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“Positive. He used some of his magic—only a trace—and it’s very similar to King Carrington’s.” Palaria looked up at the tree boughs like their swaying forms might offer answers. “He must have sprung a trap for Sai. They’re so close to the Seelie court’s borders here.” She walked farther along the path. “Yes. The entire group headed towards the Seelie palace.”
“Do you think Lira’s there too?”
“One way to find out. And I haven’t thanked our patron in some time.” She looked over her shoulder and her grin was so impish it made her appear younger and full of mischief. “How do you feel about attending a gala, Margo?”
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
NEIA
Elisa nestledher head against my shoulder, and I reached for her hand as the cart swayed and pushed Sai against my other side. He twined his hands together and leaned on his thighs.
Orman readjusted which shook the wagon. “Damn cart has no leg room.”
Sai shot him a look, and he crossed his arms but bit his tongue. Our goal was to avoid extra attention from the Seelie. Ishir wiped his palms together and a bead of sweat dripped over his forehead. He looked like he was eager to regain his weapons the Seelie soldiers had taken from him.
I leaned down beside Sai. “You messed up.”
He grimaced and darted his eyes to the front of the cart where guards led the horses along over the uneven trail. Sai pushed out the thinnest form of a ward around us to bubble our conversation. It was so delicate we’d have to keep our voices low. He wouldn’t use enough magic to draw their attention. He flexed his hands. “I know.”
“She looked devastated.” Lira’s mouth had formed into a circle as everything had dawned on her and those giant eyes of hers shimmered like she might cry.
He sat up. “You didn’t trust her.”
“Yes, and I wanted you to monitor her, get a feel for her.”
“Okay, well I decided not to risk the mission on someone I wasn’t getting a good read on. Now you’re upset about that? You’re always the one pushing me to be more cautious.”
Elisa tucked her head down lower where she could meet his eyes. “What made you suspicious about Lira?”
Sai turned away from us and crossed his arms.
“No,” I said. “You don’t get to be moody and secretive about this. She’s still in play here which means this affects the job. So spill. Let’s start with the fact that you slept with her.”
He snapped his face back towards me. “How do you know?”
I rolled my eyes. “It didn’t devastate her that much because you betrayed her after you two shared platonic conversations about the Naga together for a few days. Besides, you both spent the previous forty-eight hours before you split off eye-fucking each other.”
“Nei,” Elisa whispered and tightened her grip on my arm.
Sai’s eyes had taken on a sheen, and a pulse of guilt swept through me. I hadn’t realized she’d meantthatmuch to him. They hadn’t even known each other for more than a week, damn it. I’d seen Sai with at least a dozen lovers in the time I’d known him, and he’d never acted like it was more than fun. Easy to enjoy and easy to forget about. I, on the other hand, had a few trysts not worth discussing before I’d met Elisa. I’d once asked Sai if he would want an Atalla. He shrugged.That’s not really my thing.Yet here he was on the verge of tears over this girl he barely knew. “Sorry, Sai.”
He cleared his throat. “It’s fine. You have a right to know.” He bowed his head so that his bangs dashed forward, obscuring his expression. “I like her a lot. More than… more than I understand and it scares me.”
“That’s why you cut her out?”
“No.” He paused for long enough that the rattling of the wheels creaking over the road and Orman’s irritated grumbling filled the space. “She’s elemental.”
Elisa and I both gasped and sat up straighter. Elisa always believed the elemental siblings would rise soon and pointed to her magic as a sign of things to come, but she was also prone to romantic notions. However, Sai didn’t overstate things. “You’re sure?” I asked.
“Yes. I saw it myself. I… I think she’s told the truth about not knowing her powers. It’s too much of a risk to keep her on the team with that magic.”
“Does she have a brother?”
He sighed. “She says no, and I’m inclined to believe her.”
“That’s convenient. Sirens can only have one child, but there’s a possibility her father could have another.” Or that she’s one of many elementals to come. The prophecy discussed one set of siblings, but it didn’t say others wouldn’t also rise with them. Maybe there would be an entire army of elementals.
Sai’s dark eyes gleamed as he tightened them. “Perhaps.”
