Chapter 22 Let It Burn
Chapter Twenty-Two
Let It Burn
NORA
The wind caresses my face, my red hair swirling around me like a gleam of light against the thick, dark clouds rolling past overhead.
The distant bleakness of the towering temple and city skyline in the distance steals my attention, even with the commotion on the ground.
The clang of metal reaches my ears as the Dark Legion in their fighting leathers begin training far below.
Hundreds of men and women with ebony wings pair up and swing and slice toward the others weapon with deadly precision. I find it both amazing and terrifying.
Kairos believes they’ll be prepared this time if Nyx and her demon army were to ever attack here.
Their celestial wards, he says, will alert them far in advance, giving them the upper hand.
Apparently, Queen Gaia’s wards are impenetrable.
I hope he’s right. I hope we never have to see if it’s true.
Nyx found her way into the Realm of Light once, after all.
The thought of her here sends chills creeping along my skin, not out of fear of what she’ll do to me, but a deep terror of what she might do to these people. To him.
Kairos steps out onto the balcony and hands me a warm mug, clinking it against mine in a silent ‘cheers.’ I snort as he brings the cup to his lips and winks at me before taking a long sip.
“Sorry. Fresh out of tequila. I hope coffee will suffice.” A crooked smirk and aquamarine eyes envelop me in warmth.
Tilting my head to the side, I roll my eyes overdramatically. “I only loved tequila so much that night with you at the club because it helped me escape the nightmare of having to talk to you. You’re a real bore, you know?” I laugh but he does not.
He bumps his shoulder into mine playfully. “Please. You felt anything but bored that night,” he says, leaning his elbows on the railing, his face now close to mine.
“Oh yeah?” Leaning in closer, my lips inches from his, I whisper, “tell me then, Kairos, what did I feel?”
“You felt exhilarated. The excitement rolled off you in waves. I make you feel alive.” His smile is wide, but I can sense the questions in his eyes. Despite his proclamation, he’s unsure how I really feel.
Looking into his eyes is like staring straight into the eye of a storm, the calming sensation right before thunder claps.
“What you sensed that night, Kairos, was the repulsion I felt from your over-the-top flirting. And also…boredom.” I shrug, keeping my eyes on him.
I try to play it off, hiding the sarcasm in my tone, but then laughter slips out and a smile creeps across his lips as I explode into a fit of giggles.
He laughs and shakes his head, knowing my words are all lies.
Everything about Kairos is beautiful, but his carefree laugh, his playful mind, and his selfless, open heart are quickly becoming my favorite things.
“Okay, little liar. Finish your coffee and get dressed. You’ve got an army to reintroduce yourself to.” He winks before chugging the last bit of his coffee and then heads into his bedroom without looking back.
“God, you’re bossy,” I tease, following close behind him.
Too close, apparently, because when he comes to a sudden stop and faces me, I crash into his hard chest, splashing the contents of my mug all over his shirt.
Gripping me by the shoulders, he gently peels our bodies apart as I mutter curse words under my breath and wipe at his shirt with my bare hands.
Not surprisingly, his lips twitch as he holds back a smile.
“What I meant to say, princess,” he waves his hand and bows low before continuing. “Is please can you get dressed and ready so as not to leave the immortal army who is expecting us waiting. They’ve only been hoping for your return for over a century, after all.”
His smile is cocky. I roll my eyes as I push past him and make my way to the closet.
He is bossy. I was only stating a fact. Rummaging through clothes in the closet, I decide on one of the signature black robes of the realm.
The emblem on the front features golden wings with a sword pointing down between them, just like almost everything else in the closet.
I glance again at the wall of leather before sliding the closet closed.
It’s sexy and I can tell Kairos prefers it, but it feels unnecessary today.
I won’t be training or fighting, and I like the breeziness of the robes better.
Running a golden brush through my hair, I turn toward Kairos, opening my mouth to speak.
Instead, I gasp. In his robe with the hood drawn up, flashes of the night on the bridge push their way into my thoughts.
A shudder runs through me remembering the fear I felt plummeting toward the lake and then again when I faced him.
I thought he wanted to hurt me. I know now that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There isn’t the tiniest piece of Kairos that would enjoy hurting me.
As he smiles and offers up his arm, I loop mine through it and we descend the spiraling marble staircase together.
* * *
Out on the training field, we keep our distance as the celestials continue fighting, paying no mind to the two of us standing here.
Mio, the dark-haired green-eyed friend of Kairos’ who I met at my house last week smiles brightly as he spots us together quietly watching.
The celestials’ fierceness is hard to ignore.
In their black leather, their wings furrow and unfurrow as they twist and dive and roll across the ground, gleaming weapons in hand and strapped to their bodies everywhere imaginable. But god are they beautiful.
The celestial runs toward us, and Kairos leans down, whispering in my ear. “Try not to stare or gawk too much over his looks. Mio is already overflowing with an abundance of confidence. He needs no more.” He laughs quietly and then straightens.
Is the big bad celestial jealous of what I might think of his friend?
I shake my head at him and click my tongue as I turn back to Mio, avoiding a conversation about his possible jealousy.
His first in command is without question a specimen to admire, for sure.
As he smiles, the little dimples on his cheeks deepen and Mio always seems to be smiling.
I think if I spent more time with him, we’d be good friends in no time.
He radiates joy. He reminds me of Olivia and my heart aches thinking of how much I miss her.
“Hey Commander!” His voice is silky smooth and brimming with warmth, and excitement.
He slaps Kairos on the back and then turns to me.
“Nora. Looking as beautiful as ever, I see.” He winks, gently placing his hand on my shoulder and nodding toward the army.
“We’re almost finished running through drills and then I can introduce you to everyone.
I’m sure you’re dying to be free of conversation with this bore.
” He motions toward Kairos with his eyes.
I can’t help but laugh. “That’s funny, I just told him earlier what a bore he is.” Placing my hands on my hips, I abruptly put on a serious face. “Please, Mio. Help me.”
He laughs and the sound is wild and carefree, and I laugh with him, ignoring the annoyance in Kairos’ eyes as he glares at us.
He clears his throat. “Forgetting your manners, Mio?”
“Shit. Right.” Mio bows his head immediately, all humor fading away. “Darkness guide me.” As he straightens, he flashes another wide smile my way. “See you soon, Nor.”
“Gods save me, prick.” Kairos spits, smiling after him as he walks away.
“What the hell was that?” A huff of confusion escapes my lips.
“Are you referring to the celestial mantra or that man child you just encountered?” He crosses his arms and his eyes light up as swords clang and soldiers spin through the air in circles, dropping to the ground faster than my mortal eyes can track.
“The thing you said to each other. What was that?” My eyes are glued to the celestials, admiring how stunning they are even as they fight.
I step forward to get a better look, mouth hanging open in awe.
“Darkness guide me. Gods save me. It’s our mantra.” He moves in closer, ignoring the soldiers and focusing only on me.
“What does it mean?” I clasp my hands in front of me, giving him my full attention as I wait.
“It means to follow darkness wherever it leads in order to conquer it. If we do just that, gods and goddesses will save us in the end.” He swallows, his fingers twitching at his sides.
“But you believe the gods have turned their backs on your people. That they abandoned you after casting you down to Earth. Do you believe they’ll still save you if a time ever comes where you need their help?
” My heart races as I consider the possibility that maybe they wouldn’t save them.
That maybe they would again let them fall.
He inhales deeply. “We have no choice but to believe. Faith. Fate. Destiny. All of it is what keeps the celestial realms going.” Looping his arms around my waist, he leaps into the sky without warning, and I scream.
His laughter is short as he peers down at the celestials. “Look at them. Look how amazing they are. They’re determined and devoted to their faith even with all we’ve been through. After all we’ve lost. I won’t ever be the one to take that away from them no matter what I might believe.”
I gasp in awe as the soldiers suddenly get into a new formation.
Their wings are spread wide as they form a circle of protection around those in the center while some of them stay outside the barrier acting as the enemy trying to push through.
They don’t get through. Their wings shield the ones in the center so fiercely I can’t even see them there at all.
A shield of darkness made of wings. It’s beautiful.