Chapter 44
Aurora
After a fresh shower that Soren kept trying to turn dirty, we join the others downstairs in the dining room for breakfast.
The table is quiet. Clara, Mei, and Maeve sit on one side, while Caelum, Draven, and Arc sit on the other. The group of women chat softly. I take a seat beside Maeve, giving her a bright smile. Soren fills the gap between me and Draven, the incubus paying him no mind.
I eat in silence, trying to hear any whisper from Arc’s side of the table. Soren takes a more straightforward approach.
“What’s the plan?” he asks Arc.
Arc leans back in his chair, eyeing Soren. Caelum sits beside the icy lord, but when something catches his eye, I turn to see Camryn waltz into the room with a smile on her face. She looks even better than when we woke. She’s almost glowing.
She rounds the back of Caelum’s chair and bends to kiss him on the lips. “Good morning.”
Caelum beams up at her. “Someone’s feeling refreshed,” he murmurs softly to her.
She smiles. “Yes, quite.” She turns to give Maeve a friendly grin. “Thank you for the tip, Maeve.”
Her smile drops to a scowl when she looks at Arc, who watches the exchange with apathy. “Carry on,” she says as she slides into the seat beside Caelum.
Arc clears his throat, returning his attention to Soren. “Yes, well, we wait until we receive word from the rebellion that the king has been spotted.”
Draven’s voice lifts from the table. “You know I could fly offshore to see what we’re working with.”
Arc shakes his head. “No. I need you here. It’s too much of a risk to get too close to them before they reach land.”
Draven sits taller in his chair, his plate of food untouched. “But if I could get close to her, isolate her, I can find out what’s going on. What she’s up to.” His dark eyes churn as he glares at the cursed lord.
Arc’s eyes snap on his sentry. “I think that’s exactly what my father is expecting. She’s a pawn, and I won’t fall for it.”
Soren’s gaze shifts between the two males, listening intently as he chews. “What if I scout?”
“What?” I gasp, nearly dropping my fork.
He swallows, wiping his mouth. “Isolde doesn’t know we’ve aligned. Probably doesn’t expect it. What if I scout and can lure her away from the king long enough to learn of her intentions?”
I frown at the prospect of him being so close to her again. “Then I’m going with you.”
He turns his head to me, and I wait for him to demand I stay behind. Instead, he flashes his glorious smile at me. “I wouldn’t have expected anything less from My Flame.”
“And then what?” Caelum asks. “You get her attention. She spills the king’s secrets, and she just lets you walk away? Sure doesn’t sound like the Isolde I know.”
“Yeah, well, the Isolde you knew apparently stabbed you all in the back.” I lift my eyebrows at him.
Caelum narrows his eyes at me. “Fair point.”
I sigh and turn to Arc. “I will keep my mental shields down. This way, I can communicate everything with you. Perhaps you can wait nearby in case we need your help. After all, we’re not shifters like you.”
Arc nods.
Caelum stabs angrily at the eggs on his plate, and I know he must hate being kept away from the action, especially learning how close he was to Isolde. Camryn places her hand atop his, halting his movements. “It will be alright.” She gives him a soft smile, and he returns the gesture.
Camryn turns to Mei. “Are prophetic dreams always right? I mean, is there a chance it’s not actually her who’s with the king?”
Mei nods. “Nothing is set in stone. Even Maeve’s visions aren’t always right. People have free will, which alters visions. We can never be sure until something comes to pass, or it doesn’t.”
Camryn’s lips press into a hard line.
Having lost my appetite at the thought of coming face to face with Isolde again, I push my plate away and look at the cursed lord. “Where do you think we can find her?”
His icy eyes pierce mine. “I think I know just the place.”