Noc
Traveling beneath the ocean waves was surreal. Leena had given me so many firsts in my life, and this was no exception. We’d breached a few times during our journey to Rhyne, allowing Magnus to recharge and store oxygen in his hide. He’d then channel it into our protective dome so we could continue to move undetected underwater. He was fast, too. His nimble body cut through the water and shaved days off our travel time, though we still had to sleep beneath the stars in the middle of the ocean twice. At first, it had unnerved me. But Leena assured me no creature would dare disturb a predator like Magnus, and after the first night proved uneventful, I was able to relax. At one point, Leena summoned Blitz—her wolflike Canepine pup—to purify the ocean water for us to drink. We fished for food. Swam in the cool sea to bathe and relieve ourselves. Not entirely ideal, but a great deal safer than any ship I could’ve chartered.
Still, my body ached for a real bed and the comfort of a fire. So when we encountered the characteristic kelp forest marking the shores of Rhyne, I couldn’t help but sigh. Even if Queen Elianna wanted me dead in the name of justice, we’d at least get a night of reprieve at a local inn before I had to face the crown. And I wasn’t the only one who needed it.
Leena had done well to hide her fatigue from Calem and Ozias—which was fairly easy, given we were mostly separated by the tall height of Magnus’s antlers—but she couldn’t hide her exhaustion from me. Sweat had long since dampened the collar of her blouse. She was gaunt, cheeks hollow and eyes heavy. She was still nursing the injury on her thigh, and of course, there was the issue of Magnus. Never before had she kept a beast in our world for as long as she had with him. She assured me that it was easier with him than any of her other creatures because of his own well of massive power. But still, his connection to this world was tethered to her. And she’d used up every last ounce of energy keeping us all afloat for the past several days.
The moment we could stand in the waters, she sent him home. And then collapsed in my arms. Incoherent and slightly feverish, she curled up against my chest and immediately fell asleep. For a moment, I was thrust back to the first time I’d carried her after she’d depleted all her power taming a beast for Kost. She’d always push her limits when it came to us.
“Is she okay?” Ozias asked as he rushed over, water splashing against his thighs.
“She overexerted herself,” I said, trudging toward the shore.
Calem blanched and picked up his stride to walk beside me. “She never sent Magnus back to the realm.”
Worry ate away at my insides. “Not once.”
“Shit.” Ozias wrung his hands together and then picked up the pace. “Do we even know where the Polished Goblet is?”
“No.” My fingers pressed tightly against Leena’s slumbering frame. “We’ll use the shadows and stay out of sight while we look.”
My feet hit the black sandy beach as we exited the ocean. Night had fallen a few hours ago, and the shores were deserted. Warm, buttery lights blurred against the dark backdrop in the distance, marking the edge of Rhyne’s capital—Veles. The hairs on the back of my neck raised. I was across the ocean, hundreds of miles away from my brethren, and practically knocking on our enemy’s door. Too much could go wrong.
Together, we slipped into the world of shadows. Smoky dark tendrils enveloped us as we strode across the beach in the direction of Veles. Ozias and Calem stayed close to my side, and Leena never stirred. The dirt roads were quiet, but not empty. Locals sat outside their modest houses on wooden rocking chairs with blankets draped across their laps and mugs in their hands. Steam curled upward from their drinks and framed their smiling faces. Low, friendly words passed between them. They were the perfect picture of rest and relaxation, and longing stirred in my chest. Since I’d met Leena, we’d been constantly running. Fighting. Doing something to protect ourselves and our family. When this was all over, I’d find a way to get us the break we deserved.
Soon, the dirt pathways transitioned to cobblestone streets, and the flagstone manors grew more opulent in design. The prized jewel of the city, though, was the royal castle. It towered above all else, and hundreds of floating orbs fueled by rycrims cast a warm glow over the jade stone. Molten-gold veining crawled upward toward the spires and practically pulsed in the light. It looked almost…alive. And though it was mesmerizing, we avoided it at all costs. We needed to visit Queen Elianna, but not yet. Not before we had a chance to regroup with Kost.
Sticking to dark alleyways, we avoided people but kept our ears open. Listened for any detail about taverns or inns, desperately picking apart conversations in the hopes we could find our destination. We followed one group of intoxicated locals only to wind up at a tavern full of boisterous patrons. Their loud tune about warrior maidens followed us into the night as we retraced our steps.
After what felt like hours and absolutely zero luck, I came to a halt and bit back a sigh. “We’ll never find it like this. Ozias, ask someone for directions.”
“You sure about that?” Calem asked, peering around the corner at the constant flow of locals. We hadn’t prepared for this kind of nightlife. Gone were the quiet residences on the outskirts of the city. Here, it appeared, no one ever slept. Endless shops and watering holes lined either side of the cobblestone path, all open for business. People dressed in shimmery slacks and tunics with foiled-gold patterns filled the streets. Their fashion wasn’t too different than Wilheim’s, but even in the dead of winter, Rhynelanders favored clothing that exposed skin. Everywhere we looked there were slits along thighs, bare midriffs, and plunging collars. In our days-old travel gear—ill-fitted and stiff with salt from the sea—we were bound to stick out.
“They won’t know either of you. It’s me who needs to stay out of sight.”
“It’s fine. I’ll do it,” Ozias said. His eyes roved to Leena, and he frowned. “We need to get her someplace safe.” Then, without looking, he abandoned the shadows and stepped into the main street of Veles—right into a fast-walking blond. She stumbled backward but recovered quickly, shooting fire with her umber gaze.
“Watch where you’re going.”
“S-sorry,” Ozias mumbled, immediately ducking his chin to his chest. Rubbing the back of his neck, he met her unrelenting stare. “Can you tell me where the Polished Goblet is?”
She was tiny in comparison to him, and yet when she straightened her back, she somehow managed to tower over him. “What business do you have there?”
He shrank away. “It’s a tavern, right? I just need a place to stay for—”
“You’re not from around here.” Her eyes narrowed as she took a step in his direction. “You sound…odd.”
A rock formed in my throat. We spoke the same language as Rhyne, but our accents were different. Their words carried a smoother, softer intonation than ours. Not by much—something I’d only grown accustomed to after my time with Amira—but apparently Ozias’s speech was just different enough to catch this woman’s attention.
“Odd?” His grin was sheepish. “Well, you’re right, I’m a traveler.”
She raised a single manicured brow. “Why are you here?”
“Uh… Isn’t that my business?”
Placing her hands on her hips, she leaned forward. “As part of the Queen’s Guard, it’s my business to know about everything that happens in my city. So yes, your business is my business.”
Tension corded tight in my shoulders. I remembered the Queen’s Guard from my time as prince. Even though she was only a princess, Amira never went anywhere without them. They were an elite force of soldiers dedicated to protecting the crown, much like our Sentinels. My gaze caught on the gilded lion stitched into the fabric of the woman’s olive-green coat. There was no mistaking the royal court’s insignia.
“Shit,” Calem hissed. I motioned for him to be silent and took a careful step back. The shadows masked our presence, but I wasn’t in the mood to be surprised by something unexpected. Just knowing she was part of the Queen’s Guard was enough for me. Even worse, I couldn’t find a weapon strapped to her body. No sword sheathed against her hip. No dagger attached to her belt. Nothing. Which meant she was either skilled at concealing weapons, or deadly enough not to need one at all.
Ozias swallowed thickly and shot a fleeting, worried glance our direction. The woman stiffened, and then leaped in front of him, staring directly into the mouth of the alley where we stood, protected by shadows. For a moment, none of us moved. We barely breathed. Her brows pulled together, and she slowly turned away before pressing an accusing finger against his chest.
“What were you looking at?”
“Nothing, I swear.” Ozias held his hands up. “It’s just… Veles is larger than I expected, and I got lost.”
She studied him without moving, her gaze traveling from his salt-soaked tunic to his worn boots. Satisfied with her once-over, she relented with an exaggerated sigh and turned on her heels, beckoning over her shoulder. “C’mon. I don’t have all night.”
Ozias practically tripped over his feet to fall in line beside her, and we snuck behind them under the cover of our shadows. She power walked with force, driving her feet into the ground and making a path through the throng of people without ever breaking pace. And judging by the way they naturally moved away from her advance, the locals knew she wasn’t someone they wanted to upset. One interaction with her was all it took for me to think the same.
Hooking a right off the main street, she led us toward a quieter strip of shops and taverns. “So, what’s your name?”
“Ozias.” He clasped and unclasped his hands, then let them fall by his sides, only to start all over again.
Beside me, Calem rolled his eyes. “You should’ve sent me out there.”
“He’s fine.” Though the first beads of sweat forming along Ozias’s hairline seemed to defy my words.
“Not going to ask my name?” the woman asked, cutting Ozias a hard glance.
“Oh. Um. Yeah.”
She scoffed. “Wow. Not the most eloquent person, are you?” Coming to an abrupt halt, she turned to face Ozias and jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Here’s the Polished Goblet. Don’t do anything to catch my eye again.”
Ozias blinked up at the swinging, golden sign hanging above the heavy oak door. The curtains along the windows were pulled back to reveal a well-lit interior with only a few patrons and a horde of open tables. One man sat alone at the bar, rotating an empty glass in place with two fingers. He had a strikingly familiar pompadour styled to perfection and neatly pressed clothes.
Kost. Relief surged through me at the sight of my brother. It was as if the very thought of his name summoned his stare, and he tilted his head upward only to freeze when he spied Ozias through the window, and then the Queen’s Guard, and then us. I nodded once in reassurance, and he relaxed a fraction, waiting for us to make our move.
Ozias cleared his throat. “I won’t. Thanks for bringing me here.”
“At least you have some manners.” She shook her head and then started off in the direction we’d just come from, boots thudding fiercely against the paved stones.
“Wait!” Ozias took a step her way and then stopped. Gripped the back of his neck tight. The woman paused, tilting her chin back toward him. “You never told me your name.”
“Did you even really ask?” Her breathy laugh was a stark contrast to the way she assaulted the streets with her stride. Shaking her head, she continued forward and spoke just loud enough for us to hear. “It’s Isla. Hopefully you’ll have no need to remember it.”
“I hope not,” Ozias mumbled to himself.
As soon as she disappeared from view down a nearby street, Calem emerged from the shadows and socked Ozias in the arm, wide grin threatening to split his face in half. “Holy shit. You played that terribly.”
“Shut it.” Ozias shoved him away, but Calem only tipped his head to the sky and laughed.
“He got us here, didn’t he?” I shot Calem a stern look as an ache started to throb against my skull. We’d been in the shadow realm so often on our journey, and my power reserves were all but depleted. Adjusting Leena’s sleeping form in my arms, I took quick stock of our surroundings and then sent the shadows away.
Before Calem could respond, Kost opened the tavern door. Holding it wide with one hand, he gestured for us to enter with the other. Uniform mahogany tables with matching cushioned chairs spread across the tavern floor. In the corner, a lone musician strummed a soft, pleasing melody on a harp that filtered through the hushed conversations of patrons. There weren’t many, just a few groups littered throughout, and they sipped drinks out of jeweled goblets and sparkling glasses while poking at artfully arranged platters of food.
Calem frowned. “This is…different than our usual haunt.”
Kost let the door shut behind him. “As I mentioned, I wasn’t familiar with Veles. I picked the only tavern I’d heard of. Gods forbid we stay in a nice establishment for once.”
“It’s fine.” I nodded toward Leena. “Let’s get her to a room.”
Worry framed Kost’s eyes, and he pursed his lips together. “This way.” He led us around tables to a grand set of polished stairs at the back. After one flight, we peeled off down a brightly lit corridor full of landscape paintings and potted plants. Their thick leaves stretched toward the rafters and bordered rows of closed doors. Kost stopped when he reached the last one on the right and fished a shiny key out of his breast pocket. The lock clinked open, and we stepped into a spacious room with elegant white oak furniture and a small sitting area.
Gently, I laid Leena on the bed and draped a blanket over her. She let out a contented sigh and gripped the blanket tight, rolling over into a mound of pillows.
Kost hovered nearby and dragged his fingers along the bedside table. “What happened to her?”
“We crossed the ocean on one of her beasts.” Satisfied she was comfortable and safe, I sank into the settee at the foot of the bed and let out a tired groan. My whole body ached, but it was likely nothing in comparison to what she felt. “She kept him out the entire time and used too much of her power.”
“That explains why you’re here so soon. I wasn’t expecting you for a few more days at least.” Kost shook his head at Leena and then sat in the high-back armchair across from me. Crossing one ankle over the other, he took a moment to study all of us. He sighed. “Not an easy journey, I take it?”
“Not in the slightest,” Ozias said. He sauntered over to the fireplace, first warming his hands before the dying flame, then resting his arm along the baroque mantel. His shoulders sagged.
Calem sprawled out in the other chair, draping one leg over its arm. “Varek, Darrien, Yazmin, massively powerful beasts,” he said, ticking off his fingers as he went. “Oh, and a crazed pirate who will no doubt try to murder me when this is all over. Noc had me steal from her.”
Kost eyebrows shot into his hairline. “What?”
“I’ll fill you in later. For now… It’s just good to see you,” I said.
“You too.” Kost’s smile was sad. “I only got here yesterday. I’ve had little opportunity to do any reconnaissance.”
“That’s okay.” Ozias abandoned the fire to clap a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “We’re just glad to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you, too.” Kost let out a long exhale that did little to alleviate the tension in his shoulders, but he didn’t pull away from Ozias’s touch. “I do think our timing is fortunate, though.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Queen Elianna’s daughter just got engaged. There will be a public celebration tomorrow evening.” Kost tilted his head to the ceiling, studying the ornate, oversize chandelier laden with candles. “The amicable mood just might help our cause. Not to mention, we’ll draw little unwanted attention to ourselves with so many people rejoicing in the streets. We can approach the queen after the announcement without suspicion. Many will offer gifts, and we can fall in line with them.”
“And say what? ‘Congrats on your upcoming nuptials, let’s go to war!’ Hell of a wedding present, Kost,” Calem said.
He barely deigned to give him a glance. “I would never phrase it that way.”
“Of course you wouldn’t.” Calem rolled his eyes, but a warm, almost relieved smile touched his lips. No doubt Kost’s response was exactly what he wanted to hear. Proof that the brother we all knew and loved hadn’t changed.
“We’ll figure it out. In the meantime, I think we could use a good night’s rest,” I said.
“And some food,” Oz added, giving Kost’s shoulder one last squeeze before stepping away.
Calem wrinkled his nose. “And a bath. My stench has stench.”
Kost stood and brushed his hands along his vest. “I took the liberty of bringing you spare clothes, which, it seems, was the right thing to do. Your things are in your rooms. Save the formal attire for tomorrow evening’s celebration.”
“Yessir,” Calem said, rocketing to his feet. “Now, about these rooms…”
“I’ll show you to them. Reconvene downstairs for a meal in half an hour?” Kost asked.
Looking over my shoulder, I found Leena’s sleeping form and gave her ankle a gentle nudge. She didn’t move. “I’ll bring some food back for her. I don’t think she’ll be waking up any time soon.”
Kost nodded and moved toward the door, Ozias and Calem on his heels. “See you shortly.”
As soon as they left, I kicked off my boots and climbed into bed next to Leena. I pressed the back of my hand against her forehead, thankful to find that her temperature had dropped back to normal. The steady rise and fall of her chest chased away the last of my concern, and I scooched closer, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. She barely stirred, shifting slightly toward the middle of the bed and curling in tighter on herself. I could’ve forgone dinner altogether and simply lain by her side, but we had plans to formulate. And now that I knew Leena was safe, I wanted to spend some dedicated time with Kost. We all needed to be in the right mindset going into this war, and I wanted to ensure that he was truly okay.