23. Owen

Owen and Colt traveled on the backroads alone for days. Owen worried about Gilda and Brom, but it had been the right choice for them to split up, as it was easier to travel and to stay hidden. He only hoped they were alright. Part of him wished they had simply found a safe town and decided to stay, to save themselves from further trouble.

The days were getting shorter and colder. Soon, the winter solstice would be upon them, and they would need a place to stay when the snow hit deep. This worried Owen more than anything, because the snow could potentially hinder them, even turn deadly, and already the weather was icy, with dustings of snow every night. At least the snow would also slow their enemies.

As they journeyed south toward Greenwater, Owen realized that Rem had been excellent in knowing which areas to ride through, even in the forests, which paths to take, where to camp off road, or who to stay with. But now, Owen and Colt suffered as they faced woods that seemed to have no end, traveling along paths so overgrown they had to backtrack when the trail disappeared.

Colt made good use of his bow among the trees, hunting small mammals and a few pheasants when he could, while Owen made a fire and cooked with the one pan they had each evening.

Camping in the darkest of spaces in the woods became a chilling thing. The night was always black, and Owen often awoke with his heart in panic, sometimes so out of sorts from sleeping that he wouldn't know where he was, and then he'd feel Colt's hands and hear his deep voice, and he'd ease back into his arms.

Then finally, after a week of traveling through woods and fields, they reached Greenwater. There were no walls around this town, and it sat out in the open, welcoming visitors in from the cold. Despite the snow, the streets were bustling. It would be an easy place to blend in.

They were lucky to have come to such a place when they did before the weather turned too bad. They'd traveled through the week with no sign of Rem, but the fear of him or Wielders catching them off guard weighed heavy on their minds. Owen found himself hoping that this gem of a town would help keep them concealed and that they could take a much needed break from traveling.

After putting the horse up in a stable, they strolled through the town.

"This place is amazing," Owen told Colt.

"Right, let's just keep our guard up. Be alert for anyone who's suspicious of us." Colt kept his hood on, concealing himself at all times.

Owen did the same, keeping his green knitted hat on and his scarf wound up over his mouth as well. Owen looked in the windows of shops while Colt scanned the buildings for wanted posters. Surely by now, word would have reached as far as Greenwater, as close to Luthien as it was.

They headed for the general goods store, where Colt traded a few animal pelts and carvings for a box of matches and tobacco. Migrating to the market stalls in the main square, Colt bought a few feathers and a string for his bow, while Owen looked at the charcoal pencils. When Owen saw signs advertising gifts for Winter's Solstice, he immediately rushed over to a stall that held various trinkets. After browsing through, he found a crescent moon charm crafted from iron.

Gilda would love this.

"How much for it?" he asked the vendor.

A thin man with a black mustache picked up the charm and nodded at him. "One copper."

He dug out a copper from his purse and gave it to the man, who handed it to him with a smile.

"Enjoy, sir."

"Thank you."

Colt was only two stalls down, looking over sacks of food. Keeping him in sight, Owen stopped briefly at a fruit stall. He glanced at the apples lined up by colors in neat rows. He picked up a yellow apple, then a red one, wondering if they should start stocking food to celebrate the solstice soon. There had never been a year that Owen didn't celebrate the occasion with good food and gifts. The past couple of years in Emberton had been his favorite in celebrating, as he always went to Hale's house and partook in the tasty meals and warm festivities with his family. Amias had been there every year as well, bringing Owen gifts such as sweets, books, and writing and drawing materials.

He smiled sadly as he thought of his journal he'd lost in Covehaven. It had been the last thing Amias had gifted him for Winter's Solstice. The pages always seemed to fill up fast, and each year, his uncle gifted him a new one. He thought of the small leatherbound journal Colt had given him, and this warmed his heart.

I want to get him something, too, and Brom.

Glancing over a weapons stall, Owen spotted a pocket knife. Its handle was brown, and a letter was engraved into it. He looked over to see more knives with other initials and picked out one with an ornate B engraved onto a jade stone that embedded in the handle.

Coming to another stall that held various trinkets, Owen found a display of thin leather thongs used for necklaces. It would be perfect for Gilda's moon charm. He hadn't seen a charm for Colt, but he liked the idea of getting him a necklace too, so he bought two, along with a few wooden beads, and told himself he'd find a charm for it later.

When Owen met up with Colt, he said, "I don't see Brom or Gilda. Did they say how to find them?"

"Gilda said to meet her at the inn." He looked up as a few snow flurries drifted down.

On their way to the inn, Owen looked down the street and saw a small temple. His heart picked up. He hadn't prayed in a while, and visiting one would surely make him feel better about all his troubles. "I'd like to visit the temple for a few minutes," he told Colt. "I understand if you don't want to."

Colt cocked his head, his eyes softening as he took Owen's hand. "I don't mind."

Smiling beneath his scarf, Owen led the way along the path between the shops to the building. It was built of wood and painted white. Coming inside from the gloomy, damp air outside, an unusual smell of incense hit him, making him wrinkle his nose.

"Welcome." A monk in faded blue robes greeted him warmly, and Owen was glad when the man didn't engage further.

Owen looked at the end of the aisle, where a faded blue rug ran all the way to a statue of Alenar. Candles, rose petals, and various dishes of fruit sat around his idol.

Things were much different here from how they were in Milarc. In his home country, most folks gave up their belief in the gods—Alenar, Aleana, and Mordren. But here in Avathon, their customs had never died.

Owen pulled out the small wooden rabbit that Colt had carved for him in Birchwood. It had become dirty from where he rubbed it when he needed comfort. He didn't dare give it up. He'd used what little coin he had in his pockets on Colt, Brom, and Gilda.

When Colt came up behind him, he felt something cold and round slip into his fingers. Pulling his hand up, he smiled as he saw a couple half coppers in his palm.

Making his way to the altar, Owen placed them in a chipped bowl already holding a few other coins. He glanced back at Colt, who sat in a chair near the doorway, looking uninterested, but the fact he came at all and gave him the money to give to the temple meant the world to Owen.

"Alenar cares about you," the monk said, coming up beside him.

"No one has ever seen him," Owen replied. "How do we know if he still cares?"

A kind smile warmed the monk's features. "No, none of us have seen him, but that does not mean he does not exist."

Owen met the monk's brown eyes. They were soft, serious, genuine. The man truly believed his own words. "But if Alenar left our world, then why would it matter?"

"Alenar is here." The monk placed his hand over his heart. "I have faith he has not abandoned us. A god can only do so much before he decides we must shape our own world. But I do not believe he would create us only to set us up for destruction. The days of darkness are impending, but there is hope, for there is one who will cut through the darkness. We must fall to rise."

Goosebumps rose on Owen's skin as he looked up at Alenar's blue eyes. The statue stared back at him, still and silent.

As the monk left, Owen offered a silent prayer.

Please keep us safe.

He hoped he never lived to see the events the monk spoke of unfold.

By evening, they rented a room at the inn. As they usually did, Colt went in first and then let Owen into the building from the stairs outside. Once they were in their room, Colt locked the door and set the food out he'd purchased from the pub downstairs. The last time Owen recalled eating a meal alone with Colt was back in Edgewater in Milarc, when Owen had lost his coin purse. How things had changed since then…

After they ate, Colt built up the fire as Owen pulled back the curtain on their tiny wood paned window and looked out as the sky darkened. The night was freezing, and the snow was building up fast. He shivered, grateful to not be sleeping in the tent. Even Rem wouldn't be able to travel after him in such weather, and that calmed his mind.

He left the window and made his way to the bed. As Colt stood from the hearth and joined him, Owen unrolled their blankets, thankful they had extra.

"Freezing tonight," Colt said, throwing down the covers. "Hopefully Gilda and Brom aren't out in this."

"It's odd but… I can feel their energies. Not necessarily close, more like an aroma that lingers, as if I can sense they're somewhere, just not here." Owen rubbed his neck. "I know that sounds silly."

Colt stared at him, a faint smile on his face. "Nothing you ever say sounds silly."

He always makes my heart fill with warmth…

In the fire's glow, Owen outlined Colt's face, admiring the dark stubble already growing back on his jaw, the handsome lines of his nose, and the way his thick dirty-blond hair stuck up in the back despite his attempts to brush it. And then his eyes… how delicious they looked, brownish-green hues that glanced at him as if devouring him, reciprocating the same lustful gaze.

Owen sighed contentedly at being in a warm room with a comfortable bed, alone. It meant he could have Colt all to himself without interruption, and this made his cheeks burn.

"What is it, Owen?" Colt whispered, smiling. "You're blushing."

The heat searing through Owen traveled from his face, through his chest, and down to his groin, which stirred to life. There was something silent but glowing between them, a sensation that pulled, an ache to close the distance between them.

Colt inched closer. Bringing up his hand, he brushed his knuckles gently against Owen's cheek. Letting out a breath, Owen rested his hand against Colt's chest, curling his fingers against the warm cotton of his shirt until he could feel his lover's heart beating against him. This was a sensation unlike any Owen had ever felt before, to be so close to someone, yet aching for more.

Colt tilted Owen's chin up, and when their lips met, Owen tasted sweet lemons and honey. His lover's lips were soft and warm, and he opened his mouth to taste more of him, taking his bottom lip between his own and kissing him slowly until Colt moaned.

Owen's fingers coiled into Colt's sleeves, pulling him closer as he kissed him deeper. Colt grabbed his waist, keeping him close, then he broke away and gently grabbed a fistful of Owen's hair as he planted wet kisses to the corner of his mouth and along his jaw.

Calloused, rough hands pulled Owen's shirt out from his trousers, sliding under the rough cotton and onto his lower back. Owen arched his back, letting out a low hungry moan from somewhere deep in his chest. The way this rugged man was handling him swirled around him like honey, so sweet and warm, he could almost taste it. His lover scooped the shirt up and finally lifted it off.

Owen's heart throbbed as he worked the buttons slowly on Colt's shirt, undoing each one carefully and smiling at how Colt fidgeted in impatience as he went, until finally, Colt pulled it over his head and threw it on the floor.

Both shirtless now, Colt took Owen's hand and pulled him to the bed, where he sat on the edge. Owen straddled one of his legs, and warm arms enfolded him, leaving no space between them. A shudder passed down his spine, and Colt squeezed him even closer.

He gazed down at Colt, outlining his sharp jaw with his fingers, while Colt lifted his eyes to watch him, a soft smile on his lips. Owen created enough space to run his palms down Colt's chest, trailing his fingers through the patch of hair there, and traced around the faded outline of the inked dove in flight, just below Colt's collarbone. His hands found Colt's shoulders next, admiring the curves of his muscles before trailing down the veins on his biceps, until his fingers grazed the tattoo of a spade on his right forearm.

When he reached Colt's hands, their fingers intertwined, and Owen relished the coarseness of his skin.

"Are you trying to figure me out?" Colt asked, cocking his head as he glanced up.

Their eyes locked, and Owen fell into them. "I want to know every part of you."

"Is it my turn now?"

Nodding, Owen smiled and let Colt slide his hands along his sides. He grit his teeth against the bumps rising along his skin, and he couldn't stop the gentle buck of his hips against Colt's leg.

"You're beautiful," Colt said. "Did you know that?"

"No." Owen licked his lips. "I've been told I'm handsome, but never beautiful."

Colt smiled. "You're much more than that." His hand found the back of Owen's neck, and he pulled him to his lips.

An intoxicating rush of lust overwhelmed Owen as he smoothed his hands over Colt's bare skin, savoring every scar and bump he came across. He placed his lips against the curve of Colt's neck and found goosebumps there. His lips ran lightly over them, loving the feel, before he opened his mouth and sucked at his skin.

Soft lips trailed down Owen's throat, and when Colt's tongue flicked out at the prominence there, Owen squirmed in his lap from the tickle. His lover was so warm amid this freezing night. He never wanted to let go of him.

Colt's mouth wetted every part of skin he pecked along Owen's chest, going lower and lower until Owen had to lean back.

Then Colt shifted, and he moved them until Owen was lying back on the bed. He gazed up at Colt, taking in his hazel eyes. Eyes, he realized, that saw him for who he was, that accepted him, regardless of the complications and risks that came with him.

Leaning over him, Colt took up Owen's hand and kissed his wrist, and then he took one of Owen's fingers into his mouth and slid his tongue to the tip before he bit it lightly. An expulsion of tingling sensations bolted throughout Owen's body, and he whimpered, pushing his finger deeper into this man's mouth. The way his lover's lips surrounded him and sucked him into his wet, hot mouth…

If he's making me feel good just by sucking my finger…

"Mm, you taste good," Colt said, smacking off his finger.

Owen let out a laugh. "Probably the honey I drizzled over my food earlier."

Chuckling, Colt looked down at him. "Right, I could taste it on your lips too." He leaned in for another kiss, and Owen's heart fluttered from his lover's gentle movements against him.

When Colt's mouth broke away to travel down his body, Owen threw his head back on the pillow, his eyes slits as he waited in agony for his lover to reach the place that ached to be touched.

As Colt reached Owen's stomach, he dipped his tongue into his navel, and Owen giggled before pushing him away.

"That's too much." He bit his lip, smiling.

"Yeah?" Colt cocked his head and looked up at him. "I can use my tongue on something else, then." Owen let out a breath, his heart skipping a beat. Holding Owen's hips, Colt continued his descent, kissing slowly along his stomach until he came to the hair that led below his trousers. When Colt unbuttoned them and pulled the fabric down, the cool air made Owen gasp.

Owen was laid bare now, and his face burned. He was hard as steel, aching with need and utterly exposed. This was the most vulnerable he'd ever been around anyone. He watched Colt's eyes drink in every inch of him, though, and knew he was safe. Colt had touched him several times already, as they'd even shared intimate moments in their tent in the past few days, but he knew this particular vulnerability would bring sensations that he could never experience with a hand.

Colt bent down and kissed along Owen's thighs, taking his time. Owen fisted the blankets, suddenly and completely incapable of waiting one more minute to have his lover's mouth on him. He let out a ragged moan, "Colt…"

When Colt's mouth enveloped his swollen flesh, Owen sputtered out a breath. His stomach tightened as the pleasure spiraled through him, and then he relaxed into his pillow, hands twisting in the sheets. The feel of Colt's warm mouth gliding up his sensitive skin sent waves of pleasure all through him, and he let out a long moan. His fingers clenched into his lover's thick hair as he savored the moment, wishing it would never end.

Everything about this moment was thrilling, and he gave in fully to the passion, no longer feeling vulnerable and exposed. Colt's featherlight caresses roved over his body in any way they pleased, knowing just where to touch and squeeze. Owen ran his hand through Colt's thick hair, enjoying the softness of it as it slipped through his fingers.

When Colt broke away, Owen let out a whine, but he realized as Colt sat up that he still hadn't taken his own trousers off. As soon as Colt discarded them, he bent over again, and they locked lips, their bodies molding into one. Closing his eyes, he let out a sigh, his arms locking around the man on top of him as he rocked his body against him. The air was cool, but the energy surrounding them was hot and intense, their kiss full of a fire that made Owen's body feel giddy and alive.

Colt moved onto his side but wouldn't let Owen go, and instead, they continued to kiss as they pulled close. Colt's hands touched every part of him, squeezing the cheeks of his backside, rubbing against him, feeling everything.

Owen reached between them and took Colt into his hand and stroked, delighting in the way the hard flesh fit just right in his palm, long and smooth. If this was what ecstasy felt like, Owen didn't want to leave it.

Colt let out a breath and pressed his lips into the curve of Owen's neck. "Your mouth's not gonna make it to me—" He grunted and pulled Owen's hand away.

Pushing Owen onto his back again, Colt thrusted against him. Owen gasped at the feeling, to have them both connected in this way, fully bare and against one another, all while Colt held his wrists gently above his head with his hands, kissing him so passionately, Owen felt he might erupt.

Owen craved this dominance more than he thought he might, and the contact with Colt's hard flesh increased his need. With the way Colt held him, his skin clammy with sweat and his voice full of quivering moans, Owen couldn't help himself. It was too easy to give in, and he let out breath after breath as he felt his pleasure rising. As it peaked, he broke away one of his arms to hold onto Colt tightly, his hips tensing as he stopped his movement against Colt's body, and moaned. Seed ran between them as Owen came, the pleasure rippling like water in strong currents, taking hold of his body and making him move in ways he never had before, until he finally calmed.

Colt's arm tightened around him as he let out gruff moans, his hips thrusting against Owen's hand as his own release drew groans of pleasure from him. It was pure bliss hearing such a thing come from his mouth. Owen had never made someone feel so good before, and this man was ravenous as he rocked his body against him.

Colt puffed out several breaths, gazing down at Owen with a spark in his eyes. Smiling, he bent down and brushed their lips together, and Owen kissed him gently, sweetly, as his body trembled. He felt Colt's hands reach for his as their arms tangled above them, and then Colt buried his face into the crook of Owen's neck, resting his lips there as he panted.

They held each other for a long moment, and Owen closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the fire crackling in the hearth, until their breathing slowed and their bodies cooled.

Colt got up and offered Owen a rag from the wash basin. They cleaned themselves, then built up the fire before they moved beneath the covers. As Colt lay on his side, Owen moved over into the warmth of Colt's arms, wrapping around him like a warm blanket. When Colt's chest hair tickled his cheek, he smiled and nuzzled his face against it, and when Colt peered down at him, Owen smiled.

"What is it?" Colt asked.

"Nothing. I've just only known you for a short time… but I feel like I've known you for so long." Owen rolled over and rested his chin on Colt's chest. He furrowed his brows, his breath hitching when Colt placed his thumb against Owen's lips, and Owen kissed it.

Colt took his hand and held it. "I feel that way too, Owen. Ever since Amias mentioned you years ago, I've often tried to imagine you, wondering if you were some arrogant ass like me or a pompous little snot."

Owen laughed and tilted his head. "And? Which one am I?"

"Neither. You're a kind man who loves nature, like I do, you love to draw and write, something I could never do, and you've got a damn good looking smile."

Owen's lips turned up, and the butterflies danced in his stomach. When he noticed the dark circles beneath Colt's eyes, he asked, "Are you alright?" When Colt looked at him quizzically, he went on, "I mean, I know you've been worried lately."

"I get afraid…" Colt raised his arm and scratched his head. "Of that asshole catching up to us again. And with you unable to sense where he is, that makes it worse. And then you seeing some shadow man, telling us to travel to Vanhelm, and some other voice talking about sacrifices… It's all kind of scary." He rubbed Owen's cheek gently with his knuckles.

A hollow feeling gripped Owen's heart, and he looked away. Perhaps he shouldn't have told Colt about the voice he heard that spoke of souls and sacrifices. Or even the shadow man, for that matter. The most confusing part was not knowing if the two were connected.

A sacrifice for what? To what? The dark lord, Mordren?

Rather than talk about their troubles, he wanted to indulge in Colt. Just once more before they went to sleep. Taking a deep breath, Owen straddled one of Colt's legs and leaned up to kiss him.

"If I could take this all away right now and have you alone back in my home in Emberton, I would in a heartbeat."

Colt smiled. "I have you, Owen, that's all I need. You are my home now, no matter where we are."

Owen laughed softly and kissed Colt's hand. "Who knew Colt O'Malley was such a romantic?"

His lover's arms surrounded him, smiling as he turned Owen over onto his back and kissed him deeply.