Page 34 of Dance with Me
“Don’t we have the same thing with you being king, Radu as former king, and Star, a general?”
“Not really. We will inform them we are here, but no one curries our favor. Some will treat us a bit like celebrities, but only in that we aren’t seen often.” Lucian stepped up to the travel office and spoke to the woman behind the counter, “We will stay at General Astarion’s estate for a few days. Can you notify them of our upcoming arrival?”
“Of course,” the woman told him.
Yuri’s expression grew troubled again. He couldn’t comprehend Lucian or the attendant’s words. Star squeezed his hand, understanding, though uncertain, how to bring him comfort. Without the abyss of shadows stewing inside him, Yuri’s magic was minimal, and he wouldn’t be able to translate the things others said without learning the language. In their private realm between, Star’s magic removed the language barriers. But the mortal realms were a lot more complicated.
“We can teach you Onari,” Radu offered.
A few expressions crossed Yuri’s face as though he were deciding what to ask, but he said, “Okay. Thank you.”
Star watched the sky as they completed check-in, the horizon beginning to tint with an etching of colors, both beautiful and ominous. His stomach flipped over at the idea that the darkness would bring sentient shadows.
Yuri wrapped his arm around Star’s waist and stared up at him. “You okay?”
“Yes. Of course. I think we should get to my estate. We can rest for the evening and explore tomorrow.” Best to let them all think Yuri needed to be safe and well rested rather than Star’s fear overwhelming him.
“Is it not safe at night?” Yuri asked.
“It’s very safe,” Lucian said. “Lots of music, plays, poetry events, dances, and the like.”
“My estate overlooks the city,” Star offered. “The view of the city lights is nice.”
“We can grab some food in the artisan’s courtyard,” Theo said. “They had tasty sticks.”
“Sticks?” Yuri asked.
“Skewers,” Lucian clarified. “They have a spiced skewer with vegetables and some meat. There are pastries, too. Though none of them are as divine as yours.” He grabbed Theo’s hand with one of his and took Yuri’s free hand with his other. “Let’s get some food, maybe find a place to sit and eat while watching a play. Tomorrow we can explore the market.”
“We shouldn’t stay long,” Star protested, but everyone ignored him, heading out onto the cobblestone path, Lucian in the lead, walking toward the city center.
“It’s fine,” Radu said, trailing beside Star.
“It’s not,” Star said.
Radu slipped his fingers around Star’s throat, forcing him to let go of Yuri and pause. “You promised you’d make different choices,” Radu whispered with his lips only a breath from Star’s.
Star gasped and swallowed hard as his cock hardened from the rough, teasing touch. It was unfair that Radu was the epitome of his most divine creation and could turn him on with little effort.
“Everything okay?” Yuri asked. He stood up on his tiptoes to give both Radu and Star a kiss on the cheek.
Star deflated. “Can I take him to my estate? Explain things, just the two of us?”
“You don’t want our support?” Lucian asked.
“It’s not that…” Star didn’t know how to articulate what he felt and wanted to say without feeling like an idiot. His gaze found Theo, the sweet, perfect little angel who came to terms with his newfound emotions easily.
No, that wasn’t true. Star remembered how conflicted Theo had been about even the simple touch of water on his skin. No one had turned Theo away for struggling. Why did he think they would flee from him? Were Gabriel’s poisonous words still eating away at his mind?
He swallowed twice, then opened his mouth and let the words spill out: “I’m overwhelmed and struggling to understand what I’m feeling,” Star admitted. “Fear. I feel fear. Anxiety, maybe?”
“About?” Yuri asked as Radu let Star go.
“The shadows,” Star admitted.
Yuri flinched, and Star’s gut churned, his heart racing. None of the others seemed afraid. Rather, they all gathered close, giving Star and Yuri a barrier from the small crowd wandering around them.
“Talk to me,” Yuri whispered. “Shadows? Aren’t they gone? Spread between all the worlds?”
