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“I checked the tomb myself,” Breena added. “He sleeps. There is no evidence that he has awoken since—”

“I know.” Azura closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I know, I know. But Aneirin is cunning, and Shards save us all if a human ever wandered near that tomb.”

Taly’s brows rose. Why did that name sound familiar? And why did the High Lord of Water and Azura both seem so… nervous?

“I’m not saying you should abandon your lands just yet, but be wary,” Azura said, glancing at Atlas. “I know we’ve encountered false prophets before, but something about that man put me on edge. My dreams have been… unquiet ever since.”

Breena visibly tensed. “Anything specific?”

“No,” Azura said. “But…” The Queen’s voice trailed off, and her head turned to the side as though she’d heard a sudden sound.

She looked straight at Taly, her brows nudging together in confusion.

“You’re not supposed to be here yet,” was all she said, and then Taly was falling as the world around her fractured.

As the dream was ripped apart.

Taly awoke with a gasp. Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweaty. The pain of her injuries immediately rushed back in, and she welcomed it. Even welcomed the burn in her lungs as the last of her aether drained.

Azura had seen her.

How had Azura seen her?

That was the past. Just a memory. She couldn’t have—

“Never eavesdrop on a Genesis Lord.”

Taly looked up. Leto was drifting in front of her, nearly transparent in the late afternoon light. For a moment, she imagined that she could see a long straight nose, proud Highborn eyes, and hollow cheeks beneath that smooth, featureless face—all framed by a shock of silver-white hair.

“They will know,” she said in that calm, even way that had become so familiar to her now. She’d recognize it anywhere. Even inside a dream.

“Who is Aneirin?” Taly asked.

“No one of consequence.”

Taly wondered if that was the first time Leto had ever lied to her. Something told her it wasn’t.

“Come.” Leto turned towards the palace. “What you just did was very dangerous. I have requested that Her Majesty speak to you about tethers during this evening’s lecture. They are there to guide you into the dream and out, and you were allowing yours to fray. In the future, I do hope you dream more responsibly.”

Taly was a little shaky as she pushed to her feet, and every step was agony as she made to follow. But still she smiled.

And decided not to tell the Lady Leto Graylin that she’d figured out what she was.

Chapter 24

-An excerpt from Shadow Mage Mixology

Shadow mages carry raw aether in their veins, a unique quirk in their physiology that allows them to augment their strength and speed, but can also make a night at the pub rather dull. Alcohol is metabolized and cleared almost immediately, which means that if inebriation is the goal, one must be fully dedicated to the task.

Arendryl’s Rare Cask Crystal Brandywine is a good choice for the discerning palate. At 600 gold pieces per bottle, this honey-brown liquor is infused with hibiscus and water aether. The flavor has often been described as “warm and fuzzy, evoking the innocent joy of childhood… but with alcohol.”

For those drinking on a budget, hydra choker is both cheap and effective. As the name suggests, this liquor does contain trace amounts of hydra venom,and it is usually reserved for the rowdiest of patrons, as it tends to put them to sleep almost instantly.

Skye slipped through the crush of people crowding the tavern, Aiden following close behind. It was busy that night, packed with Highborn, Lowborn, and mortal alike. Everyone was screaming and shouting, trying to be heard as they jostled inside the cramped space. The local taverns were the only businesses that hadn’t taken a hit since the attacks began, and Skye could only wonder how they hadn’t run out of liquor yet considering the rate some of the patrons around him were guzzling it down.

The earth mages probably had something to do with that. When they weren’t healing, they were tending to the food supply, and keeping the people calm and happy was nearly as important as keeping them fed.

“Here.” Skye jerked his head towards an empty booth in a dark corner of the bar. Shrugging out of his overcoat, he sat down, signaling to the barmaid who immediately brought over two mugs of ale, a couple of shot glasses, and a bottle of something that looked like whiskey.