Chapter 2 Always
Always
“Ah, yes, Cellica, that looks perfect!” Aquilan enthused as the servant delicately tented the final napkin on the second plate.
She had set up a feast on the table on the balcony of his bedroom suite. The Sun had set and the stars were beginning to sparkle in a darkening sky. The protective dome shimmered above them giving the moon a slightly blue tint.
He glanced out at the city of Tyrael spread out below the palace. The lights were coming on in the streets. The fires were being lit in the hearths. He could hear the faint tinkle of talk and laughter from an excited populace as they settled in for their evening meals.
It was beautiful. Peaceful. A world away from the war that he had fought here every day and night since he’d arrived. His mind flashed back to the nest. His jaw tightened.
Is that war truly over?
“Please let us know if the roast beef is to your and Declan’s liking. All of the food actually. We want to learn your tastes so we can continually improve to serve you better,” Cellica said as she then adjusted the decanter of red wine next to the crispy roast potatoes and tureen of gravy.
“Continually improve?” Aquilan lifted an eyebrow as he took in the large wooden bowl heaping with fresh greens, ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, marinated artichoke hearts, and sweet red bell peppers glistening with a tart dressing and sprinkled with goat cheese. “That sounds quite exhausting!”
Cellica giggled as she placed a serrated knife by the crusty loaf of bread and creamy churned butter. The wedge of aged cheddar beside it was making his mouth water.
“Well, maybe not continually. I suppose there is a limit at some point,” she admitted. “But we want to make sure that you are well taken care of, my king. To the best of our abilities in any case.”
Aquilan smiled at her fondly. “I already think you do that.”
A slight furrowing appeared on her brow. “It’s just…”
“What?”
“This afternoon…. Ah, nevermind,” she quickly said with a wave. “It is not my place to–”
“Cellica, it is all right. Please tell me your concern,” he urged.
“It’s just that you didn’t eat anything. Was something not to your liking?” Her hands were knotted together in front of her in anxiety.
“I… oh, no! The food was incredible! Surely, you saw my brother’s enjoyment of it? He ate enough for both of us,” Aquilan tried to chuckle, but it sounded rather flat to his own ears.
“If you’re certain that there was nothing I could have done to make it more pleasing to you. As much as Emissary Vesslan’s comfort is important, yours is above all!”
“No, no, Cellica. I can assure you that there was nothing wrong with the food or service,” he assured her.
It had everything to do with the company and the topics of conversation.
“I’m very relieved. It is just that we haven’t had a chance to truly serve you yet, my king,” she said. “We want you to feel that Tyrael is home.”
“It is! It is becoming so.” In more ways than you know, he added silently.
“My concern.” Here, he paused and looked over his shoulder through the balcony doors and into his bedchambers.
Declan was not there of course. He was in the bathroom.
With the door shut. The shower was running, which was half a blind and half reality, as Declan had wanted to bathe and it gave him a reason to be in there so long.
He had to hide. Even from Cellica. Aquilan turned back to her.
“My concern is Declan. He went through quite an ordeal.”
Cellica listened intently. Her pretty face was filled with concern. “As a helpless human in the Under Dark, that must have been terrifying. But you were there to protect him and the others.”
Helpless human? He protected us all.
He couldn’t quite meet her eyes. “Y-yes, well, it was terrifying for all of us.”
That was true. The Under Dark was beautiful and terrifying.
He kept having flashes of that massive nest. Were there others like that?
Maybe not at Illithor, but not all the rifts came from there.
The Leviathan could have a multitude of such nests in other locations.
Would Vex know? Most definitely. But asking him was a bad idea.
Aquilan already owed him quite the debt.
I must speak to Darcassan tomorrow about what he knows about the Leviathan. His gaze flickered back towards the bathroom door. And to encourage him and Elasha to not speak to their father about Declan. Not yet.
He knew that Declan’s true nature likely could not be kept a secret from Vesslan forever. He was already going to be asking a lot of his nephew and niece to merely delay saying anything. But Declan needed to get well. And figure out what he wanted to do.
“The thing is that I want Declan to recover fully from that. Good food and drink and peace is necessary,” he finally said.
“Of course, we will make sure he has all of those things to the heights of our power in any case,” she assured him.
“I know you will. Just know that making him happy makes me happy.” He blushed as he said it. It was ridiculous for him to be blushing and acting like this. But evidently he was ridiculous about Declan Wilde.
Or really Prince Rahven Vaeduzor Zinsadoral Vex.
“I’ll watch my ridwin at all times just in case you need anything else before dessert,” Cellica said when she realized he was going to say nothing more.
He knew that she wanted to stay and serve them but that wasn’t possible until Declan could bear a glamour.
“Oh, and dessert is dark chocolate mousse with dark cherries so save some room.”
He sent a broad smile her way. “Thank you, Cellica. I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
She curtseyed. “Of course, my king. Anything you need is my pleasure to do.”
Only after the doors to his chambers were closed behind her–and locked–did Declan emerge from the bathroom with a burst of spicy-smelling steam. Aquilan hadn’t even had to call him. His Shadow’s clever ears had told him it was safe to come out.
Declan was dressed in a pair of faded jeans, a white t-shirt with a v-neck and no socks or shoes.
Gemma had picked them out for him and brought them to the palace for Declan to change into.
Just like his father, he was barefoot. Declan also moved with a preternatural grace as he ran a hand through his still-damp hair.
His movements were economical, precise yet graceful.
They were mesmerizing to see. A born warrior. No, a hunter.
Like in The Forever Hunt. Vex has that quality too. Both of them move as if they are stalking prey at all times.
Declan stilled when he caught sight of Aquilan.
His short silvery hair shimmered like it was filled with starlight.
His red eyes were like glowing banked coals.
The single golden wisp was the only light in the room.
The stars and the moon were the only illumination outside.
Yet Declan carried a light all his own. Aquilan’s hands were suddenly sweaty and he quickly wiped them on his robes.
“You look refreshed! And refreshing!” Aquilan winced at his own too bright tone and ridiculous statements.
“The shower is spectacular.” Declan rolled his shoulders back. “The spray actually massages while it cleans. I could definitely get used to that.”
“And you shall! I mean… you… ah, can use my shower anytime.” Aquilan’s winces became far more epic.
“Or you could use a shower somewhere else in the palace. Your own rooms! Here! In the palace! The shower there would have the same attachments or… or we could have one installed in your home with the Bastons.”
Must stop talking nonsense!
Declan slowly nodded. “That is a generous offer. I must remain with the Bastons.”
His disappointment felt like hot tar poured over his hair.
That was yet more nonsense. They had just met.
To suggest that Declan should… what? Move into the palace?
Move into his rooms? Both ideas were absurd.
Declan was the Night Prince. He was the Sun King.
This was all impossible. Wasn’t it? But his heart didn’t seem to care about any of that.
“Of course, you must stay with the Bastons. They are your family and that is home and–”
“I have to be close to keep them safe, but having a location here as well would be welcome so I can look after you as well. It does not need to be anything very large. A single room will be sufficient along with permission to access this floor,” Declan explained.
“Oh.”
Declan would be coming to stay here. Declan wanted to protect him, too. Declan did not seem to think any of this was impossible.
“If that is all right with you, of course,” Declan said, his red eyes hooding as he studied Aquilan carefully.
Aquilan blinked. “Ah, yes, yes, it is! I’ll arrange that. And the shower at the Bastons. Both. Everything. All of it.”
“Shonda will love it,” Declan admitted with a fond smile.
“Of course,” Aquilan smiled. He was beaming. He couldn’t help it. His heart felt light.
“That smells delicious.” Declan tilted his head towards the open balcony doors. “I have a feeling Cellica and the rest of the staff outdid themselves for their king. Not their first meal for you, but–”
“It is, actually. I haven’t eaten anything since we arrived here from the Under Dark. I was too… worried,” he admitted. “About you. You went through so much there. Learned… so much.”
“I am fine, Aquilan. Truly, I feel…” Declan’s eyes went distant for a moment. “Better than I ever have.”
His right hand reached back and touched his spine as he said the last. That was where the Blood Weapon Ardreth was now tattooed.
One of the most powerful weapons in existence was Declan’s to command at any time and no one could take it from him.
It could cut a rift open to Illithor and it could destroy a nest in a single sweep of its blade.
Or Declan could. He doubted that any elf could simply wield the Niri blade.