Page 234 of Fallen Stars
“Get back to the clearing,” Elara said sharply.
“I’m staying,” Eli growled softly.
“If you stay, you play your hand.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do,” Elara hissed. “You swore fealty to me, remember? Then as your queen, I command you back to the heavens. Ariete will not hurt me—he can’t while our blood is tied.”
Eli clenched his jaw, staring at Elara a moment longer.
“Fine,” he hissed, “but I swear, Elara, if you need me, you call upon me.” He squeezed the ring around her little finger for emphasis. Then with a pause, looking at Enzo, he embraced the Lion. “Both of you be careful,” he said. “I’ll come back to you all when it’s safe.”
Grey starlight began to pulse between Eli’s hands, crackling as it coated him, and in a quiet whoosh, the Star was a soaring nebula, shooting in a glimmer of light up to the heavens.
“Please go,” Elara said to the others.
Adrian shook his head. “I’m one of you. It concerns me too.”
“This doesn’t. This is personal.”
“Come,” Merissa said, an arm around Isra, who was staring with a haunted look at the temple. “We’ll be close by.”
Elara nodded, her hands shaking as she gripped each of her friends before they hurried back into the woods.
And with a fierce, fleeting kiss, Elara grasped Enzo’s hand and pushed the door open.
Ariete’s form was lounged on the altar, his legs spread, a pressed red suit as always gracing him. Elara felt an overwhelming nausea wash over her as she and Enzo remained by the doors.
“Well, well,” the Star drawled, drinking from what looked like a cup of temple wine. “It seems a congratulations are in order.”
Enzo bared his teeth, standing in front of Elara. “I’m going to kill you,” he growled.
Ariete chuckled, the sound echoing off the stone walls.
Elara brushed out of Enzo’s reach and took another step. Her feet couldn’t stop the singing in her blood calling out to Ariete.
“Ariete,” she whispered, close enough to make out his features in the gloam.
Ariete’s eyes finally met hers.
They were the usual red, as arrogant as ever. But shadows fell under his eyes that hadn’t been there before, and his face was gaunt and pale, the tattoo that read ‘Divine Violence’ stark against his skin.
Her eyes flicked to the crescent moon at his throat, the scar now white and raised.
“Elara,” he replied evenly. “I’m wounded I didn’t receive an invite to the wedding.”
“I received yourmessage,” she said evenly, thrusting the card in front of her.Ariete grinned, an inked hand striking out to snatch it. But as he turned it, his hand shook.
“What could you possibly want from me on my wedding day?’ she asked, her voice lethally calm.
Ariete pushed himself off the altar, a step closer to Elara, and Enzo was at her back in an instant, light streaming from behind him.
The Star looked up to the roof of the temple, letting out a long stream of breath before answering.
“I have come to seek a truce.”
It was Enzo who laughed. “What?!” he asked, incredulously.