Prentis’s other eyebrow winged up as he looked back at Einar. “I didn’t know dragons preferred their females unconscious.”
I expected Einar to lose his temper at that, but he only smirked. “Believe me, Lord Prentis, if I’d bedded Adara last night, you would have heard. As well as every servant and soldier within these palace walls.”
The sensual confidence in Einar’s voice slid down my spine like a lover’s caress, and I clenched my legs together at the sudden rush of heat between them. “That’s enough of that,” I said hotly, swinging said legs over the side of the bed before Einar and Prentis could come to blows. “I’m guessing that Einar snuck into the infirmary last night to watch over me, and that you’re pissed about it because he didn’t stay quietly wherever you put him. But it’s hisjob to protect me,Lord Prentis. Did you truly expect anything less of him?”
Prentis seemed taken aback as I approached him, not caring in the least that I was barefoot and clad in only a thin, white nightgown. “Protection from what, Cousin Adara? You are with your people now—”
“We were brought to your palace as prisoners,” I interrupted, the memories falling into place now that I was properly awake. “I fainted from sickness and exhaustion moments after arriving on your doorstep. And while I thank you and your healer for treating me, I can’t help wondering why you’re so adamant about keeping away the one person in all of Ediria who has made it his mission to make sure I stay alive and safe. The only reason I can think for you to do that is that you have ill intentions, Lord Prentis. Is that the case?”
Prentis’s lips thinned, and the room grew so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. I could feel Einar’s stare boring into me, but I didn’t dare turn to look at him. Even so, the heat of his gaze sent a flush up the back of my neck, and I had to clench my hands at my sides to keep myself from shivering.
“I realize that we’ve gotten off to a rough start,” Prentis said after a long moment. Einar scoffed loudly at this, but Prentis ignored him, his face softening into an earnest expression. He clasped my hand in both of us. “But you are family, Adara, and I would never want any harm to come to you. You have to know that.”
I bit back a sigh, not entirely certain I believed Prentis’s pretty words. But the fact remained that I needed allies in the water realm, and Prentis was as good a place to start as any. I didn’t know what kind of game he was playing, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t play my own while I figured it out. If I wanted him to help me, I was going to have to pretend like his charms were working on me.
“I appreciate that, Lord Prentis,” I demurred, lowering my lashes. “I admit, I have always been curious about my water fae heritage. I was raised in earth fae lands all my life, and had very little contact with water fae. I’ve never been very good at using my water magic, and I’m hoping I might fix that now that I’m here with you.”
Prentis nodded gravely. “A genuine tragedy, to have been kept from your birthright for so long.” He squeezed my hand once, then released it. “Lady Axlya will test your abilities in Usciete. I spoke to her last night, and she is expecting us tomorrow.”
“So soon?” I asked, surprised. “But doesn’t that mean we’ll have to leave today?”
“Yes.” He glanced sideways at Einar. “And unfortunately, Axlya has given express instructions that your dragon wear shackles while he is on water fae land.”
“Shackles?” I repeated, outraged. “I thought I made myself clear—”
Prentis held up a hand. “I understand your position completely,” he said, “and if there was anything I could do about it, I would. But I cannot gainsay the head of my house, Cousin Adara. Axlya’s word is law in these lands. You should be lucky she’s allowing Einar to accompany you to the capital at all.”
I glanced at Einar, expecting him to be as furious as I was. But to my surprise, he only shrugged.
“Doesn’t bother me,” he said, holding his hands out to Prentis. “If putting irons on me will help Lord Prentis maintain the illusion that he’s the superior male, I’m all for it.”
He winked at me, and I nearly choked.
“That’s clever, dragon,” Prentis said. His tone was mild, but there was a tic fluttering in his jaw, betraying his anger. “But playing mind games with me won’t change anything.”
“I’m not playing any mind games.” Einar smirked. “Just pointing out the obvious. I’m happy to agree to any demands Lady Axlya makes if it will ensure that I stay by Adara’s side. But make no mistake, Lord Prentis,” he said, a dangerous glint entering his golden eyes. “If you harm even a single hair on Adara’s head, there are no shackles in this world strong enough to stop me from ripping out your heart, shoving it down your throat, and watching you choke on it with your dying breath.”
“Charming.” Prentis drawled. “But I’ve no wish to hurt Adara. In fact, if any harm comes to her while she’s in my care, I’ll gladly tear my heart out and offer it to you myself.” He turned to me with a smile. “Now, why don’t we let the healer have a look at you so we can pack up and be on our way?”
8
Mavlyn
“Is this really how you three snuck into Wynth last time?” Mavlyn hissed as she and Leap emerged through a manhole cover into an alley behind a grocery shop. She stomped her boots on the cobblestones, trying to shake off the muck from the sewer, still breathing shallowly through her mouth to minimize the stench.
“No,” Leap said as he clambered out after her. He scrubbed a hand through his spiky white hair, and Mavlyn shook her head, unable to understand how he’d managed to remain spotless after they’d trekked three miles in an underground maze filled with rat dung, sewer water, and other unpleasant things. “We took the surface streets last time, but I didn’t want to risk running into Storm or his cronies this time around.”
“Fair enough.” Mavlyn followed Leap out of the alleyway and into a charming section of the city filled with boutique shops and restaurants. Their doors and shutters were closed against the frigid wind, the tiny cobblestone streets empty save for the gently falling snowflakes collecting on their surfaces. But Mavlyn wasn’t surprised—it was well after midnight, as it had taken a full day for them to fly back to Wynth from Lochanlee.
She hadn’t thought to find herself here again so soon, and especially not without Adara and Einar. But when she and Leap had attempted to follow their friends’ trail, they’d run straight into a rainstorm. The downpour had been so heavy and vicious, Leap couldn’t use his wind magic to cut a path through the rain clouds.
It was clear someone was using water fae magic to stop anyone from pursuing Adara, so they’d attempted to circumvent it by flying to Usciete—where, Leap reasoned, Adara would eventually end up—rather than following Adara directly. That had worked better, but the moment Leap and Mavlyn had gone to the ground, patrolling water fae soldiers had set upon them with orders to bring “any foreign fae without proper documentation” to the capital for questioning. They’d barely escaped, and had nearly been caught in another magical storm before they’d made it across the Lochanlee border and back into neutral fae territory.
With no way to get to Adara, they’d decided to go and find the only person who they could trust to help them.
The Oracle.
Looking past the building rooflines, Mavlyn gazed at the air temple looming above the city, the brilliant arcs of electricity emanating from the tips of its spires blazing like stars falling to the earth. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of coming face to face with Quye again—their first encounter had been brief, but the Oracle’s mischievous smile and electric blue eyes had haunted Mavlyn’s dreams ever since. She wondered if Quye was watching them even now, perhaps from a balcony high atop one of the spires, her wild mane of snow-white curls whipping in the wind as she waited for their arrival.
