Page 125 of Heavenly Bodies
A rip through the gauze cut her sentence short.
In an instant, Elara vanished as King Idris strode into the small space. Enzo looked around in confusion, then anger as the king sneered at the compartment and at Enzo, who had swiftly stood.
‘Sorry to interrupt whateverthis,’ he gestured around tothe scene before him, ‘is.’ He frowned. ‘Lorenzo, you and I need to talk.’
‘Not now, Father,’ he snapped, standing and scanning the room.
‘You will listen, and you will listen well,’ the king replied in a low snarl. With another desperate look at the compartment walls, Enzo turned fully to his father.
‘Out with it then,’ Enzo said coldly, smoothing his hair and putting his hands in his pockets.
‘Ariete intends to march for Helios.’
‘What?’ Enzo breathed.
Idris nodded. ‘He cannot use his starlight to simply descend, because of Leyon’s wards around our borders. But he can physically enter. Word from our spies reached me now—he is calling a Star’s Summit. And knowing the King of Stars, whether they agree with the breach in their patron kingdom agreement or not, he will come. I’d say we have no more than two days before he sets out.’
Elara measured her breath as she remained caught in her seam of reality.
‘Although, there is something you should know.’
Enzo waited.
‘In his rage, when he discovered he had been duped by Elara, Ariete destroyed the Asterian palace. There is nothing left of it. And no ruler. Apparently King Lukas disappeared weeks ago. The kingdom is now without a monarch. In utter turmoil. There is no one to succeed the throne, since most with ties to the crown were killed when Elara escaped.’ The King gave a small smile as Elara’s vision blurred with tears. ‘So Asteria is in chaos. And ripe for the taking. Our troops have already culled scores of their measly army stationed at the border, without a ruler.’
Tears began falling from Elara’s eyes as she shook silently.She knew her army. Had seen many of the soldiers each day within the palace’s grounds.
‘Why?’
‘Why?’ Idris laughed. ‘Because Asterians are vermin, Lorenzo. You know, once you shared the same sentiment. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for the princess’s darkcraft?’
‘Of course not,’ Enzo snapped.
‘Because I noticed how you looked at her in Aphrodea.’
She saw Enzo’s face morph into disgust, even as her heart pounded. ‘You told us to put on an act. We did. I still can’t stand the Asterian.’
‘I hope so, Lorenzo,’ Idris replied. ‘Because she is your enemy. I hope you never forget it.’
He left, Enzo’s stance tense as he turned slowly.
‘Elara?’ he called.
But she remained silent, cloaked in her magick.
She heard a sigh and soft footsteps as he left the compartment. The moment he did, she collapsed, her illusion and hopes shattered around her.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Elara ran, sobbing, through the darkened corridors, illusions wrapped back around her, Enzo’s crown clutched against her gown.
The sound of sensual music sickened her now as she tried to shake the drowsy feeling from her mind. Her people. Her kingdom.
While she had been soaking up the Light and running around with princes, they were being killed. Left to fend for themselves. Not just her court, but her citizens too. No ruler, no protector. They had been abandoned. By her.
She clutched her stomach as she reached her room, fumbling with the doorknob as she slammed it shut behind her. Collapsing on to the bed, she thought of everyone she had left behind—everyone who had trusted her. She should have stayed. Stayed in Asteria, even if that meant being Ariete’s pet, rather than allow this fate to befall her subjects.
There was a knock on the door, and she froze. Held her breath, trying to quieten her sobs. But it came again.