Skadi almost smiled. “I would like to see more fae lands.”
Mira beamed and took hold of her arm. “You will adore the forests and various courts. There are hot springs, and our palace is built half inside a knoll. There are these tiny blossoms that grow and glow like moonlight all along the ceilings. Ash and Shelba could show you her court, they’re forest folk. Then there are seers where Alek’s and the twins’ cousin lives with his wife and littles.”
Mira trailed off with chatter over the various fae courts.
My father gave me a half grin. “There is such fear in this palace, I can hardly stand upright against it. They do not get the right to terrify us in our own lands. We’ll send word to the elven king and discuss the terms of the next arrival on their isle after all that has happened.”
“Maj.” Sander stepped closer to the dais. “What will you do with Oldun?”
“Try her for assaulting a prince and conspiring with an enemy against us. For now, after what was done, the elven clans are no allies. I hope that does not cause you pain, Skadi.”
Skadi sighed. “It does only because I know it could’ve been avoided had they not been deceptive.”
“In the end,” my mother went on, “I expect Oldun will leave this palace without much of a memory of Jonas or his wife.”
Chapter 48
The Mist Thief
By the dawnwe would take to the sea and sail toward Mira’s kin. Through the shroud of unease, a glimmer of excitement took hold in my belly. The princess had a talent in describing her world with such delight in her voice, it seemed too mystical to be a true land.
Prince Aleksi wasn’t due to his Rave post for another fortnight and planned to spend time with his cousin in what Mira called the Court of Stars.
Sander, Von, and several of the Kryv would be joining. The only one who did not seem thrilled with the idea was Tait.
After gathering a few gifts from Frigg and her folk to take to Mira’s folk, Jonas and I paused on the staircase leading to our chamber as a new battle of fae broke out in the front entry of the palace.
Mira chatted with Frigg about some sort of pixie legend in wood.
“I still swear I saw one right before my fourteenth turn, remember? We all came for your birth revel.”
Mira snorted. “Friggy, I live there. They don’t exist, or I would’ve seen one by now.”
“Or you do not have a keen eye.” Tait grumbled from the corner.
Mira spun on the sea fae. “I see a great deal more than you, Hearttalker.”
“I see plenty.”
“And?” Mira came to a halt beside him. “What do you see that is so repugnant to you that you keep an endless scowl in place at all times?”
My arm was around Jonas’s waist, but I could not help but look over my shoulder, curious how the sea fae would respond.
Tait freed a soft hiss of annoyance, flashing the points of two elongated canine teeth, and reached for one of the paper smokes in his pocket.
Mira let out a groan of frustration, plucked the smoke from his fingers, and tossed it on the ground.
“Well.” Jonas pressed a hand on the small of my back, nudging me up the staircase. “I think that’s enough for tonight. Perhaps we ought to get to sleep before fae wars start anew.”
With a nip at the lobe of my ear, Jonas opened the door to my side of the chamber. While we were gone, palace staff assured us the wall would be torn down, so we would, at last, claim one wing.
A throat cleared. Dorsan emerged from his chamber. “Sire. I was informed by your . . . brisk cook, there are several travel packs she would like you to approve before journeys begin tomorrow.”
“Ah, Ylva. Always thinking we’ll find something better beyond these borders.” He pressed a kiss to the side of my head. “Be back in a moment.”
“You know what I’ll want, Nightmare.”
He spun around, walking backward. “What sort of fool do you take me for? You adore pickled herring.”
