Page 58 of Heavenly Bodies

‘I’venever been in love,’ she said, scrutinizing the canopy with a gulp. She felt a very small shift in his body next to her, and dared not look.

‘Oh really?’ Enzo’s voice was teasing. ‘Not even your darling lover that left you wanting in the bedroom?’

She could hear the smirk in his voice and struck out to hit his arm from where she was lying. She felt him catch her hand, stopping her, and he brought it to rest between them. She became acutely aware of the fact that he hadn’t moved the hand that now covered hers.

She peeked at him from the corner of her eye and saw him still staring at the shelter of leaves above them, his head still propped on one arm.

‘Not even him,’ she said, hiding her own smile in her voice. ‘Lukas and I were betrothed—our marriage was arranged when we were children.’

Enzo’s skin sparked against her own. ‘Is he yoursoulmatethen?’ His voice dripped with derision.

Elara shook her head. ‘I’ve never felt passion for him. Or desire—true desire. That all-consuming need I’ve read about. I’ve never felt…’ She paused, trying to find the word.

‘Fire,’ Enzo murmured, a soft laugh on his breath. Her stomach thrilled.

‘Yes,’ she breathed. ‘Fire.’

Elara could feel the heat pouring from him. She dared not look for fear of what she might feel if she saw that same spark in his eyes.

She felt warmth skitter up her arm, licking the inside of her wrist as invisible flames flowed from Enzo’s hand on to hers. The sensation sent rivulets of excitement running through her body, caressing her neck, warming her to her core. She felt such a viscerallongingfrom the touch that her mouth went dry, the thrill in her stomach sinking lower as she attempted to change the subject.

‘I loved Lukas, but I’ve realized since that I was neverinlove with him. He was sweet and kind. But…’ She shook her head. ‘He changed. A darkness began to grow in him. We were warned of it, you know, as shadowmancers. That if we don’t control our shadows, then there’s a risk of drowning in them. Lukas became unpredictable. Would fly into terrible tempers. But I’d always see glimpses of the boy I knew, and that made me stay—made me continue our betrothal. Wehad known each other since we were children. And—’ she swallowed, forcing her voice not to tremble. ‘And then he betrayed me. The boy I trusted with my life.’

‘What did he do?’ Enzo’s voice scraped across her skin, and she risked a glance at him. His gaze was burning into the canopy, his shoulders locked.

‘He summoned Ariete.’

And there it was. She’d never spoken the words aloud before.

‘It was my birthday. Right before your men kidnapped me. Sofia snuck me out to the travelling fair in town, and convinced me to go to the seer’s tent for a reading—alove reading.’ Elara rolled her eyes. ‘She never liked Lukas. I suppose she wanted me to see that there was another future for me. The oracle was one of Lias’s priestesses. And…well, she told me a prophecy.’

Enzo nodded. ‘I know that a prophecy was spoken about you. My father told me. But he didn’t tell me exactly what was foreseen.’ He paused, before asking solemnly, ‘What did she tell you?’

Her hand trembled, but Enzo’s hold over it grounded her, gave her the courage to utter the next sentence.

‘She told me that I would fall in love with the King of Stars. And that it would kill us both.’

Enzo said nothing.

‘I ran back to the palace in tears with Sofia, and told Lukas, before I confronted my parents. My parents wept—they told me that the same prophecy had been spoken at my naming ceremony. That they had done everything to stop it coming to fruition, to hide me. There was a small party that night at the palace to celebrate my birthday. Only for those closest to me and my family. It was late, Lukas and I were dancing andI saw something fall to the ground. A bloodied Ram card from the Stella deck. Ariete’s card.’

Enzo let out something like a hiss of anger.

Elara nodded. ‘Lukas called upon his favour. I don’t know what it cost him, and I still can’t fathom why. Maybe he was angry—I mean, when I first told him he was furious before I managed to calm him down—I was his betrothed after all. Or maybe he thought he could try and kill the Star. I know,’ she said, when Enzo snorted, ‘it’s not that easy. But he’d been growing more untethered the last few months. Whatever it was, Ariete appeared in a streak of light, and well…the rest you know.’

Enzo was quiet for a long time, and all Elara could hear was her heart pounding.

‘You’re destined for Ariete?’ Enzo asked roughly.

She nodded. ‘I just can’t believe that my fate could be tied to someone so cruel. How can he be the other half to my soul? But according to the prophecy, he is.’

‘You deserve to feeltruelove, El,’ Enzo said finally as his thumb began to trace the inside of her palm. Her breathing shallowed, trying to focus on the light show. ‘You deserve to be adored.’ His thumb stroked the inside of her wrist. ‘To feel pleasure.’ It came to rest back on her palm. He paused. ‘To be the one they look for first in every room.’

Elara turned to him then, and Enzo turned to face her. They stayed, looking at each other as his light refracted above them, kissing them with patterns and shadow.

‘I don’t just want love. I want reverence.’ She looked away. ‘Is that too much to ask?’

She felt a hand under her chin and trembled slightly as he forced her to look at him. He held her gaze for a long time as sparkles traced their eyes. Finally, a breath parted his lips.

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