“Victoria?” Ilryth’s voice echoes through my mind. Before I can reply, he arrives, swimming through the circular opening of the ceiling.
The rest of the women rise off their shells, bowing their heads respectfully to him. He freezes in place, the muscles in his jaw and neck going taut. I see a flash of anger and confusion in his eyes that lands on Fenny.
“Just what is happening here?” he demands to know.
“We discussed this…that it would be good for our court to see their duke, and to meet the woman you’ve chosen as the next offering.” Fenny’s tone is hard to discern but I get the immediate impression that this was certainly not discussed.
The other ladies must as well, because the woman with the brown braid says, “The invitation bore your personal seal.”
Ilryth purses his lips. I can almost see him physically holding himself back from looking at Fenny. “Right, now I remember, of course.”
“Lord Ilryth, it is an honor to dine with you this day,” Serene interjects with some force and a tense smile. The others speak agreement.
But Ilryth seems to pointedly ignore them all. He drifts to a stop before me, inspecting me from head to toe. I sit a little taller, rolling my shoulders back and keeping my neck long. My hands are folded in my lap, face relaxed. I don’t have a full grasp of what’s happening yet, so the best I can do is stay poised and polite. Fenny seems to have the upper hand at the moment; making her happy is probably the wisest course.
Without warning, Ilryth leans forward, expression shifting from frustration to intensity. I’m too stunned to say anything as his face hovers so close to mine. We have been this close in the amphitheater, but given Lucia’s reaction to him holding my hands, I’d begun to think that his way of teaching me the hymns of the old ones was somewhat a secret.
The other women share looks. They are no doubt also exchanging words in their minds. He’s scandalously close to me. And without warning, he reaches for my chest.
CHAPTER15
I lean away slightly.I don’t care how rude it might appear. Here? In front of all of them? Lucia might not be present but I’m sure the rest of them would scold us all the same—
Ilryth’s hand closes around the shell necklace at my throat, his fingers careful not to brush against my bare skin. The absence of his touch has me fighting the urge to lean forward and force the contact. A flush of embarrassment, shame, and need threatens to rise to my cheeks.
“Where did you get this?” he asks thoughtfully.
“That would be from me,” Fenny interjects. I can’t tell if she heard the question or just assumed.
“Is it all right?” I ask Ilryth, keeping my focus only on him. “I can return it, if you would like me to.”
“No, keep it.” He releases the necklace. “I haven’t used it since I was a boy.”
The necklace was Ilryth’s? His markings are already on my body. I’m not sure how I feel about wearing something of his around my throat. He seems oblivious to my uncertainty and thankfully the shell keeps it that way, reminding me of just how practical it is. Symbol or not, it has an essential use to me.
“You clean up well.” A smile curves across his lips. It looks almost prideful. He has yet to acknowledge any of the other women and there are a few wounded looks. “I admit I am surprised.”
“You thought ‘salt-crusted and dingy sailor’ was my only state of being?”
“Don’t forget crass,” he quips.
I smirk.
“But you look beautiful,” he adds. “Dressed like this, and when you’re ‘salt-crusted and dingy.’” The words catch me off guard. When was the last time someone called me beautiful without shouting it half-drunk across the street?
“Your Grace, I would hate for you to not properly spend time entertaining the other guestsyouinvited,” Fenny says, slightly terse.
“Yes, of course.” Ilryth gives his sister a sharp look. It’s a quick flick of the eyes. There and gone. I only catch it because I’m looking straight at him.
But he’s saved from having to engage further when sirens swim through the opening above, interrupting the discussion. They carry shells piled with slabs of fish meat and balls of kelp, which they place in the water surrounding Ilryth and the women. None are placed before me. Which I would find stranger, if I were hungry.
In fact, this is the first time I’ve eventhoughtof food since my arrival, despite it now having been weeks.
“I haven’t eaten… Why don’t I need to eat?” I keep my thoughts only for Ilryth. To my delight, thanks to the shell and my practice with magic, it works.
“As your body becomes more woven magic than physical mechanics, you won’t require sustenance in the same way as you once did,” he says matter-of-factly.
I stare at everyone as they begin to unwrap the kelp balls placed before them. They reveal seemingly solid bubbles—almost like gelatin—with sea vegetables contained within. It looks nothing like any food I’ve ever eaten, but now that I’ve realized it’s been literal weeks, all I want is food. Even though he’s right and I’m not actually hungry.
