Page 34 of Heavenly Bodies

Elara clenched and unclenched her fists as she peered up at Enzo, who was waiting for her in his usual position at the bottom of the grand staircase, ready for training. Only hours had passed—after their silent conversation across the garden, she’d stayed up the rest of the night, turning over what he had said.

And he was right. She could no longer let fear control her life.

Leo, who had escorted her as usual, began to slow clap beside her. ‘I knew his inspirational speeches would get to you eventually.’

Elara rolled her eyes as Enzo observed her.

‘You’re sure?’

She nodded resolutely.

‘Well, princess. Looks like there’s mettle in you after all.’

It was the first time Elara had ever properly seen the royal gardens, which lay on the far side of the palace from her room. She accompanied Enzo through an arch, past neatly trimmed hedgerows.

‘I wanted to show you how the Light is worshipped in my kingdom. How it’s used for things other than violence.’

Elara tried to relax her shoulders as she looked to the neat flowerbeds stretching in rows.

Different palace workers were kneeling in the dirt, some digging, or planting seeds, others with their hands held out as light shone from their palms.

Enzo walked towards an older woman, her hair shimmering in tight black curls threaded with gold. She turned as she heard Enzo approach and beamed.

‘My little cub,’ she said, standing. Her warm brown eyes were familiar.

‘Aunty,’ Enzo said warmly, kissing her head. When the woman looked at Elara expectantly, Enzo turned.

‘Oh, this is Nova,’ he lied. ‘She’s a guest of my father’s. I’m just giving her a tour of the palace gardens. Nova, this is Leo’s mother, Kalinda.’

Elara smiled, shaking her hand. ‘So it’s you who grows the best peaches I’ve ever tasted?’

Enzo frowned down at her, but Kalinda threw back her head and laughed, clapping her hands. ‘I wondered why my son was stealing so many from me. For that, you can have this one here.’ She reached to a tree laden with the fruit. ‘Freshly plucked.’

She passed one to Elara, the light still warm upon its skin.

‘Thank you,’ Elara said earnestly.

‘What’s your magick, sweetheart? If you’d ever like to help, you know where I am now.’

‘She’s a seer,’ Enzo lied quickly. ‘Like Iz.’

Elara narrowed her eyes at Enzo as Kalinda chuckled.

‘Ah, darling Isra. That girl killed nearly all my vegetables with her frost. She didn’t have a green little finger, let alone a green thumb.’

‘I’ll tell her to come up to the palace to see you soon,’ Enzo said, squeezing her hand. ‘We’d best carry on with the tour.’

Kalinda kissed his cheek, giving a little bow to Elara. ‘A pleasure to meet you, Nova.’

‘It was all mine,’ Elara beamed.

‘Peaches?’ Enzo asked, when they were out of earshot.

‘Leo brings me one every morning.’

‘Does he now?’ Enzo said tightly. ‘And when did you two become so close?’

‘He wanted to as thanks for—’ Elara paused and looked around, making sure nobody else was in earshot, ‘—something I did for him.’

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