Chapter 39: One Final Promise

There was a blessed sense of peace, Jace found, in opening his eyes to find smooth, freckled copper skin mere inches from his face. He reached out to gently stroke the raven waves of Aster’s unkempt bed head out of his sleeping face. He shifted just enough to press feather-light kisses over the constellations on his face, before closing his eyes and settling back in. Even if Jace himself didn’t feel tired anymore, he was going to savor every second of this he could get.

He and Aster and their required entourage arrived at the Silvercrest Manor the night before. Despite the presence of a handful of Royal Guard members, Jace felt less obliged to stay away from his Starboy here. Sure, there was the glare from Lady Diyanna when she saw how close the two stood, but even that seemed to soften every time Aster laughed or smiled.