Struggle or not, Lumina had a truly good heart. So did Nixie. Calypstra did not. That was clear. Hylos’ judgment was so wrong on multiple levels. Like he was wrong about Oakhaven’s role in the missing sirens altogether.
Hylos drank to the dregs of his cup, then stood. “Well, off to more begging and bartering I suppose.”
“Hylos, wait.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have regular meetings with your war council?” I questioned.
He looked up at Raylik, who still stood above us. “Yes, I do,” he offered cautiously. “Raylik and I meet each evening.”
“Just you and Raylik, that’s it?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes, he’s my head commander.”
That wasn’t much of a war council, and how muchtalkingdid Raylik really do?
“If you’d like me to consider joining your cause against my father, then I wish to be there. I’d like to see what truth there is to your claims.” If others were bargaining, so would I.
“A terra princess on my war council.” A cheeky smile marked his features, making him look again like the boy I still knew him to be.
“Not a princess,” I rebuffed the title. “I’m serious. I’d like to sit in on the meetings going forward.”
“I think that’s a fine idea; we could use your insight,” he answered.
No insight would be imparted. At least not from me.
“Raylik and I meet each evening for dinner. You are welcome to join us starting tomorrow evening.”
Chapter 22
The next morning, Morvyn was all smiles, carrying the tools and parts Arlo had requested as we walked to the library. No trace of the night before was on his pale lips.
“Let’s see if that human is good for anything besides eye sweets for you,” he said with a pestering smile.
I cut him a hard look. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, so we’re pretending you don’t constantly look at him yearningly every time you’re near him? Got it,” Morvyn said as we turned to the stairs that led to the library.
He was insufferable. But I was thankful he was avoiding the topic of the deipnon the night before. As we walked through the halls in the portion of Naiadon that Hylos and his friends occupied, it was more empty than when I first arrived, as though they were restricting the number of sirens allowed in that section of the castle. Since Calypstra had revealed who I truly was, the unsettling shift was enough to unnerve me. It was for my protection. Morvyn, however bothersome, was a welcome reprieve from the seriousness of the fact that my life was in danger.
When we settled into the library, Arlo was silent, uncomfortable in Morvyn’s presence and still uncertain of mine as he unstrung the virginal. I tried my best not to stare at him to avoid any more of Morvyn’spestiferous taunting, and set out to get my hands on whatever it was that glowed on the second floor of the library.
I took my time, fingertips grazing the leather-bound spines on the first level, appearing to search for books to take back to my room.
“Find anything good, Elowyn?” Morvyn said. “More smut, perhaps?”
I scowled in his direction. “I need something to pass myimprisonmentwith.”
“Aren’t you the luckiest prisoner in the world, to have such beautiful jailers?”
I rolled my eyes.
“How do I access the second floor?” I asked, heart thrumming but my expression steeled as that strange glow glimmered in the corner of my eye. Whatever glowed was just above where Morvyn lounged, pale fins kicked up as he picked off the platter of fruit laid out for Arlo and me.
“The stairs are just over there,” he said carelessly as he threw his chin at the back corner of the library.
Perfect.
