“I have a feeling Queen Ritalia doesn’t do anything quickly.” When one lived as long as she had, days flashed by like minutes.
Tolek exhaled. “No, but it’s smart to keep her as unaware ofyour poweras long as possible.”
“Lancaster and Mora saw it.” The two fae—siblings, we found out during the final battle—saw me use Angellight against Kakias and fall into that realm where I manipulated the light to destroy the queen’s power. “They would have told her everything. Been sworn to.”
“Only what they saw,” Tolek said. “Not how it felt to you or how you’ve gotten to know it recently, practicing in secret these weeks. For whatever reason, Ritalia thinks she has command over us—your court.” I screwed up my face at the fae term for our councils and clans, and Tolek laughed. “Whether we like it or not, it’s best for us to play along right now.”
I sighed and met his eyes. We’d had this conversation many times, and always came to the same conclusions. “We get her here and out as quickly as possible. We do nothing to upset the balance of the bargain we struck with Lancaster, and we find whatever information they’re willing to impart about the gods.” Information we needed, given that it appeared the gods were tied to this mess with the emblems somehow. With our theory that Annellius, the first chosen, had hidden the shards of Angel power before his death, we needed every morsel of help we could find. Worry gnawed at me at the possibilities. “Then, we return to our Angel tasks and trials.”
“That’s my girl.” Tol tilted my chin up to kiss me. Then, he added, “Looks like clouds are moving in.”
Though it was early still, the sun was beginning to set—a blessing of the short winter days, given that we were primarily working by night—and thick gray plumeswererolling across the sky. Perhaps this heat wave would crack soon.
Tolek added, “I’d originally been coming here to tell you the girls returned.” I looked up at him, the amber specks in his chocolate eyes flaming. “How do you feel about a flight?”
Chapter Two
Ophelia
Unfortunately,any hope of a flight with Sapphire was drowned in the rain that cracked before Tolek and I even returned home. My heart twisted for my warrior horse-turned-pegasus, but I stepped across the threshold, wet hair plastered to my skin, and for a moment, my concern vanished.
A piece of me I hadn’t realized was dulled ignited at Jezebel and Santorina standing in the small stone cottage we were staying in. Thoughcottagewas a loose term given the six bedrooms flanking its gray cobbled walls, each with a slightly different style. Like they were added as needed rather than all at once.
The Seawatcher Chancellor, Ezalia Ridgebrook, and my sister’s partner, Erista, stood with them.
“Jez, Rina!” I shouted as I hurried into the combined sitting-and-dining room strewn with books and notes on Angel magic. Warm wooden surfaces, worn couches, and the fire flickering in the stone hearth made the home cozy against the rain.
A high voice shrieked, “Tolek!” And Ezalia’s young children bounced around the sofa, jumping on Tol.
“Seli, Auggie, you just saw him,” Ezalia chastised with a laugh. But Tolek was already caught up in a game with the twins.
“Ezalia,” I greeted, disentangling myself from my sister and Rina to hug the Seawatcher Chancellor. “I didn’t realize the children were here.”
Seron, Ezalia’s partner, wheeled around the corner in the chair he’d had custom built after losing his legs in the hunt for the Seawatcher emblem. Guilt hardened in my throat as it always did when I remembered what he gave for this curse.
“They’ve been here for hours. They keep Tolek busy,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone’s complaining about that,” I joked as Seli grabbed Tolek’s hands and starting spinning in circles, fast enough that soon her little feet were flying off the floor. Jezebel knelt beside her twin, asking what book he held. “You’re always welcome here. Will you be staying for dinner?”
“Thank you, but I want to get them home,” Ezalia said with a nod to her kids.
Herding them out the door proved a more difficult challenge than the chancellor expected, though, the kids continuously turning around to call one more thing to any member of our family.
“Thank you for everything,” Rina added before Ezalia disappeared out the door with a wave.
As the latch clicked shut, I watched the spot where the chancellor had been. I admired how she held her family together amid loss and warfare, yet still managed to assist us with the Angelcurse. After that first trial, she and Seron had made an effort to spend more time as a family, and seeing her balance it all was inspiring.
It was how we’d ended up here, needing grounds to host the fae queen’s court. The Ridgebrooks were already in the southernmost part of the islands for winter and happened toknow of both a cottage we could stay in and a location for that impending meeting.
With a final grateful nod after the chancellor, I looped my arm through Rina’s and led her upstairs. We both slipped into dry clothing, then ducked back down into the brightly lit kitchen. Pale blue lace curtains framed rain-streaked windows and a mosaic of coral tiles comprised the floor.
Jezebel and Erista were both in clean, dry clothes now, too, and they dropped onto the bench along the breakfast nook as Tolek placed a small tray laden with a carafe of crisp white wine, glasses, and snacks before them.
“Thank the Spirits.” Jezebel snatched up a wedge of soft cheese and spread it on a chunk of bread. “I wasfamished,” she hummed as she swallowed.
“We stopped to eat a few hours ago.” Erista laughed softly, leaning back against the bench
“Hours!” Jez complained.
