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“Really?” Skye asked with genuine curiosity, and Taly almost rolled her eyes. Leave it to a Gate Watcher to be interested in, well, gates.

“Yes.” Azura frowned at the interface. “I’ve modified it, of course, but the controls aren’t nearly as sensitive as Aion.” A sigh. “If I had the Aion Gate, I could program your destination down to a tenth of a second, but we work with what we have.”

Taly approached one of the screens, watching as it flickered between worlds filled with lush forests and barren deserts and cities surrounded by nothing but water.

“That’s Dromeda,” Skye whispered when a dark world of stars flashed by. “And Eya.” The Draegon homeworld.

“The Fey Imperium used to be a vast and wondrous place,” Leto said from where she drifted nearby. Calcifer batted at one of the flickering screens behind her.

“It’s still a wondrous place.” Pushing the interface aside, Azura rose from her chair. “When those idiots at the Dawn Court aren’t mucking it up, that is.”

Azura moved around the table, only to lean against it. She looked to Taly. “You’re angry at me.”

There was nothing but ice in her tone as Taly replied, “I’m more than angry at you.”

Crossing her arms, Azura chuckled, dipping her head before she said to Skye, “Be careful with this one. She holds grudges. And judging by just how quiet your room has been the last few nights, it seems you haven’t quite figured out how to uh… How shall I put this delicately?Talkyour way out of trouble. I hear you have a silver tongue.”

Taly’s cheeks immediately burst into flames. Was she implying… She looked to Skye, the way his brows rose, a hint of a smile playing at his lips—yes, that’s exactly what the Queen was implying.

And she and Skye… well, they had only kissed the night before. A lot. In the grotto, and then late into the night as they were lying in bed. But that’s it. He hadn’t pushed for more, and she hadn’t known how to ask. That was still very new territory.

Azura looked to Skye, smiling wickedly. “She’s loud, you know. I can’t tell you how many times—”

“Azura, Iwillkill you,” Taly ground out, sure that if her cheeks got any warmer, she might combust.

“Alright, alright…” Azura gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “What the two of you do behind closed doors is none of my business. Although” —a glance back at Skye— “I am well-versed in all the ways that time magic might be applied… in the bedroom? Just let me know if you’d like me to add anything to her future lessons. Left to her own devices, she can be a bit of a prude.”

“That’s it,” Taly snapped. “Skye, give me your sword.”

Skye caught her hand, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and yanked her body againsthis, tightening his hold when she squirmed. “Please don’t murder our way home,” was all he said.

He had a point, so Taly settled for growling at the Queen while glaring daggers over her shoulder.

Azura just smiled serenely back. “You really do make it too easy,” she murmured, reaching for her teacup. Even Skye’s lips twitched.

“Majesty.” Leto inclined her head, gesturing towards one of the screens.

“Yes, yes…” Azura picked up a portable interface, keying in another series of commands. “You’re angry at me,” she said again, then tossed the interface aside, not looking where it landed. “So, as my own attempt to land myself back into your good graces, I’ll give you one question, Taly. Ask me anything, and I’ll answer to the best of my ability.”

Taly waited for her to rescind the offer. This couldn’t be real. Azura never answered questions. Or if she did, it was in a way that only led to more confusion. “Any question?” she asked, stepping out of Skye’s grasp. With the Queen, it was always important to be clear.

“That’s what I said.” She splayed her hands, as if to say she had nothing to hide. “So? What will it be? Will you ask me about the fairies? Who’s attacking your island? Why the Sanctorum continues to exist despite an apparent lack of time mages to hunt? Or perhaps you’ll ask me how I managed to hide a dimensional gate beneath my palace and then keep it hidden for over two centuries? I know Skye has already told you about his journey here.”

Taly glanced at Skye, but he said nothing. This was her question. And while there were so many she wanted to ask, so many things she still didn’t know, if she only got one answer… “Why did you close the gates?”

Azura tapped a finger against the side of her teacup. “Why didn’t you ask the other question you’ve been considering? Why didn’t you ask me why I took it upon myself to train you?”

“Because I already know the answer,” Taly said, meeting those golden eyes. “You need me.”

“And don’t you want to know why?”

“Of course. But I have a feeling the two questions are related.”

Azura’s expression sobered as she carefully placed her teacup to the side.

“Why did you do it?” Taly asked again. “It’s the question every single citizen of the Fey Imperium has been asking for nearly two and a half centuries. Why did you close the gates? Any time mage with a heartbeat would’ve been able to predict the devastation you caused.”

Azura crossed her arms protectively around her body, letting her eyes scan the room as she gathered her thoughts. After a moment, she said bluntly, “The last time the full Genesis Council met, a man came to see us. He wasn’t on the docket, but since it would be another ten years before our next scheduled congress, we gave him the floor.”