Man, she couldn’t hidethatfrom Eve, with Aerén putting a possessive hand on her back out on the balcony in front of everyone. Eve was too perceptive.
Leya forced a smile, her uneasiness growing at Eve’s quiet stare. “Yes, we’re together. It happened when I was in Empyrea.”
“Right…”
The kitchen door opened. Aerén stopped at the entrance, and didn’t smile. “Luc’s here. Hana’s in the living room with him.”
Her stomach muscles tensing, Leya followed him, Eve at her back.
Hana remained at the outer door in the spacious sitting room, watching the two men.
Her heart clocking like a racehorse, Leya crossed to her sister and slipped an arm around her waist. “Ready?” She smiled.
“Ask me after.”
Fair enough.
Lucan got the lead box from the hovering mystical safe and set it on the coffee table. Reynner waited near the armchair, arms folded.
“Go.” Leya nudged Hana toward the table.
As Lucan walked Hana through the steps of removing the ancient scroll, a figure materialized on the balcony. And Leya stared.
He looked like an angel straight from Heaven…
Or Hell.
He was as tall and big as Aerén and equally striking. Massive inky-blue wings spread out, with iridescent hints of azure in the navy sheen, the same hue as his unbound hair falling to his broad shoulders. He wore a sleeveless tunic, pants, and boots like Aerén had while back on Empyrea.
Leya’s attention shifted back to his deep blue hair. So, this was the brother Aerén refused to let her meet.
His wings fluttered, and he drew them to his back.
“Who is that?” Eve asked from behind her.
“Elyon Anedaén,” Aerén said, tone cool.
The elyon turned to the house, and Leya saw the ravages on the left side of his face like someone or something had clawed him. The skin puckered from his temple to the corner of his mouth, giving it a macabre twist.
He strode for the door, his wings shimmering and vanishing, and entered. Eyes like ice-blue diamonds swept over them.
“Ren.” He nodded to Aerén, then to the other man. “Reynner, it’s been too long.”
“Elyon.” Reynner gave a half bow.
“No need for formalities here.” The elyon shook his head.
Reynner drew Eve closer. “This is Eve, my mate.”
Eve gave a little curtsy.
“It is a momentous moment meeting the first Chosen,” the elyon said. “Reynner, you must bring her back to Empyrea. We need a Chosen in Ademéras. Kalasder is too far for North’s mate’s magic to travel. And the other Chosen in Dregarus, even further. We cannot have any more disasters occurring or lives lost.”
“And the rule against mating outside the species?” Reynner demanded.
Leya waited with bated breath, since it also affected her and Aerén.
“It no longer exits. A Chosen can mate with any of our kind and live peacefully in our world.”
