AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’d been scowling at himself, but before he could correct her assumption, the Prime’s glorious white wings flashed before them in the open night. She landed on the bough with expert prowess and a flurry of robes. She wore the same boring ceremonial garb as before, which struck Leaf as odd because she usually favored beautiful blue dresses.
The Prime’s eyes had returned to her usual emotionless, dry state. Her aura of power pulsed in the atmosphere as she approached. He tensed, preparing himself for a battle of the wills that would surely come.
“It is good to see you’ve made a full and speedy recovery, Nova,” she intoned as she adjusted her wings to fit behind the stool beside Leaf. Her white ringlets bounced as she sat. “D’arn.”
“Prime,” he grunted, tapping his finger on the table.
“I feel much better.” Nova’s brows knit together, and she leaned forward to see past Leaf. “I’m sorry, have we met?”
Aleksandra glanced at Leaf. “Your overprotective mate dragged me from my room in the middle of the night to consult on your health.”
“What?” Nova squeaked, her eyes wide at Leaf. “You let her see me like that?”
He shrugged. “You needed help.”
“Don’t worry,” the Prime said, a small smile touching her lips. “It was oddly nostalgic to see someone afflicted with such an illness.” She sighed. “And you reminded me of someone. I was happy to help.”
Nova stared at Leaf, then back at Aleksandra for longer than appropriate. When he didn’t pick up the hint, she pinched him beneath the ribs and raised her brows.
What?He returned Nova’s questioning look.
“Honey,” she mumbled. “You haven’t officially introduced us.”
“Nova, this is the Prime of the Order of the Well.” He gestured between them. “Aleksandra, this is Nova Morales.”
“I’m his mate, as you mentioned. Just confirming that.” Nova reached around Leaf’s chest toward the Prime. Her white-lashed eyes narrowed on the outstretched hand.
“This is a human custom,” Leaf explained to Aleksandra, in case she’d forgotten. “Do you recall the shaking-of-hands ritual?”
They briefly clasped hands before Leaf, then just as the Prime pulled away, Nova gripped harder and said thoughtfully, “I feel like we’ve met before.”
Aleksandra tugged her hand from Nova and turned emotionless eyes to the airy night stage. “You must tell me, D’arn Leaf. How did you meet your mate?”
“He won me in a mate hunt,” Nova said, elbowing Leaf in the ribs. “Isn’t that right,mi amor?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.” The Prime’s lips pursed. “So it’s true then. You were responsible for the obliteration of one of Maebh’s troops.”
“It was an accident,” he admitted. “And necessary to rescue Nova.”
His boss gave another unimpressed sound. As a steward deposited three glasses of wine and bite-sized appetizers, Leaf realized her hum was suspicious, so he added, “She is from the old world.”
“You mentioned that already.”
“But I didn’t tell you that Nero is her twin.”
The Prime blinked. For a moment, Leaf thought she’d entered a trance, she’d gone so still. Then she shook her head briefly and gazed at Nova, this time with more shrewd cunning and dangerous attention.
“Is this true?” she asked.
“I heavily suspect,” Nova answered, staring quizzically at the Prime. “I haven’t seen him face to face yet, but from what I understand, not many of you have.” She leaned forward to see better around Leaf. “Are you sure we haven’t met? I feel like maybe with darker hair, I’ve met you before.”
The Prime suddenly faced the front. “We will speak about this later.”
“When?” Leaf argued. “You’re never at the Order. If Nova has information we can use, shouldn’t we call a Council meeting?”
“The taint remains an immediate priority.”
