Page 66 of Heavenly Bodies
She shook her head, too out of breath to reply as she followed his gaze. Her eyes had been peeled for her pale-skinned, midnight-haired ex-lover, but by some mercy, she hadn’t seen him yet.
Enzo nodded. ‘Just don’t stray too far,’ he warned.
‘I won’t,’ she said softly, turning, her skirts swirling behind her, the imprint of his hands still burning her waist.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
‘I need a drink,’ Elara murmured to herself, feeling off-kilter. She had let her emotions control her; had acted upon them, with no kind of plan. And now here she was, surrounded by Stars, enemies lurking around every corner.
The Stars’ various charms cloyed around her, and nothing steadied Elara’s nerves more readily than a glass of sparkling honeywine. She made her way to the bar, past bustling guests and loud, guffawing courtiers, ignoring the dread mounting with every passing minute.
She joined the crowd at the bar, leaning her forearms on the cool marble as she tried to steady her breath.
‘Well, well, well. Don’t you look delicious?’
Elara would have cursed the Stars if it wasn’t for the one just behind her. She turned slowly, gritting her teeth.
‘Hello, Leyon.’ She smiled.
The Star was resplendent. A shimmering suit, tailored meticulously, clung to him, his blonde hair like spun gold, the familiar circlet resting on his head. A mask to match his circlet graced the top half of his face, leaving his full lips the centre of attention. Elara had a suspicion it was a purposefulchoice. Leyon tweaked a golden cuff ring as he propped himself beside her, his shoulder jostling with hers.
‘It seems you haven’t found your way to my temple after I so graciously extended my express invitation.’ His voice was like silk, like a song, and his charm imbued the same emotion one felt when looking at an exquisite piece of art.
‘I’m afraid I’m useless with directions,’ she said breezily, trying to catch the eye of the tender behind the bar.
Leyon chuckled. ‘You know, I think you’re the first mortal who has declined.’ He bent close to her ear. ‘Which makes you all the more intriguing.’
Elara tried not to roll her eyes. Leyon waved a hand through the air. ‘Though I can’t decide if you’re brave or stupid, to have walked in here so baldly.’
‘Let’s decide on the former,’ Elara replied. ‘You haven’t seen your illustrious brother, have you?’ She glanced around.
Leyon shrugged. ‘The last I saw, he was disappearing with some pretty brunette, and the new king.’
Pretty brunette. Sofia? ‘Where?’ Elara demanded.
‘I neither know nor care,’ Leyon sighed. ‘But let me share a gem of wisdom. My parting gift to you.’ He leaned closer, and the usual bored and arrogant expression was replaced with earnestness. ‘My brother is the god of war. When you think you are a step ahead of him, he is usually already three in front. Elara, beware that you do not play right into his hands.’ He pulled back. ‘It would be a shame for Celestia to be rid of such a beauty.’
The Star kissed her hand, leaving an imprint that felt like poetry as he disappeared through the crowd. Elara turned around to watch him leave and caught the burning gaze of Enzo staring right at the space where Leyon had been. She started towards him, but behind her the bartender suddenly asked, ‘Drink, madam?’
She paused. She could really use something to relax her a little.
‘One honeywine, please,’ she said to him.
As she waited, Elara tried to gather her composure. Three Stars in the space of an hour. Thank the skies Leyon was, if not on her side, at least not on Ariete’s. The bartender returned with a full goblet and she sighed in relief. As he passed it to her, a tanned hand extended from behind her, signalling to the man.
‘I’ll take one too,’ a smooth voice intoned. ‘A gorgeous woman can’t be drinking alone.’
The stranger smiled. He had deep blue hair that fell to his shoulders, and eyes a brilliant blue-green, like the sea in Helios when the Light was at its highest point in the sky. He wore a mask fashioned around his eyes in cresting waves. His open shirt below showed a glimpse of an octopus tentacle tattooed over his tanned chest. And the hat perched upon his head was a tricorn. Even with the mask on, Elara could see that there was an openness in his eyes, a kindness. And most importantly, he was mortal. She smiled.
‘And who might my drinking companion be?’ She raised hers to his and took a sip. The honeywine fizzed on her mouth, tasting deliciously sweet and instantly putting her at ease.
‘Oh, just a man who saw a poor woman in Leyon’s grasp,’ he mock-whispered. ‘I meant to save you. But it appears you didn’t need it after all.’ He clinked her glass with his own, his eyes twinkling.
‘Lord Adrian—from Neptuna, if you couldn’t tell.’ He winked, gesturing to his hair. Elara found herself laughing at the ease of his energy, buoyant after so many weeks of intensity in Helios. There was something familiar about him, his voice, his appearance. She racked her brains about what sheknew of the Kingdom of Neptuna—her mother always spoke with fondness of the place. The two kingdoms had been close. They’d been the only one to try to stand with Asteria when the War of Darkness had begun. Idris of course had soon put a stop to that.
‘My pleasure,’ she beamed, extending a hand to him which he kissed. ‘I’m Nova,’ she said.
‘Nova,’ he said, savouring the name. ‘At the risk of coming off as strong as that Star, may I have this dance?’