5. Chapter 4
5
Chapter 4
Julen
Three intoxins later, Julen felt good . The dance court spun around him, a blur of bodies shimmering under a kaleidoscope of glowing crystals.
A wave of pure bliss washed over him as he swayed to the band’s hypnotic tune—a sleek and sultry melody from a group of horn players, their notes sliding up and down the scales, undulating through the dancing crowd. The carnal smells around him ignited a fire inside.
His shoulders released. His body felt malleable. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this loose.
Boldness took over, and he did a little twirl, laughing at himself. This is what he wanted: to sputter around on a dance floor and forget.
He waded through the swirling bodies, trying to get to the bar for another intoxin. He lost his footing and clattered to the ground.
Julen looked up to see Blue-Eyed Hunk with two boys draped on either side of him.
The two boys laughed and pointed at Julen.
The blond one on the right taunted, “Have you ever seen such a faceplant? Poor little Lapistrean. Someone can’t handle their intoxins.”
Julen’s face burned. He picked himself up and was about to hurry to the opposite side of the dance hall when someone grabbed his arm and turned him.
He was suddenly face to face with Blue-Eyed Hunk.
“Dance with me.”
Julen froze. It’s him. “What?”
He smiled at Julen. “Dance with me. They’ll seethe with jealousy.” His smile took Julen’s breath away.
He put Julen’s hands on his shoulders and swayed to the band’s slow tune.
“They’ve been hanging on me since I got here. I used to date the blond one. He’s as insufferable as you would imagine. They both are.”
Julen looked back at the two other boys. He couldn’t hide his smile at how appalled they looked.
Julen couldn’t believe this was happening. One moment, he was on the ground, and the next, he was dancing in the arms of this Rugirean cadet. His brain couldn’t keep up.
“Are you hurt?” the man asked.
Julen was taken aback by the man’s concern. Does he not notice the tog? Julen swallowed the nerves in his throat. “No. Just my pride.” He laughed awkwardly, and the man released another glittering smile that made Julen want to melt like putty in his arms.
He surveyed Julen’s attire with a smirk. “Never thought I’d see the Lapistrean battle tog in such a state.”
Julen choked. “Oh! Uh…” Damn, he does recognize it. I shouldn’t have worn this. I am so stupid.
Blue-Eyed Hunk smiled. “I appreciate the reinterpretation. It takes some guts to dress like that in Lapistra, I imagine.” Julen looked down at himself. He felt embarrassed. The man continued, “Are you military personnel?”
Julen couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice. “No. Not military. I just like to mangle their uniforms.”
The man’s deep laugh made Julen’s heart flutter. It was the most beautiful thing Julen had ever heard. A deep, masculine sound filled with joy. Fuck, calm down, Julen.
“Not very patriotic of you.” The man altered his voice to sound like a stuffy school instructor, and Julen giggled.
“I guess I’m not feeling very patriotic these days.”
The man raised an eyebrow at Julen. “Interesting. I’m Dacias.”
Gracious, that’s a sizzling name. Julen almost introduced himself and then recalled Souzie’s advice to make up a name. “I’m… Arlo.”
“Pleasure.” Dacias’s cocky smirk could stop time itself, and Julen blushed. I should say something . Julen cleared his throat and said, “It’s nice to meet you. I saw you back at the Black Crag.”
“You did. I saw you, too.” Dacias smirked.
Those tingles came back with a vengeance. Julen cleared his throat. “Good job keeping the peace back there. It looked kind of hairy for a moment.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice. My brother, Ferrean, has an incessant need to start shit wherever he goes. He’s what one would call…an asshole.” Julen laughed, and Dacias shook his head. “But, such is life. We don’t get to choose our families, right?”
Don’t I know it. Julen nodded in agreement. Am I really having an honest to goodness conversation with this man? It all felt too perfect. Julen didn’t trust it. “Why did you help me when I tripped?”
Dacias raised his shoulders. “I didn’t like that they laughed at you like that. Plus, I love pissing off Jovia.”
Hmm. Jovia. Julen peeked back at that snake of a blond boy. “Jovia is your—”
Dacias interrupted, “My ex , yes.”
Julen nodded his head. “Was it a bad breakup?”
“Let’s just say he had a wandering eye.” Dacias pursed his lips up, giving Julen a knowing look.
Julen shook his head in disbelief. Who could have a wandering eye when they had a man like this? Just touching this man’s shoulders…his big, strong shoulders…made Julen weak in the knees.
Julen looked at Dacias and shook his head. “He’s a fool.” Dacias grinned, and Julen’s gaze fell on the green claw marks. “You’re a cadet.” Julen swallowed hard and continued, “They don’t care that…that you…” Just speaking about it so casually was new for him. He lean ed in and whispered, “…prefer men?”
Dacias guffawed and then caught himself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s so different in Rugiria.” Dacias looked at Julen. His gaze lingered on his lips, then rose to Julen’s eyes. “I’ve heard it’s hard to be like us in Lapistra.”
Julen looked down. That old feeling of anxiety crept back into his stomach to ruin this lovely moment.
Dacias continued, “It’s not a big deal in Rugiria. Not even for the Fighting Forces.”
Julen couldn’t imagine what that felt like. To feel…normal. “That sounds nice.”
Julen looked around the room. He felt self-conscious being in the arms of any man, let alone a Rugirean. “Are you sure this is all right?”
Dacias cocked his head. “What? Us dancing?”
Julen’s eyes darted around the room again. “You’re dancing with a Lapistrean . I’m in a tog. It might upset your brother.”
Dacias rolled his eyes. “He’s not my keeper. Plus, we’re in Cupidor, and he can’t shift. He knows I’d drop him like a sack of dirt in hand-to-hand combat.”
Suddenly, Julen felt very hot.
Dacias pulled Julen closer, their chests touching one another. “Besides, we’re just dancing. That’s not a big deal, right?”
Julen’s head spun. It is in Lapistra. He pushed that thought aside and focused on the fact that this was the sweetest, sexiest man he’d ever met. Dacias knew he was Lapistrean but didn’t care. Perhaps Julen could be honest? He decided to test it. “I was afraid you’d hate me. With everything that is happening between our territories.”
The mountains of Lapistra held the bulk of healing minerals used on the continent. Haligran, as a show of strength, embargoed the minerals the moment he ascended to power, throwing the Rugirean health system into chaos.
Dacias shook his head. “I don’t hate you.”
Julen could barely contain his excitement. “Why?”
Dacias held Julen’s gaze. “I can’t hate someone who feels the wrath of Lapistra as much as we do. I’ve heard what it’s like for people who are…different. Plus, you didn’t do anything. Haligran is to blame. I fucking despise that man.”
Julen’s eyes widened, and his throat became as dry as sandpaper.
Dacias must have noticed because he said, “I probably shouldn’t have said that. I made you uncomfortable—”
Julen stopped him. “No, no, it’s fine. I don’t…disagree.”
Dacias smiled, but Julen couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Arlo it is. Still, it felt so good to be in the arms of someone who understood. He hadn’t realized how much he yearned for this kind of companionship. Souzie was an angel, but this kind of comfort from a man who seemed attracted to him lulled Julen into a sense of safety that he rarely felt. Dacias wrapped his arm about the small of Julen’s back, fully embracing him. His face inched closer to Julen’s, and a shockwave of desire rippled through Julen and made him tremble.
“You are so gorgeous.” Julen whispered.
Wait. Did I just say that out loud?
Julen gasped at what he said, and Dacias’s grin was so big it nearly took up his entire face.
Dacias connected his forehead to Julen’s. “You’re pretty gorgeous yourself.”
I’m dreaming. I have to be. He didn’t just say that.
The music accelerated, filling the hall with a fast-paced song. The crowd erupted, breaking the moment between them.
Julen wanted to stay. The feeling of pure bliss radiated through his body as his hands fell over Dacias’s muscular chest, but his mind took over. What am I doing? He shouldn’t be dancing with a Rugirean. A cadet, no less. His father would kill him.
Fear took over. Julen’s heart raced, and he looked about the crowd, trying to find Souzie.
Julen pushed himself away from Dacias. “I should find my friend.” Once freed, Julen hurried away as quickly as he could.
He turned back to see Dacias looking dismayed. Julen wanted to go back, but he knew it was stupid. What could come of this? Nothing but trouble. He found Souzie and told her he had to leave, and they hurried out of the dance court. It dawned on Julen that he must never see Dacias again, and he couldn’t stop the intense sadness that washed over him.