*
Standing in a bright room Luke breathed easier. He was in prison for two weeks before Lex got the council to release him. Buttoning up his coat he heard the door open and turned.
“Now that’s the Luke I remember.” Jacky walked in wearing a blue dress that draped just slightly off her shoulders. Her dark brown hair hung in ringlets just grazing her bare skin. She noticed him staring and looked down. “Like it? Lex’s wife gave it to me. Can you imagine Lex married?” She laughed. “He even has a daughter, her name is Emma.” She looked up at him.
“You look….” He was finally able to stammer. “..beautiful.”
She tilted her head and gave him a look like he was joking. He walked to her and took her in his arms. She tensed not expecting him to do that. “I’m sorry I didn’t visit you more often while you were in prison. I was…with Beth. She’s Giftless too.” Her voice was breathy.
“It’s ok. Lex kept me informed on how you were doing. He came everyday. The council let me go on the condition that I teach their people swordsmanship. They even have a telepath I’m going to help train.”
She couldn’t hold his gaze and looked away. “Is that what you want?”
Smiling he took her face in his hand and made her look up at him. “I want to be wherever you are.” He could have scanned her mind to know what he was doing was right but he had never done it before and wouldn’t start now. He bent his head down and touched his lips to hers. Softly at first, his heart thudding in his chest, part of him afraid this wasn’t what she wanted. He’d wanted to kiss her since they were young. He’d known that he loved her from the moment he saw her in pigtails running down the road chasing her brother. That was why he never scanned her, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know how she felt for him. But when her arms came up and around his neck her lips pressed into his he couldn’t help himself.
It was an explosion of emotions, his, hers. Thoughts and feelings all jumbled into a glorious affirmation. He leaned down not breaking their kiss and wrapped his arms around and lifted her up so he could pull her tighter to him.
Then she broke their kiss. “That was the first time you ever read my mind wasn’t it? That day at the manor, you didn’t.”
He let out a breath trying to remember how to breathe. “No, I didn’t.”
He let her feet touch the floor. “So now you know.” She touched his face.
“It’s about time Luke.”
They both turned to see Lex grinning like he did the day he stole one of Jacky’s hair ribbons only to give it to Luke. “I mean really. I’ve been waiting for you two to do that since we were kids.” He laughed leaning against the door jam. “Come on Luke you can kiss my sister later. We’ve got work to do.”
Luke looked back down at Jacky and smirked. “Hold that thought until later.” He gave her another quick kiss. “Coming.” He said distantly then tore his eyes from hers and walked out the door.
The rebels scored a victory with the death of the king. But later they found out that the Headmaster of the Black Born had taken the throne finally ruling out in the light. The people of Sway began to notice one by one more and more Giftless were being born. I suppose you can guess that Luke and I were married not long after our first kiss. Life doesn’t always give you what you want, but in the end, for me at least. It gave me everything I needed.
My story isn’t over yet. The fight to change the face of what society deems normal is still looming and the new king threatens to bring the war to our door step. I will fight, not just for me, but others like me. I will fight along side of those I love. I will strive to become stronger knowing now that I am worthy of a better life. For Lex’s child. For all our children. I may be Giftless, but I don‘t give up.
