Page 15 of The Night Prince 2

Aquilan met Helgrom’s narrow-eyed gaze. He suppressed a sigh. But then he shook himself. He would see Declan that night. And nothing could dim his excitement for that.

Into The Light

Declan stared down at the simple silver disk that Rhalyf had handed him. It was an Adiva and, according to the elf, it would protect him from the Sun.

“So long as you always–and, I repeat, always–keep this on you in daylight, you will be immune from the Sun’s harmful effects,” Rhalyf had whispered fiercely. “Take it off and what happened yesterday when you were in the light will seem like a walk in the park in comparison. Understand?”

“I do.”

“I really hope you do, Declan… if that’s your actual name,” Rhalyf huffed the last part.

“What are you talking about?” Declan’s forehead furrowed. “Of course, that’s my real name!”

Rhalyf studied his face. “I believe you believe that, but it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever realistically. And your ignorance or innocence or whatever is wrong with you makes you more of a threat than… Just remember what I’ve said. Don’t take the Adiva off when you’re in daylight. Actually, don’t take it off at all. Not even when you bathe or have sex–”

“I don’t–”

“Bathe? I certainly hope you do.” Rhalyf’s eyebrows waggled, showing that momentary lack of seriousness that he portrayed most of the time as his primary quality.

But it’s not. He is not what he seems.

“No. I mean yes, I bathe. And I do not…” Declan shook his head in aggravation. He was only explaining this to Rhalyf because he was Aquilan’s best friend. And he didn’t want Rhalyf to give Aquilan the impression that he had someone. And yet, that was foolish. The height of foolishness. Yet he kept on trying to make words work for him, but they remained his natural enemy. “I mean that I have no one that I would… forget it. It doesn’t matter.”

Rhalyf’s lips pursed and his eyes narrowed. “Ah, yes, about that, it really isn’t wise that you involve yourself more with the king.”

Declan blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Drawing attention to yourself is the last thing that you should be doing. Especially when you don’t even seem to know what you should be keeping hidden,” Rhalyf stated. “And drawing Aquilan’s eye would bring way too much attention.”

“I’m no danger to the king!” Declan hissed.

“No, of course, you aren’t, but the position of the king’s best friend is already taken!” Rhalyf narrowed his eyes at Declan.

“Is best friend supposed to be a euphemism for something else?” Declan’s voice dropped into an arctic zone. He hadn’t meant to do that.

He’s mine, the voice in his head whispered. Mine. Mine. MINE!

“What? No! Aquilan and I–well, he is exquisite–but no, most certainly not!” Rhalyf shook his head. “I mean you should not think of him at all. Romantically or otherwise.”

“Why?” Declan’s voice was a low growl.

“Because anything other than a best friend would be short term. He’s a king and you’re–you’re… well, we don’t know what you are. Or who you are. But we know what you aren’t. And that’s consort material,” Rhalyf pointed out.

Declan jerked back as if hit. Of course, Rhalyf was right about this. He was a bartender. Aquilan was a king. He was human… supposedly. Aquilan was an Aravae. He was mortal. Aquilan was immortal. They could not be farther apart if they tried to be.

A relationship of any real kind could never happen between them. And Declan… Declan didn’t do casual even if Aquilan was willing to–to engage in… Here, his cheeks flooded with color and heat built between his legs. He was imagining what he’d caught many Sun Elves doing in the back room at the Dawn. Aquilan might not be adverse to a quick tumble, but anything further? No. It was impossible. But the Sun King was the first–and only–person he’d ever wanted to do something with. His face. His body. His laugh. His smile. His goodness… All of it called to Declan like a siren song. But, then again, didn’t sirens lead sailors to their deaths?

“And really is it worth risking your life for something fleeting?” Rhalyf continued.

Declan blinked. “My… my life?”

He’d been thinking of his heart. But his life?

“Those that live under the Sun don’t take kindly to those who can’t,” Rhalyf said. “Or, at least, need assistance to do so. That means you, if you didn’t pick up on my earlier meaning.”

Declan felt something curdle within him. It was as he had told Finley. The Aravae would never accept him if they knew of his sun sensitivity. The Sun King would reject him, too. In fact, Aquilan might be repulsed by him. The memory of the Sun King’s bright smile while they’d both been under the bed at the Dawn flashed before his mind’s eye. He imagined that smile dying and those blue eyes, which had been crinkled with laughter, growing wide with horror instead. He pictured Aquilan pushing himself away from him, scuttling to the far wall, his hands limning with protecting magic.

“Who are you?” he imagined the Sun King whispering. “What are you?”

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