Page 27 of Fallen Stars
“One last ride?” she grinned, turning.
‘Gods. She is going to be the death of you.’
He stilled. That voice of truth had spoken again, and such a deep knowing and acceptance took over him that he nearly vomited.
He forced a lazy smile to his lips as he nodded, vaulting with ease onto the back of her shadows as they formed into a dragun before them. He garbled some nonsense about Elara holding her own and believing Isra then let himself be lowered by his companion.
Her shadows dispersed, the beautiful black smoke dancing back up to Elara.
He followed their movements with his eyes, and when they landed on Elara, his knees buckled.
She was leaning over the balcony, her hair trailing down the railing, her eyes alive with triumph. His gaze flicked behind her, to the resplendent lightdown painted behind her, crimson and umber and apricot, all blending like a watercolour, a mere backdrop to the art in front of him.
Breathe,his inner voice reminded him, and he inhaled deeply, unaware that seconds had gone by without air in his lungs.
Their eyes locked, and the moment could have lasted days as Enzo allowed himself a weakness; allowed himself to drink his fill of the beauty in front of him. He sipped until he felt drunk off her, and when she gave a small wave and turned her back, the sight of her walking away made his heart crack.
And so he stayed, drinking in her air—his eyes refusing to leave the space she had just occupied, long after she had turned and left.
Enzo felt his body thrashing, his pulse slowing, and his eyes flew open, gulping in a lungful of air. The current seemed to be trying to pull him further into the water, his body waking him in alarm. He struggled, pulling his arms out and staggering back from the river.
A dream. Was that what it was? Or a memory? He scanned the trees around him, the cottage in the distance. He was back in Elara’s dreams. But where had he gone before?
An uneasiness began to creep over him as he hauled himself out of the river, his clothes strangely dry, and made his way back to the familiarity of the cottage. He only glanced back to the river once, revelling in the soothing calm it had ran over him before deciding he should stay well away from it.
Chapter Nine
Merissa stomped her feet asshe rubbed her arms, trying to get warm. “You know, I don’t think I’ve been dry since we’ve got here.” Right on cue, her foot slipped into a puddle, and Elara snorted.
“What I wouldn’t do for Enzo’s powers now,” Isra muttered in agreement, gingerly sidestepping the puddle as they followed Elara.
The Moon was dressed in black, a colour that she hadn’t taken off since she had awoken. She had left her suit at home, instead letting Merissa tailor a dress to her before magicking it black at Elara’s request. She’d also forced Merissa to glamour her face and body, erasing the dark circles under her eyes and the gauntness to her face. Merissa had filled out Elara’s hips and breasts, painted a slash of red on her full lips, and dressed her in a cleavage spilling gown, a tight bone bodice flowing into a rippling silk skirt. Merissa and Isra had both dressed accordingly in shades of dove grey and charcoal.
Elara’s hair hung limply in wet tails down her back as she strolled down the street, the rain now a downpour. The three had sat together on Elara’s bed as Astra had dozed, her wounds stitched and bandaged, to Elara’s relief. Together, they had cultivated a plan, a way to be on higher ground when they visited Eli. And again, that night, she had been able to sleep naturally, Astra nuzzled in next to her, as though this chance with Eli was giving her worries some much needed rest.
When she had visited Enzo, as sleep had taken hold of her, something had seemed strange. As though Enzo’s thoughts were elsewhere. When she had asked him, he had simply shaken it off and helped her fill in the gaps of her plan. But only after nearly setting fire to her dreamscape when he’d seen her black eye. His temper had diminished a little once Elara had explained in minute detail exactly what it was she’d done to the man in return.
Elara was brought out of her thoughts, halting as the three came to the end of a dim alley. Her eyes narrowed as she peered up at a sign, her mind flicking to the instructions in Eli’s invitation. And then, a wicked smile grew on her face. She motioned for Isra and Merissa to hurry up as she rapped sharply on an old, non-descript door.
They waited, a minute, then two. Finally, a slit appeared in the doorway, a small grate opening, and two cold, blue eyes looked out.
“Can I help you?”
“So polite,” Elara remarked, her voice like velvet. “I have an appointment.” She flourished Eli’s invitation.
The man behind the door scoffed. “I doubt Eli would send a personal invitation if he wanted a whore.” To make his point, he looked at her cleavage. “This is clearly forged.”
Elara exhaled through her nose, closing her eyes.
“Oh shit,” she heard Isra mutter, watching from a few paces away. “She’s going to go full lady of darkness on his ass.”
She heard Merissa gasp as with a flick of her hand, Elara extinguished every single light down the street. The raucous singing and shouting that had filled the space faltered as the alley was plunged into darkness. And then Elara took a slow step forward, her face close to the grate. She made sure that the doorman saw every inch of threat in her silver eyes, like polished steel as she hissed, “You will let me and my friends in. Or I will give life to the terrors that plague you. And you will wish and beg and scream, that you had just let thewhorepass.”
There was a second of silence, the doorman’s eyes widening in fear as he beheld the dead promise that writhed behind her stare. Then without a sound, the door swung open.
Elara turned, giving a bright smile to her friends. “Follow me.”
The women entered a small, quiet pub room, too clean and quiet compared with the alley. Elara scanned it, a soft smile on her face as she strode through it. Everyone’s eyes turned to the group.