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Aimee arched a brow, but whatever she was about to say was forgotten when a booming voice announced, “Lord Kato. What an absolute pleasure to see you here.”

The man in front of them wore a ridiculously ornate suit, complete with gold embroidery and tassels that screamed,I have more money than taste.The woman on his arm was a perfect match, dressed in a gown that probably cost more than a small airship.

“Your recent heroics are all anyone’s talking about.” The woman’s smile was the kind that said everything nice while meaning exactly none of it. “Rescuing the Savior of Ebondrift and bringing her to safety—truly remarkable. You must tell us all about it.”

For the life of him, Kato could not remember their names. Thankfully, Aimee swooped in.

“Lord Eldridge, what a delight to see you. And Lady Blackwood, you look absolutely radiant tonight.”

Kato sat back, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched the exchange. Aimee was good at it—the game. He’d give her that. Every laugh, every compliment was calibrated for maximum effect. She leaned in like she was letting them in on a secret, nodded like they’d said something wise. By the end, they were half spellbound.

“It’s been delightful catching up with you both.” Aimee’s voice was warm honey, smooth and sweet, her jeweled combs glinting as if the light itself conspired to flatter her. “I’m sure the assembly will be quite eventful.”

“Indeed, Lady Bryer,” said the man. Kato had already forgotten his name again. “We must find time to chat more during the reception.”

“Your insights are always so refreshing,” the lady added, her smile, already teetering on the edge of absurdity, somehow managing to widen. An impressive feat of muscle control, if nothing else.

“Of course, I look forward to it. Enjoy the evening, both of you,” Aimee replied with a perfectly timed nod.

Lord Brownnose and his lady wandered off. Aimee sighed and turned back to Kato.

“What?” she snapped.

“Nothing.”

“Not all of us were born at the top of the ladder.”

He raised his hands. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Your face did.”

Kato leaned back. He almost wanted to laugh. The courtiers had claws, make no mistake. But they so rarely worked up the courage to turn them back on him. Maybe that’s why he kept coming back to this one.

“I—” he started to say.

But she held up a hand. “No, we’re done now,” she said as Aiden strode across the main stage, coming up the stairs between the rows.

“Well?” she asked.

Aiden nodded as he took his seat beside her. “They’re ready.”

Kato perked up at that. Finally, something interesting. “Ready for what?”

“Just a little political theater,” Aiden said. “You know how these things go. The nobility start circling like vultures if they think there’s even a whisper of power up for grabs. Given the very delicate state of the city, our aunt thought it might be a good idea to remind everyone here that we all agreed to be on our best behavior tonight.”

“Do you know the story of Solnar?” Aimee asked, rubbing her palms together and kneading the water magic forming between them. Kato shook his head. “On Tempris, they believe that before the Sacred Six, before the Judge, his Sickness, and his war, the Magnus fathered other children with the Mother of Creation.”

She met Aiden’s gaze and gave a small nod. Placing both hands on the mass of vines forming the ground at their feet, his aether pulsed.

A hush fell over the room as each individual flower closed on a whisper, the light inside winking out.

“First came the Land,” Aimee said into the darkness that followed. “Then the Oceans.”

She exhaled slowly and pressed her hands forward, releasing the glamour into the air. The glow unraveled in delicate streams, stretching outward like ink in water, swirling into the space above the main stage.

A single spark flared in the dark.

Then planets wheeled into motion, drifting within the vast column of air that rose through the center of the space like a window to the cosmos. They spiraled outward, as if propelled by the force of creation itself.