When Coral’s people are massacred and their island razed to ash, Coral is smuggled out and raised in the shadow of the government that killed his family. Now hiding his identity, his magic, and his banned faith, he has one mission: find out if anyone else survived. To do it, he needs a necromancer willing to risk everything.
Valen has spent years turning grief into something useful -- healing the bereaved, avoiding the government's draft, and keeping his distance from anything that could pull him back into the world of the living. Then Coral shows up on his doorstep. And keeps showing up. Until Valen runs out of reasons to turn him away.
Talon walks a tightrope between loyalty to a government he is beginning to distrust and the moral clarity he finds in the people it calls enemies -- complicated further by General Cyrus, who is principled, older, and far more politically calculating than he appears. Unfortunately, he is also stunning and Talon’s leader.
Can hope survive a world dedicated to destroying? Can love endure the deepest of pains?
“I summon you for ghost sex,” Valen stated, biting his lip as he spoke.
It was irresponsible to joke while conducting magic, but part of him wanted to explore or have the dead bring him to death. Daylon would find it amusing.
"You shouldn’t lie to the dead,” Daylon laughed, his ghostly shape still fit and handsome, though it could be a bias of Valen’s.
“I could go a round,” Valen stated, smirking at the man who once was the love of his life.
Daylon wore the same flowing robes Valen had buried him in. Daylon still had a kind twinkle in his eyes, even after his life had been snuffed out by the troops of Luxnia. The wings of the Pegasus whose DNA Daylon had bound to himself remained, as did the gold streaks under his cheeks, though now they were black and his ghost white.
"That is not why you’re here,” Daylon said, his ghost hovering above Valen with a kind smile.
Valen cursed himself for not having fallen in love with someone less perceptive. He should have dated an idiot. Valen paced, unsure how to even address the reason for his visit. He stared at Daylon and sighed.
"I need guidance, and I didn't know who else to talk to. Priverra and Ibis are not helpful,” Valen admitted, sitting on the ground before Daylon.
"By not helpful, I presume they disagreed with you, and I’m your last shot at confirmation bias,” Daylon laughed. “Tell me what is happening.”
Valen decided to start small, to withhold the most important element of his dilemma. He thought he was ready. Staring at Daylon made him rethink everything. He still felt his heart soar and his blood race.
"There is a man, Coral, who was born on the island. He wishes to contact the dead to see if anyone knows of other survivors he can connect to. A dangerous request. A gathering of survivors would draw attention. His adopted mother is on the city council of Luxnia. I fear the attention that helping him may bring. Priverra and Ibis believe I should help,” Valen shared, flushing.
Daylon nodded, his eyes narrowing in a familiar, affectionate, but annoyed look. He sat across from Valen and tilted his head.
"There is something missing from your story. The Valen I know would help. He embraced risk. After my death, you still embraced risk. You sought it. It is obvious that you should help the survivors of a genocide try to connect to other survivors to rebuild their people and culture. The real issue is the flush that emerged when you spoke his name. You desire him and feel guilt. You came to either remind yourself of your love for me or seek my permission,” Daylon immediately guessed accurately.
The groan that emitted from Valen was guttural. It still only took seconds for Daylon to know everything Valen was thinking. Valen could merely shrug.
"I love you,” Valen answered, his answer definite.
"And that will not change. Love is not a singular piece of food you give one person, not even romantic life. I have no desire for you to die and tell me you spent your existence alone,” Daylon stated; his tone had a slight edge to it that was rare. “You do not owe me eternal pain to prove you love me. Death has been kind to me. I am happy here. I wish I had more time to live, but I am here, and I enjoy myself. I wish to know the same peace.”
