Quixo

"That is until Huck hugged him. And then the devil smiled." And that's when I lost it. Rayne has a father again. Love your writing, Wayne! And then the beautiful scene between Harlan and Bailey! To understand the struggle for both men to allow themselves to be vulnerable together. I love the line "I thought maybe, we could be broken together." That would win me over. I'm sure there will be many stumbling blocks for the two of them, but they could also be very good for each other's healing.

How how much damage such pastors do without someone like a Harlan to stop them. How much blood they have on their hands of the broken spirits and souls they are responsible for. And how much greater those that preach love and kindness and self worth. "The greatest of these is love".

What a lovely and moving conclusion! The power of love triumphant! I have thoroughly enjoyed this journey. Thank you. And yet ...There was something I was expecting that I even felt you had been leading up to, but didn't make use of. I had guessed that the final act that Stravor would use in the waking of Keter would be the saying of his name. Names are very important in magic. The uttering of names gives spirits and object potency. The fear of using the correct name for something or someone is a fear of such power (eg. Shakespeare's "Macbeth" - "What is't you do?" "A deed without a name") Stravor tends to avoid using names, referring to living entities by what they are - "boy", "pony". As Stravor is laying himself emotionally bare to call Keter back, and declaring his deep need for him, finally calling him by his name instead of "boy" would have been a profound action. It honors his identity. Just my two cents. But what do I know.

Is it possible to stare wide-eyed at the images from a written page? It must be, because I have been left gaping at my computer screen after this last chapter. I see it all. Better than that, I feel it all. So delighted to be reading this story!!!

I see another exchange between Stravor and his father. There is some alternate wisdom and probably magic coming. Such a powerful chapter. We know that Keter is somehow still bound to Stravor, but how?

So far, just great! I am very much enjoying this. You seem to have conquered one of the main pitfalls of writing in an historical setting (The sounds so pompous of me. It was not intended that way. It's just my own affectation, I guess.) Writing in an historical setting can easily suffer from either sounding too contemporary, or sounding too stilted. I know. I have tried. Not nearly as successful as yourself. You have me hooked. Looking forward to more.

Off to an intriguing start. Looks like there should be some great plots twists in this one. Looking forward to reading one of your fantasy tales.

What I'm curious about is that Bailey went through a job interview and was hired on the spot although mute. Not denying the possibility, but curious how he presented himself that was so impressive as to warrant it. Very intriguing.

Yet another brilliant story full of love, suspense, laughter and so much more. Did I mention full of love? Thank you again. Now to begin the next story.

Oh man! You don't let up! "Because the Raven Project saved me." There were a few holdouts with relatively dry eyes until Elias said those words. But no longer. Something must have gone wrong with my glasses at that point because it took me 6 tries to get past those lines. Something about my glasses fogging up or something. And with each section after that I had the same problem. I think my chest hurts for embracing so much love and joy and laughter. My husband just looked over at me and asked if I was OK. Yeah, you're beautiful story has done that. I want to book us in to Camp Refuge.

Once again, you have spun a brilliant story for us and gotten us all completely wrapped up in these wonderful characters. The struggle that both Orson and Clay go through between acting viscerally out of anger and having to temper it with what must be painful restraint, shows the struggle police officers have to deal with. These are honorable guys, and so they are fully aware of all the aspects. Not sure all of us could be so strong.

I know! He does that to me all the time too! And yeah, I have said the same thing about Wayne's characters several times.

Yet another wonderful chapter. I think we're beginning to see that Orson could become another important asset to Camp Refuge. And he knows how to handle Clay. Clay has made a huge step forward here. He knows it, and I think he knows he'll be better for it. Of course, what I love the most is that the feeling Mason has for Jeremy are not just a teenage infatuation, or first crush. Mason is very much in love with Jeremy and is very mature in his understanding of that. All of these guys have a pretty great self-awareness of themselves. That doesn't necessarily prevent emotion from overrunning it, but it does make them all the more endearing to us. You always give us wonderful characters to grow to love (or hate). Thank you.

It is a hideous thing. We have a friend who went through it. Not only didn't it work (no surprise) but he has a 3 year hole in his memory. 3 years completely gone. And he is one of the sweetest people you would ever hope to meet..

So far all of your stories seem to have, somewhere in the cast of characters, a sexy redhead that at least one of the other characters crushes on really hard. Since the first guy I ever fooled around with was a redhead, I heartily approve of this. Ginger men still have a strong attraction for me. And Jeremy does sound adorable.

Bravissimo!

Wayne, you did it to me again, Wayne! Not just tearing up and getting a lump in my throat. I'm reading at my computer sobbing and choking up and wiping my nose, and it's all because of you. Man, you weave such rich characters that I'm completely wrapped up and smitten with them. From your cliffhangers to your beautiful scenes of tenderness and deep love, to really hot sex scenes, you've gotten it all note perfect. Thank you for another fabulous journey (yes, i know there is one more chapter). I may need to take a short break from your writing. I don't know if I can take another emotional roller-coaster so soon after this one. Mille grazzi.

I had begun to suspect this. There were too many conflicts with other FBI operatives. And your note about the FBI not being in charge of witness relocation got me wondering. I also had be pondering whether Luca and his famiglia were there to help protect Corbin. That, and I really didn't want Jonoah to be one of the baddies.

Damnit! You did it to me again! I don't remember turning into such a teary mess so quickly since ... Ah now I remember, "Ash and Ember"! I love your storytelling and all the images you create. I love your ability to change things on a dime. I love the people you draw us to. Fabulous writing! Thank you again and again.

I have work I should be doing and yet, here I am clicking for the next chapter. You've turned me into a junkie for your writing! I'm having a blast trying to second guess the plot twists. I get an idea, decide it's too easy and typical and then come up with 2 or 3 alternative possibilities. Great work! Thank you!

@Wayne Gray, you should be very pleased. You have a bunch of us fighting to get a crack at someone you've created from your imagination. That's kind of hot in itself!

If Corbin doesn't jump Paul soon, I'm gonna. But that's just me (all talk and not much action.) Yeah, we need to find out what secrets we're dealing with, and who Paul really is as well, But ...

Well, it looks like I've started another adventure with your writing. Greatly looking forward to it. I'm sure it will be a great read.

Reading the comments on this chapter has been amusing. Yes, we all want a love story, and yes, we each have the people we are routing for, and, most importantly, we've all come to want these characters that @jkwsquirrel has written to be be real people. That being said, between teenage confused sexuality, emotions, and raging hormones, is fidelity a realistic expectation? I don't think I could have managed it. (If only I'd had the opportunity back then.) Even though Mr. Reilly and his husband were the first and only for each other (as far as we know,) is that the only path our heroes can have? I know things would never have worked for me and my first crush/encounter. It wasn't until many relationships that I finally found the love of my life at age 25. (And we''re celebrating 36 years together as of today, as a matter of fact.) Thank you @jkwsquirrel for giving us characters so real that we, your fans, are arguing about them as if they were close friends of ours. I guess because they are.

Poignant without being maudlin. That's quite a feat. This was such a beautifully written chapter. My husband was by my side when each of my parents died, almost exactly 3 years apart. Having someone by your side to be your rock when you need it most makes all the difference. I also love all of the Newfoundland patois. It's a wonderful touch.