Stars.
I loved this male. And his passion. All of his dark edges and every way he was unrefined.
I loved the way he loved his angels.
I loved the way he lovedme.
“Princeling,”I said breathily down our bond. His pet name on my tongue made him groan as he gripped me harder.“They call you wicked. They call you cursed. But Quazar Valoryen, don’t you ever for a second doubt. Don’t you ever forget. I call youmine.”
He snarled down our bond, flooding me, lovingly, with a barrage of shadows that made my hearts swell.
“I love you, Safah Eloise Anathelle. Star of my life. Heart of my world. You’re the hope I was too scared to believe. The love I never deserved. The dream I never thought would become real. You are the axis on which I spin, and the answer to everyone of my blasphemous prayers. I am yours, and you’re mine. No matter the realm, across every Age, and throughout every lifetime, you. It will always, infinitely, be you.”
I kissed him until I felt my hearts exploding. Until I could no longer tell where I ended and he began.
When we pulled away, we were breathless, gripping one another as if we’d fall apart if we let each other go. A spattering of stars danced overhead, shooting across the skies. I rested on Quazar, nuzzling into him entirely as he wrapped his arms around me, bubbling with a joy I hadn’t felt since entering the temple.
After we watched the starlights pass, I looked at him. My Princeling. My love. My Quazar.
“Assuming they’re still warm, we should probably eat our food now, huh?”
Quazar laughed, stealing several more kisses, before pulling away. He dug into the bag, pulling out one of the food containers. After he popped it open, he pulled out a sizzling hot fritter, fried to perfection. Quazar’s grin stretched from ear to ear, his dimples standing out in his perfectly carved face.
“Okay, you’vegotto try the akra first.”
Can light coexist with darkness? But you choose to let your goodness ensnare itself with what is wicked. Such sins will not stand. Not in the Temple. Never in this realm.
Accords of the Farasees, Second Scroll of Paelithis 6:14, Korinti Isles, Fifth Age
Chapter 48
Iwoke up to a soft knock on my door. I rolled over, smiling through my sleepiness, only to frown when I saw Quazar wasn’t still in my bed. I sat up and found a note perched on the twinight stand. I snatched it up, reading it over seven times to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.
My Starling, part of the agreement was to stay away from a certain Granfifi when she inevitably Ascended. Looks like our little slice of paradise was caught by a few tattle-telling Farasees. Don’t look for me, love. I promise nothing good will come of it. And for what it’s worth, not only I regret nothing, but mark my words. I will do it again. A taste of you is insufficient. I will devour you for a lifetime, and I still won’t be satiated. I love you infinitely, my Safah. —Q
My breaths came in short spurts. I was hyperventilating. My hands trembled as I stumbled to my door, pulling it open. I was already crying when Ellabeth surfaced on the other side.
“Sazu, what’s wrong?”
Her bright, aquamarine eyes were flooded with panic. I shoved the note at her chest, slipping to my knees. My tearsturned to sobs, then flat out wailing. Stars, what would they do to him?
“Stars,” Ellabeth hissed, falling to her knees beside me. She held me at the threshold of my door.
“What happened?” Isandra’s voice was sharp with concern. There was a moment of quiet. The rustle of Quazar’s note. Then.
“This accursed temple!” she seethed. “This can’t be the good.”
Hands that didn’t belong to Ellabeth brushed my hair.
“Safah, I amsosorry. I swear if there was anything we could do?—”
“There isn’t,” I whispered. “I don’t know where they’ve taken him. I’ve checked the bond. It’s gone dark. It does every time they have him.”
“Stars,” Isandra whispered.
“Ellie, why were you at my door?”
Ellabeth was quiet.
