“Where’s the rest of them?” Malakai asked gruffly.
Ophelia walked ahead with Lancaster, making stiff conversation she hoped passed for pleasantries. To others it might. I nearly laughed.
“Wherever they made their camp, I suppose.” I kept my voice low. While warrior hearing was sharp, fae senses were annoyingly strong. And who was to say what lingered in the trees?
“They didn’t sail with the queen,” Malakai muttered.
I glanced at him, keeping my expression neutral. “No, these two were already on the isle, but they got word her ship was docking a few days ago.”
He frowned at the ocean. “Where is it?”
Besides the vessel Ezalia had used to carry us here, the ocean was a placid sheet of crisp, azure water. “Don’t know.”
My skin prickled. Malakai’s hand drifted toward his sword. We were all baring weapons today. The Seawatcher bow and quiver of arrows at my back were a heavy reminder that this may be a diplomatic effort with a peaceful goal, but we still didn’t know what the queen’s reason was for being here.
I went on, “We don’t know the intricacies of fae magic. When the treaty was signed between our people and theirs, we got the coveted magical land, but they got….”
Power and secrets.
Not in the ways the sorcerers of the Sorcia Isles did. No, that magic had been kept gated for thousands of years. But the fae were rumored to have unique abilities, varying even within bloodlines.
It excelled beyond warrior strength, speed, and commitment to the land we upheld with the treaty. Warriors did not need fae magic, though. It didn’t align with our purpose, so we hadn’t lost much with that agreement.
Or so I hoped, as we followed those pointed-eared immortals now.
“They’ve agreed to only remain on the isle, right?” Malakai double-checked. His stare was on Mila where she walked with my sister, those twin blades crossed at her back.
“The Revered’s first stipulation,” I assured, my own eyes locked on Ophelia’s swinging golden hair. Jezebel, Erista, and the Seawatcher Chancellor walked beside her. Santorina stayed in the center of the group, hands stiff at her sides. “But the outpost leaders are remaining vigilant. Just in case.”
Just in casethe queen’s court went rogue.Just in casethey wanted to resume that bloody war of thousands of years ago, when humans were slaughtered at the hands of fae, before the warriors sent armies to assist them and opened Gallantia to the magicless.
How Santorina hadn’t put a knife in Lancaster’s throat was a testament to her maturity.
“And you wrote to Cypherion and Vale?” Malakai asked as the sea washed up, darkening the sand.
“I told him where to go to catch a boat and meet us here if we haven’t returned by the time they’re back.” Angels, I hoped they’d make it here in time.
Not only because he was Ophelia’s Second—the queen would likely find it a snub if he didn’t greet her—but also because I missed my friend. Worry curled through my stomach at the thought.
“How far is this fucking camp?” I grumbled.
The closer we got to the cliffs, the more concern gathered behind my ribs. As Lancaster and Mora led us around the base of the towering rocky walls, across a natural bridge of flat stone that protruded into the waves, and watered crashed around us, I reminded myself this was necessary.
If we did not come to greet the queen, we would be breaking the bargain tying my and Ophelia’s lives to Lancaster. We needed to ensure we kept this quick and peaceful.
Should be easy, I nearly laughed at myself.
As we rounded a bend, Ezalia let out a gasp. My stomach dropped, and I froze in my tracks.
There, built precariously into the edge of the cliff, was a palace that had certainly not been there before.
Ophelia glanced over her shoulder, eyes meeting mine. Though her mask was up, the message was clear. Her signal that what we feared was true: The fae came with tricks, and we must be ready to play their games.
Her hand flexed at her side, and I was jogging ahead in a moment, lacing my fingers through hers. We both released a breath.
“This is new,” Ezalia forced through gritted teeth.
Though we were technically not on Gallantia, this isle belonged to the Seawatchers. And the queen had somehow constructed apalaceon it seemingly overnight.
