You are my bonded, Dyna. Wherever you are, I’ll always be able to find you.
“I understand your position in this state of affairs, but I can assure you we are no acquaintances of Tarn,” Rawn said. “We simply aim to board a ship and put a thousand leagues between him and us, for we do indeed have something he seeks.” He looked at Dyna. “We must guard her at all costs, as you guard this city. Detaining us places her, and now our companion, in peril.”
The head of the Azure Guard drummed his fingers on the desk as he observed them each individually, speculating on what it all meant. His calculating gaze fell on Dyna, and her friends shifted closer to her.
“Commissioner,” Keena flew back to land on his desk. She lifted the folds of her gown as her tiny feet walked past piles of documents and stacked scrolls. “I’m willing to vouch on behalf of Dyna and these fine people.”
He shook his head. “Princess, I cannot involve you in this matter.”
“I was involved the moment a citizen of your city held me captive for ransom,” Keena said as she sat on a book resting by his hand. “All of this happened within miles of your headquarters, under the noses of your guards. What would my father think to hear that the fae are no longer safe in the Port of Azure, least of all his daughter?”
A flush rose to Veron’s face. “I am deeply sorry for what befell you. If I had known you were here—”
Keena raised a hand, cutting him off. “I cannot imagine what would have occurred if Dyna hadn’t rescued me. Instead of rewarding her, you have her arrested. My father would not be pleased, possibly offended even. Perhaps enough to end our trade deals with the Azure Kingdom, deals that would greatly displease the Queen if they were lost. The Azure King wouldn’t want to upset his queen, now would he?”
Commissioner Moreland stared at the fairy princess for a long minute, then motioned at his guards to leave the room. Once the door closed behind them, he faced away from them and pressed a curled hand to his mouth. At first, Dyna thought he was angry, but then he shook with muffled laughter.
“Keenali Eveleigh, when did you learn to speak that way?”
The fairy giggled and shrugged. “Well, attend enough noble gatherings, and you begin to speak the pompous language. Was I threatening?”
“Yes, extremely. I’m sure it would also displease my wife if the trade deals between the Morphos Court and the Azure Kingdom were to end.”
At the mention of her, Keena’s brow creased with worry. “How is Marla feeling these days?”
The Commissioner’s smile faded away. A brief sadness reflecting in his eyes before it was gone. “She is doing well, thank you.” He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. “Returning to the matter at hand, the Magistrate has ordered their arrests. My hands are tied.”
Keena flew up to his face and poked his nose. “Veron, there is far more at stake here than capturing a wanted man. Their friend, the one I need to remind you a poacher holds captive, is aCelestial.”
Dyna’s heart lurched at the sudden revelation of Cassiel’s identity to another human.
The commissioner’s mouth opened and closed before it could form words. “A Celestial?”
“I bore witness to his self-healing myself,” Keena confirmed. They stared at each other, seeming to silently share something.
Zev squeezed Dyna’s hand as worry creased his face. Rawn and Lucenna braced themselves. She nodded to let them know it was all right. She trusted Keena, and if the fairy trusted this man, then so could they.
Veron snatched a quill from the inkwell on his desk and rapidly wrote on a page. “Celestials have not been seen in these parts for over five hundred years.”
Zev glared at him. “And with good reason, if you know their history with humans.”
“Yes, I’m fully aware,” the commissioner replied, rather flustered. “What is his full name? The bounty only provided the first.”
No one answered. They couldn’t.
Dyna squeezed her fists. She didn’t know all the rules of her immunity, but the main clause was to never reveal the existence of Celestials. It barred her from ever speaking about them. But what if it could save Cassiel’s life?
Veron looked up at their silence in exasperation. “Government officials of the Azure Kingdom are required to sign Rael’s Accords. I only know this because of my position. It’s confidential information, and I could lose my head if I spoke of it publicly. I can assure you the secret is safe with me.”
“Soaraway,” she answered in breathless relief.
The quill snapped in Veron’s fingers, ink splattering across the page. His eyes bulged wide. “Come again?”
By his reaction, he recognized the royal family name and the severity behind it.
Dyna squared her shoulders. “He is Prince Cassiel Soaraway, son of Yoel Soaraway, the High King of Hilos and the Four Celestial Realms.”
“By the gods.” He snatched a fresh quill, and the tip scratched quickly across a fresh page. “I’ll deliver this news to the Magistrate myself. Corporal Willam will have organized a unit of Azure Guards by now to go after Draven. We will free the prince within the hour.”
