Celestial (Angels of Elysium, #2)

by Olivia Wildenstein

“Asher . . .” Using his angels-given name was so strange that it momentarily gave me pause. “Yes?” “Why did you lie about having met your soulhalf years ago?” “I didn’t lie. I did meet her years ago.” He beheld my scintillating skin with such reverence that my shine intensified. “At a guild banquet in my honor. I even got to see her beautiful wings that night and glimpse her virtuous soul.” My mouth slipped open, and for a moment, I lost the ability to produce sound, but then it returned with such force that my words came out shrilly. “You were talking about me?” “Who did you think I was talking about?” “Not me.” I bit my lip. Released it. “Did you know it then?” “That your soul would own mine? No. For the bond to happen, there needs to be physical contact, and we didn’t touch that night. Thank Elysium, for you were still so young.” “When did you know then?” “I began to wonder the day we sat on the bench outside of Bofinger’s house, but found out for certain the day you hugged me in front of Ish Eliza. My soul tried to flee my body when it sensed yours.” I blinked. “All I remember was thinking you were two seconds away from murdering me for having touched your wings.” His lips bent some more, and although his expression wasn’t carefree, it was mesmerizing. “You really think the worst of me.” “Before I met you, I heard stories of how great and heroic you were. The golden boy of Elysium.” With the hand not feeling up his soul, I traced the shape of his smile and raised one o...