Tobias
My heart stopped before lurching back to life, pounding erratically as my eyes adjusted to the bright light. The world was a kaleidoscope of blues and greens, the sunshine blinding.
We were inside, but barely. The mirror we had walked through still rippled, the glass embedded into an enormous coral wall studded with seashells and precious stones.
A gilded doorway stood opposite us, gleaming in the sunlight, as did the castle behind it.
Its pale stone walls were softened by centuries of salt and sun and veined with gold.
Arched open air windows exposed us to the sea air and endless blue waters of the Namaris—the ocean that surrounded Mayim.
The city had been built atop a series of canals, the waterways serving as the streets upon which small boats floated beneath the pedestrian-covered bridges. Water poured endlessly from a carved creature’s mouth into the canal below, each drop sparkling in the sunlight.
Everything was too loud, too bright, too much. I sucked in a ragged breath, then another, each more shallow than the last. The heated air only scorched my throat.
My panic fought back the more I attempted to push it away, trying to break free before I could cage it again.
Clenching my fists around the straps of my bag hard enough to indent the cording into my palms, I used the limestone floors beneath my feet to ground myself in the knowledge that I was inside, even as I felt completely exposed.
The oppressive heat bore down on me, the sun unrelenting. I squeezed my eyes shut against my body’s reminder that light meant pain…especially mine.
My sword felt too heavy on my back, the metal heating against my skin.
My brain screamed for me to run back to the mirror and back to the sanctuary of Soleara.
My hand reached for Duskbane’s hilt of its own accord—though there was nothing to fight, no foe to vanquish except the fear searing my soul.
Familiar footsteps came up beside me. I opened my eyes, already knowing it was Quinn.
Her eyes were wide with concern. “Are you okay?”
Apparently, my panic wasn’t as inconspicuous as I had hoped. At least Rivan and Pari had walked through the entryway ahead of us, the heavy door still swinging. I opened my mouth to reply to her, but only a choked, stunted sound came out.
“No, you’re not okay,” Quinn whispered softly, almost to herself. “What just happened?”
My muscles were locked so tight my entire body tremored.
Sweat dripped down my back. I tried once more to form an answer—or even to breathe—and only managed a loud gasp for air.
The scar around my neck tightened as I tried to regain control, spots forming in my vision as my mental prison evaded my grasp.
Quinn moved in front of me, her amber eyes filled with alarm. I could feel my magic rise in response, reaching toward her as steadily as I wished I would.
“Breathe, Tobias,” she pleaded.
She took my hand, her touch immediately grounding, and breathed in for a careful four count.
I zeroed in on the sound of her exhale, forcing myself to match it.
When she breathed in again, I sucked in a gulp of air along with the sweet, floral scent of her—immediately relaxing as I held it in my lungs.
I couldn’t help but focus on the way her thumb rubbed against the back of my hand as we breathed in tandem. My every thought narrowed to the heat of her palm. How easy it would be to tug her closer…
Reluctantly, I pulled away, putting some much-needed distance between us. “I don’t need you to—”
“Don’t bother lying to me, Maris.”
Before I could put together a reply, she stomped away. I found myself hypnotized by the sway of her hips as I followed.
Quinn heaved the large doors open, and a bright smile spread across her face as she curtseyed. “Nice to see you again, Queen Sariyah.”
I bowed my head as I recognized Mayim’s queen through the doorway, then quickly followed Quinn inside with our bags.
Pari looked at me quizzically from where she stood next to an impatient-looking Rivan, likely concerned about our delay in following them.
I pointedly avoided her gaze, keeping my eyes fixed on the queen.
Queen Sariyah offered me a matching tilt of her head—a sign of respect from one ruler to another.
She looked ageless, though I knew she had to have at least a few hundred years on me.
Her sea-green gown exposed large diamonds of dark brown skin around her waistline, the long slits in her skirt revealing her legs as she walked.
Her black hair was braided atop her head, surrounded by a sapphire crown.
Her almost equally regal companion bowed at her side.
He had an aristocratic air to him, a certain refined look about his expression.
The deep vee of his blue shirt revealed the olive skin of his chest and jet-black hair brushed against his shoulders, half of it tied up in a sleek bun.
Piercing gray eyes met mine. There was something familiar about them despite my certainty we hadn’t yet met.
“Thank you for hosting us,” I managed, my tone coming out curt in my efforts to keep my voice steady.
Being marked as rude was better than allowing the stutter I couldn’t seem to shake garner the pitying looks that only made it worse.
Not that either was the best trait for a ruler who needed some semblance of diplomacy.
It was one of the many reasons I was in Quinn’s debt after she took on so many of my public duties.
“It’s the least I can do for our High Queen,” Queen Sariyah insisted.
The soft consonants and rounded syllables of her accent had an effortless elegance to it, refined and musical.
Her wise turquoise eyes took me in, her irises the same shade as the ocean peeking through the domed structures and colorful facades of the buildings that surrounded this palace.
When she turned that stare on Pari and Rivan, it was a relief to be released from her gaze.
“I trust there was no change from your last update?”
Rivan held up a piece of paper that must have arrived while we were still outside.
“Marin says the statis worked, and Eva seems to have stabilized. Thank you again for sending the healers to help her. As far as Silvius…the Imyrian rangers we sent to search for him have a few potential new leads,” Rivan added in a low voice, as if careful not to be overheard.
“Which I’m told they already shared with your city guard. ”
He didn’t sound happy about that development.
Mayim had been overrun by the False King’s supporters during the war, zealots who embraced Aviel’s tyrannical vision of the mortal realm kneeling before fae they didn’t even realize existed.
It wasn’t hard to see why Silvius had hidden here.
And now we had proof they remained—and were likely sheltering him.
I wasn’t about to stick to social niceties, especially when it pertained to my sister’s life. “Are we sure those involved can be trusted with that information? After all, Silvius managed to get away once already.”
Rivan sighed, but the twitch of Quinn’s mouth seemed amused if not approving of my lack of diplomacy.
Queen Sariyah’s gaze turned steely as her eyes flicked back to me. “My guard are as trustworthy as your rangers.”
“We kept the circle of those in the know small,” Rivan cut in smoothly. “Just to be safe.”
“Though if there is a leak, this will be a good test,” Pari muttered loud enough for me to hear.
From the look on Queen Sariyah’s face, she hadn’t missed it either, though she chose to ignore it.
She glanced at her companion, then gave us a practiced smile.
“This is Dolion, the head of the Enclave’s research ward.
He’ll personally help you search for a cure, as I’m told you’ve already discussed.
You’ll find that my healers are the best in all of Agadot and my researchers second to none.
I have no doubt we’ll be able to find the cure you’re looking for. ”
Dolion gave a short bow, his eyes fixed on Quinn. “Lovely to meet you, my dear.”
I stiffened, resisting the primal urge to step in front of her. His expression might be mild but the look in his eyes made me scowl in a blatant lapse of control.
“Oh!” Quinn exclaimed happily. “You’re the one I’ve been writing to about my research.”
I inwardly bristled at the excitement in her voice. For some reason, I had been picturing someone a little less handsome. He seemed young to be the head of anything. If he were human, I would have guessed late-thirties, though I knew he was likely much older than that.
“The same,” Dolion simpered. I straightened as he stepped forward, my entire body tensing as he lifted Quinn’s hand to his lips.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet face-to-face.
As I hope I’ve already expressed, you are most welcome here.
I’m looking forward to continuing our conversations…
and examining the samples you’ve brought with you, of course. ”
Power surged to my fingertips, angry and burning. I clenched my fists against the light that tried to escape me, letting the sparks sear into my palms. The pain was a welcome reminder to ground myself. A reminder that I had no right to Quinn, or to the jealousy now crowding my chest.
I cleared my throat, walking closer. Dolion had the good sense to release Quinn’s hand as I stepped between them.
“I’ll be accompanying Quinn while Pari and Rivan see about tracking down Silvius.” I raised both bags—magically light despite their contents and far smaller than they should be for what they contained. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
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