by Kayleigh Sky
“Are you going to sleep?”
“I don’t think there’s much chance of that.”
“I need you to play with me.”
Rune laughed and folded an arm under his head, picking out Jessa’s features in the dark.
A seep of green struggled into the room from one of the sconces in the hall, but it was the only light. The shape of a wardrobe set into an alcove was a gray rectangle to Rune. Was it anything at all to Jessa?
The toddler stared into Rune’s face, his chubby fingers knotted in Rune’s hair. His vision was human. Half human, anyway. Maybe he’d memorized his way around. Would he lose his eyesight the longer he stayed down here? Rune hoped not. Some vampires refused to leave the dark, others were happy in the sun.
Nothing was wrong with Jessa—sweet, stubborn, playful—though some vampires despised humans, even a crossling.
The human in Jessa was a part of who he was. Rune loved all of him, so taking him to the surface and letting him enjoy the other half of him was an almost daily ritual. Though it was risky because Jessa was a friendly chatterbox. Keeping secrets was beyond him.
Once, when Rune had taken him to a park, one of the mothers had smiled and pointed at a weed Jessa had picked for Dawn…
“What a pretty flower.”
Jessa had grinned. “I got it for my mommy.”
“I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“She’s human.” The woman had blinked, and Rune had chuckled. “I’m a vampire,” Jessa had added.
The woman had looked at Rune.
“Halloween,” he’d said.
“Oh.” The woman had smiled. “I bet you’re awful cute.”
Jessa had beamed. He lacked the menace that was a natural part of many vampires, though maybe it would develop as he got older. But just in case… In case Jessa was to lose his comfort with the world down here, Rune wanted him to be at home on the surface too. Ever since Abadi’s murder attempt, Rune’s love of Jessa had grown almost painful. He would let no one hurt him.
“Need is a strong word,” he said.
Jessa furrowed his brow. “I need it though.”
“Did you need to eat five tarts after dinner?”
“Yes!”
Jessa giggled, and Rune ruffled his tangled mop of hair. It was an unusual mix of brown and red and gold. An unusual vampire.
A glow filled the empty doorway of his bedroom, and a shadow took shape behind it. Dawn’s gown was loose enough to hide her pregnancy and flowed the way it was supposed to—not the way Mal wore hers. She approached the bed, set her lamp on Rune’s nightstand, and put her hands on her hips. “There you are.”
Jessa grinned. “There you are, Mommy.”
“Yes. Here I am.” She tipped her head and smiled at Rune. “Sorry, sweetheart. I hope you got enough sleep.”
“I’m good.” He wrapped his arms around Jessa and rocked him back and forth. “How could anything be bad with this little monster around?”
Jessa squealed again, and Dawn winced. “Jessa.”
“I’m a fallen angel,” Jessa whispered into Rune’s face. “We all fell down.”
“Us,” Rune said. “Not you. You are an angel of light, blossom.”
“I’m not a blossom.”
“It’s an endearment,” said Dawn.
Jessa gazed at her, a scowl forming on his face. “An en-dear-ent?”
“Endearment. A sweet name.”
“I like sweets.”
“I know. Now really,” said Dawn, holding out her arms. “Come here and let Rune alone.”
Jessa dug a knee into Rune’s ribs and launched himself at his mother. She caught him and picked up her lamp. “Go back to sleep if you can.”
“I want to see Qudim before it gets too late.”
“In that case, you’d best hurry.”
“Bye, Rune!”
“Bye, blossom.”
He yawned, wondering when he’d begun to call his father by name. A surge of guilt soured his stomach, but he pushed his unease away and got up. Breakfast was quick and simple with Jessa complaining because he didn’t get moon lace tarts. After he ate, Rune kissed Jessa on the forehead and went in search of Qudim.
The interior of the castle was like a maze, turning with the ancient faults in the rock. The corridors dead-ended and zigzagged like switchbacks.
He stayed close to the outer edge until he reached a small anteroom and slipped into his father’s study behind the tapestry on the wall.
Two vampires, strapped with human guns, stood on either side of the entrance. In the old days, Qudim’s guards wore wickedly curved swords. But that was before the Nezzaram rebellion and slaughter.
The vampires dipped their chins as he passed. Qudim looked up from the rolls of parchment on his desk.
At Rune’s entrance, he rose, strode forward, and clasped Rune in strong arms. Rune was as tall as Qudim now, but not as strong. As warm as the hug was, the weight of it was like a message about that strength. After a kiss to the temple, Qudim released him and returned to his chair.
“You look good.”
Rune smiled. “I was only gone ten days.”
“Years according to your brother. You delivered my greetings to your mother, I presume?”
He had, and she’d sent none in return.
“Yes. She’s doing well.”
“Kolnadia is not a bad place.”
“There is nothing there, Sire.”
“Until they make it.”
Rune said nothing, and Qudim leaned back. Even in the light, his eyes were as dark as the darkest cave and glittered like diamond sparkles. Glossy, dark hair flowed in waves across his shoulders. The wave, like Rune’s, was a telltale sign of the human blood in their veins. He was beautiful, even more so than most vampires, and Rune strongly resembled him. As he stared back, a smile formed on Qudim’s lips.
“You have something to say to me.”
Rune nodded. “Before I left—”
“You made a deal with Protis Crinnian. A deal you had no right to make.”
A chill stole over Rune’s body and seeped into his bones.
Qudim’s expression was mild, but he had once driven a sword through another man’s chest in front of his family without blinking an eye. And though Jessa could never rule, Qudim was young enough to mate with another vampire, or take one of the younger Dinallahs or Gorans to raise as his own.
Did he really need Rune, who was the son of Qudim’s enemy?
A moment after the thought formed, he castigated himself. Never in his life had Qudim done anything but support and teach him. Rune was going to be King. He just didn’t want to be the king Qudim wanted him to be.
He steeled himself and took one of the chairs in front of Qudim’s desk without waiting for leave. “Protis needs an apprentice, and I have different interests than yours.”
“Sons follow in their father’s footsteps, and I am not a glass blower.”
He gave a small smile and some of Rune’s muscles relaxed.
“I enjoy it.”
“The glass blowing or the art?”
Rune thought for a moment, then said, “Both.”
“Architects draw. I can’t allow you to work in the common square, Rune. I design the buildings in my own city. This is acceptable. You were made to be King whether you like the idea or not. You will be formidable one day. An honor to me and our family. Toiling in the common square is not your destiny.”
Rune heated with anger. Qudim’s eyes narrowed again, but no displeasure crossed his face.
Taking a breath, Rune said, “It’s honest work, and I can do it as I choose.”
“True. It’s the training that poses the difficulty. Unless Protis wishes to live here.”
“He has a life.”
“Then we have a problem, but I will think on it.”
He waved his hand in the air, and the big amber ring on his finger caught the candlelight.
Up close, the stone in the ring looked as though flowers had
gotten trapped inside. A jewelry maker had painted them on though, with the same fine detail as scrimshaw or fang tattoos.
Rune loved art. But he’d known it was a dream that would elude him. Qudim had only a cool appreciation of beautiful things. His ring was a symbol of his power and not a work of art. That power swelled inside Rune too. He didn’t want to retreat to a godforsaken city and eek out a living blowing vases and bowls. He would be king.
“What about cartography?”
Qudim blinked, but he didn’t dismiss it. There were many tunnels and caves yet to be mapped in the rocks surrounding Celestine.
Qudim nodded. “I’ll consider it. Something must be announced at your party tonight. What do you have planned for today?”
“I’m going to meet Zev in the city.”
“All right.” He waved Rune toward the door. “Go. I have work to do.” Rune got up and headed for the door. “Oh…” He looked back. “I’m glad you’re home.”
Rune smiled. “Me too.”
Qudim’s guards dipped their chins again, and Rune strode through the anteroom to the kitchen. Only Uriah and Squy, staring at a game of solitaire in front of him, sat there now. Uriah pushed his chair back, about to arise, until Rune shook his head and nodded at Squy.
“You. Take me to the city.”
Squy rose with a smile, though Uriah’s countenance had grown cautious. Rune smiled at him before he went out the door.
He said nothing to Squy, who followed along behind him until they were on the boat. Then he smiled again, stepped toward a seat in front, and bent close to Squy’s ear on his way by. “Ever leave my sister unescorted again, I will drag you to the surface, peel the skin from your body, and leave you to rot in the sun.”
Squy’s face was only a blur in the pale light, but his eyes stretched wide with a gleaming shock. He stammered, but Rune waved a hand at him. “I don’t want to hear it, and I don’t want to be late.”
“Yes, Prince.”
He sat, and the boat moved out onto the lake.
Zev was sitting on the steps of Celestine Library, leaning back on his elbows. His hair was piled on top of his head, and Rune ached to yank it loose.
He isn’t your fated.
So what? He was still Rune’s love.
Zev nibbled on his bottom lip as he waited. A year older than Rune, but somehow younger. Light glowed under his features, and a languid humor graced his wide mouth. Lean and rawboned. Still growing.
A Dinallah. Second in line for the kingdom after Rune. Though Qudim would reject him and probably take one of his cousins. Maybe Moss, judging him stronger because he was bolder. But Zev was stronger than Qudim imagined.
As Rune strode over, Zev’s gaze shifted and fell on him, lighting up as he leaped to his feet. Rune buried his face in his friend’s hair, and Zev rocked him for a moment, his palm clamped to the back of Rune’s head. “I missed you, my friend.”
The warm, mellow voice hit a cord deep inside him. Rune drew away and looked into eyes dancing with merriment. “What?” he asked suspiciously.
“I have a present for your birthday.”
“What? Where is it?”
Zev looked aghast. “Well, I can’t give it to you here.”
Lips curving up in a grin, Rune took Zev’s arm, and tugged him away from the library. “I have something to show you too. Let’s get some food to take with us. I want to stop for moon lace on the way back.”
“Jessa?”
Rune shrugged. “I like to see him happy. I’ve never met anybody that happy before.”
“Spoiled, you mean.”
“Say nothing against Jessa.”
“I never would. I know how much you love him.”
They crossed a plaza to shops that sold meat pies, pickled fern, and cavefish. Rune loaded up on pies and pickled fern, Zev’s favorite, set the parcels in his bag, and retrieved a book he’d brought with him. He handed it to Zev as they walked toward a flight of steps that descended into a residential cavern. A few lamps in alcoves lit their way.
“What’s this?” asked Zev.
“My birthday present from Abadi.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Zev commented. “Gruesome, but gorgeous.”
The cover—which in itself was rare, because most books outside of a library or school had no covers—was a sturdy, tan fabric. Painted in rich red, brown, and black tones was a picture of a heart wrapped in a woody vine and pierced by nine thorns.
“It’s a history book about the royal families. I haven’t read it yet. That’s not the important thing anyway.”
They went down the steps to the tunnel that took them to Doloria. The name of the neighborhood was etched into the rock and encrusted with citrine. Three stories of apartments followed a natural curve of the cave wall. Stalactites dripped from the ceiling, and children played in a shallow shale-covered basin.
As they walked, Zev opened the book, his steps slowing as he turned the pages. He squinted in the dim light, and Rune dug into his bag. He pulled out one of the small lights he’d brought and switched it on. “Open to the middle.”
Zev frowned at him but let the book fall open. Nestled between the pages was a folded piece of parchment paper. He glanced at Rune, then removed the paper and closed the book. Rune took the paper and opened it. He held his light above it, and Zev leaned closer. “A map. God, it’s old, I can barely read it.”
“This is why we’re going to the Thusia Cave. This map is of the tunnels around Celestine, and this… ” He pointed to a spot on the map, “is the Thusia Cave.”
“There are no tunnels there.”
“That’s the thing.” Rune grinned as excitement zipped through his limbs. “This says there are.”
Zev sighed. “It’s a wild goose chase as the humans say.”
“Well, it’s my birthday, so we’re doing it.”
“What are we doing on my birthday?”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to go to a museum. A human one.”
Rune was silent for a moment. “We’re an odd pair.”
“I love stuff like that.”
“So does Mal. You should marry her. It’s a good match. I’m surprised Qudim hasn’t suggested it.”
“He has.”
That stopped Rune dead in his tracks. “When?”
“Last year. I said no.”
Zev’s parents would give him that right. They indulged him the way Qudim indulged Jessa.
“Qudim let you?”
“We supported him.”
That was true. The Dinallahs had not wanted war, but the Nezzarams were bloodthirsty, so the Dinallah’s had stood against them in Qudim’s favor. Zev had a strange, pained look on his face now.
“I’m not mad you said no,” said Rune.
“It’s not that.” Zev paused, biting his lip as they followed a curve in the tunnel. The farther away from the residences they got, the lower the ceiling fell, but they’d reach the Thusia Cave before they had to stoop. “Do you believe that Qudim and Dawn are fated?”
Rune was stumped for a moment. Maybe. He wanted to, secretly dreamed of it, but vampires usually married by arrangement. Lovers were common before the wedding and sometimes after. Nobody was in love or pretended to be. That had made Abadi’s rage over Dawn so peculiar. Who married for love?
Who is haunting my dreams?
True love was like a fairytale. No, it was a fairytale, like feeding from a lover. Qudim drank from Dawn, of course, but she was human. Fated?
Maybe.
But not with us.
Rune gazed at Zev. Why not us?
“It makes a nice story,” he said. He even desired it to be true. “What do you think?”
The pained look deepened. “He’s waiting for me.”
He. Nothing as amorphous as somebody. He. A definite person.
“Who?”
Zev shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought you might laugh.”
“No.” Because his heart quickened at the thought.
At the longing of two nights ago when he’d drunk from somebody who wasn’t his, as though somewhere… Somewhere, there was somebody who was his. “I hope you find him.”
“Me too,” said Zev. His voice was sad, but a light danced in his eyes again. With a swift turn, he pushed Rune into the wall.
The Thusia cave opened only a few feet away, and the air was damp and cold from the pond inside it. Rune dropped his bag and shivered. “What are you doing?” he whispered.
“I’m going to give you your birthday present.”
Rune bit his lip. “Oh… That sounds good.”
Eyes glowing, Zev sank to his knees, and Rune yanked his hair free of the bun, the spill of soft tresses cool and silky through his fingers. Zev’s lips parted over the tips of his fangs. He reached up, unbuttoned Rune’s shirt, and pushed it open, his fingers, as hot as coals, ghosting across Rune’s skin.
“Oh, God,” Rune murmured. He leaned his head back against the rock. His cock ached, straining against the fastenings of his pants.
He thrust his hips, and Zev’s laugh spread a hot breath across his belly.
“You like that?” Zev asked.
“You feel like a fever.”
“Well, if you like this…” Zev sat back on his heels and worked Rune’s pants open.
The brush of his fingers and the press of a knuckle into Rune’s belly stabbed him with an undulating ache that rolled through him like lava flow. He groaned and melted back into the rock. “I dreamed about you,” said Rune. “But we weren’t here.”
“You think about the oddest things.”
Even odder was having his cock still in his pants. He thrust his hips again, but Zev held his fly together, keeping Rune inside while he leaned in to tease him with soft, damp kisses from navel to sternum.
“We were… above ground,” he gasped. “We lived there.”
Painfully sharp fangs grazed his nipple. “Sweet,” Zev whispered and slowly dragged his thumb up the length of Rune’s dick.
Pleasure boiled in his balls. “Gonna fuck you,” Rune said.
Zev sat back, gazing up, his languid smile and sleepy eyes transforming his face from beautiful to heart wrenching. Somebody someday was going to take him away. Someone fated?
Someone who wasn’t Rune. “You know you’ll have my heart forever.”
Zev smiled. “And you mine.”