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“Caelum—”

Aneri cut me off. “We are both aware of such threats. Who is the girl? I will tend to her.”

I barely listened, instead imagining a young one being injured on account of me. I honestly had not believed the queen would go to such lengths. If her antics were discovered, they would be frowned upon. Challenges were meant to be a natural part of our clan’s system of rule. Undermining it would not be received well by the majority of Thalassarians.

“Will be back by morn from the Deep Archives,” Caelum was saying.

My head snapped up.

“Marek is at the Deep Archives? At this hour?”

For the second time that night, Caelum appeared more sheepish than usual. Than ever, actually. It was not his typical modus operandi.

“He is escorting Rowan there.”

Rowan.

I’d attempted to put him from my thoughts, to concentrate on my training and the upcoming challenge, but my attempts were futile.

“Why is Marek escorting Rowan to the Deep Archives at night?”

Caelum shrugged. “I know only he requested to be taken there and the request made its way to me. Marek offered to smuggle him from the palace instead so as not to draw suspicion.”

Unbelievable.“Smuggle him from the palace? At night? Is that notmoresuspicious?”

“Not if they aren’t caught. And they won’t be. It’s Marek.”

Marek and my human spy.But I didn’t say that out loud. Instead, I marched toward the door. “I will return, Aneri—no need to wait up.”

And before anyone could stop me, I whipped the door open and strode outside. I was fairly certain I heard Aneri chuckle, but Caelum was doing anything but when he caught up with me.

“You cannot think to go there now?”

“I am not thinking of it,” I said, not stopping, “but actually making it happen. I want to know why Rowan requested to be taken there and why Marek thought it wise to smuggle him from the palace as a way to not draw suspicion.”

“Nerys.” Caelum grabbed my arm. “Stop. Please.”

It was the kind of tone my father would use. Sometimes, I forgot how close the two were, but other times, I was easily reminded of it. Times like right now.

He looked at me with a mixture of admiration and concern. “Did you not hear what I told you earlier? That attack was either meant for you or meant as a warning for you. Queen Lirael is now quietly accepting your challenge.”

“I heard you,” I said, Caelum’s hand dropping. “And will admit my surprise at her stance and cunning. But I will not cower and hide, now or ever. It is Lirael’s desire to hide herself in the palace. For Thalassaria to tighten its borders. Not mine.”

He may not be pleased, but neither would Caelum stop me. “Will you at least have an escort when you are not cowering or hiding?”

“I have you, do I not?”

“You do. And Marek. And if you’ll have him, the human too.”

I’d begun to walk toward the canal but stopped again at that.

“What do you mean?”

Caelum looked at me as if I were a young one. “He is in love with you, Nerys.”

My eyes widened. “Did he tell you that?”

“I have been alive for centuries, Nerys. And do not need to be told when a man is in love with a woman.”