Astra appreciated the effort and opted to reward him. “Ellume’s High Priestess, Ivonne Bloodmoon, is a known contrarian. She and my mother have a contentious relationship. Ellume has always been a sore spot for my mother’s control and if Solarians are in the court, I have a hunch they’re coming in through Ivonne’s gates. At the very least, she’s hunting for the same information we are. Ameera’s translator reported that she requested a translation of the same novel just a few weeks ago.”
“Do you think she’ll talk to you? What’s your strategy?”
“I’ll request a meeting with her and feel her out,” Astra said, shrugging.
“That’s it?” the commander asked.
“What do you mean?”
His eyes narrowed. “What if she refuses to speak with you?”
“She doesn’t need to,” Astra said. “I just need to ask her a few questions and read how she reacts.”
His thick brows arched, and his head tilted. “Read?”
“Her emotions.”
“Oh, the things that change with the wind? The things that you can’t access in anyone who’s had a lick of training against you?”
“Even your Mercurians, who you’ve clearly trained well, are still readable to me, Luxuros. You’re the only person I’ve ever met that I can’t get a single trace on. It’s infuriating, frankly.”
“It’s meant to be! You think I’m going to give a volatile demigoddess unfettered access to my inner world? Are you mad?”
Astra shrugged. “I’m a tad disappointed that it’s merely self-control. My working theories were born with a stone for a heart or cursed by some sort of witch.”
Luxuros snorted. “Not nearly as mysterious.”
“On the contrary, Commander. Willfully blocking me is much more intriguing than any mystic magic could ever be. The secrets you must keep.”
He held her gaze, two fires burning against the night sky. Astra turned back around, draping herself over Riverion’s neck, enjoying the whirl of the emerald oaks beneath them as they sailed across the island.
“What’s that?” Luxuros asked, gesturing to a stone gate at the edge of the Midwood, the icy blue Somnia curling around it.
“Celene,” Astra said, unwilling to elaborate.
“Ah,” he nodded, sensing not to push her.
They glided over the rest of the Midwood, the trees breaking against mountain chains and azure lakes before the gleaming crystals of Ellume rose through the clouds. The rainbow river of the Rift poured over their heads as it fell toward the Ellumian Gate at the center of the city.
“We shouldn’t land in the roost!” Astra called out to Ameera. “It’s getting late—we won’t be able to get to the temple until tomorrow. I’d like to catch Ivonne by surpr?—”
“Fuck!” Luxuros hissed behind her, an arrow sailing between them. Riverion reared backward, a steamy snort blinding Astra as she reached for the reins and the commander’s arms, wrapping them around her waist as she pulled back.
“Hold on!” She called, searching below for Ameera. Another arrow sliced through the air. The commander held onto Astra with one arm and reached for the arrow with another as it arched back toward the ground. He held it between them, examining the markings in the shaft.
“Up, up, up,” he called into her ear. “Shit’s Solarian, As!”
Astra leaned forward, tapping Riv’s neck as he bolted straight up into the sky.
She searched for Ameera’s energy. Where are you?
Above you. I’m fine!
Get to the roost, I’ll find you!
“The higher you are, the harder it is for them to spot us,” Luxuros said, the calm demeanor of a man who has faced much larger threats than an arrow. Another thwip at her ear forced her head down, her heart slamming against her ribs. Riverion pulled upward, sending them over the clouds and toward the Rift.
“You ever ridden a dragon through the Rift?” He yelled at her as he dodged a third arrow, the tip just nicking his shoulder, the scarred flesh still sensitive.
