Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology #2)

by Aiden Thomas

The worst thing to do to a Son of Amor was to lock him in a room alone where he didn’t know where his friends were or what was happening. And the second worst thing to do was to make the boy who loved him watch.

“You shall be known as Xio, Son of Venganza, the Nightbearer,”

He had learned the hard way that making assumptions about Aurelio’s behavior usually led to unnecessary miscommunication. Aurelio had been raised to put his mission before his feelings. He struggled to open up, especially when it came to family matters.

He cursed the universe for giving him the ability to talk to birds but not boys.

I was the dios of fortune, but fortune alone cannot protect the vulnerable. There was no diose of fairness, of justice, of equity. I could no longer focus on the blessings in life, not when our world was being torn to shreds. Good fortune wasn’t enough to protect the humans. If I wanted to end the warring, and save any of the brightness still left in our world, I had to give up who I was and what I stood for. I had to fight back.”

“Wait, so that means he’s like—like…” Niya squinted one eye shut as she attempted math. “A bajillion years old.” Aurelio’s eyebrows pressed together. “That’s not a real number.” Niya tsked at him and said, “It may not be real in fact, but it’s real in feeling,” which Teo thought was a very good point. “I’m so glad the fate of the world lies in your hands,” Mala Suerte deadpanned. “It inspires such confidence.”

Aurelio rolled his eyes, but even in the dark Teo caught the red blooming in his cheeks. “Eventually you won’t just be able to charm me into every situation,” he muttered. “It’ll wear off.” He straightened his posture and started down the dock. “Wait a second!” Teo chased after him. “What’s that about me being charming?!”

“You hear a baby crying and your first instinct is to pull out a sword?” “IT’S ALL I HAVE, TEO. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?”

If people treat you like you’re bad for long enough, I imagine you start believing it.

A cackle erupted from Venganza’s mouth, as his thin lips formed into a twisted sneer. “You are an arrogant child,” he hissed, staring at Teo with pure contempt. “You’re just a nothing Jade. You have no talent or skill. You don’t even possess any power.” “I’m flunking math, too,” Teo spat.