Page 127

Cassian took a step towards Mira, tilting his head in a disdainful manner. “Did he stop Lady Marina from stepping foot onto the island?”

Mira’s lips thinned. “No.”

“Vale remains as the High God of Nature, despite his imprisonment,” Cassian continued. “That is, until another bests him for his title. If this does not stand as a reasonable enough explanation to ease your concerns, I will put it in more straightforward terms for you, Lady Mira. It would be best not to question my rule over those in Moros, as you are well aware of my tendency to curse those who are a nuisance to me. Am I safe to assume, after clearing up your confusion, that we are now on the same page moving forward, Lady Mira?”

Mira’s unblinking glare burned with animosity. “Yes.”

“Lovely.” Cassian rotated, turning his back to Mira, and meeting Naia’s eyes one last time. “Farewell, Lady Naia.”

He gave her a small bow as a glimmering shadow fabricated behind him, birthing golden strands that encircled his form. And then, he vanished.

Mira exited the hall without a word. Marina followed. The triplets did as well, along with everyone else who joined to watch.

Without her brothers supporting her, Naia folded onto the floor with no intention of moving.

A warm pair of arms lifted her up.

“Naia, love,” Solaris whispered against her cheek. “You will heal. You must bear it until then.”

She did not want his tenderness, his sympathies. She wanted Kaleo and the chilled touch of his hands, the brassy hue of his eyes caught in the sunlight as he looked at her.

Solaris entered Naia’s bedchamber. Desolate shadows from the skylight filled the room with a neatly made bed and a fresh robe waiting for her. All a stale reminder of the monotony she had been stuck in, had escaped, and how it all was reaching right back for her.

Dark, isolated, confinement.

No warmth, no joy, no light.

Naia stirred in Solaris’s arms, her fingers catching on the frame of the door. Before he could register what she was doing, her feet slapped down on the floor. Another pulse of pain stabbed up her legs, and she winced as her knees folded.

Solaris caught her by the forearm before she tumbled. “Naia, we need to get you in a bath.”

Naia shoved him away. The little strength she could muster was enough to rock him back on his heels.

She spun in a slow, panicked circle like a trapped animal.

The inn. She needed to go back. Lay in Kaleo’s bed. Smell him. Swim in the only thing left of him.

Cassian’s words resounded in her mind. Confined to Kaimana.

Her bottom lip quivered. Silent tears trickled down her face.

Why did Kaleo have to die? Why couldn’t Mira have given her this one thing?

Naia was furious with herself for failing to notice Marina’s presence back at the inn. For failing to save Kaleo, and allowing herself to fantasize about a life with him when she should’ve known better.

Why did she always lose the people she loved?

Her anger was like the gathering of a tide, sweeping back, and pushing swiftly over her head.

Solaris reached for her again. “Naia?—”

She screamed. The manic sound hurdled from her mouth. She clenched her fists with full intent on throwing them through the walls of her bedchamber. Destroy it. The room, the bed, the palace. Let it crumble.

Solaris’s arms caged around her before her fist could connect with the crystal wall.

She bent her knees to hurl him off her back, but his embrace constricted, exercising his true strength as a High God. In her condition, she could not overthrow him.

“Naia, love, please stop this before she hurts you even more.”