Polite laughter rippled through the crowd. Kaden sat, opened the book and began.
“Breaking the wheel was punishable by death, but Anais had a plan. If it worked, no one would know he was behind it. If it didn’t, they’d blame Ptolemy…”
As he read, the nerves slipped away. The rhythm of the language, the world he’d built—it all carried him forward. Kidnap, slavery, magic and love threaded with danger. It was fast, exciting and emotional.
When he finished, there was a beat of silence. Then a loud round of applause and people began to line up with their books.
Kaden laughed when he saw his dad reach the head of the queue. “Dad! You didn’t need to buy a copy.”
“Just put your name in it and I’ll flog it on eBay.”
Kaden chuckled and wroteTo the best dad in the world. Love Kaden. XX
His dad rolled his eyes. “Pest! I can’t sell it now.”
“Exactly. See you back at the flat.”
“Sixish,” his dad said. “I’m off to the Royal Naval College in Greenwich to see the display about Nelson.”
Kaden watched him walk away, warmth settling in his chest, before he turned back to the queue.
His hand ached as he signed, but he didn’t rush. Each person had chosen his story to read, had already spent or would spend hours inside Kaden’s world. The least he could do was give them a few moments of his time.
By the end, though, his signature had started to look less clear and his wrist was protesting.
Finally, the last person stepped forward. Joe. Looking gorgeous. Kaden still felt it every time he looked at him, that quiet, breath-catching jolt. Still lean, unfairly handsome.And mine, his brain supplied, as if he needed reminding.
Joe set a book down. Not the one Kaden had been signing. “Hugh gave me this. The proof for your next one. I read almost all of it while I was waiting.”
“Almost all?” Joe still read at lightning speed.
“I thought I’d finish it in bed,” Joe said, “unless there’s something better to do. Is there?”
That earned a proper laugh from Kaden. “Did you like it?”
“What do you think? It’s brilliant. Of course I read all of it. I had to know what happened.”
“Well done!” Hugh bounced up. “It went well. The owner of the bookshop is delighted.”
“I can go now?”
“Make your escape.”
As they left the shop, Kaden stretched his aching hand and fingers. “I want to walk.”
Joe grinned. “Thought you might.”
Walking with Joe was one of his favourite things. No destination, no pressure. Just drifting through London. Along canals, on crooked cobbled streets, through sun-drenched squares, along the side of the Thames, through parks and gardens, past old warehouses turned into flats, past ancient buildings and past incredible new ones. Joe was an expert on the London most people didn’t know about. Now Kaden was too.
“What are we cooking tonight?” Joe asked.
“Salmon and salad. Chocolate mousse. Dad loves chocolate mousse.”
Joe whined.
“And so do you.” Kaden laughed.
“You’ll have to give Bobby some salmon.”
