Page 137 of Heavenly Bodies

‘You said, that day when we flew on a shadow lion, that you wondered if there was something out there greater than the Stars,’ Elara said. ‘What if it’s every mortal that stands against them? What if the only thing keeping them in power is our belief in them?’

‘Finally.’ A thundering boom resounded around them.

‘Fucking skies!’ Elara exclaimed at the top of her voice, scrambling to her feet as she spun around for the source of it. Enzo was in front of her in seconds, his fire already blazing in one hand, a knife in the other.

‘You have a filthy mouth for royalty,’ the voice boomed again, and Elara’s eyes widened in shock. She stumbled two steps back as Enzo craned his neck upwards, his skin paling.

‘Holy gods,’ he breathed.

There was a ground-shaking shudder as one of the gigantic angel statues, still enshrouded in Enzo’s light,moved, taking its hands from its eyes.

‘I’m dreaming,’ Elara said, her voice shaking. ‘This isn’t real.’

The angel laughed, and the sound flew out across the sands. ‘Oh, but it is. And we have been waiting alongtime for you both.’

‘We?’

A roar cleaved the air in two, and the very sound set Elara trembling. A wall of air hit them, and they both stumbled back. The roar came again, closer this time. And as Elara peered out across the sands from beneath the angel’s shadow, she saw why.

She kept her eyes fixed on the shape prowling forwards, her heart hammering as the mammoth frame came properly into view. A winged lion. Another gust of wind hit them asthe beast beat his wings. Elara’s eyes fell on feathers as white as snow, a glorious mane to match. His golden coat gleamed in the afternoon Light as Elara saw wickedly long teeth behind a mouth that curved into a snarl.

‘Mythas,’ she whispered, transfixed.

Enzo was stock-still beside her, his eyes filled with disbelief and awe. ‘So they aren’t just legend,’ he whispered back.

‘Clearly,’ she said drily.

The lion approached until it was only a few metres away, his eyes fixed on Elara as the prince raised his hand, ready to protect her if he needed to.

‘Wait,’ she commanded, holding her hand out to Enzo. He obeyed, his flame vanishing instantly.

The lion continued to stare at her, and she felt wisdom in his gaze. Then, before their disbelieving eyes, the lion bowed, his wings folding together as his huge mane rippled in the breeze.

‘What is this?’ she breathed.

‘It’s what you’d call a blessing,’ a voice rumbled once more.

‘BleedingStars,’ Enzo exclaimed, jumping as he turned back to the angel.

‘Manners, young man,’ the statue snapped.

‘How is this real?’ Elara breathed, her eyes flicking between the lion and the angel.

‘There is magick in this world, is there not?’ the angel replied.

Elara nodded.

‘There is much magick that has been forgotten or extinguished.’ The angel’s smile turned into a snarl.

‘Who are you?’ There was a distant part of her laughing hysterically at the fact that she was addressing a stone angel. Who wastalkingto her.

‘My angel name is much too glorious for your human tongue to butcher. But you may call me Celine.’

‘Wait,theCeline?’ Enzo interjected. ‘Who took the last stand against the lion Nemeus?’

The angel seemed to smirk. ‘The very same. Who do you think he is?’ She pointed to the winged lion, laying regally as he observed them.

‘Dear heavens and all that is holy,’ Enzo said faintly.