Page 139 of The Edge of Darkness

“Just prefer not to blow out every candle in the temple,” he said, gesturing to his wings. The feathers even looked freshly tamed—not a single vane out of place.

I lifted a hand, pressing my fingertip to the smooth ridge along the edge of his wing. He watched the point of contact.

“Do you ever shed these? The feathers, I mean.”

“Only when under immense stress. Or if a wing is damaged. But otherwise, they are quite hard to remove.”

I pinched one between my thumb and forefinger and pretended I was about to yank it out to see if he was being truthful. When I looked up at him, he cocked his head and eyed me like he wasn’t quite sure if I would dare to tug, but wouldn’t put it past me to try. A very faint smirk formed the longer I held his stare.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I smoothed the feather back into place. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He gave me a breathy laugh of his own. “Good. Because if you did, I would have to disown you.”

“Disown me?” I clutched at my heart like the word had dealt me a physical blow.

His wing jutted forward and nudged my shoulder as he laughed again. Such a pleasant sound. “I could never.”

“Swear to it,” I said, cocking a playful brow.

“I, Remic, swear to never disown you, not even under threat of feather-plucking.”

I snorted and sketched a mocking bow. “And I, Auren, swear to never disown you either, or to pluck your feathers.”

“It’s a pact,” he said, dipping his head in agreement.

“Who knew I’d be making so many vows today.”

His grin lingered for a moment longer before his voice lowered, and his familiar seriousness took over. “You look beautiful, Auren. I am proud that you will be Lady of Calledan.”

There it was again—the emotion, the sting of tears building behind my eyes. I blinked them away, finding Remic’s gray gaze a moment later. “Thank you. I hope I don’t let you down.”

“You won’t. You are one of us. And I will be by your side, always.”

I fanned my face as my emotions threatened to get the best of me.

Thankfully, Amarna cut in. “It’s time.” She gestured toward the windows where the sun was slipping behind the mountains in the distance.

Remic offered me his arm. “Ready?”

I looped mine through his and tucked myself into his side. “I am.”

In a smooth rush of air, we ported to the base of the mountains. To The Elderwood, where the temple stood waiting.

The temple was overflowing with so many candles I’d lost count three times now. Candles on the walls, candles around the pillars, candles surrounding the altar—practically forming their own altar themselves. So many fucking candles that you’d think we were here to anoint a god.

But that’s the way I wanted it. Elegant. Intimate.

I abandoned the tedious candle counting and scanned the crowd. The final guests were slowly filing in from the main archway leading into the vast chamber.

I’d always loved this building. The interior walls of the temple were curved, with an amphitheater of seating lining the perimeter. Six separate stairways led down from the mezzanine where I stood, which sectioned off six seating areas, all descending toward the center of the room where a small, stone altar stood on a platform.

Every seat was filled. The entire room was full of members of my court, all of them anxiously awaiting whatever spectacle this was about to be.

Rumors had swirled when the invitations had gone out. No one knew what to make of the very brief and vague details I’d provided for tonight’s gathering. Some gossips guessed that it was a mating ceremony, but to whom . . . no one knew. Aremis’s Aura had heard the whispers, that I was binding myself to one of my council member’s daughters, or that it was a female from another territory—one of prestige, and from a particularly gifted bloodline.

In that regard, they weren’t completely wrong.

I smirked and let a quiet, breathy laugh slip past my lips, thinking of how they would all react the moment Auren, a human, stepped into the room.