Leena
By the time I awoke, late-morning sun was slanting through the ivory curtains drawn loosely over the window. While the fire in the hearth was dead, there was a stuffy warmth in the air that suggested it’d only recently gone out. I peeled back the blankets and wrinkled my nose, mad that I’d fallen asleep before bathing and sullied the sheets with a layer of salt and grime. Stifling a yawn, I surveyed the quiet room. The thick rug stretching across the wooden floorboards muffled the tavern sounds just beyond the heavy door. A scrap of neatly folded parchment waited for me on the nightstand, and I quickly scanned Noc’s looping, familiar handwriting.
Downstairs in the tavern. Join us when you’re ready. There are spare clothes in the armoire and fresh linens in the bathroom.
Love,
Noc
I set the sheet down and immediately spied the ornate oak door leading to what I assumed was our attached bathroom. A dull pain throbbed through my skull, and I rolled my neck from side to side to try to loosen the knotted muscles. Limbs full of lead, I stood up on my toes and stretched before I made my way to the bathroom and filled the gilded claw-foot tub with steaming water. As water poured from the faucet, I closed my eyes and focused on the connection I had to my Revmandra. The beast realm door creaked open a fraction in my mind, and I found Magnus fast asleep beneath one of the realm’s many oceans. I smiled at the steady flux of energy that pulsed down our bond and then opened my eyes, eager to chase away the last of my lingering pains.
There was no denying the ache in my body, but it wasn’t as deep as I’d expected. I’d overclocked myself a few times during my journeys with Noc, but I’d never kept a beast outside the realm for as long as I had with Magnus. I’d chalked it up to adrenaline and drive, knowing that we’d likely die if I couldn’t safely get us to Rhyne’s shores. Magnus’s own expansive well of magic had made it easier to keep him in our world. And yet… This pain hardly compared to the time I’d taken Noc to the beast realm, or even my run-in with Felicks before I’d tamed him for Kost.
Sinking into the tub, I frowned as the soothing water lapped against my shoulders. Why? I recounted the last few tamings I’d performed, starting with how easily Tok had joined my side back at Oslo’s Ruins. Even Reine, my legendary feline and apex hunter. They’d both chosen me, and while I’d followed the necessary prerequisites for charming Magnus, I’d expected it to be harder. Especially knowing a Revmandra had supposedly killed my parents. Dragging my fingertips across the surface of the water, I stared at the ripples as I tried to piece together the ease of the tamings and the lack of pain in my bones. My hand moved to my chest, and I paused over the freshly inked griffin.
“Celeste sends her blessing.” The memory of Yuna’s words rattled through my mind. Had she been helping me all along? Warmth purled outward from my touch, separate from the heat of the bath. The gods rarely interfered with our lives, but perhaps once Yazmin had started down this path, she’d forced Celeste’s hand. For the sake of our people, our beasts, our world. If Celeste were on my side, and the gods on Noc’s, then maybe we had a chance to stop Yazmin.
After dressing quickly in a simple getup of breeches, boots, and a long-sleeved blouse, I made my way downstairs to the first-floor tavern. For the most part, it was empty, with only a single bartender floating between patrons. Dimly lit chandeliers hung low over circular tables surrounded by ornate high-back chairs. Noc, Oz, Calem, and Kost sat near a window in the front, their heads bent low in quiet conversation. I crossed the room and slipped into the empty chair between Noc and Calem.
Noc straightened his back and offered me a warm smile. “How are you feeling?”
“Surprisingly okay. Hungry, though.” I eyed the near-empty plates before them. Oz scooted a platter with two hefty potato wedges slathered in cream and chives my direction. I snatched one and finished it in a matter of seconds, fingers already reaching for the remaining morsel.
Kost signaled the bartender with a pointed nod. “We’ll get you a proper meal. We’re not in a rush.”
Something loosened in my chest. Seeing Kost again, having him sit across from me with a look of concern and quiet protectiveness for his family, for me, felt right. I could still detect the ghost of pain in his eyes, a line of worry that seemed permanently etched between his brows. But he was coping. He was here. And I knew we couldn’t do this without him.
“Thanks, Kost.”
He glanced my way and allowed for a tired smile, just as the bartender approached our table. I gave the menu a quick once-over and ordered while Noc poured me a glass of water from the pitcher on the table. As soon as the bartender left, Kost cleared his throat.
“We’ll be approaching the queen tonight.”
“Really? Already?” My brows shot upward, and I glanced around the table. Oz only shrugged and Calem toyed with the tumbler between his fingers, eyeing the amber liquid sloshing up the walls. “Did I miss something?”
“No, took us by surprise, too,” Noc said. “But the timing is right. Queen Elianna’s daughter announced her recent engagement this morning. Here, it’s tradition to celebrate with a reception line for gifts and a night of festivities.”
“The positive atmosphere, the lack of attention we’ll draw… It makes sense. We won’t have to formally approach the castle in order to gain an audience with the royal family.” Kost took a sip of his water. “We’ll just ensure we’re the last ones in line in case our appearance requires a more private discussion after.”
“You mean ‘when,’” Calem said. He leaned back into his chair and gazed at the ceiling. “I’m still not sure about this.”
“The guard will be light.” Oz braced his forearms on the table and rubbed his hands together. “That much we’ve gathered from our reconnaissance this morning. Of course, the queen and her family will be attended by the Queen’s Guard, but overall they’re well loved. They’re not concerned about threats, and many of the soldiers will be participating in the festivities.”
I popped the last of the potato wedge in my mouth and chewed slowly, mulling over their words. “Seems like a good plan. What’s the etiquette on gift giving? Do we have something appropriate?”
Kost stiffened ever so slightly. “There’s no etiquette per se.”
Noc grimaced. “People give what they can and, if they can’t, offer warm wishes. All are received with grace and thanks.” He paused for a moment when the bartender returned to drop off my creamed soup served in a bread bowl. The aroma of thyme and parsley flirted with the scent of portobello shrooms, and my mouth watered. I dove in the moment he set my meal down, but kept my eyes glued on Noc.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“We were thinking that the gift should be reflective of what we’re asking for in return.” Kost nudged his empty plate forward, not meeting my gaze. “Something of great value to help sway the queen in case she still harbors ill will toward Noc for Amira’s fate.”
“For gods’ sake,” Calem said, rolling his eyes and draining his glass of its contents. “They want a beast.”
I paused midspoonful. “A beast?”
“That was just an idea.” Noc shot him a hard look. “We’re not committing to anything.”
“Plus, gifting a beast could set the wrong precedence,” Kost said. “Assuming we make it through our current…predicament, we don’t want other allies of Lendria to expect beasts in the future.”
Slowly, I brought the spoon back to my lips. Swallowed the savory soup and dropped my gaze to the table. “What other options do we have? I agree with Kost, we have to consider what gifting a beast would mean in the long run.”
Oz frowned and propped his elbows on the table. “Bits aren’t really feasible. Rhyne is pretty well off. They’ve had a good harvest this year, from what we’ve heard.”
Noc nodded. “If the queen didn’t hold a grudge against me, we’d be in less of a bind.”
“So here we are,” Kost said, finally meeting our stares. “What gift is worthy enough to inspire trust and forgiveness?”
A beast would work, but was it the right thing to do? I’d sworn to never sell one again, but gifting was different. The problem was, I didn’t know Queen Elianna or her daughter. Promising to gift them a beast without understanding who they were or what their intentions were… Not to mention, there wasn’t a single creature I’d tamed who wasn’t already bonded to me.
I ate another bite. “What’s the princess like? If I were to agree to gift a beast—and if we think that’s the smartest move—I’m assuming she’d be the recipient.”
Kost nodded. “Correct. I imagine Princess Jayla’s exactly the type of person you’d be comfortable gifting a beast to, and I’m not saying that to try and sway you.”
“Some call her the Dove,” Oz said. “All the decorations going up today have that symbol on them.”
“She’s a peace bringer.” Noc watched me closely. “She cares deeply for her people, working hand in hand with a number of groups to reduce poverty and provide housing for the homeless. She has virtually no enemies, but perhaps she’s too trusting.”
“We think that’s why Elianna hasn’t handed off the crown yet,” Kost added. “She worries other countries will perceive her daughter as weak and move against Rhyne.” He removed his spectacles and began polishing them. “A strong beast to protect her might make the territory-hungry countries bordering Rhyne think twice about attacking.”
“In addition to an alliance with Lendria,” Noc said. He dipped his chin my direction, not an ounce of pressure in his ice-blue eyes. “There have been skirmishes in the south. Countries testing the new leadership to see what they can get away with. Offering our soldiers in support might be enough to entice Elianna.” He ran a soft thumb along my cheek before letting his hand fall away. “You don’t have to trade a beast if you’re not comfortable with it. I promise you we will find another way.”
Setting my spoon to the side, I tore off a bit of the bread bowl and rolled it between my fingers as I considered our options. There weren’t many, really. These were the best circumstances we could’ve asked for, and yet there was still the glaring truth that it could all go horribly wrong. Elianna had lost her older sister, Amira, to Noc, intentionally or not. That kind of pain didn’t just disappear. But she also had a family, a daughter to consider. If we could show her how much we were dedicated to the future of Rhyne, to Princess Jayla, then maybe she could set aside the decades-old heartache she likely felt for her deceased sister.
“First, I want to be very clear about something: this will not be a standard negotiating tactic moving forward.”
Noc nodded. “Of course.”
“Second, if such a situation arises again, I get full discretion on whether or not a beast trade is acceptable.” My first decree as queen, and it wasn’t something I would ever bend on. No one knew beasts like me. No one could make this decision but me. I rounded my gaze on Noc, on my king, and was met with nothing but understanding and love.
He placed his hand on my knee and gave it a squeeze. “Agreed.”
“Good. That said, I don’t have a beast to gift Jayla,” I said, dropping the remnants of bread and folding my hands together. Kost nearly deflated, but recovered quickly, adjusting his spectacles and giving a firm nod. Noc must have sensed there was more, though, because he waited without moving. “But, I can promise to tame one for her. If, and only if, I feel she’s fit to own a beast. That’s the best I can offer.”
Noc smiled. “That’s more than enough.”
“When do we approach her?”
“The celebration will start at sundown,” Kost said. “In the meantime, we’ll continue to survey the city from the shadows and plan for quick exits in case we need to escape.”
A chill swept down my spine. “Is that likely?”
Noc shrugged. “There’s no way to know until we try. Rhyne has had no contact whatsoever with Lendria since my death. At least not from the royal family. The number of tourists between our countries has slowly climbed over the years, apparently.” He tilted his chin Kost’s direction, who nodded his agreement. “Our accents might give us away, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Like with Isla,” Oz muttered.
Calem raised a playful brow. “Plans on reconnecting with your lovely escort?”
“No.” His chin dipped toward his chest and he averted his eyes.
Before Calem could goad him further, Noc shot him a stern look and cleared his throat. “Reconnaissance. Four hours, starting now.”
Calem groaned, but stood up from the table without hesitation. Cracking his neck, he gave us a parting devilish grin before slipping out the front door and then presumably disappearing into the shadows. Noc only rolled his eyes, then turned his attention to Oz. “Go with him. Don’t let him get into trouble until after we’ve had our audience with the queen.”
Oz let out a belabored sigh, but there was a hint of warmth to it that suggested he didn’t really find it troubling to look after his rambunctious brother. “Can do.”
“And,” Kost interjected, “be sure to drag him back with plenty of time to change and prepare for the evening. Formal attire is required. We must abide by every custom to gain as much favor as possible.”
“Whatever works.” Oz smiled and gave a lazy wave before weaving around the tables and heading out the door.
Kost tracked him until he’d disappeared, and then he deflated. Sinking into his chair, he rested his lifeless hands on the table before him. His carefully constructed expression of control slipped away, and his faraway gaze targeted an indistinct spot on the floor. I glanced at Noc, asking a silent question, and he pressed his lips together.
“Kost.” His voice was soft. Gentle.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You haven’t said a word about Gaige since we arrived.”
Kost winced. “There’s nothing to report. I’ve shadow walked to Hireath at least twice a day since the…incident. There have been no signs of him.”
If it were possible, he somehow shrank further away from us. My heart ached at the sight, and I reached across the table to wrap his hands in mine. He remained still, but finally raised his chin to meet my eyes.
“This isn’t your fault.”
“But it is.” His voice wavered, and his fingers started to tremble. He swallowed several times, as if even coming up with the words to articulate what happened was agony. Finally, he shook his head once. Let loose a shaky breath. “Calem was right about me. I’m too cold. When Gaige tried to confide in me… I just threw my life experiences at him. I didn’t listen. And then he just walked away and never came back. I did this. I’m the reason he’s gone.” He withdrew one of his hands to slip his fingers beneath his glasses and obscure his face, but nothing could hide the muffled, broken exhale that escaped his mouth.
He was carrying so much guilt. Giving his hand a tight squeeze, I implored him to feel every ounce of love I had for him. Our hard-won relationship had gone through so much before we trusted each other. Cared for each other. My life would never be complete without Kost—without any of my assassins, really. And I needed him to know that I would always be there for him. We all would.
“Gaige is a grown man. He’s going through a lot, but don’t for one second blame yourself for this.” I ducked my head lower, trying to keep Kost’s eyes in my line of sight. “Even if he walked away from you because of that conversation, that doesn’t mean his disappearance is your fault. We don’t know what happened beyond that.”
Noc placed a hand on his brother’s back. Then, he pulled Kost into a one-armed hug. Kost slumped into him as a wordless sob shook his entire body. Noc shouldered it all. Even tilted his head against Kost’s, ensuring Kost had warmth, love, from every angle possible. For a long while, we simply sat and waited, allowing Kost to let loose his feelings without ever saying a word. And when he finally pulled away, eyes red-rimmed and puffy, his jaw was set. Gaze hard. Determination flitted through his expression, and he straightened himself while running his hands down his vest to smooth any wrinkles.
“I will find him.”
With a soft smile, I nodded. “I know you will.”
“Right.” He cleared his throat and stood up, hips already pivoted toward the spiral staircase leading to the second story. “I’m going to collect myself and then begin reconnaissance. What will you two do?”
Noc glanced at me, concern evident in the weighted look we shared, and I knew he wanted to stay with Kost. But he didn’t want to abandon me, either, given I hadn’t set foot outside the tavern. Yet, right now, I didn’t need him like Kost did. Even if nothing else was said, I knew just how important being surrounded by family was, how healing it could be.
“Actually, I need to spend some time in the beast realm. After that, I should probably rest up. I’m still feeling a bit tired, and I’d rather be prepared in case we run into any problems later on.”
Kost gave a curt nod.
Noc leaned in and claimed my lips with a soft kiss. “Until this evening, then.”
“See you then.”
After leaving a handful of bits on the table to cover our meal, Noc stood and the two of them headed for the stairs, presumably toward Kost’s room. As I watched them go, I wrapped my fingers in the chain of my bestiary. The hum of power reverberated through my fingertips, and warmth sparked through my Charmer’s symbol. The soothing relief I felt just from that simple action was something Gaige would never experience again. I could understand his agony, his despair. I hadn’t even thought what it would’ve been like for him to return to Hireath. And then to argue with Kost… I let my hand fall away. I wouldn’t let Kost search alone. We’d find Gaige, no matter what.