Page 30 of The Night Prince 6

Declan’s hand was on his shoulder. “Go on. I’ll watch. From here.”

Aquilan studied his face for long moments. Then he smiled and nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

He gracefully got up from his seat and took the nearest woman’s hand. She had short brown hair with a splash of freckles over her nose. He bowed.

“Madam, would you do me the honor of a dance?” he asked

Giggling and blushing, she nodded. “Oh, yes, King Aquilan. My name is Minnie.”

“Minnie! What a lovely name,” he said.

He glanced back at Declan. His Shadow still had his arms almost protectively curled around his chest. Just the thought of being on display clearly had him unnerved. Aquilan’s heart hurt for that. Staying in the shadows, staying out of sight, staying unnoticed. Declan had been doing that for a long time.

Too long.

He would have his dance with his Shadow. When they were alone. When it was just the two of them under the moon and stars. He spoke lightly to Minnie until they reached the dance floor and the music was much too loud to converse. He let Minnie lead him through the steps that everyone else seemed to be doing. Soon he was spinning Minnie around. She was laughing and he was too. He and Rohannan exchanged dance partners for the next song. It didn’t take long before he was in the middle of a group of humans who were gyrating around him. The music rose and fell. The beat grew then slowed. A thin sheen of sweat covered his face and he was loving every minute of it. The only thing that would have been better was if–

A hand gently landed on his shoulder. He turned. Declan stood there. The humans had parted to form a space around him. No matter where Declan went, he was set apart. Even though the distance was respectful here, there was still distance. Declan offered him his hand. Aquilan took it.

But not between us.

They began to dance. The song became slow and romantic. Cynda crooned into the microphone. Vex’s guitar sang to the high heavens. Declan’s hands slid around his waist while his were around Declan’s neck. Their bodies were pressed together.

“I thought you did not like to dance,” Aquilan said.

He was not going to mention that people were also watching them. Many people. But Declan kept his eyes on Aquilan alone. Aquilan could whisper a spell so that they wouldn’t notice. But he was not ashamed of what he felt for Declan. He wanted people to know that they were together.

Declan let out a dry chuckle. “Oh, I find myself wanting to do things I never thought I would before you. Besides,” and here Declan looked at him from under his lashes, “I found I couldn’t stay away.”

“You never need to.”

Aquilan found himself leaning in towards Declan. Declan leaned in to him. Their lips were so close to meeting. The music ended. But they were still holding one another.

Cynda’s voice rose up, “The next song is really special. Our new lead guitarist Xel wrote it. And trust me when I say this… it’s like nothing you’ve ever heard.”

Last Light

When Vex had first taken the stage, Rhalyf had felt an overwhelming sense of panic. It was as if his veins were fizzing with anxiety. He couldn’t have said exactly what he feared, but the fact that it was unprecedented for the Night King to be up on a stage was not an overstatement.

And what was unexpected was dangerous. And there was nothing and no one more dangerous than Vex.

He’d met Finley’s gaze at the table silently before the two of them had risen as one and hurried over to Aquilan and Declan. The fact that even Finley–arguably, Vex’s greatest fan–had confirmed that something momentous, if nothing else, was happening had made his unfurling anxiety seem quite reasonable. He’d felt his sister’s gaze upon him as they had moved. A glance at her handsome face showed she mirrored his shock and unease.

But Aquilan had a point when he had asked: what could they do? If Vex wished to play the electric guitar and be a rockstar, what could they do? Drag him off the stage? No. Beg him not to play? Yes, but that wouldn’t work. It might just egg on his mercurial uncle. Prepare to defend against whatever magical assault he might be about to unleash? That was the only potential course. So as the songs continued on and people were dancing and laughing, Rhalyf wove magic in ever increasing tight weaves around himself. These were probably the best weaves he’d ever done.

But it wouldn’t be enough.

Not even if he, Haera, Aquilan and Declan went up against Vex.

It simply wouldn’t be enough, but maybe it would buy time for people to escape. But as the Sun had long gone down, the area outside of Hope would likely be just as dangerous as hungry creatures roamed.

I’ve gone soft, he chastised himself. What happened to letting people go to their fates if they weren’t strong enough, clever enough, or aware enough to protect themselves? That version of me appears to have died a very quick and painless death somewhere along the way and I didn’t notice.

He realized that before when he was Lord Rhalyf Vaeduzor Lyris Vex, he’d had very little to lose. His friends? He didn’t really have any. They were people he simply drank with, shared a laugh with, but cared nothing for. In fact, many of them were simply there because of his family name and generous coin purse. His lovers? They were but passing fancies. No one he would risk himself for. Family? Huh. Family. His uncle, sister, mother and father were all quite capable of taking care of themselves. Again, no one he would put himself in danger for. In fact, he had fled without warning his immediate family when he thought his life–and their lives–were likely in danger.

But now?

He felt the line of warmth that radiated from Finley’s body to his right. He knew, without looking, exactly where Finley was at all times and what he was doing. That often involved something with the book and dagger nowadays, but still. He was aware of him at the deepest level.