Page 37 of The Night Prince 3
“It was a gift,” Declan answered. “From my…”
Who are you? He asked the elf. Are you… Xelroth Vex?
No answer.
Maybe Finley was talking the elf’s pointed ears off. Maybe he was just ignoring Declan until he arrived in Illithor. And they were face to face.
“Uncle, m-maybe you should step away from h-him?” Elasha’s voice quavered.
With all this talk, Aquilan had said nothing. Declan could feel the Sun King’s warm presence at his side. But he was silent. Yet he didn’t step away. Declan should wish he would. If Aquilan hated him then he would leave. Go back to Tyrael. Be safe.
And what about after? When I save Finley and bring him back? Will there be a place for me here any longer?
But that assumed the elf was not his father, not the Night King, and wanted nothing to do with him. Declan didn’t think that last part was true. The elf was ready to meet him and… what? Offer him a new life? Did he want a new life?
“Declan?” Aquilan finally said. A breath. His name. Declan’s heart lurched.
“I would never hurt you,” Declan promised. “Never. But Snaglak is right. I think. I am… I have to get to Finley.”
“Declan!” Aquilan’s hand was on his chin, turning his head to look at him.
Declan couldn’t look in his eyes. What if he saw fear? Or hatred? He’d thought he wanted that, but he couldn’t bear it. He wanted to remember Aquilan smiling at him. He wanted to always see the Sun King laughing in daylight, not scowling at him in the dark.
“Look at me, Declan,” Aquilan said. Commanded.
Declan’s eyes flickered up to Aquilan’s. No hatred. His heart sang. Aquilan’s face was beauty incarnate as it always was. Concern was written in his thoughtful brow. More in the tug of his lips. The Sun King reached up and took off Declan’s sunglasses.
“Green,” Aquilan breathed. “But with a glamour, I suppose they would be. Not…”
“Red? I don’t know. I have no idea,” Declan admitted. “That’s why I have to go.”
“To Illithor?” Aquilan questioned.
“Yes. To get Finley. And–”
“And to find out who you are?” Aquilan finished for him. Such kindness in his voice and eyes! Such understanding! No fear. Just concern and grief for him.
“Someone is waiting for me there,” Declan admitted.
“Who? The person watching and listening to you?” A trace of alarm.
He nodded. But he wanted to soothe Aquilan’s fear for him. “He saved Finley.”
“He saved… saved Finley?” Rhalyf stepped towards him. The golden-skinned elf looked pale, sweaty, shaking. “Finley is with… with… him?”
“Yes, Finley’s safe,” Declan said, certain of that. “Asking questions. Having the time of his life most likely. If it is… well, he’s safe and that’s all that matters. But I must go to him.”
“Safe? How can you be sure? After all, that depends on who this mystery person stalking you is!” Elasha got out. “They could be using Finley to lure you to them!”
Her fear of him from before seemed to have bled away again. She appeared to like him against her better judgment. Or maybe it was because her uncle seemed to like him very much.
Helgrom was stroking his beard. “No one can simply go to Illithor, Declan.”
“He can. He says… it’s home,” Declan explained. “Our home. His and mine.”
Aquilan’s blue eyes widened. “You are not going there alone to meet this person.”
“But he could be…” Declan couldn’t say the words.
