Krilene shook her head. “You don’t know the truth of thereykr, do you? What they were made for. How their magic works?—”
“Callamus and Rulene support Mariah and her cause. Bondedreykrand all.”
Both Krilene and Quentin blinked at Delaynie’s abrupt interruption. Krilene sat forward, interest lighting her stormy gaze. “They do?”
Delaynie nodded. “Without hesitation. Callamus is the reason I and many in Mariah’s Court were able to flee Verith after Kol was freed.”
Krilene sat back, smooth brow furrowed. Power swirled and pulsed through the room, as if testing them both. It licked and lapped at Quentin’s skin like waves, and he held back the shudder that ached to roll through him. His stomach tipped like he was on a stormy sea, and he rocked back into the wall, suddenly off balance.
Krilene cocked her head at him curiously. “Interesting,” she said finally, slowly peeling her gaze from him. “Rulene was once like a sister to me. I trust her judgment more than I trust anything else in this world. For that reason, and that reason alone, I will offer you what help I can.”
Quentin straightened, regaining his composure. Delaynie similarly leaned forward.
Finally, some progress.
“In two days,” the goddess said, “Lord Varyn will be hosting his High Tide Soiree at his manor. He always has it shortly after the Solstice. On my instruction, he will invite you both, and you will attend.”
Quentin and Delaynie shared a glance. “How will attending a party help us learn what we came here to find?” Delaynie asked.
Krilene stood, skirts flowing around her like frothed waves. “Lord Varyn will only give his help if you earn it. Prove to him that you can hold your own in his court. Prove that Onitans are capable of adaptation and change, as you claim to be. If you do this, he may just choose to help you.” She shrugged. “Or not. Like the water, Varyn is fickle. But that is the help I offer, and I can promise you will have no better options.”
Quentin tightened his jaw. “Fine. We’ll do it.” A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I think we can handle a little party. What do you say, Del?”
Her eyes glimmered. “For once, Quentin, I agree.”
“I should warn you,” Krilene said, and her grin carried enough secrets to send a shiver up Quentin’s spine. “This will be no ordinary party. If you balk at anything, Varyn will know. You either go, committed to doing whatever it takes, or you stay home.”
“Whatever it is, we can handle it.” Delaynie’s voice was fierce and firm. Quentin blinked at the sureness in her words. A few stray strands of auburn had slipped from the braided knot atop her head, creamy skin still tinged pink from their days at sea.
He yanked his stare away, swallowing hard. Looking at her like that would do no one any good. They would get through this party, prove themselves to Varyn, get what they needed, and go home.
Simple. Easy. Uncomplicated.
Krilene chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that. Regardless of what happens, I wish you both the best.” The goddess’s robes billowed as she breezed to the door, vanishing into the hall as abruptly as she’d arrived.
“Fuck.”
Quentin whirled at Delaynie’s low curse, eyebrows hitting his hairline. “Language, little wolf!” he teased, fully grinning now.
Her frown only deepened. “I just realized I have nothing to wear.”
Chapter 61
Exhaustion burned behind Andrian’s eyes. He rubbed at them, blinking against the mid-morning light.
He hadn’t slept much last night. But honestly? He didn’t mind a single bit.
Not with so much foreign happiness bubbling up in his chest. Not with the scent of moonlit jasmine and cedarwood still on his skin, not with the taste of Mariah still on his lips.
His eyes snapped open, landing on the back of her head as if pulled there by a tether. Her dark hair shone in the sunlight, swaying across her back as she rode on Kodie between Matheo and Signe. Bright laughter drifted back to him on the breeze, pulling a smile to his lips.
They were on their way to thestaor, one of the few places on the continent with a deeply rooted magical connection to the god’s plane. It was a day’s ride from Eyarfell, and Callamus had asked them to wait until the morning after the Solstice, when the energy would be at its peak. Finally, Mariah’s magic would be unlocked, all that glorious light set free.
He was happy. And seeing her happy, too? There was nothing sweeter.
His nose burned like fire, his chest closing in. Andrian sneezed, rocking back in his saddle. He caught a flash of forest green as Mariah glanced back at him, a bit of a wince and a lot of humor on her face.
“You claim Leuxrithian blood, yet the coats of thebrusido not agree with you?”
