Bright Spring (Harmony of Seasons #1)

by Emmaline Strange

He had never approached a traveler ever again, and after that, the solitude became his armor and the more used to it he became, the easier it was to bear.

Aww Auro is lonely 😔

Initially, Auro had rushed to the traveler’s side, some instinct overpowering the centuries of loneliness that had, somewhere along the way, transformed into fear—but

Sweet lonely boy

but now as he sat beside this young man, he found himself painfully aware of every little thing: the slightly parted bow of the boy’s lips, the rise and fall of his chest below a creamy white tunic, the warmth that seemed to seep off his skin into the air between them.

THE WARMTH OF HIS SKIN IN THE AIR BETWEEN THEM 😭

To Auro’s great surprise, the boy reached up one of his hands, weakly, and touched an errant curl that had fallen across Auro’s brow. Before losing consciousness once again, he said, “Pink.”

🩷🩷🩷🩷

Auro sat frozen for quite some time, processing what had just happened. If it had been a long time since he’d spoken to someone, longer still since he had touched another person, he could not even recall the last time someone had touched him.

aww he's so innocent

This allowed Auro to study him in profile, and get another look at those tiny ears, which he’d decided he quite liked, especially with thick caramel waves of hair curling around them, shining in the sunlight. Auro found he also enjoyed the gentle slope of the boy’s slender neck, the cut of his jaw, and his pointed chin. “You are staring,” he said, and Auro jumped.

Auro is SO down BAD for this man already sweet man GET UP 🤭

“I’m Alexios,” he said, and Auro decided it was the most beautiful name, the most beautiful word he’d ever heard. Just the sound of it warmed him from scalp to toes.

To be fair.. Alexios IS a beautiful name ☺️

Asleep, Alexios had been diverting. Awake, his presence was like a constant spark of static, prickling all over Auro’s skin.

He glanced over his shoulder, the quiet solitude of the temple beckoning him, urging him back into the loneliness that had grown so familiar it was almost comfortable.

“Would you come back to my villa with me?” he asked, his cheeks reddening. “Apologies. That was forward. I just…I want to repay your kindness.”

“I will figure you out, Auro, Prince of Springtime.” “I hope you do, Alexios, Prince of Papia.”

I HOPE YOU DO 😮🤭‼️

“How did you get into my bed chambers?” “I climbed the wall.” “How?” “With the help of some ivy.” Alexios knit his brows together. “There is no ivy growing on this wall,” he said. Auro allowed himself a small smile. “There is now.”

Oh this magical man of spring is simply too much😆