Chapter 26
Ikept my eyes on the shimmering, iridescent water.
The Fallen Prince kept his eyes on me.
“You are both before us to be purified from shed blood and the loss of innocent lives.”
“Innocent lives,” I thought in my head. “I didn’t see them dragging Tharic to be purified when he killed the Ascendants trying to join Scroll Order.”
“And you never will, Starling.”
He was seriously too good at just slipping in whenever he wanted.
“You can’t just keep doing that. I didn’t give you permission.”
“Boundaries aren’t really the point of bonds, Starry One.”
“I don’t remember ever asking to be bonded. Especially to the likes of you.”
“And yet, here we are. This will be good for you. Now you’ll be forced to see how gluttonous you’ve become, gorging on generations of lies.”
“Egotistical, pompous—”
“Are you two done being distracted?”
The Iris cut in, breaking off our mental debate. I pressed my lips into a thin line. I noticed a small grin etching onto Quazar’s face. I huffed quietly.
Pretty, gloriously sexy, demon.
I wrenched my eyes away from him, annoyed at how beautiful he was. Annoyed at how every inch of him lured me in like moth to flame.
Quazar held my hand possessively, squeezing our palms as he rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. I shifted on my feet, twitching at the delicious sensation it triggered down my body.
The female Iris who’d been speaking the entire time opened her arms wide, gesturing to us.
“To purify yourselves, you must dip together seven times. After you’ve completed dipping in the waters, we will pour sacred oil over you, pray, and give you of the sacred cup to drink.”
“Drink what exactly?” I blurted out.
I covered my mouth with my free hand. Mentally, even though his face hadn’t changed, I felt Quazar laughing on his side of the bond. The Iris’s eyes flashed.
“So many questions for one Unclean.”
I flinched. Ouch.
Quazar tensed at the rebuke. I was probably imagining it, but it felt like his fingers wrapped around mine just a bit tighter.
“You may begin.”
Quazar and I looked at each other, our wings intertwined, hands still clasped.
We bounced on our bare feet at the pool’s center.
I was still tall enough for my head to remain above the water’s surface but Quazar’s shoulders were above it.
Looking at one another in the eyes, we began to fully submerge ourselves in the iridescent pool. Once, twice, all the way to seven.
By the time we finished, the water had affected the density of my hair. My curls had shrunken tightly. Instead of being past waist length, they were now above mid-back. I wanted to cry. It was going to take forever to air them out, and finger detangle them again.
Quazar and I remained where we were. He was so close, his chest almost pressed against mine. He was a breath away. And the way he looked at me…stars.
I imagined the way the Infinite made the stars, the great lights, the heavens, and cradled them in his hands. How he must have looked at them with such pride, such joy, admiring his eternal handiwork.
That’s how it felt to trapped in the prepossessing gaze of the Fallen Prince. It felt like time was slowing. Not only could I feel the writhing movements of his thoughts, but I could feel what he felt. Rage. Hunger. Desire. Need.
The constant flow of his emotions flooded my hearts, overwhelming my senses. And I sensed something else, as he held on to me, tighter by the moment.
Shadows didn’t just fill my mind. It was as if shadows, his shadows, were in my very blood, coiling through my body. As if Quazar, or at least his essence, had been fused into me. I felt heady. Hot. Flummoxed.
As if in a trance, I leaned into him. And was shocked when his hand lowered to my waist, and instinctively pulled me close, pressing my chest to his.
“Safah, Starling. Don’t start any fires if you’re going to put them out. I won’t be robbed of my fun.”
Our proximity finally clicked in my mind. Quazar’s arm was locked around my waist, the other lost…in my hair? And my arms were around his neck.
Wait.
When did that happen? The corners of his lips curled as his eyes danced.
I opened my mouth to say something, my hearts still racing wildly, as the water of the pool grew to a still.
I turned and saw all eight Iris, bare feet, walking along the surface of the pool.
They didn’t make a single ripple, as they elegantly walked over to the center where Quazar and I remained entangled.
Each Iris held in their hands an angel lamp, curved at the neck with a wing-shaped handle, full to the brim with oil. When the Iris reached us, I wanted to look up at them. Instead I felt compelled to keep looking up into Quazar’s eyes.
This close to him, I could see how rich the emerald was, much like the stone itself.
Deep within, when I looked hard enough, I saw his irises had circlets of gold around them.
A strand of black hair fell into his eyes.
Without thinking, I brushed it away, lost in the spell of this male I was supposed to hate.
The Iris began chanting prettily, almost as if they were singing a song. I’d heard some of the words before in old songs Papi would sing to me at twinight so I could fall asleep. Most of what he sang came from our Saccrent, the holy verses. What the Iris were praying now sounded older.
A cool breeze seeped into the Purification chamber, rustling the watery surface of the pool. Without thinking, I leaned into Quazar, resting both hands on his chest before letting my eyes flutter closed. His grip on my waist tightened, sending a flood of heat through my body.
Then the oil began to pour. There was so much. Oil lamp after oil lamp was tipped over our heads. I was coated entirely in the holy oil from head to foot as it slipped down my body all the way to my feet beneath the water. When the Iris finished their singing, I opened my eyes.
Quazar was as soaked as I was in oil. He quirked the smallest of smiles. The sight made my hearts jump. For a moment, I forgot about the fact that he was the Fallen Prince, and I was the fifi of the Farasee he’d gotten killed by helping Fallen breach the realm gates.
In this moment, he simply looked like a handsome male with eyes full of mischief. Then Quazar’s eyes grew cold. Hateful. Angry.
I froze.
Every ounce of warmth I’d just felt towards him withered. I tried to pull away from him, but he kept his arm locked tight around me like a vise. I was disgusted with myself for being stupid enough to think any good about him.
Without looking up at the Iris, eyes still piercing into me, he asked, “Are we done here?”
Acid slithered in my gut. I felt as if I’d been cut through with a knife. I curled my lips at him, ripping my hands away.
“No. The sacred cup remains. Take. And drink.”
I was given the cup first. It was a gilded goblet with a drink that looked much like angel wine. Without questioning it, I downed the entire thing.
The goblet refilled on its own. I shoved it at Quazar, letting it go so he was forced to catch it without being able to touch me. When he finished, the goblet vanished.
“Your Purification has ended. You may leave with our blessing.”
Before Quazar could turn away first, I was already rushing out of the pool, and up the steps after snatching my gown and sandals. The moment I was no longer in the pool waters, the oil seeped into my skin, fusing into my blood with a warm hum. I bent over and gasped.
I didn’t feel any pain.
I stretched from side to side. Pulled my wings in front of me. Mended. I was completely mended.
My wings were back in perfect shape. My bruises were gone. I’d been made whole in the purification pool. I threw a silent prayer at the Infinite, beyond grateful at my injuries being removed before they could get worse and get infected.
I ignored Quazar completely, flooding the veil between our bond with my starfire, sealing it shut, and kicking him out of my mind entirely. I dressed swiftly, clasping my gown and donning my sandals.
“Thank you—” I whipped around to thank the Iris.
But they were already gone.
Without waiting for Quazar, I spun around, spread my wings, and shot away. Instead of the long walk, I flew over the elongated trail of stairs through the cloudy billows.
My eyes stung with hot tears. I bit them back. I would never shed a tear for that cold, cruel, heartless thing called a Fallen Prince.
I flew with all my might, shooting like a star in gold across the cloudy expanse, until I made it to the doors. They were open again, as if they’d been waiting for our exit.
I flew out, quickly bowed to the sunlions, and raced out of the Purification Hall. I navigated through the large building, flapping my wings to give me speed. I raced with all I had, fighting the tightening knot forming in my chest.
How had I been so stupid? So foolish to believe he’d… What? Changed? Idiot. I was such an idiot.
I rushed out of the Purification Hall and began flying over the ridiculously vast expanse of the temple grounds.
The Purification Hall was perched on a hill to the east of the temple.
Even by flight, it was some distance to the main cathedrals.
I flew hard and fast, cutting through cathedrals, flying over fountains, rushing past the perfect landscape that made up all of Temple Efysis.
When I finally made it to the common areas, I couldn’t help but notice the gods and goddesses. This cluster were laughing with themselves, being entertained by something. Their chained gowns clang, making noise as they moved around freely. Until they saw me coming.
Immediately they stopped laughing. Stopped enjoying themselves. I felt awful, as they lowered their heads. Tears flooded my eyes. One of the goddesses lifted her head. She frowned when she saw my forlorn expression.
Before she could say a word, I looked away, flying higher, angling through the twists and turns of the grounds, until I made it to the wingtower of First Dominion, Seventh Choir.
I raced through the doors, yanking off my sandals. I instantly spotted her blonde hair and aquamarine eyes.
“Ellie,” I broke, my voice choked off.
Daelun and Omarion looked up at me, concern lacing their faces as they looked between me and Ellabeth. I threw myself into my bestfriends arms, overwhelmed and no longer able to keep everything that had happened inside.
Ellabeth wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. Then she took my hand and flew me to her room. With the door shut, and the both of us sitting cross-winged on her bedcloud, Ellabeth leaned in, her eyes blazing like churning oceans out for blood.
“Tell me everything.”