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Chapter twenty-six

The New Stowaway

Zayne

I smirked from the shadows as Ayla told half-lies about the most delightful cove she had discovered with her friend.

The Umbral Star bounced in the waves outside the closed gates while Ayla met with the guards on the small island with the gatehouse.

The guard’s gaze raked over her, approving of her more than I would have wished. “Glad you could enjoy Mer. With the trade assembly, it’s been too quiet here. Lucky you.”

“Lucky indeed,” she answered kindly.

Confident she had the situation under control, I spared a glance for the clifftop palace, searching for any changes, and finding that aside from being cast in a morning glow, the palace remained the same.

We were what had changed.

Every inch of me that Ayla had touched was still warm, and when her scent caught on the wind, it almost brought me to my knees.

I’d had her. She’d taken me.

And by Teyr, I’d be ruined forever.

When the guard handed the paperwork back to her with a flirty smile on his face, it took all my control not to smack his grin right off.

Promptly, the gate opened, and Vanessa steered the Umbral Star into the port. As we entered the still, silent waters, I stepped to Ayla’s side, shadows coming between us.

This illusion, this false role of Aida, would break me.

Ayla didn’t look at me, but with a tilt to her hips, she leaned closer. Our bond was calm and focused, her presence sharper than before. Now the tether hinted at something more than her emotions, an intangible I was eager to explore.

To think, when we’d first arrived at Mer, she had been unable to even acknowledge our connection.

And, try as I might to ignore it, we weren’t the only thing that had shifted. So had my magic, the lens of death brighter than before, the remaining shards glowing a deathly purple hue only I could see.

Soon, we’d have them all. We would escape these walls.

It couldn’t happen quickly enough.

As if sensing my mood, she leaned against the railing. “We’ll be out of here tonight.”

“Easily,” I agreed, widening my shadows enough so she could hear.

Her gaze flitted to the palace. “I’m still planning to accept the lesson.”

“I know,” I whispered. She wanted control—Dusk had asked it of her. Moreover, she had every right to choose, and I wouldn’t deny her this. “But we’ll be cautious.”

“Agreed.”

Through the shadows, I reached for her hand. In response, she held me tight, our palms flushed against each other in a tight squeeze. The warmth of her skin tempted me to wrap her in my shadows for one last kiss.

The boat reached the dock before I dared.

With a final clasp, Ayla released my hand, shouldered her bag, and faced the palace.

This early, the nearby beach was mostly empty, primarily used by mer for a morning swim.

We journeyed on. The watery routes were emptier than before, and we easily secured a gondola.

Looking about, the market was hardly open, but as we flowed up the hill, the city stirred in our wake.

Soon, Ayla faced our suite’s door. At her side, I glanced to the corner apartment where the three diamond shards beckoned to me. My cloak shifted, the pocket with the shards drawn to the side as if drawn in that direction.

After a deep breath, she knocked, announced “Rhett, it’s Aida,” and pushed the door open.

Not only Rhett, but Iona too, lounged on the living room couch beyond. They had been cuddling, with her wrapped under his arms, their hands held, and while both stiffened when we entered, neither loosened their grip on the other.

Ayla glanced at them with a smirk. “I should’ve known.”

In Iona’s presence, I stayed to the shadows as I entered the room. Ayla closed the door just as Rimu raced forward.

The big black dog sniffed about, searching with increased desperation until he looked up at Ayla and whimpered.

Rhett frowned. “Where’s Ninti?”

Ayla knelt to scratch the big dog. “Ninti’s staying with my friend, the one I visited,” she lied, pretending for Iona’s sake, making my chest ache as her grief trekked through the tether.

Rhett frowned, clearly not fooled, but he didn’t ask anything further. Instead, he glanced at Iona, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “There’s been a development here.”

“Did the assembly reach an agreement?” Ayla asked, setting her bag just inside our bedroom.

Rhett shrugged. “They’re still arguing over how much the Starlit King wants to charge in port fees. In response, the Dragon Queen is offering Wisp as a secondary port, but it’s far too small to support the demand. Calindra was up all night writing a new proposal that she plans to share today.”

As he explained, I studied Iona, still uncertain if she could detect my presence or not. She was pointedly not looking at me, and I couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad sign.

“So then, what’s the development?” Ayla asked after a pause.

Rhett took a deep breath. “Iona and I are staying together, and if that means heading out on our own, we understand.”

Ayla crossed her arms. “You’re… leaving?”

Rhett stood, stepping between Ayla and Iona. “I’d prefer it if we could both go with you. If you’ll allow it.”

Ayla stared at him.

Then Iona stood too, her posture bent, a little desperate. “Please. I’ve suspected the worst of my mother, but over the last few days, the more I’ve learned… I won’t be a part of this.”

Ayla squinted at her. “So what is happening?”

“The weapons.” Iona swallowed. “I don’t know who they’re for, but I’ve seen the lists my mother sent to the artisans. She already has stockpiles of weapons, but they’re making even more and her team is still designing new kinds.”

Ayla searched the mer’s face in silence.

Iona stood a little taller. “I’ll find my way out, one way or another. And as for Rhett… He’s choosing this.” She reached for his hand. “We’ll never know if we work if we’re never together.”

Finally, Ayla shook her head. “I understand—I don’t like this either. But you don’t want to come with us, not really… It’s complicated.”

“I know that.” Iona glared at her. “Your backstory is too suspicious.”

Ayla stared daggers at Rhett, who shook his head, mouth agape, clearly just as surprised by Iona’s accusation.

Iona shook her head. “Don’t blame Rhett—he didn’t spill your secret.

And I don’t think anyone else suspects. But I know Rhett doesn't have a cousin on Valterra. For him to maintain such a lie means your secret must be important, and while I don’t intend to pry, treat me with respect.

Whatever it is, I can handle a little complication. ”

Ayla pinned her with her gaze. “All that, and you’re still not afraid to leave with us?”

Iona shrugged. “Whatever you and Rhett are up to is a far better bet than my mother. Maybe not safer. But better.”

“Well,” Ayla breathed, curiously probing the tether as if asking for my thoughts.

I weighed the options, frustrated with how little I knew of Iona beyond her infatuation with Rhett and frustrations with her mother.

“Let me speak with Rhett,” Ayla finally answered. “Alone.”

Iona nodded. “I understand.”

Simultaneously, Rhett growled. “But—”

Ayla put up her hand. “We’ll need to leave soon, and there won’t be much notice. If you’re coming with us, I need you to prepare now.”

“Of course,” Iona rushed to say.

“That soon?” Rhett’s voice rose.

“We have a few more tasks to complete, and we’re leaving as soon as they’re done.”

Rhett frowned.

Taking the hint, Iona kissed his cheek, stepping away before he could react. “I’ll pack and let you two chat.” Her gaze strayed to where I was standing, her lips drawn tight.

Does she know where I am?

Ayla frowned, noticing the direction of Iona’s gaze too.

In a final, determined farewell, Iona straightened her shoulders and faced Ayla. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I will keep your secrets regardless of whether or not you help me.”

She left, closing the door behind her.

I dropped the shadows and glared at Rhett. “You’ve told her nothing ? Really?”

“I promise! I didn’t even know she was suspicious of Ayla.”

“But the way she looked at Zayne…” Ayla glanced at me, and I nodded in agreement.

“What look?” Rhett frowned.

“It’s like she knew where he was. She’s suspected I wasn’t your cousin this whole time, and really, she never mentioned it to you?”

“Why would she bring it up?” Rhett snapped. “She knew I had secrets—Teyr knows she has them too—we just agree not to talk about them unless they’re essential. And is there really a problem with that?”

Ayla stepped back, her expression crestfallen. “What secrets did you keep from me? I thought… we told each other everything.”

“We do, until we don’t,” Rhett pleaded. “Ayla, we first met under pretense. Of course we both have secrets. Everyone does.”

She backed down, clearly still hurt by his words. “You’ll really stay with her, won’t you?”

Rhett glanced at me before meeting Ayla’s eyes. “Not all of us have the luxury of falling in love with someone we can’t keep secrets from.”

Ayla blinked at him. “You’re jealous of… us?”

Rhett went on. “Sometimes, when I watch the two of you—this connection you share. Maybe Iona and I have to keep secrets now, but there could be a future where that isn’t true. And the only way I’m going to find out is by taking a leap of faith and staying by her side.”

Ayla’s shoulder’s softened.

Rhett looked to the ground, his voice lowering. “Has it occurred to you that I’m fighting for Iona because I’m jealous of you? I want a mate. A real one.”

“We’re not… mates.” Ayla breathed, her heart racing so fast I could feel it from here.

Yes, some fae partners would call themselves mates, celebrating their bond through ceremony like human marriage. But mates were also a thing from legends, those with bonds that connected to the soul.

We couldn’t be mates, at least in that later sense… Right?

“I don’t know,” Rhett concluded. “But since your bond is so blatantly obvious…. why not?”

At his words, the tether throbbed, an ache in my chest. I stepped to Ayla’s side, an instinctive need to stand closer.

I want to keep her forever.

And that meant keeping her safe from harm, even from those who would cause it incidentally.

Finally, I spoke up. “So in this jealous mood, you’ve potentially offered Iona passage with us—the thieves of her mother’s shard?”

He looked up at me with a careless shrug. “Call me a fool, but at least, I’ll admit I’m in love.”

I flickered with the shadows in my hand. “You told me to keep Ayla safe, and now you’re the one making it difficult.”

Rhett met my gaze, playfulness still dancing in his eyes. “I like you more and more, Zayne. Keep it up. You’re good for her.” He glanced away. “I was thinking, if you were open to it, we could stop by the Shadow Court and lay low for a time. Let all this blow over.”

I met Ayla’s gaze, searching for her thoughts.

“I want this. For Rhett’s sake,” she admitted. “But Zayne, it’s your mission, your rules. I’m not the one who would be taking a stowaway to their sister’s court.”

Rhett peered hopefully up at me.

A heartbeat passed. “I’ll think on it.”

He closed his eyes with relief. “Thank you.”

I waved it off. “So what would be the plan when her mother notices she’s missing?”

“Run like thieves?” Ayla offered.

I chuckled. Indeed, we were thieves. First of shards and potentially a mer lady.

“So what’s the plan?” Rhett asked.

“Your plan,” I corrected, “is to stay alert when Ayla accepts a lesson with the Starlit King. We’ll take care of the rest.”