Page 50 of Tides of Shadows

“Lord Cavareth. Lady Veymaris.” Her gaze flicked between us. “Together.”

“I met the Lady in the city and escorted her back,” Aidenar said. His attention never left Velena. “Do you require my assistance?”

“You promised me lunch,” Velena replied smoothly. “We are late.”

“Oh. That was today.” He inclined his head. “Forgive me. The Gathering has muddled my sense of days. Let’s go, then.”

He turned to me and offered a polite bow before leaving at her side.

The following day, the Gathering passed without argument. Velena beamed, practically glowing, her arm threaded through Aidenar’s. Clearly, their lunch had exceeded expectations.

As the lords departed the Inner Court, Aidenar came to stand beside me.

“Your mother still said nothing of the wolves that attacked us,” I said.

“You know why,” he met my gaze.

“Are you ashamed to be seen with me?” I asked.

He studied me for a long moment. “Is this about yesterday? About Velena? I thought it was you that wanted to keep our... arrangement as secret as possible. I have nothing to hide.”

I left the square and returned to my chambers alone.

The moment I opened the door, the stench struck me. A smell I knew too well. The putrid reek of old fish and rotting harbors.

In the center of the room stood a barrel, water seeping from its base. Inside were fish heads and entrails. My clothes lay scattered across the floor, smeared with dark marine slime.

What in the names of forgotten gods…

I looked around the room trying to comprehend. But I already knew.

Velena’s smile today. Bright as a lark.

That fucking bitch.

I turned on my heel and left my chambers. I crossed the Inner Court in a fury. The water in the fountains swelled and spilled over their edges. Each step I took echoed like a drumbeat in a well. The ground trembled beneath me. My breath came heavy, ragged.

Nothing could stop this now. The moment I found her, I’d rip her head off. No power. No blades. I would simply break her delicate little chicken neck with my bare hands.

“Nerissa.”

I did not turn.

“Nerissa! What are you doing?”

Dricus stepped into my path.

“I can feel you throughout the entire palace,” he said sharply. “You are flooding the courtyard. What happened?”

“None of your business”

“Hey!” His voice sharpened. “You need to control this. Don’t let it consume you.”

“I have a matter to settle.”

“Whatever you intend to do is a mistake. You will regret it,” he said, gripping my wrist hard enough that I could not pull free. “Come with me.”

I stared at him, weighing whether I could strike him hard enough to escape. I knew I couldn’t. But rage boiled inside me.