17. Chapter 16
17
Chapter 16
Dacias
The pink hue of the sand reminded Dacias of Arlo’s lips. No, not Arlo’s. Julen’s. Fuck the beach.
Nearly three weeks had passed since Dacias ran from Julen, yet he still couldn’t shake the boy from his mind. Nothing could distract him, not even the beach and the beautiful boys who had invited him out. They just made it worse because they were so…not Arlo.
Julen! Dacias had to remember that was his real name.
The pounding in Dacias’s head intensified. Julen had been to his home. Julen risked Dacias’s and Klorin’s life! Julen had lied to him for so long.
He couldn’t tolerate deceit.
As mad as he was at Julen, Dacias was furious with Ferrean. He had proved Dacias wrong. Asshole. His smug face the day he strolled into Dacias’s room, holding official briefings describing the Zephyrus family. It would be forever burned in his memory. The description of Julen—there was no disputing it. Dacias had wanted so badly to believe it wasn’t true. He pummeled Ferrean, calling him a dirty liar. Telling him he knew it wasn’t true and that he would prove Ferrean wrong.
Well, that sure as shit isn’t what happened .
Ferrean had followed him to Cupidor one night, saw them together, and made it his mission to destroy Dacias’s relationship with a Lapistrean. Learning that Arlo was the Prince of Lapistra made it all the sweeter for Ferrean. Now, he could leverage it against Dacias. Cavorting with the enemy in this way was treason, and it would be next to impossible for Dacias to prove that he hadn’t known he was sleeping around with Haligran’s son.
Dacias felt a clawing sense of violation, and he hated how weak he felt. He had been so intimate with Julen, and he had laid it all out there, never knowing the truth.
Dacias clutched at the anger because it was easier to manage. Feeling angry was better than feeling hurt. And he was hurt—deeply, deeply hurt. His heart felt empty. He had started allowing himself to think that it could evolve into something more, that they could be together in Rugiria, maybe, but that would never happen now. Ugh…I need to forget that boy!
He went to the city center’s main stretch and brushed his fingers along the buildings’ opalescent stones. The sun descended, and the glowing crystals cast orange and yellow rays on the cobblestone pathways. He wouldn’t turn to look at the rising moon. He didn’t know if he could ever watch the celestial bodies side by side ever again.
He made his way to the path leading home. The house appeared, and Klorin sat on the front steps. He had an eyebrow raised as Dacias approached. “Still miserable?”
Dacias said nothing.
Klorin rose from the steps and hugged Dacias. “Want to talk about it?”
“No.” A thought entered his mind, and he whipped his gaze at Klorin. “Did you know? Did she tell you?”
Klorin shook his head. “She told me nothing. Only that he’s her best friend and has done things for her that very few would dare to do.”
Dacias snatched a flower from the ground, ripped the petals off, and tossed the stem. “That’s all well and good, but he’s still a liar.”
Klorin nodded. “He shouldn’t have lied to you like that. Though, he might have felt compelled to lie because of who his father is. It doesn’t seem like he’s like Haligran, right?”
Dacias looked down. “It’s not just who his father is. I trusted him. We made love. I almost told him I loved him. All while not knowing him at all.” He clenched his fists and then looked at his brother. “He’s engaged to be married, Klorin! Don’t you think that should have come up in conversation?”
Klorin shook his head. He looked up at Dacias, clearly about to speak, but Dacias cut him off. “I can’t get back with him, Klorin. I won’t. I can’t trust him.”
Klorin nodded. “I understand. Well, I’m here anytime you want to talk. Also, I want you to come to Cupidor with me tomorrow night.”
His heart pounded. Not there. “I can’t, Klorin. I don’t want to go there for a while, or ever. That place is dangerous.”
Klorin stood up and wrapped his arm around Dacias’s neck. He held him firm as he ground his knuckles in Dacias’s head. “I walked there in a storm for you, and you can’t hang with me and a girl I want to meet up with? Fuck that! You are coming, so just accept it.”
Dacias tried to wiggle free from the hold Klorin had on him. “Ow! Let me go!”
“Ha! Not the tough one now. I’m still older than you. ”
Dacias maneuvered from Klorin’s grip, grabbed him by the torso, and slammed him to the ground. “I’m still stronger, big bro.”
Klorin coughed, lying prostrate on the ground. The wind knocked out of him. “Apparently…”
Dacias gripped his hand and helped him up. Klorin spoke as he dusted himself off. “No more moping around the house and feeling sorry for yourself. You are coming to Cupidor.”
Dacias huffed at that. “Are we seeing a certain someone?”
Klorin looked at him out of the corner of his eye. “No. Someone else.”
Dacias took a deep breath. He’d lose it if this were some sort of set-up. “So both our secret Lapistrean love affairs evaporated? We should have known, huh?”
Klorin released a huff. “Yes, well, looks like we both need to down some intoxins and let loose, huh?”
Dacias couldn’t think of anything he’d want to do less than go to Cupidor, but he owed Klorin. He’d do it just this once. Who knows? Maybe he would meet someone else.