“There’s only one, right?”
“Yes. Can you handle that?”
Heat flooded through me. “As long as you remember this is an act.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
His chilled voice cut to the bone, but his hand stayed pressed against my stomach, over where my rune burned.
30
THE SUNKEN PALACE
Hours later, the forest thinned into silver-streaked sand. The sea stretched before us, endless beneath a setting sun. Kairos pulled his mount to a stop.
“Once we’re inside, you stay close. I will allow you ten minutes with Vaeris, but I’ll be within earshot.”
If I could just tell him about the stupid deal.
“Agreed.”
His eyes darkened with suspicion. Then he turned away, heading toward a massive rune on the beach.
Kairos stood over it. A low hum pulsed, and the beach trembled as something pushed from the earth. Sand collapsed as it rose higher and higher. A platform formed a walkway onto the ocean.
As Kairos walked over the first stone, I slipped my arm through his. He tensed but kept walking until we arrived at the edge of a platform.
I stared into the blue depths as a sun-kissed face rippled underwater, growing closer, and then a fae splashed from the surface.
His skin shimmered like the inside of a seashell. Fulllips, thick lashes, and copper hair—his beauty wasn’t mortal. It was designed to lure prey.
“You are expected, Kairos,” he said in a musical voice. “You’re late by fourteen minutes.”
Kairos made a fist over his heart, inclining his head. “Soren.”
Slowly, his eyes found mine. Dark, without whites or pupils. “And you’ve brought a human.”
I dropped into a deep curtsy. “Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty.”
“A Skaldir greeting. How curious.”
Kairos grunted. “She was born there.”
I tried to smile warmly.
The fae blinked and gathered several cords around his neck. He lifted them off, separating them into multiple necklaces. Small shells hung from them. Spiraled, opalescent, etched with runes.
Kairos took them and passed them along to the other fae. He held one out to me. “Wear this.”
“What does it do?”
“It’ll let you breathe.”
I waited for more explanation. A reassuring word, perhaps a term of endearment for Soren’s benefit. Kairos just offered the necklace, his expression blank.
The fae’s head tilted, frowning.
Say something. Anything.
