Page 73 of Heavenly Bodies

Ariete brushed a thumb over Elara’s cheek, almost tenderly, before whispering into her ear, ‘If I cannot kill you, then I will keep you.’ His gaze flicked to Enzo’s prone body.

Elara tried to fight, tried to struggle, but the venom was dragging her down, down, down. ‘No,’ she croaked, one final time, hands outstretched to Enzo. And then there was only darkness.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Pain. Immeasurable, indescribable pain. Elara fought to wake up and thrashed her body, trying to force the magick of Ariete’s venom out of her veins, to no avail.

Her eyes fluttered open, enough to see that she was in her old bedroom. The heavy indigo curtains were drawn, familiar books lining her bookshelves, the paintings of her favourite draguns upon her ceiling. She choked a sob and tried to sit up, tried to move.

But the venom rendered her immobile, as a figure slithered forwards, an aura of white starlight around her becoming visible with every step.

‘The promised Starkiller,’ came a breathy, high voice. Elara tried to drag lungfuls of air into her body, though fear was making that near-impossible as a goddess was illuminated before her.

Gem. Star of spite and trickery.

Elara had been brought up on frightening stories of this very Star and her twin, Eli. They were two halves, but together they were more powerful than almost any one star. Theycould cleave minds, could make the sanest man go mad. Could command a mortal like a puppet master.

Elara tried to squirm away from Gem’s approach, but the Star only smiled faintly as she panted, unable to even lift herself off the bed. Like Ariete, Gem was stunning, the faint glow and porcelain perfection of her countenance ethereal. She flicked hair as white as snow off her shoulder, scanning Elara from head to toe with eyes so pale a blue they looked almost blank.

‘Where’s Sofia?’ Elara rasped. Her throat was throbbing with pain—Stars, almost as much as when she’d had the Light forced down it. Was it from the venom? From screaming?

‘Elsewhere,’ Gem said airily. ‘My king isn’t so cruel, you know. If you comply, he’ll allow her to stay with you, here.’

She knelt by Elara’s bedside and brushed a stray hair from her face. Elara flinched, though her head barely moved.

‘You could be content here, as long as you do as I say.’

From her touch, Elara felt wisps of white starlight creep like mist into her mind. The scent of godslilies was strong enough to make her gag, as Gem searched.

Elara squeezed her eyes shut, and with gritted teeth commanded her shadows to take the box—the one with all her secrets, all her true thoughts—and push it deeper into her consciousness.

Who are you?

The voice sounded inside and outside Elara, as Gem’s blank gaze continued to pin her to the bed.

‘I am Elara Bellereve. The rightful queen of Asteria,’ she snarled.

A soft chuckle echoed through her mind.Elara Bellereve. I did not ask you your name.

‘I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.’ Elara heaved, gritting her teeth against the pain in her body.

How did an insignificant little princess survive the deathblow of a Star?

‘Because of the prophecy,’ she snapped.

Gem’s magick paused, pulsing, waiting, as she replied.What are you hiding, Elara Bellereve?

And before Elara could take another breath, the tendrils of starlight attacked. Spears of it lanced through Elara’s mind as she screamed—hard, cold, terrifying light. The tendrils pried and forced, scurrying and chasing the shadows as they ran, as they swirled together and hid. Blades swiped across her mind, cutting and slicing it as she bucked, determined to not cry out, to not give Gem the satisfaction. In her mind, she saw Gem standing in front of her, as her voice softly ordered:You will show me what you’re hiding.

Elara fought, trying to claw herself off the bed, but the pain in her muscles protested, and another blow of light seared through her brain.

Gem’s voice was as calm as a still pond when she spoke again.Who is Alec?

‘Fuck you,’ Elara gasped, disguising every thought of Enzo, every picture. The memories of them training, flying, dancing. She locked each one away.

But where was he? What had happened to him?

Finally something,Gem murmured, as she read the questions that Elara had just asked herself.

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