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“I asked first!” The spindly girl had recovered, storming toward the prince, with more young fae at her back.
“Shut it, Alva!” Rorik snapped. “I’m gonna steer it first. Bloodsinger said.”
“Rorik.” Livia gripped her brother by the tunic, pulling him back, and took hold of my hand. “Leave the king alone.”
The boy groaned. “I just wanna steer the ship.”
My songbird looked to me, a glisten on her lashes. “You lookuneasy, Serpent. Where is the aura of the masked man who stole me away?”
“I’m afraid he had a run in with your father’s axes and your mother’s threats.”
Livia tugged on my hand. “Come.”
Tait shook out his hands, saw to his pocket watch, then nodded. “No threat.”
“What did you think you’d see, Heartwalker?” Livia shook her head and led us toward the shore. “There is no danger here. Not anymore.”
My free arm was pulled back. Rorik, a cunning look written on his face, yanked hard enough I bent at the waist.
“The ship?” he whispered. “You’re gonna let me, right?”
“We will sail. When we do, be ready to meet the wind.”
The boy’s lip curled, then he sped away, chasing the other littles in a race back to the shore. A shore lined in warriors, kings and queens, and few smiles.
Strange how much had changed when the earth bender stepped forward and I felt a bit of relief crack the pressure on my chest. Valen looked to me, then swept an arm toward the knolls that rolled in front of the fort.
“Sea fae, I am told we have a feast awaiting. You’re welcome at our table.”
Raised to be a brutal king, then left to my own devices at such a young age, it was not much of a shock that kingly behavior was not my instinct.
Neither was it Celine’s.
She shoved through the lines, nudging the Night Folk king as she went. “About time. My boots are soaked, and I’m rather starved, Earth Bender.”
Livia clung to my arm and led us after the new Lady of Blades.
The great hallwas filled much the same as it had been when we’d stowed away, but with less venom and blades.
Cheers boomed, rattling the iron chandelier over the tables, and horns lifted when Valen and Elise first entered. The Night Folk king was promptly surrounded by his people. Hands clapped on forearms, backs, and shoulders.
I clung to Livia’s hand, feeling like a damn sod, afraid to release her until we were told to find seats at the tables scattered across the hall. I could’ve kissed her, deep and feral in front of all her folk, when Livia settled us beside the royals of her realms, but also next to Sewell, Tait, and the other sea fae nobles.
I did not want a line to divide us, but even still, I was grateful to be evenly matched.
Halfway through the meal of spiced roots, a gamey beast, and pickled herring, Mira’s father, the raven tattooed king, clapped the edge of the table and pointed at Tait. “That’s it. I remember why I know this fae. Banishment.”
By his side, Mira’s mother chuckled. “You’re just now recognizing him, Ari?”
The queen had hair long and thick like her daughter’s, only darker, and bore a few scars like mine that peeked from the neckline of her gown.
“Bleeding gods.” Tait blew out a long breath, flexing his fingers until several knuckles cracked.
Princess Mira seemed satisfied with Tait’s sudden loss of color to his face but looked at the raven king. “Daj, you knowthe cousinof the Ever King? I never heard you crossed paths before.”
“We’ve met.” The raven king drummed his fingers. “He’s the boy Ipersonallybanished back to the sea. Got much thicker in the arms. Boy was nothing but bones and a bit of flesh when last we met.”
“Wait, King Ari banished you, Heartwalker?” Aleksi’s eyes widened. “Ari, you’ve never said that, and you love a good boast.”
