Page 25 of The Night Prince 6

“Useful,” Michael grunted before finishing off a row of corn on the cob.

“Eminently.” Rhalyf flashed one of his trademarked smiles. Those had been in low supply that day.

Finley knew that Rhalyf was worried–likely sick with worry–about lying to Aquilan. He half believed Rhalyf had taken Rohannan’s side in letting the Tweedledums sit between them and the Sun King so that Rhalyf could avoid conversation with him. Finley sighed. They really needed to discuss exactly what Vex had said in Illithor to him.

They’d have to use that “mind palace” technique that Rhalyf mentioned to make sure of the full and accurate wording. Vex knew that too many people were aware of who Rhalyf really was. To suggest that Rhalyf keep up the lie while anyone else could simply reveal him–breaking a precious friendship–seemed pointless and Vex didn’t ask for pointless things.

And he doesn’t want to ruin their friendship, Finley was certain though some might think he was being naive. After all, Vex and Ailduin were supposed to be best friends. Not Rhalyf and Ailduin. Still that seems a petty and shortsighted reason. Not his style.

Rhalyf broke Finley out of his musing as he answered Shonda, “Rohannan had some sob stories lined up to win Aquilan’s favor. Children afraid of Aravae. Poor widows who sleep under ragged blankets because of Aravae taxes or something. You probably get the drill. Declan put an end to that.”

Michael nodded. “Unsurprising on both scores.”

“Aquilan asked me and Michael to set up a meeting with Rohannan,” Shonda said. “I admit I was surprised he went here without us.”

“Oh, that wasn’t his decision,” Rhalyf laughed a little sharply.

“I don’t understand.” Shonda’s brows drew together.

“Declan’s father is here,” Finley supplied. Even with Rhalyf’s excellent spell, he still didn’t think it was wise to use Vex’s name.

Shonda’s eyes widened. “You mean… he’s here? In Hope?” She stabbed the table with a delicate finger.

“Somewhere,” Rhalyf muttered. “Basically, he wanted to sightsee and Aquilan didn’t think it was a brilliant idea to let him go alone. So we sent for you as quickly as we could. But there was little choice about going or not going. It simply had to be done.”

Michael’s expression was grim. He tented his fingers beneath his chin. “I take it that he’s not wandering around in his natural form?”

“He’s glamoured like Declan,” Finley quickly added. “Not that he looks… usual.”

Shonda blinked. “How is he unusual?”

“He looks… well, like Declan, but not hiding how beautiful he is,” Finley explained with a helpless shrug.

“Well, that’s…” She turned to her husband as if hoping he would fill in some appropriate words.

“What is he doing here? Other than sightseeing and… visiting his son? Allegedly,” Michael’s expression grew slightly darker as he said that.

“Hard to say,” Rhalyf answered airily. “It could be something as nefarious as a plot to overthrow the Aravae Empire or it could be as innocent as a visit. Maybe it is both. Reading his motives is a full-time endeavor of many people, but not even the keenest of his watchers can ever be sure of his motives.”

“I see.” Michael glanced down the table at Declan.

Declan met his eyes and nodded in greeting. Michael smiled and nodded too. Still when he turned back to them, his expression was even more grim than it had been before. Clearly, he thought that Vex abandoning them once they made it to Hope said all that there was to say about Vex and his parenting skills. That was likely par for the course in his mind considering Michael knew that Vex was aware that Declan was alive and on Earth, but had not come to get him. But what Michael didn’t know was that the safest place for Declan to be was here. At least, before the Leviathan. In the Kindreth court, Declan’s life would have been always in danger, which made even the threat of the Leviathan seem minor in comparison.

“Is he like what you thought, Finley?” Gemma asked with wide eyes. “Declan’s dad, I mean?”

“He’s…” Here, Finley found himself glancing at Rhalyf.

Rhalyf chuckled. “Praise him to the skies, Finley. I will not be that jealous.”

Gemma blinked a few times as she looked between Finley and Rhalyf at that comment. Finley blushed.

“He’s… here,” Finley gasped the last word.

For Vex was indeed in the tent. But he wasn’t getting himself a plate of barbeque or searching for a seat.

No.

Vex was standing on the stage. With an electric guitar. And sometime between when they’d last seen him and now, he’d put on a pair of black leather pants.