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I left the rest unsaid, but I could see that Rowan understood.

I could tell when he’d opened himself to me as Rowan’s expression began to change. I would not look away, even as my longing for him was now exposed.

Suddenly, his head snapped toward the entrance. “Someone is there,” he said, all traces of tenderness gone. “Someone is there,” he said again, “trying to reach you.”

When he shot up and headed toward the vines that marked the entrance, I followed.

“How can you be certain?”

His jaw flexed, as though Rowan was agitated. He positioned himself between me and the door. “You should open it.” His hand moved toward his waist. I hated that Rowan was not allowed his weapon in the palace. While I understood the reasoning, it was clearly so much a part of him that Rowan struggled without access to it.

“I will need you to step aside to do so.”

He moved to the side just enough for me to reach out. When the vines parted, no one was there. Confused, Rowan stepped through into the corridor. I followed, the entrance closing behind us.

“I thought…”

He looked up and down the corridor.

Nothing.

“Rowan, will you please tell me?—”

“There you are.” Caelum turned the corner, all but running toward us. “I’ve been looking for you. More importantly, the queen has been looking for you.”

“Why?” I asked, aware Caelum was likely not privy to such information.

“She summoned me to ask of your whereabouts. I’ve only just returned to the palace this eve and told her as much. I do not know, but…” Caelum flicked his wrist, and a silencing mist settled around us. It was a dangerous thing to do in such a public place. Anyone walking by would question its use. “I spoke to Marek.”

“I’d have told you myself but could not find you this morn.”

“I was on an errand for the queen, one that could have been avoided with a simple marisol message.” Caelum frowned. “Go to her, but tread carefully. Say as little as possible.”

Something was bothering him.

“I can’t shake the feeling Queen Lirael may make challenging her difficult.”

“More difficult than being the most powerful water-wielder in Thalassaria for the last hundred years? I spent the morning sea-binding, but even still… she will be more than a formidable opponent.”

“There are other ways she can challenge you,” Rowan said. “Before the festival even begins.”

“This is not Estmere,” I told him. “It is a simple and straightforward test of our abilities, as it is with all three clans. We’ve not had a true succession crisis in our history.”

“No, but Gyoria has. And my people have, in their own realm, many times before.”

“I fear Rowan may be right,” Caelum interrupted. “Or it could be simply my overactive mind, coupled with the queen’s increasingly isolationist policies, that has me fearing the worst. I’ve no doubt you are more powerful, as I’ve been saying for many years. But why has she not already called for a challenge? I dislike the games she plays.”

Knowing we were on borrowed time, I said quickly, “And she did summon Rowan and me to the evening meal and then never attended. I suspect she planted Carys to interrogate us.”

“We must assume she suspects you plan to challenge her.” With another wave of his hand, the mist disappeared. “I will take Rowan to his chamber. Go, speak to the queen,” Caelum said.

“No.”

Such a simple word but, the way Rowan said it made it seem like a king’s command.

Caelum’s brows rose.

“I’m going with her.”