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a story excerpt
Darian
waited until Milan couldn’t see him from the skeeter, and then he circled the
grounds and took the back gate to the path that would lead him away from the
royal quarter of the city. He sped home, walking at a pace, his cloak wrapped
around him, and all the time his thoughts spun. When Indigo had asked to see
him again soon, he’d somehow invited his lover, his love, to visit his home. Darian didn’t know if he’d extended
the invitation so that if Indigo was going to leave him because he was poor, it
would happen fast and save him severe heartbreak, or if he hoped Indigo would
accept his poverty, and his anxiety would diminish leaving him free to love
Indigo. I’ve fallen in love with him. I
never saw it coming. I wonder if he did? If he loves me, that is…
Darian
passed one of the better apartment buildings. Less ancient and better kept than
the one he currently lived in, the turrets gleamed lilac in the sun and willow
trees draped over low white walls surrounding the building. Huge pots of
jasmine stood at the bottom of the stoop. The sign he’d noticed a few days
previously still hung from the wide pillared porch. ‘Apartment vacant, apply
within.’
He
paused. It can’t hurt to look. He
walked up the path. The rich scent of jasmine wafted over him. He rang the
bell.
The
concierge showed him the apartment. It had a long balcony overlooking a bend in
the stream that wound past the castle and fed the half-moat. Wild roses
blossomed on the bank. The morning breeze played with pale pink petals, lifting
them and scattering them gently into the sparkling water.
Darian
fell in love with apartment. It was clean and bright with light from long
windows. The pale floors of polished wood added to the charm. It sat close to
the border delineating the royal quarter so would only take him minutes to walk
to work.
“Yes,
I’ll take it.” Surprise widened his eyes as he heard the words falling from his
mouth.
“Two
moons’ rent up front is required before you move anything in—one for the rent,
one for security. You’ll need to sign a contract. Any nonsense, noise, bawdy
behavior, litter, damage, and you’re out. I don’t give warnings. I don’t give
back the security money.”
Darian
cringed under the suspicious gaze of the concierge. He’d expected a less
alarming transaction. He only paid weekly for the place he currently lived in.
The landlord there was kinder in manner. He thought about the invitation he’d
given to Indigo. How wonderful it would be to meet Indigo at the castle and
bring him here instead of to his dusty little rooms in the poor area of the
city. “I need to bring the money later today after I’ve collected payment for
my work.”
The
concierge smirked. “Work at Temptations do ya, pretty boy?”
Darian
recoiled and shook his head. “I do not.
Not that anyone who does is … is inferior.
I’m a musician.”
“Right
then, if you’re not back with payment by fifteen hundred hours the place goes
to the next applicant.”
https://www.evernightpublishing.com/the-dreamboat-by-e-d-parr/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077TB36FS
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077TB36FS
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