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Riven gave a stiff nod.
Dynara grabbed one of Nikolai’s nuts. “I haven’t seen the princeling at all this week.”
Vrail’s head snapped up. “He was helping us set up earlier.”
“I think he feels like his presence isn’t welcome with the Shades.” I glanced around the grove looking for Killian’s black garb and blond head but didn’t find him. “I told him I would help make the introductions but he didn’t seem willing to take my offer.” I didn’t add what else had occurred in our conversation.
Vrail’s brow creased as Nikolai stood, holding his hands to her and Dynara. He nodded to the crowd of dancing Elverin by the Myram. “Shall we?”
Dynara smiled and grabbed his hand. Vrail stared at the open palm before shaking her head. “I’m going to go check on Killian,”she mumbled. She watched after Nikolai and Dynara with a forlorn look and then disappeared into the crowd in the opposite direction.
They passed a group of initiates and Shades crowded around Lash and Feron. Flames and smoke danced through the air in the shape of terrifying monsters as Feron told the story of the first Fae—Faelin and her daughters with their golden eyes who had banished the shadow creatures for good. Lash raised a sphere of bright flames into the air and separated the orbs into two, creating the second sun just as Faelin had, as the crowd around him gasped.
I smiled seeing Gwyn amongst the crowd. She was standing next to Fyrel, signing away to a young Halfling from theFaelinthwho was happily interpreting a conversation among the three of them. There was a hint of a smile on Gwyn’s lips as Fyrel rattled on about life in the Order.
Elaran slid down the bench beside me. “It seems you have an enemy?” She peered at the Halfling across the grove.
It was Noemdra, Pirmiith’s wife. Whether it was me or Riven she was watching, she hadn’t left us alone all evening.
“She is the niece of Curringham’s mole.” I grabbed Riven’s arm to keep him from walking over to her.
Elaran laughed. “My late husband had no moles. He barely had reports.”
I tilted my head. “Curringham was working with an Elf name Tarvelle. They ferried the rebellion’s secrets to Damien.”
Elaran’s full brows creased. “Those meetings were not reports, they were barely even discussions. Damien spoke and Curringham listened.”
I bit my lip and turned to Riven. “Have any other secrets been leaked?” I hadn’t missed many meetings.
He shook his head and it settled the worry in my stomach. “There must have been more to their correspondence then you knew.”
Elaran’s eyes narrowed, but Gerarda clasped her hand and she softened. “Believe what you wish. But I was sent to Cereliath to know Curringham’s every move and I did not fail at my post.”
I blinked as she stood to dance with Gerarda. A thought flittered across my mind. The same reservation that had struck me the day I saw Tarvelle’s body hanging from the throne room. Why would the mole have been so brazen in his dislike for me? It was like he had wanted to get caught.
Riven stood and grabbed my hand. My arm was stiff as he pulled me onto the dance floor. His hands wrapped around my waist but his mind was somewhere else. His eyes looked through me as he twirled us around the grass.
I ran a finger down his cheek before slowly stepping around him in two tight circles with the other dancers. “I hope you’re thinking of those promises you made to me aboutlater,” I whispered into his ear.
Riven’s focus snapped back to me. His lips twitched as he extended his arm and I spun across the grass before falling back into his arms. “I was thinking about our last dance.” He lifted me into the air and my body slid against his as he slowly lowered me to the ground. Riven grinned and let my body fall toward the ground before pressing his lips to my neck.
My breath hitched. We had been in Cereliath, barely allies and certainly not friends. We had come so far since then even though it had been only a few short months.Ihad come so far. I took a breath and it felt easier than the one before. There was still so much I had to do, so much hardship to march through, but there was a spark of hope that I might be able to do it. With Riven and the others by my side, I might not fail again.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
NIKOLAI HADN’T SAID A WORDsince Vrail entered the library. She barely noticed us, running in with one stack of books only to fill her arms with another. She was spending every spare minute looking for a solution to Riven’s magic. Poring over every book and scroll she had to see if she could predict what would happen to him as we broke the seals and if there was anything we could do to prevent it. My stomach tightened into knots, knowing the answer to that question was far out of my depth. Perhaps too far for even Vrail and Feron to find.
She nodded at us with tired eyes before racing out of the room. Nikolai collapsed back into his chair, staring at the door Vrail had left from.
I snickered and stole one of the nuts he had plated on his lap.
“Do you have something to say?” He tossed a nut into the air and leaned back to catch it in his mouth.
I raised a brow. “I think the person with something to say is you.”
The nut hit Nikolai square between the eyes and fell to the floor. “I don’t know what you’re inferring.” He quickly straightened his back and crossed his leg in an obvious attempt to seem casual.
I pointed my chin in the direction of the door. “You flirt with everyone who crosses your path, but you refuse to tell Vrail your true feelings.”
