Nothing has ever excited Tylen Merodine more than being invited by the Regent himself to celebrate the first solar eclipse in his planet’s recorded history. It’s the party of the millennium, and if he has to restrain his normal exuberant instincts to fit in, that’s what he’ll do to be a part of it. His good intentions vanish, however, the moment he’s presented to the Regent. Because there, in a gilded cage, playing music unlike anything Tylen’s ever heard, is the most beautiful alien he could imagine. For more than twenty years, Dek has lived in captivity, performing at the whim of those who see him as an animal. The Regent is just the latest in a long line of owners, and while he’s kind, he’s still blind to Dek’s sentient nature. Only music gives Dek a voice, until Tylen breaks the rules and sneaks in to see and speak to him alone. The time they have together is stolen and precious, the minutes ticking away until the eclipse is past and they have to go back to the way their lives were before. But when the Regent shows an unexpected interest in Tylen’s future, they begin to wonder if their worlds need to remain so separate ...

Aria of the Eclipse

Vescha was a lifesaver,even if she was too sweet to realize it.Though thepast two days had flown by,I’d wanted to share much of it with Dek,but circumstances wouldn’t let me.I’d had a window of opportunity this afternoon,but when I’d strolled by the conservatory and seen so many people going in and out,I knew it was impossible.This would have to suffice.Lucky for me,Vescha thought he was as stunning as I did.


And now he played for me.Here,in an ocean of strangers,among people who had no idea the wealth Dek could offer,I was favored with his serenade,a song for me and me alone.The world didn’t just disappear when he sang.I was lost in the heavens with him.


When the song was over,Vescha burst into delighted applause.“Wonderful!Oh,how exquisite!”


Her enthusiasm elicited scattered clapping from others nearby.I joined in,though with so many eyes on us now,I was quick to pretend it was about the music rather than anything else.


“Will you play another?”Vescha said to Dek.


Chapter 21