Page 11 of Danny's Dance

“Say goodbye to the world,” Regan snarled, effortlessly pulling up the man by hiscollar.

Without blinking, our attacker let himself get dragged away, just staring at our group with darkeyes.

Was this a trick? Were we missing something? Why was this play notworking?

“Wait...” I narrowed my eyes and approached the boy with his shaggy dark hair. I knew I was standing too close, but there was something intriguing about him. I tilted my head to the side and tried to catch hisgaze.

His dark eyes bored into mine with a sadness that I hadn’t seen in a long time. Not since I last looked in the mirror that was. And then it all became clear. He knew a lost fight when he sawone.

“What’s your name?” I softly asked, knowing that this could easily be the worst mistake Imade.

The dark guy just stared back, wordlessly. His eyes boring into mine like he was able to read my deepest thoughts. I crossed my fingers behind my back, praying that I didn’t just willingly stare into the eyes of one of the old sorcerers of this world. If he was one and blessed with the gift of foresight, he’d break down my mental walls in a heartbeat, set the wolf free in my chest and I’d be devoured by my own spirit. But there was just something abouthim...

“Darren,” the dark-haired guy suddenly spoke, his name falling from his lips like the last flower before winter. It was almost a resolve, as if he decided that his name would be his lastword.

I stared at him, a glimmer around his neck catching my attention. I reached out to him, ignoring his flinch, and pulled a necklace from underneath his torn shirt. A necklace I could have recognised with my eyesclosed.

I tugged on the piece of string, tearing it from his body. I could feel hot anger flame up in my stomach as I realised there was only one way he could’ve obtained this. By killing the rightfulowner.

“Whom did you take this from?” I snarled, bringing my face only inches from his. I didn’t care who he was or where he came from. I would destroy him. Darren glared back at me, a different kind of anger flaring up in his eyes as well. “Give it back,” he growled, like he was in any kind of position to makedemands.

“Where did you get this from?” I asked again, dangling the chain with the amulet in front of hiseyes.

“It’s mine. Give. It. Back,” Darren spat out, his teeth angrily clenchedtogether.

I turned to Regan and JP, hoping they got what I was on about. From Regan’s flaring nostrils and JP’s disappointed look, I could tell they knew. There were only a couple of things that would upset Regan and this was one ofthem.

The necklace was part of a priceless heirloom that had run in our families since the beginning of time and only the rightful heir was allowed to bear it. Only the prince was allowed to wearit.

“Do you know what thisis?”

Darren struggled against Regan’s grip as he tried to snatch the necklace back. “Do you know what this is?” he countered back, a desperate look appearing in his eyes as he clawed in openair.

And then he said a sentence that I had never expected. One that shook me to my verycore.

“Don’t let me die without it,” Darren asked, almostpleaded.

I eyed the necklace again, noticing how it slightly gravitated back to the young man and instead of wondering where he got it, I suddenly wondered about something else. Was thishis?

I exchanged a quick glance with my two lovers and without even having to ask, Regan lowered Darren to the ground. The dark-haired boy fell to the earth as he eyed the necklacedesperately.

“Are you the lost heir?” I asked softly, not even sure if this could betrue.

Darius Laruel had been missing for more than two years. There hadn’t been a sign or a spotting of him eversince.

Surely, this shaggy looking guy couldn’t be the man who would be king someday? Who would bemykingsomeday.

Chapter Seven - Darius

“You’re Darius Laruel,the lost prince,” I stammered, my mouth dry and my hands trembling in excitement. My brain was only slowly processing the reality of the situation. We just found the lost heir to thethrone.

“I prefer Darren,” he corrected me, still eyeing his locket and me desperately. I stared at the amulet in my hand, not believing I was looking at the originalpiece.

“Could I have it back?” Darius, no, Darren asked. I glanced at JP and Regan, who curtly nodded. Hastily, I handed the necklaceback.

“My apologies, I didn’t realise...” I started an apology, but Darren interrupted me with a humourlesschuckle.

“You didn’t realise you were in the presence ofroyalty?” he mocked, using his fingers to make airquotes.

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