Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology #2)

by Aiden Thomas

“Dammit, Teo!” Niya barked. “Don’t try to make friends with evil roosters!” “I wasn’t, it was monologuing!”

“Bye, Brilla!” Niya waved cheerily at his side. “Don’t tell your mom we said hi. I don’t like her!”

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

“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.”

“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?”

“So, when we get in there, should I start at the beginning beginning, or just the part where Yucca saved us from that big monster?” Hands on her hips, Yucca gave them a cross look. “First of all—we don’t call them monsters. How would you feel if someone called you a monster, just because you’re bigger than they are?” she asked, pointing up at Niya. Niya shrank back. “I would feel sad,” she agreed.

“Put on your jacket, Niya,” he told her. She listened and pulled it out of her bag without a fight. Niya struggled to get it on, like she’d never encountered sleeves before.

Fantasma nodded solemnly, her eyes meeting Teo’s with an unspoken promise. Sol bowed his head to her, and as he did, her appearance changed. Her skin took on the smoothness of stone, milky white and translucent, revealing a golden skeleton beneath. Her dress turned white, billowing out around her like a cloud, and a crown of marigolds adorned her dark hair. Her eyes became molten gold, reflecting Sol’s light that bathed them all. “Smash,” Niya whispered to Teo. Despite everything, he couldn’t help cracking a small smile.