Page 45 of Heavenly Bodies
Elara jolted back into her body, pressing a trembling hand to her heart. Her eyes flew straight to Enzo’s room, to the glow now radiating from his windows. She jumped up, rushing from the balcony before he could see her, then snuck under her covers, making sure every torch was out as her heart continued to pound. She waited a minute, two, before peering through her open doors and at the balcony beyond. Enzo’s shadowy silhouette was leaning on his balcony, looking directly at hers. She squeezed her eyes shut, feigning sleep until it finally claimed her.
When she woke, she willed the previous night’s events far away from her mind. As she got dressed for the day, she pushed aside the image of Idris standing over Enzo. When Merissa glamoured her, she closed her eyes against the pain etched into Enzo’s eyes as he’d looked at her. When Leo took her to the training yard again, she tried to rid herself of the dripping lurid numbers and the wild sorrow in Enzo’s voice. She had called him a monster. But monsters were created, not born. What could Enzo have been without a father like Idris? Did it matter?
‘Holy fuckingStars!’ she cursed as a blade of light rapped on her knuckles, ripping her from her thoughts, the bite of it stinging.
Leo raised a brow. ‘You think that Ariete will allow you to daydream?’
She swore again, summoning her shadows. She’d been able to manipulate one or two into a murder of crows. But as they nose-dived for Leo, they dissipated into smoke the moment they touched him.
‘If I punished you for every filthy curse that came out of your mouth, you’d have no time to actually train,’ he said sweetly.
‘Here’s a thought,’ she replied, raising a sword in one hand as she pulled her shadows in with the other. ‘How about you stop wounding me, and maybe I’ll speak like aprincess.’
She tried to attack again, but only served to nearly cut her own toe off when Leo knocked the blade from her hand.
He chuckled, relenting. ‘Drop a hundred.’
She cast him a venomous look as she got to the ground, counting out her press-ups at a measured pace. Her core burned, but she noticed with pride that the press-ups got easier each day that passed.
‘Have you spoken to Enzo at all?’
Leo pressed his tongue into his cheek. ‘Why? Missing him?’
‘The only thing I miss about that man…’ she huffed, ‘is the fact that…as a trainer…he was a cuddly animal compared to you.’ She gritted her teeth, halfway through her set.
‘A cuddly animal. I’ll pass that on.’
‘Please do. Add that he should be renamed “The Kitty of Helios”.’
Leo snorted, bending down by her. ‘I did. Speak to him that is.’
‘And what did he have to say?’
‘Oh, nothing about you. We were planning the Feast of Leyon tonight.’
‘And what exactly is that?’
‘Today marks the anniversary of Leyon’s Descent—the first time our Star fell from the heavens and chose Helios as his patron kingdom. We celebrate here by holding a revel—usually by the palace waterfall.’ He studied Elara. ‘Why don’t you come?’
Elara laughed. ‘Ah yes, an Asterian with a Star hunting her attending a feast for a Helion god. I think I’ll pass.’ She stood, handing back her sword. ‘But…thank you for asking.’ She was trying to be a little more forgiving with the general.
‘Suit yourself,’ Leo shrugged. ‘But I’m warning you—you’re missing out on the night of your life.’
Elara had planned to spend her evening in bed finishing her latest read ofThe Mythas of Celestia, but she kept being disturbed by the sounds of the feast below—music playing, cheers and laughter. After a while, she closed the balcony doors resolutely, and again tried to focus on the story.
When she’d read the same page fifteen times, still unable to get the images she’d seen of Enzo the night before out of her mind, there was a knock on her bedroom door.
Elara frowned as she opened it, and was greeted by Merissa. ‘Fancy having some fun for once?’ she asked, giving her a half-smile.
Elara shook her head. ‘If you’re talking about the revel, as I told Leo earlier, I can’t think of a worse idea.’
‘You need to blow off a little steam. You have so much on your shoulders, and you’ve done nothing but train.’
Elara sighed. ‘I suppose, but I…I don’t know anyone.’
‘You know me,’ Merissa said firmly. ‘Plus, I’ve already picked out your outfit.’
She produced a hanger with a glittering terracotta dress upon it, intricately stitched beading forming patterns of day-orchids across the fabric. ‘So now you can’t say no.’