Page 146 of Heavenly Bodies
‘You won’t kill me, Lorenzo. You’re a coward,’ Idris spat, though Elara was satisfied to see a gleam of fear in his eyes as the flames approached.
‘Am I?’ Enzo gave a wry smile as he looked to his magick,towering and dancing around them. ‘Was it cowardly for me to weep as my father struck me over andoveragain? Or was it cowardly foryouto exert your power over a little boy?’
‘Lorenzo,’ Idris warned as the flames began to lick his boots.
‘I was a child.’ Enzo’s voice finally shook. ‘You may have erased the scars from my body, but you couldn’t erase them from my mind.’
Enzo shook his head.
‘But I am not a little boy any more. Nor a prince. I am king,’ the Lion of Helios finished. ‘Long may I reign.’
Fire flared towards Idris, and he summoned light to try and deflect it. But Enzo’s flames were too furious, too powerful, and they ate through the king’s shield, wrapping around his body. The king tried to scream, his mouth opened in agony, but Enzo’s lip curled as he shoved flames down the king’s throat. His father’s body shuddered and convulsed. The flames turned from orange, to blue, to bright white. With a final roar, Enzo pushed his hands out, his voice filled with years of pain wrought upon him. And the almighty King Idris of Helios turned to ash.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
‘I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud of you,’ Elara whispered over and over as she clutched Enzo. He was kneeling, his flames dying as they both looked to the pile of ash on the floor. She dabbed gently at the cuts across his body with her dress.
Enzo said nothing for a moment, before blinking, his eyes returning to their normal gold. ‘We should go. We can still use the element of surprise with Ariete.’
Elara nodded, standing slowly. ‘But you should see a healer first.’
‘There are none in the palace. The place is deserted.’
‘What happened, Enzo? How did Ariete—’
‘He got me as I was scouting the palace. Told me that my father, spineless worm that he is, had already confessed everything under duress. About the duskglass. His plans to make the Stars fall.’ Enzo’s jaw clenched. ‘I was thrown in here with my father shortly after by Leo, the traitorous piece of shit.’
Elara went to reply, but as though on cue, there was a stir by the door.
‘Wh-what happened?’ Leo slurred, holding his head as he stood.
‘I knocked you out, you fucking disloyal bastard,’ Enzo swore, magick already rushing off him.
‘It was Gem!’ Elara shouted, rushing to stand in between Enzo and Leo. Enzo blinked as Leo raised his hands, pressing himself against the door. ‘It was Gem. She used her charm upon the guards.’
Leo’s face changed from confused, to wounded, to amused. ‘Fucking Stars, Enzo. You really think so little of my loyalty? I’ve had your back since we were boys.’
Enzo breathed heavily, studying Leo, his nostrils flared.
‘Enzo,’ Elara said softly.
Enzo’s magick extinguished, and Elara slipped out from between them, as Enzo embraced Leo.
‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. ‘And sorry for knocking you out, as well.’
Leo let out a dry laugh as he slapped his back. ‘You’ve done worse to me.’
‘We need to find Ariete. Now. Is Merissa out of the palace?’ Elara asked.
Leo nodded. ‘She started helping the evacuation of the building when the war horns sounded. As far as I know, she went to Isra’s until it was safe.’
‘Good.’ She looked at both of them. ‘I’ve been thinking about how we can finally catch Ariete off guard. I have a plan. And I’m going to need you both to perform like all our lives depend on it.’
Elara settled back into her cell, her shadows pulling the bars straight again as she waited. With little deliberation, she felt for her tether, closed her eyes and dreamwalked.
The cell was darker when Elara sank back into her body, her trip complete. And just in time, as she saw the deep scarlet streaks across the sky.
Lightdown was here.