CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The messenger god watched as the demigods discovered their power in the centuries to come. They aided the humans in a war, striking a devastating blow to the ruling gods, taking a kernel of their magic as they fled in the aftermath.
—Fabia’s Fables, “People of the Stars.”
“Where did you find those words?” Carina whispered from across the room. I glanced back at Lord Astraeus, still a breath away.
“Her heart,” he answered, voice rough.
I rolled my eyes as I gripped his wrist and slid the rubelline cuff off. He let out a soft sigh through his nose. He kept his eyes on me and ran a hand over his wrist, rubbing away the phantom grip of magic.
“You’re free,” I breathed, voice quieter than intended.
“Am I?” He raised an eyebrow, eyes darting to my lips. I cleared my throat as I stepped away, releasing myself from whatever trance-like state the air oath had put us in.
“Sorry we’re late to the party,” Nerissa crooned as she strutted into the small tent.
Astraeus’s hand gripped my elbow, and my heart leaped into my chest as I turned to find Nerissa and Vulcan standing in the doorway. I whipped my head back to Astraeus, and he blinked before dropping his hand from my arm.
I scanned my friends, searching for additional injuries. The spattering of black tattoos cut across the irregular, raised scars that littered the side of Vulcan’s half-ruined face. A pang of guilt slithered through my gut, realizing I just bound myself to the man who had done this to him. Who had ordered him beaten, his crew so intentionally destroying the artful ink on his face. I heaved a sigh and stepped away from Astraeus.
I gave Vulcan a soft smile and nod, relieved to be reunited with the elf. The permanent scowl remained on his face, but I thought I caught the softening of his eyes.
Nerissa stilled as Ronan appeared in the doorway, his sapphire eyes flashing against the dancing flames. Her eyes shuddered, and Ronan’s shoulders sagged in relief. Neither moved.
Lord Astraeus cleared his throat as he rubbed his wrist, that insufferable smirk forming on his lips.
“Took you long enough,” he drawled, stepping into the soft glow. Vulcan’s eyes held the promise of violence as they swept between us.
The air oath left me shaken. While I’d felt a connection form with Queen Antares, this was different. It was like a small strip of air in my lungs that could cause me to sigh or cough if pulled too hard.
I held my hands up between the two of them, briefly explaining what had transpired in the last few days, earning myself more than a few glares from Vulcan and looks of disbelief from Nerissa.
“An alliance once again,” Astraeus said through a grin, clapping his hands together once, nodding to Ronan. “Seems like we’ll be spending more time together.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I snapped.
“Wait,” Nerissa said, holding her arm out, the soft red glow of the cuff shining dimly through her jacket, “Take this off.”
“I don’t answer to you, sweetie,” Astraeus murmured, his swagger sharpening into steel.
Nerissa’s lips curled over her teeth as she let out a soft snarl, Ronan gripping her arm.
“Astraeus,” Ronan warned, his own voice dipping an octave.
“You answer to me,” I cut in, my eyes shooting between the two of them. “Take it off.”
The pirate’s dark eyes slid to mine, amused.
“I do notanswerto you,” he said, “That is not what this is between you and I.”
I opened my mouth to interrupt, but he said to Nerissa, “But, seeing as we could use some of your special sun power in what’s to come, I’ll throw you a bone.”
Astraeus slid his hand over Nerissa’s cuff, dismantling it. I held out a hand for it, waiting.
“Not a chance,” Astraeus chuckled, tucking the cuff into his pocket and offering a curt nod to the others.
“Bonscaíh,” he winked at me, sketching a mock bow as he left our small group. Nerissa bristled as he strode away, his blue coat flapping in the icy breeze that blew through the trees.
