Page 47 of Heavenly Bodies

‘Flamespirit, from Kaos.’

‘Two more sips of that and I’ll be drunk.’

Isra winked. ‘Keep drinking then, princess. Stars know you could use it.’

A buzzing began to thrum in her veins as the liquor seeped into her. The drink made her feel warm and fuzzy, and her head was soon blissfully fuddled. She allowed the sounds of the night to wash over her—the relaxing buzz of cicadas, the light-hearted conversation and gossip between Merissa, Isra and Leo, interspersed with laughter. She heard other voices, the plucking of a tune and a raucous ballad being sung by someone who had definitely had too much wine.

The musician’s song picked up, and she heard it soar as she felt an arm wrap around her. It was Leo’s. ‘You’d better learn this song, Elara,’ he said.

‘Theeeeere once was a lass, who had a hell of an—’

‘ASS!’ everyone around Elara shouted, laughing and dancing.

‘And liked a good roll in the green, green grass!’

Elara chuckled as a burst of firelight from another flame-thrower lit up the whole scene. She saw lightcasters direct their hands to the sky in their drunken reverie, their rays spilling out in flaming patterns across the deep red sky. And not a flicker of fear ran through her.

She looked around the clearing as she thought of Enzo andhislight, lazily scanning the revellers sprawled on the grass or dancing. Some were kissing and touching in their drunken hazes. She swallowed, avoiding them until someone arrested her attention.

Enzo was lying down in the grass, a pretty, curvy blonde lying next to him as she tried to play with his hair. It was mussed, his crown lopsided on it. He batted her hand away as she giggled. He looked…bored. Elara’s cheeks heated, and she made to turn her head before he saw her, but it was too late. His drunken gaze flicked languidly to her, then away, and then back, steeling in recognition. Elara turned quickly away, accidentally knocking Leo’s drink as she did so.

‘A little too much Kaosian spirit for the lady,’ he said warmly. She forced a laugh, looking back to where Enzo was. His gaze was burning into her, too dark to read. She met his stare defiantly until, with what looked like a scoff, the prince turned his attention away. She felt too hot, and was grateful when Isra passed the bottle back to her. She took a sip, knocking it back with a wince.

‘Rough day?’ Leo asked. She cast him a scornful look as Isra and Merissa got up to dance.

‘You tell me. You’re the one who was assaulting my poor muscles.’ She dipped her feet into the warm water as he laughed, sipping his own cup of wine.

‘This court,’ she said hesitantly, glancing at the soft moans and open displays of affection around her. ‘It’s very…uninhibited, isn’t it?’

Leo choked on his wine, laughing. ‘What makes you say that?’

‘Well…in Asteria, it would be considered improper, embracing so openly. And would be particularly preposterous if you were royalty.’

‘Ah,’ Leo said knowingly. ‘Might you be referring to our esteemed prince?’ he asked innocently.

She heard splashes in the distance as people jumped into the temperate waters for a midnight swim. Bringing her attention back to Leo, she nodded, cheeks flushing again.

‘I thought he was courting that pretty chestnut-haired girl from the banquet?’

Leo threw back his head and laughed. ‘Who? Raina? You’re mistaken, Elara. Enzo doesn’t court.’ He laughed again as though she had suggested the funniest thing. ‘He likes to…enjoy himself. You could say the pressures of his life need a release. And, well,’ his lips quirked over his wine, ‘he definitely finds release.’

Elara felt she may as well be the Light itself, the way her face was flaming. She took another swig, very aware of how her head had already begun to spin thanks to her empty stomach.

‘Are you scandalized?’ Leo’s tone was teasing.

‘I’m not a naïve maiden,’ she replied sharply, feeling the cool steel of the dagger at her thigh grounding her. ‘In Asteria we take lovers too,’ she said pointedly. ‘Just not so openly.’

She traced a finger around her goblet pensively. Her thoughts flitted to Lukas again.

‘I had one. But we would never dream of displaying ourselves like that in front of my court.’

Leo’s brows were raised at her honesty.

She smiled. ‘And I don’t see the fuss anyway. Love-making certainly wasn’t anything to write home about.’

‘Then maybe,’ a deep voice said behind her, ‘you just haven’t found a man who knows how to seduce you properly.’

CHAPTER TWENTY

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