Read Online Apollo and Val: #5.5 (Luna Lodge Book 0) by Madison Stevens - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Madison Stevens
Tags: paranormal romance
Ads: Link
older man stood.
Val sat quietly in her seat. The man smiled warmly down at her.
“This feast is in your honor,” he said.
Apollo sighed loudly.
“We really appreciate that, but there was no need.”
“No, Bochica,” he said quickly. “We must honor you.”
Val frowned. She didn’t sense anything besides honesty and admiration from the man.
“What’s with all this Bochica and Bachue stuff?” Val asked.
The man pressed his lips together. Before he replied, he turned to the people and gestured to the food. As one, the group made their way to the table, filling their plates.
Only after they had started did he turn back to her.
“They are the creators of all.” He smiled. “We honor them in your kindness. You are both special. My daughter saw as much last night,” he said, staring pointedly at Apollo. “You have been blessed by the creators.”
He nodded to them both and walked away.
Not quite sure what to say after that, Val filled her mouth.
They ate in comfortable silence, watching the people of the village move freely around. They laughed and ate. They had a reason to celebrate.
Val glanced over to Apollo as the last of her food disappeared. He sat quietly, watching the crowd with open curiosity.
“They smile so easily after facing men like that last night,” he said in wonder.
Val stared around the group.
“That’s what people do,” she said and absently took hold of his hand that rested near her. “We move forward every day. That’s the only way to live.”
When she realized she was rubbing his hand in comfort, Val blushed and tried to pull it away, but Apollo held firm.
“Is that what we do?” he asked. His eyes flared up and bored into her. The weight from his stare shook her to the core.
They stared at one another intently as the last rays of the sun fell on them before the soft glow of firelight took over.
She felt the shift in him. Something changed within Apollo in those few moments.
Val jumped when a loud thump echoed in her chest. For a moment, she thought maybe her heart had burst from the intensity of his stare and broke the hold had on her.
She scanned the area, landing on several drums and instruments. A lone soft sound came out of one of the small flutes and pulled her in. Several others joined, the pace of the song increasing. People danced around them, their long metal necklaces jangling as they did, only adding to the rhythm.
Val and Apollo watched in awe as the small village turned into something more. One moving body.
Then a voice came out. Singing above all the dancing and pipes.
It was the leader’s daughter. Clear and sweet.
Never had Val felt a group of people with one mind. The joy spread through her all the way to the tips of her fingers.
Spurred by the same feeling, Apollo rubbed her fingers.
Val looked over to him. His eyes firmly fixed on her. Again, the weight of his stare trapped her.
“How does your leg feel?” he asked solemnly.
Val looked down at her dress and frowned. “Not at all,” she said and smiled at him.
“Good.”
Apollo stood and walked around to the front of her chair. With ease he lifted her into his arms, careful with how he moved her leg.
She laughed loudly as he did, drawing the attention of several around them. They only smiled and nodded.
“What are you doing?” she said and looked up from the princess hold he had her in.
He smiled warmly down at her.
“I’m dancing with the most beautiful woman here.”
Her heart thumped as he twirled her around, letting her feel the thrum of the people. Their emotions swept through her. Unified happiness.
Chapter Eleven
Warm and happy, Val smiled up at Apollo. They had been dancing for some time. Maybe calling it dancing was a bit much. Really it just meant that he would twirl her around in his arms. Eventually he set her on her own feet when the music slowed, and they swayed quietly back and forth.
The night was magical.
“You look beautiful,” he said
Val sat quietly in her seat. The man smiled warmly down at her.
“This feast is in your honor,” he said.
Apollo sighed loudly.
“We really appreciate that, but there was no need.”
“No, Bochica,” he said quickly. “We must honor you.”
Val frowned. She didn’t sense anything besides honesty and admiration from the man.
“What’s with all this Bochica and Bachue stuff?” Val asked.
The man pressed his lips together. Before he replied, he turned to the people and gestured to the food. As one, the group made their way to the table, filling their plates.
Only after they had started did he turn back to her.
“They are the creators of all.” He smiled. “We honor them in your kindness. You are both special. My daughter saw as much last night,” he said, staring pointedly at Apollo. “You have been blessed by the creators.”
He nodded to them both and walked away.
Not quite sure what to say after that, Val filled her mouth.
They ate in comfortable silence, watching the people of the village move freely around. They laughed and ate. They had a reason to celebrate.
Val glanced over to Apollo as the last of her food disappeared. He sat quietly, watching the crowd with open curiosity.
“They smile so easily after facing men like that last night,” he said in wonder.
Val stared around the group.
“That’s what people do,” she said and absently took hold of his hand that rested near her. “We move forward every day. That’s the only way to live.”
When she realized she was rubbing his hand in comfort, Val blushed and tried to pull it away, but Apollo held firm.
“Is that what we do?” he asked. His eyes flared up and bored into her. The weight from his stare shook her to the core.
They stared at one another intently as the last rays of the sun fell on them before the soft glow of firelight took over.
She felt the shift in him. Something changed within Apollo in those few moments.
Val jumped when a loud thump echoed in her chest. For a moment, she thought maybe her heart had burst from the intensity of his stare and broke the hold had on her.
She scanned the area, landing on several drums and instruments. A lone soft sound came out of one of the small flutes and pulled her in. Several others joined, the pace of the song increasing. People danced around them, their long metal necklaces jangling as they did, only adding to the rhythm.
Val and Apollo watched in awe as the small village turned into something more. One moving body.
Then a voice came out. Singing above all the dancing and pipes.
It was the leader’s daughter. Clear and sweet.
Never had Val felt a group of people with one mind. The joy spread through her all the way to the tips of her fingers.
Spurred by the same feeling, Apollo rubbed her fingers.
Val looked over to him. His eyes firmly fixed on her. Again, the weight of his stare trapped her.
“How does your leg feel?” he asked solemnly.
Val looked down at her dress and frowned. “Not at all,” she said and smiled at him.
“Good.”
Apollo stood and walked around to the front of her chair. With ease he lifted her into his arms, careful with how he moved her leg.
She laughed loudly as he did, drawing the attention of several around them. They only smiled and nodded.
“What are you doing?” she said and looked up from the princess hold he had her in.
He smiled warmly down at her.
“I’m dancing with the most beautiful woman here.”
Her heart thumped as he twirled her around, letting her feel the thrum of the people. Their emotions swept through her. Unified happiness.
Chapter Eleven
Warm and happy, Val smiled up at Apollo. They had been dancing for some time. Maybe calling it dancing was a bit much. Really it just meant that he would twirl her around in his arms. Eventually he set her on her own feet when the music slowed, and they swayed quietly back and forth.
The night was magical.
“You look beautiful,” he said
Similar Books
