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“Mother has never revealed where her necklace came from.” She looked up at him, brow creased. “Tell me.”

Finnian sighed in defeat. “Father is the one who told me about it.” He plucked the necklace from her grasp and moved behind her. “Wear it to your celebration.”

He placed it around her neck and clasped it in the back.

Father’s involvement eased some of her worry.

She couldn’t recall ever verbally expressing her admiration of the necklace to anyone, but Finnian must’ve caught onto her stealing glimpses of it during feasts. The thought he put into the gift touched her.

Naia brought her hand up to graze the gemstone resting in the center of her sternum. “Thank you, Finny. Truly.”

“Anything for my favorite sister.” He held out his arm. “Now, allow me to escort you.”

Her expression fell to distaste. “Can we skip the feast?”

“The sooner you make an appearance, the sooner we can sneak out and join the festivities in the village.”

“Very well. My sugared almonds await.” Naia rolled her eyes, hooking her arm around his. “A double batch of sugared almonds. And I want to sleep by the waterhole and wake up to dolphin calls.”

Finnian shook his head, smirking faintly.

The vaulted great hall exuded an aura of grandeur, thanks to its hanging silks and sparkling jewels.

Deities lined up in front of the family table to deliver their gifts personally to Solaris and Naia.

Solaris sat to her right, downing his wine, laughing sprightly at a goddess of mischief and art as she leaned over the table to murmur in his ear. On Naia’s other side were her siblings and parents.

Naia gazed down at the golden pear in her hand, gifted by the goddess, pretending to admire the golden fruit. What in the gods am I supposed to do with this?

The next god in line stepped up and joined the conversation with Solaris and the goddess.

Naia tried to soothe her irrational worry that had picked like a scab in the back of her mind all evening, but the pendant beneath the neckline of her gown stung against her skin. She couldn’t ignore the guttural feeling roiling through her insides, telling her something was off about the necklace.

She scanned the room, counting the abnormal number of guards stationed around the walls.

Twelve. Six more than usual. The ones racing about the palace seemed to be searching for something.

“Sister, could you pass me the wine?” Astrid held her nimble fingers over Finnian’s plate.

Naia handed off the golden pear to Solaris. She leaned over to grab the porcelain jar when another goddess stepped up in the line with a present wrapped in red satin. “Lady Naia, what a beautiful necklace.”

The jar slipped from Naia’s fingers. Luckily, Finnian reached up to grab it and passed it to Astrid.

Naia’s smile strained, bringing her fingertips to rest on the exposed pendant. “Thank you.”

“Was it a birthday present?” The unknown goddess, draped in a sparkling peach-colored robe, slipped closer to examine it, only bringing more attention.

From her periphery, Naia saw her family members’ heads swiveling towards them.

“Yes,” Naia managed a curt reply to the goddess, accepting her gift over the table. “I appreciate the gift.”

“My pleasure. May you have the happiest of birthdays, Lady Naia and Lord Solaris.” She bowed her chin to each of them before turning to leave.

“Show us this necklace,” Astrid purred and leaned forward for a clear look around Finnian. “Move your fingers for me to see.”

Finnian exchanged a look with Naia, his brow tapered as if he couldn’t understand why she hid the necklace. Naia frowned, not sure how to silently express her thoughts. A look of hurt crossed over Finnian’s face because of it. She knew he was mistaking her action of hiding his present because she was ashamed of it.

It was the last thing she wanted, so she lowered her hand to her lap.