LThe palace felt like a cage again after the escape news. Guards doubled, doors locked at night, Elandor buried in council meetings. Star paced his quarters, restless. Three days of nothing but stone walls and worried glances. He missed the open fields, the wind, the freedom. Most of all, he missed the easy laughter he'd shared with Elandor during training. Everything now felt heavy: politics, traitors, Varyn loose somewhere.
On the fourth night, a soft knock came just after midnight. Star opened the door a crack, dagger ready.
Elandor stood there in a plain brown cloak, hood up, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Put that away," he whispered, pushing inside. "I'm kidnapping you."
Star blinked. "What?"
Elandor tossed him a second cloak, simple servant's wool, nothing royal about it. "We're going out. Into the city. Just us. No guards, no titles. One night to breathe."
Star's heart leapt. "You're insane. Varyn's out there. People want us dead."
"Which is exactly why we're doing it," Elandor said, eyes bright. "I'm tired of hiding behind walls. One night, Star. Let me show you the real kingdom. Let me be Eli again."
Star hesitated only a second. The thought of fresh air, of seeing Elandor smile without the weight of a crown… it won. He pulled on the cloak. "If we die, I'm blaming you."
They slipped out a side servant gate Elandor knew from his childhood escapes. Two horses waited in the shadows, saddled and quiet. No royal colors, just plain leather. They rode out under moonlight, cloaks hiding their faces, hooves muffled on the dirt path.
The capital at night was alive in a way the palace never was. Lanterns glowed gold and red along the streets, music spilled from taverns, street vendors shouted about hot meat pies and honeyed nuts. The air smelled of smoke, ale, and freedom.
Elandor led them to a small square where common folk danced to fiddles and drums. No one bowed. No one stared. Just laughter and spinning skirts.
"Here," Elandor said, tying the horses and pulling Star into the crowd. "Dance with me, farm boy."
Star laughed, the sound raw and real. "I'm terrible at this kind."
"Then follow me," Elandor said, and took his hands.
They moved with the music, clumsy at first, bumping into others, earning good-natured cheers. Elandor spun Star under his arm, caught him when he stumbled, their bodies pressed close in the crush. Star's hood fell back; moonlight lit his messy hair and bright eyes. Elandor's smile was the widest Star had ever seen.
Later, they bought cheap wine from a street cart and sat on the edge of a fountain, feet dangling. The city sparkled around them.
"See?" Elandor said quietly. "This is what I fight for. Not the throne room. This."
Star took a swig from the bottle, then passed it over. Their fingers brushed. "I missed this too. Feeling… normal."
Elandor leaned in, voice low. "I want to give you more nights like this. After all the mess is over."
Star turned, their faces inches apart. "Promise?"
"Promise."
The kiss started soft, tasting of wine and night air, then deepened. Hands slid under cloaks, pulling closer. Star's back hit the fountain's stone rim; Elandor's thigh slipped between his. Heat flared fast and reckless. Somewhere nearby a couple laughed, but no one paid them any mind. They were just two young men stealing a moment in the dark.
Elandor broke the kiss only to breathe against Star's ear. "There's an inn two streets over. Clean sheets. No one knows us."
Star's answer was a hungry kiss and a tug on Elandor's cloak.
They stumbled into a tiny room above a bakery, still warm from the ovens below. The door barely shut before cloaks hit the floor. Shirts followed. Boots kicked off. They fell onto the narrow bed laughing, then gasping as mouths and hands found skin again.
Elandor pressed Star into the mattress, kissing down his throat, teeth scraping collarbone. Star arched, fingers threading through dark hair. "Eli…" he moaned, the name slipping out like it belonged there.
Elandor answered by sliding lower, mouth tracing the line of Star's stomach, hands working open his trousers. When warm lips closed around him, Star cried out, hips bucking. Pleasure crashed over him in waves until he was shaking, spilling with Elandor's name on his tongue.
Then it was Star's turn, pushing Elandor onto his back, returning every slow, teasing stroke until the king was the one begging. They moved together after that, slick and urgent, the small bed creaking under them. Skin on skin, breath mingling, whispered promises in the dark.
After, they lay tangled, hearts slowing, city sounds drifting up through the window.
"I needed this," Elandor murmured against Star's shoulder. "Needed you."
Star kissed his temple. "Me too. But tomorrow…"
"Tomorrow we go back and fight," Elandor finished. "Tonight we're free."
They fell asleep wrapped around each other, cloaks forgotten on the floor, moonlight painting them in silver.
Just before dawn, a distant bell tolled, sharp and urgent. Elandor tensed. "That's the palace alarm."
Star was already pulling on clothes. "Varyn?"
"Or worse." Elandor's face hardened, king again even in the dim room. "We ride. Now."
Their stolen night was over, but the memory of laughter, wine, and desperate touches burned bright between them. Whatever waited back at the palace, they would face it together.