Page 58 of The Night Prince

Declan was firmly staring at the floor.“Uhm… if I needed any…”

“Oh, no, no, no, if he really wants to tend to you, he’s going to tend to you.And you’re not going to stop him,” Michael said with a curl of his lips.“One of the many things I will be discussing with him this evening will be his supposed desire to be your personal physician.”

Declan’s head jerked up and his mouth opened in an “O” of dismay.

“That’s what I thought,” Michael chuckled and shook his head.“We will see if he really wants to assist.If he does,youwill be seeing him, Declan.And that’s the end of that discussion.”

Michael was always very careful to only “dad” them when it was strictly necessary, which was rare.He treated both Finley and Declan as adults and respected their choices, even if he thought they weren’t the best.So he must have been really worried about Declan’s health to do something like this, especially with the Sun King.It gave Finley a warm feeling inside.

His own parents… Well, they hadn’t been exactly the loving parental types.They hadn’t even been in Lightwell when the Leviathan had attacked, but were traveling in Europe on business.He hadn’t seen them for months before the war began.So not seeing them after… He mourned them, but in the same sort of detached way that they had cared for him.Declan’s adopted parents, Declan himself, along with Michael, Shonda and Gemma were far more family to him then his own parents had ever been. Not to mention books.Books had always given him joy, too, and a sense of belonging.

Declan was waving his hands frantically as he said, “You shouldn’t bother him with–”

But Michael cut off Declan smoothly, “I will read the room.Don’t you worry.And I will know if he truly has a desire to monitor your case.Either way, Declan, I’m asking–maybemorethan asking–for you to see someone about this.”He reached across the bar and squeezed Declan’s forearm.“I couldn’t love you more if you were my blood.Both of you.”He encompassed Finley in that sweep of love.“So I need you to be healthy and happy.”

Declan slowly nodded.“I understand, Michael.”

Finley smiled broadly.“We know and we feel the same about you, Shonda and Gemma.”

In the past, he wouldn’t have been so open with what he felt.Before the war, that was.But having seen how things could turn in an instant, he was quick to tell those he loved just how he felt about them.Because they could be gone with the passing of a shadow.

Michael nodded.He released Declan’s arm.“Now, I need to go speak to our king about the way of the world.”

They watched him stride off.Declan let out a soft sigh.

“Did the Sun Kingreallysay he’d be hurt if you went to another Mender?”Finley asked.

Declan nodded.“He was really insistent about it.”

“Wow.That’s… that’s… wow.”Finley just blinked at him.“What did you think of that?”

Declan seemed to be inspecting the glass he was polishing with minute detail.“Uh, well, it was all right, I guess.”

“All right?”Finley goggled.“I’m having trouble not staring at him with slack-jawed wonder from this distance and he was right next to you.Touching you!It must have been better than all right.”

The color was back in Declan’s cheeks.“It’s not like he’d ever… It doesn't matter if I liked it or not.He’s not for me. He’s the king and I’m… well, I’m me.”

Finley felt a wave of sadness suddenly for his best friend.Declan had never shown any romantic interest in anyone.To suddenly be interested in someone like Aquilan and believe it wouldneverbe requited… His friend deserved all the happiness in the world!Yet Finley was not so naive to think that Aquilan could have a relationship with Declan. Not a long term one or a serious one.They were worlds apart.A king and a bartender.No matter how extraordinary the bartender was–and Declan was extraordinary–Finley supposed that such a thing could not be.

That would be the king’s loss then.For Declan is worth it.

“Finley, does the name Vulre Vultorus mean anything to you? Or Lady Ashryn Zinsadoral?And what about the Venomthorn?”Declan cast his voice very low.

“Ah, I can’t say any of them ring a bell,” Finley confessed.

Declan grimaced.“So you never told me about them in relation to your game or research or anything?”

Finley shook his head.“No, I don’t think so.But maybe–”

“You would remember if you did.”Declan waved a hand through the air.“You remember all that kind of stuff.”

“Do you want me to–to look into those names for you?”

“Yeah, tell me if… if you find anything.They’re… they’re Kindreth names and people, I think,” Declan said quietly.His eyes were shadowed and Finley couldn’t read the emotions behind them like he usually could.

Finley drew out his notebook and wrote the names down in his neat, clean hand. “I’ll find out everything I can.”

“Thank you,” Declan said.

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