Star Dust (Force Of Gravity Book 1)

by Ali Winters

  “I did. I wanted to… thank you,” he stumbled over the words and dropped his eyes.

  Not only did the great Prince of Jupiter, come to Earth to check on me, but acting timid?

  Lucian’s brows shot up, and he pushed up onto his elbows to get a better look at the suddenly unsure man before him.

  “Thank me?” He rubbed a hand across his chest. Sore, and the skin pulled with each movement, but it was much better than a large, open wound.

  “Yes, I wanted to thank you—for spurring me into action. I have been taught from the day I was born that a solid plan must be in place before going into any fight. I forgot that not everything is always so simple,” Caelan lifted his gaze to meet Lucian’s stare. “If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know what would have become of Oriana. You risked your life to save her, and I will be forever grateful for that.”

  A wave of relief washed over him at the confirmation that Oriana was safe. He took a slow breath, letting his eyes slide shut for a moment. The reality quickly crashed around his ears, the knowledge that she had commitments that didn’t include him. The last thing he needed to hear about was the Jovian’s undying love for her. He’d risked his life jumping in front of that blade, and he would do it again and again and again, if she needed him to.

  But the truth of the matter was, she didn’t. She would never ask that of him, and she would never need that of him. Not now that she had Caelan.

  Oriana had never been his to protect.

  “It’s not a problem. Really, I’m glad to have been of help to you two,” Lucian mumbled.

  “When you have healed, you should visit her. I think she would like that.”

  “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. Thank you though. Just, if you could tell her I said, I am glad she is safe... I’d appreciate it.”

  “I think she’d prefer the message came from you directly. Besides,” he waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t know when I will have the chance to visit Soleis to give her the message, what with a Citinal to rebuild as well as repairs to the palace.” His tone suggested he was almost bored with the conversation, but his sharp eyes remained locked on Lucian’s face.

  “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t she be on Jupiter, with you?”

  “I doubt that would be appropriate now, with our betrothal broken.”

  “Broken?” Lucian’s mind raced, trying to wrap itself around what those few words meant for him, for her, for…

  Caelan’s face turned serious. “I know she cares deeply for you in a way I had hoped she would care for me after many years together—if I were lucky. I can’t compete with that, nor would I wish to keep her from her heart’s desire. While I do care for her, I don’t love her the way she deserves… like you do.” Lucian averted his eyes, not wanting to admit how much those words had made his heart soar.

  “I don’t—”

  “I’ve seen the way you look at her as well, Lucian. You don’t have to admit it, but please, do us both the favor of not denying it,” Caelan chuckled. “It’s all right. You were able to be there for her and give her what I could not. You won her heart by fighting for her when I did not.”

  Lucian was speechless. He’d tried to hide his feelings as best as he could, from Oriana, from Caelan and even himself. Had he really been that transparent?

  Rising from the chair, Caelan pushed it back against the wall and headed toward the entry way. He paused with his hand on the doorframe, “When you are finished healing, go to her. She will need you now more than she will admit.”

  Oriana

  Oriana stood outside of the destroyed ballroom, leaning over the balustrade where she’d first spoken with Lucian… His dark eyes that sparkled from behind the mask flashed in her mind.

  The sun lowered itself through the sky in the distance, sending fiery pink, red and orange hues across her crystalline world.

  So much had happened since that night. She’d changed, though she hadn’t realized it at the time, even still, Oriana couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed. All that was certain was that nothing felt the same—not the home she’d known her entire life, not her heart and not her future—nothing would ever be the same again.

  Looking up to the hill in the distance, she studied the outline of the new palace as it was being built.

  The citizens of Soleis had been wonderful to her. The second she had asked for their assistance in rebuilding, they hadn’t hesitated. It was possible for the palace behind her to be repaired, but the pain and loss it held within its walls was too much for her to bear. She needed to say goodbye to her home, her family, friends, and memories. They would be in her heart for the rest of her life, but their absence here, in her childhood home, haunted her.

  With a heavy sigh, Oriana turned to glanced behind her at the place she was leaving to her past, the place that was now little more than rubble and star dust.

  Tears sprang to her eyes, burning them.

  It could have been so much worse. She reminded herself.

  While, too many had died, more had lived.

  A male voice behind her cleared his throat, startling her. Oriana whipped around, facing the unexpected guest.

  “Lucian…” she blinked in amazement, almost sure he was a figment of her imagination, of her deepest wishes and desires.

  Had she wanted to see him so badly that she conjured him here?

  Oriana stared wide-eyed as he ascended the stairs, stopping a few feet in front of her.

  “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I—I’m fine, I only had a few bruises… how are your injuries?” Her mouth went dry. She pressed her arms against her sides to prevent herself from reaching out to him.

  “I’m a little sore still, but, I’ve recovered. Caelan sent his healer over. She’s the best in the universe. Thanks to her, the healing went twice as fast.”

  “I’m glad,” she said, unsure of what else to say. He was here, causing millions of thoughts to race wildly through her mind, but none would come out of her mouth. Lucian fixed her with an intense stare until she looked away.

  “Thank you, for helping me. I know I wasn’t the easiest to—”

  “Oriana, you were great,” he said taking a step forward.

  “I wouldn’t have made it without you,” she added.

  “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

  The last thing she wanted was him hanging around out of guilt, or obligation. Her heart ached for his presence, but she wouldn’t take it unless… She hesitated before letting the words rush out. “I know it might sound odd, but, I would really like it if we could be friends.”

  “I don’t want to be friends Oriana,” his voice was low and gentle… almost wounded.

  “But…” A lump formed in her throat as her heart sank. She didn’t want to lose the one person she had left. His friendship meant more to her than anything else. Just knowing he was alive and safe, gave her the strength to go on. She could rebuild her Kingdom if she had his friendship.

  Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips. Words failed her, refusing to come to mind, but she knew losing him would be more than her heart could take.

  “But, you’re not betrothed. Caelan paid me a visit and told me as much.”

  “He what?” Heat rushed up her face. “Why would he tell you that?”

  “Because he knew what we’ve both been lying to ourselves, and each other, about since the day we met.”

  “I haven’t lied about anything.” She stepped back.

  It wasn’t possible he could feel about her the way she felt about him. Her mind flashed back, to him fighting the guards and having them converge on him, then to him lying at her feet, bleeding when he’d knocked her out of the way of the sword and every moment in between. She’d loved him before those moments, but they cemented her feelings, cementing them into her heart, where they would stay for the rest of her life.

  The realization hadn’t hit her until she’d been left alone—Lucian, Caelan, and the rest of th
e royals had returned to their home worlds—and began the rebuilding of Soleis.

  Those nights she cried, she had longed for the comfort of his presence. She had hoped for his friendship if nothing else, but he had no desire to have anything to do with her anymore.

  He said it himself; he didn’t want to be friends, not that she could blame him. The memories of what had happened kept her from sleeping at night and so far they only intensified, rather than fading with time.

  “Why are you here instead of at the new palace?” he asked.

  Lifting her head, she followed his gaze toward the sparkling castle on the hill.

  “I just needed to be away from the noise for a while… And, I needed to say goodbye,” she said, her voice fading as she finished. Her eyes glazed over with tears, blurring her vision.

  “Oriana?” His sudden nearness startled her and she blinked away the tears as she tilted her head up to meet his gaze.

  How long had she been looking at nothing? Lucian looked questioningly at her.

  “Oriana, you will never be the sun in my life—”

  “I get it, Lucian. You don’t have to tell me that again.” She turned her back on him. Her heart rebelled, she couldn’t take much more.

  Please, leave, just leave.

  Oriana begged silently.

  Had he come just to hurt her, after everything she’d been through, everything they’d suffered through together?

  “Oriana—”

  “Please don’t, Lucian…” She cut him off with a wave of her hand, keeping her back between them.

  Don’t let him see the hurt.

  She pulled in a shaky breath, hoping he hadn’t noticed the tremor in her voice.

  Standing with her back to him, she could feel the heat radiate from his body, telling her that he was close. One arm snaked around her waist and pulled her into his chest.

  Startled, she stiffened, her hand gripping the masculine limb that held her against him, fingers pressed into her side. His other arm wrapped around her shoulders.

  Closing her eyes, she released a shuddering breath. Lucian hugged her to him, his face buried in her thick wavy hair. After a moment, his hand moved up her neck to cup her cheek, gently turning her face to meet his eyes. Oriana’s hand shot to his wrist, simultaneously wanting to push him away and pull him closer.

  “You will never be the sun in my life. But you have always been the star, guiding me through the dark, when I’m lost.”

  She dropped her gaze. “Lucian…” The warmth of a single tear trailed down her cheek. His thumb wiped it away as he turned her around. His hands held her face close to his.

  Her heartbeat raced, pounding in her chest, trying to escape its cage. Against her will, her eyes flicked to his full lips, before meeting his eyes again. His eyes danced; he’d seen the path of her gaze.

  Oriana wanted to lean forward and press her lips against his, but she wouldn’t make him feel guilty for her. Lucian had done enough, protecting her as she ran around the Universe and even risking his life to protect her. Even now he knew she was hurting and was trying to comfort her. He didn’t want her friendship, but he wouldn’t stop doing things, wouldn’t stop saying things, that made her long for so much more.

  Shaking her head, she stepped back. The absence of his warmth, clearing her head.

  “You can’t say things like that to me, Lucian.”

  “Why not?” His question sounded angry.

  “Because, it… you just can’t.” How could she tell him that it hurt too much to hear words like that, when he would just leave her like everyone else? Knowing she would be alone again, after seeing him, would make her life emptier than it had been minutes before he showed up.

  “Tell me why?”

  “I… because…” Oriana paused and took a calming breath. She needed to end this now, make him leave.

  With each passing second that he was near, it would hurt that much more once he was gone. “I am alone now, and it just makes it harder to live with—everyone I cared about is gone… everyone leaves me. I don’t know if I can—” her voice broke as hot tears slid down her cheeks. Tears she thought had finally dried.

  The frustration left his face as he gathering her in his arms. “I will never leave you,” he whispered into her hair.

  Timidly, she raised her arms and wrapped them around him, holding him close.

  It would hurt, but she needed his comfort now. Oriana let herself be enveloped within his embrace one last time. She let herself believe his words. For a moment, she could pretend they were together, on the sandy beach of Ceres, safe, and together.

  “Lucian?” she asked into his chest.

  “Mmh?”

  “Please don’t say those things… it hurts. I love you. I can’t bear it if you say those things to me.” Words she’d never meant to say out loud came pouring past her lips.

  He tensed in her arms, then relaxed. She’d told him. He would never feel that way about her, but at least now, he knew. Maybe now he would stop saying things she ached to hear.

  After a while, she dropped her arms and pulled away. “Thank you for coming to visit me.” She twisted her hands together.

  “You’re being difficult,” he said, pulling a hand through his hair. The messy strands fell down in a rich cascade.

  “No, I’m not!” her voice was louder than she had anticipated.

  “Oriana, I am trying to tell you something,” he insisted.

  “I don’t know what you would need to say that you already haven’t…. Shouldn’t you be resting?”

  “I’m fine, Oriana, I told you that already. Don’t change the subject. Will you please listen to me?”

  She thought about arguing, trying to send him away before she could convince herself that he would stay, here, with her. She nodded, surrendering.

  “I said, I would never leave you, and I meant it. I will stay by your side for as long as you let me. Protect you with my life, every day.”

  “You don’t mean that…” She couldn’t wrap her sleep deprived mind around his words. This was a hallucination brought on by too many sleepless nights.

  He stepped back, his warm mahogany eyes darkened. “I love you, Oriana. And you can argue all you want, but it will never change the truth.”

  “You love me?”

  “Yes!” He threw up his arms. “I’ve been trying to tell you that.”

  Her heart skipped several beats before it restarted, pounding at an accelerated rhythm. She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, and held on as if her life depended on their touch. Lucian’s laugh rumbled in his chest against her ear.

  Wrapping his arms around her, he spun her once and then placed her back on her feet.

  His hand snaked up her spine, pulling her closer, his touch scorching her. She closed her eyes, savoring the sensation.

  Cupping her face, he leaned forward. His warm breath fanning across her cheek as he placed a gentle kiss over each eye. Her lashes fluttered against him and then his lips were on hers.

  Oriana melted into his embrace. His lips moved slowly against hers, teasing, and caressing. Lucian’s warm musky scent enveloped her, filling her with a sense of comfort. A soft moan escaped her and he tightened his arms, pressing her closer. Fire ignited in her veins, the heat of a thousand suns.

  Within his kiss, his embrace, she knew without a doubt that he would never leave her. She was safe. With him by her side, there was nothing in the Universe that could hurt her.

  All too soon, he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

  “I will be by your side, always,” he whispered, his voice thick and husky with emotion. Then his lips claimed hers again.

  As he kissed her, the thousands of shards her heart had shattered into, fused together, healing.

  Erik

  Tilting his head back to the night sky, Erik looked up toward the stars as they twinkled, winking at him in the same way they always had.

  “Are you coming, your Highness?” Ed
in asked, his voice weary with exhaustion.

  Erik was thankful for his old friend. His loyalty, dedication, and willingness to go back to worlds that had been attacked to make sure Oriana stayed safe, and to risk capture so he could assist her in any way possible.

  “Yes, I’ll be just a moment. I need to think alone for a while. I’ll catch up.”

  He pulled in a slow, deep breath and let it out, sighing with the weight of the events that passed. The look on Oriana’s face echoed exactly how he felt at this moment.

  Tired, and longing for peace that would be a long time coming. He wanted peace, with her, and the other worlds of the Inner Ring, but it had to be their choice. When they were ready.

  Pushing them would only lead them to believe he was exactly like his father.

  “Of course, your Majesty.” Edin inclined his head then turned and walked away. With each step his boots crunched in the snow, the sound slowly faded into the distance.

  Everything is such a mess. How will I fix it?

  Erik clenched his fists tightly at his side.

  King Mobius had ruined everything. They’d been days away from a long-sought alliance and his greed had consumed him.

  His eyes traced the sky until he found the Eastern Star, the brightest light in the night sky. Eleven stars surrounded it forming a halo. The symbol of hope, the night guardian protecting the cold, lonely planet from the barrage of meteors that rained down around them every day.

  One, by one, the stars of the halo dimmed, then vanished. Erik watched as each star blinked into darkness, and disappeared.

  If… when—he had to believe it would happen, that it was more than a remote possibility—Oriana came to him to initiate talks of peace and treaties, he would do everything in his power to prove, not only to her but to all of them, that he was nothing like the power hungry tyrant his father had been.

  A frown pulled at his lips as the bright star dimmed and blinked one last time before vanishing into the night. In the blink of an eye, the radiant light was ripped away from its place above his world. A black spot in the night sky was the only thing that remained, leaving him consumed by darkness in the dark lonely reaches of space, hidden from the Inner planets by the Kuiper belt, and floating far outside the Oort cloud of the Outer ring. A bridge no one crossed.