Page 115 of Fate of the Sun King

It’s not quite acceptance, but it definitely feels like progress.

A knock comes at the door, interrupting our conversation.

“Come in,” I call, and the door swings open to reveal Nadir with Mael on his heels.

“Hi,” I say, the tight band in my chest loosening. I get up and wrap my arms around Nadir, pressing my cheek to his chest. “You’re back.”

Miss me, Lightning Bug? he asks through our bond, with his lips against the crown of my head.

Yes.

He tightens his arms.

Me too.

I look up. “What did you find out?”

Amya and Nerissa arrive next with two trays covered in food and drink. They set them down on the table in the corner, and we all fill our plates, taking seats on the floor and various chairs around the room.

“We can go downstairs,” Tristan says as he shifts with another wince.

“You’re staying in bed until you’re fully recovered,” Nerissa says, her tone offering zero room for argument as she fusses with his pillows. She hands him a plate and Willow and I exchange looks, trying to contain our smiles.

“It’s not good,” Nadir says, everyone’s attention swinging to him. “It seems the low fae are getting more proactive the longer Atlas ignores them. Today’s attack was intended to force an audience. All of their requests to meet with him have been declined thus far.”

“So what does that mean?” Amya asks. “What are their bigger plans?”

“We couldn’t figure that out,” Mael says. “Not without revealing ourselves to Erevan, and I don’t think that would be wise. He may not be a friend of Atlas’s, but who knows what kind of leverage knowledge of Lor’s whereabouts could offer?”

“You don’t really think he’d turn her in?” Willow asks.

Nadir shakes his head. “I don’t think so, but it’s not a chance I’m willing to take unless we get desperate. We’re still operating under the idea that the fewer people who know about this, the better.”

We all fall into silence for a few moments.

“Do we have any other news?” Nadir asks then, looking at Willow. “Have you had any luck in the palace?”

Willow nods. “I’m not sure if it’s anything, but I followed Gabriel.”

“You what?” I ask, but she holds up a hand.

“He went into this strange dark part of the castle. At first, I swear I couldn’t see the hallway—my eyes just passed over it, but then he turned and walked down it.”

“Why were you following him?” I demand.

“I didn’t mean to. I was carrying towels, and I saw him, and he looked so serious. Then he disappeared into that weird hall, so I followed.”

Nadir bites the inside of his cheek. “An illusion. Atlas must be hiding something there.”

Willow nods. “He had a set of keys in his hand, and he unlocked a door and then disappeared for a while. He was gone for about half an hour, and then he came back out.”

Willow rubs the tip of her nose. “I pretended to get in his way. He knocked over my towels, and he was shocked to see me. He told me I shouldn’t be there.”

“Willow,” Tristan says from his position on the bed. “I can’t believe you did that. What if he’d recognized you?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think he did. Besides, isn’t that why I’m working there? To gather information? I am capable of doing things, you know.”

Willow pins Tristan with a look, and I’m staying out of it because I’m not having this fight with her again.