Page 62 of Celestial Bodies

Julen’s hands wrapped around Dacias’s length, and he stroked him while rubbing his tongue around Dacias’s cockhead.

“Julen…F-fuuuuck.”

“Are you going to come for me? Are you going to shoot it down my throat?” Julen asked as he stroked Dacias even faster.

“Yes…yes…I’m coming…Fuck…”

Dacias’s testicles clenched, and that glorious feeling at the root of his cock began throbbing, sending ripples of pleasure so intense Dacias thought his knees might buckle.

Julen wrapped his mouth around Dacias, catching his release just in time, and swallowed every last drop. He hummed with pleasure as Dacias pumped his orgasm inside Julen’s throat. Julen’s eyes rolled in the back of his head, and he grinned around Dacias’s shaft.

Julen rose from the ground, and Dacias wrapped his arms around him.

“I want to taste me on your lips,” Dacias whispered.

He pulled Julen in for a kiss, tastingthe salty release on Julen’s lips. Their tongues brushed against one another, and Julen moaned in Dacias’s mouth. This time, Dacias shuddered at the sound.

Dacias leaned back and looked at Julen. “My Julen. I love you so much. You’re mine.”

Julen nodded. “I am. And you’re mine.”

They slanted their lips and kissed until they heard Souzie say, “I would be loving this if it weren’tmypantry.”

26

Chapter 25

Julen

A wall of clouds blocked the moon, and the streets of Lapistra were darker than Julen had ever seen. He felt uneasy and briskly walked through the cobblestone streets back to the castle. His instructions were to enter the castle conspicuously from the main hall and be noticed by the servants. Souzie wanted as many people as possible to witness his entrance so nobody would suspect him of being a player in this plan.

Julen entered, making far more noise than he usually would. Several servants milled about the castle, finishing last-minute tasks. They bowed as Julen passed.Good. Let them all see me.

Soon, the castle would be asleep, and he’d send the signal out his window. Souzie and Dacias would arrive through the back path, leading from the brush along the stables where Latima would be waiting. Souzie had already snuck in once with the help of the servant, Latima, and she seemed confident that Latima could be trusted.

The castle posted only one guardian at the back, so Julen was optimistic he’d either not notice Souzie and Dacias or be sleeping. The most talented guardians were posted at the front or closer to Haligran.

Julen moved at his leisure, grabbing a bite from the kitchen. He was known for skipping dinner and having something light at a later hour, andhe wanted things to seem routine.

Next, he strolled about the royal receiving room to observe the new installation, an awful painting of Haligran slitting the throat of a black panther —clearly a jab at Rugiria—and finally made his way to his bedchamber. He acted as normal as possible, conversing with the servants along the way.

Once in his room, Julen entered the lavatory and splashed his face with cool water. Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw the tension in his face. Hopefully, he hadn’t looked like that in front of the servants. Julen dried his face with a towelette and strode to his bed, laying himself down with his feet dangling over the foot of it. He closed his eyes and inhaled when he heard a terrible shrieking.

Julen bolted up.Mother?He quickly rose from the bed and exited his chamber. He stood in the hall and listened. He heard the cry again, coupled with a crashing sound like a mirror toppling over. He knew it was coming from his parents’ private quarters and sprinted down the hall to intervene.

Julen tried to open the door. Locked. He could hear his mother’s screaming intensify. His father had also begun shouting, and Julen heard the crisp sound of skin slapping against skin, followed by the crashing of furniture. His father never struck his mother. He had always directed his violence toward Julen, but there was no mistaking what was happening behind that locked door. Julen went into action, backing up several feet, bracing himself, and slamming into the doors with the weight of his entire body. He was unsuccessful, but there was movement, so he backed up and collided with the doors again. They wouldn’t open. He planted his feet, steadied his gaze, and sent a cannonball of wind through the center of the double doors.How did I do that?

The doors flew open, bits of wood splintering at the frame, and he bolted into the room. His mother, seeing her son, ran to him, screaming his name, but his father caught up to her and pushed her from behind, hurtling her into Julen. She slammed into him, and together they crashed to the ground.

Lauta screamed at Julen. “One of those whores is pregnant. He wants me to raise it like it’s my own. I told him I won’t. I won’t!”

Julen froze in shock. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing andseeing.

Haligran screamed at his wife, “You will do what I tell you because that is your duty as my wife!” He gestured to Julen. “You made me a failure. I need a child worthy of the throne.”

Lauta jumped to her feet and began beating her fists against Haligran. “I won’t raise some whore’s bastard! I won’t!” Haligran backhanded Lauta across the face, catapulting her into a nearby desk.

Julen lay on the ground in shock. His mother raised her upper half off the ground, blood trickling from her nose.

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