Page 41 of The Night Prince

“I thought perhaps it was because…” Here, he paused.

“What?”

“Because I told him that I wanted to join your Blood Knights, Lady Ashryn,” Declan got out, his throat thick with emotion.“I would give my life for you.You who have given me everything…”

Her red eyes searched his face.Her expression was strange.Not pleased or displeased.Just… empty.His heart sank.Had he just made a terrible mistake in confessing such a dream?

He stammered out, “But that is… if you do not think… I realize I am no one, but I owe you everything and–”

“You owe me nothing,” she cut in and was abruptly standing.She looked at him.“When Vulre tests you, when he pushes you, when he wants more from you than seems right or just… know that it is my–my caring for you that is causing him to act that way.It is the only thing I can give you: a chance to let your strength grow.”

Then she walked away.He was left blinking after her.Too stunned by her words, too confused by their meaning, to know what to make of them.He stayed on the cliff, gazing at Nhamashel, and thinking on her words until the wind chilled him to the bone.

Stiff and sore, he got down from the rock and began making his way back to the large, black building beyond the training circle.Unlike the buildings in Nhamashel, the Keep of the Venomthorn was made of dull, black stone and had sheer walls with only slit-like windows.He would get a loaf of bread and creep up to his tower room, hopefully to sleep and not to dream.

He was just exiting the path when he heard the softest scuff of a boot against the ground.He went to drop low and draw out his dagger, but his wounds slowed him down and he was caught around the throat before he’d lowered himself an inch.An armored vambrace held him tight.

Vulre’s voice filled his right ear.“You told her that you want toprotecther, did you?”

Declan could not speak, because he could not breathe.Vulre’s forearm was cutting off his ability to draw in air.His feet frantically kicked at the armored legs, but no luck there.He reached down for his dagger.

“Butyouare her greatest weakness,” Vulre hissed.“You are the reason that she willdie. So the best way to protect her is to kill you.Dead again.”

The dagger was in Declan’s hand and he drew it back to strike.

Only he wasn’t being held around the throat.There was no path.No training circle.No Venomthorn Keep.He was crouched on top of a… a bed?And Vulre was not there. But there was a figure in gold and crimson who was staring at him from across the room.

Him…

Eyes as blue as the sky.

Hair as golden as the Sun.

King Aquilan Fairlynn, Ruler of the Aravae Empire, Star of his People…

The kitchen knife was in Declan’s right hand.Not a dagger.The knife from his adopted parents’ kitchen.The one he’d killed dozens of Leviathan with.No longer was there a tattoo of it on his forearm.

The knife…

Was in his hand…

Pointed at the Sun King’s throat.

Too Many Questions

Finley stared at the stairs up to the second floor of the Dawn where Aquilan had taken Declan ten minutes earlier.Or had it been fifteen or twenty?Or maybe just five minutes?It was hard to tell, because it felt like aneternity.Finley’s right leg rose up and down underneath the gaming table at a rapidly accelerating pace.

“So are you the orc follower of the boy upstairs?”Rhalyf asked Snaglak.

The Sun Elf was sitting opposite Finley and kitty-corner to Snaglak who was looking hopefully at Michael’s back.Michael was at the bar getting more drinks for the table.He was chatting easily with Lily, but Finley saw his eyes flicker to the stairs every so often.He was worried about Declan, too.Finley’s leg shook faster.

“Declan strong,” Snaglak answered simply.

“Yes, yes, he must be if he took downfiveof your compatriots,” Rhalyf pointed out. “The General told the king and I that you would confirm that this actually happened.Ahumantaking out five orcs.By himself.And not dying.Immediately.”

Finley tensed at every word.So Michael had told the Sun King about that?Michael was proud of Declan’s abilities so why wouldn’t he?But unease slithered through Finley as this Sun Elf clearly found this believable yet unbelievable at the same time.It might cause him to ask more questions.Questions that Declan didn’t want answered.

“Declan leader,” Snaglak responded.

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