Page 70 of Wings of Ashes
My mate.
The back of Nix’s neck began to sweat. If Persius was at the academy, Nix could find him and save him. She would never let them be captured in this new chance at life.We could be…together.
“You can meet him at the dance in a few days,” Elle said. “If you find a date.”
Nix’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?” Nix had attended plenty of dances without a date. She remembered sitting by herself, next to the dance floor, silently begging someone to ask her to join.
“New rule,” Sarasa said, munching on some delicious-looking biscuits. “Now the only people who can attend thedances are couples. Gotta have a date to attend. It’s spinning other cygni into quite a frenzy to find someone in time.”
This was new. Different. What had altered this timeline to cause such a rule? “Why would they do that? That just creates a barrier for people who tend to be shy or want to focus on their studies instead of romance. The dances are meant to be a social event for everyone.”
“I don’t know, maybe it’s helping people,” Elle said in her ever-positive, cheery tone. “Think about it: if people want to attend the dance, now they must find the guts to pursue someone. Now the lonely singles don’t have to sadly watch the couples dance all night.”
Elle draped her hand over Nix’s on the table and squeezed as she added, “I’m sure I could ask my brother to ask you to the dance. That way—”
“I don’t care about the dance,” Nix replied, but…
What if I could find Persius there?
Persius had once described the sensation of recognizing her as his mate. A version of love at first sight that bloomed an urge to protect her and comfort her and give her anything she wanted.
Persius would just have to look at Nix, and they would be together again. Sure, this Persius would need to get to know her, but she already knew everything about him. Everything that mattered.
I miss him so much.
“I thought you’d love to go to the dance with my brother,” Elle said, looking at her with a pointed “what’s gotten into you?” expression.Uh, oh. Suspicion.
“I…” Nix couldn’t care less about Elle’s handsome brother, Adar Oadess, in this life. But in her past? Yeah. Going to the dance with him would have been everything she wished for each night.
Does Adar know about the poison in my illusion potion?
“My brother actually asked me if I thought you already had a date to the dance,” Elle added and elbowed Nix excitedly. “I think he might be interested in asking you all on his own. I could always push him a little—”
“Elle,” a familiar male voice sounded from behind them. Adar. Had he heard his name from across the loud cafeteria?
Nix turned to face Elle’s picture-perfect older brother and began to choke on her own saliva.
Because standing beside Adar was Persius.
Nix’s Persius.
MATE.
28
CHAPTER
Nix’s fingers fell over her heart as it sped up and threatened to jump out of her chest to land at his feet.
Persius—uncaptured, and not tortured and bleeding—was a sight to behold.
Wavy, white-platinum blond locks sat shaggily on his head, appearing gently windblown. His electric blue eyes were pools of neon azure.
When she had known him, those eyes had been dim in comparison.I will never let his eyes dim in this life.
A five o’clock shadow dusted over his angelic cleft chin, reminding her of how scruffy he had been in his cage and how much she had wanted to run her fingers over the hair there. His white T-shirt conformed to every nook and cranny of his broad, muscular chest.
Even the crisp white light of the cafeteria illuminated him differently than the others. Like the light turned into golden sunshine to grant his tan skin the perfect heavenly hue. The man practically had a glowing halo.
