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The Maharani broke into the moment. “What exactly is your plan, Lira?”
I bowed towards her. “I don’t claim to understand anything about the fairy courts. My mother didn’t raise me in them or with the politics.” I licked my lips and shot Lennox an apologetic look before the next thing I said. “However, one thing I know is that Lennox does not get along with our father.” Theourin that sentence felt strange in my mouth, like it didn’t belong there. Lennox cringed but his eyes were full of hope. He wanted us to be siblings as much as I did.
That buoyed me as I continued. “If Lennox appears to rescue me in front of the Seelie troops, it will bolster his reputation. Whether we can get the King to see our side of things or not, it could endear us to the Seelie fae.”
Sai’s gaze grew far off, but he nodded. He could see the logic despite disliking it. Even Shaan gave a begrudging bob of his head. The Maharani clasped her hands together. “Yes, and King Carrington will need to hand his magic over soon. I’m surprised at how long he’s maintained it, honestly. With two adult children, the magic has to be weakening for him. Has he marked you for his powers, Prince Lennox?”
Lennox’s cheeks took on a tinge of pink. “No, Maharani.”
The Maharani’s lips pressed together. “Soon, then.”
“Hopefully so.”
“Where are the Seelie troops?” I asked.
The Maharani took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders back. “They’ve crossed the Naga’s river already.”
“That’s close to here,” I said. “They could be here in a day.”
She shook her head, and the jewel that rested on her forehead glimmered with the motion. “An army moves slowly, but within a few days, yes.”
Sai and Shaan’s expressions grew grim. I turned towards Lennox. “We have to leave today, then. This morning.”
“No,” Sai said again. “Lira, please.”
I stepped closer to him, laced my fingers between his, felt the steady rightness his touch scorched through me. “You know we have to do this.”
He grimaced, and a different type of war played out in his eyes. He wanted to support me and my decisions and to protect his court. More than that, though, he longed for me to stay with him. I wanted the same.
The Maharani lifted the still-open box that held the Map of Forgetting. “Shall we send this with you?”
“Maharani,” Shaan said before pressing his hands together and bowing. “Forgive me, but don’t you think sending a rare artifact into Seelie territory is risky?”
“As it’s only the elementals who can use the item, it will do no good here. And perhaps Lira,”—she offered me a smile which I returned—“could attempt to discover the secrets the divine intend for her to find within it. Scholars believe it shows the path to a being’s greatest desire.”
When I’d held it earlier, it had marked the Prasanna palace. Sai stood with his arms tucked back. It stretched out his shoulders and caused his dark shirt to follow the muscled form of his body. I understood why the map had directed me here. My greatest desire stood beside me. That wasn’t helpful when we needed to find whatever would help us change the outcome of the fairy courts, though.
Sai tucked a hand around my back, resting his fingers against my hip. My body zipped with awareness of him, my blood warming at his touch. “I trust Lira to keep the map safe,” he said to his brother. Shaan frowned but inclined his head to Sai.
“Very well,” the Maharani said, “as you make preparations, I will find another container for the map. It will do you no good, priy, if you need all four of you to access it.”
“Thank you, Maharani.”
As she left, Shaan cleared his throat. “I wish you safe travels, bhaabee.” Then his gaze darted to Lennox. For an excruciating half-a-dozen heartbeats they stared at each other. Sai’s grip on me tightened and his tension radiated through me. Shaan frowned, turned, and walked out of the room.
Lennox, despite his careful glamour and trained expression, winced as he left.
“What did we need to get ready, Lennox?” I asked to change the subject.
He smoothed his hands over his vest. “I have a kelpie boarded at a stable in the city.”
Sai had narrowed his eyes in Lennox’s direction, and I nudged him. He frowned before agreeing to locate the creature and bring it to the palace. And that’s how Lennox and I found ourselves in front of a saddled kelpie a few hours later. Sai’s family and team surrounded us, offering goodbyes.
Sai’s father approached me and bowed. “I’m sorry your stay was so short, betee. I hope we will see you again soon.”
“I hope for that too,” I whispered.
He offered me a gentle smile, and I could see Sai in his expression. It made my heart ache to leave this family and home… and Sai. My throat closed, and I struggled to swallow back grief as Veena and Amyra wished me safe travels, Veena grasping my hands and bouncing on her toes. Orman grumbled about how Sai would be unbearable with me gone and could I get on with the job and return quickly.
