The Lunar Prince

by L Ward

  Evan hoped to Kathryn his hands weren’t moist as a kitchen sponge. “It's like stretching muscles I didn’t know I had; like waking up at six.a.m. to sunshine and dewdrops and being just a little high,” he said. “But I hate that if the world knew they'd demand it from me. I'd be a commodity for some rich guy to hire and be forced to chase his spoiled kids around healing their bruises. At least, that's what's happened to any previous healer who went public.”

  “Your power belongs only to you. It’s entirely up to you if or when you tell people you can heal,” said Nath.

  Throughout his childhood his family had said much the same thing, but it felt different coming from someone outside their little bubble. Something inside him clicked and the need to hide himself dissipated. “When I was a baby I healed abnormally fast and I healed others around me. It got stronger as I aged. It feels great to finally tell someone,” he said, flashing a whisper of a smile. And then they were kissing. Nath’s lips were softer than his memories and sweeter than budding roses, his chin smooth from a recent shave. A soft sigh escaped Nath's lips and Evan was lost.

  The appointment turned into a fantastically long make-out session until a petite red-headed maid interrupted with the arrival of more wine and snacks. She swept a dining cart into the room laden with crackers and an entire board of cheeses, a fountain of molten chocolate, fluffy marshmallows and plump exotic fruits. She served Nathaniel fresh wine and turned to Evan flashing a tiny, knowing smile.

  Evan’s cheeks glowed a guilty red.

  She curtsied with a smile and disappeared outside.

  “She knows,” he said the moment the door clicked shut.

  Nath laughed, tasting his drink with kiss-swollen lips.

  Evan imagined what his own face looked like, he was certain his face was radioactive.

  “She’ll be the center of attention in the servants’ quarters tonight,” he said calmly.

  “So it’s true. Servants do gossip about their employers,” Evan grinned. Magic sparkled as it drifted, coating the tips of Nath’s silvery hair making it glisten with shards of ethereal light.

  His laugh was infectious, his neck starting to flush from the wine. “We’re dreadfully exciting,” he said. “Tell me about your family’s shop?” he asked. Evan, unprepared, drew a blank. “Your father’s shop,” a smile was toying on Nath's lips and Evan was taken with immense urge to kiss it off.

  “Oh,” he said. Fuck. There was no point lying, not that he’d do it anyway, but if Nath didn’t like it then what could he do? “My dad designs, blows and enchants bongs, pipes and other smoking tools and sells them in his shop. He’s a pyromancer, so glassblowing comes naturally to him and he does each one by hand. He's recently started taking them to conventions and there’s now a chance he could expand internationally.”

  Nath’s reaction wasn’t what he expected. His handsome face was illuminated by his smile. “That explains what you were wearing the other day.”

  Evan’s cheeks burst into bloom. That fucking hoodie with the molecular structure of THC emblazoned all over it, front and back. “I—”

  “I’m not judging you, Evan, royal I am, but fool I’m not,” said Nath.

  Evan fidgeted nervously.

  “Let’s talk politics,” said Nath, lifting his wine and swilling it; smiling with amusement. “You voted to legalise in January?”

  “Yes,” said Evan, bravery striking a match in his belly. If Nath was willing to listen it might be one step closer to lowering the stigma and maybe get rid of street dealing. “I couldn’t wait to have my first legal smoke. I wish there were proper dispensaries open so it was easier for everyone to access, they’d make so much money. Charities could get involved and maybe sick people could get prescriptions,” he continued, excitement bubbling up his chest. For a minute he'd forgotten who he was speaking to, this conversation had cropped up dozens of times before and reaction was either positive, or a look of disgust. “Sorry if that’s out of line.”

  To his surprise Nath laughed one of those adorable nose-crinkling kind of laugh. “Not at all. I like your ideas a lot, Evan.”

  He was glowing. “Why aren’t there any?”

  Nath gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling. “Dad doesn’t care much for it and he’s just not had a chance to look atindependent dispensation Surprisingly nobody has backed a proposal for it.”

  “But it would be a gold mine,” Evan spluttered. “The health, financial and social aspects are amazing. It makes people enjoy grafting. Stress-related problems would drop.”

  “I know, I know. I enjoy a couple of brownies on my weekends off as much as the next guy but it’s not me you need convince,” said Nath.

  Evan was disgustingly aroused at the idea of Nath spending a lazy, stoned Saturday in his private rooms; probably naked. “What does the king think about it?” he asked, burning with curiosity.

  “To tell you the truth, I don’t know. I never thought to ask, he’s been wrapped up with the situation in the Dead Country for a long time now. The media are hounding him for answers he hasn’t been able to give. Progress is slow, they’re not very forthcoming,” said Nath.

  “He’s doing well though, isn’t he?”

  Nath nodded.

  “Does he know you like weed?”

  “Will told him I tried it,” said Nath. “He’s fine with it as long as I’m not zoned out in a public interview,” he added.

  “Really? Will again?” Evan raised his eyebrows and both of them burst into fits of laughter.

  “The meeting for the Prince’s Neurological Trust is next week, once that’s over we could start work on a project to open dispensaries. It’s possible medicinal studies could be undertaken at the Trust, if they receive the right funding. When it’s ready and has solid support we can proposition Dad,” he met Evan’s nervous gaze.

  “We?”

  “Evan,” said Nath, shifting so close they were inches apart. “I can’t whisk you into dark corners forever. I plan to tell him we’ve been seeing each other, in fact, I suspect he already knows,” he laced their fingers together, palms moist and drumming with adrenaline. He was nervous. The prince was actually nervous around him.

  Evan’s stomach fluttered with excitement.

  “I’m quite open with my parents. They’re protective of me, and if we’re to continue dating I would be honoured if you’d have dinner with us soon,” said Nath.

  Evan found it nearly impossible to formulate a sentence with his heart smashing against his ribs. Dinner with Nath’s parents meant dinner with the two most powerful people in the country. Terrified as he was by the prospect, he liked Nath a hell of a lot more and felt a surge of willingness to do whatever it took to make him happy. “Wow, yeah I’d love to as long as you give me a heads up about dining with royals or I’ll probably embarrass myself.”

  Nath’s smirk was delicious. “You’ve nothing to worry about, you’re perfectly civilised,” he said.

  Evan finished his wine and glanced at the clock, it was almost midnight and they had lessons in the morning. “Shit, it’s late.”

  Nath started laughing, cheeks glowing. “We lost track of time.”

  “I guess I’ll see you in class,” said Evan falling into Nath’s lips like a mountain of pillows. Fuck; he could get lost in this boy for days. The kiss became another stifling-hot make-out session, and by the time Evan stumbled out the door, dizzy with kisses and high on romance it was gone one.

  ∞∞∞

  Six-and-a-half hours sleep was less than desirable, but it worked. Apparently Nath didn’t share Evan’s sentiments because he was pale as the moon and the faint smudges beneath his eyes last night had bled into noticeable shadows. He smiled with boyish radiance when Evan stood beside him, grinning like an idiot.

  The rain vanquished and the gardens smelled of autumnal showers and book days. Conditions were perfect for the hydromancers so Lady Cascade set them the task of filtering water molecules for drinking into an enormous glass barrel.

  W
ill’s presence soured the mood and he tactfully avoided Nath like a panther stalking the perimeter.

  Evan turned to watch the aeromancers, including stressed-looking Jeremiah, attemptiong to perform the overly complicated task of dispelling the water from the air, wringing it like a rag into a bucket.

  “This soil is perfect for growing honey leaves,” Cass observed, running her fingers through it without staining her skin. “They’re one of the main ingredients in brewing treatments for the common cold,” she continued as Will began edging over.

  The humidity made sparking blazing infernos a strenuous task and he wasn’t pleased by Lady Cascade’s suggestion to help the aeromancers and act as a human blow torch for them.

  “He’s a cheating bastard, isn’t he? Never uses any actual skill to win duels,” Blaise’s voice filtered over. He swirled his fingers in the air creating a flurry of snow which settled at his feet in a sparkling heap.

  Evan sighed.

  “Listen—” Will said, the moment he was close enough to speak.

  “Go away,” Nath said quietly, eyes flashing danger.

  Evan couldn’t blame him, what Will did was unforgivable in his eyes. He caught Will’s hazardous gaze and the seething hatred shocked him.

  “He’s feeling a bit menstrual today,” said Will, meeting Evan's awkward.

  Nath wore a brilliant shade of crimson, panic flashed in his eyes. “Remember what I said.” The warning was clear.

  Confused, Evan remained silent.

  Will swelled proudly at his effectiveness. “I’ll try.”

  For the rest of the class he kept shooting looks varying from miserable pining to full-blown anger in Nath’s direction.

  Nath bid goodbye with a gracious bow leaving Evan’s tummy full of fuzzies and Will green with envy.

  ∞∞∞

  Night fell casting a luminous shadow over the gardens; the moon swelled an enormous metallic orb. The crisp autumnal breeze carried the scent of crunchy leaves and dewdrops. Evan didn’t intend to be out longer than necessary to complete this phase of his lunar chart. As fascinating as it was that the moon shines with true fullness for a matter of moments before it begins to wane, it was cold and Evan dreamed of hot chocolate in bed.

  Sparing a glance at earth's breathtaking satellite, shining in all its glory, his mind drifted back to Nath’s apparition the last time he was charting the skies and he hoped Nath wasn’t missing out on this tonight.

  ∞∞∞

  “Out with your boyfriend?” said Jeremiah, catching up with him in the halls later on.

  “Charting the moon,” said Evan dressed in a frown. “What were you doing?”

  “I had an appointment with Flint about our lore submission,” he replied.

  He knew damn well he was lying. The percentage-counting lore work hadn’t been issued yet and Flint certainly wasn’t making pre-submission meetings. “Everything okay?”

  “What makes you say that?” he asked briskly and didn’t give Evan a chance to reply before he said, “hey! Did you hear about the Mist?”

  Nice change of subject. Evan shook his head.

  “The king was summoned- get this- someone from the Dead Country attempted to pass the Mist. Well, they were slaughtered by it, and when the king’s men went to retrieve the corpse, he’d been diced perfectly into chunks, bones and all.”

  The image was breathtaking. “Who told you this?”

  Jeremiah went to speak but caught himself at the last moment looking sheepish. “It’s the buzz around campus. Apparently news came from one of the servants.”

  “So, it’s not actually validated?” said Evan.

  “Not entirely, but the palace aren’t denying anything,” he said, face splitting in a clownish grin when he spotted Cass doing homework in her favourite sitting-room.

  Evan was grateful for the distraction and dropped into his seat checking out his newly-snapped polaroid shots of the moon while Jeremiah filled Cass in on the alleged situation.

  “Researched any new strategies?” she asked after god knows how long. “Semi-finals in two days and we have to go through.”

  Evan had spent hours poring over strategies and ideas but none of them applied to his type of magic. It’d proven to be nothing short of frustrating. He could heal, not harm, and no matter what he tried to do it felt like there was almost no improvement. “Cass, whatever happens it’s gonna be awesome” he said.

  “I know but I really want this,” she said, brown eyes shimmering with hope. “Loads of the other activities have their teams sorted out- the newsletter; the botany group, Enchanted Zoological Society, the alchemy club, Orbing, The Dragon Trackers Association, the portal media group, and even the baking club.”

  “Cass, chill, you can join as many as you want you’re here for three years,” Evan tried to reassure her.

  “I know, I know all of my eggs in one basket,” she sighed twirling a lock of her ponytail, “It’s just fun doing stuff as a group, you know?”

  “So let’s make plans, you take me on the botany tour and I’ll give you some weed,” said Evan.

  “Yes to the tour, and no to the weed. You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen the king’s own brand of roses,” she grinned, sharing a look of excitement with Jeremiah. He returned it with a withering glance.

  “Damn it,” said Evan. “Anyway, I’m not sure I want to see the king’s rose.”

  “You wouldn’t mind seeing the prince’s,” Jeremiah muttered.

  Evan’s cheeks burst into flames and his friends roared with laughter. He had no idea who he hated more right now, himself for blushing like a maid and being transparent to the max, or them for bringing it out of him.

  Later that evening his bedroom corridor was deserted; glittering with the palace’s magic and smelling of recent showers. The moment Evan unlocked his door, a force from behind slammed into the room, door banging shut behind him. He whipped round and his stomach flipped.

  “Ey up, Evan.”

  “Get the fuck out!”

  Will was as handsome as the sun was bright but all of that beauty dulled in the wake of his bladed smile. “You’ve got ten seconds to give me a reason why I shouldn’t beat the living shit out of ya,” said Will, shoulders squared.

  Evan wasn’t weak; he wasn’t short either, but Will was 6’3, made of muscle and wouldn’t fight fair. “I’ve done nothing to you,” he said.

  Will seized him by the front of his cloak and flung him into the bathroom door with a deafening bang. Evan had never been more grateful to be a healer as Will’s knuckles cracked a second pair of ribs. Magic filled his body and the pain receded until the next blow came.

  He struggled but managed to shove him off, panting for breath and high on adrenaline. When Will took his next swing he jabbed him in the gut hard enough to wind him.

  Will hissed, eyes a dusky shade of murder.

  Evan dodged a punch: then another, became cocky, took a left hook to the cheek, and hit the ground hard.

  “Piss off back where ya came from,” said Will, “you’ve no place here and you’ve no business with Nath. It’s not gonna be a happy love story. He’s a prince, you’re a pile of shite. Why would he pick you?”

  “You think you’re a big man but you’re just a coward,” said Evan. It took immense effort to remind himself that as infuriating and despicable Will was, he had his own share of problems.

  Will’s laugh was saccharine. “A coward who can beat your ass with or without magic.”

  “If that’s what you think makes you a man then no wonder Nath doesn’t want you,” he said, anger burning deep in his belly.

  Will's eyes flashed and he raised his fist again.

  This time, he was ready to defend himself.

  Footsteps were outside the door and Jeremiah, Andrew, Erald and Rayne poked their heads in looking apprehensive.

  “What the hell is going on?” Jeremiah demanded, eyes darting from Evan on the floor to Will looming over him. He marched in and Will immediatel
y straightened as though ready to strike.

  “Nothing. Stay out of it,” he spat.

  “I’m calling a medic,” said Rayne.

  “No!” Evan’s innards constricted. The last thing he needed was a trained healer sponging bruises that were already fading. “Best three out of five, man?” he turned to Will.

  The asshole stared at him, eyes twinkling for a long time before he held out a palm and dragged Evan painfully to his feet, clapping him on the back sending vibrations through his ribs. “Yeah, I’ll come back tomorrow for a rematch,” he said lightly, clapped Evan on the back again, and strode from the room wearing confidence like a badge of honour.

  “Ugh, cave men,” said Rayne, and she disappeared down the corridor. Andrew followed suit looking eager to run back to his friends and tell them all about this. Erald had left the moment he laid eyes on Will. Jeremiah, however, stayed. The room smelled of sour tension and a little like sweat.

  “Are you going to tell me what really happened?” he asked.

  “No, and don’t tell Cass about this she’ll freak out,” said Evan rubbing his cheek and skulking into the bathroom.

  “Man, I don’t know what that guy’s issue is but take my advice: don’t mess with him.”

  “I didn’t. He came out of nowhere,” said Evan.

  “Yikes, you look rough!” the mirror hissed. “Put some cream on it, sweetie!”

  “You got a punch in, though. Nice one. Hope you hurt him!” Jeremiah was grinning when he poked his head back in.

  Evan sighed, “thanks, I guess.”

  “Welcome, man. I’m heading to bed now, see you tomorrow.”

  Evan nodded and locked his door the second it closed. He stood there, no longer throbbing with pain, but shaking with anger. How the fuck did this happen? He wasn’t a confrontational guy and there was Will beating the crap out of him in his own room out of extreme jealousy.

  A while later he got into bed, drenched in mortification and stinking of failure. He’d have to face up to Will tomorrow morning but what worried him most was his imminent lack of injuries.