Page 7 of Celestial Bodies

The guardians at the checkpoint raised their brows when they saw Julen’s name beside his UIN. They were too low in rank to report back to his father, so Julen couldn’t help but love their reaction.

The downward-sloping tunnels were dotted with young Lapistreans carousing as they made their way through the tunnel. Souzie assured Julen that the children of the Lapistrean nobility were too stuffy to go to Cupidor, and he felt more confident than ever that he wouldn’t be recognized.

The tunnel had been built using gray, matte stone, a staple of Lapistrean architecture, then shifted to metallic black. Souzie said that the glowing crystals, shifting from piercing white to deep red, signaled their approach to Cupidor’s entrance.

Glowing crystals were a natural resource found in the soil of the continent Terratan. Their illumination was natural and dissipated over many years. Lapistra had always favored harsh, glaring white stones, so Julen hadnever encountered red crystals before.

He followed Souzie out of the tunnel, and his eyes widened. The shimmering red and purple crystals, suspended from posts scattered throughout the city, illuminated the revelry below. There were men dressed as women and vice versa, clusters of courtesans, and street performers with groups of revelers twirling around them.

Julen’s stomach rumbled with nerves. He’d never seen such a frenzy of activity. Everything felt alive—so different from the drab, gray mountains of Lapistra.

Souzie nudged him with her elbow. “Are you ready?”

Julen swallowed, then said, “I think. I’m nervous.”

She wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “Don’t be nervous. You look delicious, and everyone here is trying to forget the pressures of territory conflict. You’re in good company. Just keep your wits about you, and don’t drink as much as me. I’m counting onyouto get me back home tonight.” Souzie took him by the hand and led him along the metallic black cobblestone roads.

They reached the Black Crag, Souzie’s favorite bar, and she draped herself over the ridge and reached for the tapster.

“Mindel, I’m so parched. The usual, please?”

The hulking Mindel strode to Souzie, wearing a patch over his left eye. Julen looked around; the purple and red crystals mixed to cast a sultry burgundy glow over the patrons.

In a gravelly voice, Mindel spoke to Souzie. “Parched? Ha! You’re here almost as much as I am, and I own this dump! You’re still not quenched from last night’s display?”

“I can’t stay away, Mindel! Only you can spindle this thirst in my…mouth.” She gave Mindel a seductive wink.

Mindel rolled his eye. “And those nobles say we’re tawdry. If they could only see what’s become of the Lapistrean youth of today—”

“They’d throw themselves at my feet in a fit of arousal and pledge devotion to my every whim,” Souzie finished.

Julen couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “As you can see, my friend is a paragon of modesty.”

Mindel laughed hard. “I like him! Who’s your friend, Souzie?”

“Oh, just some poor stray I found on my way here.” She waggled a brow at Julen.

“Welcome to the Black Crag. Would you like what Souzie’s having, or are you hoping to have a pulse tomorrow?” Mindel asked.

“I can’t help it if I look like a siren and drink like a sailor,” Souzie pouted.

Julen wanted to suggest pacing herself when he locked eyes with a man from across the bar.

His tall, muscular frame stood inches above Julen. A mop of strawberry-blond hair framed his sculpted face and piercing blue eyes. His sun-kissed skin looked like honey.

Julen rested his hand on his chest to ensure his heart hadn’t stopped beating. They held each other’s gaze, the man giving Julen a crooked smirk.

“What are you looking at?” Souzie followed Julen’s gaze. “Fuck. That man is sizzling.”

“Yes…” Julen responded through his entrancement.

“He’s Rugirean,” Souzie noted.

Julen’s eyes widened as he noticed the green claw marks, the symbol of the Rugirean Fighting Forces, on his neck.Oh no.

Souzie leaned in and sang in his ear. “He’s looking at you.”

Julen choked. He shook his head and averted his gaze from the beautiful man. “No, he’s not.”

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