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Fyia nodded. 'Please.' She scrutinized Essa's confident, no-nonsense features. She seemed as she always did, which was strange, as ostensibly, she was a traitor to the crown. Adigos had the sheepish look of a man not quite sure if he were in deep water.

The Spider took a long breath, and for a split tick, Fyia saw her great age. She wondered how many more years the Spider could keep up the relentless pace of her work, and who would replace her. No doubt the Spider already had it planned …

'I went to your brother,' said Essa, jumping in before the Spider could get started. 'Not because I'm the love-sick kitten you think I am.' Her words were sharp, and guilt sank through Fyia's chest. She'd never thought of Essa in those derogatory terms, but they'd all assumed Essa still pined for Veau, which, now she'd been called out on it, wasn't very Essa …

'I went to retrieve this,' said Essa. She held out the metal ball Fyia had given Veau.

Fyia's breath hitched, then her chest swelled. Essa hadn't betrayed her.

'I asked you to give it to him because I wanted to know what it was. I've never seen a metal like it, but Veau is with the Fae'ch; they have information we do not, especially about the dragons.'

'And did he?' said Fyia. 'Know anything?'

'Not really. He found out what he could, but Axus grew suspicious, so Veau asked me to retrieve the ball. He wanted to ensure it made it safely back to you.'

Her brother hadn't betrayed her. Essa hadn't betrayed her … or, she had, but in the same misguided way that Adigos had when he'd killed King Milo in her name. Essa would have to be punished, but her intentions had been good.

'Essa told Opie of her plans,' said the Spider. 'He agreed to send the first of your new airships on a test flight to the Fae'ch mountains to retrieve her. Adigos went on that flight.'

Adigos' face drained of color. 'I didn't know of Essa's plan,' he blurted. 'Opie told me a few days ago, which is when I went to get her … I wanted to make sure she made it back safely, and there was no time to send word …'

'It's my fault, if you're looking for someone to blame,' said Essa. 'I wanted the Fae'ch to think I'd run away to see your brother, and that you sent Adigos after me.'

Fyia's head swam. 'What did Veau tell you about the ball?' She would deal with punishments later. Right now, she wanted details.

'Not much,' said Essa. 'I had only moments with him alone. He said it was to do with the dragons … that it was a metal only the dragons could produce.

'The Fae'ch were in a furor over their missing egg, but he'd heard not a single rumor about something else being found in its place.'

Fyia looked at Cal, who had furrowed his brow. Were the Fae'ch just better liars than everyone else, or had they really found nothing? And if that was the case, what did it mean?

'How will you punish her?' said Cal. The others had filed from the room, Fyia requesting only he stay. He'd seen the looks they'd all shared, the disappointment in Adigos' eyes, but Cal couldn't give a damn.

Fyia set down the metal ball Essa had given her. They now had three between them, and Cal wondered about their importance. Were they some joke? Or were the perfectly round, shiny objects needed to bring back the dragons? Did the eggs even exist? What if the balls were all that had been hidden from the start?

'I don't know,' Fyia said on an exhale. 'When Adigos betrayed me, I sent him away so he missed the fighting … wouldn't get the glory he sought, but it doesn't seem to have worked. If I deprive Essa of the thing she loves—her inventions—I suspect it will harm me more than her in the long run.'

Cal sat, watching as Fyia's brain whirred. It was almost painful to witness. 'Come here,' he said, his eyes never leaving her.

She met his gaze and a smile spread across her lips, but she didn’t move. 'Cal …'

'Come here,' he said again. A broad grin spread across his features, and elation bubbled in his chest. 'I like your cloak, and want to inspect it, just in case I ever find myself in need of its warmth.'

Fyia looked down, as though surprised to find she still wore her cloak. She rolled her eyes indulgently, then approached him. She stopped a pace away and unfastened the clasp, letting the heavy fabric fall to the floor.

'Even better,' said Cal, then tugged her down onto his lap.

She sat across him, her lips on his in an instant, her kisses deep and full of need. 'I missed you,' he said.

She stroked her thumb across his lip. 'I missed you too.'

'Have you decided yet?' he said, his fingers caressing her thigh.

'Cal … I …'

'Because if you have, there's a very comfortable-looking bed just over there, and you could use some stress relief.'

She kissed him again, and he leaned his head back against the chair, savoring the feel of her hands against the stubble of his hair, and of her leg pressed against his growing erection.