“You don't have to marry him, Liv. There's still time for us to find some other way.” It had felt like an answered prayer at first, Raiden being freed from his arranged marriage, and Lavinia getting to rule her own kingdom the way she had confided in me that she wished to do.
But attaining Clestraya because she is forced to marry a demi-god she doesn't even know is not how I think my friend imagined her life. When I think about it, it's not so different from the universe deciding your mate for you.
She flicks her hand at me, as if she can erase my words with the simple motion. “There is no other way. Besides, he's not horrible to look at.” Her laugh is contagious, and I can't help but join her.
“Are you not worried he'll attempt to take over your throne?” I ask, my voice a soft whisper. Not growing up with much magic in our realm at least made things even, I've never had to worry about a male with magic stronger than mine.
She just gives me a sly smile. “Not in the slightest.”
There's more to whatever is going on there, but I don't get a chance to dig further because Raiden blurs to the space in front of us, pacing and running his hands through his hair. Gods, it takes a monstrous effort not to jump him and force him to fuck me like I need him to.
His eyes drag over mine, and a shiver rolls down my back. This man I wanted to throttle not that long ago has burrowed under my skin.
I'll tie him to the godsdamned bed if I have to.
“Hydreos commanded all of his children and followers to join the Clestrayan armada,” he announces.
“That's great news, right? Why don't you look happy?” I ask, pulling up to my knees.
“As luck would have it, Trisay is among those who worship Hydreos and follow his every command.”
I swear my eyebrows hit my hairline. “Can we trust the trolls?”
Raiden pushes his hands against his eyes. “I don't think we have much of a choice. We need all the bodies we can get. Who knows what Invidia will throw at us?”
“Have you heard from Father?” Lavinia asks, feigned boredom lacing her words as she inspects her nail beds.
“Do you mean has he responded to our news? Nothing beyond a letter stating the ships would be here within the week.” He holds out the piece of parchment so she can see for herself, and she snatches it from him.
“That's … concerning,” she says, scrunching her nose at the note.
“Your parents are sending their army. I'm choosing to focus on that instead of whatever retribution they'll require for us breaking off our engagement and my having subjected you to the potential danger of the sea god's realm.”
I nod my head, feeling like an outsider in their exchange, but trying to be supportive.
Nixie, the little water spirit assigned to our rooms, appears then. The first time her little blue body manifested before me, I thought I was hallucinating. The molecules of water stacked onto each other from mid-air, forming her not quite three-foot-tall, liquid figure.
She's holding a small golden plate with a note tented atop it. Raiden reaches to take the note, but Nixie evaporates and reappears near Livvy. When she speaks, it's soft and bubbly but distorted with an aqueous quality. “Sir Anyxander requests your presence this evening at dinner, Your Highness.” The little spirit bows.
“Please, Nixie, my name is Lavinia. You are not required to be so formal in my presence.” My friend smiles at Nixie and plucks the note from the plate.
“As you wish, Miss Lavinia. In that case, might I suggest showing a little extra skin at dinner tonight?” Nixie says, giving a playful wink before she evaporates again.
The three of us burst into laughter until our stomachs ache and tears stream down our faces.
“What a little minx!” I gasp out when I'm finally able to speak.
“I like her,” Lavinia says, rolling from her chaise and traipsing from the balcony with a sort of glow about her.
When she's gone, Raiden grabs my hips and pulls me into him. His fingers swirl in the fabric of my dress. I want him to rip it from me, but refuse to stoop so low as to beg for it.
“I have a favor to ask you,” he whispers against my mouth between kisses.
I can't think straight with him this close, but I manage a quiet, “Mm-hmm?”
He pulls back, leaving me wobbling and entranced at the edge of the chaise. The way the muscle at the top of his jaw pulses and the worry lines between his brows pull me out of my stupor.
“I need you to be by my side in Lukasia.” It wasn't what I had expected, and I'm a little offended that he even feels the need to say it.
