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We were stuck together until this prophecy was fulfilled at least. From the look on her face, Lira would rather be thrown out to the merfolk. Shit. I’d thought the way we’d clutched each other during that attack and how she’d seemed ready to murder Jessamine meant something. Apparently it didn’t.
“All right then,” she said, her voice hoarse. She waved her hands around like she wasn’t sure what to do with them before stepping back out of the temple. I took in the shadowy chamber with its high-reaching ceilings lined with windows that allowed soft blue light to pool in and illuminate the engravings on the dirt-caked walls. I took another fortifying breath, ducked back through the archway, and rejoined the group.
They all stared at me and Lira who crossed her arms over her chest.
Even Jessamine and Orman seemed lost for words. Neia cleared her throat. “If you’d like, Sai, while you and Lira seek the”—she dashed an untrusting gaze to Jessamine—“item from the temple, we could help seek out the heart stones.”
“The temple is heavily warded,” I said. “Thrushes probably won’t work within them. We won’t be able to communicate.”
“It’ll be all right,” Neia said, but her hand went to the small of Elisa’s back as she spoke. Elisa had nearly died. Even before that Neia had said they wanted a break from our work. I should have told them to stay back. Now here I stood on the edge of making another decision for them as they both watched me and waited for my direction. Goddess, guide me. What the fuck was I supposed to do? We needed those heart stones.
Neia and Elisa wouldn’t be alone. They’d have Luz, Orman, and Jessamine. Despite my lack of trust on the latter, she was skilled in her own right and had spent most of her life treasure hunting and facing danger. “All right,” I said.
Orman grunted. “That’ll be better than waiting around here on this spirit forsaken island seeing if those damned merfolk want to try and take another bite out of us.”
I nodded and they started to break off, but I called Neia over to me, and walked with her to the side of the temple. “Be wary of Jessamine,” I whispered.
“Do you make it a habit of not trusting your previous bedmates?”
“I make it a habit of being attracted to handsome, dangerous beings. So, yes. Maybe she knows where the heart stones are and will be nothing but helpful, but do not let your guard down around her.”
Neia hesitated a moment before clapping my arm. “You’ve got it.”
I clasped her arm in turn and wished I could come up with more words. I didn’t want it to sound like I thought something might happen to her or me. I suddenly felt the urge to tell her that I loved her, that her friendship had meant more than I’d ever expressed, and I thought she’d make a damn fine fairy. But I didn’t want to send us both off with the worst on our minds.
“See you soon.”
“Soon. Be careful in there, Sai.”
I offered her a nod then turned back towards Lira.
My Atalla.
Who watched me with pale eyes that expressed so much I couldn’t possibly read.
“Shall we?” I asked as I gestured to the temple.
She hesitated for another moment before turning and walking ahead of me, disappearing into the temple without looking back.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
LENNOX
I studiedthe walls of the chamber as I waited for the Maharani. The designs on the tiles weren’t just patterns as I’d initially thought. Some held vignettes that followed a storyline along the wall. Zevars played prominent roles in many of them I’d followed so far. It made me feel even more wretched for what I’d done to Shaan. We used zevars in the Seelie court to cloak magic more than anything. But the way they were venerated in these mosaics made me realize the honor and power they possessed here among the Prasanna.
I’d waited a long time which left a lot of space for my mind to wander.
For the first hour, I’d felt nothing but grief which wanted to drown me. Once that had sunk beneath the facade I forced it under, my mind shifted to the practical.
I’d subconsciously assumed Shaan still cared about me and his favor would ensure my safety and help me access Lira.
With the coldness he’d addressed me with, the way he’d walked out of this room with me all but begging him not to go, I had to assume that wasn’t true anymore.
Which meant I’d stepped right into the heart of my enemy’s territory without a backup plan. God, I was a foolish man. I’d been reckless because of my hopeless heart. Now I needed to click the amiable politician into play.
I could no longer approach this situation as Shaan’s lover. It was time for me to take on the mantle of a prince attempting diplomatic negotiations. I could—and would—grieve Shaan later. For the immediate future, however, I needed to speak for my people. I remembered Mother in the vision the Naga had shown me saying she wanted to work towards peace among the fae realms. I would strive to be like her rather than Father. Even if the Maharani and her magic caused her death. They’d had some connection and perhaps I could call on that.
The door clicked open.
