It was his design. The masts, the details, every piece that he could see from this distance was how he’d put it on paper.
“You should feel honored,” Lord Gustus said smugly. “This is the first ship that will truly take to the air to explore the world. It will be remembered throughout history, and so will your name.”
“How did you steal his plans?” Durae continued.
“Whose?” Lord Gustus asked.
“Mine,” Blaze said.
Durae whirled, dark blue robe with golden embroideries flaring around him. His leggings were a buttery tan, and his tunic shimmered like pure gold. He was enchanting and beautiful as always, but Blaze hardly saw his charms. His gaze remained on the ship.
“Blaze!” Durae exclaimed. “How are you here?”
“I was heading to the dance. Saw you leave. Followed you. I … I made this.” Fumbling, Blaze reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. It glinted in the dull light of the glowing orbs onTheSoaring Raerae. The knot in Blaze’s throat was a dam, and water clouded his eyes. Why had he thought such a cheap ring could capture Durae’s attention?
Suddenly, Durae’s hand was on top of his, holding him, and Blaze blinked the tears clear from his eyes. Any lingering doubt that threatened to take root in his heart was demolished in the fierce light blazing in Durae’s blue eyes. Durae cupped his cheek. “I want to talk about this, but not here. Let’s go.”
“You cannot leave with him,” Lord Gustus snapped. He stamped his foot on the dock like an elfling demanding a treat. “You are promised to me!”
“Promised?” Durae echoed, and his voice reverberated off their surroundings. “I choose my own way.”
“Your father and I have an arrangement!”
“You should have done your research, my lord. Myfatherhas no say in who I wed and cannot make any arrangements about my life!” Durae returned. He began to lead Blaze away.
One step became a second, became a run, and no longer was Blaze behind Durae but ahead of him. Their hands were locked together; every swish of fabric, slam of foot, and panting breath was a tether attempting to bring Blaze back to reality, but his mind raced on how his schematics had been replicated.
He could only trace the last few weeks. His schematics had never been out of his hands. He had used them to construct the enchantments. Had Lord Gustus reconstructed them? Were he and Durae wrong? Was the engine completely different?
They reached his ship, and Blaze hauled himself and Durae over the railing. As Durae’s feet touched the deck, the ring slipped out from between their hands and landed on the shining wood.
So much work to make his unnamed airship look beautiful, and it was utter crap compared to the one Lord Gustus had made.
Durae bent and picked up the ring. “What’s this?”
Speaking while his chest threatened to squeeze his heart into a thousand pieces was impossible. Blaze put one hand on the railing and leaned heavily against it. His legs were giving out. He had to sit down.
Immediately, Durae knelt beside him. “Blaze?”
“I’m sorry,” Blaze panted. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. When had that started? “Gods, everything’s a mess. You deserved for this to be better. To be about you. Not under the cloud of … not with me struggling to breathe.”
Durae tried to put the ring in Blaze’s hand. “Then you don’t have to explain.”
Blaze closed Durae’s hand around the ring and put both of his around Durae’s. “No. It … it might not be how I envisioned it,but I don’t want to hold this in. I decided to lay an enchantment on the ship so that it couldn’t be flown without a special ring. I made one for me and one for you. I want us to have a life together. I know I said I’d wait for you to choose me, but?—”
Durae smiled, and the sweetness of his dimples eased the binding coursing through Blaze’s lungs. With his free hand, he pulled a box out of his pocket. “If you had made it to the dance, I was going to give you this.”
Slowly, Blaze took the box and opened it. Inside was a compass set into a brass heart with a long pocket chain.
“I thought it would be useful and a symbol of giving you my heart since you said you’d gladly give me yours,” Durae murmured. “Doesn’t seem anywhere near as special as having the ability to fly your ship.”
The smoothness of the metal was interrupted, so Blaze flipped it over. Durae had had “BL + DN” inscribed into it. Laughing softly, Blaze kissed him. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
Durae sat beside him and leaned his head against Blaze’s shoulder. Blaze tilted his head to rest against him in return. “You’re right. This isn’t how I pictured this evening going.”
“Me either.”
“I think it’s better, though. It’s real.”
