Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“Will you wear my amber?” Illium asked, his heart exposed.
Aodhan’s hand, so strong, so careful, clenched on the beads. “Only,” he rasped, “if you wear mine.”
“What?”
Sliding his hand under the neckline of his tunic, Aodhan tugged out the chain on which hung a ring. He pulled the chain off over his head, removed the ring, and held it out. “Will you wear my amber, Blue?”
Illium’s throat closed up, his entire being a single pulse, because as he’d spent literal years sourcing the perfect amber to resonate with Aodhan’s light, it was clear that Aodhan had spent as much time making this ring. It was carved of amber, with a ring of metal behind it to hold the more fragile stone in place.
The design was intricate, of feathers laid atop feathers surrounding and interwoven into the symbol of infinity. “How did you make this without me seeing it?” he managed to get out instead of just snatching at the ring.
“It’s good to be known as a temperamental artist who growls people away from his studio.”
Illium’s chest expanded in a burst of happiness that was close to pain as he held out his hand. The love of his life slipped the ring onto his finger at the same time that Illium slipped the bracelet over the strong bones of Aodhan’s wrist. The amber glowed exactly as he’d imagined, lit by the luminescence that was his Adi.
His own amber settled perfectly on his finger, a deep shade that was striking against his tawnier skin. He held it close to his eye, examining the carving, which must’ve taken boundless patience.
Aodhan, meanwhile, was holding his bracelet up to the light, a smile curving his lips.
Illium suddenly felt silly and young and happy. Grabbing Aodhan by the front of his tunic, he hauled his lover and best friend down for a kiss that was all beating hearts and smiling lips and a certainty that this had been meant to be.
They fell off the edge of the fort.
Laughing, they broke apart, then flew high, high, higher, until they were closer to the stars than the earth, and they tangled in a kiss while Aodhan held the hover. His hair, overlong because he’d been too busy to get it cut, brushed Illium’s cheek in a softness of light, while his hand was a rough counterpoint on that same cheek.
Illium loved how Aodhan kissed him, with such care every single time, even when they were caught in the turbulence of passion primal and unrestrained. Today, the kiss held a happiness and an exuberance that had them grinning at each other as they drew apart while yet entangled.
Illium ran his hand through the glittering beauty of Aodhan’s hair. “I like this.”
“You can enjoy it for another month before it drives me insane and I hack it off.”
Illium fisted a hand in all that beautiful silk. “I could make a fortune selling your shorn locks on the black market.”
“And I could pluck out your feathers one by one at night and make an equal killing.”
Illium’s grin only deepened. “Bet? I’ll give you ten feathers, you give me enough hair for ten small bundles, and we’ll see who comes out the financial winner?”
Aodhan looked at him with a glint in his eye. “No, I think I’ll just catch you and pluck those feathers.”
Illium bolted away before Aodhan’s hands could tighten, and the race was on across the grand forts and festival-lit streets of Jaipur. People whooped when Illium swept down so low that they could’ve reached up and touched his wings—except he was too fast, soaring up and away before anyone could realize what was happening.
Aodhan dipped down low before flying up and around, twisting in an attempt to catch Illium by cutting him off—except Illium was a master at rapid turns and quick changes in path. Aodhan, however, had been playing this game with him for a lifetime, had a few tricks up his sleeve.
Illium didn’t realize he was being funneled out over the rolling desert until he was already there—and on this landscape, Aodhan had the advantage. Because while Illium was faster, Aodhan had more endurance. So Illium went up and up and up.
Aodhan followed…but when Illium turned to drop down, Aodhan put himself directly in Illium’s path when it was far too late for Illium to turn away. They smashed into each other with brutal force, something that would’ve done severe damage to angels of less power. But they were two of the Seven.
They took the blow with grunts, their wings spread as they attempted to control the spiral down to the earth. “You’re a lunatic!” Illium shouted.
“That’s why you love me!”
Aodhan slammed into the sand with his back, having made sure Illium was on top when they hit the earth. The impact created a dust storm that blotted out the world for a long moment, and in that moment, Illium kissed Aodhan’s wicked mouth and the slope of his neck, his hands pinning the thickness of Aodhan’s wrists to the sand.