Page 3 of Celestial Bodies

Julen couldn’t speak, his eyes darting, holding back tears.

“ANSWER ME!”

Julen wanted to scream. He looked up at his father and couldn’t suppress his scowl.You did this to me.

Haligran snarled, “Don’t you dare sneer at me!” and jolted forward. Julen crouched and draped his arms over his head.

“Haligran!” Queen Lauta entered. “Not now.”

Moments later, Glacia Cunnis, Julen’s fiancée, stepped into the room, flanked by her parents.No. Did she see it? Isn’t she at school?As if this day needed to be more humiliating.

Julen shivered at Glacia’s disdainful expression. Her dark brown eyes zeroed in on him.

Julen’s parents had announced the engagement at a lavish gala hosted by the Cunnis family four weeks ago. It was the first time Julen had heard the news, and from the look on Glacia’s face, it had been her first as well.

Neither of them wanted this marriage. Julen couldn’t blame her. Whispers of Julen’s “softness” had circulated since puberty. Who would want to walk into a marriage withthatrumor circulating?

It would be so much easier if he could be honest with Glacia. Perhaps establish an “understanding.” But he couldn’t do that. He didn’t know if she’d even care. Julen was a homosexual. He’d known since puberty, and he also knew he had to conceal it. Homosexuality was illegal in Lapistra, and if anyone found out… He couldn’t think about that.

Once news spread about his progress—or lack thereof—in thetraining intensive, poof! A wedding! With rumors about his sexuality swirling and the looming threat of a disastrous performance at the showcase, his parents must have believed that an arranged marriage would mask one of Julen’s shortcomings and, hopefully, overshadow a potential failure at the showcase.

Silence filled the room. Not a soul knew what to say, but Glacia’s mother was always an endless source of mindless chatter. Naturally, she felt compelled to break the awkward silence.

“I am sure nerves are to blame, Your Highness. It must be daunting for you young men. We women, finesse our wind manipulation inprivate! Such a spectacle of power is unbecoming for a demure lady. I could never imagine having so many watch me as I manifest. I’d feel naked! It must have been nerves.” Her eyes crept toward her daughter, and her tone grew sharp. “Right, Glacia?”

Glacia rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mother. Nerves.”

What a warm marriage we’ll have.Glacia’s parents didn’t share their daughter’s loathing for this engagement. Who wouldn’t want their daughter to become a princess?

Julen could feel the room waiting for his reply, but he had nothing to say.

It was Queen Lauta’s turn to break the silence. “There are refreshments at the castle. We had planned a celebratory soiree…”

Glacia’s mother plastered a look of regret on her face. “Oh, my gracious Queen, your generosity is limitless. Unfortunately, we must decline. Glacia needs to return to school. I do hope you understand.”

“Of course,” Queen Lauta replied, “let me walk you to your carriage. Coming to Julen’s showcase, Glacia, was so good of you. I know how busy you are with your studies.”

Glacia nodded with reverence, and then her eyes fell on Julen. They brimmed with hatred. She curtsied and forced out, “Prince Julen.”

Just before leaving, Lauta turned to look at Julen. He could have sworn he saw a flash of sympathy. She looked like she had before she suspected his truth—before the intoxins consumed her. It vanished as quickly as it came.

She left, and Julen sat alone with his father standing before him.

Haligran spoke through clenched teeth. “Get up.”

Julen’s stomach sank, that bomb of panic from before once again exploding inside him. He couldn’t move.

“NOW!”

Haligran’s yell jolted Julen to his feet. He fixed his gaze on the floor, trying to avoid looking at his father.

Haligran strode to the corner of the changing room, where a candle flickered. He gripped it by its glass holder and turned to Julen. “I couldn’t be more than twenty feet away. Blow it out.”

The stale air in the room filled Julen’s lungs as he took a breath to steady himself. Lupan’s instructions echoed in his mind as it darted from one memory to the next.Find something. Prove him wrong.

A soft breeze cooled Julen’s skin.Please, let this be it.His arms wrapped about the breeze, attempting to grip it as if it were corporeal.

Julen moved fast. He had to control it. He reeled back and snapped his hands forward. His eyes opened, and he saw his father standing on the other side of the room, gripping the candle. The flame flickered as if to mock Julen.

---