Chapter 48
The thick, humid air muffled our footsteps as we followed the commander through the palace. Moisture clung to my skin, beading across my arms and face. Damp strands of hair curled at Rìan's temples as he glared straight ahead, never once looking in my direction.
I was too anxious to appreciate the palace itself—the sweeping arches that resembled cresting waves, the opalescent gleam of the polished floors, or the breathtaking view of Pelaga beyond the wide windows, where fish glided through the endless blue.
What were we doing marching straight toward the High Lord of the Tidelands?
When I'd met Thalassis in Solmire, he'd seemed kind. Easygoing. He'd sympathized with Aedric and even pitied me before the Full Circle. That had been before. What would he think now, seeing me standing beside the very Dark Prince they sought to destroy?
Would he let me explain what had happened—if I even could—or would he kill us both on sight, stripping every drop of moisture from our bodies the way he'd desiccated Hyperia?
The commander led us to a pair of tall stone doors and pushed them open.
The room beyond was far smaller than I'd expected.
Rather than a grand audience chamber, it felt more like a private retreat, somewhere reserved for trusted friends rather than formal diplomacy.
Plush chairs upholstered in sea-green fabric were arranged around a low table of shining mother-of-pearl, crystal decanters filled with colorful spirits resting alongside bowls of unfamiliar fruit.
Thalassis lay sprawled across a velvet divan.
He'd traded the scaled vest I'd seen him wear in Solmire for loose linen trousers and a matching vest left unfastened.
The stark white fabric only deepened the rich dark hues of his skin, making the brilliant ocean-blue of his eyes stand out against it.
Tiny fragments of shell and sea glass had been woven throughout his long braids, chiming softly together as he turned toward us.
Behind us, the commander folded into a deep bow and turned at once on his heel.
Leaving us alone.
Beside me, Rìan's eyes flared—only for an instant, the silver brightening almost imperceptibly before settling once more.
Thalassis didn't seem to notice. His gaze lingered on Rìan, his brows knitting together, deep vertical lines appearing between them. Then his attention shifted to me.
My mouth turned to dust as the silence stretched.
Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the confusion vanished. His entire face split into a broad, genuine grin, flashing bone white teeth.
"Well, my friend," he boomed, rising fluidly to his feet. "You’ve definitely looked better."
Before I could make sense of the smile, Rìan stepped forward with an easy swagger I didn’t recognize.
Gone was the cold composure he always carried.
In its place was effortless confidence, a crooked, almost arrogant smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
It was like he’d transformed into an entirely different person.
"Your guards have gotten a lot friendlier since last time.”
Thalassis tipped back his head and roared with laughter. He strode forward and clapped Rìan on the shoulder with a heavy hand, looking him up and down, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “You didn’t hurt them too badly, did you?”
He shrugged. “Not terribly.” His gaze sharpened, his smile turning dangerous. “Though your commander punished one guard—for the mistreatment of my woman.”
I blinked at his words, shocked by them. Thalassis’s demeanor sombered immediately. His lips pursed in anger as he took in the blood smeared across the side of my face. My magic had healed my cuts and bruises somewhere along the way, but the blood was still there.
“That,” Thalassis bowed his head. “I deeply apologize for. It won’t happen again.”
“No it won’t,” drawled Rìan. “Because he’s dead.”
“Good.” Thalassis said at once. He lifted my chin with a knuckle, his eyes sparkling once more. “How are you, Elowen?”
I nodded, too confused about the situation to speak.
“How’s your control these days? Is this one helping at all?” he elbowed Rìan, who rubbed his ribs and chuckled.
“We’re working on it, but her magic’s still not responding well.
I think it’s her human side,” Rìan tilted his head, appraising me.
I frowned back at him. “She has too much heart to be like her kindred. She doesn’t have the vicious side they had.
” He winked at me and something in my stomach fluttered uncomfortably.
“Unless she’s defending her mate, that is.
Then she’s a force to be reckoned with.”
"Lucky male." Thalassis directed the words at Rìan, but his gaze lingered on me. Something shifted behind his eyes.
"Don't I know it," Rìan replied, the smugness in his voice so effortless it scarcely sounded like him at all.
Thalassis sighed, shaking his head. "Thank the gods you had the good sense to wipe out the Eidrae when you did.” My blood ran cold at the ease with which he said it. “Had there been any left to free when the Veil fell, we'd all be dead by now."
Rìan gave him a pointed look before inclining his head toward me. Thalassis winced.
"My apologies, Elowen," he said immediately. "That was thoughtless of me. I don't blame you for what happened with the Veil. I know better than most how easily one can fall prey to the Dark Prince's manipulations." He cast Rìan a meaningful look. "He's a cunning monster."
"Indeed." Rìan's lips quirked. He gestured toward the table laden with crystal decanters. "Now where's that infamous Pelagan hospitality?"
"Don't worry." Thalassis batted a long-fingered hand. "I've prepared well for your arrival. My bar is fully stocked and ready for the High Lord of the Bottomless Decanter."
Rìan laughed loudly.
Thalassis crossed to the table, selected three crystal flutes, and poured amber liquor from one of the decanters with a theatrical flourish. I narrowed my eyes at Rìan's smile. For all its breadth, his dimple failed to make an appearance.
Thalassis returned, handing each of us a glass before sweeping a hand toward a cluster of armchairs gathered around a low stone plinth. We took our seats. I studied my flute for a moment before setting it aside.
"Well?" Thalassis gestured toward the plinth. "Will you do the honours?"
Rìan sighed dramatically. “You reduce me to cheap parlor tricks."
Thalassis pressed a hand to his chest. "Ah, but what a luxury for an old water-wielder such as myself."
Rìan snorted and flicked his wrist toward the stone. Nothing happened.
Still, Thalassis immediately leaned forward, holding his hands out with obvious delight. "Perfect."
Rìan settled languidly back into his chair, swirling the liquid in his glass before taking a slow, measured sip.
Thalassis straightened, crossing one leg casually over the other, his expression suddenly sober. “I heard about Solmire.”
Rìan said nothing, just stared straight ahead of him at the empty plinth before him. He just nodded.
Thalassis tutted darkly, a mournful look on his face. “A tragedy.”
"Yes." Rìan lowered his eyes.
I stared at him. What was happening?
"You were there, Elowen?" Thalassis asked, turning to me. Concern softened his features.
Over the rim of his glass, Rìan fixed me with a hard look. Answer.
"Yes." My voice cracked on the single word.
Thalassis waited.
"I think..." My throat constricted. "I think I'll carry those screams with me for the rest of my life."
Rìan’s glowing eyes settled on me with that same unreadable intensity.
"Terrible," Thalassis murmured, shaking his head, the shells and beads woven through his braids tinkling softly. "Truly terrible."
I didn't understand any of this. Thalassis had stood beside Aedric before the Full Circle. He'd spoken to him as an ally, perhaps even a friend. Yet he welcomed the Dark Prince into his home with open arms, sharing drinks and speaking of Solmire as though they had always stood on the same side.
It turned my stomach. How many members of the Full Circle had betrayed their own?
"Have there been any attacks in the Tidelands?" Rìan asked, though his eyes remained fixed on my face.
"None so far, thank the gods." Thalassis drained the last of his wine before reaching for the decanter and refilling his glass.
He offered to top off Rìan's, but Rìan declined with a raised hand.
"You know these lands aren’t much use to anyone, especially not the Firstborn—not since we flooded them to drive out the Vaelorii.
Most of the Court lies beneath the sea, and what land remains is little more than swamp and marsh—uninhabitable for most."
He took another sip.
"The Brinnekin have always been something of a nuisance, but they're hardly worth the trouble. Besides..." A slow smile spread across his face. "They have a very useful habit of eating trespassers."
He gave a contented sigh. “We’re quite fortunate.”
Rìan inclined his head. "I'm glad to hear it." His gaze settled on me in silent expectation.
“As am I,” I managed, dipping my chin.
"Well." Rìan set down his glass, still nearly full, and rose to his feet, giving me a subtle nod to do the same. "Thank you for welcoming us to Pelaga. After everything that’s happened, I wanted her to see a Court that remained... untouched."
"The pleasure is mine. Inviting you was the least I could do." Thalassis drained the last of his wine before standing. He clasped Rìan's forearm, then pulled him into a brief embrace, clapping him firmly on the back. "Stay as long as you like."
His aquamarine eyes settled on me. He took my hand gently, turning it over before pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "Having an Eidra beneath my roof..." He shook his head, his smile widening to reveal his perfect, even teeth. "I've always had a weakness for dangerous things."
Rìan's jaw flexed.
"Unfortunately," Rìan said, threading his arm around my waist, "you'll have to seek your danger elsewhere, Thalassis. This Eidra is as harmless as a lamb." His eyes slid to me. "My lamb."
I shot him a murderous glare.
Thalassis laughed. "Careful, Aedric. Your lamb looks ready to tear out your throat."
The words ripped through my mind.
Careful, Aedric.
My gaze snapped to Rìan. One corner of his mouth curved upward ever so slightly, as though he'd been wondering how long it would take me to catch on.
My blood turned to fire.
Rìan extended an arm toward me. I took it, my fingers curling into claws against the hard muscle beneath his sleeve.
"I'll have my servants escort you to your suite," Thalassis said brightly. "Take the day to recover.” He looked between us, putting a hand on each of our shoulders. "But tomorrow night, we eat, we drink, we dance—and for a few hours, we forget the rest of the world."