“It’s only fair that we’re even.”
He looked at me, his eyes glittering like polished gemstones.
“I’ve lived through an angelic Age, battling against those who brought me war. Finally I’ve found a safe place to land. To be at peace. You’re no ordinary angel, Safah. Your fire, your passion, your seven beating hearts, all of you has become my home.”
I twisted in his arms, turning so that our chests faced each other. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing me into him. Fire for fire. Skin to skin. I wrapped my arm around his neck, pushing up on my toes, as he angled his head to lean down, about to close the gap between our lips. As his lips brushed mine, sending me into a frenzy, someone started pounding on my door.
I jerked, gasping at the aggressive sound, whipping around to look at the door.
“For Infinite’s sake,” Quazar snarled out loud, in a quiet, menacing tone.
Before I could move to go open the door, Quazar had already teleported himself there. He yanked it open, his other hand gripping his towel. It was then I saw he was still dripping wet.
“What?” he barked at whoever it was.
“Where in the stars is Safah?”
Ellabeth’s voice was high pitched. A mixture of curiosity and mischief. The kind of tone she got before she went on a gossiping spree.
“I’m right here.”
I propped up behind Quazar, peeking my head over his broad shoulder.
“What’s up, Ellie?”
“Why is he?—”
“What’s up,Ellie?”
She blinked at me, raising a brow. She looked between Quazar and I, raised her hands in surrender, and shook her head.
“Didn’t you get a scrollport? We’ve been told to evacuate the wingtower. The entire temple grounds itself. Stareaters were here. They fed on over half of Manna Order.”
“Theywhat?”
I nudged Quazar, trying to squeeze forward to stand by his side. Without turning, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pushing me backwards behind him.
“What does Manna Order being offered up to Stareaters have to do withusexactly?”
“Quazar!” I swatted at his arm.
“Pretend to be offended all you want to, Starling. I still don’t see how the affairs of Manna Order is any of our business. Let them figure it out themselves.”
I looked at Ellabeth whose eyes had widened at Quazar.
“He doesn’t mean that.”
“Yes, the Hèls, I do.”
“We’ll be ready in five minutes, Ellie.”
I closed the door before Quazar could say something else to horrify her.
“You do realize for whatever this is to work,” I said, pointing my finger back and forth between us. “Ellabeth has to approve of you. Right? She’s mybest friend. You don’t just get me. You get her, too.”
Quazar leaned his head back, sighing so deep it sounded like a snarl trying to escape from the back of his throat.
“Fine,” he finally spat. “I’ll try to be on my best behavior for the little blonde-headed, ocean bender.”
