Kiss the Rain: Jewel Bonds, #2

By Megan Derr

Selsor's only dream growing up was to be a mage, to bond with a warrior and drive back the monsters in the Territories, and live the life his parents had so loved.

His dream is shattered, however, when he displays no magic despite possessing the ability to use it. In the aftermath of failing yet another test while all his peers succeed, Selsor is bullied relentlessly—and lashes out with uncontrolled magic, accidentally killing an innocent bystander.

He is banned from using magic for life, his mage jewels blackened, and thrown out to survive on his own. Years later, a pariah slaving away at an inn in the middle of nowhere, he finds his life disrupted by a strange, bold and arrogant knight who has come to solve the mystery of the rain that has not stopped falling in the village for months…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Derr
• Release date: Mar 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393150251

Megan Derr

Megan is a long-time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.meganderr.compatreon.com/meganderrmeganderr.blogspot.comfacebook.com/[e-mail]@meganaderr

Book preview

Kiss the Rain

MEGAN DERR

JEWEL BONDS 2

Selsor's only dream growing up was to be a mage, to bond with a warrior and drive back the monsters in the Territories, and live the life his parents had so loved.

His dream is shattered, however, when he displays no magic despite possessing the ability to use it. In the aftermath of failing yet another test while all his peers succeed, Selsor is bullied relentlessly—and lashes out with uncontrolled magic, accidentally killing an innocent bystander.

He is banned from using magic for life, his mage jewels blackened, and thrown out to survive on his own. Years later, a pariah slaving away at an inn in the middle of nowhere, he finds his life disrupted by a strange, bold and arrogant knight who has come to solve the mystery of the rain that has not stopped falling in the village for months…

Kiss the Rain

Jewel Bonds 2

By Megan Derr

Published by Megan Derr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

Edited by Samantha M. Derr

Cover designed by Aisha Akeju

This book is a work of fiction and as such all characters and situations are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

Third Edition March 2020

First Edition published 2011 by Less Than Three Press

Copyright © 2020 by Megan Derr

Printed in the United States of America

Kiss the Rain

Stop it! Stop it!

What's the matter, rag boy? Fail another test? Rough hands shoved hard, sending Selsor crashing into another of his tormentors, who shoved him into yet another boy, turning Selsor around and around in a dizzying circle of bruising shoves and cruel taunts. He tried in vain to block them out: the comments about his parents, how they'd died, how he didn't belong, that he was poor and dirty and had old-fashioned long hair.

He stumbled, crying out in pain when one of the brutes kept him from falling by grabbing his hair.

Maybe we should call you rag boy, huh? You can't do magic, but with a bath and some proper manners I might let you clean my room. The young man leered.

Why, can't find anyone willing to fuck you for money? Stars of pain exploded behind his eyes, and he tasted cooper in his mouth, mixed with the mud and rain water on the stone tiles of the courtyard. Selsor choked back tears, remembering with painful clarity what had happened the last time he'd cried. They loved it when he cried, loved to say he was nineteen but acting like a child.

Why couldn't they leave him alone? He was failing his magic classes; he was probably going to be thrown out soon—why this too? He just wanted to be left alone, to crawl back to his little space above the school stable and study the small bit of healing that was all he could manage.

Someone kicked him in the ribs, and Selsor curled into a ball, wishing—willing—for them to go away. For something to make them go away. Like the flash spell he'd seen teachers use to startle first years. Something like that. Brilliant, blinding, and certain to scare them off.

He saw a flash of bright light and heard a loud, shattering CRACK, followed by the sound of people screaming and someone crying out in pain.

Then an awful silence. Selsor slowly sat up, staring wide-eyed at the figure lying on the ground not twelve paces away. He was lying far too still. There was blood and the smell of burned flesh.

He did it!

The rag boy did it!

He tried to kill us!

No, Selsor cried in horror. I didn't—

That's enough, a cold voice said, and Selsor stared miserably up at Professor Rhea, his advisor. Rhea stared grimly back. Come with me.

I didn't do it.

Yes, you did, Selsor, Rhea said, voice so cold Selsor shivered. I saw you cast a spell. Didn't I warn you that temper would cause you trouble one day? Look at what you've done! He shook Selsor hard and turned him to look at where the Healers were working diligently on the figured sprawled on the pavement. If he lives, Selsor, it will be a miracle. You let a few bullies get to you, and instead of fighting properly you tried to kill them and instead probably killed an innocent bystander.

But—that's not—I was just—I can't do magic! Selsor choked back further protests when it became obvious Rhea wasn't listening and let himself be dragged away, wiping the tears from his face as Rhea's recriminations mingled with the awful words pouring from the crowd gathered to see the spectacle.

Several hours later, he'd given up hope that anyone would listen to him. Why didn't anyone care that he had used magic? Shouldn't they be helping him with it? But he knew why they were throwing him out: they'd never wanted him there to begin with, not when he was poor and had grown up mostly in the Territories and was too much like his rebellious parents. If he were rich, with obedient, well-connected parents, they would probably be fawning over him and telling him of course it wasn't his fault. Selsor choked back his rage, but only because he was afraid that he would repeat whatever had happened in the courtyard.

 He said nothing when they announced that he was being expelled, and his casting jewels would be turned black. Should he ever attempt to practice magic, they would be torn out. He wondered bitterly why they didn't just tear them out right then, given how much they loathed him.

Looking up, searching valiantly for some show of softness, of understanding, in the eyes of the Academic Council, Selsor swallowed nervously and licked his dry lips. Could I… could I see the person I hurt? To say I'm sorry?

Sorry? The Headmaster's eyes were hard. "What good would sorry do? He will be lucky if he survives, and there's no telling right now what sort of permanent damage you've done if he does