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“Oh no.” Iona reached out for my hand. “I didn’t mean to scare you, though I understand. I know my mother’s policies can be a little intense.”

Calindra was the one who had given Inarus the collar that could control Eleanor. She was known for her willingness to produce any fae goods if it would yield a profit, and she allegedly had no qualms using her people to produce as many goods as possible. And now her daughter seized my hand as if she wanted to be my friend.

Is this a trap?

Her grip on my hand felt far too familiar. My heart raced.

Light flashed between us. Heat seared.

“Ouch,” Iona gasped, yanking her hand away.

“Sorry, I must have squeezed too tight,” I whispered, knowing that hadn’t been the case. That light… it was magic, spilling unrequested from me. Ninti looked up, concern etched in her narrowed brows, and I met her look with my own surprise.

“Aida is passionate about the types of fae goods that will be traded with Valterra,” Rhett quickly explained. “Medicine, not weapons, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, of course, I understand completely,” Iona answered, still shaking out her hand. “Oh good, we’re here!”

The remainder of her tour was brief, almost rushed, as she led us through the estate. Several buildings were spread across the hilltop, each separated by countless flower beds, luscious pools, and towering fountains. Iona pointed to a large, domed pavilion to the center. “That’s the throne room,” she explained. “The servants are preparing it for the welcome banquet as we speak.”

Soon, we reached the guest wing where several apartments faced a central courtyard with a pool, garden, and several benches.

“This will be your suite,” she concluded, leading us to one of several identical doors. “If you press your hand against it now, it’ll be warded to anyone but you for the remainder of the stay.”

We did as she instructed, the door warming to my touch.

Satisfied, Iona nodded. “Now I’m sure you’re quite tired. Take some time to rest, and I’ll see you at the banquet shortly,” she concluded, her gaze scanning my leather armer with a frown. “I’ll have my ladies send over a few dresses suitable for tonight.”

“Thank you for your hospitality,” I managed as Ninti and Rimu scampered into the living space. Following behind, I entered the suite slowly, ensuring Zayne had ample time to enter.

Rhett lingered, giving Iona a farewell embrace before entering the suite, and while she blushed, she didn’t refuse.

I snapped at Rhett the moment he closed the door behind himself. “You didn’t say your contact was Calindra’s daughter.”

Rhett folded his arms. “I said you wouldn’t like my plan, but you insisted.”

“You didn’t take the time to properly explain!”

“I trust her, Ayla. She understands the nature of her mother better than anyone—if you need inside help, I have it. For Teyr’s sake, I got us a headquarters in the center of the palace.” He scanned the room, looking for Zayne. “You’re welcome.”

Zayne stepped from the shadows, his lips in a tight grimace. “Well done, but a warning still would have been nice.”

Rhett waved him off. “I’m relieved your shadows are as good as you claim. The rumors said your powers were… inconsistent.”

Zayne glared. “My shadows were limited in Karenia, yes. Growing up, it was easy to downplay their strength.” He turned toward me. “But my powers are not the ones we should be worried about.”

I looked to my hand, finding my fingertips were still tingling, my skin unusually warm. Frustrated, I shook it out, willing the sensations to go away.

“We’ve left Gloom,” Ninti padded forward to explain. “You’ve never felt your full powers before, so they might behave differently.”

I nodded. “We don’t even know what type of magic it is, but I’ll just have to learn to control it.”

“We’ll train together,” the firewolf offered. “But first, let’s prepare for tonight. The banquet is soon.”

Quickly, we took inventory of the suite. The small kitchen and living space were adjoined by two bedrooms, one to each side, with trinkets of brightly colored shells and sea glass spread throughout. The far wall was built entirely from windows, framing a balcony that overlooked the cliff. Even at dusk, the sea glinted below, reflecting the stars and the city’s lights. Any silence was filled by the roar of the sea.

Rhett returned from one of the bedrooms. “The rooms are clear from spy-craft, as far as I can tell.”

“Agreed,” Zayne added, stepping once again from the shadows as if he had been searching there. “While I’m fairly certain I can bypass the locked doors, I doubt any others can.”