I glanced out the window at the sun that had only barley crested the horizon. “It seems a bit early for an excursion,” I told him. “I’m surprised you’re not in bed like the rest of the palace, sleeping off last night’s hangover.”
Prentis chuckled. “I didn’t drink as much as everyone else did… and besides, this is part of my master plan, to get some alone time with you before the rest of the court wakes up.” He winked at me.
I hesitated, glancing at the door. “I should check with Einar, see if he wants to come with us. He’d be furious if he found out that I left without telling him.” In fact, I was surprised he hadn’t come barging in here already, considering that he was right across the hall.
“I see.” Prentis’s mouth flattened. “I didn’t realize Einar was your keeper.”
“He’s not,” I said, trying and failing to keep the defensive tone from my voice. “But he is my protector, and I know that if I were in his shoes, I’d be upset if I left without at least telling him. And if I tell him, I know he’ll want to come with us.”
“I’ll tell you what.” Prentis strode over to the small writing desk in my room, plucked a quill from its holder, then held it out to me. “Why don’t you write him a note and slide it under his door? That way you can tell him where you are without disturbing his sleep.”
“Prentis…”
He sighed, setting the quill back down. “Listen, Adara,” he said, taking my hand. His touch didn’t spark an electrical jolt in me the way Einar’s did, but I couldn’t deny the pleasant warmth that spread within me. “I realize you have misgivings about marrying me. If I’m honest, I’m not entirely sure about marrying you either. But I do know Lady Axlya is correct that a civil union between us is the best way to garner support from the realm for your claim to the throne.
“Is that why Lady Axlya offered my hand to the other clan leaders’ sons last night?” I asked, a little more tartly than intended. “Because she supports this match so strongly?”
Prentis scowled. “She didn’t mean that,” he said, though I wasn’t sure I believed him. “She hasn’t been happy with my progress in courting you, and she wanted to remind me you have other options.”
“I see.” I pressed my mouth together to hold back the barbed words biting into my tongue. It was one thing to know that Lady Axlya viewed me as a pawn, another thing to see her dangle me amongst the courtiers of her house as a bargaining chip.
Prentis sighed at my expression. “You don’t have to marry me if you don’t want to, Adara. But before you reject me, don’t you think we spend time with each otherwithoutour friends and family looking over our shoulders and eavesdropping on every word, so we can see if there’s any compatibility between us at all?”
Genuine sincerity burned in his eyes as he looked at me, and I reminded myself that not long before he came in, I’d already told myself that I would do whatever it took to complete my mission. The most important thing was completing the ritual, and that meant going along with Lady Axlya’s wishes, at least for now. If Prentis thought he had no chance of convincing me to marry him, he would tell her that, and she would call off the ceremony.
I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Of course.” I squeezed his hand, giving him what I hoped was a sincere smile. “You’re right. We should spend more time together, see if there could be something between us. Why don’t you give me a minute to change, and I’ll meet you downstairs in ten minutes?”
“Your wish is my command.” He sketched a courtly bow, then gave me some privacy.
I changed into the wetsuit, taking a minute to unclasp Einar’s cuff from my bicep so it wouldn’t get caught on the material. I held the heavy gold piece up so it caught the rays of light streaming through the window, studying the ruby colored primal stone set in the center. The stone had been dull and lifeless after I’d drained its magic to kill Aolis, but it glittered with vitality now, sparks of magic swirling in its depths. I knew it no longer held even a tenth of the power it had gathered while Einar had been asleep, but it was good to see it had some reserves once more.
Once I pulled the sleeves of my suit on, I re-clasped the cuff over my bicep. It occurred to me that the cuff had replaced the magic-suppressing amulet Mother had forced me to wear all my life, though its purpose was the opposite. The first had been given to hide and protect me, the other had been given to empower and amplify my magic so I could protect myself.
But both had one thing in common—I never took them off. Not even to sleep.
Finished dressing, I crept into the hallway, my note for Einar clutched in my hand. I hovered outside his door for a moment, wondering if I should wake him up and tell him to accompany. I could tell Prentis that the sound of me sliding the note under the door had alerted him, and Einar would be more than happy to insist that coming along was his idea.
But that was the coward’s way out. Hiding behind others had never been my style, and I wasn’t about to start now. Besides, the fact that Einar hadn’t woken of his own accord meant he was deeply asleep. The poor guy had to be exhausted after the events of the last few days, especially since I’d woken him up early yesterday.
No, it was better to let him sleep. I could handle Prentis on my own. He was trying to marry me, after all, not kill me. And I could do with a break from their constant male posturing every time they were around each other.
I slipped the note under Einar’s door, then went downstairs and met Prentis outside. Two kelpies—horse-like creatures who could assume different forms on land and water—were saddled and waiting for us, the morning light casting a golden tint on their shimmering ivory coats. The sight of them evoked a memory I’d nearly forgotten about, of me galloping away from the tryout fields on the back of Butterfly, Mavlyn’s horse, leaving a trail of fiery destruction in my wake. I’d fled straight to my mother, hoping she would save me, hoping she would make sense of the maelstrom of confusion that had become my life.
Instead, I’d brought shadows to her door. And those shadows had been following me ever since.
“Are you ready to go?” Prentis asked, gazing curiously at me. His hand was outstretched, and I realized that I’d probably been staring off into space for several seconds.
“Yes, sorry.” Shaking the memory free, I took his hand and allowed him to help me onto one of the kelpies. “I was just wondering why we didn’t ride these to the temple, instead of the sea horses. Not that I’m complaining,” I added as Prentis swung himself up onto his own mount. “That was an amazing experience.”
Prentis chuckled. “It’s a valid question from someone who’s not intimately acquainted with the creatures of our realm,” he said, urging his kelpie forward into a trot. My mount dutifully followed. “While kelpies and seahorses are both underwater creatures, their habitats are different. Kelpies are freshwater creatures, while seahorses prefer saltwater. A seahorse would not do very well in a lake, and while a kelpie can swim in the ocean for short periods of time, they can't travel as many fathoms deep as is required to reach the water temple.”
“That makes sense.” I stroked the side of my kelpie’s neck, noting that its hide smelled distinctly of lake water. “I’m guessing that as leader of the lake fae, you prefer to ride kelpies?”
Prentis sighed. “Actually, though I do lead the lake fae, I have more of an affinity for the ocean,” he said as we passed through the palace gates and into the city. The cobbled streets gave way to canals, and the kelpies smoothly transitioned into their water forms, their manes turning to fins and their hindquarters elongating into a mermaid-like tail as they sank until we were thigh-deep in the water. “My animal form is an orca, in case you didn’t notice. Not exactly a lake dwelling creature.”
He gave me a wry smile that didn’t quite mask his frustration. “If you’re an ocean fae, then why did Lady Axlya assign you a lake fae fiefdom?” I asked, frowning.
