“Yes.”
The road wasn’t straight—it wound through the massive trees. We came around another curve and saw the palace.
It was four stories tall and constructed of stone, but almost every surface was covered in vegetation. Even the columns were carved to look like giant trees, complete with the tangle of supporting roots partway up. Live plants grew on the ledges and windowsills. The entire effect was forest-like, and I remembered how Jacques’s house had been built from an old tree stump.
“It’s spectacular.” The beauty of it stole my breath.
“This palace is over two thousand years old. Which isn’t long by Satyr standards. They live almost as long as Liberis.”
Which, of course, led to the question—“How long do Satyrs live?”
She shot me a sideways glance, the merest twinkle of blue. “About four hundred years, by human realm standards.”
I gaped at her. And Liberis live longer?
Matt was impressed.How old is Cara?
That’s probably a rude question, regardless of the species.
Damn.A pause.Ask her anyway. I would.
But you are rude,I pointed out.
It’s how I stay so well informed.
I shook my head as we climbed the stone steps to face four more purple-skinned guards. We’d just reached them when the door opened.
A Satyr stood there, clad in the same uniform as the guards. He bowed low to Cara and me, and I got the feeling Trix was included in his gesture too.
“Watcher,” he said. “The Queen has invited you to tea.”
My heart accelerated as we followed him into the building. Tea. With a queen.
You are moving up in the world. Just so long as you don’t jump into bed with her.
Why on earth would I jump into bed with her?
She is a Satyr, Angel.
A female Satyr.
A pause.Not sure how that factors in. Although now that you mention it—go ahead and jump into bed with her.
Matt! I am not jumping into bed with anyone but you.
A longer hesitation this time.Pretty sure our future has scales, Angel...
Talakai. I took a deep breath.
If anyone can look after himself, it’s an ex-Black Guild member.Matt’s tone belied the worry I sensed running beneath it.
He was right, of course. Desperate for distraction from my thoughts, I turned my attention to the palace we were being escorted through.
It was, to put it simply, stunning.
The interior hall was lined with pillars. Like the columns outside, each one was ornately carved to resemble trees, with small protuberances that housed blooming plants. The ceiling rose the full four stories and was sheathed in glass to permit natural sunlight. The effect was like walking through a forest with trees of living stone.
Bonza,was Matt’s exclamation, and I thought it summed everything up rather well.
