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Clearing his throat twice, Evan casually tossed out, “Do you have any suggestions? For his name, I mean.”

The youth’s smile widened as his crystal blue gaze flickered to the dog. “Rue.”

Evan stared at him, surprised by the quick response, then followed his gaze towards the dog, muttering, “Rue…”

That was not bad. No, that was actually pretty good. It didn’t sound like any human he’d ever met.

Evan’s lips twitched as he cupped the overexcited dog’s head and said, “Rue, do you copy?”

On cue, the dog’s head snapped towards him before attacking him with another round of furious kisses.

Okay, he likes it.

Pleased with the unexpected turn of events, Evan stood up with a much more suitable expression on his face as he turned to the youth. “Thank you. He seems to like that name.”

“I’m happy to help,” the youth smiled.

After a brief, awkward silence, Evan asked. “So, are you gonna head back home or…?”

“I think I might stay a while,” A wind blew past them, ruffling his silver hair in a gentle caress as the youth watched his surroundings, completely mesmerized. “It’s rather pheasant outside.”

Evan blinked. Then blinked some more before clearing his throat.

Pheasant?

Had the fellow said it wrong or had Evan heard him wrong?

That couldn’t be. When it came to his five senses, Evan could never be mistaken. He could even hear the sound of fish gliding soundlessly under the surface of the river beside them.

Unsure whether to mention it or not, Evan casually snuck his dilemma into their conversation. “Yeah, quitepleasant.”

But the youth didn’t seem to have noticed his slip of the tongue, nor Evan’s correction, as he nodded in agreement. Despite the subtle weirdness and unearthly looks, Evan found him rather agreeable—which didn’t happen often.

As Rue skipped around in the dry grass, chasing butterflies, Evan found himself becoming more curious about the youth. There was this faint feeling of familiarity between them, although they’d never met before.

Also, probably because he’d been lingering near the water for too long, but he smelled like the river, a scent that Evan found comforting.

“I didn’t quite catch your name,” Evan said, attempting his best at small talk—a knowledge bestowed upon him by the God of Blabbers, Aaron.

The youth was a few inches shorter than Evan, so when he looked up at him, it was a rather adorable sight. All silver hair and big eyes. It reminded Evan of Rue.

“I’m Delos,” the youth smiled, extending a hand.

“Evan Blackwood,” as they shook hands, Evan briefly paused before pulling away.

“Pleased to meet you, Evan.”

There was a strange stillness in the youth’s expressions. As if that gentle look had frozen over in his face, looking almost mechanical. Although he looked closer to Evan in age, his tone resembled that of an elder addressing a kid.

And something even stranger was the smooth palm of his hand that Evan had just felt. The palm lines were…unnatural. As if a child had drawn them on his hand idly.

Rue ran towards Delos and pressed his muddy nose against his pants, smearing dirt across the pristine white fabric. Evan’s eyes widened in slight panic, but the other guy didn’t seem to mind at all as he crouched to pet Rue’s head lovingly.

“You were waiting for him, weren’t you? You must be exhausted,” Delos said to Rue, as if speaking to a fellow human. “Rest easy now. You’ve found your human.”

Evan’s lips twitched.

Just how long had this prince been locked up in his tower to speak like that? He sounded like he’d escaped from a Jane Austen novel.