Something leaped in Hylos’s jaw and his eyes darkened to tempest blue.
But I continued. “You think women will not fight you while you control their men? Are you ready to kill them in the process?”
Nixie’s eyes flitted between us. Had she not thought of that? Had any of them thought this situation through? War would inevitably mean death.
“Some may die, yes, and that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to ensure Naiadon and my people are safe,” Hylos ground out.
All eyes still avoided me, except Hylos’s and those of the snake at his side.
“Here you go, seven Dragon’s Breaths. Just in case you all would like one,” Bryn said as she placed a silver tray in the center of the table with small, smoking cups.
“Enough politics,” Hylos answered, grabbing one of the drinks.
Each of the others grabbed one too. So did I.
Hylos smirked. “Cheers.” Then he raised his cup to me. “To new alliances.”
Then they all knocked back their drinks. And I did the same.
Chapter 14
Nixie and I walked down the dark corridor to our rooms. The sea, held back by the latticed glass, could have been mistaken for a midnight sky. Only the strange, swirling siren light illuminated our path.
War. Hylos wanted war. I’d read and reread history books on the subject throughout my education. I’d always had a strange and morbid fascination with the subject. With learning what horrendous things men of power would do to one another during times of conflict. The lengths they would go to for their proclaimed cause. Some wars were virtuous—at least that was how the victor painted them—but most were senseless. Driven by honor. Valor. Pride. Or the desire for more power. And in exchange for their vanity, influential men sacrificed the blood of innocents, just as Hylos was willing to do.
We turned to the alcove that held our rooms. A potted orchid rested upon the sill of the expansive, sea-filled window above a stone bench that bridged our rooms. Despite being in the ocean’s depths, the flower still found filtered sunlight that coaxed the orchid into bloom, even so far from true sky. Its vibrant, purple petals seemed to gaze back at me. I had to do something to stop Hylos.
“Is there anything else you need tonight, Elowyn?” Nixie’s voice carried a weariness that matched the heaviness in her mauve eyes, which they’d retained since Hylos spoke of war.
What did she think of this? Of her leader? Of Oakhaven? I thought of asking her, probing how she justified such drastic measures. Why war was on their lips when sirens were mere legends upon land.
But in the pit of my stomach, which still burned from drink, I knew she wouldn’t tell me. At least not truthfully. She would instead paint a pastel picture to convince herself and me of the righteousness of her leader’s actions, the same way many loyal followers before her had prepared to march into battle for their leader. Even at the expense of the lives of their friends and family.
There was only one course of action left for me to take.
“No, I’m fine, thank you.” I smiled, hiding the turning of my thoughts. “Good night.”
Ear pressed against the bedroom door, I waited until there wasn’t the slightest sound before slipping out of the bedchamber.
In the hall, silence greeted me. The siren light had waned to deep citrine and collected in pools on the white marble floors as I crept soundlessly with the smallest semblance of a plan.
First, find one of those pools that led to the ocean.
Then, dive into its depths.
Finally, pray.
Only Nymphaea herself could safely guide me to the surface, the somehow-invoked prayer beads the only thing protecting me from dying in the sea’s black belly, gasping for breath.
The armory’s pool seemed like my best bet. Hylos and Raylik had easily swum out to what appeared to be open sea. Calypstra’s monsters slithered through my mind like eels. They were lurking out there. Ilooked out to the surrounding sea, past the arching glass ceiling above. Shadows lurked in the folds of the sea’s darkness.
My blood ran cold.There are monsters in these waters that would devour you in one bite. Or worse,Hylos had warned. But I couldn’t remain idle when he was planning an attack against Oakhaven.
I had to warn my father. And I didn’t ignore the small hope that wriggled in my chest either, that maybe he would even reward me for warning him and allow Vega to return to my side, or even call off my marriage to Cedric.
Then, a soft shimmering of yellow appeared, lightly bounding to the center of the dark hall.
I stepped closer, straining my eyes to see the source of the light. In the center of the lemon-colored aura was a butterfly. How did it find its way down here?
