Heavenly Bodies: Book One of the Heavenly Bodies series

by Imani Erriu

‘Elara, I already think you’re insane, but this may be the worst time to prove me right,’

Her shadows curled around Enzo’s neck, her control running thin with rage. ‘Are you threatening me with a good time?’ His breath mingled with hers as she stood, seething,

‘I do not just tolerate you, Elara. You are my favourite part of the day.’

Enzo was leaning against the frame, one foot crossed behind the other.

He looked like sin.

He brushed a piece of lint off his indigo jacket. ‘So I got myself ready and came here to escort you.’

‘Do you need some help?’ he purred. She bit back a smile as she opened the door wider, crossing the room to the discarded corset. ‘Merissa was dressing me, but she’s disappeared to Stars know where.’ She

‘Well, princess, undoing corsets is more my strong suit, but I’m sure I can assist.’

Enzo studied her back. ‘You know, I never saw the point in these things,’ he murmured as his thumbs brushed her hips, holding the strings in each hand. He drew them towards him deftly. ‘Why not?’ she asked, her breath quickening.

She saw his smile in the reflection as he began to pull on each string, the corset tightening with every movement.

‘Just seems like an awful lot more for me to have to take off.’ Enzo’s voice caressed ...

‘Is this tight enough?’ he asked, hitching her in roughly so that she was pulled against him. She exhaled a little breath of shock. A hand around her waist steadied her. She nodded silently as a smile danced on his lips.

‘Is my hair getting in the way?’ she asked innocently and swept it around to one side, the nape of her neck exposed. The hands tying a bow behind her went still, and she glanced in the mirror. Displayed in the looking glass was a furrowed brow and clenched jaw as Enzo’s gaze bore into her exposed, silver-dusted neck. She knew he could smell the faint smoky vanilla perfume dabbed behind her ear. Her chest, spilling out of the bodice, was heaving, shallow breaths that she inwardly insisted were caused by the tightness of the corset and not the way Enzo was looking at her.

The air grew heavy, almost suffocating, before Enzo spoke. ‘Don’t we look quite the royal couple?’ Elara forced out a laugh, batting him away.

herself. Get it together, Elara, my gods. You’d think you were a tremoring virgin the way a few touches are making you act.

he whispered, turning back to her. ‘It’s beautiful.’ His eyes roamed over her face as he said it, and she swallowed.

‘The name’s Alec. Enchanted to meet you.’ Elara smiled, shaking it. ‘I’m Nova, and the pleasure is all mine.’ Enzo’s grip tightened, just a little. ‘For the record,’ he murmured, ‘Elara is much prettier.’

‘Then,’ he said, ‘you add that you can just tell by how I dance that I’m a ravishing lover.’

‘Though I’d be more than happy to show you my talents, princess.’

and caught the burning gaze of Enzo staring right at the space where Leyon had been. She started towards him,

Elara felt a sharp lurch of jealousy as the goddess turned back to Enzo, laughing at whatever he was whispering.

Enzo was just that, a man—one as susceptible to Torra’s charm as any other. She bit her cheek, willing the anger rippling through her to

calm.

And then two hands grabbed her waist and yanked her out of his grasp. Enzo gave a saccharine smile to Adrian. ‘Sorry to interrupt,’ he said, ‘but the lady’s next dance is with me.’ Adrian’s eyes narrowed. ‘We were—’ ‘Finished,’ Enzo said, pulling Elara away.

‘Enzo,’ she moaned, frantic. ‘Lie to me now,’ he hissed. ‘Tell me as you ride my fingers that we’re just friends. Tell me as I feel you that you feel nothing.’ There was rage in his voice, desperation.

‘You want me to let you finish, hm?’ he breathed, biting her neck.

‘Now come for me, Elara.’

‘I’ve wanted to make you come since the moment you ignored me at our first meal,’

‘What I feel for you…I’ve never felt for anyone before. But we both know the prophecy. You know what’s happening to my kingdom. I can’t fall into this with you. The only ending I see is one filled with pain for us.’

‘I have a feeling you’ll sleep better now.’

‘When I’m around Enzo, I feel…I feel as though I am drawn to him.’

Enzo gave me his crown, and then—’ ‘He gave you his crown?!’

‘He knelt before me and took the crown off. He said, “I give you my crown, Elara,” and placed it on my head.’

‘He knelt before you,’ she whispered. ‘Enzo has never knelt before anyone. Not even his father, the King of Helios, Elara.’

To give you his crown—it means that when he ascends to power, he would choose you as his queen, or forfeit his kingdom for you.’

No doubt if you weren’t interrupted, he would have walked out with you, letting everyone see you wearing it.’

‘The siren’s song doesn’t work on those already in love. That’s the truth, Elara. Enzo is in love with you.’

‘Please, Elara, let me taste you.’ His eyes burned as they fixed on her. She bit her lip,

‘Take what is yours,’

‘Where’s the king?’

‘I killed him.’

‘Get your hands off my queen,’

‘You can’t leave me. I’ve waited my whole life for you.’

‘But I don’t regret a second. I would do it all again, welcome every pain to feel myself falling in love with you again. You are the love of my life, El. My love of lifetimes.’

‘That you were my angel.’

‘They seem to like you,’

‘You were mine before I knew. We are destined, you and I. By something other than fate, other

‘My soulmate,’ were the last words on his lips, before his head fell back.

‘Monsters are not born, they become,’

‘I