Page 51 of Celestial Bodies

Dacias was there, grabbing the man by the hair on the back of his head. He turned the man to face him, then smashed his fist into the man’s face.

He fell to the ground, and Dacias jumped on top of him, punching him in the head. People started making a commotion, and the band stopped.

Souzie and Klorin ran over, both pulling Dacias off the man.

Dacias looked up at Julen. His face was red with fury. The man lay below him, incapacitated. Dacias rose to his feet, his angry eyes never breaking away from Julen.

“Put it on.”

Julen quickly pulled his tunic back on, his fingers clumsy as they trembled.

Dacias narrowed his eyes at Julen. “Outside.Now.”

Julen felt his stomach rattle. Dacias looked frightening. Julen was nervous but also couldn’t deny how fucking sexy Dacias looked. He justdestroyeda man who assaulted Julen.

He gripped Julen’s hand and led him to the exit. Souzie and Klorin began to follow.

Dacias looked at them and gritted out, “Not you two.” His voice had an edge that made the three of them uncomfortable. Souzie and Klorin stopped. Their eyes were wide.

He turned back to Julen and said, “Let’s go.”

20

Chapter 19

Julen

Dacias’s hand let go of Julen’s as soon as they descended the stairs and reached the cobblestone streets. He walked toward an alley where fewer people were milling about. Julen followed. He was frightened, but he succeeded in accomplishing his goal. He had to talk to Dacias. They reached the alley, and Dacias whipped around to face Julen. “WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING IN THERE?”

Julen jumped at the shout. Dacias appeared ready to punch holes through the stone walls, flanking them.

Julen swallowed hard and replied, “I…I…”

Dacias clenched his fists. “You did that on purpose. You took off your shirt and danced with some pig who could have hurt you. He could havehurtyou!”

Julen’s breathing accelerated.Nothing he could do would hurt as much as not having you.His body shook as he screamed, “Well, why do you care? You were making out with that…that… WHO WAS THAT? Can you forget me that quickly? You can just pretend like everything we did didn’t happen. Well, why can’t I?”

Dacias pointed at Julen. “Hekissedme! I didn’t ask for him to kiss me. I was going to leave.Youtook off your shirt and started slinking about thedance floor!”

“Because you were with someone else, and I wanted to make you jealous!”

Dacias turned around and kicked some debris scattered about the alleyway. “So you admit it! You admit you were trying to make me jealous!”

“OF COURSE,I was trying to make you jealous! Do you think I wanted to dance withhim? Do you know what it did to me to see you with that man?”

Dacias took a breath, about to say something to Julen, then stopped. He shook his head and turned around to lean his forehead on the brick wall.

He turned to Julen again and said, “I have to go.”

Dacias began walking away, and ice shot through Julen’s heart. He was watching Dacias walk away. Again.

Fight for him. Fight for him.

Julen ran after fast and positioned himself in front of Dacias. “No! No! You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to show me that life can be something else and then walk away from me. That’s not fucking happening tonight, Dacias. You will listen to me!”

Dacias spoke with a low, controlled tone. “There’s nothing to say. You lied to me.”

“And I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Dacias. You have no idea how much I hate myself for lying to you. I wanted to tell you. I tried so many times, but I just couldn’t.”

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