Page 115 of Fallen Stars

“What?”

“You winced when I touched you.” Enzo’s eyes were dark.

“I’m tired. Please can we just sleep?”

She made to walk down the corridor but felt an arm snake around her waist and pull her back. “Oh no, you don’t. We’re going to talk about what’s upset you so you can rest tonight. I know you, and this is not something we are just going to bury and avoid.”

Elara softened in his arms. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “I’ve never felt like a stranger in my own body before.”

She closed her eyes, ashamed, and felt Enzo turn her around. He squeezed her hand, pulling her down the corridor and onto the open deck. The moment Elara felt the sea breeze on her face, her heart eased a little.

“Why do you feel like a stranger?”

“My whole life I’ve had my shadows. And the last year, thanks to you, they have become like limbs to me. I grew to love my darkness because you did. Now it’s gone. And in its place is a silver light that I’ve just discovered contains a death power. But I can’t accept it. I can’t allow it to replace my shadows that did everything in the world to protect me. And more than that, I’m scared because what if I lose control of it? You say yours feels as easy as breathing, but if I embrace mine, what if I touch you, and you just crumble away like that crab? I’ve lost you once, and it nearly killed me. I can’t do that again.”

Enzo sat silently, listening to her speak her thoughts aloud. What a blessing, she realised, to have a person beside her who really heard her.

“Come with me,” he replied, heading further down the deck. “You need to be out of your head for a while.”

Elara frowned. “Enzo, I told you—"

“Sit,” he interrupted.

Elara looked around the deck of the ship. “Er… Enzo, where?”

He nodded in front of him to the base of the gangplank.

“You must be joking.”

Enzo faked a yawn. “I thought my queen was a dragun.”

Elara’s eyes narrowed. “I am.”

“Then how about you take a risk and sit on the gangplank for me?”

Elara didn’t know where Enzo was going with this, but she knew he was trying to get her out of her head. And she trusted him, more than anyone in the world. So with a roll of her eyes, she sat at the base of the plank.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

Enzo raked his curls back, securing them in place with a leather strap.

“I’m going to show you that I don’t fear you. Others may, and I revel in it. I love to see the gleam of it in their eyes as they gaze upon you.” He knelt in front of her. “But me? I will never fear you, never turn my back. There is nothing you can do to me, Elara, that would make me love you less. Nothing you could say that would make me leave. I would die for you. And even if you wielded the final blow yourself, I would thank you. So we’re going to take this nonsense out of your head, and you are going to learn to love your powers. You are my soulmate. Fate was torn apart to bring us together. And I contain life within my sunlight. There is no danger in you accidentally hurting me. I promise, princess, that I can take it.” Elara smiled at their old nickname. “Maybe I’ll even enjoy it,” he winked.

Elara’s heart swelled. How it was possible to love someone so deeply, she didn’t know, but she decided in that moment she would doanythingto make this man happy.

“Move back, and don’t take your eyes off me,” he murmured, a glint in his eyes.

She raised an eyebrow, shuffling until her backside was fully on the base of the plank. She paused.

“Now undress for me.”

Elara’s eyes widened. “What, oh, what are you planning, Lion?”

Her soulmate tutted. “The Lion isn’t taking questions at this time.” He smirked.

Elara felt a small thrill run through her as she gathered the simple black gown she’d been wearing and tugged it off, only her silk underwear beneath.

Enzo made a rumbling noise of approval. “Every thread,” he growled.

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