Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology #2)

by Aiden Thomas

Xio stared back and soaked it in. For once, they were taking him seriously. For once, people were afraid of him. Except for Dezi. After Marino signed to him—the taller boy not taking his wide eyes off Xio as he did—Dezi turned to Xio. His eyebrows drew together, his features softening. Dezi’s eyes held Xio’s gaze and there was sadness behind them. And it wasn’t for himself. It was for Xio. And Xio hated it.

He is so Nico coded

He was composed. He was powerful. He was in his element. He was home. When Xio opened his eyes, he found Atzi staring at him intently, her pretty mouth curled in disgust. Xio glared back.

I want to shrink him and put him in my pocket

Aurelio blinked, the muscles in his jaw slack. A second later, his pale face lit with a flush. Something burned behind his flinty eyes that sent Teo’s stomach tumbling. “Right,” Aurelio agreed, a little breathless.

Youre flirting. Your city is under attack and you are. Flirting.

Even though their city was being destroyed around them, Aurelio’s presence—their Golden Boy, their Hero—brought them some comfort. He was the sun peeking over the horizon after an endless night. Teo understood the sentiment all too well.

Bestie please be so frreal right now lmao

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

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.

Thats fucking devastating. Xio is precious angst baby but my god i cannot support him in this one

Xio felt a stab of something deep in his chest. Was it … guilt? No. Of course not. This was what the Golds deserved. They had taken everything from him, locked his real father away, and left Xio to die. And the Jades, Mala Suerte—they were just as bad. Complacent in the violence and tyranny of the higher class.

Babes. It was their parents who did that. Not the poor semidioses

Well, he was about to show them just how bad he could be.

How ba a a ad can i be

The crown was heavy, but he refused to show any discomfort. Instead, he stood taller, hoping to exude confidence and strength.

No thirteen year old exudes any kind of confidence or strength. Its just not a thing sorry Xio

“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.”

Guys help i think i might be in love with niya

“When Sol created me, I was only Suerte. After the fighting was over, I was changed. I wanted nothing to do with the Golds, or even the other Jades. I couldn’t go back to being the same Suerte. I didn’t have it in me. Over time, I got a reputation. I embraced the bad guy image they were painting of me—” “Is that why you wear black all the time?” Niya asked. “Because you want to look all tough and scary?” “I wear all black because it looks good on me—” Mala Suerte took a steadying breath, physically turning his head away from Niya and her nonsense.

Mala Suerte smiled, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “I always liked you,” he said. Teo let out a dry laugh. “Even though I’m a troublemaker?” Mala Suerte’s smile curled into a mischievous grin. “Because you’re a troublemaker.”

Teo couldn’t think of any two people he’d rather spend the end of the world with.

Covering my face and kicking my feet at this entire last section

Venganza was always calling him “my son,” but what if he wasn’t a son at all? What if the words he thought he’d grow into never actually fit? Pull it together, he reminded himself. Now was not the time for a full-on gender crisis.

It was difficult to hide the disappointment on his face. But Xio was here to learn, and just like every prodigy and mentor he’d seen on TV, they needed to start with the basics before the epic epiphany. This was the beginning of his training arc.

Hes just like every other nerdy thirteen year old who just discovered greek mythology oh my goddd

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?!”

Aurelio looked around the cart and frowned over at Teo. “Did I—” “Fall asleep and curl up on me like a little cat?” Teo teased with a grin. Aurelio’s cheeks flushed. Teo laughed. “Of course not! Aurelio, Son of Lumbre, would never be caught dead in such a compromising position.” “You snore like a little puppy!” Niya announced. “It’s adorable!”

Niya sniffed. “I still think you’re a piece of shit.” “No, no,” they said, already leading the way into the trees. “I used to be a piece of shit.”

Xio was ready for Niya to put up a fight, but instead, she let out an exasperated groan. “Fine!” she growled before warning them, “But I’m gonna be a dick about it!”

“I am a Child of Suerte,” they said, a brilliant violet ball of energy growing at their chest. “And you’re all out of luck,” Xio continued, hands glowing. “I’m not letting you hurt anyone else.”

OH SHIT HELL YEAH XIO