Page 6 of Celestial Shadows

“I haven’t forgotten what happened in The Veil,” I reply. “And I know how malicious your father can be. Do you think you can watch him without him realizing?”

“It’s risky, but I can look in from time to time. The problem is that if Elioth catches me watching him, he can use his own catoptromancy to find us. Mirror magic is very dangerous.”

Cambion moves to Theren’s side. “Only do what you’re comfortable with. Don’t push yourself, you’re already wounded and not up to your full potential.” He places his hand on Theren’s shoulder. Theren turns to me and holds his hand out, tugging me into the space between them. I feel Theren’s warmth against my chest and Cambion’s behind me.

They fill my senses and I allow myself to melt against them. Strong arms circle me. Cambion’s lips caress the back of my neck where Dragan bit me. “So rough,” he whispers. “You deserve softness as well, Eilish.”

Theren moves closer, his lips brushing the opposite side of my neck. Chill bumps prickle across my skin. Calloused palms slide across the skin peeking beneath the edge of my corset... a knock on the door interrupts. Theren and Campion step back as Noni enters the room.

The little house brownie clucks her tongue in disapproval at the sight of my tattered clothing. “You can’t go to suppers like that! You a queen now! Noni make you a new dress. Very pretty with flowers and lace and pretty little bows. Come! Noni make you pretty clothes.”

Noni grabs my hand and leads me away.

I hear Theren’s frustrated sigh and grin.

CHAPTER THREE

BARON

Mortal Ruins

Golden flecks of light reflect in my eyes as I watch the sun set on yet another day. I taste salt on my lips as the damp wind blows. My mind is thoughtless beyond aimless observations and that’s how I like it. Not thinking... notfeelinganything at all is better than the gut wrenching agony I felt when I looked into Variant’s eyes—the eyes of my murderer. And now some sick twist of fate tells me we need him, that we won’t survive this fight without him. ThatEilishwon’t survive this fight without him.

“Mind if I join you?”

I look up and see Dragan standing over me. “No. Do as you please.” He drops to the edge of the wall on my left, legs dangling over the side. I see it in his eyes that he’s troubled. “The ritual?” I ask.

Dragan shakes his head. “It didn’t work. We followed everything in the book.”

“Give it time,” I suggest. “It may just need a few nights to take hold. Hell, I was buried for a hundred fucking years before I climbed out of that hole in the ground.”

“You don’t seem like the sort to have faith.”

I chuckle. “Not faith. Experience. Coming to life is difficult. Awareness sets in long after the heart starts beating. Being alive and living are two different things.” I watch a group of mages continue the construction of the eastern wall as a group of scouts return in trucks.

“You’ve changed,” Dragan says. “For the better.”

I nod because it’s true. “Everyone gets a fresh start. You’re no different. I got mine when Pyre took me under his wing.”

Dragan scrubs a hand over his face and groans. “The last time I was charged with the responsibility of leading my people,they were slaughtered. Killed by the man who now rests in that tower.” He points to the tall structure just as a shadow passes by the small window. “If not for Eilish, I would have taken his head when he first appeared.”

“My thoughts exactly. But... I suppose we do stupid things for love.” I’m surprised by my own confession.

“I’ve often wondered if our attraction to her… if it has anything to do with the balance?” he asks.

“It’s possible. You, Theren, and I call on the darkness to fuel our powers. Variant, Cambion, and Silvanus draw on the light. Pyre is neutral.”

“Why neutral?”

I shrug again. “He’s a necromancer, a bender of forbidden arts, but his kindness and compassion set him apart. I guess all of us together is a balance in and of itself. At least, it feels that way. I’m not sure if this is exactly what fate had in mind, but I’m alright with it.”

“I haven’t always been okay with it.”

“You’ve mostly been not okay with it,” I laugh.

He nods. “But I’ve grown to understand Eilish isn’t mine to possess alone. She needs us all.” He snorts and snatches the rock from my hand. “I didn’t remember Pyre from the first Great War because my mind was being manipulated by the succubae queen, but I’m glad he’s one of us now. He fits with Eilish so well and I’ve come to value him as a friend.”

“Yes, I agree,” I say in response. “Sharing this burden with him has brought us even closer than before. Fuck, it’s crazy to even contemplate what our lives would be if the bond hadn’t worked. To lose Aima and Pyre... we wouldn’t have recovered from a blow like that.”

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