Options #2
“You need to take this with a grain of salt. You see, what I would think is reasonable and logical for Aquilan to do is… I often misread people and situations like that,” Finley confessed.
“Why you did what you did makes perfect sense to me. And, if I were Aquilan, I would be upset when I first found out. I might say some terrible things. But then I would remember that I love you and I would think hard on why you had to do what you did.”
“And then?” Rhalyf looked so hopeful.
“I would forgive you.”
Rhalyf let out a breath. “That would be… a relief. If he did that.”
“But that would take time. And I might not trust you for… awhile,” Finley admitted.
“That doesn’t sound relieving, but very true.”
“What’s worth something costs something. And Aquilan means so much to you,” Finley ended.
Rhalyf let out a breath. “I’m sorry, Finley.”
“What for? I–”
“I was asking you to lie to me. You don’t do that,” Rhalyf laughed softly. “It’s one of the things I value about you.”
“I understand why you want comfort,” Finley said.
“But no one can give it to me, but Aquilan,” he admitted. “And it will be a miracle if Aquilan forgives me. It will likely be impossible for things to be as they are now. He will see me forever differently and not in a good way.”
“Would you do anything differently knowing what you do now?” Finley asked.
“Honestly… probably not.”
“Exactly. Because you really didn’t have any other choice,” Finley pointed out. “Rhalyf, there was no other way that would have led you to the life you have now. Hopefully, Aquilan can be honest with himself about that.”
“Maybe.” Rhalyf stopped walking and turned so he was facing Finley with the water to the east of them. He took both of Finley’s hands in his. “But that is tomorrow’s worry. Tonight? Tonight is about all good things.”
“Haera won’t be stopping by tonight,” Finley pointed out. “At the mage tower.”
Rhalyf grinned jauntily. “She will not.”
“So we will have the mage tower to ourselves.”
The grin grew wider. “We will.”
“No interruptions,” Finley said almost faintly.
“Indeed, not a one.”
“Unless something crawls out of the lake and pounds on the door,” Finley pointed out.
Rhalyf ignited a fireball beside them. “If they come, I will take care of them.”
He flicked the fireball towards the lake. Something let out a scream and dove under the water.
“Was there–”
“Yes, something is stalking us. But with me here, there’s nothing to fear.” Rhalyf winked at him.
“I can see that. And smell it. Fried scales?”
“Yes, and I will fry the rest of you if you don’t back the fuck off!” Rhalyf roared into the night.
There were dozens more splashes as things dove back into the deep. Finley laughed and shook his head.
“I didn’t even know they were there. I really need to figure out this magic and–”
“You will, Finley.” He cupped Finley’s chin. “You will figure out all of it. I know it.”
Finley’s heart fluttered, but he wasn’t sure if it was at what Rhalyf said or at his touch and nearness.
“Now, shall we go to someplace a little more comfortable? I assure you that making love on sand is highly overrated. It’s gritty,” Rhalyf chuckled.
“Sand in unmentionable places,” Finley agreed.
“Indeed.”
“Open a rift?” Finley requested.
“Of course. Watch me?”
“Actually… no. I want to… do something else.”
He found himself leaning in. His lips parted. His head tilted. Rhalyf’s eyes glowed red for a moment just before they hooded and his lips covered Finley’s. The kiss had Finley rising up onto his tiptoes. Tingles ran up and down his spine and pooled between his legs.
His hands wound around Rhalyf’s neck as the kiss went on and on.
He swore he felt his bones becoming liquid as it continued.
Rhalyf’s hands on his waist were the only thing holding him up in the end.
When the kiss finished–for the moment–his eyes remained closed.
He felt like he was floating in a sea of darkness.
But it wasn’t frightening. It was comforting.
He heard Rhalyf murmuring the words of the rift spell. He didn’t open his eyes. He just wanted to feel the magic. And he did. The hair all over his body crackled with electricity. And then the world spun like Rhalyf was spinning him in a dance move.
“Finley?” Rhalyf’s voice was thick with desire. “We’re here.”
Slowly, Finley opened his eyes. They were in the Under Dark.
In the glowing mushroom garden that surrounded the base of Rhalyf’s mage tower.
The dark lake spread out before them like a sheet of silvery ice, reflecting the lichen.
And the tower rose up like some sword hilt from the ground.
The lights were on at the top and the door opened.
Light spilled out of there, too. Welcoming them.
“It’s so beautiful,” Finley murmured.
“Yes, my heart caught when I found this place. Untouched for millennia with just some ruins of a forgotten civilization,” he explained.
“And you’ve made it your own. Added to it. The tower looks like it’s always been here. Just waiting for you,” Finley explained.
Rhalyf smiled at him so fondly. “That is… that is a wonderful thing to say, Finley. Thank you. I tried to make the tower part of this place.”
Finley tightened his hold on Rhalyf’s neck. “And you have succeeded. Now that you can come back here, too, will you build more?”
“I… I don’t know. Perhaps if I am inspired,” Rhalyf admitted.
“I hope you will be. If not here, other places,” Finley said. “If… if things go well with Aquilan–and I do believe that they will–you could create places not just here, but on Earth or even the Lieran Plane.”
“Kindreth buildings in the Lieran Plane? Gods forbid!” Rhalyf chuckled but there was a speculative gleam in his eyes.
“Could it be any worse than the Eryas Palace?” Finley lifted an eyebrow.
Rhalyf shuddered. “Gods, any more gilt and that thing would collapse in on itself because of the weight!”
Finley, once more, gazed at the peaceful, perfect tower by the midnight black lake. “I think Aquilan will love this.”
“I would like to show him,” Rhalyf admitted. “I would like to show him so many things in the Under Dark really and… you as well, Finley.”
Finley looked back at him. Rhalyf was biting his lower lip.
“I know Earth is your home and the Bastons are your family but if things go badly and I have to leave…” He grimaced then said more to himself than Finley, “It’s too soon. It’s ridiculous. I shouldn’t even be saying this.”
“You want me to come with you?” Finley guessed.
Even as he said the words they seemed alien on his tongue.
There were so many objections to doing so.
He was surprised that the professor wasn’t squawking about how being 24/7 with Rhalyf in the Under Dark would completely derail his studies.
But would it? With Rhalyf he knew he was accepted.
This magic wasn’t outright rejected. Rhalyf was helping him now to understand things.
He would be safe to be himself with the Kindreth. But could he simply leave Earth?
It wouldn’t really mean leaving Declan. His best friend was the Night Prince.
And, truth be told, if–or rather when–that got out, Declan might need to go to Nhamashel, too.
But what about the Bastons? They had powerful positions and Gemma was still in school.
The Under Dark was more dangerous than even Earth for humans without powers.
Kindreth society might eat them alive in any case.
And what about those other powerless humans he would be leaving behind? Finley was convinced after studying the book that this magic wasn’t something completely unique to him. He just had more of it.
Worthy, the word drifted through his mind.
He was, he was pretty sure, special in some way.
He’d heard the dead from when he’d lost the professor, far before he found the book and dagger.
There was something already innate in him of this magic.
But if he left and didn’t attempt to get into the academy, didn’t try to establish this new magic as a field for humans to study…
humanity might not survive for very long.
He might have the key to changing everything for them.
But then he imagined exploring this place by Rhalyf’s side.
Gliding on midnight black waters in a boat with crimson and purple sails.
Exploring ancient civilizations together.
Learning… always learning… And then making love.
Not friends with benefits, but something more. Did he want that? Could he have that?
You need to become immortal, Finley, to have that. Perhaps, you can do both, but only if time is not a factor. But that means becoming worthy. The professor must have been saying this, but, oddly, it didn’t quite sound like him.
Rhalyf, misunderstanding his silence, quickly got out, “I shouldn’t have said anything–”
“That you would want me beside you… Rhalyf…” Finley cupped his face. “Do not apologize for that. Don’t take it back. Please.”
“It’s just… Finley, I have never liked anyone as much as I like you. And to think our time could be cut short… that is a price I don’t want to pay,” Rhalyf admitted. “But your life is back on Earth and I cannot ask or expect–”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Rhalyf,” Finley cut in. “I know you’re afraid of what will happen tomorrow. But we don’t yet know what the result of that conversation with Aquilan will be. We may not know for some time.”
“True,” Rhalyf grimaced. “Too true. That’s why I shouldn’t have said anything until–”
“I told you. I’m glad you did. That… clarifies some things for me,” Finley said. “Options. I like having options.”
“So do I. But neither of us can see the future,” Rhalyf let out a breath. “And I don’t know if I just complicated both of ours.”
“Let’s concentrate on this moment and, tomorrow, I’ll help you with Aquilan. A strategy. A real plan. Whatever you need,” Finley assured him.
A brief nod. “I appreciate that as all my scheming is crashing down around me.”
A faint smile from Finley. “Let’s go inside.”
The Story Continues in Book 7!