Page 231 of Blade of the Nightking

"Have there been any attacks in the Tidelands?" Rìan asked, though his eyes remained fixed on my face.

"None so far, thank the gods." Thalassis drained the last of his wine before reaching for the decanter and refilling his glass. He offered to top off Rìan's, but Rìan declined with a raised hand. "You know these lands aren’t much use to anyone, especially not the Firstborn—not since we flooded them to drive out the Vaelorii. Most of the Court lies beneath the sea, and what land remains is little more than swamp and marsh—uninhabitable for most."

He took another sip.

"The Brinnekin have always been something of a nuisance, but they're hardly worth the trouble. Besides..." A slow smile spread across his face. "They have a very useful habit of eating trespassers."

He gave a contented sigh. “We’re quite fortunate.”

Rìan inclined his head. "I'm glad to hear it." His gaze settled on me in silent expectation.

“As am I,” I managed, dipping my chin.

"Well." Rìan set down his glass, still nearly full, and rose to his feet, giving me a subtle nod to do the same. "Thank you for welcoming us to Pelaga. After everything that’s happened, I wanted her to see a Court that remained... untouched."

"The pleasure is mine. Inviting you was the least I could do." Thalassis drained the last of his wine before standing. He clasped Rìan's forearm, then pulled him into a brief embrace, clapping him firmly on the back. "Stay as long as you like."

His aquamarine eyes settled on me. He took my hand gently, turning it over before pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "Having an Eidra beneath my roof..." He shook his head, his smile widening to reveal his perfect, even teeth. "I've always had a weakness for dangerous things."

Rìan's jaw flexed.

"Unfortunately," Rìan said, threading his arm around my waist, "you'll have to seek your danger elsewhere, Thalassis. This Eidra is as harmless as a lamb." His eyes slid to me. "My lamb."

I shot him a murderous glare.

Thalassis laughed. "Careful, Aedric. Your lamb looks ready to tear out your throat."

The words ripped through my mind.

Careful, Aedric.

My gaze snapped to Rìan. One corner of his mouth curved upward ever so slightly, as though he'd been wondering how long it would take me to catch on.

My blood turned to fire.

Rìan extended an arm toward me. I took it, my fingers curling into claws against the hard muscle beneath his sleeve.

"I'll have my servants escort you to your suite," Thalassis said brightly. "Take the day to recover.” He looked between us, putting a hand on each of our shoulders. "But tomorrow night, we eat, we drink, we dance—and for a few hours, we forget the rest of the world."

CHAPTER 49

“You're posing as Aedric?"

The words exploded from me the moment the door clicked shut behind the servants. Rage boiled through my veins as I paced the length of the suite, every turn tighter than the last.

"Have you no shame?"

Rìan didn't even look up. His weapons had already been laid out on the table when we'd arrived, and he was bent over them now, methodically inspecting the iron blades that had been embedded in the alley wall.

"Careful," he murmured. "They'll hear you."

I rounded on him.

"Does it matter?"

He paused in his work, his eyes flashing silver for the briefest of moments before fading away. "Not anymore."

He returned to his weapons.