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He shrugged one shoulder. “Such things don’t matter when power is involved.”

We fell into silence for a long moment. This was one of those times when I felt like a child. I kept assuming other people held the same values I did. A quiet, peaceful life. Family. Close friends. Laughter.

If I was honest with myself, it was one of the reasons I’d wanted to have my cousin watched. I’d hoped he was a good man. A man who would join us and be part of what little family we had left. No wonder Demos was frustrated with me. He’d been raised to understand just how the world truly worked.

“What are you thinking?”

Rythos had made his own family. Lorian and the others would die before they willingly betrayed him. I could make my own family too.

“It’s not important. Thank you. For doing this. For helping me visit the hybrid kingdom.”

He sighed. “It’s not just for you, Pris. Part of it is for my own conscience.”

“What do you mean?”

“My people could have helped during the fae wars. Hell, we could have helped when your kingdom was invaded. There were ships close enough that they could have gotten there in time.”

My mouth went dry. “Why didn’t they?”

“While my father rules, such decisions are made by consensus. The council votes.”

I clenched my hand around the railing. Rythos dropped his gaze, and when our eyes met once more, his expression was tight. “One vote, Pris. Your people lost by one vote.”

Leaning over the side of the ship, I heaved.

Lorian was there in an instant, holding my hair off my face.

“Ugh, leave me alone,” I croaked out.

He brought a waterskin to my lips. “Never.”

I managed a few sips, and he stroked my back. “It won’t be long, wildcat.”

I still had no idea what they meant when they said that, but I lifted my head, finding Rythos watching me, his dark eyes glinting with repressed rage.

“They won’t get to stay out of things this time, Prisca. Regner will learn my people were involved. And when you eventually go to my father and demand our fleet—which I know you’re already planning to do—” he grinned at me, and I didn’t have the energy to pretend I hadn’t been daydreaming about what that fleet could do for us “—he’ll know he can no longer pretend impartiality.”

Lorian’s arm tightened around me, and I shifted my gaze to the other side of the deck.

“Found this one hiding below deck.” Galon was holding Fendrel by the back of his neck.

Rythos’s curses turned the air blue.

* * *

Three days later, we were still traveling. Although this time, my stomach was just fine.

When Lorian and Rythos had said it “wouldn’t be long,” they hadn’t been referring to the trip itself—although that was much faster than expected as well. No, they’d been referring to the point when we were far enough away from the island that Rythos touched the ship’s helm, said a word that echoed through my brain, and the ship began to sink beneath the waves.

The blood had drained from my face in such a rush, I’d swayed on my feet. Asinia had launched herself toward us, Telean following at a much more sedate pace.

“What’s happening?” Asinia had demanded.

We were going to die. That was what was happening.

The ship seemed to vibrate with power. And a dome-like ward slid up from the railing surrounding the deck, encasing it in a protective bubble.

I’d automatically sucked in a breath, only releasing it when Lorian poked a finger into my ribs.