Page 99 of Heavenly Bodies

Elara laughed then through her tears. ‘She would tell me…to get a hold of myself and stop the pity party. She’d tell me tolive.Sofia savoured every moment of her life. She taught me to be brave, to defy the rules. She was fearless and colourful, and she wanted me to experience every wonder that life had to offer.’

Enzo pushed her drying hair from her face. ‘Thenlive, Elara. For her.’

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

King Idris paced the throne room as Elara watched him, her hands clasped behind her back. Enzo stood beside her, his own back perfectly straight. Elara had just finished recounting the last weeks to him, the king grilling her on every minute detail.

‘You directly disobeyed my orders,’ Idris seethed at her. ‘And you,’ he turned to his son, ‘nearly cost me my weapon.’

‘I have a name,’ Elara said coolly.

Idris dismissed her with a glance. ‘Time wasted. Time that should have been spent preparing to kill Ariete, not being hisprisoner.’

Enzo shifted beside her.

‘As opposed to being yours?’ she asked.

‘You’re a foolish girl. A spoilt one at that. Have I not given you everything? A safe haven. A palace bedroom. All the food and freedom you want?’

‘A gilded cage is still a cage,’ she replied.

Idris gave her a withering look, turning to Enzo. ‘I have already seen to your punishment, as you well know. The onlyreason thatsheavoids it, is because I need her as strong as possible for our plan.’

A quiet anger began to settle in Elara’s bones as she realized what Idris meant. He had already hurt Enzo. Enzo rolled his shoulders, and she thought of the perfectly smooth skin beneath his shirt.

‘Punish him again,’ she said, making sure threat laced every syllable, ‘and I will never conjure so much as a wisp of shadow for you.’

Idris turned slowly, regarding her closely. ‘What’s this? The shadow princess has a heart?’

‘Of course not,’ Enzo snapped. ‘She’s just weak, and emotional. Forgive us, Father. This week will be dedicated to getting her training back in shape. We’re close with her shadows. In a few weeks, she’ll be ready.’

This assuaged Idris, who nodded tightly, lounging back in his throne.

‘You had better be, Elara,’ he said. ‘You’re lucky that your little trick at the theatre has helped our cause temporarily. So long as Ariete believes you are dead, we can catch him by surprise.’

Elara nodded stiffly. ‘You’ll be glad to know that our values finally align. I will kill Ariete if it’s the last thing I do,’ she replied.

The streets of Sol were quieter than Elara remembered. She followed Enzo through an unfamiliar quarter, where the alleys were wider, the squares clean and studded with carved fountains.

As they passed through the Light-washed buildings, she saw the hazy spires of Leyon’s temple.

‘Do you ever go in there?’ she murmured, nodding her head to the extravagant columns that disappeared into the distance.

Enzo snorted. ‘You know by now that I’m not the religious type, certainly not for that slick-haired, pompous fool.’

She considered that for a moment. ‘No, but you’re the prince. Surely you must do your duties and make a show of worshipping your great god? We had to hold a private ceremony in Piscea’s temple every Hallow’s Eve. It was one of the only times I was allowed out of the palace.’

‘On the largest holidays, I drag myself there for the ceremony, yes. The upcoming summer solstice will be the next time I set foot in that “place of worship”.’

They stopped in a small, empty square. Washing lines were strung up between the alleys that veered off the square, the smell of clean linen floating on the gentle breeze. The heat was dry and pleasant, and as she walked further on, a delicious scent of cooking drifted by.

‘I wanted to show you something special to me.’ Enzo leaned into her. ‘I come here when things become too much for me. I’m hoping it will maybe help you too.’

He led her to the wooden door of the nearest marble building, and they stepped inside. Cool shadows greeted her and seemed to run up her arms in welcome. A small roofless atrium held a turquoise pool in its centre, with soft lightshine dappling the shade.

‘Now be gentle,’ he said as a warning. ‘I’ve never brought anyone in here before.’

Something glowed within her, and she tucked it away. A feeling to treasure after so long wading through nothingness.He took her hand and pulled her through the shade of the entrance, their footsteps clacking on stone underneath, echoing. He veered to a door on the right, and with a flash of his light, he unlocked it. Grinning, he turned to her as he opened it.

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