Armando confesses to Xersa a secret which he hasn’t even shared with Izdahl, in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 37. Here’s an excerpt:
A trickle of blood fell from Armando’s nose and landed on the page he was reading. He lost his concentration, as his hand flew to his nose. He looked at Xersa and saw the concern written on her face.
Izdahl is being especially obnoxious but Armando doesn’t let him get away with too much, in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 36. Here’s a portion:
Izdahl cursed, when he realized his arrogant mistake. Armando was right and Izdahl could already feel that his libido was rising, which mainly accounted for how aggressive he’d been. The energy that coursed through him now could sometimes be incredibly difficult to handle. Sex was his preferred way to reduce the tension. But, he’d upset Armando and knew that his lover had a similar level of stubbornness as him. He sighed and resigned himself to suffering through the long night.
Armando remembers more details surrounding the death of his parents in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 35. Here’s a portion:
“When I was in the hospital, someone came to see me,” Armando began. “I’d felt that he shouldn’t have been there. I’d just awoken and he was standing over me. I’d opened my eyes and saw him, he’d smiled. I’d recognized him as the Nitelge who’d grabbed my arm during the night my parents had died. He’d waved a hand over my face and said a few words that sounded like a spell. I’d tried to push him away but then blacked out. For years, every time I’ve tried to describe to others what happened my head would hurt so badly. Eventually, I gave up, thinking I’d just imagined it all.”
I thought I’d give an update about where the current stories are heading. Balance and Vaironian Tides are winding down, while The Architect’s Guardian has a significant way to go. I’m still determining if the first two stories will have sequels but I’m 80% sure that AG will have one. I’d imagined it as a series. Armando Medina’s awakening to his powers and his relationship with Izdahl are just the start of what happens, in the universe where the AG takes place.
Armando reveals his most traumatic experience to Izdahl. Then, they decide what will be the next step for their relationship, in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 34. Here’s a portion:
Izdahl led Armando up the stairs and ran a bath for his lover, soothing him and then letting him rest. When Armando had fallen asleep, Izdahl stepped out onto the balcony, wondering if it wasn’t time to begin asking more questions about what had happened to Armando’s parents and who was ultimately accountable. The issue remained a festering wound in Nitelge and Human cultures, still used by some as a reason for why the two groups should not interact.
Izdahl and Armando have a candid conversation about Izdahl’s frustrations with their relationship in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 33. Here’s a portion:
“I get your damn point!” Armando snapped. “You can be so impossible! You take me from zero to furious in a matter of seconds. I guess I’ll leave you alone. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you, especially on Amasi property.”
Armando reacts to Xersa’s expectations of him, with surprising results in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 32. Here’s a portion:
Armando was well into his tirade, before he realized how cold the room had gone. He was puzzled when he could see his breath puffing into the air. If Izdahl had been there, he could have warned his lover. Xersa’s anger had hit one of its deepest levels. It had been in this same range when she’d telekinetically slammed Syrik against the wall, scaring her oldest grandchild for life. Fighting to retain her composure, she turned away from the architect. As the room grew even colder, Armando began to shiver. His teeth chattered and frost appeared on his hair, eyebrows and eyelashes.
Izdahl receives positive news about the Resonance Ceremony. However, there are still challenges to his relationship with Armando, in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 31. Here’s a portion:
He was truly happy that being closer to Avila, spending time with her had helped to reveal that they were not suitable Shield partners. Armando would be pleased that he had not needed to sleep with Avila. However, Izdahl still had to meet with his second potential partner, Matero Nolasca.
Armando reveals to Izdahl a far-reaching decision that had been made decades ago in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 30. Here’s a portion:
Izdahl sighed, feeling overall contentment but still wishing that his doubts could go away. He truly hoped that the decisions made decades ago by their families would not take away their happiness. Nitelge grew up with the understanding of just how much they were connected to the Shield. Humans rarely had the same level of requirement. So few were intricately entwined with it. Why was it that his lover, a human who completely had his heart, had been required to make such a great sacrifice? Even most Nitelge would never have to deal with this kind of burden.
Izdahl loses his temper in a stunning manner, once Armando makes a troubling request in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 29. Here’s a portion:
Izdahl could see that things were getting out of control. He knew that it was reasonable for him to be upset but he thought that the level of anger he was feeling was out of proportion to the circumstances. Yes, Armando’s dream worried him. Of course, he was incredibly eager to participate in the tournament. Definitely, he’d reconsider, given what Armando had told him. Naturally, he was furious that he wasn’t told this earlier. Still. The rising tide of fury was already too high. He was now changing into his second Nitelge form, his cuspids lengthening.
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