I grumble something out, brushing my braids away from my face as I blink quickly to clear my vision of the last remaining haze of sleep. “What’s going on?”
“I wanted to speak with you and Lyre before you left for the day.”
Still trying to rouse myself, I don’t realize what Sade’s words mean, nor do I censor my response to them until the last moment. “This couldn’t have waited until I returned from my meeting with—” My eyes widen as I slap a hand over my mouth.Gods, Aria.
Sade snorts, swimming backwards to make room for me in the hall. “Fear not, Baby Sister. I’m used to holding the weight of secrets. I won’t falter under yours.” I shut the door behind me as I follow her, my hands nervously fidgeting in front of me.
“Do you know—”
“Where you go? No,” she interrupts smoothly, tucking back in a loose braid from the knot she’s tied at the base of her neck. “But I don’t need to.”
I bite on my lower lip, working it between my teeth before asking, “Aren’t you worried about what I’m doing? That I might mess it up?”
Sade glances at me, that small smirk still firmly in place. “No.” I must look unconvinced as we continue down the crystal lit hallway to Lyre’s room because she adds, “You risked thequeen knowing that you were helping the seamount sirens. You held on to a secret cave of trinkets because, I’m assuming anyway, you wanted to honor the lives that have been lost under the sea.” It’s scary how spot on she is with that despite me having never told her the reason for my cave. “I have seen enough of the actions you’ve taken in private to know the workings of your heart, Aria. I do not have to question anything because you’ve already shown me who you are. And I’m hoping the queen is too preoccupied with what is happening on the surface to pay too much attention to what you’re doing beneath it.”
My chin falls to my chest as I feel a blush creep up my cheeks. Part of me wants to deny—to amend and say that I’m not anywhere near where I need to be to earn such praise, but that small flame within me that has been stoked to life beneath Myla’s tutelage and my love for Lyre banish the rebuttal before it ever leaves my mouth.
We come to Lyre’s door, an amethyst embedded at its front, and Sade gently knocks.
Lyre’s command for us to enter is muffled, Sade and I looking at each other before she turns the handle and pushes the door open, our eyes falling to where Lyre is laying on her bed. Her hands cradle her stomach, a grimace pinching her features while her back arches in an uncomfortable looking position. I rush over to her, panic lancing through me as I look for an injury or another reason why she appears to be in so much pain.
But it’s Sade’s calm voice that draws me away from the edge of fear. “It’s just her body prepping for labor. She’s alright.” Sitting on the edge of Lyre’s bed, Sade draws a hand down Lyre’s arm, the tender touch one I never imagined seeing from the domineering general of the legion.
“She’s right,” Lyre grits out between her teeth. “It’ll be over in just a minute.” The minute comes and goes, then Lyre’s face grows more relaxed, the tautness of her body smoothing untilshe’s lying on her back, her lavender eyes bouncing between Sade and I. “To what do I owe this ungodly early visit?”
The amusement of Sade’s expression fades to something more serious. “I have news.”
Lyre and I look at each other as I help prop her up into a sitting position. She transforms her tail into legs, crossing them as she leans back against the wall, her arms wrapped around her belly. “Go on, then. How is our mother ruining our lives now?
“As you know, she’s been keeping her plans regarding the mortal king and Rhea close. She has Dyanna searching for the magical limitations of mages but isn’t telling herwhy.”
“Can we trust that Dyanna is telling the truth?” I ask.
Sade nods, folding her toned arms. She is bare of any armor today, though a bag is strapped across her chest. “Dyanna’s loyalties lie on the path of least resistance. She’ll do as our mother commands, but even she has a line she isn’t willing to cross.” Sade arches a brow. “It’s usually only when her books are compromised, but still. I don’t think she is lying about that. In any case, Queen Amari is planning another visit to the Mortal Kingdom, and this time, she is demanding that Dyanna, myself, and Aria come with her.”
I tense as my fingers flex against the scales on my tail. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow morning. She’s bringing some legionaries with her on the journey, but they are ones that have already been healed by Rhea’s magic.”
“Wait, didn’t you say that the last time you attended a meeting with King Dolian, our mother asked when his wedding was?” Lyre asks, her gaze latching on to mine. I nod, dread already knotting my stomach. “Has she already had Rhea heal her to pass through the Spell?”
I look to Sade, who shakes her head. “She wanted to wait and see if there were any adverse side effects to Rhea’s magic. All thesirens passed through the Spell as a test after they were healed. It’s been weeks, and they all still live.”
Lyre purses her lips, concern settling on her shoulders and making them round. “She’s going to have you healed so that you can pass through the Spell with her.”
Sade groans in frustration, tilting her head back to look up at the ceiling. “I wish I knew exactly what she is planning. With both Rhea and King Dolian beneath the control of the siren rings, she has the potential to do exactly what she promised she would.”
“But to what end? She might be able to control their actions, but it is not like that puts her in control of the king’s army,” I say, only to receive damning silence in return. “Gods above, you think she is trying to get their army too?”
“I think our mother is power hungry and willing to do whatever it takes to grasp as much of it as she can. We know Rhea has been healing the mortal army to pass through the Spell as well. If our mother controls them both, she’ll have more than enough man and siren power to march into the Mage and Fae Kingdoms,” Sade says, her tone grim.
I look at Lyre but direct my next question towards Sade. “What do we do?”
“We have to get the ring off of the king’s finger,” she says, already lost in thought as she formulates a plan. “And, ideally, off of Rhea’s too.”
“How are you going to manage that while our mother is there?” Lyre asks, and again, that damning silence answers.
“It might be something we plan outafterwe already have access to the Mortal Kingdom’s land,” Sade finally says, wincing slightly. “Unfortunately.” No one else says anything, and it isn’t until Lyre yawns that I’m reminded I need to leave if I am to meet Myla on time.
