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Draven snorted. “Stuff and nonsense.”
“But there is no such thing as mermaids, is there, Rychel?” Taina asked innocently from across the table with wide eyes.
“Well, who can ever say for certain?” Rychel responded diplomatically. “I prefer to believe they may exist.”
“And phoenixes?” Draven asked drily.
Rychel shrugged. “Perhaps I caught one. Why don’t you visit my workshop sometime and maybe I’ll show you?”
Draven rolled his eyes.
Laughing, I took a small sip from my goblet. It may not have been made of mermaid songs, but whatever it was, it tasted delicious.
A warm sensation flowed through me. I looked around the table, feeling lighter and more at ease.
Beside me, Draven was talking quietly to Odessa. They seemed to be discussing the next round of the competition.
I leaned back in my chair, trailing a hand lightly over Draven’s arm. He caught it and squeezed my fingers gently.
I was playing my part perfectly and would continue to do so. It was surprising just how easy it had been so far.
Across the table, Beks was entertaining Taina with a lurid tale of a monster he had supposedly seen in the bowels of the palace–a wizened old man with holes where eyes should have been. I doubted there was any truth to the story but Taina let out a petrified squeal that drew Gawain’s attention. He leaned over and tapped Javer who quickly scolded Beks with a few choice words.
Beks sat back in his chair, arms crossed, looking sulky once more.
I caught his eyes and gave him a playful wink. His expression cleared and he winked back. Then he gestured to the terrace wall behind him, where loose stones were exposed behind a shield of vines. “Want to get out of here?” he mouthed.
I grinned and shook my head. “Not now,” I mouthed back. “But good to know.”
There was a commotion by the terrace doors.
Beside me, Draven and Odessa leaped to their feet.
Startled, I rose with them.
Lyrastra stepped onto the terrace. She had changed out of her fighting leathers and wore a silky black tunic over silvery leggings. Her jet-black hair fell in waves behind her back. Grudgingly, I had to acknowledge once more how lovely she was. Her uncanny eyes moved around the table, a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of golden, yellow, and purple hues.
When she caught sight of Draven and I, they paused.
“Well met, Lyrastra,” Draven said quietly from beside me. “You did well today.”
Lyrastra nodded. “As did you.” She bit her lip. “I am sorry... about Malkah. I should have turned back.”
“You did a great deal more than most,” Draven replied.
“Malkah had already been poisoned,” Javer added. “She would never have made it up the cliff. When she went under the water, she did the right thing.”
Maybe he was right, but it angered me to hear him say it so bluntly. The man seemed as unfeeling as a rock.
Lyrastra slid into a seat beside Rychel who welcomed her warmly.
“Are you all right?” Draven murmured beside me.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean Odessa told me about Steelhaven.”
I looked at him. “You mean how Lyrastra wrapped a snake around my legs and then threatened to kill me?”
