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The arrival of Conyod's adored Dresk
* * *
*
It was nearly a year before Conyod and his parents were deemed emotionally ready for him to return home for good. Therapy was ongoing, and biannual home visits by independent psychiatrists were scheduled. Otherwise, life was to become a new normal.
Conyod’s parents had achieved varying degrees of well-being. Tuher and Sema were at far better ease. They assigned independent chores to their son, which took him on solo rides to the nearby town or the plains. At first, Vel ventured to offer to accompany Conyod on those forays. Lafec insisted many of the errands required two people to accomplish them. They were firmly overruled by Tuher. When Conyod returned from wherever he’d been, he didn’t miss Lafec and Vel were working where they could anxiously watch for him.
He did ask a parent to join him when he was to train a yearling or colt on the riskier tasks of mountain work. He wasn’t so much afraid of Hoslek’s fate befalling him as the dark thoughts that filled his head when he had no choice but to confront the crags he continued to despise. In every cranny, he imagined coming across his brother’s remains. Sometimes he thought he saw the round dome of a skull or a rack of ribs, but it always resolved to stones or sun-bleached branches dropped from trees.
He refused to go anywhere near the Pinnacle or the foothills of Mount Evar.
The chance of finding Hoslek, however unlikely to happen, was more than Conyod could bear the thought of. Since he found he was actually happy to be home again, he decided he wouldn’t tell Dr. Hupsan about these terrible fantasies and visions, or his inability to go where the injured Ges had been discovered. Perhaps Lafec and Vel continued to be overprotective, but Tuher and Sema kept them in check so Conyod wouldn’t feel suffocated.
He missed having Sletran close enough to visit, however. He commed the Nobek as often as he thought he could without being branded a pest. Sletran’s usual cheerful greeting of, “Hey kid, how are you?” was as much a blow to his young heart as a joy. Conyod was nearly seventeen, but it was obvious his crush continued to see him as a child rather than a man. The fact Sletran didn’t always pick up or return his coms also made it clear Conyod hadn’t made the sort of impression he wanted.
Sletran did answer the com for one memorable occasion Conyod was eager to share shortly after he’d celebrated his eighteenth birthday. “Guess who this is?” the young Imdiko said as he pointed his com’s vid lens at a tiny kestarsh foal snuggled against Elbmur’s snowy side in her stall.
“It looks as if you have a rodent problem,” Sletran teased. “Call an exterminator or it might attack your mare.”
“Hey!”
“No, I’m kidding. It’s the kestarsh your parents promised you, isn’t it? He’s a beauty. Quite the combination, the black coat and white mane.”
“It’s a rare combination. He’s perfect,” Conyod gushed, his gaze moving constantly between the foal and Sletran’s admiring vid image.
“Did you name him yet?”
“Dresk. It means joy.”
“An appropriate name, given how much joy I hear in your voice. Congratulations, Conyod.”
“Thanks. You should come and see him. Are you getting time off soon?” He did his best to keep his tone casual.
“I am, but I’m visiting my parent clan. Send me vids of Dresk. My mother would enjoy them.”
“Sure.” He swallowed disappointment. He hadn’t seen Sletran
in person since their last defensive session at the mental health facility. Try
as he might, he couldn’t conjure a plausible reason for them to get together.
He’d hoped Dresk’s arrival would do the trick.
* * * *
He
needed a hero and found two. Can love rescue him again?
Nobek
Sletran never took Imdiko Conyod’s infatuation seriously when he rescued him
years before. When Conyod shows up in his life again as a strong and successful
man instead of a traumatized victim, Sletran has to reconsider the one he once
rejected and now can’t imagine life without.
Conyod has
never given up on the man he considers his hero. Sletran is all he’s ever
wanted for a clanmate, and he’s determined to win him at last. But the past refuses
to be laid to rest. When Conyod convinces Sletran to see him for who he’s
become, will who he was resurface and destroy the love they’re building?
Sletran’s
commanding officer Dramok Erybet is instantly fascinated by Conyod when the
soldier brings his love on base for a visit. However, Sletran isn’t the Nobek
Erybet feels is right for him. When he rejects the Nobek, he risks losing
Conyod too.
Against the backdrop of heartbreaking childhood tragedy, a ghost who haunts Conyod and his grief-stricken family, and military brass determined to oust Erybet from the rank he’s worked so hard to reach, three men must come to terms with who they are. When tragedy strikes, the nightmares of the past must be faced and buried once and for all. Conyod, Sletran, and Erybet must dare everything to find redemption and hold on to each other.
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