Page 107 of All the Chaos of Constellations
“You will tell them…that I no longer wish to marry the Prince of Brackroth. And that…” She sucked in a ragged breath, her fingers throbbing as she tried to keep a tight hold on the drapes. “And that I am absconding from this wedding ceremony with haste.”
“A contract is a contract, Novalise.” Ariesian reached down, clasped the rope with both hands, and heaved, hoisting her back up toward the balcony.
“Ariesian, no!” Novalise yelped, her legs slipping as her feet swung freely, kicking in the air. “Stop right now! I willnotmarry someone I do not love!”
“Love doesn’t win wars.” He hefted the rope again, hauling her higher into the air. “Everything we do, everythingIdo, is for the good of House Celestine. Even if that means marrying one of my sisters off to secure protection against unnamed and unknown threats.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Novalise protested, fumbling to get herself further down the rope and closer to the ground.
“Nonsense.” He blew an errant strand of hair from out of his face. “I never make mistakes.”
“Ariesian, I swear to the goddess, if you don’t lower me to the ground right this instant, I’ll…” Desperation clawed at her. She wouldn’t get another opportunity. “I’ll let go.”
He hesitated, his hands stilling on the rope. “Nova, we can talk this through. It’s only?—”
“I mean it, Aries!” At the use of his childhood nickname, he froze. She hadn’t called him that in years. Her shoulders strained, her wrists burned, her fingers were wound so tightly around the knots of fabric that she swore they’d fall off at any moment. “Put me down now or I will let go and fall a dozen stories to my death!”
“It’s not a dozen,” he countered, his brows drawing together in a hard line. “It’s only two, and your dramatics are unnecessary.”
She opened her mouth to spout off some unsavory retort when the scent of sandalwood, amber, and spice wrapped around her on the breeze.
“Let go.” Asher’s voice was a caress down the bond, a soft brush along her cheek, a stroke of fingertips down her spine.“I’ve got you. Let go.”
Novalise stared up at her brother. His eyes widened, reflecting a flicker of fear the moment he realized she intended to hold true to her word. Ariesian lunged, releasing the rope, and reaching for her hand. “Nova!”
But Novalise smiled and let go.
Time moved as though the air itself cushioned her fall. Slow and languid, like a feather or the petal of a flower floating on the wind. Stars tumbled across the sky, illuminating the look of horror, of absolute fear, on Ariesian’s face. Her hair unfurled around her in streamers of lavender, her gown seemed suspended in time.
Right before she knew she would hit the ground, Novalise closed her eyes.
The impact never came.
A pair of strong arms caught her and cradled her against the sturdy wall of a chest. The heartbeat was calm and steady, unnaturally even, much like her own.
Novalise peered up into the face of her rescuer. Cold determination rolled off him in waves, forged around her like steel. His eyes were blazing, the outlying rims of gold set on fire by the passion swirling inside them.
“Ash.” His name left her on a breath, softer than the stirring of leaves among the trees.
The corner of his mouth curved, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Hello, Starlight.”
CHAPTERFORTY-THREE
Novalise was in Asher’s arms, she was safe, and for now, that was all that mattered.
He had no idea what the hell she’d been thinking climbing out over that balcony in a wedding dress with no shoes and no one to catch her. The end of drapes she’d tied together still hung a good eight feet off the ground and a fall like that was more than a little dangerous. She could’ve broken multiple bones. Asher had planned on making an imperious entrance into the throne room, declaring his love for her, and claim his willingness to fight for her hand.
Then he’d seen her dangling from the improvised rope she’d made, yelling up at her brother, and his plans had gone out the window.
Quite literally.
Novalise gazed up at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You came back for me.”
He bent down, pressing his nose to the tip of hers. “I never left.”
“Firebane.”
Asher’s head snapped up, meeting Drake’s hardened gaze across the dimly lit courtyard. He stood shrouded in the shadows of the entrance to the palace, a gathering of onlookers growing behind him. Cyra stood out among them, her face a blank canvas. He didn’t know if she was upset, or furious, or terrified. He didn’t really want her here, didn’t want her to witness his death, but surely, she had to know he was doing the right thing…for once. Novalise’s family gathered closer, nudging their way to the front, followed by the vast majority of nobles in Aeramere. Flanked by guards on either side of them were Queen Elowyn and Prince Aspen, their faces mirror images of one another—severe, yet lined with a vague curiosity.
