Page 26 of The Night Prince 6

First Dance

Aquilan had just decided that they would have barbeque at least once a week at the Eryas Palace when the band came out on the stage. He had been excited to hear human music. He loved all kinds of music with an especially deep love for the bass songs of the dwarves that vibrated the very ground. So he’d have eagerly turned to watch the stage when the performers appeared.

But that’s not what caused him to do so this time.

In fact, even before they appeared, he felt the wave of magic that flowed out from the back of the stage and extended to every single person in the audience. He looked at his right arm and saw that the hairs were standing up on the back of it. Then he heard Declan give out a sharp breath and stiffen at his side.

“Is something wrong, Declan?” Rohannan paused in telling a story about the origin of the barbeque sauce on the ribs–which Aquilan actually had been listening to closely–with that exhale.

Declan said nothing. He was staring up at the empty stage, which suddenly was not empty as the band walked out. And that was when Aquilan knew the reason for the hair all over his body standing on end and Declan’s reaction.

Vex! Aquilan blinked rapidly. He’s on stage?! What is going on?

Rohannan twisted around in his seat to see what had their attention. “Oh, that’s the band I hired. Pretty good though I don’t recognize the guitarist. He’s… new.”

Rohannan stared long and hard at Vex. He started off by frowning then confusion then a slight smile, but it was uncertain as if he wasn’t sure why he was smiling.

Magic? Aquilan wondered.

Or maybe it was the fact that sometime between when they had last seen the Night King and now he had somehow found a pair of leather pants that were laced down the sides and fit him like a second skin. Instead of the white sleeveless turtleneck he had been wearing, now he had on a black silk shirt that was loosely tucked into said pants, but was otherwise unbuttoned to show off his chest that was covered in those myriad of tattoos. Only the boots were the same. He was beautiful enough that even those who didn’t believe they liked men would like him.

“What is he doing?” Declan hissed under his breath, a glimmer of red appearing in his green eyes. He had finally taken off the sunglasses once the Sun had gone down.

“Do you know him?” Rohannan asked, turning back to Declan.

Aquilan opened his lips, wanting to save Declan from telling a lie, but he stopped himself. It was up to his Shadow what he explained about Vex and to who.

“My father,” Declan growled, eyes narrowing.

Aquilan was surprised at how happy he was that Declan hadn’t felt the need to lie. But had claimed Vex as his own. That was good. Even if Declan wasn’t exactly feeling good about what Vex was doing right now.

“Your–your father? But I thought Tyler Wilde was your father,” Rohannan frowned.

“He is. But… birth father,” Declan got out in explanation.

Rohannan’s eyebrows rose. “Oh! Well, it's amazing that you found one another after the… the war…”

Declan’s dead-eyed expression softened for just a minute, but then hardened. “Not really. He knew where I was this entire time.”

And Aquilan’s heart hurt, because he understood then what was partially motivating Declan’s iciness towards Vex. He felt like the Night King had abandoned him as his father had only showed up now when… when what? Why was Vex here now? Because the glamour covering up Declan’s true nature was failing? Because of the rifts to Illithor? To save his lichen?

He sincerely hoped that Vex was here because watching his son barrel towards an unexpected reveal to society had caused him to realize he must step in and help. That after the loss of yet another parent–set of parents–that Declan needed a family. Or maybe that Vex needed family.

But he had no idea if any of this was true. For all he knew, Vex was here to collect on his deal with Aquilan’s parents. Still, why now? He hadn’t turned up to collect on it for millennia, which wasn’t necessarily strange for an elf as old as Vex. Time meant something different to the ancients and Vex was an ancient of ancients. But still he seemed quite aware of what was going on. One would have thought he would have shown up before Aquilan was named Sun King to claim him.

Or right after…

Finley and Rhalyf were suddenly by Aquilan and Declan’s sides. Both men were clearly alarmed.

“Are you seeing this?” Finley asked as he pointed towards Vex on stage.

“Everyone is seeing this,” Rhalyf let out a slightly hysterical laugh.

Rohannan frowned. “Declan’s dad is a musician, right? He’s not some rowdy–”

“Everything is fine. This does not concern you,” Rhalyf moved his fingers of his right hand through the air. Rohannan and his boys were suddenly talking to one another and not them. They didn’t seem aware of them at all any longer. “Now, what are we going to do about that?”

Rhalyf pointed to the stage where Vex was setting up.