Page 89 of Fallen Stars
They soon arrived at the inn, Elara leaping out and sprinting up the stairs to her room. The moment she opened the door, Astra jumped up at her, licking her face excitedly as she wagged her tail.
Elara fell to her knees, laughing and crying as the wolf whined. “We did it, Astra,” she whispered. “We did it.”
She concealed the wolf with illusions as they walked out of the premises before unveiling her in the carriage. Eli cursed, near pushing himself into Merissa’s lap as he jumped.
“Aren’t gods meant to be made of stronger stuff?” Isra asked.
“I don’t like animals,” Eli gritted out.
“Shocking,” Elara drawled.
The carriage set off, and Elara dug her hands into Astra’s soft fur as they began the journey to the in-between. The wolf settled at her feet, letting out a contented sigh.
“What are you going to do with her when we get back to Helios?” Merissa asked quietly.
Though elation was coursing through her veins because her soulmate had awoken, a bittersweet feeling mingled with it as she looked down at Astra, one of her only comforts during the darkness that existed before Enzo had awoken.
“Whatever she wants to do. But Astra is no pet.” Elara sighed as the wolf looked up at her with doleful eyes. “I doubt she would choose the confines of the palace when she could have the great outdoors.”
The wolf whined, and Elara stroked her fur as the carriage rumbled along, soon depositing them before the in-between.
Isra and Merissa were already by the entrance—a small, non-descript alleyway that possessed that Castorian magick of traversing space in moments.
“Go,” she said to the women. “I’ll be right there.”
She stepped out, careful to weave an illusion over Astra once more as her friends disappeared into the in-between.
Eli was beside her, waiting, and she spared him a glance as the sunshine warmed her back.
She took a deep breath as she placed one foot into the in-between, Astra right there with her.
“I can’t come with you,” Eli said, his voice the softest she had ever heard it. “I wish I could, but Ariete is still here…”
Elara nodded, making to turn.
“Wait.”
She paused.
“If you need me, use this.” He produced a beautiful silver ring, fashioned as a twining snake, its eye made of onyx. “My charm can work through it. When you wear this, if you need me, we’ll be able to communicate up here.” He tapped to his head.
Elara slipped it onto her little finger.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything, Eli. Without you, I could never have done this. It’s thanks to you he’s awake.”
Eli shook his head. “No, that was all you. I’m sorry, Elara. Whatever you did, whatever you had to pay… Well…it was worth it. You did it.”
Elara swallowed.
“And as to your earlier proposition in my club all those weeks ago… Elara I would be honoured to serve you as my queen.”
Elara’s heart soared as she held out her little finger, the one with his ring on.
“To a new world,” she whispered.
Eli smiled, linking his own little finger with hers. “To a new world,” he replied. “Now go. Call me when you need. I’m going to need to fabricate an illusion of utter horror now that the Sun is awake.”
He winked, putting his hands in his pockets as he waited for her to leave. She looked at him one final time before taking a deep breath and stepping fully into the alley.