Page 55 of Sundered By Fate

Valerian chuckled, a sound like velvet over steel. "I could say the same of you."

He leaned back, studying Aric with those penetrating eyes. "You have a talent, Solarian—a gift for handling the unexpected, even when the odds seem insurmountable. I suspect it comes from the same wellspring as your magical abilities."

Aric shifted, his instincts sharpening. Valerian had seen him in action tonight, confronting the anomaly in the ballroom. Had the lord regent drawn conclusions about Aric's true nature? Or was this merely a compliment on his crisis management skills?

"It's not easy, finding one's place between such opposing forces," Valerian continued, as if reading Aric's thoughts. "But I believe you possess a rare strength, Solarian—one that our kingdom desperately needs."

There it was—the hint of Valerian's ambitions peeking through the polished façade. He spoke of political needs and alliances, of strong leadership and renewed resolve in uncertain times. All the while, those glacial blue eyes watched Aric closely, weighing his reactions.

"I sense that we are kindred spirits in some ways," Valerian said with a soft smile. "Both of us pushing at the edges of what's considered proper or possible. We should not let small-minded others dictate our destinies."

Aric swallowed, trying to ignore the heat that spread through him at Valerian's nearness. "And what destiny do you have in mind for us, my lord?"

Valerian laughed softly. "So direct. I should expect nothing less from you." He reached out, his fingertips brushing over Aric's jaw with a feather-light touch. "Tell me, Solarian—do you ever tire of the role you're expected to play? The dutiful mage, the loyal servant to others' whims?"

Aric held his gaze, though it was an effort not to lean into that touch. "My path is my own to choose," he said.

"Is it?" Valerian leaned in closer, his lips a breath away from Aric's ear. "Or have you merely convinced yourself that's true because it's easier than facing the alternative?"

Aric's heart pounded, his thoughts a tangled mess of warning and want. Valerian was right—there was a part of him that had settled for the safety of familiar roles and expectations, content to play his part in the hopes it would bring some measure of peace.

But there was also a part of him that longed for more—that craved the kind of passion and freedom that Valerian's touch promised.

"You deserve so much more," Valerian whispered, his lips brushing against Aric's skin. "And I would give it to you—a partnership like none the world has ever seen."

Aric shivered, his resolve wavering as Valerian's hand came to rest on his shoulder. His stare held Aric captive, promising a glimpse of something beyond even Aric's wildest dreams.

But even as Aric leaned toward him, drawn in by the spell Valerian was weaving, he couldn't shake the sense of danger lurking beneath those seductive words. Did Valerian see him as a potential lover, or merely a political asset to be leveraged? And what price would Aric be willing to pay for the kind of power Valerian offered?

Aric wondered if Valerian was trying to incite something within him. All those years at court with Malekith had taught him how to play the role of willing pawn—honed it intosomething he could even relish at times. But even with the threads of treachery and deceit binding them both, there had always been a truth there between him and Malekith, more sacred to them than any other loyalty or oath.

Could he ever hope to forge such a bond with someone like Valerian? The lord regent was ruthless, certainly, but no more so than the demon prince. And his ambition to reshape the balance of their world could dovetail with Aric's own dreams . . .

Malekith's words came back to him, the soft, sultry rumble of his voice.You think you are anything more than a pawn, Aric? A clever, useful toy?He always knew Malekith saw him that way. Aric wasn't certain whether it was worse that he had enjoyed the role he played for Malekith's delight.

Valerian wanted him for more than his cleverness, though. Valerian wanted—what? A mage to show off like his many artifacts? A warrior for their cause?

But when Aric looked into Valerian's eyes now, he thought there might be something more there.

"And what cause would that be, exactly?" Aric said. "The Pureblades seem not to think you've moved past your long-ago disagreements."

"Oh, I have not." Valerian traced a fingertip along Aric's jaw and grinned at him. "That is the fight of a generation. It is our war with the demons that is far more important now. I would settle for peace between our species and no more."

That was more than Malekith ever asked of Aric. Perhaps too much.

But if it wasn't—what choice did Aric have?

Valerian's finger stilled its stroking. His touch settled like a weight on Aric's skin. It was hard to remain unmoved by such scrutiny. He felt something hot and desperate begin to stir in his chest.

He thought about Valerian's words, the promise of a partnership. It wasn't just about power; it was about shaping the world in their own image. They could build something lasting together—a legacy that would stand the test of time.

Aric frowned as they spoke on of the possibilities. Was he seriously considering it?

Yet if he could have wished for a world without the constant threat of conflict lurking just around the corner of every day, and a way to move forward from them and expand, that might be worth some measure of uncertainty for him. The war had drained so much from both sides—lives lost, resources squandered. What might they have achieved instead, if not waging endless battle with one another? There was more to be done in Astaria alone that might transform their reality without setting foot outside the walls?—

Aric blinked rapidly, then laughed softly at himself.

A wild, desperate part of Aric craved to give himself over to what Valerian was offering him now—the same way he had fallen headlong into Malekith's arms. Aric knew the hazards well enough, and yet the dangers only heightened his longing, charging the air between them.

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