Page 20

I turned, smacking his chest in frustration. “You’re engaged , Your Grace.”

“The flame, Miss Moore.”

Without looking, I held out my hand, and the candle flew into it. I blew it out in a quick, angry breath and shoved it at him. “I believe I have finally found my sea legs.”

Clay put an arm around my waist and pulled me close, pinning me against his chest. “We’re on a ship, my dear.

There’s only so many places you can run.

If you want to make a scene of forcing me to chase you, that’s your choice.

I will, however, catch you, and the entire ship can bear witness to this conversation then. ”

I lifted my leg and slammed it down, hoping to smash his foot, only for him to move it out of the way before I even got close. All I got for my effort was a breathy chuckle brushing the hair by my neck.

“Fine!” I huffed. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Elaina.”

“She is quite possibly the last thing in all the realms I want to discuss, Clayton.”

He rolled his eyes at my use of his full name but released me, allowing me to cross the tiny room and put some much-needed space between us.

Distance was what I needed to cool the heat in my blood.

My mind might have been well aware that I couldn’t have him, and my heart might be finally learning that Clayton Vail brought me nothing but pain, but my stubborn body wanted him all the same.

And it certainly didn’t help that his days at sea had been good for him.

Spending his time chatting on deck with the sailors had lightened his hair and tanned his skin.

The farther we traveled from Athenia, the warmer the weather became.

Which meant he had resorted to wearing loose cotton tunics, open low over his sculpted chest and rolled high over his muscled forearms.

He was beautiful.

And I probably looked a lovely shade of green.

Elaina probably didn’t get seasick. Elaina probably looked stunning, with the sea air blowing through her thick hair. The extra sun probably brought out some cute freckles or highlights in her hair. Truthfully, though, Elaina would probably look stunning doing the most unglamorous of tasks.

Gods, this jealousy was going to eat me alive.

“We were engaged when I was barely over eight years old,” Clay explained. “I’ve known her since I was a boy. She’s been a friend to me through the years, but nothing more. She has never been anything more than that to me and I have never been anything more than that to her.”

His words came out in a rush, as if he were desperate to convince me of their truth. And maybe it was the truth. Maybe they had never been romantic with one another.

But they would be.

They had to be.

That’s why she was staying in his room. There was no need to keep them apart. There was no need for chaperones when they were expected to create an heir.

“And what have I been to you?” I whispered.

Anger, hurt, and desperation leaked into my voice like weights dragging me under.

Shoulders that had just relaxed under his touch were now impossibly tight with tension once more.

Clay stepped closer and tentatively lifted a hand to caress my cheek.

His eyes were wild with passion and an emotion I wasn’t brave enough to name, but was wise enough to recognize.

“You have been everything to me, Thea, and you very well know that.”

I chewed on my lip as I stared up at the ceiling of the chamber, desperate to avoid those eyes. “And what would you have me be next?”

Clay froze. His mouth opened as if to say something before closing once more, just as I knew it would.

Until this moment, I might have been his everything, but in the future, he was hers. She was his future in a way I could never be.

“Thea, I—”

“Don’t!” I held up my hand sharply, stopping him from saying the words that I knew in my bones he was about to utter.

I couldn’t hear those words, not when my eyes were already misty and my heart felt like it was being squeezed to death.

Those words were nothing more than empty promises now, and anger was an emotion more easily dealt with than heartbreak.

So I allowed myself to lose myself in that furious rush of frustration. “Don’t you dare.”

We stood frozen, both visibly upset and unsure of what move to make next.

“What I know, Clayton, is that there is nothing here for either of us. The longer we continue this dance, the worse it will hurt in the end. ”

He looked away, running a hand over his jaw. When he finally turned back to meet my gaze, the longing in his eyes was enough to spur my tears to roll down my face.

“Just because I’m aware of the situation—of our roles in court—doesn’t mean I won’t spend every minute of the rest of my life wishing you were the woman who got to stand by my side.”

That, at least, was a sentiment we could both share.

The boat rocked suddenly, but my stomach stayed steady. I brushed the back of my hands across my cheeks, wiping away my tears and pulling back on the mask of indifference I’d grown accustomed to wearing. Then I watched as he did the same.

And in just a moment’s time, it wasn’t Clay and Thea in this small room – it was the Crown Prince and the Hyraxian Council Member.

Two people who shared nothing more than a connected duty to their kingdom.

“If you’ll excuse me, Your Grace.” I cleared my throat, brushing my hands on my skirts to clear away the clamminess that had suddenly overtaken me. “I should probably go pick a gown to wear when we arrive. A woman should look impressive when she meets her future husband.”

Each step away from him felt heavier than the last.

But he didn’t ask me to stay, and I didn’t want him to.

I had never seen anything as beautiful as a shoreline after days spent staring at the endless expanse of the open ocean.

As we approached Tenebris, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the foreign world unfolding before me. Even as the crew busied themselves docking the ship, I remained rooted at the railing, captivated.

“It’s beautiful,” Nessira whispered beside me, her voice soft with wonder.

The port was alive with vibrant energy. People moved in brightly colored clothing, the hues of orange, red, and gold catching the sunlight.

Towering stone buildings lined the streets, their symmetrical facades adorned with elaborate mosaics depicting sunbursts, flowers, and mythical creatures.

Many of the multi-story homes had overhanging balconies where women shook out linens and children leaned over the railings, watching the bustling courtyards below.

The Emperor and Empress had sent an envoy to greet us. A line of soldiers, resplendent in their brightly colored armor, stood waiting as we disembarked. Their orange breastplates gleamed under the light, each adorned with the emblem of the sun, and their capes billowed lightly in the breeze.

As I took my first unsteady steps off the ship, a man stepped forward and bowed deeply at the waist.

“Lady Theadora Moore,” he said, his voice warm and steady, “it is my great honor to welcome you on behalf of the monarchs to the great country of Tenebris. I am Ashburn, and I will escort you to the Sun Palace.”

Ashburn was tall and broad-shouldered, his brown skin glowing under the afternoon sun.

He had neatly cropped, short, dark hair, and a long yellow cape flowed from his shoulders, distinguishing him from the other soldiers.

When I nodded in acknowledgment, he gestured toward a small box resting on the ground.

The palanquin was exquisite. Its glass walls, outlined in polished gold, enclosed a bed of velveteen pillows.

The top curved into a delicate dome, crowned by an intricate dragon sculpture.

Orange and red ribbons streamed from wooden beams that extended from its base, fluttering gently in the breeze.

“Please, make yourself comfortable, and we will begin our journey,” Ashburn said with a polite smile.

I blinked, surprised. “You wish for me to ride in that?”

“It is traditional for guests of great importance to be carried to the palace via a palanquin,” he explained. “The monarchs would be honored if you would allow this.”

“And what of my ladies?” I asked, glancing back at Nessira and Samsa.

“It is not a far journey,” Ashburn assured me. “Several of our men have horses and would be happy to ride alongside your ladies.”

“While your men are quite strapping, Ashburn,” a familiar voice interjected, “I personally will not be sharing a mount.”

Clay descended from the ship with the casual confidence only he could manage, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

Ashburn’s composure wavered, his mouth opening and closing before he managed a hurried bow. “Your Grace! The monarchs were not expecting you. I apologize for not having another palanquin available for you.”

“That’s all right,” Clay said smoothly, his gaze sweeping over the bustling city. “I’ll enjoy walking alongside your soldiers.”

An awkward silence followed, but Ashburn quickly recovered, beckoning me toward the palanquin.

I settled onto the velveteen cushions, the soft fabric cradling me as four soldiers took their positions at each corner.

Nessira and Samsa were helped onto horses, their skirts carefully arranged, while Clay fell into formation with the soldiers, chatting amiably as we set off.

Through the glass walls of the palanquin, I watched the city unfurl around me. It was as foreign as Athenia had been when I first arrived, and I stared through the windows, unblinking as we made our way through streets alive with music, laughter, and the hum of a thriving city.

The journey was brief, no more than twenty minutes, before the palace finally loomed into view atop a hill.

We passed through a grand golden gate and along a long, mirror-like pool that stretched nearly a mile. The water shimmered under the sun, bordered by lush gardens filled with vibrant flowers and citrus trees heavy with fruit.

When we reached the palace courtyard, I found myself momentarily breathless.

The Sun Palace was a masterpiece. The structure, built of warm clay-colored stone, rose in perfect symmetry.

Intricate floral patterns and inscriptions, alive in their detail, adorned its surface.

A wide dome crowned its center, flanked by smaller domes atop spires that framed the building like sentinels.

The soldiers lowered the palanquin gently to the ground. One stepped forward, opening the door and extending a hand to help me out.

“Welcome to the Sun Palace,” a voice said, but I barely registered the words. I fixed my eyes on the towering structure before me, its beauty eclipsing everything else.