Loveshine

I met the love of my life when I was eighteen and he was twenty-four. My eyes met his crystal blues from across the room and I knew love at that moment. Unsure of how he felt, I kept the revelation to myself, refusing to pursue him for several reasons. One; his status was unknown to me, two; my father hadn’t introduced him to me, and three; he didn’t seem to fit into the specific class that I could choose from. But as the night progressed, I was unable to look away even for a moment. He’d captivated me so with a simple glance. I wondered what more he could do when he spoke.

Suddenly I was pulled away by my fraternal twin sister, Athena, toward the balcony. We looked at one another and the expression she gave me told me that she knew of my secret and silent conversation with the mysterious man from across the room. She didn’t look pleased with me, but I didn’t understand why. I felt a pang of nervousness wash over me as I realized that I probably shouldn’t ask why I was receiving such a glare from my only sibling.

“His name is Nightstar,” she said.

“Who?” I asked, hoping maybe that I could play dumb and save myself some grief. She laughed. My sister was so beautiful; golden blonde hair, whereas I had black hair; we both shared blue eyes; and her height was abnormal for a woman of our time – she was five foot ten inches while I was almost a foot shorter.

“The one’s eyes you caught from across the room,” she replied, eyeing me skeptically. I could not hold back the smile which claimed my lips and the blush that overcame my cheeks.

“Nightstar,” I breathed. The name fell out of my mouth and lingered on the air for a moment before disappearing into the night sky. I liked the way it sounded, but it was also familiar; I vaguely remembered hearing it somewhere. “How do you know his name?”

“Aradia told me.” Aradia was our cousin. Her beauty matched that of my sister’s; blonde hair, green eyes, tranquil features, and she had the most wonderful singing voice; one that could hypnotize even the roughest, toughest military man.

“Are they acquaintances?” I wondered.

“I do not know,” Athena said, turning to me again. “But you must know that he is not a prince.” There was the tragic news I feared she would bring. He was not a prince yet I was a princess, who was born to marry only a prince and then become Queen. However, after meeting the eyes of the enigmatic Nightstar, I wished I was the younger of my parents’ twin girls because then I would not be next in line to rule over our land.

“Why should this matter to me?” I questioned. I had to act as though I didn’t mind and I knew my place in society. Athena smiled knowingly. There was nothing I could hide from my twin.

“I’m only saying that you should be careful,” she advised. She was younger, but a lot more profound than myself. “Don’t compromise yourself.” I shook my head.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She smiled, nodding her head, and then went back in to join the guests for the remainder of the night. As soon as she was gone, I turned to look out over the land that I would rule so that I could fight the urge to look for Nightstar again.

Our land was ever so beautiful; pink skies at night, deep purple in the day; grass so green that visitors sometimes thought it was blue; fortified walls of every foundation on the planet; and the people were the finest, most prim and proper people in the galaxy. I could not have chosen a better place to live.

I’d forgotten Nightstar as I pondered my inevitable reign over my country, but an unfamiliar scent wafted through the air with a sudden rush of wind. My hair flew across my face, blocking my view briefly as I reached up to tuck it behind my ear. The aroma survived only a moment, which was long enough for me to remove the hair from my face. I then opened my eyes and instantly realized that someone was standing next to me. It was him – Nightstar.

His beauty surpassed anything I’d ever seen before in all my eighteen years. Dirty blonde hair, which I estimated to be about shoulder length, was pulled back into a ponytail with several strands surrounding his face that weren’t long enough to reach the tie in the back. The brightness of his ultramarine eyes surrounded in kohl was intensified ten fold as he gazed upon the same land I had been. If he had been standing next to me, I would have known exactly how much taller than me he was, but I guessed he was well over six feet. His body was wrapped in a black robe with a thin silver belt slanted on his hips, which had silver smaller chains hanging from it – typical clothing for a man of knowledge or wealth or both.

I couldn’t shake the fact that he was standing next to me. He hadn’t acknowledged me, but his presence was altogether overwhelming. It was his scent that I’d tasted on the air and now it had come back and was stronger than ever. I inhaled it with every breath I took and slowly but surely I was becoming intoxicated by it. This was purely an infatuation, I knew, but I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want the feeling to ever end.

“Forgive me, my lady,” he spoke, placing a hand over his heart. “I did not see you there.” He fell to one knee with his head bowed like every other guest in attendance.

“You are forgiven, my lord,” I smiled sweetly down at him. I truly believed that he was bowing because he thought he was in the presence of greatness, not because he simply had to fall to one knee before royalty. He looked up at me and his azure eyes penetrated me forcefully as he returned my gesture and came to his feet.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked. I tilted my head to the side and my eyes narrowed as I took in his flawless features. His skin was pale and unblemished, his nose was none too big or too small, and his lips were pink and full. He was doubtlessly the most angelic being the Gods had ever bestowed upon Valoria.

“I am,” I answered, still unable to erase the smirk from my lips. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I do not know your name.” I wanted to know his first name as Nightstar was only half of his given name.

“I am Anakin Nightstar,” he proudly replied. His first name helped me to place where I’d heard of Nightstar.

“Your father is Anthony Nightstar – the doctor,” I declared. His smile widened, displaying the perfectly white and perfectly shaped teeth behind his lips.

“Yes.”

“Are you a physician as well?” I was fascinated and I wanted to know all that I could. Had my father, mother, or sister been standing nearby, they would have known immediately that something was different about me; I’d never taken this much interest in someone I’d just met.

“Yes … well, I’m practicing.” He paused. “I never feel as though I’m good enough.”

“With a father like Anthony, I presume you are one of the best,” I said. It was not my intention to flatter him or boost his sensitive male ego, but I couldn’t help the thoughts from just falling out of my mouth into cohesive sentences.

“Your flattery is uncalled for, my lady, but please do not stop,” he grinned. I laughed. It was a quiet laugh that only the two of us could hear, but it was one that I hadn’t heard in many weeks.

“You are most definitely your father’s son,” I giggled. When our eyes met again, I discovered a rare twinkle in his; a twinkle that I was positive would never escape the memories stored in my brain; a twinkle which seemed to brighten whenever he looked at me. It was an odd feeling.

“Nakiya!” Nightstar and I turned at the bellowing of my father calling my name. It was just like my father to interrupt the most perfect moment of my life. I looked back at Nightstar and he appeared just as disappointed as I.

“I’m sorry,” I sighed, “but I must go.” He smiled despite the obvious sadness in his expression. “It was wonderful speaking to you, Nightstar.” It was customary to refer to a male acquaintance by their last name.

“And you, my lady,” he whispered, descending to one knee and again bowing. Once he stood, he took my hand into his and brought it to his lips, brushing my skin ever so softly. My knees nearly shattered within me at his touch. Chills ran the length of my spine and I began to feel a bit lightheaded, all at the expense of a simple kiss on the hand.

“Nakiya!” My father was suddenly standing beside us and Nightstar released my hand from his delicate grasp. “Ah, I see you have met Physician Nightstar’s protégée.” He shook Nightstar’s hand and I smiled.
“Yes, I have,” I said. “He has his father’s charm.” He looked down at me and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“And his father’s mind,” my father laughed, patting Nightstar’s shoulder a bit roughly.

My father, King Silversun II, was a man never to be reckoned with. He was stubborn, aggressive, and a burst of spontaneity, but he was reasonable when it came to decisions which concerned our country. We’d never waged war and war had never been declared against us in the one hundred years my grandfather, King Silversun I, and my father ruled. I prayed our land would remain peaceful and friendly.

“I am sorry, but I must take my daughter away,” my father smiled. “She must mingle.” Nightstar looked at him, nodded, and then looked at me.

“Thank you for your conversation, my lady,” he said quietly. I bowed my head in respect and followed my father back into the ballroom. I tried to stop it, but my head turned to catch one last glimpse of Anakin Nightstar.