Page 7

He hadn’t invited me here just to witness and learn from a Council meeting.

He had chosen this meeting specifically, orchestrated everything so that I would have to sit next to Clay while they decided my future engagement.

The Dragon wasn’t ignorant of his son’s affections for me, and he would stop at nothing to tear us apart–he had made that abundantly clear to me.

When I first came to Athenia, he had been determined to secure my ascension to the Council.

As the last Descendant of Hyrax, my induction would make Athenia the only government with complete representation from all the houses descended from the High Gods.

I had thought that status was his greatest ambition.

I had been wrong.

Something mattered to him far more than a complete Council: preserving his bloodline.

Clay’s feelings for me threatened that. Were we to be together, truly, it’s possible that our children would inherit their powers from me, making them heirs to Hyrax rather than Zion. The Dragon couldn’t risk such a deviation from his legacy.

This meeting had been just another way for him to remind Clay and me of all the reasons our relationship needed to stay strictly professional .

“Gods, I hate him,” I muttered under my breath as the Dragon turned and exited.

Clay glanced at me suspiciously, eyebrow raised, but I only shook my head. No need to explain. “Let me walk you out,” he commanded, standing.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Do you think I’m asking?”

Of course not.

We exited the chamber and stepped into the ornate halls of the Dragon’s wing.

Golden furnishings, detailed with dragon wings and scales, lavishly adorned the chamber like the rest of the palace.

Sunlight poured through large windows overlooking the forests beyond the palace.

At the end of the hall, a marble sculpture of Zion stood, sword in hand.

Paintings of past Dragons lined the walls, their stern gazes a reminder of the dynasty Clay would one day inherit.

“So that was… interesting,” I mumbled as we turned the corner into the grand foyer of the castle.

I didn’t know what to say to him. Were we supposed to talk about what had just happened in the room? Was he as disgusted by my marrying his cousin as I was?

The entryway, as always, bustled with courtiers.

I wasn’t sure how many had a permanent residence at the palace, but it was quite common for wealthy merchants or visiting Dukes who oversaw provinces within the Kingdom to stay within the palace during their visits to the capital.

Their constant stares had been unnerving when I’d first started walking these halls, but I’d long since adjusted.

“I’m surprised you expected anything else,” Clay murmured, his deep voice sending warmth radiating down my belly.

I ignored that particular feeling as I kept my eyes plastered on the path ahead.

“You had breakfast with Iris this morning?” he asked.

Apparently, we weren’t going to acknowledge the engagement at all.

“How was she?”

“Different.” I shrugged. “More reserved, I guess?”

He sighed. “I’m worried about her. She’s gone through phases like this before – locking herself away, skipping meals, sometimes not getting out of bed for days.”

I shivered, hating to think of her that way. “What usually helps?”

“Lorelai,” he admitted, shoulders sagging under the weight of the name. “Lorelai helped.”

The mention of Lorelai tightened my throat. Of course, Lorelai had been the one to help Iris. Lorelai had been everything to her.

“All we can do is to be there for her,” Clay said, his voice resolute. “No matter how bad it gets, she needs to know she can count on us.”

“Of course she can.”

“There was one other thing I wanted to discuss with you.” Clay reached for my elbow to stop me, pulling me aside so a group of courtiers could pass. “I’ve been continuing to look into your background.”

My heart stuttered. “And?”

“Iris told me what you two learned about Zachariah Moore at Madame Stefania’s.”

Heat crept up my neck. Months ago, Iris and I had snuck out to investigate Zachariah, the man rumored to be my father. We’d found our way to an establishment known as Madame Stefania’s, where we’d learned that Zachariah had favored male partners.

Clay smirked. “I have to admit, learning you had snuck out to a brothel brought up conflicting feelings for me. I’m not sure if I’m more irritated that you risked going into a dangerous area, annoyed that you didn’t invite me, or curious about what your face looked like when you realized where you were. ”

“I’d rather not revisit that moment, thank you,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze.

Clay chuckled, a grin dancing at the edges of his lips. I forced myself to look away from them.

“Can we get back to the point, please?”

“It seems Zachariah rarely took female partners. In group scenarios, he gave them little attention. Based on what I’ve learned, it seems unlikely that he’s your father.”

I sighed. It’s not like I hadn’t already suspected that, but hearing it confirmed still made my stomach drop.

Clay must have seen my disappointment written plainly across my face, because he lifted his hand to trail his fingers across my cheek.

His skin was soft against mine and for a second I let myself lean into that comfort until all too suddenly we both realized where we were and took a rushed step back from each other.

“Let’s get you back to your room,” he said a bit too quickly.

I nodded, falling into step beside him. “What do we do now?”

“I’m honestly not sure, Thea. My father has insisted on ending any further investigations into your background. He wants to focus on the ascension and avoid raising questions about your legitimacy as a Hyraxian Descendant.”

“I’m sure the lack of a Mark on my chest only expedited that decision,” I said dryly.

“If you want me to keep looking, just say the word.”

I hesitated, my mind flickering to Hyrax. If I really wanted to find out the truth about where I came from, he was the person I should be asking. And yet the thought of that conversation filled me with an uncomfortable amount of dread.

“Maybe your father is right. Maybe we should just let it go for now. ”

“If that’s what you want,” he agreed, though I got the uneasy feeling that he still had something on his mind as he gazed at me from the corner of his eye.

“What?”

Clay frowned. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

My chest tightened. “Of course.”

Silence hung between us for a moment.

“It just still feels like your mind is somewhere else these days. Like there’s something you’re not telling me.”

I swallowed down the guilt building in the back of my throat and opened my mouth to protest, but as we turned the corner into the Hall reserved for Descendants of Hyrax, I collided directly with Kent.

Kent reached out, holding onto my elbows until I had steadied on my feet. I nodded at him, then at Rankor, who stood slightly behind, grateful that their sudden entrance had stopped any further questioning from Clay. “Were you coming from my rooms?”

They wore plain clothes, which could only mean one thing: Rankor and Kent wanted to sneak out of the castle.

We didn’t leave the castle frequently. When we did, it was to spend the evening at a local tavern where Kent would perform with a group of other musicians.

It wasn’t a place considered appropriate for Clay and me as leaders of the country, but anyone who recognized us kept their mouths closed and the risk was usually worth it for a night away from all our responsibilities.

The last time we’d done it, though, we’d gone with Iris and Lorelai. We’d gone with Camilla.

“We’re dragging Iris out tonight,” Kent said with a wry grin. “It took some convincing, but I think it’ll be good for her.”

“Where is she?” I asked, looking towards the end of the hall with a na?ve hope that she would appear in a bright gown with pink hair and a wide smile. I would do anything to see that version of her again .

“She’ll be along soon. Last we saw her she was talking with –"

“A lady-in-waiting,” Rankor interrupted. His tone was sharp, his gaze shifting to Clay with barely veiled animosity.

Clay, uncharacteristically, stepped aside and excused himself without another word.

“What was that about?” I questioned, as I watched him retreat at a furious pace down the hall.

Kent sighed, glancing at Rankor. For a moment, the two men only looked at each other, each seeming to communicate with the other silently.

“You’ll have to ask him,” Rankor finally muttered.

“ T ell me a secret,” Iris requested softly, twirling her glass of wine in her fingers.

Clay hadn’t joined us at the tavern tonight, which admittedly seemed odd after he expressed such a desire to support Iris.

His absence left me feeling a touch disappointed.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I had been looking forward to seeing my prince in a setting where he might let his guard down enough to actually laugh.

Getting private time with Iris made the loss of that worthwhile, though.

We’d spent the first part of the evening upstairs, watching Kent sing and playing cards with Rankor. But after a while, the liveliness of it all seemed to drain Iris, and she’d grasped my hand and pulled me downstairs.

The lower level of the tavern was quieter.

A long bar stretched across the wall and a single barkeep kept conversation with a young couple at the far end.

A few other patrons sat scattered throughout the room, speaking in low tones and laughing softly.

Iris and I found a corner bench near a fireplace, settling ourselves next to its dwindling embers.

I sighed, pondering her request. A secret. There were too many secrets between us, more than I cared to admit.

There was Hyrax, of course. And the time last year when I’d snuck out of the castle alone in search of a potion to restore my lost memories.

That night had ended with me dosed with a drug that left me rather sensitive, and I had tried to seduce Clay while we stayed alone together in a dingy inn.

Then there was the time I had visited Camilla after her capture, demanding to know why she had done the things she did.

Too many secrets.

“The Dragon threatened to send me oversees,” I said finally, settling on one that seemed simpler than the rest.

“Because of Clay?” Iris surmised immediately.

I nodded, impressed by how quickly she figured it out.

She really was brilliant. As a faerie, Iris had the unique ability to morph her appearance into anyone or anything else.

The Dragon had capitalized on the talent and commissioned her to work as an Athenian spy.

It wasn’t just her magic that made her good at her job, though; it was the way she thought.

“How is that going, by the way?” She spoke in a detached tone, as if she didn’t really care about the answer, but the simple fact that she asked seemed like progress.

I shrugged, uneasy. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

She frowned, her gaze narrowing suspiciously.

A roar of applause sounded from the floor above us, and the music quieted.

Kent must have finished his last song for the evening.

Soon, we’d need to head back to the castle.

I’d have to return to my rooms and pray to the Gods that I didn’t slip into the Underworld again in the few hours of sleep that I allowed myself.

“There’s nothing going on between us,” I said, avoiding her eyes. “Nothing can.”

She was quiet for a moment before finishing her wine in a single gulp. “You want my advice?”

Probably not, but I wasn’t about to turn her down.

“Life’s short, Thea. Too short to waste a single day ignoring your feelings for someone just because you think it’s wrong.

I’ve done that twice in my life, and both times ended in heartbreak.

If I’d gotten over those fears sooner, then maybe Lorelai and I would have had the time we needed.

And maybe, if we’d had that time, I’d have memories to look back on fondly instead of just regrets. ”

Her voice cracked, and my heart shattered for her. First, because of the tears welling in her eyes, and second, because I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to her.

“I should have been faster that night,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Iris met my gaze, and the haunted look in her eyes sent shivers down my spine. “I’m not ready to talk about that night, Thea. I know you feel guilty, but I can’t be the one to help you through those feelings. My own pain is all I can see right now.”

I stood abruptly, crossing the space between us. Without asking if it was okay, I pulled her into my arms. She was stiff at first, but finally softened, her hands wrapping gently around my waist in return.

We didn’t speak any further after that. We just sat in silence, the crackling embers the only sound, until Rankor and Kent came down to fetch us. They glanced between us with worried expressions as we headed for the carriage, uneasy by the silence.

When we all finally parted ways for the evening, though, Iris squeezed my hand twice and told me she was looking forward to breakfast in the morning.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt more relieved.