“I don’t think it has.” Leya ran her tingling palms down her damp jeans. “I mean, why else would I be given leads to help you? It’s not something I would have thought about on my own, considering where I come from.”
“That’s what I mean. We areEmpyreans.”
Aerén watched her for a second, leaning against the desk, his feet crossed at his ankles, arms folded over his chest. “I think you had to be on this world first. And it’s also your innate sense of knowing.”
“We are people of great powers,” Anedaén murmured, still staring outside. “With powerful mages and priestesses, and yet none of them could pick up on anything, or get under a rebel’s thick skin to reveal a truth.”
He had a point. “Yeah, that’s us mortals. We’ll tread where even the devil won’t,” she said dryly. “We, who are often dismissed and passed off as weak and insignificant, are the ones who will conquer.”
A smile glinted in the elyon’s striking eyes. “I’m in your debt. If there is anything you need, just ask.”
“Thank you.”
Anedaén settled against the desk next to Aerén, his icy blue eyes darkening. “This was all the sorcerer’s doing.”
“What the hell does he want with us?” Aerén growled. “He captured our parents, tortured our sire, and has ourmaterihidden the gods know where, then he comes after me. He seems to have a problem withus. Why?”
“When we find thecaeni, we’ll get answers.”
Leya watched them both, didn’t know what to say.
“So…” Aerén stepped away from the desk, sliding his hands into his pockets. “You know I’m not giving up my mate, nor am I leaving Empyrea, right? I want ourmaterifound.”
“I don’t want you to leave. Either of you. I will speak with the council members.”
Aerén cocked an eyebrow. “Youwill?”
“Aye.” Anedaén rested his hands on the edge of the desk. “It appears Leya has calmed down the beast, if I might say so. It should count for something.”
Aerén snorted. “Good to know you would have missed me. Well then, you should know too, she’s my destined mate.”
He stilled. “Did the magic in her awaken?”
“She possesses traces of it, yes, but not for a soul bonding. I’m talking about the old ways. The white light of a soul-joining bond.”
Anedaén’s gaze shot to Leya and back to Aerén. He straightened from the desk. “You know this how?”
“Because the thought of her leaving me, when she overheard your asinine decree in Exilum, felt like a crevice had opened within me. And I feel her inhereall the time,” he smacked his chest. “And her pretty amber eyes glow with the white light of our soul-joining, just like mine do. I’m surprised you didn’t notice, brother,” Aerén drawled. “And here’s another fact. We can now communicate telepathically. Oh, and Allatus confirmed earlier that we’d bonded in the old ways.”
He is like a rock. I think the Mounts of Angempion have more give,the growly thought slid through their bond. Leya bit her lip, hiding her smile.
Anedaén’s eyes narrowed, no doubt picking up on their silent communication.
Aerén cocked an evil eyebrow. “Yes, I just told her a rock would catch on faster. I hope you find a female who’ll give you hell before she lets you a yard close.”
The elyon’s expression remained stoic. “Leya, welcome to the family. Finally, someone to keep him in line.”
Wry laughter escaped her. “I try. He’s not easy.”
“My mate, you wound me.” Aerén slapped a palm to his chest. He looked so hurt that she blinked, then he smirked. “Don’t care as long as I have you.”
The door opened, and another, much leaner version of Aerén and Anedaén entered. Leya shot up from her seat. She instantly knew who he was, as both Anedaén and Aerén bowed to him. The king and their father.
He nodded. His fastened hair sported shades of every hue in the blue spectrum with navy streaks woven in between. Those steel gray eyes took them all in, in one sweep, then his stare settled on her.
Crap.What was she doing staring?
Hastily, she curtsied, hoping her knees didn’t give way at their quaking. “Your Highness—” Crap! “I mean, Your Majesty—” Double crap! Her face suffused with heat.
