I noted the amusement in his tone. The light teasing that let me know he didn’t take me the least bit seriously.
“Okay,” I griped. “So help. Where in the stars is my spouse?”
Tassarion had been gone for three full dawns. Each dawn that passed, there was a flighty unsettling inside of me. A restlessness that demanded satisfaction. I needed him to come home. To lay eyes on him. I didn’t know where he was, what he was up to, or if he was safe. If he were okay. The past couple of dawns I’d felt nothing but rage and emotional turmoil down our bond. Whatever Tassarion was going through, he was doing so in great agony, and I couldn’t stand it.
“Roi Tassarion will be home before you know it?—”
I whipped around, shoving a pointed wing at Obsidian.
“You did this. You told him you’d found Marcèllian. He left and hasn’t returned since.” I crossed my arms, bubbling with fresh fury. Obsidian’s eyes flashed as he looked at the talon pointed at one of his eyes and returned his gaze to me. “Whatyoucan’t seem to comprehend is, I may not know where he is, but I can sense him. Feel him. His ethèr won’t rest, Obsidian. He is in anguish. Torment. And I can’t do anything about it. I can’t help him!”
I spun away from Obsidian and Coralai. Tears spilled down my cheeks. My bond to Tassarion was unnatural, unhinged, and unbreakable. There was another kind of magic at play between us. I’d known of many Seraphim and Mortents who’d bonded before with nothing strange happening. Bonding between ranks was normal.
But with Tassarion... My blood called to him. My very bones ached for him. The tether of our bond was ravenous, intensifying every dawn. Even apart, there was a profound craving for him that left me in emotional shambles. And these ignoramus gargoyles thought me a fool for it.
“Roièssa.”
A large but tender hand of stone rested on my shoulder. Then I was embraced from behind, which only made me cry more. Why was I so emotional? Why did this matter so much to me?
I wanted to lie to myself and pretend this was all contractual. This was just Tassarion and I making the most of an arranged wingbinding. But... it wasn’t. Ididcare. This wasn’t just an arrangement anymore.
This wasreal.
“He will be okay,” Obsidian whispered, still hugging me. “He will come home.”
I sniffled, wiping my tears with the back of my hand, unable to feel relief from the pressure in my chest. I wanted my husband home.
Obsidian shuffled to my side and took my hand in his. He gently pulled me into a stroll, keeping me walking. Distracted. He gave me a soft, reassuring squeeze, continuing to hold myhand. We both let our wings drag onto the floor as we kept walking, swinging our arms.
“Floating, soaring, all the right sensations,” I began singing, finding myself skipping along to keep up with Obsidian’s enormous strides. At the sound of my voice, Obsidian and Coralai released a pleasant sigh. “Draw me, drown me, in your intoxication.”
We reached the end of the hall and entered an open courtyard with the most beautiful pond and sculpture of a Mortent angel at its center. I brushed my eyes over the scenery, relishing in the onyx roses, lavender flower petals, and charcoal stones that made up the walkway. Sandals slapping against stone, I carried on.
“Let our souls be twined, let our fantasies unwind, in this darkness that we both don’t want to fight...”The song poured from my lips, my volume growing as I walked on with the Gargorètti. Without a thought, I twirled, then reached for Obsidian’s hand again.“May we bask within the music of the night.”
I held out the last note before falling silent. Obsidian tugged me along into a new hall lined with gilded doors. Behind each door, I heard endless singing.
“Where are we?”
Coralai answered before Obsidian could.
“We are in the Cherubim’s quarters, Roièssa.” She shuffled to my other side, her eyes glittering like bright jewels. “This is where the performers of the Opèr live.”
“Oh?” I asked, gazing at Coralai. Her eyes danced with mischief. “But why would you bring me here?”
“Originally I was going to bring you to Roi Tassarion’s personal biblion.”
I snapped my head toward Obsidian, my jaw hanging. He was going to bring me to Tassarion’s personal library? In hislair? Had the gargoyle lost his mind?
Oblivious to my shock, he kept talking.
“But then you started singing. I thought this would be a better use of your time. Your voice is delightful. There’s something about it that is ethereal and moving. Utterly prepossessing.”
I flushed, flattered at the rich compliment, though I never felt this strongly about my voice myself.
“Again. Why? I have no business in these parts.”
“Sure you do,” Coralai cut in. “You have a beautiful voice.” She blinked her warm amber eyes at me, full of sincerity. I blushed. “I’ve only ever heard Cherubim sing like this, which is natural because artistry is their ethèr. But you... This is natural for you.”
