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

All the whispering throughout the room fell silent.


“My esteemed guests,”he said.“I’m certain you’re wondering why I’ve congregated you all down here first rather than speak to you in the observatory,but I assure you,I have an excellent reason.I will not,however,tell it to you.”Questioning murmurs rippled through the room.He waited until they died off before adding,“I will show you,instead.”


The room went quiet in anticipation of the reason to come.In the murk,theRegent’s face was indecipherable.Was he smiling in excitement?Was he even daring to hold back his glee at being able to spring this on everyone?Could he see me,trying to read his reactions?


So wrapped up in what the Regent might be doing,I totally forgot about looking up until the hum from the lift began to vibrate through the air.Almost as one,heads tilted,gazes going to the unseen heavens.I held my breath,wondering how far it would descend before everything started.


Chapter 27