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The mer fae had still not made an appearance in the throne room, but Rhett had assured me that Tallus was reliably late. So I waited, watching from the shadows.

Iona entered the room, her arms filled with a stack of parchment. Upon seeing her daughter, Calindra stood and raised her voice. “We have copies of the first proposal, please take a seat, and we’ll begin shortly.”

Promptly, Iona wandered the tables, delivering parchments to each group. In response, the attendees quieted, each settling at their respective tables, and I wandered to a nearby table where Reina, the dragon fae queen of Wisp, spread the document on the table. When she, her mate, and their trusted advisors hunched over it, I leaned closer and listened.

“It’s a better deal than we expected,” Reina said.

One of her councilors nodded their agreement, the dragon scales that graced their collarbones flashing in the light. “Wisp, a center of commerce, once more. How times have changed.”

Except her mate whispered warily. “It’s too good. I suspect they want to resolve this assembly quickly.”

Reina looked up at him and held his gaze for several long seconds. “Agreed.” She didn’t say another word, but I could have sworn they were having an entire silent conversation.

Cautiously, I approached the Starlit King next. He reviewed the document with his secretary, nodding along with each line. Nothing about the parchment seemed to catch them by surprise.

Finally, I returned to Ayla, where she leaned close to Rhett, brow furrowed as she reviewed the proposal as well. It was endearing, the way she was thinking so loudly I could hear the gears turning in her head.

I love her.

I couldn’t wait until this was over.

She glanced nervously at Iona, who was still passing out the last few copies when Tallus entered. Just as Rhett had promised, the lord arrived at the last minute.

Iona handed him the final copy, and Calindra looked up at her daughter. “That will be all, Iona, you may go.”

Despite the embarrassingly public dismissal, Iona’s smile didn’t drop as she stepped away. Many in the pavilion tittered and whispered at her exit, some glancing not-so-subtly at Rhett.

But at least, everyone was distracted and Lord Tallus had finally arrived.

I used the tether to assure Ayla I’d soon return, and shadow-stepped from the throne room. The tether thinned as the distance grew between us, and I winced at the ache of our separation.

Eager to return to her side, I focused on my destination. The eerie glow of Lord Tallus’s shard drew me closer to the royal wing.

Quickly, I reached the courtyard, the splash of fountains from the central pool the only sound as I jumped closer to the door to Lord Tallus’s suite. I prepared to shadow-step again but hesitated at the patter of footsteps behind me.

I turned, expecting to see guards, but it was only Iona.

My stomach tightened, debating her allegiances. Rhett might be trustworthy, but his former lover was Calindra’s daughter. Was it all an act? And even if Iona had the purest of motivations, we had enough problems without inviting Calindra’s wrath by way of her daughter.

Iona searched the courtyard, eyes squinting, and then her shoulders relaxed. Her gaze locked on me.

I checked my shadows, confident I was hidden.

Except her stare didn’t leave my position. Soon I could not pretend otherwise; she was looking right at me. Her lips drew taut like she was making up her mind.

I braced, preparing to shadow-step.

“Don’t go,” she whispered, stepping closer. “We should talk, whoever you are.”

Glancing around, confirming we were alone, I allowed my voice to rise above the shadows. “You can see me?”

“In a way.” She tilted her head. “It’s more like I can sense the connection you have to Aida. You were in the suite with us this morning, weren’t you?”

I paused.

“I sense magical bonds.”

“I’ve never heard of that ability.”