Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

"The giants," Barrett swallowed, his eyes going out of focus as the familiar terror wrapped around him. "When you and I did not return, he came. He came with half his damn army—which is far more than my father"s army could defeat. Thorne, he went for help."

Barrett winced as pain screamed from the wound in his side. He didn"t dare move his hand. There was no telling how quickly blood would seep out if he removed the cloth covering the injury.

"When did this start?" Terror lined Jackson"s words.

Barrett closed his eyes, unable to keep them open against the pain if he also needed to speak.

"About a week ago. My father"s army—my army—was able to hold them back at first. It wasn"t until a few days ago that they came back. I had to help. My father tried to go, but this was my fault. I wouldn"t let him fight against these giants again.

Jackson"s hand covered Barrett"s hand that covered the wound. "You said Thorne left. How long ago?"

"I don"t know," the words were strained as a wave of pain washed over Barrett. "Long enough ago that he should be back soon. The giants stopped attacking hours ago. They had no idea I was out here for them to take." He paused and took a deep breath. "The castle is warded against those without the blood of a citizen. It will be warded against you, too."

"I don"t give a fuck right now. I"ll wait outside if I have to, but I need you to keep talking. Don"t stop."

The worry seeping through the words should have made Barrett nervous, but he couldn"t seem to find the energy to worry. Only to be happy that Jackson had somehow returned.

"They started uprooting the trees and swinging them at the castle. Towns and villages were crushed under massive feet - the smaller ones along the way to the kingdom." Barrett said, his voice cracking with emotion. "The suffering. . . it was unbearable."

"We"ll figure it out. We caused this. We"ll stop this. I don"t have a single idea how, but I can"t think around this fucking fear clenching around my heart."

"Fear?"

Jackson gave a barked laugh. "In case you didn"t notice, there"s a giant hole in your right side—large enough to have been a broadsword stuck through you."

"He spared no one," Barrett added, a hint of disbelief still lingering in his voice. "Neither royal nor commoner, old or young, all were considered expendable in his relentless pursuit of. . . of me."

He should have seen this rage coming. He had merely hoped the giant would have assumed he lived in the Realm Below. But not knowing why the creature stole him in the first place made his response unpredictable.

And you should have predicted it.

"Can I ask you for something?" Another wave of lightening-hot pain overtook him.

"Anything except to take over the fight if you die right now."

Laughter drew immense pain through Barrett, but still, he felt his lips tug up into a smile.

"Kiss me. I need to know you"re really here and not a figment."

Thunder rumbled as Barrett turned slightly towards Jackson, his heart hammering in his chest, and suddenly all else faded away. The cold sting of the wind that caressed his wounded side was forgotten as he felt warm fingers brush against his cheek. He closed his eyes, savoring the intimate touch, their bond growing stronger with each beat of their hearts.

Their lips met in a heated kiss that sent shivers down his spine. It wasn"t just passion. It was relief and gratitude mixed into one. The bite of hunger somewhat subsided by the taste of earthy determination lacing Jackson"s lips.

Barrett deepened the kiss, somehow pulling Jackson closer, wanting to feel more than just the warmth of his body against his own. His hands traveled up to grip the back of Jackson"s neck possessively, kneading the tension from his shoulders as they sank deeper into each other"s embrace.

As they drew apart, both men panted heavily as if they had run a race together instead of just sharing air mere inches apart. He gazed deeply into each Jackson's eyes— seeing reflected not just desire, but also unwavering commitment to protecting his home from this new threat.

"I am here," Jackson murmured hoarsely after several long moments had passed. "And you"re not going anywhere without me."

His strong arms wrapped around Barrett"s waist gently but firmly, shielding him from any possible harm or adversary that might approach them on this perilous cloud-top perch while helping him stand upright once more despite the swaying movements caused by fierce gusts of wind that raged round them both.

The sky above was an endless canvas painted with hues of violet and indigo, dotted with stars that twinkled like diamonds in an ethereal canvas above them - a sight unlike anything seen on Earth below, where dusky skies usually cloaked the land after sunset.

The scent of lavender mixed with dust and ash filled the air as lightning danced across their skin.

"You know," whispered Barrett between heavy breaths as he leaned into Jackson once more feeling safer than ever before in spite of everything., "I always thought this world was some kind of fairy tale when I would get glimpses of yours below. . . now look it."

"Yeah," he agreed softly, "But we aren"t supposed to die. We"re supposed to fight off the bad guy."

"Jackson!" Thorne"s voice broke through the moment.

Barrett let his eyes close as he leaned on Jackson"s chest. He wouldn"t be able to go inside the castle, not without someone to remove the magical boundary.

"Barrett!" Jackson bolted, gently knocking him away. "Sorry. But I have an idea. Can you become big? Will the injury stay small or change sizes with you?"

Barrett smiled, always impressed by how Jackson seemed to look at things. "If I had the energy and power I could try it. I"ve never tried before. I imagine the wound would grow with me." He gave Jackson a lopsided smile. "I"ll have to get a paper cut later and try it."

"Later," Jackson agreed. "Thorne, thank god!"

Barrett"s mind wandered as the pain slowly grabbed hold more. Jackson and Thorne discussed something to do with lifting him. Another voice - a male - also spoke, but he clearly wasn"t a healer.

"Don"t let him fall," Jackson"s voice was stern.

"Jackson, how did you get up here?"

"You"re asking me that right now?"

"Yes, because I have an idea, but it does require a beanstalk."

"Then it"s a good thing I used one to get up here—the whole no magic thing myself."

Barrett smiled. "Good. Good. We"re going to need it."

"Okay, your Majesty, stay as still as you can," Thorne"s voice was in his ear. "We"re going to lift you onto this stretcher now and get you back inside to a healer before another attack."

"Thorne, when we get inside, send a wizard to shield the beanstalk from view. We need to make certain the humans below don't climb up it's length or chop it down."

Barrett winced as Thorne and Jackson carefully lifted him onto the stretcher, his injured leg and side making it difficult to move without pain. Closing his eyes, Barrett focused on controlling his breathing, trying to push through the agony that shot through his body with every movement.

Once he was settled on the stretcher, the two men began their descent back towards the castle. A third set of footsteps finally drew his gaze around Jackson.

"Lark, you"re here, too?"

She nodded, and a cry from above could only be her falcon.

"That"s good."

Barrett tried to focus on not wincing every time Jackson or Thorne tripped. The sky changed colors as the castle loomed overhead.

"Jackson, I promise we"ll come get you."

"I don"t care. You go and get healed. I"ll be safe outside."

"You can"t know that." Barrett countered.

"No, but you"re going to believe it so that a healer can help you. I"ll be waiting."

There was a change as Jackson shifted the stretcher to someone else.

"Lark, stay with him."

"Of course."

He let his eyes close, knowing that if he watched himself be carried away from Jackson after seeing him again, he might try something stupid like jumping off the stretcher.

When Barrett finally came to, he was met with a blur of faces hovering over him. He groaned as he tried to sit up, but strong hands gently pushed him back down onto the bed.

"Easy there," a familiar voice said. It was Thorne. "You took quite a hit out there."

Barrett looked around and saw that he was in one of the castle"s infirmaries. The room was bright and clean, with rows of beds lining its walls. He noticed other injured soldiers scattered throughout the room, some groaning in pain while others slept soundly.

"How long have I been out?" Barrett asked hoarsely.

"Not long," Thorne replied, pouring a glass of water for him. "Just a few hours. You"re fully healed"

Barrett sat up slowly and sipped at the water gratefully. It soothed his parched throat and washed away the taste of blood that lingered in his mouth.

"Good, then we need to get my father and go to where Jackson and Lark are." he took another sip.

"I have a plan."