Page 46 of The Night Prince

He firmed them.He would not show weakness.To show weakness was to invite attack.To be attacked in this state was to likely fail.To fail was to die…again.

“I brought you here,” Aquilan explained softly.“Myself, General Baston and Rhalyf found you outside.”

Outside?The Sun… oh, the Sun… It was so bright.

But it wasn’t bright here.It was dark.Blessedly dark.The window’s shutters were firmly closed. If Declan could have hugged the darkness to him, he would have.More cold sweat soaked the collar of his shirt.

Aquilan continued “You were quite ill so I took you up to one of the–”

“Rooms at the Dawn.Yeah, I know.I recognize it… now,” Declan interrupted, pleased that he remembered something clearly, but displeased he had stopped the king from speaking.

His voice… God, his voice… It’s like warm honey.

He shook himself.This was not the time!He was… was sick… weak… exposed.And all of that in front of the damnedking.

“Good.Good, I’m glad you know that.Perhaps we could speak further once you sit down. Or perhaps lay down?”Aquilan offered, taking a step towards him.

Declan froze and his eyes were fixed on the Sun Elf again.Aquilan held up both hands as if to show he carried no weapons, was no threat, intended no harm. But Declan knew that meant nothing.Sun Elves had magic.They needed no weapons.They could strike…

But why would he?Why would he hurt me?I’m nothing to him.I’m nothing…

His legs were wobbling again.He tried to keep upright, but went down on one knee.And then the king wasonhim.Declan let out a shrill cry of despair that he had fallen, but Aquilan didn’t hurt him.He was gently helping Declan lay down on his back on the soft, soft bed.He was arranging the pillows for him, pulling the comforter over him.

The comforter will bind my arms!It will make it hard for me to fight!I–

“Shhh, shhhh, Declan, it’s all right.You are safe,” Aquilan murmured.

“Safe?Nowhere is safe.Like trust, safe is aweakword,” Declan muttered, half unaware he was saying anything.

A flash of pain appeared in Aquilan’s eyes.“That’s not true, Declan.You are safe withme.And you can trust me.That does not make you weak.”

Vulre wouldn’t buy that.He… who is Vulre?The guy in the dream.The Kindreth.The one that… that was going to kill me… But it was a dream.And it’s over.Thank god, it’s over.

He shivered as more cold sweat burst out from every pore and yet he felt on fire at the same time.

Hot and cold.

Sweating and freezing.

Aquilan’s empty hands were now limned with soft green light.

Healing magic,Declan remembered.That’s what she wanted to use… Lady Ashryn… God, that dream!More like a nightmare.

Aquilan placed one of those green-limned hands against the center of Declan’s chest.It was the green of new spring shoots.The color of living things.And Declan swore he smelled freshly cut grass after the rain as waves of warmth flowed out from that hand throughout his whole body.He let out a moan of pleasure understanding now why Vulre had reacted as he did.

But that was a dream.I didn’t know how healing magic felt before now.

“This will help you.I swear I will not harm you.No one will harm you,” Aquilan soothed.

Against his will, Declan settled down into the pillows and mattress more, his body lax, his eyelids beginning to droop again.If he was not careful, he would sleep once more.

Sleep and dream?Or sleep and…

Aquilan was speaking again, “I am not yet certain what ails you.What I am doing now is balancing your energy.As I said, this will not harm you in any way.It will aid you in healing.”

“I’m not ill,” Declan insisted through chattering teeth.Even without his teeth pretending to be castanets, it was a rather ridiculous thing to say considering he couldn’t even keep on his feet.

He can’t know about me and the Sun.He can’t…

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