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Chapter two

The Sparkling Palace of Mer

Ayla

“It’s most irregular.” The guard sighed, his gaze flicking between the thick parchment and his partner. “These were supposed to be invitations, not hastily written notes.”

Rhett waited, arms crossed as he stared at the keepers of the rocky gatehouse.

Mer’s coral walls imposed above us, framing the closed gate.

Beyond, the city sprawled up a hill, a palace twinkling at its peak, twilight reflected in countless windows.

Along its side, the palace’s countless balconies overlooked a tall cliff, the structure imposing over the sea.

And between us and the city was a locked gate, its guardians housed upon the small island on which Rhett now stood.

“I know we were overlooked on the invitation list,” Rhett explained smoothly, “but you’ll find this document has been signed by the kings themselves, and that the Golden Apple Trading Guild has been given entry for the duration of the event.”

I still didn’t know what Rhett had done to get this document, but I played along with the ruse, sighing impatiently as I waited on the deck of the Umbral Star . Rhett had said the gates weren’t normally closed when we planned this whole thing. This last-minute change was unnerving.

“There’s only space for one boat per guild,” the guard finally grunted, nodding toward both Rhett’s vessel and the Umbral Star .

“My crew will continue on their way, and I’ll join my cousin Aida’s ship,” Rhett explained.

Aida. Once, I thought the name was conveniently clever, but now it seemed far too close to Ayla. I wished I’d chosen a different name for my travel papers—forged papers that named me as Rhett’s distant cousin.

Forging those papers seems like a lifetime ago.

At least my antlers had grown in, shifting my most distinguishable feature. Now nobody could link me to Valterra’s bastard princess. Or so I hoped.

Just as I hoped nobody would notice the shadow magic shielding Zayne. Or the firewolf sitting at my feet, her flames a demure gray and features doglike. We gave the illusion that Vanessa and I were the only crew on our ship, our companion an unassuming dog.

“Those are the King’s signatures,” the guard finally agreed, shoving the parchment toward Rhett. He signaled to his companion, and with a creak, the gates barring our entry began to open. “Apologies for the delay.”

“Not a worry, my friend. Happy to sort out any confusion.” Rhett accepted the paper with a sweep of his arms, tucked it in his coat pocket, and whistled toward his own boat.

Rimu, his jet-black dog, rambled down the gangway, practically running to join him. The dog slobbered on Rhett’s thigh.

Ninti raised her head and wagged her tail, and I stared, shocked by the sight of her acting so… doglike.

After a few final commands to his crew, Rhett jumped onto the Umbral Star, Rimu leaping after him. The dogs circled one another, leaving me unprepared for Rhett’s bear hug. He lifted me off my feet, squeezing me tightly. “Welcome, cousin. Long time no see.”

I gasped for breath as a wave of jealousy that wasn’t mine knotted my stomach. Zayne. He watched from the shadows, and I pushed his emotions, the bond, out of my mind.

“I missed you too,” I admitted to Rhett, lowering my voice. “But the circumstances…”

“I told you I could do it,” he whispered in my ear, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and turning me to face the open gate.

“I never doubted, but how? Where did you get that parchment? Did the kings really sign it?”

“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.” He grinned cheekily.

“You didn’t really kiss anyone… did you?”

“It’s a genuine signature. Don’t worry.”

Still, I wasn’t reassured as we slipped into the port, the gates grinding closed behind us.

We passed empty boats as music tinkled from the city itself, laughter and excitement audible from here.

My heart began to race, anticipating what sort of ball awaited us.

The sight of the Starlit King’s yacht was only the beginning.

This was a huge step up from the Valterran fae fiddle bars I once knew. I had heard the gossip of fae courts, but after seeing the shadow court in such disrepair, I had forgotten my old fantasies, ones that belonged to someone eager to explore the Isles of Fae as Rhett’s cousin.

We would have danced. We would have traded. Rhett and I had planned a simple life, but that was before Zayne found me, disrupting everything with a lethal brand.

A breeze cooled my skin, and when I turned toward the cabin, the shadows shifted. Zayne didn’t make himself visible, but I guessed where to look. He hid in the spot that made my chest ache.

Rhett followed my gaze, speaking to the nothingness. “Well hidden, Shadow Prince.”

“I’ll be perfectly discreet,” Zayne said, moving between us.

Rhett stepped back with a frown, his gaze flicking between the two of us. “Very well. For now, follow my lead, and we’ll be in our private suite soon enough. We can talk freely then.”

“Private suite—” I started to ask, but the port’s air sprite arrived, giving Vanessa instructions on where to dock.

Rhett started chattering, telling the story of his travels. All of it was empty, spoken with the practiced air of someone certain they might be overheard, but I gave the appropriate responses, forcing my attention away from the place where I thought Zayne stood, hidden in plain sight.

Once we were docked, I followed Rhett’s lead, I shouldered my satchel and stepped onto the dock. Ninti and Rimu followed us, and I sensed Zayne beyond them.

I turned back to Vanessa. “Take care of the Star while we’re gone.” Meaning, Stay prepared for a quick escape.

“Aye,” she agreed, her lack of sass evidence of her sincerity.

I couldn’t wait to retreat to the open sea. Already, my skin felt too tight.

We left the docks and reached a wide beach that, even in twilight, was crowded with locals. The mer fae splashed in the water, their legs shifted into their iconic fins. The children swam about in play as adults luxuriated in the water.

Rhett slowed, scanning the crowd.

“Who are you…” And then it dawned on me.

A woman rose from the water, her fin parting into legs covered by a brightly colored skirt. Blue and pink scales covered patches of her skin, and her blonde hair was streaked with color too.

Iona. It had to be.

I had never met Rhett’s mer fae teenage flame, but that puppy-dog look in his eyes could only mean one thing.

She took to a run, sprinting into Rhett’s waiting arms. I watched, dumbfounded, desperately recalling everything he had told me about her.

He’d written a song about her, and supportive friend that I was, I had listened to it a painful number of times.

Most of it was insignificant—her beauty, her intelligence, the way her mother tore them apart…

Wait, her mother is someone important, right?

“I still can’t believe you’re really here.” She stepped back, holding him at arm’s length, her gaze trailed up and down his full height so intently that a blush started creeping up my face. “Has it really been years? You still look like a rogue.”

“And you are even more dazzling,” Rhett said, rushing his words. “Thank you, by the way, for helping us join the festivities.”

Ah. So she was the one who got us in.

She waved it off. “Anything for an old friend. I can’t wait to catch up.” Iona turned to me, piercing me with her bright eyes. “And this must be your mysterious cousin!”

“Meet Aida,” Rhett answered.

I offered her my smile in return. “Rhett’s told me wonderful things about you.”

“Funny,” Iona said. “He never told me about you.”

“I didn’t meet Aida until I was older,” Rhett intervened. “Since she was born in Valterra.”

“Sure,” Iona said, fanning out her already-dry hair. “At any rate, I’ll show you to your rooms.”

She led the way, taking us to one of the many watery channels that were the arteries of the city. Bewitched with mer magic, their currents could flow uphill, and the channels allowed the mer fae to swim quickly throughout the city. Fortunately for us, we could hire a gondola.

I sat on one side as Rhett and Iona cuddled opposite me, Rimu and Ninti settled at our feet, the two dogs entirely distracted by one another. Between Ninti’s silence and Zayne’s constant shadows, I quickly became a third wheel as Rhett and Iona retreated into whispers.

Zayne settled beside me. Or at least, I thought he did.

We rode through the city, up the hill, and toward the palace, and my heart raced with uncertainty. Everything had unfolded so fast. And while I trusted Rhett, I had to admit it was possible he was distracted.

If only I could speak to Zayne. I trusted his instincts nearly as much as my own. Was he nervous too? What did he see that I might have missed? With each step we moved farther from the Umbral Star , the vessel now trapped behind a coral wall, my fear grew.

Through it all, I maintained my small smile, allowing my eyes to dart with awe. It wasn’t hard to pretend, especially as we approached the sprawling palace estate.

“The palace has multiple wings, all of them connected by courtyards and channels,” Iona explained. “You’ll be staying in the guest wing, but the festivities will be in the throne room.”

“And where will you be staying?” Rhett asked her.

“I still live with my mother,” Iona sighed. “She has a suite in the royal wing.”

Rhett frowned.

“Your mother must be very important,” I probed carefully.

“Of course, though I wish she didn’t find Rhett so… common. ” Iona’s smile faltered. “ You see, she’s one of the Kings’ nieces, their favorite advisor, and honestly, she’s let the position go to her head. You may have heard of her—Lady Calindra.”

“Oh, I see.”

Nervously, I wrung my hands.

Lady Calindra.

Iona’s mother was the very same mer who had been working with Inarus, and we were here to take the shard from her.

“Oh no.” Iona reached out for my hand. “I didn’t mean to scare you, though I understand. I know my mother’s policies can be a little intense.”