“Mhm. We are.” Tassarion knocked back three long slices of cured, honey-drenched bacon in one bite. He shimmied, doinga happy dance as he chewed, relishing the taste. I smiled while watching him. This was such a completely different side to him. Relaxed. Carefree. Playful. A king who hated shoes and shirts but loved to dance.
“Your sister, Vitani, is... no more. But what of your brother?”
“Tovares still lives.” He popped a few dragonberries into his mouth.
“And...” I tried to be delicate with my questioning. “Where is Tovares?”
“Knowing him, after all we went through, he’s off at sea somewhere.” Tassarion wore a saddened smile. “No one loves the ocean more than me, besides you and Tovares.”
I gaped at him, stunned at how he picked up on my heart for the Ouanaviel Sea so quickly.
“I hope he’s okay. Tovares is my best friend. I look forward to the dawn where he has healed enough to come home.”
Tassarion turned the weight of his gaze toward me.
My spine tingled at the question in his eyes.
“Nahomie, why is the Empyrean after you?”
I bit my lip. Stars. Where did I even begin?
I decided to come out with the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
“I possess blackfire in my blood.”
“That’s nothing new.”His blue eyes shone brilliantly beneath the suns.“You’re not the only Seraphim of fire to exist.”
“You heard me, but you’re not listening, Tassarion.”I narrowed my eyes at him.“I haveblackfire.”
Tassarion looked at me for a long time.
I could see the dots finally connecting as his eyes widened.
“Blackfire.”A long pause.“Not the normal fire element innate to angels.”His stare became intense, making me shiver.“ But Blackfire that comes from the fallen Ashiris Star.”
“So it is believed.”
Tassarion worked his jaw, processing what that meant.
His next words stunned me.
“Ashiris was a Godstar, Nahomie. Hand-crafted by the Infinite himself. Ashiris birthed species unlike ourselves that carried powers our minds could never fathom. It carried properties that birthed worlds. Entire realms. Anyone with its fire could create a new world or be its end altogether. What are you saying to me right now?”
I looked out at the ocean, biting my lip. I brushed my fingers through the sand, feeling an eerie but holy hush settle around us.
“It’s said the Infinite placed a large sum of power from the Ashiris star into the Orèthiens who settled Sorellien, back when all the islands were one large continent. Back when she was still Namenthys in the first three Ages. Legend has it, the descendants of the Orèthien were both Seraphim and Mortent. Of all their Seraphim descendants with the element of fire, several would have the fires of Ashiris. The fire to unmake what was done in the Fourth Age. The fire that would rebuild it all again in the Seventh Age.”
“There are seven.”
I whipped my head towards Tassarion.
My eyes were on him, but his eyes were on the sea.
“Excuse me?”
“There are seven descendants.”
“And how in all of Sorellien do you know this, Tassarion?”
