The Lunar Prince

by L Ward

  Nath was glowing. “This is something that’s important to you,” he stopped in his tracks before they reached the pull of the crowds.

  Evan swallowed and looked out over the gardens. Overnight rain drenched the grounds; the palace woke to every door and window frame jammed with exploding daisies. They’d filled him with laughter when they tumbled into his room spilling pollen over the spellogram from his mum checking in for the third time this week. But that was this morning and the atmosphere was darker now. “Three years ago my uncle killed himself,” he said.

  “I’m awfully sorry to hear that,” Nath’s brow furrowed compassionately.

  Evan sucked in a steadying breath and continued, “his wife left him, he lost his job and was kicked out of the house when the money dried up. He started drinking a lot. He tried to hide it and it got out of control really quick. He couldn’t cope anymore,” his voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. Nath’s hand fell on his arm filling Evan with warmth and reassurance, and Evan just opened up. “They found him three days later. Dad took it hard; they’d been close since they were kids. My uncle was like a brother to me, he visited all the time and hang out at Dad’s shop. He was a decent guy, always upbeat and laughing. You’d never have guessed how his story would end. A while later his ex-wife said he’d been struggling for months and when he reached out for help they told him he wasn’t sick enough, or he’d have to join a long waiting list because his illness wasn’t blacklisted and didn’t require urgent institutional care or banishment.”

  “This is what the Trust aims to prevent,” Nath breathed, eyebrows knit. He pulled him into his arms.

  Evan’s breath caught in his throat but this time it was a good thing. He inhaled deeply allowing Nath’s familiar scent to cloak him.

  “You should come to the meeting we’re holding on the first of October. I think people need to hear public opinion and if you wanted to you could share your story,” said Nath.

  A pang of anxiety griped his belly but Evan smiled eagerly. It was too late for his uncle, but not too late to make a difference to others struggling out there. “I’ll be there,” he said.

  “Brilliant,” said Nath. A group of students spotted them, craning their necks as they passed.

  Evan wondered what they looked like, two guys from two different worlds staring out of a window side-by-side. They’d gossip about this, he'd overheard people speculating about him in the sitting-room a couple nights ago. He didn't care about people talking about him, but he did care to not embarrass Nath.

  “Let’s get to Court or you’ll be late for dueling.”

  “Don’t get too excited, I’ll be out this round,” Evan chuckled. The weight of grief lifted and the waves of anxiety returned.

  Nath raised an eyebrow.

  “Never mind,” he said.

  “Why should you be?” asked Nath.

  “I’m just not made for that particular sport,” Evan replied with an awkwardness that rivaled the lore incident.

  “I believe in you,” said Nath matter-of-factly.

  Great spots of red bloomed on Evan’s cheeks. If only he knew. “I guess you’ll see tonight and get a few laughs out of it.”

  Nath’s laughter turned Evan’s stomach to mush. “I’m sure you’ll do fine and if you’re eliminated then it was just for fun, right?”

  Oddly reassuring as it was, Evan smiled as Nath’s lips brushed his own. The urge to collapse in a pile of shameful dreaminess was borderline overpowering.

  “That was your good-luck kiss,” said Nath, pupils dancing in the torchlight; flecks of gold and amber light reflected in his eyes gilding the forest in springtime and capping the ocean with gold. “Let’s go before we miss dinner entirely,” he said.

  Evan was dizzy with kisses and rosy with romance. He tried, and failed, to appear calm, collected and sane as they walked into Court together, or perhaps that was just his anxiety in overdrive. A few smiled and waved to the prince, he returned their greetings and shot Evan a devastating smile before heading up to the royal table with his mother.

  “You’ve got it bad,” was all Jeremiah said when he sat down feeling like he’d been caught red-handed doing something rude.

  Cass’s smile was wicked. “You’ve got no idea, do you?”

  Evan frowned. “About what?”

  Cass shook her head, eyes glittering with secrets. “Do some research on the royal family when you get a chance, more specifically, royal enchantments,” she said, leaving Evan stumped with confusion.

  Chapter 10

  The wait was agonising and then idiots were late. Cass was wired on cortisol, her hair a frizzy nest of rats and her cheeks blotchy.

  To top it all off Dulcatt was late, owing to a student crisis on the second floor (two hydromancers locked in extremely wet combat with Rayne Rivers trapped between them).

  Evan’s palms were drenched by the time the first pairs went up. The room crackled with boundless magic and smelled of smoky winters.

  Cass was called third and matched with a lanky, dark-haired guy with a posh accent and little ability to control his telekinesis for more than a few seconds. It was easily the quickest match; she quaked the spot beneath him and he went down like a vampire in sunlight.

  The crowd cheered and Evan took no time at all to find Nath hanging on the edge of the crowd, sleeves rolled back dashing a smile of impress. The look that transpired left him giddy.

  More bypassed the ring, Blaise jeered throwing his hands up at the crowd after booting Annabel Richards out of the running. At least Evan wouldn’t have to face him again today. Last time he’d gotten lucky, this time might not fare so well. The pairs dwindled, Angelika passed in a shroud of darkness and bladed smiles.

  “Mr Ravenway,” Dulcatt called him forward.

  His palms were soaked and trembling his heart smashing against his rib cage.

  Evan’s opponent, Fabian Doncaster; hard-faced aeromancer, and crony of Blaise, straightened up to all of five-six.

  Dulcatt’s hand dropped and Evan braced; toes gripping soles, knees bent. He’d spent the evenings reading up on professional dueling and, while he had no DPS unique, he wasn’t going to give up that easily. All eyes were upon them, sweat downcast his spine and magic hummed audibly.

  Gales thrashed his sides caging him in a tornado. Evan let the magic flow from his body drumming the air with rhythm. He was at mercy of the cyclone as the pressure rose, banshees of wind screeched in his ears turning them blistering red. Standing there, panicking, he wouldn’t last much longer. Evan’s knees buckled, skin paling sickly and translucent from cold. Magic happened without his calling and his body warmed, pain receding. He needed to move; Fabian’s face creased with fury fingers curling into talons. He raised his arms and Evan seized a powerful refraction through the vortex shaping it into a small orb. He took aim and let rip; the gust caught his legs tossing him into the air.

  The world tilted as Evan thrashed against the current holding him inches above ground. He’d stopped rising, the orb careened toward Fabian but at the last second he ceased the torrent extending his palms and deflecting the now brilliant green orb back to its owner. Evan’s stomach plummeted, his feet hit the floor with a painful zing and on instinct he threw up his arms. It flew with the force of a comet, bleeding every shade of jealousy and spite, and ricocheted off Evan’s arms leaving flashes of raw skin in its wake. Fabian caught it a second time; deflecting back, his eyes burning with determination his body didn’t have, the orb left great slashes like burned pig skin.

  They were tiring and Evan knew Fabian couldn’t take much more damage without collapse, this was his chance. When the orb returned sparking dangerously and swollen to the size of a beach ball, Evan felt his magic coat his skin like a barrier. He didn’t feel the pain when it struck, but Fabian did. The orb caught him across the thighs scorching his trousers and crashing to the ground leaving cracks. A moment later and Fabian went with it staring at Evan in blatant disbelief.

  “Match!” said D
ulcatt.

  The crowd roared, Evan’s heart soared and Cass was screaming the place down. He whipped round searching for Nath and found him tip-toeing his way to the victory corner and wearing pride like a dapper suit.

  “We’re through!” said Cass, seizing his arms and spinning him. “This is where the real competition lies.”

  Evan stopped spinning and said, “you’re crazy, and anyway, it’ll be fine, Cass, you said so yourself.”

  She eyed him dubiously as Jeremiah sauntered up behind her.

  “I’ll get the boot soon but you’ll make the team I can feel it.”

  “You lied,” said Nath appearing over his shoulder, face full of laughter. Jealous stares and curious glances littered the crowd behind him and Evan felt the colour rise in his cheeks. “You told me you were bad at this.”

  Evan’s blush deepened, “I am bad I just got lucky.”

  “Twice in a row?” the prince clearly didn’t believe him.

  Evan shrugged feeling giddy with butterflies and high on adrenaline.

  “I liked the orb duel. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anything like it,” said Nath, eyes twinkling. “I’m yet to figure out your unique…”

  Evan was drenched in the downpour of compliments; his heart rose and magic glittered around them. “I didn’t intend that. I thought it was over when he caged me” he said.

  “You’re lucky you’re unharmed,” said Nath, lifting Evan’s arm and examining his smooth, upturned wrist. The touch alone set his blood in motion. “I think Fabian’s paying the medic a visit.”

  Now he felt like shit. “I should be disqualified…”

  “Don’t be stupid,” Cass scolded from behind. “He chose to duel with it. You earned this.”

  "She’s right; I wish I could stay longer but duty calls,” said Nath, meeting Evan’s gaze full-on, the corners of his gorgeous lips tugged upward. “Maybe we’ll see each other this weekend?”

  Evan’s grin outshone the sun. “Awesome.”

  Nath smiled handsomely and bowed to Evan, holding his gaze. Students nudged each other, staring. The prince hadn’t bowed to anyone but the king and queen.

  When he was gone Cass said, “get a room! You looked like you were about to snog his face off.”

  Evan turned away trying to hide his smile, “I should congratulate Angelika…”

  She grabbed his elbow and laughter bubbled up her throat. “You know she doesn’t stick around, quit avoiding me.”

  Evan allowed himself to be dragged over to a cluster of abandoned chairs in the bottom corner, a few servants arrived with glasses of wine for the victors and music rose to life, filling the chamber with celebration.

  “What’s going on with you two?” asked Cass, swilling her wine and appearing as villainous as a character from one of his favourite books.

  Evan groaned. “I don’t know. That’s the simplest answer. I don’t know.”

  Cass’s face washed with confusion. “Did he find you the other night?” she asked. By now Evan was so red and uncomfortable-looking she didn’t wait for his answer, and sighed.

  “Yeah,” said Evan.

  “And?”

  “I kissed him,” he said in a low voice.

  Cass clapped her hands over her mouth and Jeremiah sat back puffing out a breath. “He’s gay?”

  Evan was nodding, smile stretching so far it hurt. It felt good to be around people like Cass and Jeremiah who were so chill and non-judgmental. When some guys passed him in the corridor jeering and saying he stunk of weed, Cass was quick to defend saying nobody with a brain gave a hoot. He considered they perhaps wouldn't if he didn't always smell a little like weed.

  She whistled long and low.

  “Does the king know?” asked Jeremiah.

  “Nath said yes, but I don’t know what the king think about it,” said Evan, tipping back the rest of his drink.

  “You didn’t ask?” said Cass, eyebrows wrinkling.

  “Isn’t that a bit rude? Anyway, I was kind of busy,” said Evan.

  “Yeah, getting your rocks off with our future king,” Jeremiah snorted. “Maybe you’ll be his consort.”

  “I doubt it,” said Evan.

  “Why not? Never sell yourself short, dude, it seems like he’s into you,” Jeremiah shrugged stretching his long legs out. Cass lay her head on his shoulder still wearing that satisfied smirk.

  “You’re crazy,” said Evan and the conversation moved on. He couldn’t shake the questioning burning inside him: what did the king thing about his son dating a commoner? He’d figure it out soon enough, people were already gossiping about them, some of whom seemed extraordinarily jealous. He'd never had people jealous of him before.

  Chapter 11

  Saturday morning was blanketed in hazy purplish clouds, sunlight spilled across the damp gardens creating powder puff shadows; daisies littered every window ledge. Evan was woken up at nine-thirty by Cass pounding on his door.

  “I can’t find Jeremiah anywhere, and he was supposed to meet me to do alchemy homework and help me find the Book of Impossibilities,” she burst out when he finally answered the door.

  Evan yawned and rubbed his eyes. “I haven’t seen him. I guess you want my help?”

  “Would you?” her face filled with hope that he didn’t want to crush.

  “Alright then, give me five minutes,” said Evan. She cheered as he closed the door and tugged on a random hoodie and some jeans. When he was washed and halfway presentable, they took off for the library, detouring at court for a late breakfast snack (he’d insisted, couldn’t possibly work on an empty stomach).

  ∞∞∞

  Two hours went to slaughter by the time they found the Book of Impossibilities camouflaging itself to appear as Guide to Spellbinding your Romantic Interest. The librarian had been unhelpful at best pointing them in a thousand possible places and scratching his head.

  “It’s a popular book, you see,” he’d said, gruffly. “Shunted around from place to place nearly impossible to keep track of that’s why I’m not letting it out of this library, and I’ve had to spell-tag it. Doesn’t help that it takes itself on walkabouts.” He looked furious and Evan pitied whoever tried to smuggle it beneath their jumper last week.

  Jeremiah turned up after lunch looking sheepish.

  “Thanks for ditching me,” she snapped.

  “I’m really sorry, Cass I completely forgot—"

  “Where were you?”

  “I was with Erald Johnson editing the university newsletter: clubs, activities, local events… it’s being published soon, and he caught me when I was looking for you,” said Jeremiah.

  She eyed him closely a moment and sighed. “You could have at least spellogrammed. Whatever, you can make it up to me with a foot rub,” her face was set, determined.

  “I can arrange that, want to go now?” Jeremiah pepped up.

  Evan rolled his eyes. “And you guys said I have it bad?” He left them with their vague promises to see him at dinner and hoped to the gods the stressed-out librarian didn’t walk in on their game of footsie or the book wouldn’t be the only thing restricted.

  He decided to head back to his room for a smoke and chill via the scenic route of the upper floor corridors with the sprawling windows and gilded benches. Everything about the palace glittered with magic dust and smelled of riches beyond your wildest measure.

  The brighter weather had drawn almost everyone outside now autumn was starting to settle, the west wing halls were almost deserted. Around the corner a loud scuffle snatched his attention. He glimpsed a whisper of black clothing and a door to one of the unused sitting-rooms struck the wall with enough force to rattle the windows. Curiosity lay waste to the cat; he moved closer and peered through the crack.

  “You shouldn’t be seen hanging around with people like him,” said Will.

  Evan’s heart froze. What was Will doing in the west wing out of classes? He’d made it abundantly clear that his rooms were in the east wing, close to the roy
al family.

  “You’ve no right to tell me who I can and can’t speak to,” Nath snapped back.

  Evan’s heart lurched. What the fuck?

  “I can speak to you however I like. I saw that shit you pulled the other night. Did you think I wouldn’t look out me window or something?” Will’s sneer was cut-throat; devastating.

  Holding his breath, Evan peered further in and spotted Nath standing some feet away wearing a look of intense fury. Flames from the hearth licked hungrily up the walls and the tension sparked glimmers of white.

  Nath turned pink. “You have no say in my life anymore, Will. It’s done. Move on for good.”

  Hurt struck Will’s face, rapidly replaced with anger. “You think so?” he snorted, pupils glinting. “I could walk out those doors,” Evan’s heart stopped as Will pointed directly at him but his eyes were focused possessively on Nath, “and ruin you.”

  Nath’s hands were balled and shaking.

  Evan was amazed at how he remained so calm in the face of that.

  His voice came; low and deadly, “if you truly believe that’ll make me love you then you’re sorely mistaken. My love hasn’t ever been, and never will be, yours.”

  An odd look crossed Will’s face and he shook his head. “Imagine how disappointed Elijah will be in you if you turn up with that. Even more disappointed than he is already in having something like you for a son,” his smirk sharp enough to cut. “I wonder if Evan,” he spat it like bile, “knows how fucking frigid you are.”

  Nath looked stricken; he opened his mouth but no words came. He straightened up, the hurt in his face vanquished, all that remained was a mask of artificial serenity. “And you wonder why.”

  Will seized Nath by his wrists and shoved him into the wall, pinning him.

  Nath gasped to the melody of sizzling flesh.

  Evan burst through the doors, throwing himself at Will like a bull in a china shop, the force sent them crashing to the floor.

  “You fucking burned me,” said Nath, face unreadable, body racked with tremours.