Heavenly Bodies

Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

She felt water drip on her shoulder and turned in disbelief as Enzo sat down beside her. He was slick with water; it ran off his bare chest in rivulets. He was far too close to her, his wet trousers brushing her legs as they dangled in the water.

‘Enzo,’ she said, a little out of breath. ‘Do you ever wear a shirt?’

He pushed wet curls back from his face and rested back on his elbows, an indolent smile on his face as he reached over and picked up a cup of wine from beside Leo. ‘I don’t hear any other women complaining.’

She muttered a prayer.

‘How drunk are you?’ she asked, looking at him dubiously.

‘Pleasantly drunk,’ he said. ‘But still sober enough that I’ll remember your conversation with Leo in the morning.’ His grin widened.

She observed him for a moment, searching for a glimpse of the man from the night before, vulnerable and afraid. But with his curling lips and eyes sparking, she came up short. Sliding a look at Leo, then back to Enzo, she said, ‘Can we talk?’ She edged closer, her hand resting on his as she looked at him in earnest. She noticed how warm it felt, the droplets of water on it wetting her palm. His eyes flew to her hand, his nostrils slightly flared. Then he met Leo’s gaze, some silent order passing between them before Leo stood and disappeared into the fray.

‘This isn’t going to be an apology,’ she warned, and Enzo muttered a prayer under his breath. ‘But…I stayed. Which means that I clearly want to be your…tentative ally?’

Enzo frowned.

‘I mean, that is what we are. We have a common goal, a common enemy. So I suppose, what I’m trying to say is…’ She sighed. Why had she drunk so much? ‘I think I need you.’

A look passed over Enzo’s face, and was masked too quickly for Elara to decipher it.

‘You helped me face my fear. I’d like to work together again. And it will be different now—because I’ve chosen to stay.’

He looked at her for a long time, long enough that her skin started to prickle, before he replied. ‘In an unfortunate turn of events, I need you too,’ he said. ‘So, tentative allies—I suppose that’s what we are.’

Something eased within Elara, something she hadn’t realized she’d cared about.

He leaned in closer, blocking out the rest of the revel.

‘I had an interesting dream last night,’ he murmured, so low that only Elara could hear.

‘Did you?’ She turned her head, gulping her wine to the dregs.

‘Yes. You didn’t happen to be dreamwalking, did you?’ His breath was a lethal caress on her jaw.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she breathed, staring straight ahead so that her eyes wouldn’t betray her. She could see him out of the corner of her eye, fixated on her.

She felt a warm hand touch her chin, moving it to face him. His eyes searched hers, and she willed cool indifference into them.

‘You’re a terrible liar.’ He gave a playful smile, his touch light as he grew close enough for their lips to touch. ‘Thank you.’

Her mouth worked, and his eyes flicked to her lips then drew back to her eyes.

She pressed her lips closed, giving a small nod. She went to turn away, but his hand held her close. ‘There’s something else I need to tell you,’ he slurred. She frowned as Enzo looked around, seemingly making sure nobody was in earshot, before leaning in closer to her. ‘The Borderland Fires…I didn’t—’ He sighed a heavy breath. ‘I warned the village before it happened. My father gave the order, and I knew I had no choice. But I made sure everyone got out first. Then I incinerated it. It had to look real.’ He breathed in deeply. ‘The women, the children, they’re all alive and safe, living in the Goldfir Forest on the Helion side of the border. Leo goes to visit them from time to time with food and supplies.’ That wild earnestness was in his eyes again. ‘I just— I needed you to know that.’

Elara looked at him, searching, her mouth agape. Between his nightmares and what he had just confessed—the treason he’d just revealed—she was speaking to an entirely different person.

‘I believe you,’ she said finally as relief crashed through her. ‘Thank you. Thank you for saving them.’

He gave a curt nod, releasing his grip on her before knocking back what remained in his goblet in one gulp. Thankfully, Leo and Isra returned then, the latter throwing herself to the ground, out of breath.

‘Wonderful for you to grace us with your presence,’ Isra said, passing her own bottle to Enzo.

‘Careful,’ Elara warned. ‘That stuff is lethal.’

Enzo raised an eyebrow, his eyes fixed on her as he took a sip. He swallowed it, grinning. ‘Lightweight,’ he whispered.

She swirled the water below her with her toes, absent-mindedly listening to Leo and Enzo as they exchanged stories of their childhood. Isra butted in now and then to correct them or grumble about the torture she’d endured at their hands.

‘He was always luring Isra and me into trouble,’ Leo was saying.

‘Do you know how many times I had to save Enzo’s arse before he learned to control his magick? The palace would have burned to the ground ten times over if it wasn’t for me putting out his fires.’

‘You’re exaggerating. I had impeccable control.’

Isra raised a brow. ‘Leo, was it you who singed the cook’s eyebrows off that time, or Enzo?’

Leo furrowed his brow in mock thought. ‘Enzo.’

‘Point proven.’

Merissa appeared, looking a little fearful as she curtsied to the prince. He waved a hand through the air.

‘None of that tonight, Merissa. Sit with us.’

Merissa did, producing a small basket.

‘I raided the kitchens,’ she said, a shy smile playing on her lips.

Isra applauded loudly and started chanting Merissa’s name, the others quickly following suit. Merissa beamed as she offered Elara the basket.

‘Chocolate-dipped gildberries,’ she said, taking one for herself. Elara picked one up and sucked on it, swirling the velvety chocolate around her tongue. She dropped her head back in pleasure.

‘Now these,’ she said, savouring it, ‘these are something to write home about.’

Leo roared, Isra and Merissa looked confused, and Elara turned to glance at Enzo. His eyes were black, gaze dragged to her lips as she sucked on her berry. Her surroundings faded to a distant drone as she looked at him, some dark part of her wanting to continue. She raised a thumb to her lips and nonchalantly licked the melted chocolate off. He leaned perceptibly closer, and she saw his fist clench in the grass. His eyes found hers, and she smiled a smile lent of her darkness.

Then the moment was shattered, the world coming back around her with a blast of rowdy music.

‘I love this song!’ Merissa yelled, hauling Elara up. Breaking eye contact with Enzo, Elara dragged her feet as Merissa hauled her over to the dancing by the fire. Elara joined in. She spun and whirled until Merissa’s hands left her for another. A handsome soldier smiled down at her, his eyes the colour of topaz gems as he went to take her hand.

‘I don’t think so,’ Enzo’s voice said behind her. The soldier dropped Elara’s hand, raising both of his in surrender as he turned around. Enzo gripped her hand tightly, spinning her arm.

Her eyes narrowed. ‘That was rude,’ she said.

‘Was it?’ His eyes were wide with play-acted innocence. ‘Can’t have anyone seeing through your glamour.’ With a winning smile he raised his cup, filled with a swirling amber liquid.

‘Ambrosia, a token of peace,’ he added.

‘Drink of the Stars? How expensive is that?’

Enzo shrugged, taking a sip. ‘So you don’t want to try it?’

‘I didn’t say that ,’ she scowled.

His gaze burned as he brought the cup to her lips. She hesitated, then, maintaining his stare, took a sip from it as he tilted it.

Warm, spiced sweetness slipped down her throat. It sparked in her veins, ecstasy mingling with the spirits she’d already consumed. She closed her eyes, sighing in satisfaction. She felt a shift inside herself as she raised her hands to the sky. She whirled in euphoria, shadows dancing behind her eyelids. She heard chanting, a drumbeat intensifying. She started laughing. Enzo was before her, dancing with her, light and fire pouring from him. Her shadows bent to him, curling around his light. She felt weightless. Then a flurry of images ran into one another beneath her eyelids, assaulting her senses. Two thrones—one made of pure, shimmering silver, the other of gold. Hungry red flames devouring them both. A roaring lion, and finally a blade plunged into a stone heart. Darker than any shadow, darker than any night.