Chin up, I flew down the length of an empty table and sat down. Seventh Choir joined me. To our right, the other six Choirs and two Dominions filled out the remaining table except for Fifth Choir who was sitting elsewhere since they’d arrived earlier than us.
I picked up a plate, pulled a cover off one of the platters, and salivated. No amount of hate would ruin my happiness at seeing the gilded platter of honey greased bacon with herbs sprinkled on top. I started filling my plate with bacon, then reached over to tackle the stack of fried plantains.
Suddenly the food hall fell silent as a grave. I looked up, mid-reach with my fork on a plantain, when snarls began breaking out across the hall. I turned and saw the reason for the rising tension.
The Fallenspawn had arrived. All of Xadari Legion flew in brazenly, as if they owned the temple itself. Chins high, muscled arms exposed through their fighting robes, they floated over to Incense Order’s table. Each began filing in to the empty tables on our left until only one seat remained. The seat by me.
Blessed lights.
Ellabeth and I locked eyes over the platter of fried plantain as I heard theclick, click, clickof freshly polished boots. But of course. While everyone else flew in, he had to make a scene.
I turned and watched Quazar strut into the food hall on foot. He strolled leisurely through the tables, looking around, seeming unimpressed at what he found.
He was so tall, so fit, soregal. There was an air of pride to him. He had the posture of a High King and the face of a Luminari—the Celestials who lived with the Infinite in the heavenly realm of Pasaille, the angelic paradise. He took his time, as if it bent to his will. Then he stopped and scanned the food hall as if looking for something.
“Someone,” he teased down our bond.
I snapped my head down, burning holes into my half full plate. I didn’t need to look up to see that heavy gaze had fallen on me. And so did everyone else’s.
My wings felt like they were on fire.
Theclick, clickof his boots began making their way to our table. To my side of it. Until he stopped at the empty cloudchair beside me.
“Hello, Safah Starling.”
I slowly lifted my head, looking up into his eyes as he slipped into the seat with deliberate leisure, a smile stitching wide across his perfect face.
My neck burned hot. Prickles of shadow slipped into my mind and caressed my thoughts. I gasped at the mental touch. Quazar’s eyes widened. Immediately the shadowy touch receded and the veil between our bond was sealed tight. Stars. Had he done that by accident? Because he wasn’t paying attention?
“Wings high, Princeling.”
I gave him a small nod before I began adding some fruit to my plate. Ignoring everyone staring, from the Disciples to the Fallenspawn ogling their Prince oddly, I began tearing into my bacon.
The first bite sent me straight into orbit. I thought I’d died and gone to Pasaille. The gooey honey glaze married with thejuices of the thick bacon slice coated my tongue and made me hum. Without realizing it, I did a little shimmy and dance as I ate.
“That good, huh?”
I didn’t answer him. I was going to enjoy my bacon in peace. I tore into another bite. When I reached for my third piece, some kind of spell broke. Everyone else began digging into their plates, too.
“These are the best plantains I’ve had in a long time,” Ellabeth said, her aquamarine eyes nearly rolling to the back of her head with pleasure. “Holy stars! And when you add the pikliz? The spicy pickled cabbage is everything, Sazu.Everything.”
I laughed around my full mouth, also eating my plantain with pikliz.
“I could live off of this,” Daelun said, shoving some fried pork with pikliz sprinkled on top into his mouth. “A rotting shame those Disciples died in the first trial before having some.”
“Daelun!” I cried along with the other females of Seventh Choir.
“No truly,” I said. “What is actually wrong with you? Something isn’t quite functioning upstairs.”
“Piss off.” Daelun waved me off, scarfing down more pork. “I’m not wrong. You’re just too pious to say it.”
“Don’t you think the Infinite wouldn’t be too pleased at us speaking about the dead so lightly? Their spirits haven’t even crossed to the Ellelights yet.”
Quazar snorted at my left. I whipped around, staring at him. He gave me a closed smile since his mouth was full. He wriggled his eyebrows at me, his eyes blazing. I choked on my food, my eyes starting to water.
I didn’t understand him. One moment he looked like he’d set me on fire with his bare hands. The next, he looked like hewanted to be…friends or something. It was strange behavior and I didn’t like it. Papi always said clarity was the best policy.
Daelun patted my back until my coughing fit stopped. I turned to him, nuzzling my nose into his shoulder in thanks. He smiled big, brushing a tendril of hair out of my face, locking it behind my ear. Swallowing my food, I turned to Quazar to ask him something.
