Page 92 of Fallen Stars

“Enzo,” she wheezed. “Where is he?”

“The throne room, Your Highness,” the servant replied. “But wait, wha—”

Elara was already off, running, feet slamming against the marbled floor.

The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, and she gritted her teeth as she pounded down it to a set of ornately carved doors. The same ones that had swung open before and revealed her soulmate. She pushed one open, paying no mind to the guard stationed outside.

She staggered in and stilled.

At the end of the throne room, she saw her Sun.

His hair was longer, falling in curls to his jaw, his face sharper, only his profile visible to her. Next to him was Leo, gripping his friend’s hand, as they spoke to one another with urgency on their faces. Merissa and Isra were already there too, to her surprise, having beaten her to the throne room. Isra hugged Enzo tightly as she wept, Merissa clutching his arm.

Though through it all, she could see that Enzo was agitated, looking for something as his head kept turning.

This wasn’t possible. Her mind wouldn’t let her believe it. That he was there before her.

She took another step. Her legs nearly buckled. She let out a soft exhale.

Enzo’s head whipped around, his golden eyes locking with her silver ones.

And then Elara was running down the expanse of the throne room, sobbing as her gown streamed behind her. Enzo’s eyes were lined with tears as he extricated himself from Isra’s hold, running to meet her.

The two were like streaks of light, two fallen stars streaming through the night-sky towards each other.

The distance closed, Elara breathing raggedly, three yards, two, one.

They collided, Enzo wrapping her in his arms, one hand in her hair as he squeezed her to him, a harsh breath escaping him.

She could smellhim. And Elara began to cry. Truly sob.

She forced her eyes closed, just breathing the scent of warm amber in and out, buried in his strong arms as her entire body shook. Her nails dug into his back as she gripped him with a force that promised she would never let go.

Finally, she felt his head move, a hand under her chin forcing her to look up.

She saw his golden eyes soften, his beautiful face pained with longing.

“Hello, princess,” Enzo whispered, his smile trembling.

“Hello, Lion,” she whispered back, cradling his face.

Then Enzo grabbed hers between his hands and pressed his lips to hers. A sigh escaped them both as he melded her to him, his kiss desperate and harsh, filled with the pain and longing andneedof the month. She couldfeelhim, his lips warm and smooth. Couldtastehim, his tongue like firewhisky and bonfires. He angled her head so he could access her more deeply, his moan turning into a ravaged growl as he kissed her again. His power coated her; she was warm and shining, completely enveloped in him.

“Holy gods,” Leo breathed, and she opened her eyes briefly. Light was shining from her, silver and sparkling as it cast across the room, and Enzo…

Enzo was completely gold, the Sun personified as he continued to kiss her.

She drank in his warmth, the world theirs, the room fading. He was her sun, the point that she orbited around, her light. And as he held her, the force of his emotions plain through his touch, she felt the withered, cold parts of her that had decayed the moment he’d left spring to life. Like a dying rose given light, she bloomed. And in that, she felt a stirring in the pit of her stomach, a silver magick rumbling awake. She felt the power trapped within her veins roar, felt it alchemise her bloodstream and turn it to pure magick—this power that she had pulled and begged and pleaded with, and finally, with a gasp, it was awake.

She pulled away from Enzo, her eyes wide.

“What, my love?” he whispered, cupping her face between his hands.

“How did you do that?”

“Kiss so well? I know, I am gifted,” he smirked. She nearly wept again to hear his flirting tone, so deprived of it these weeks.

“No.” She leaned in so she could whisper in his ear. “I can feel my magick alive in my veins. The power…” She looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “The power that has been slumbering ever since Merissa plunged the duskglass through me. The silver light.”