Page 31 of Celestial Bodies

Dacias led them to another long table to set their drinks down. He gripped Julen’s hand and took him to the slower dance area.

Julen wrapped his arms around Dacias’s neck. He looked into those gorgeous blue eyes and melted. The giant glowing crystals hanging on strands tied between wooden posts illuminated the highlights of Dacias’s hair. Julen’s eyes traveled down to Dacias’s plush lips with their peachy hue. He smiled at Julen and closed his eyes. Julen felt Dacias’s arms travel down, resting at the small of his back. Julen couldn’t help himself. He took Dacias’s hands and placed them on his ass. Dacias looked wide-eyed at Julen, who chuckled and winked in response.

Dacias smirked. “Well, well, well.”

Julen blushed and turned his gaze away from Dacias. “Sorry.”

Julen could feel Dacias rest his head on his. “Don’t be sorry. I’m not.”

Julen sighed into Dacias’s muscular chest, intoxicated by the citrus smell radiating off him. Julen could barely hold back his yearning to kiss this man. It was more potent than anything he’d ever felt.

Julen could feel Dacias’s smile form as he asked, “How do you like Rugiria so far?”

Julen peered back up at him. “I didn’t think it could get better than Cupidor, but your home has proven me wrong. It’s magnificent, Dacias. It’s everything a territory should be. I love it.”

Dacias’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “You have no idea how happy Iam to hear that. It means a lot to me that you came, Arlo. I know it was a shock, and you were nervous, but you came, and I can’t thank you enough.”

Dacias turned Julen’s head toward his own. Their eyes locked. “My home is everything to me. My brother asked me many questions about you and your heritage. I could tell he was nervous and wanted to ensure you disagreed with Haligran’s embargo. I told him I could see how opposed you were to Haligran’s policies. I trust you, Arlo, and I let him know he can trust you too.”

Julen felt his stomach sink.He should know.Dacias should be allowed to decide if he can see past my family.

The words crept into Julen’s mouth. The confession was right on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t do it. The words would poison this moment. They would shatter the intimacy they shared. That soft look in Dacias’s eyes would vanish to shock. Then, it might morph into something worse. Rage. Bitterness. Coldness. Expressions Julen had grown accustomed to in Lapistra. He couldn’t bear to see Dacias look at him that way.

What if I never tell him? What if I leave for Cupidor and just become Arlo? No.

Julen cursed himself for being a liar. He leaned into Dacias’s chest, trying to hide the tears that welled in his eyes.

I’ll tell him. Just not now. I can’t do it now.

All at once, the music stopped, and a loud horn wailed across the field. The people at the festival began cheering and making odd guttural sounds.

Julen looked around as the festival began chanting and carrying on. “What’s happening?”

Dacias smiled. “So…you wanted to see my animal form?” He waggled his eyebrows at Julen.

Julen gasped. He gripped Dacias’s arms and nearly squealed. “What? I get to see? Now?”

Dacias nodded. “My animal form and pretty much everyone else’s. That’s what that horn means. It’s fairly common at a Rugirean festival for everyone to shift at some point. Blow off a little steam, you know?”

Blow off a little steam?!Julen couldn’t believe it. Words escaped him. He tried to think of a response when someone next to them sprouted along, bushy tail. The nose extended from his body, and he began to grow fur. He brought his hands to his head and cracked his neck as one would do if they were working out a kink, and with that single move, he became a fox. Julen assumed the animals would be bigger, the size of humans or something, but that wasn’t the case. This fox looked exactly like, well, a fox!Remarkable…

Julen nearly fainted. He grabbed Dacias’s shoulders, who chuckled. “How are you, Arlo? We can leave if this is too much.”

Julen looked at him. No. He couldn’t imagine doing that. Julen had to embrace it. If he couldn’t confess tonight, he wanted to show Dacias how much he loved and supported him and Rugiria.

“No. I can’t wait.” He swallowed. His body shook as excitement took over. “Show me.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure. I’m dying to know. Please.”

Dacias smirked at Julen. “Very well, Arlo. As long as you are…” Dacias gave Julen a thumbs up, and a claw sprouted from it.

Julen screeched and then giggled like a little child. “You are going tokillme. I am dying with anticipation, please!”

Dacias cackled and distanced himself from Julen. He gently closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the rest of his fingers sprouted claws one at a time. He bent forward, and his arms and legs began to adjust in length. It looked as if his body sucked in Dacias’s clothing. It didn’t tear and fall to the ground; it just vanished within as the animal form took over.

Beautiful golden fur grew all over his body, and the fiery hair on his head grew longer and longer to become a dazzling mane.

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