They settled into a pair of wooden chairs just as distant thunder crackled through the skies. It was so loud, Eislyn clamped her hands over her ears. If it was that loud below decks, she could not begin to imagine what it had sounded like up there.
“Here, let’s play a game to pass the time.” A glass bottle landed heavily on the circular table between them. It was quickly followed by two mugs. “You guess something about me. If you’re right, I drink. If you’re wrong, then you drink.”
Eislyn couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that truly wise? We’re on a bouncing ship in the middle of a storm. We’ll both end up nauseated.”
“Those are rumors and nothing more.” He shot her a devilish grin. “Fae do not get nauseated on ships. Only humans do.”
She arched a brow, trying on a slight smile. “All right then. So, all I have to do is guess something about you, and you have to drink.”
He gave a nod, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back into his chair.
Eislyn regarded him carefully. She knew his face well, but she had never reallylookedat him before now. Not like this, considering every detail, noting every piece that made Vreis who he was. He was tall, even for a fae. In fact, there was nothing slight about him. His arms were corded with muscle, and Eislyn could tell he had a full chest beneath his leather armor. His hair was a light brown not often seen in the Air Court. He had the coloring of something else with his bronze skin, and an eye that was deeper than golden. And it crinkled in the corners when he smiled.
“You can trace some of your ancestors back to the fire lands,” Eislyn said, feeling confident in her choice. He did not have flaming red hair, but he did havesomethingabout him that felt like fire.
Vreis’s smile widened. “An obvious attempt, and a correct one. My great-grandmother was a fire fae.” He lifted his mug to his lips and drank deeply. “Now, it’s my turn. I’ll guess something about you, Eislyn.”
A little flutter went through her belly as his eyes roamed across her skin. It felt as if his gaze dug deep, revealing the darkest truths about her. She could feel his eyes flick to her wrists, back up to her face, and then...lower. Was this how he’d felt beneath her own gaze? There was a strange intimacy to it, one that made her flush. What would he say? What kind of truth would he reveal? She was almost scared to find out.
“You miss your sister,” he said simply.
She snorted a laugh. “And you saidminewas obvious.” Shaking her head, she took the drink. It burned all the way down, and then her belly turned as hot as coals.
“Alright then,” he said smiling. “Let’s make it harder this time. Nothing obvious. Nothing that we know is true. Real guesses now.”
Eislyn shifted on her seat, and the wood creaked beneath her. What could she guess about Vreis? Something that might be true. Something that wasn’t obvious. She glanced at his hands. They looked strong. Some of the skin on his palm looked rough. He clearly used them to great effect in his role as a guard.
But that was obvious.
Her eyes drifted to his leather armor. He’d donned a well-fitting tunic that stretched tight across his strong chest. There was no sigil on it. No splash of gold. She flicked up her gaze to meet his eyes. He was watching her just as intently as she watched him.
“You have no intention of returning to the Air Court.” Her voice was a hush when she spoke.
Vreis sighed, swirling the spirits in his wooden mug. “Is that one not obvious, princess?”
“But…of course you would return. Once Thane returns to Tairngire and throws Aengus off the throne, then…” She shook her head, eyes widening. “You don’t believe Thane will go home. You think he’s gone for good.”
“I’ll take my drink now.” Vreis tipped back the liquid and slammed the mug on the table.
“But you mustn’t give up. He wouldn’t abandon his throne.”He wouldn’t abandon me. “You don’t think…you think he’s dead.”
“No,” he finally said. “He isn’t dead. I believe he fled. Why, I cannot begin to imagine. I suppose he had good reason for it. If I were to guess, he felt his reign cursed. And he likely did not take his father’s betrayal well. Where to…? I have my theories.”
“Where?” Eislyn whispered, swallowing down the pain. Thane could not have left. If he had, it meant that he had turned his back on her. On everything they had shared. She was to become his wife, his queen.
“His mother’s family would likely welcome him gladly, particularly now. It won’t take long for them to learn what Aengus did to Imogen.”
“The sea fae.” Eislyn sat back into her chair, frowning. “If that’s true, then we should sail there first. We need to talk some sense into Thane, and—”
“Eislyn,” Vreis said quietly.
“What?” she snapped, though she immediately regretted her tone. Vreis had done nothing but help her, at so much expense to his own life, his own future, his own soul. He was only trying to help her now. Help her understand something she did not want to accept. Because it would mean that Thane was not the male she thought he was.
“You know I cannot take you to the Sea Court.” He spoke in low, measured tones, though his eyes were full of the fire of his ancestry. “They might not see you as a friend but as a foe. You could end up a prisoner in their wave-crashed castles, held as a ransom against your father.”
“You just said they would welcome Thane gladly. I am his betrothed.”
“You are an ice fae. And a princess at that.” He left the rest of his words unspoken, but she could hear them clearly enough. Eislyn was not Thane’s betrothed, not truly. They’d never had the chance to make that designation. Oh yes, he had meant to take her hand. Before he had vanished.
