“Only the truth,” Tahki said.
Tahki tucked himself close to Rye’s chest, and all other worries drifted out the window to where the sea broke over the rocky shore. Tomorrow they would sail for home, and whatever awaited them on the open ocean, Tahki knew he wouldn’t have to face it alone.
JADE MERE is a writer and illustrator who resides in the rainy Pacific Northwest. She has a passion for writing fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal stories. When Jade isn’t tapping away at her computer or yelling at her drawing tablet, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, kayaking, and traveling.
Website: www.jademere.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jademere
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JadeMere
By Jade Mere
The Architect and the Castle of Glass
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Architect and the Castle of Glass
© 2018 Jade Mere.
Cover Art
© 2018 Jade Mere.
www.jademere.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-262-9
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64080-261-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017916618
Digital published March 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
