Part Two of our queer dark switchblade-and-sorcery novel, Those Who Create and Destroy, is here, with a new chapter free to read every Monday and Friday!
In today’s new chapter, “Burn No Bridges,” Jules juggles a panicked Cyrano and a disoriented Max, in a situation that threatens to spin out of control.
Download the full Part One free for e-reader, for those who need to catch up.
CHAPTER
FORTY-THREE
“Burn No Bridges”
story by Mabel Harper & Emrys Webb
written by Emrys Webb
VIEW CONTENT WARNING
Jules had lain awake at least half an hour after hearing Rory slip into Max’s room before he finally accepted that sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon.
He got up, made chamomile tea. Settled on the sofa with some of the books and papers he’d salvaged from his office.
Pointless, pointless, pointless, chanted a voice in the back of his head.
“Shut up.” He scribbled a margin note.
A wound in reality feeds on all attempts to contain it.
“I’m not letting it take her.”
… It already has.
A knock on the door startled him almost out of his skin.
Warily, he put the books aside. Got up, shot a glance down the hall to make sure Rory and Max were safely out of sight. Crossed into the vestibule.
A look through the peephole revealed Cyrano standing on the other side.
What the…?
Jules hesitated, opened the door a crack. “Cyrano,” he said softly. “I’m surprised to see you here. Especially this late.”
“Yeah…sorry about that. I actually went by your house first. The dude at the gate said you were staying here.”
“Is everything okay?”
The look in Cyrano’s eyes said it wasn’t. “Sorry,” he said again. “I…didn’t know who else to talk to.”
“Should we go down to the bar?”
Cyrano stared at the floor. “I’d…rather not talk about this in public. If that’s okay. I’m sorry.”
Jules debated with himself. Ideally, he wouldn’t risk giving anyone a glimpse into his secret life with Max and Rory. But Cyrano was a friend—insofar as Jules could say he had those—and, by the look on his face, he might be in trouble.
Try trusting someone for once, Nimri.
Jules waved Cyrano into the suite, locked the door behind him.
FORM AND VOID 