Page 87 of All the Chaos of Constellations
The rushing of the falls coupled with her breathy moans left him undone.
Stars fell, catching fire as the orgasm ripped through her. Asher groaned, slamming into her one final time as his own release exploded from him in a wave of pure ecstasy.
Thoroughly spent, Asher gathered Novalise into his arms, and carried her out of the faerie pool. He set her down upon the grassy banks, then waved his hand through the air, igniting a small fire to warm them. Silver flames danced, sparking toward the sky. Novalise situated herself on the ground, curling into his side.
Stars peeked in through the canopy of trees and she pointed up at them.
“Do you see that one there? The one that looks almost blue?” she asked, her finger tracing the line of stars against the dark of night.
Asher nodded. He already knew the star, knew the constellation she wanted to show him.
“The Great Stag,” she breathed, sighing into him. “He’s one of my favorite constellations. Do you want to know why?”
He leaned toward her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Why?”
“Because he’s representative of so many things. Wisdom, strength…” She traced the tip of her finger along the ridges of his abdomen. “Virility.”
Asher couldn’t help it, his muscles flexed on instinct beneath her touch.
“But mostly,” she continued, oblivious to his taut stomach, “the Great Stag is my favorite because no matter where I am, he’s always there. Even with all the thousands of other stars, he shines the brightest. So long as I can see him in the sky, I know I’m home.”
That strange twinge returned, except this time it was like the bond itself wrapped around his heart, then squeezed, refusing to let go.
* * *
“Haveyou heard the story of Estrela and the Great Stag?” Asher propped himself up on one elbow, casually draping his other arm around Novalise. A tiny frown marred her brow and she shook her head. “Most people forget they have a past,” he explained, gesturing to the constellations in the shape of majestic antlers, the other much like a crown.
“After the sun god tried to control Estrela, she tossed her Wheel of Stars into the sky and fled to the heavens.” He glanced down at Novalise, damp lavender hair spilling around her like ribbons of satin. The way she was looking at him…he didn’t know anyone was capable of such emotion. Asher cleared his throat. “Once Estrela arrived, the night sky welcomed her, but she wandered aimlessly through the heavens with no place to call home. Lore says the Great Stag discovered her one moonless winter night. Her tears had turned to stars and led him straight to her. It’s said he guided Estrela north, to her place in the sky. It’s why Estrela’s crown and the stag’s antlers align every Winter Solstice, and always to the north.”
Asher lightly brushed his thumb along Novalise’s bottom lip, then bent down to kiss the corner of her mouth.
“Perhaps,” he whispered, “that’s why he feels like home.”
“Maybe you’re right,” she agreed, a faint sheen glossing her starlit eyes. “After all, I was born under the sign of Estrela.”
“Indeed you were.”
“What about you, Asher?” She rolled onto her back and gazed up past the treetops, where diamonds sparkled against a blanket of sapphire. “What sign were you born under?”
He swallowed, his throat suddenly thick. “The Great Stag.”
Her eyes snapped to his face. “Really?”
“Yes.” He nodded once, his chest suddenly too tight. “Really.”
She stared at him for a full minute, and it was as though he could see her mind working. Processing all he had said, making sense of the story behind the stars.
“How curious,” she murmured.
Curious, indeed. It seemed the stars knew what they were doing after all.
“What did you need to talk to me about?” she asked, her question jarring him from his thoughts of fate and stars.
Asher’s chest hollowed out. This conversation would not be as pleasant and wondrous as the last. “There’s something you must know, but let me preface it by saying that it won’t be easy for you to hear.”
The faintest of lines creased her smooth brow, but she nodded. “Okay.”
“I have reason to believe your mother is working with Prince Aspen to overthrow Queen Elowyn.” The words spilled from him, and he stared down at her, waiting for her response.
