Lunelle shook her head. “I’m here to see Mirq—the king.”
His jaw hung open as he slipped behind the bar and down the stairs to her right. She wasn’t sure if she should follow or not, but her chest was so filled with rage as she felt the tug of the Tether below, she didn’t care. She’d followed the damned thing through the Rift and into the Mercurian Court’s gilded streets, and she wasn’t about to stop.
She took the steps two at a time, the commander’s deep baritone voice floating up the stairwell.
“You can send her down. She knows why we’re here.”
The barkeep scooted past her as she hit the landing.
Astra stood just feet from her, but she’d never felt further away. She’d defended Lunelle so fiercely this afternoon, and now she was about to destroy her entire world in return.
A woman in the corner cleared her throat, her deep complexion and glowing green eyes that reminded Lunelle of Mirquios, who held his breath across from Astra.
Maeve, Lunelle realized. She’d heard tales of the Mercurian captain drinking with the Novas in The Underground. Maeve’s eyes danced at the sight of the princess, darting quickly between the four of them.
“Well, now. What a strange turn of events,” she said.
“We had a deal,” Lunelle said to Mirquios, not nearly as forcefully as she wanted to. She was desperately in love with the man, but that didn’t make him any less of an idiot.
“I’m not breaking any of our rules,” he replied in a tone that caressed her, though she knew she was being managed. Her sister did too, judging by the tick of her freckled cheek.
“Did she walk here?” Lunelle asked, gesturing toward Astra, the rage spilling from her lungs. “I was clear about taking her into the Rift, Mirq.”
Astra bristled at her sister’s unusual tone, the hardness of the notes sending her stumbling into the commander’s arms. Luxuros pushed her back, holding her steady.
“Lu,” Mirquios said, a gesture of peace between his hands. Another flare lit her silver eyes from within.
“Good gods, Mirquios. Now you’ve pissed them both off.” Maeve clucked at him as she stepped closer to the edge of the basement. “Who do you put your money on for the final blow, Commander? Fire or Ice?”
“Fire,” he said. “Always Fire.”
He was ignorant of how far she’d go to avenge any hurt that came her sister's way, so unaware of the damage she’d do to him with a smile on her face.
“I need everyone in this room to start talking, now!” Astra cried.
She was overwhelmed with the loaded silence of their chests, Lunelle realized. Each of them held too tightly to their emotions, creating a tension in the air that must have been worse for her than the symphony of heartache begging to escape.
“As,” Lunelle murmured, softening the edge in her tone as she tried to dull the pain in her chest for her sister’s sake. “You need to get back home. It’s not safe for you here.”
Astra groaned. “Mother above, not you, too. I’m so sick of everyone telling me what I need to do with zero explanation!”
“The basement is yours,” Maeve said as she exited toward the stairs. “I just got things cleaned up down here, Fire Queen. I don’t want to return to a disaster,” Maeve said.
Lunelle watched her climb the stairs, the barkeep waiting at the top to berate her for bringing so much drama to The Dune. Lunelle crossed the room, falling into one of the ancient armchairs across from Mirquios.
Her chest sighed in relief as his eyes met hers—no matter how angry she was with him.
Astra was not as relieved, understandably.
“If someone doesn’t start speaking, I’ll volunteer you.”
No one spoke as three sets of eyes bounced around the room.
“Very well,” Astra muttered. “Lunelle, ladies first.”
Shit.Lunelle drew in a sharp breath.
She beamed to her sister’s mind,Before we speak,I need your promise that Mother never finds out about anything you hear.
