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Rowan’s slow smile made my insides feel as if a school of fish had stirred beneath my ribs.

“They are partnered.”

My wine glass nearly slipped from my fingers.Surely not.“Prince Kael, of Gyoria? And King Galfrid’s daughter?”

By way of a response, he continued to grin.

“He hates humans. And Aetherians.”

“But loves Mev very much. She has changed his thinking on both, although I never truly believed that Prince Kael inherited the same vitriol for humans, or Aetherians, from his father. You’ll remember his inheritance was stripped for attempting to save a human’s life.”

“An inheritance of title and land. The only inheritance that truly matters is not Balthor’s to offer.”

“Which poses an interesting conundrum, now that Kael has pledged his loyalty to Mev and her father, if he ever proves to be more skilled than his father…”

Rowan let the question go unasked.

“History tells us the sons or daughters of kings and queens often do inherit their parents’ powers,” I said.

“Indeed.”

“If Prince Kael ever proved more powerful than his father.” I took a sip of wine. “I cannot imagine what might happen then.”

“Perhaps it will not matter. They say Prince Terran is more skilled than his brother.”

“Do you believe it to be true?”

Rowan sighed, appearing to think on my question. “I do not know, even though I’ve seen them battle.”

I sat up straighter. “You have?”

“We intercepted Prince Terran on the way to Aetheria. Mev had already fled north with Lyra.” He paused. “Whom I believe you know?”

“I served on the Council for a short time,” I said, but it seemed Rowan knew as much already. “So aye, I know Lyra well.”

“She traveled with Kael and Mev, later taking the princess safely to her father while Kael prevented Terran and his men from following them.”

“Men? Prince Kael is powerful, but not more so than his brother, especially if he was accompanied by Gyorian warriors.”

“No,” Rowan agreed. “He is not, but he convinced his brother to return to Gyoria.”

“Rumor told us that the princess had been taken by Prince Kael, who later returned her to King Galfrid. I had no notion of the extent of their bond. That will certainly complicate matters for King Balthor.”

“It certainly will.”

Rowan had revealed more than I expected, but there was much he held back as well. I did not need to have the power to read emotion to tell as much. Though I did wish for the power to control my own emotions a bit better. I would endeavor to avoid looking directly into his eyes, which drew me into their depths with every glance.

“You cannot tell me why you are here on King Galfrid’s behalf? Or how Queen Lirael might aid him in reopening the Gate?”

He looked directly at me. So much for avoiding his gaze.

“No, I cannot.”

“Why?”

The question seemed to surprise him. Rowan placed his wine glass on the table and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He was a handsome man, this human. But a mysterious one, too.

“Some truths are dangerous,” he said finally.