Chapter 16 A Secret Place to Dream
A Secret Place to Dream
“Do you think they’re in love, Mom?” Rhalyf heard Gemma breathe as the doors to the Sun King’s bedroom suite shut behind them.
“I mean before Declan woke up Aquilan was holding his hand! He barely looked away from him the whole time. And then they hugged! I thought they might have kissed if we weren’t there.
Maybe they’ll still kiss. After all, we left them alone… ”
Rhalyf thought of the look on his best friend’s face upon seeing Declan.
It was as if Aquilan had glimpsed a treasure beyond comparison.
And Declan, too. How he had stared at Aquilan at first as if to memorize his face, as if he were to never see it again, and then for him to look down.
He had been certain to glimpse dismissal or even disgust in the Sun King’s expression, because of what he was.
But no. Oh, no. There had been none of that. Only acceptance.
Only love… But so soon?
Shonda placed a loving arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “I don’t know, pet. They haven’t known one another very long, but–”
“I asked you to marry me on the third date,” Michael chuckled as he gazed down at his daughter and wife with utter affection.
“You did indeed. And I made you wait until the fifth date to answer,” she laughed, looking girlish, perhaps like the young woman who had made him wait.
“Hardest two days of my life,” Michael murmured and the love that radiated from his brown eyes towards her and Gemma looked like it had only grown and not dimmed a moment in those decades.
“Dad! You’re so crazy!” Gemma rolled her eyes and looked appropriately scandalized about her parents showing affection for one another so openly.
Rhalyf’s parents had never looked at one another like that.
Or, if they had, they’d done it well before he was born.
They’d barely tolerated each other since his birth.
His father’s drug use had escalated, finding only solace in drug-filled dreams while his mother’s thwarted ambitions had simply grown to fill that spot where his father had been.
Were his parents alive? His sister? What did they think had happened to him?
Did they care? He hadn’t thought to ask Vex any of that.
But it wasn’t as if he wanted to go back to Nhamashel and find out.
He felt the warm line of Finley at his side.
No, he was happy here. If Vex allowed him to remain happy here…
Michael cast a glance back at Finley and Rhalyf who were walking together, including them in his affection. Well, likely just Finley. But his question was directed at Rhalyf.
“So, Rhalyf, you and the king are best friends, yes?” Michael asked.
Rhalyf opened his mouth to answer in the affirmative effusively, but he saw Finley make a faint motion to indicate he should be careful about what he said. But why? The General seemed so happy and open to the idea of Aquilan and his adopted son. Yet he had come to trust Finley’s judgment.
“Yes, yes, indeed, though I am hardly his keeper,” Rhalyf said airily and waved a hand.
“What do you think his intentions towards Declan are?” Michael suddenly looked very stern and the basis of Finley’s warning was very clear at that moment.
“I…” Rhalyf cast a look back at the closed doors to Aquilan’s bedroom, wishing his best friend could answer for himself to the very protective father–or father-figure–of his soon to be lover.
What does Vex think of all this? Is it part of his plan? To have his son and the Sun King involved with one another? Of course, he didn’t exactly tell me…
“I would say…” Rhalyf glanced at Finley for assistance, but the young man was studiously not looking at him. Really! “To be honest…” Michael’s brows drew together as if he doubted Rhalyf was about to be. “I… I don’t know more than you.”
“You must know something.” Michael’s gaze was so stern! How could someone a fraction of his age and with no magical power have him stammering?
“All–all I can say is that I’ve never seen Aquilan act this way about anyone,” Rhalyf admitted.
That was the definite truth. It was as if Aquilan was enchanted every moment he was in Declan’s presence.
Declan was handsome. Very handsome. He had the Vex bloodline clearly imprinted upon his features.
But it was more than that. Aquilan seemed to see beyond Declan’s face to his heart.
To his soul. But it had only been a couple of days since they’d met.
That was not how elves normally did things.
A few hundred years of small talk was the norm before such affection appeared, but it had been almost instantaneous for Aquilan.
“It’s clear that they’ve both become very attached to one another very quickly. ”
“That’s very rare for elves, isn’t it?” Shonda looked a little worried. She sat on the Radiant Council and though Vesslan might barely register her as a member, he was certain that she knew all the personalities of the elves, dwarves, fairies and more quite well.
“For most, yes,” Rhalyf had to admit.
He looked at Finley again. But Finley was now studying the moon through the open windows in the hallway. No guidance would be coming from that direction!
“But elves are also quite…” Shonda’s eyes darted to her daughter and then back to him, “Well, they are–”
“Promiscuous!” Gemma supplied helpfully.
“Quite,” Rhalyf agreed, and even though her parents looked a little horrified at what she’d said, he was glad it was spoken so forthrightly.
Humans were quite prudish in his opinion.
Ridiculously so. “But Aquilan is not that way whatsoever. I think he’s had only one lover since I’ve known him and that… Well, that was nothing like this.”
It wasn’t. This was like some romantic tale that the Sun Elves told over mulled wine by the fire as Winter set in. They spoke of love when the snow fell as they waited for the Sun to reign supreme once more in the Summer.
And wouldn’t this make a tale! The Night Prince and the Sun King! Lovers separated by species and ancient enmity!
“So you think it could be serious?” Shonda’s eyes widened. “But that’s…”
“Complicated? Because of all the reasons we know, but maybe more we’re not even thinking of? Yes, yes, it is,” Rhalyf agreed with her.
“Love doesn’t care about that,” Gemma said with a broad smile. She seemed unmoved by all of their concerns. “And if it's true then it will be all right. Love conquers all.”
But that was not true.
Rhalyf wished it was sometimes. In this case, he truly did.
But Aquilan was the Sun King and Declan, though he was denying it now, was the Night Prince.
And then there was Vex. The idea of his son and Aquilan together…
The political ramifications were legendary.
And that didn’t take into account things like prejudice and hatred and fear…
There would be so much of that. So very much.
“Declan is a very private person. Even before this…” Shonda broke off again. “And I don’t think he’s ever dated anyone before.”
“He hasn’t,” Finley finally piped in. “He hasn’t even been interested in anyone before Aquilan.”
“That just makes it more romantic!” Gemma sighed dramatically. “It means that they are meant to be together. True love. OTC!”
“OTC?” Michael lifted an eyebrow.
“One true couple,” Gemma explained. “That’s them. Declan and Aquilan.”
Rhalyf could feel the weight of Helgrom’s eyes on his back. He knew the problems this could cause more than most.
“So you’re back with us, Finley. You looked a million miles away. But I suppose that’s to be expected after meeting your hero,” Michael smiled at his adopted son.
They were speaking of Vex, but they would not say his name out loud.
Now that they were outside of Aquilan’s bed chambers that name was verboten.
Though, really, would Elasha and Darcassan keep quiet about it?
Aquilan had decided not to tell Vesslan all about what had happened in the Under Dark and nothing about Declan.
But even if the twins did have the ability to keep things from their father, he wondered if Declan’s true nature could stay secret for long in any case.
After all, Aquilan having Declan sleep in his bed and all that entailed, likely meant that Declan would attract the attention of every big House.
They would dig into everything about him.
Defeating six orcs and all the other unusual things Declan did would soon be discovered and it wouldn’t be glossed over.
But even if they somehow all came to believe the cover story that he was a slightly unusual human, the scandal of Aquilan taking a mortal bartender to bed…
Well, that had all sorts of issues, too.
It would be one thing if Aquilan were to be discreet about such an affair, but Aquilan is in love. Just like Gemma said and he will shout it to the stars.
Finley’s head jerked up and he blinked owlishly behind his glasses. “Oh, yes, yes, just trying to absorb everything, you know?”
Shonda let out a yawn. “A good night’s sleep will help put that in order. That’s what I’m hoping for.”
“I’m not quite ready for bed. I thought I would go to the Dawn,” Finley said and one of his hands moved towards the book and dagger he hid at his back beneath his shirt. Rhalyf was going to find out about that.
“The Dawn would be more than happy to have you, lad,” Helgrom said between puffs of his pipe.
“Glom hungry,” Snaglak said, but the meaningful look he gave Helgrom indicated that it was the orc who was hungry.
“I’m sure we can rustle up another ham considering all the coins you have coming to you,” Helgrom agreed as the clank of those very fangs in the bag attached to the orc’s belt rang merrily every time he took a step.
Glom’s long tongue slithered out of his mouth but it went nowhere near Finley so Rhalyf wasn’t going to snap it off.
This time. “And maybe a chicken or two for you as well, eh, Snaglak?”
“Chicken?” Snaglak brightened.