Page 121 of Heavenly Bodies

When they tumbled back through thesoverin, Elara kept moving, walking past the mirrors, which now seemed duller in the evening light.Keep walking, she told herself. Away from Aphrodea, from the Stars, from everything.

Someone grabbed her hand, and she turned, expecting it to be Enzo, but it was Merissa. ‘Please can we talk?’ she said.

Elara deflated. ‘Of course.’

She looked at Enzo, who was watching Merissa with a hawk’s eye. ‘Try not to miss the celebrations, princess,’ he said lightly.

Isra looked amused. ‘Oh yes, we’ve arrived at the perfect time.’

Elara didn’t wait to ask what they meant, instead leading Merissa silently out of theluciriumand back up the stairs to her own room.

She maintained the silence until her door was firmly closed behind them, before turning.

‘Who are you?’ she demanded.

‘I am everything that I was before,’ Merissa said hoarsely. ‘I swear to you, Elara.’

‘So, what? It was just coincidence that you, the daughter of a Star, were assigned to aid me here?’

‘My mother asked about you,’ Merissa admitted. ‘When you first arrived. She knew everything—your prophecy, how you survived Ariete’s death blow. It was divine timing that I was already working at the palace.’

‘I don’t believe you,’ Elara said, although her conviction was already waning. ‘Why work in Idris’s employ if you have the blood of a Star within you? Surely you could live in the Heavens if you wished?’

Merissa shook her head. ‘No,’ she said vehemently. ‘I couldn’t. Stars can have children. But they don’t. And there is a good reason why—because of the weakness that it provides, the potential target. My identity has been kept hidden my whole life. And I would never be accepted amongst the Stars.’

Elara allowed the words to soak in. ‘But surely your mother could have given you a home, riches…’

‘There is a lot about my childhood you don’t know,’ Merissa said quietly. ‘A lot that I do not feel ready to share. Torra is a Star. Not a terrible one, no. But it certainly didn’t make her a good mother. Everything I have in life, I worked for myself.’

‘Do you…do you have any Star magick?’

Merissa raised her palm, and a faint stream of rose starlight shone weakly. Elara’s eyes widened.

‘That’s about it. And a little charm from my mother and brother—a magick of lust and love, that I refuse to use. And my glamour magick from an Aphrodean father that I never knew.’

‘Brother,’ Elara mused, then gasped. ‘Holy shit. Lias is your brother.’

‘Half-brother,’ she replied coolly. And Elara knew not topress further. Elara looked at Merissa, truly taking in the half-goddess—her eyes open and pleading, her hands clasped.

‘Is there anything else you have to tell me?’ she asked.

‘It was my mother’s blood that I gave Enzo for you to drink.’ Merissa bit her lip. ‘And that’s it. There’s nothing more about me that you don’t already know.’

Elara sighed, and then without another thought, crushed Merissa to her. Merissa froze, before softening against her. ‘I’m sorry,’ Elara said into her hair.

‘So am I,’ Merissa replied.

When they pulled away, Merissa was wiping her eyes.

‘Now what’s this about tonight’s celebration?’ Elara said, eyes twinkling.

Merissa gave a watery smile. ‘On the summer solstice, when the Light begins to dim, there’s often a soiree in the throne room. Although the D’Oros always swear they loathe the Dark, they still seem taken by it on this night. For one night they give in to sin.’

There was a soft knock at the door. Elara answered it, and was greeted by Isra, a bottle of honeywine in her hand.

‘Ready for a night of darkness and debauchery?’ she asked.

Elara grinned. ‘Always.’

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