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His eyes met mine for a long moment, as if he was waiting for something. When I stared back, the ghost of a smile curved his mouth, and he leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

He moved away to speak to Cavis, and I caught sight of a huge building in the distance at the edge of the city. The building was a sprawl of towers, connected by bridges and passages of marble and stone hanging in the air. Was that where Rythos’s family lived?

Two women with long, dark hair approached from across the street, hand in hand. One of the women was all lush curves, while the other was tall and muscled, a dagger in the sheath at her hip.

Rythos handed the uniformed fae a heavy purse. Clearly, we were bribing our way through this part of our plan. The taller woman narrowed her eyes at Rythos, and both women picked up their pace, until they were standing close to him. Did they know Rythos’s plans? Were they here to stop us?

The taller woman could have been his sister, with the same dark skin and a dimple in the exact same spot when Rythos muttered something that made her crack a smile.

“There’s something about them,” I murmured, staring at the women. They were in love, yes, but they looked at each other with something deeper.

“They’re mates,” Cavis said, strolling toward us.

“Mates?” Conreth’s words came back to me. He’d said his aunt and uncle were mates. But his tone hadn’t invited me to ask exactly what it meant.

“It doesn’t happen often,” Lorian said, stepping up next to Cavis. “For those in power, it is often ignored. My brother’s mate was a serving girl he met in a tavern before our parents died. When he took over the throne, he knew he had to marry, and he needed a match that would cement him on the throne.”

“He could do that? What happens if you don’t choose your mate?”

Lorian sighed. “Meeting your mate, knowing who they are—this is seen as fate tapping you on the shoulder and pointing you toward the one who would be your perfect match. Sometimes, that timing doesn’t work. Besides, it’s incredibly rare for fae to find their mates. And just because fate has chosen for them, does not mean they need to go along with her whims.” He gave me a look, and I smirked back. He knew my thoughts about fate interfering with our lives.

“Do you think Conreth regrets it? Leaving her there?”

Lorian shrugged. “I can’t see how he wouldn’t. He had the opportunity to live his life next to the one person who would bring out the best in him—in all ways. Who would understand him deep in his soul. And he chose a political match instead. He has to live with that for the rest of his life.”

A horrifying thought intruded, clamping around my throat. My voice came out low and hoarse. “Have you ever metyourmate?”

The thought of him knowing another woman had been designed by the gods for him made me want to vomit.

Rythos stalked over to us. “We need to go.” His expression was harder than I’d ever seen it. “That was my cousin Miric and her mate Janea. They know what we’re doing.”

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

“What’s the plan?” I murmured to Lorian.

“Steal a particular ship before anyone notices.”

“That’s the entire plan?” I asked. Behind me, Asinia chuckled.

“The best plans are simple, wildcat.”

Rythos led us toward the other end of the dock. A symphony of groans and creaks sounded around us as we walked, whispering of the countless journeys the docked vessels had taken.

I shaded my eyes against the sun glinting off the water, nodding as Asinia pointed to a strange ship adorned with majestic wings. It wouldn’t surprise me if the ship could actually fly, although Lorian shook his head when I sent him a questioning glance.

To our right, a sleek, sinuous ship seemed to undulate like a snake on the waves, its hull shimmering like iridescent scales. The ship on our left boasted billowing sails that appeared so delicate they might have been gossamer, giving the impression of the finest lacework.

The ship Rythos led us to was much less whimsical. If anything, it more closely resembled the pirate queen’s warship, the streamlined black hull drinking in the sun. Carved into its prow, a majestic sea serpent was caught in mid-motion—its intricate scales so realistically wrought, it was as if it was preparing to dive into the depths of the ocean at any moment.

I wanted these ships.

I could practically see them, filled with powerful fae and cutting Regner off from his own fleet.

Rythos jerked his head, gesturing for us to board. I shifted my attention back to the ship, stomach clenching. If only I’d saved some of the concoction the healer had made for me the last time I was in this situation.

I sighed, resigning myself to weeks of leaning over the ship’s railing. Lorian gave me a questioning glance, and I shook my head, following him on board.

Rythos’s cousin had trailed after us, and she was standing on the dock, watching closely, although she didn’t seem to be planning to alert whoever was in charge. Instead, she surveyed us with that strange half smile on her face, Janea by her side.