Page 82 of Heavenly Bodies

Ariete chuckled. ‘She’s fine. Unlike with you, I didn’t use my venom on her.’

As though in response, the woman moaned as she touched the wound at her neck, her eyes dazed in a state of bliss. ‘I usually only drink from devotees. I do not relish killing mortals for no reason.’

‘So what was thereasonyou murdered my parents?’ she demanded.

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Ariete replied. ‘They committedstarsin.They heard this prophecy at your naming ceremony and hid it for decades from me, from the Stars.’

‘They were innocent,’ Elara said through gritted teeth.

‘No human is truly innocent. Your parents certainly weren’t. And they had been outrunning fate for a long time—had done terrible, awful things to escape it.’

A few of the ruby hairpins were still scattered upon the dressing table, and Elara’s hand twitched over one.

‘There is darkness within you, Elara, as there was darkness within them.’

‘You know nothing about me.’

‘On the contrary,’ he grinned. ‘I know you better than you do. I know that the line between good and evil is thinner than a blade. I know that you’re teetering upon it.’ He leaned forwards, his mouth at her neck. ‘I could show you, you know,’ he murmured. ‘How to become the villain. How delicious it feels.’

‘You know the most dangerous kind of villain?’ she whispered. ‘A woman with nothing left to lose.’

She whirled with a cry of pain, plunging the hairpin into his neck.

Ariete’s shock changed in seconds to pain, a hiss escaping his lips. But as she tried to stagger for the door, he began to laugh, yanking the pin out.

Glittering blood poured from his neck, but Elara didn’t wait to see if he would fall. She yanked at the door, but red starlight slammed into it, the lock clicking.

‘Oh, you and I are going to have some fun,’ Ariete chuckled, standing up straight. Already, the wound at his neck was healing. ‘I see that divine violence was within you all along.’

The carriage, pulled by midnight horses, rumbled through the Dreamer’s Quarter. Bookshops and galleries were crammed side by side, the dark grey cobbles beneath them slick with rain. In one pocket of the quarter sat a group of artists with their easels, painting beneath canopies in the drizzly night. Shops were lit up with a cosy glow, and there was one in particular that she’d snuck out to only once in her life—a café that had made the best hot cocoa she had ever tasted.

She flicked her gaze to the gods sat in the carriage with her. Ariete was looking out of the window, a distant smile on his lips as he toyed with a small knife. And beside him, studying her, was Eli. The god had helped her once before, but since Enzo’s favour had been fulfilled, it seemed he had lost interest in good deeds. Whatever fate awaited her at the ballet, was hers alone.

‘Where’s Sofia?’ she demanded again.

Ariete only laughed, and Eli switched his focus to his fingernails.

The carriage rattled over the Bridge of Tears, stopping directly outside the Asteria Opera House. The façade of the building was made out of a glittering bluestone, twirling features upon it gilded in silver. With a flourish, the footman opened the carriage door.

Ariete stepped out and raised a hand to take Elara’s. She ignored it, making her own way down. But his hand instead clenched her arm, iron-strong as he propelled her through the crowds milling outside and towards the theatre. It was then, to Elara’s relief, that she saw her people properly for the first time—and apparently safe. They seemed content enough, if a little on edge, but whatever atrocities Ariete had committed against the royal family’s closest circle, it hadn’t seemed to extend to her citizens yet.

As Elara stepped into the Opera House, she almost sighed. Deep blue and violet flowers spilled over the grand marble staircase, and a chandelier made with sapphires glimmered in the glowing candlelight. Vaguely familiar courtiers and other aristocrats—those who had clearly sworn fealty immediately to Lukas and Ariete—gathered in the lobby, peering at her with wide eyes as they whispered and gossiped.

‘The lost princess,’ she heard a whisper. ‘With the King of Stars.’

The crowd parted for Ariete, every mortal within the vicinity lowering themselves on one knee. The Star nodded and smiled as he pulled Elara through, Eli trailing behind.

There was a fanfare behind her, more murmurs of excitement, and Elara turned.

Behind her, entering the theatre, with the Asterian crownupon his head, was Lukas. He looked worse for wear, even paler and more ill than before, which gave Elara at least some satisfaction.

He smiled as he approached them.

‘Captive life suits you, Lara,’ he said softly as he embraced her.

Elara was stiff as she pulled away, though she cocked her head and gave a winning smile. ‘Idolook good in red.’

The amusement on Lukas’s face slipped, though Ariete laughed. ‘Your Majesty,’ the Star acknowledged. ‘Enjoy the show.’

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