Page 59 of The Night Prince

“How did they come up?Was it something Aquilan said or–”

“No, nothing like that.I–”

Whatever Declan was about to say was lost as there was the thrum of an instrument and an ethereal voice rose up.The Sun King had begun to sing.

The Forever Hunt

The lights in the Dawn seemed to dim.Flames flickering low and small. Except for a shaft of shimmering light that streamed down upon Sun King Aquilan Fairlynn.It came from the ceiling where no light should bloom from.Yet there it was.Motes of gold and silver floated around the Aravae king.They danced in the air currents, caressed his skin, slid down the locks of his hair, and broke into silent, shimmering sparks of light when they struck the floor.

Declan’s lips parted in wonder.

Magic.

He’d seen magic.Fireballs and lightning had streaked through the air in Tyrael before the dome had been erected.Blooms of golden light that had gilded everything as if liquid gold had spilled from elven hands had lit up those early endless nights.

Butthis.

This was a different kind of magic.

Something far more beautiful and primal.

Aquilan’s eyes were lightly shut.His dark lashes fanned out across sun-kissed skin.He seemed completely unaware of the light that surrounded him.Declan’s gaze flickered about the room to confirm that others were seeing this.But none seemed alarmed.All had settled into their seats and were sipping their drinks, eyes half shut in pleasure, as Aquilan’s ethereal voice rose up around them.

In a way, the dimness made it seem that only Declan and the Sun King were in the room.Not that there was a corresponding shaft of light illuminating him.No, the darkness embraced him completely.

Declan was unseen.

Hidden.

So he couldlook.

Couldgaze.

Coulddrink inAquilan without anyone knowing.

Like a hunter, he moved silently, picking up a tray that contained a carafe of ice cold Chelios along with many other drinks for various patrons. This would allow him to stalk nearer the king as he pretended to fill and exchange glasses.It would obscure his true purpose.

Declan frowned for a moment.

True purpose?

What was this true purpose?

He had none unless it was to simply…make him mine and mine alone.

The hair on the back of his neck rose up and the tattoo on his forearm burned at that thought.He’d never had such a thought before.He’d never even wanted to have one.Was this what people felt when they were attracted to someone?It was terrifying, if so.It felt like something outside of him yet inside of him was waking up and demanding he take notice of it.No, more than take notice.

Give it control.

To hear Finley speak of Glass Scholar Neldor was to hear someone wax poetic about the beauty of a mind and face. Or to see Michael gaze upon Shonda like he was seeing her every time for the first time and couldn’t believe his eyes.That’s what he’d always thought love was all about.But there was no darkness in either Finley or Michael’s admiration.There was no possession.In fact, Finley seemed to simply want to be accepted into Neldor’s group of fawning students and be looked upon with affection and admiration. Michael was content to make his wife’s life more joyful. There was no clawing thing that wanted to be in charge in either of those versions of love.

Is this another thing wrong with me?He wondered with a sway of despair.And what happened to keeping away from him?What happened to avoiding him at all costs? I cannot give into this–this thing!

So should he stay behind the bar? Should he hide in the back room?No.No, he couldn’t do that.Not even if getting as near to Aquilan as possible was what the thing wanted.It was what he wanted too.

He was in the darkness after all so no one would see him gaze upon the Sun King.Least of all Aquilan.So it was harmless for him to go serve drinks.It was harmless for him to drift near the Sun King.And with that, he was moving without conscious thought from around the bar, balancing the tray on one hand with ease and grace.

Was he in charge?Was he?

---