When had he let her in? The distance Reynner put between them stretched as vast as the universe. It was an expanse he’d never willingly cross, she realized, not after what had been done to him.
“It’s good to have you here, Eve,” Aerén said, pulling her out of an impossible longing, a sudden twinkle in his light eyes.
“Oh, really?”
“Absolutely. Had I attempted what you just did, he’d have drawn his sword on me. To see him faced off by a female made my day. Come, my lady, let’s get you back to the aerie.”
Aerén made her want to smile. It occurred to her then that he was immortal, too.
“How did you get here? I didn't hear you fly down—where are your wings?”
He grinned. “I don’t possess any. Don’t worry, my mode of travel is far safer. You can't fall.”
Can't fall? “What do you—”
Aerén grasped her hand. The next instant, everything around her swirled, spun, and she was sucked into a world of swirling opaqueness, her shriek echoing in her ears.
Chapter 10
They took form on the balcony moments later. Eve lurched forward on unsteady feet. Aerén grabbed her before she fell flat on her face.
“Whoa, easy there. Eve, are you all right?”
“Don’t know…when I find my head...maybe.”
“Hold onto me.” He helped her into the living room. She collapsed on the couch, lowered her head between her legs, and moaned as bile fought for freedom.
“Be right back.” Aerén disappeared. Then reappeared a few seconds later. “Here.”
She lifted her head. “What did you do to me?”
“I don’t possess wings, so I had to dematerialize with you. Drink this, it will help.”
A little shaky, Eve took the glass he offered. She sipped the light golden liquid. The sharp sweet taste of ginger tea slid down her throat, making her eyes water. She wrinkled her nose. Ack, she far preferred ginger ale to this horrid mixture.
The queasiness easing, she eyed Aerén. “So you're an Empyrean, too?”
“I am.” He sank on the couch opposite her and propped a booted foot on the pretty, dark wood coffee table, which someone had created from slicing a large tree-trunk in half. “But not all of us acquire wings. Unless one parent is a Fallen from the Celestial Realm. But even that is no guarantee.”
Slowly, Eve set her glass on the table. “What do you mean?”
“When a divine angel and an Empyrean mate, their offspring can be born with wings.”
“Like Reynner?”
“Yes. His father is a divine and consort to his mother, who rules over Ademéras—” Aerén broke off as Lucan walked into the lounge. The air around him shimmered with power.
He stopped a few feet from Eve. “Reynner has spoken to you about the Stone?”
Ugh, she’d far prefer hearing more about Reynner’s life than face this man. “He did, but are you sure I can find this object for you?”
“Yes. It will only respond to a mortal whose blood sings.”
She gave him a dubious look. “Sings? What are you talking about?” She couldn’t even carry a tune without sounding like a dying frog.
“Not literally,” Lucan said, impatient now. “Your lifeblood resonates with the supernatural. It’s a quiet hum that flows in your blood but will vibrate within our psyche if one of us tastes it. Our world fades. We need to find the Stone to restore the balance of magic.”
“I see…” No, she didn’t. She really didn’t. Why couldn’t her blood be like everyone else’s and just carry oxygen to her heart? Eve inhaled deeply, not ready for any of this. She pushed to her feet, needing to keep moving, then stopped. “Wait, does this have anything to do with ‘the mess’ Reynner spoke about? About finding a way to exist in your world? Is your world truly dying?”
