Page 20

Dawn stole into my chambers in a crown of reddish light.

It painted everything it touched, even the bubbles, which dappled my walls like rubies.

I lay in bed, marveling at this ghost of a familiar sun and wondering what my family was doing on the other side.

It’d been a long time since I’d had a morning to myself.

Nomi was the scholar in the family, but I loved to read too.

As promised, Elang had sent a stack of books to my door.

No adventure or romance novels, sadly, but I delved into the thickest tome I could find, the Registry of Ai’long’s High Courts.

It was far more riveting than I expected, leaving out no scandal or crime.

I was so engrossed that I didn’t hear Mailoh arrive with my sangi.

She peered over my shoulder.

“Reading about our lore, I see. You are the twenty-third human wife of a dragon. You would’ve been the twenty-fourth, had the Dragon King’s heir married that Kiatan princess, but—”

“Don’t tell me.” I raised a halting hand.

“I haven’t gotten that far yet. I’m still only in the Second Era, when General Lusi’s son swiped the Emerald Dragon’s whisker.”

“Ah,” said Mailoh.

“Still a thousand years before Lord Elang was born. A fair warning, you’ll not find anything about him in that book.”

“I’m not surprised,” I said wryly.

“I’ve gotten a sense that he’s not very popular around here.”

“In a way, that’s to your advantage. A half dragon’s bride need not go through the traditional rites of Ai’long. Trust me, they can be quite awful.”

“Sangi is bad enough,” I said, spying the bottle on her tray.

“Can’t I skip a dose? I promise I won’t drown.”

“The drowning isn’t what will kill you. Don’t forget you’re at the bottom of the sea. Miss a dose of sangi, and the weight of these waters will come crushing down until you’re naught but bubbles and foam.”

Goose bumps bristled across my skin, and not just from the cold.

“On second thought, I appreciate your punctuality, Mailoh.”

Mailoh huffed a laugh.

“You’re funny, Lady Saigas. No wonder Lord Elang loves you so.”

“If he loved me, he’d find a way to make sangi taste better.”

“Cheer up, I brought cake. You might find it goes down easier with something sweet.”

I instantly perked as she lifted the lid of a bamboo steamer.

“Thousand-layer cake,” said Mailoh.

“It’s one of Kunkoi’s specialties. He doesn’t get to make it often since Lord Elang doesn’t like sweets, and, well, we don’t get many human visitors.”

“You don’t eat cake?”

“Our diet is mostly fish and algae,” said Mailoh.

She gave a small smile.

“Sometimes jellyfish, when we’re lucky. You’d better drink, you only have a few minutes left.”

I’d been skeptical that anything could wash away the foul taste of sangi, but this cake proved me wrong.

The salted egg custard was sweet yet savory and coated my tongue in a sumptuous cream.

I let out a happy sigh.

“I might actually look forward to these morning rituals. Is Kunkoi looking to take on an apprentice?”

Mailoh looked scandalized.

“You’re the lady of the castle—you’re not to cook.”

“It seems everyone in the castle has multiple roles. I can paint murals on the empty walls and make cakes. Noodles too. I’ve always wanted to be better at making noodles.” I winked at her.

“I could make jellyfish noodles for you.”

“We’ll see,” said Mailoh, amusement brightening her round eyes.

She sent my tray sailing away, and I set down my book, letting myself float off the mattress.

“Now, for your tour. Where would you like to see first? Don’t say the kitchen. I will not abide the lady of the castle toiling away, especially on her very first day.”

I tucked a brush into my sleeve, in case I needed to take notes.

“Show me all the secret passageways. I want to see the dungeons, the treasury, and especially where Elang hides all his expensive art.”

Mailoh chuckled.

“You’ve been reading about Jinsang Palace. Our little castle is not quite so grand. There are no hidden passageways that I’m aware of, though Lord Elang does store his tea collection behind the most unsightly tapestry of the Floating Mountains. That’s the closest that I can think of to a secret room. And a treasury.”

I wrinkled my nose.

“A treasury of dried leaves and tin cans?”

“Yes, mostly. It’s where Lord Elang keeps the valuables he acquires from his trips to land. Tea is his main conquest. Last I checked there were also a few old maps.”

“What about art?” I suggested.

“There must be a gallery somewhere.”

“Lord Elang doesn’t collect art.”

“But in Gangsun, he had so many…”

Was it my imagination, or did Mailoh suddenly tense?

“The only paintings he loves are yours, Lady Saigas,” she assured me.

She wrapped a shawl around my shoulders.

“You’ll have to fill our barren halls with your works.”

I frowned, but I let it go.

She probably knew about my background as a forger.

“Let’s start off with the barracks, then. Elang mentioned that side of the castle was off-limits.”

“As it should be! The entire wing is still damaged from the last storm. Don’t look so disappointed—you look as though you want Lord Elang to be keeping secrets from you.” With a laugh, Mailoh glanced up at the crimson stripes staining the afternoon.

“Perhaps we can squeeze in a visit to the garden before the seas turn too rough. An old turtle like me is always worrying about the weather.”

“There’s a garden?” I couldn’t imagine anything growing in this wasteland.

“Yes, many! They used to be Yonsar’s great pride. But now…well, the courtyard is still lovely, and it has walls that are inlaid with gold. Perhaps Shani will know of other treasures.”

“Shani’s coming?”

“She’s always with you,” said Mailoh, reminding me of my ring.

I glanced down at the opal.

Elang wanted me to trust the demon, but I barely trusted him.

When Mailoh wasn’t looking, I rotated the ring so the opal faced my palm.

I closed my fist and followed the turtle out.

From outside, the castle had appeared a hidden fortress, a warren of mysterious secrets and treasures.

Inside, it reminded me more of a forlorn chest of drawers.

The space was larger than I had expected, with the majority of the grounds spanning behind the two cliffs that camouflaged the castle.

There were indoor ponds with stone fountainheads modeled after Elang’s dragon ancestors, galleries with domed ceilings so high I felt like I was standing at the bottom of a vase.

But the walls were always bald, save for the perfunctory tapestry or scroll, and each chamber was empty.

No lanterns, no furnishings, no people.

“The storms have driven away most who live in the Westerly Seas,” explained Mailoh.

“Even my youngest daughter was sent away—Lord Elang bade all the children to leave for their safety, and many of the merfolk have sought refuge ashore.”

I could hear the ache in her voice.

“Why have the turtles stayed?”

“Yonsar is our home,” she replied.

“We will stay until theend.”

She moved on.

In the bowels of the castle, we came across a mantle of ferns and hanging roots.

Mailoh swept it aside, and beyond was an open inner courtyard.

“This is my favorite place,” she said.

“The Court of Celestial Harmony.”

I could see why.

In the center was a floating pavilion with a crystal roof, the pattern of its ridges bringing to mind an iridescent carapace.

The water here was warmer, alit by the faintest golden glow.

I sifted the sand through my fingers, marveling.

Each grain was star shaped.

“A remnant of the beauty that once was Yonsar,” Mailoh murmured wistfully.

“It’s believed that the Luminous Hour originated here.”

“The Luminous Hour?”

“It’s a gift from the merfolk, honoring the sacred peace between them and dragons. Thousands of glowing pearls float across the realm, and the waters of Ai’long are at their brightest. It’s very beautiful, and there’s always a joyous celebration—even here in Yonsar.”

Will I see it?

I wanted to ask, but Mailoh didn’t know that my stay here was temporary.

“When is it?” I asked instead.

“It comes a few days before the Resonant Tide.”

“When the waters are at their darkest,” I mused.

“How poetic.”

“Lord Elang’s only seen it once. Did you know, he tried to capture some of the pearls and bury them here? He’d bury crabs in the sand banks too; he trained them to scare anyone passing by. He was quite a rascal when he first came to Ai’long.”

I found that difficult to imagine.

“What happened?”

“His mother found out. She made him return the pearls—and the crabs.”

His mother, who I’d gathered was human.

Mailoh didn’t elaborate, and I sensed the topic was off-limits, even for her.

I spilled the sand back onto its bed.

“I like it here too. It’s warm.”

“It wasn’t always cold in Yonsar. When Lord Elang breaks his curse, the waters will be warm once more.”

The plaintive hope in her voice caused my chest to tighten.

Even Mailoh thought I was here to find his pearl.

I wasn’t looking forward to letting her down.

Just beyond the court, I noticed a barren field, along with a row of short walls trellised in green buds.

“Is that the garden?” I asked.

“Part of it. Lord Elang’s been attempting to revive some of the flowers, but they never survive the storms. So he’s begun transplanting a few closer to the Court of Celestial Harmony as an experiment.”

Elang, gardening here ?

I could hardly imagine anything surviving, let alone thriving, in this bleak seascape.

“What flowers?” I asked.

“Thorny ones,” said Elang himself, approaching us from behind, “with poisonous barbs that shoot out to deter intruders.”

“My favorite kind,” I replied tartly.

My hackles rose as I whirled to face him.

I knew he was alluding to our first encounter.

Mailoh, however, did not.

She beamed to see Elang here.

“Your Highness, we weren’t expecting you.”

“I ended my meeting with the general early.” Elang planted himself at my side, beholding me in his gaze.

“I missed my wife.”

His eyes met mine, both darkly intense.

Even though I knew he was acting, my heart quickened a notch.

His hair was black today, just like the roses he’d been planting when we first met.

It made him look less devilish, more human.

“Have you gone up to the rooftop?” he asked, gesturing at the pavilion.

“It boasts the best view of the garden, perhaps even the whole of the castle grounds.”

I put on my coyest smile.

“Why don’t you take me?”

Not the bat of an eyelash ruffled Elang’s poise.

Without taking his eyes off me, he said, “You are relieved of your afternoon duties, Mailoh. I’ll show Lady Saigas the rest of the castle personally.”

The turtle was practically bubbling.

I could read what she was thinking— Look how joyful Lord Elang is now that he’s found his Heavenly Match.

I struggled to maintain my smile as she bounced into a bow, then swam away.

The instant she was gone, Elang’s demeanor changed.

He put distance between us, and his countenance became about as affectionate as an urn.

“Follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

“I requested dinner with you daily. It is nearly time.”

Was it?

Usually my stomach was an infallible tracker of mealtimes.

“I thought you were going to show me the rest of the castle.”

“You’ve seen enough. I’d rather suffer through our evening ritual sooner, before the smell of you repels my appetite.”

He really was a demon turd.

“If you find me so repulsive, you can eat alone.”

“That isn’t what we’ve agreed to.”

Without another word, he spun back toward the castle.

Just as on land, he liked tormenting me with his speed.

By the time we reached the moon-shaped doors, I was breathless, and they shuddered to a thunderous close barely a beat after I made it inside.

Meanwhile, Elang continued down the endless hallway, his shoulders leaning slightly forward as he swam.

I couldn’t help admiring his grace, the way he moved through the water without a ripple.

If only he didn’t have the personality of a bludgeon.

When I finally caught up, he was already seated at the banquet table, drinking tea.

A simpler meal than yesterday awaited, only two dishes.

A morass of noodles in golden gravy and a whole steamed fish wreathed in plump leafy greens.

I sank into the seat beside Elang, observing the otherwise-empty hall.

Yesterday I hadn’t appreciated how immense it was; it could have easily entertained hundreds, with its many round marble tables, the high crystal ceiling—stained an exquisite pea green that would have cost a fortune in the human world, the floating lanterns alit by luminescent lotus buds.

Yet I doubted it’d seen such a crowd in years.

There was a whiff of decayed grandeur about the entire castle, but especially here.

The walls were enameled with mother-of-pearl, but the finish was cracked and dented, many areas patched with stone; the pillars were veined with a gray and dire-looking coat of algae.

Even the cushions on my seat were tattered.

“No Kunkoi tonight?” I asked.

“The staff has been instructed not to interrupt.”

By instructed, I suspected he meant warned.

It was so still in here, not even the lanterns dared flicker.

With a sigh, I helped myself to a mass of noodles.

Swimming was tiring work, and I was hungrier than I’d realized.

I ate quickly, using my full mouth as an excuse to ignore Elang.

After all, he’d made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.

He didn’t touch his noodles.

All he did was drink his tea, to the point I wondered whether it was enchanted like Kunkoi’s endless gourd.

“Do I really smell that bad?” I asked.

“Or do you simply hate noodles?”

No answer, but Elang set down his drink.

“Have you had a vision?”

So that was what was on his mind.

I scraped a heap of noodles into my mouth.

“I only arrived yesterday. I haven’t even had time to pick up a brush.”

“Then why is there ink on your arm?”

Sure enough, there was a black smudge peeking out from under my cuff.

“It’s just a map of your castle. I drew it during the tour.”

“On your arm?”

“I forgot paper.” I shrugged.

“It was convenient.”

“But you didn’t forget a brush,” he noted crisply.

“I’ve always got a brush with me.”

“In case you have a vision?”

Demons of Tamra, he was obsessed.

“Nomi says books are pocket gardens,” I replied.

“To me, a brush is pocket magic.”

He lifted an inquisitive eyebrow.

“For taking notes and recording secrets,” I replied, “and drawing maps of new places in case I need to make an escape. I’ve got a good memory, but even I can’t remember every turn and corner, especially in a labyrinth like this. A brush can capture those details, and more.”

“You are a strange girl, Tru Saigas,” said Elang, looking unamused.

“At least keep it in your pocket.”

“I don’t have a—”

He reached for the end of my sleeve, sparks of magic rushing from his fingertips.

When I glanced down at my jacket, a new pocket had appeared, with a button to keep my brush and ink safe.

I looked up at him.

Thank you, I meant to say, but the words caught in my throat.

He was still holding my sleeve, his human side facing me.

This close, I could feel the vibrations of water thrumming from his skin, could see my reflection in the glow of his yellow eye.

It was beautiful, that eye, in a feral and unearthly way.

But it belonged on the dragon half of his face, not the human one.

The way it was, I couldn’t tell which side was more beastly.

Which side might bite.

“Someone’s coming,” Elang said, drawing me back with a claw.

“I know it’s difficult for you, but try to keep quiet.”

No sooner did he finish speaking than a giant turtle came storming through the doors.

“Where is that treacherous ingrate?” he demanded, waving his spear.

“General Caisan.” Elang’s voice sharpened.

“I thought I made it clear we were not to be disturbed.”

So this was the general.

He had bright green eyes like Mailoh, though that was where their similarities ended.

His neck was spindly, head jutting out like a flower on the end of a stalk, and his dark shell resembled a beetle’s carapace more than a turtle’s.

Long slash marks mutilated the plates, such that some were cracked and even overlapping.

He didn’t have the look of someone who’d bring me cake in the morning.

“Do you know what she’s done?” cried Caisan.

“I speak of the demon Shanizhun.” Another wave of his spear.

“Come out, you ingrate!”

In a dramatic plume of mist, Shani burst out of the ring.

It was the first time I’d seen her since leaving Gangsun.

She wasn’t a phoenix anymore and instead had taken on what I suspected was her natural form: a stingray-like fish with a downturned mouth and a lengthy spiked tail.

It suited her better.

She flapped a fin over Elang’s shoulder.

“It was only a snack,” she said.

“After so long on land, you can’t blame me for missing a taste of home.”

“You see how brazen she is?” Caisan spluttered.

“Have sense, Lord Elang. First she abandons you to Nazayun’s patrols, then this morning my third lieutenant is found with his memories tampered with. She is clearly up to something.”

“Enough, both of you.” A low growl rumbled out of Elang’s throat.

“General, if you wish to disrupt my dinner, the least you could do is properly greet Lady Saigas.”

I didn’t know how humans appeared to turtles—perhaps we were as insignificant and gormless as stalks of kelp—but it seemed that only then did General Caisan finally noticeme.

His round eyes swiftly took in my blue hair, then the opal ring on my finger.

“Welcome, human. I see that you have already made your allegiances known.”

“She’s smarter than she looks,” quipped Shani, “marginally. Which is still more than I can say about you.”

Elang sent the demon a silencing look.

“It was I who requested that the lady wear Shanizhun’s ring,” he said, turning to the general.

“And she has a name.”

“Yes, I am aware.” Caisan glowered.

“Truyan Saigas of West Gangsun, daughter of Arban and Weina. Master art forger of the Dor’lin District.”

I flinched.

Those were the exact words I’d used to introduce myself to Elang.

“You will address her as Her Highness, Lady Saigas, the High Lady of the Westerly Seas.”

Caisan viewed me with clear disdain.

“Is the above world so wretched that there was no other creature to ally yourself with than this…this—”

“Visionary painter?” I suggested wryly.

Caisan glared.

“Scoundrel.”

“Careful where you tread, Caisan,” said Elang.

“This scoundrel is now my wife.”

Did I imagine it, or was there a touch of menace in Elang’s voice, and a firm emphasis on the word wife ?

Caisan landed into the sand banks with a thud, bowing his head low.

“I beg you allow me to find you a proper partner, Lord Elang. The fate of Yonsar rests upon His Eternal Majesty believing you’ve found your Heavenly Match. This creature is neither believable nor suitable.”

“I found it hard to believe as well,” said Shani, “but he did marry the krill.”

“Enough!”

Elang took my hand in his.

“The strongest bridge is made of truth,” he said, bringing my fingers to his mouth.

“Deception will crumble, given enough time.”

I thought he was going to bite me.

It wasn’t an unreasonable conclusion, given how the sharp tips of his teeth were skimming the water above my fingertips.

But no, instead he placed the gentlest kiss on my knuckles, the heat of his breath warming the chill from my skin.

Against my will, I felt my pulse quicken.

It wasn’t lost on me that the red strings on our wrists were touching.

What on earth was he doing?

Finally Elang set down my hand.

“General, I remind you that you swore to me an oath. You would do well to abide by it and extend such loyalty to Lady Saigas. She commands the Westerly Seas, same as I. Am I understood?”

Not once had Elang raised his voice, but as he spoke, the water vibrated, and a rush of susurrations hummed against my skin.

Caisan felt it too.

“Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed stiffly.

“Forgive my insolence, Lady Saigas. I welcome you to Yonsar.”

The turtle backed away, leaving us to resume our meal.

Elang had taken no more than a bite of his noodles when suddenly, underneath the table, he wrapped his tail around my ankle.

I startled.

“What are you—”

The tips of his claws were protracted, and his hair was turning dragon white, golden horns lengthening.

Our bowls flew off the table as he grabbed me.

“The storm approaches,” he shouted.

“Into position!”

The walls shuddered, and an alarm resonated across the castle in a blaring chorus.

“General,” Elang called to Caisan, “order your vanguard to the Spine. I want the south court bolstered by as many shells as possible.”

The south court?

That was where my room was.

Outside, the turtles moved into position.

In a wave, they rushed for the castle walls, latching themselves to every bare surface.

Their heads shrank back into their shells as they lined up across the castle, bracing for the incoming storm.

Hundreds of turtles, all in place within a minute.

It was an astonishing feat, but I didn’t get to watch long.

Elang seized me by the waist and hurled me away from the window—a moment before a cataclysmic wave fell uponYonsar.