Page 28 of The Star's Sword

I’d grown up believing that if I left my abusive, constrictive haven and went beyond the smoky veil that split the realms watched by the celestials from the mid-realm, that I’d be beset upon by vampires and demons and killed.

Now I realized all of that was a lie. The celestials kept us sequestered, not protected, and they even worked with the vampires and preyed on the demons as they saw fit.

Humans and shifters were just food and attention fodder, and celestials fed on attention.

“Was it weird being back in the celestial realms?” I asked, turning to look in the direction of the veil, smoky and purple. Through it, I could still make out a long pillar of clouds in the distance, with shapes sticking out side to side, obscured by clouds as well.

The sky realms, where the most powerful celestials lived.

“Imagine how clear the air is up there,” Griffin said. “It’s said the celestials moved up there as the land here became unsafe and polluted.”

I nodded. “Must be nice, living in the sky with thousands of guards so no one can touch you.”

Griffin nodded, and we kept walking. “But anyway, I hated being in the havens.” He smiled. “I missed you. And Os.”

I laughed. “I bet.” Then I paused. “Zadis, at revelries. Does Zadis really?”

“He’s very popular, Cleo. I mean, I really like the guy,” Griffin said. “Straight, which is a bit of disappointment to some, but a gentleman, seems very good in bed, when I’ve passed by him.”

“Oh my gods,” I said, putting a hand over myself to cover my instant flush. “I keep forgetting he’s from a different part of this world.”

Griffin nodded. “I’m not saying he’s a complete libertine, but he shares his love around.” He frowned. “Sometimes it feels like he’s trying to forget something. Escape.” He looked down at me. “Maybe dealing with his feelings for you. Do you think Sam would really be okay?”

I shrugged. “He has been. And like Zadis says, nothing we do together has to hurt what I have with Samael. Samael will always be…”

“Special?”

“My twin flame,” I said. “If you believe in such things.”

“I think Os is mine,” Griffin said. “So I get you.”

“How does Os feel about it?” I asked, glad to talk about something other than my love life.

Griffin shrugged. “You know Os. Kind. Sweet. Loyal, once you’ve earned it. But there’s still always this like distance between us. Like I can reach his body, but I haven’t reached his heart yet.” He inhaled. “I guess I’ll see if he missed me soon enough.”

My heart went out to him. Os was a complex person who played things very close to the chest.

But Griffin was one of the best people I knew, and I felt it was only a matter of time before Os realized the treasure he truly had, and that he could never find better to commit to. Plus, Griffin didn’t even seem to demand monogamy or be bothered by Os’s conquests.

“Having someone’s heart is so much harder than only touching their body,” Griffin said, touching his chest lightly. “It feels painful when I’m not with him. It feels painful when I don’t know how he feels. I know he likes me. I can tell when we’re together. But it’s like, he never hurts when I’m not there.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t know either way? He doesn’t show emotions very much.” I shook my head. “Very hard to read.”

We turned back to walk toward the cathedral, ready to head back.

Just as we started walking, I saw a shadow on the ground, quickly approaching, and looked up to see a winged shape above us, flying in the clouds.

“Zadis?” I asked, shading my eyes to make it out.

Just then the figure dove out of the clouds toward us, and I saw it was Os, flying down and landing smoothly, his lavender wings flapping to soften his fall.

“Griffin!” He said, moving forward quickly to clap his arms around my much larger friend.

I moved back to give them a moment, and Os gave me an apologetic look.

“Cleo, unless you’re the type that likes watching, I’m going to need some time alone with this big oaf who left for far too long.”

“It wasn’t that long,” Griffin said, flustered and blushing, but as he looked over at me and Os moved in to kiss him, I could tell he was pleased by all the attention.

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