by Elena Lawson
“Wait,” Finn said, his gaze roving over the sea, “That’s it.”
I stepped back from him, “What is?”
“We can’t find Ricon’s army because it isn’t here,” he said animatedly, his eyes alight, “Can’t you see,” he said, gesturing to the view before us. “We’ve combed over every inch of the Wastes and found nothing. The abandoned camp was on the western shore. And there aren’t enough Fae he’d be able to rally to fight for his cause on Meloran.”
He wouldn’t have…
No, it wasn’t possible. Was it?
Kade’s jaw dropped, and Alaric’s eyes hardened.
“He’s gathering his forces, alright,” Finn continued, “And he’s bringing them here by sea.”
“That’s why we couldn’t find them,” Kade said, a faraway look in his eyes, “We can’t fly that far out to sea without rest.”
Alaric ran a fisted hand through his hair, “So how do we find out? Do we send ships to scout on the seas?”
Finn shook his head, “It would take our entire fleet to find them if that’s where they are. The Varinian Sea is just too vast.”
“We can do it,” Kade said, his hands balling to fists at his sides, “We can fly further. Our ancestors flew all the way to Emeris—to Mt. Idris. We can at least fly half as far.”
Alaric frowned at Kade, “No, Kade. You can’t shift like they could. You’ll drown if you try.”
“I have an idea,” I said, rolling the thought around in my mind, trying to work it into a proper shape.
Finn stepped away from me, “Alaric is right,” he said to Kade, “It would be sui—”
“I said I have an idea,” I said again, louder.
Alaric turned to me, “What was that?”
I rolled my eyes at him, the heat at my core reawakening to a light simmer, “The Wraiths,” I said simply.
“The Wraiths warned me about Ricon, and they saved your life,” I said, looking pointedly at Finn, “If I ask them, I think they’ll help us. There are hundreds of them in the Varinian sea and they communicate through their minds. They can have the entirety of the sea searched in days instead of weeks.”
Alaric and Kade wore twin frowns, but Finn nodded his approval, “You’re a genius,” he said, turning to scoop me up off the earth and into a suffocating embrace.
He plopped me back down and I heaved air back into my lungs. When my breath returned, I shoved him, “Not so hard!”
Finn bit his bottom lip, and the motion made me instantly lose all my ire. I shook my head at him. My sweet, smart Finn. What would I do without him? “So, it’s agreed then?” I asked him, “We should go to the Wraiths for help.”
Alaric kicked at the sand, thrusting his fisted hands into the pockets of his trousers, “I don’t like it, but even I can’t deny it’s a good plan.”
Kade shivered, “Those things are so—”
“So?” I prodded him.
“Gross.”
“Gross?”
He swallowed, “They’re all—slimy and tentacley.”
“Tentacley?”
He nodded, “And they’re blue.”
I choked on a laugh, wanting to kiss the ridiculous scowl from his face. But in his current state of everything-is-all-my-fault he might not return the sentiment, “Come on, lets go home. We have an offering to make ready.”
Chapter Three
Liana
It was widely known that the Wraiths of the Varinian Sea were enamored by all things fine. Pearls, jewels, gold. Finn had given them an offering of a black pearl necklace after they’d saved his life. It was said they had a trove of such treasures somewhere deep in the ocean. In a chasm that had no bottom.
“What about this?” Finn suggested, holding up a chain of pure gold. It was a fine piece of jewelry, but it wasn’t enough. It was no small undertaking we were asking of them. It would take all of them working together to find the Mad King’s fleet—if he did in fact have one—within such a short amount of time. Which was why we were raiding the palace treasury instead of my own dressing table. We needed something big.
Alaric and Kade were less inclined to trust the Wraiths and were getting precautionary weapons ready. Spears and bows, apparently. In case the wild creatures turned on us. There was no talking them out of it. Stubborn males.
“This?” Finn asked again, digging into the open maw of an aged wooden chest. He pulled out a length of fat pearls.
They were beautiful, but, “No, still not enough.”
“What do you propose then,” he said, cocking his head at me. In the torchlight I noticed the slight stubble on his jaw. Kade occasionally let his grow to stubble, but never Finn. It was odd seeing the shadow on his cheeks and under his chin. It made his features more rugged—less sharp. It suited him.
I looked around the grand room. There were shelves upon shelves of treasures. Chests of gold pieces and jewels. Tables laden with every manner of fine jewelry. But it was a bright red glow across the chamber that caught my eye.
It stood proud atop a stand of polished silver. A stone the size of my fist, red as blood and cut so it reflected light. “What about that?” I asked Finn, pointing to the giant gemstone.
Finn looked at me as though I’d grown another head, “That ruby is worth more than my entire village—no, actually it’s probably worth more than all the villages in the north combined.”
“It’s perfect.”
“You’re insane.”
I smirked at him, and walked over to the table, admiring the way the gen fractured the light into a gauzy red glow. “It’s heavy,” I said in surprise as I lifted it from the silver stand. It was so large, I couldn’t even wrap my fingers around it.
“Don’t tell the baron of finance about this?”
Finn’s eyes widened, and he barked a nervous laugh, “No, don’t think I will. He’d have my head on a platter if he knew I let you take that.”
I stepped in close to him, slipping the ruby into the pocket of his jacket, “Our secret, then.”
“You’re wicked,” he said, and drew my body against his. His eyes glazed with lust.
My pulse sped, forcing a blush up my neck. His hands brushed the curves of my back—my waist, and his breathing became labored. I brushed my lips against the soft skin of his collarbone, and his body shook. I wondered how long it’d been since he’d lain with a woman.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered against his skin, and he shivered even more.
He took my chin into his hand and narrowed his gaze at me, “No you’re not.”
I shook my head, smiling, “No—you’re right. I’m not.” And then I kissed him, taking in his parchment and clove scent and the intoxicating feel of his cool fingers as they ran through my hair, and gently stroked the sensitive spot under my jaw.
I had meant the kiss to be playful, to take some worry from his shoulders—but it wasn’t playful. It was scorching hot. And freezing cold. So sweet and tender, but also insistent and frantic. When he finally pulled away from me his eyes were vibrant gold, shining with untamed desire, and something like fear.
“You will be the death of me,” he breathed, and brushed an unruly strand of hair away from my cheek.
I kissed him again, this time on the cheek, “I certainly hope not.”
Coming back to himself, he noticed the golden chain had fallen to the floor and stooped to pick it up. He moved to put it into a chest, but I stopped him, pulling the chain from his fingertips. It was well-crafted, strong, a necklace fit for a king. I struggled with the clasp but was finally able to unfasten it.
“Turn around,” I said to Finn, who had his hands held up as though I was mad.
“What are you doing?” he asked, trying to back away. But I grabbed hold of his outstretched hands and pulled him close, fastening the chain around his neck in one quick movement.
“There,” I said, admiring my handiwork. The chain looked so much smaller around his neck than it had in my small hands. It brought out the gold in his eyes, an
d the umber tones of his skin.
Finn snickered at me but rubbed the chain with his fingertips as though it were the most precious thing in the world. And was he blushing?
“I really shouldn’t—”
I hushed him, “Yes, you should. It’s a gift, Finn. You look as though no one has ever given you one.”
“They haven’t,” he said, looking everywhere but at me, “Not since I was a child.”
My heart ached at the darkened expression on his face, “Come on,” I said, taking him by the hand, “Let’s go find the others, they’ll be waiting for us.”
Finn nodded, “Right,” he said, squeezing my hand, “We should go, but Liana…” he trailed off.
“Yes?”
“Thank you,” he said.
I made a noncommittal sound, trying to brush off his thanks, but he wasn’t having it.
“I mean it,” he said more forcefully, “I’ll never take it off.”
“Took you long enough,” Kade said, holding a spear almost twice his height in his left hand.
Alaric spun from where he was standing on the cliff-side, sighing in relief, a quiver of arrows and a bow slung across his back. “We were starting to worry.”
Tiernan narrowed his gaze at Finn, his focus zeroing in on Finn’s neck, “Did a little shopping, I see.”
“If you want a gift, too, all you have to do is ask,” I teased.
“Ok, I’m asking. I want one, too.”
“Done.” I winked at him, stepping up to the cliffs edge to peer over the side. Tiernan pulled me back.
“Maybe don’t lean over the edge of a hundred yard cliff, alright?”
Alaric sighed, “If you’re finished,” he said, giving Tiernan and I a pointed look, “Could we please get this over with?”
Right. None of us wanted to be there. To have to ask the Wraiths for help to find the armed forces of a Mad King who was bent on my destruction.
Godsforbid I get even a moments peace on this damned continent.
“Let’s go,” I said, and stepped into Finn’s arms with Tiernan. Kade sprinted, grabbing hold of Alaric under his arms before he dove from the cliff.
“Ready?” Finn asked, and I held tighter to Tiernan, and tighter around Finn’s waist. Nodded.
He let his body fall from the ledge, and my stomach jumped into my throat. He waited three blissful seconds before he fanned out his wings and soared over the surface of the water, chasing after his brother.
The Wraiths weren’t known to frequent many places except the fathomless deeps where they stored their treasures—though no one knew exactly where that was—but they were seen now and again near a tiny unnamed isle just a few miles from the coast. That was where we headed. Flying low under the cover of night so we didn’t draw attention to ourselves.
Alaric suggested I wait at the palace—that they could handle asking the Wraiths themselves. Thank the gods I had Finn there to back me up. The seas were vast, and yet the Wraiths had found me not once, but twice. If I was right, they could somehow sense my presence when I was near the water. Finn agreed.
Besides, they were much more likely to aid a request if it came directly from a queen. They were an ungoverned race—without a true leader of their own. They traveled in groups, mostly. Packs. There was an alpha and a beta in each, but no one pack was superior to another. They all lived together in the chasm in the deeps.
So, though Alaric—and Kade, hated the idea. I was the one who’d have to do the asking.
The tiny isle came into view moments later. Nothing more than a cluster of rock, moss, and dirt, with a few shrubs and trees speckled near the center.
I swallowed, a miasmal feeling creeping over my skin at the chill in the air and the sight of the hard gray stone bathed in moonlight.
I hoped this was the right thing to do. But most of all, I hoped Finn was wrong—and the Wraiths proved it.
The Draconian set Tiernan and I down atop the uneven earth. Without the wind rushing past us, it was eerily quiet. I hadn’t realized Arrow had followed us until his screech broke the silence and had me tripping over my own feet. Finn caught me before I fell backwards into the water.
I threw the creature a cutting glance as it landed atop the lowest branch of a naked tree. Squawking like a gull.
“Damn you, Arrow,” I cursed at him. He ruffled his feathers, turning himself so I was faced with his tail. Cheeky little bugger.
Tiernan shook his head, “I hardly see him anymore,” he mused, “Where have you been?” he asked his pet, as if the falcon could answer him.
“Stalking me—that’s where he’s been,” I said, righting myself, waiting for Kade and Alaric to make their way to us over the stones and moss.
“Good boy,” Tiernan said. Arrow cooed, turning back around.
“Ready?” Alaric said, gesturing to the water at our backs when he and Kade approached.
“I am,” I said, “Did you see any when we were flying in?” I asked—the question meant for all of them.
“No,” said Finn, “They don’t come up to the surface often.”
Alaric, Kade, and Finn all shook their heads as well.
“Time to put the theory to the test then.” I pulled my hair back and tied it with a strip of leather from my wrist.
“You stay here,” I said—mostly to Kade and Alaric, “You’ll only scare them off.”
Alaric laughed roughly, “If you think I’m letting you go in that water alone, you’re insane.”
“You aren’t letting me do anything,” I said, a little more abrasive than I’d intended, “I’m going in the water and you’re staying here,” I said, trying to soften my voice.
Alaric set his jaw, ready to come back with some scathing retort, but Finn turned and stepped into the water, “I’ll go with her,” he offered, “If that’s alright with you,” he added, posing the question to me.
They had helped save Finn once, and he had no weapons on him aside from his sword. I nodded, “Alright, but take that off. I don’t want them to fear us.”
He did as I asked and unbuckled his entire belt. Tossed it onto the ground, the sword clanging against the stones.
“I don’t like this,” Alaric grumbled, stepping in to stop me.
His eyes gleamed in the moonlight like polished silver. “I’ll be alright,” I told him, “Finn will be right beside me, and I know you’re an incredible shot with that bow.”
“Are you trying to ply me with compliments?”
“Is it working?”
He smirked, running his fingers through my hair, “So damned stubborn,” he said under his breath, “Just be careful.”
I turned to where Finn waited, one boot in the water and the other still on shore. I took his outstretched hand, kicking off my own shoes before I stepped into the sea.
The water was a shock to my skin. Autumn had turned it from bearable to near-freezing. I radiated a little heat from my core, letting it spread through my skin. As long as I didn’t open the gates and let it out, it would remain only as a warm ember and nothing more.
I cringed as my toes squished into the slimy, pebbled seabed, stepping on tip-toe to avoid as much of it as I was able.
“Watch your step—it drops off in another few yards.”
He was right. The water was just above waist level, and ahead I saw where the bottom we walked on vanished into darkness. Another two steps and we’d be in over our heads.
“Now what?” Finn asked.
I shrugged, “I suppose we wait.”
Chapter Four
Finn
We didn’t have to wait long. But I was glad I was the one who offered to go in with her. Liana had her Grace of fire to keep her warm, but if she knew how to properly harness her Grace of ice, she would find the cold wouldn’t bother her at all. She had more ice and cold within her than there could ever be in the sea. She would be with me for her next training session, and I would teach her how.
Within ten minutes we could see them coming in the distance.
Their translucent skin glowed blueish silver in the moonlight, like the squids we used to jig off the docks as young children. Writhing, shimmering things.
Kade was right, they were a little… off-putting, but their beauty was greater than their strangeness.
Liana stiffened as they drew near. It was a small group of maybe six or seven. One lead the others in a triangle-like formation until they were mere yards away from where we stood.
I heard Alaric notch an arrow, and Liana spun to glare at him, “Idiot,” she hissed at him, “Put that away.”
I bit back a laugh.
The Wraiths were a strange—but peaceful creature. Truly, we had nothing to fear from them. Though many folk blamed them for any and all deaths that happened at sea. I supposed it was easier to have something to blame than never knowing why a loved one sailed off and never returned.
Liana swallowed, watching the Wraiths as they raised themselves up closer to the surface, she glanced at me and I saw the anxiety in the set of her jaw and the widening of her eyes. “It’s alright, we’ve only come to ask a favor. If they refuse, we’ll find another way.”
She nodded, catching her bottom lip between her teeth.
The leading Wraith raised its head from the water. Slitted black eyes looked from Liana to me and back again. The creature’s hair was wild undulating silver and its small, sharp-angled face glowed silvery blue.
“I have come to ask something of you,” Liana began, her hands clasped tightly at her front and her shoulders set.
….what will the Queen of Night ask of us… The Wraith asked.
I jolted at the intrusion in my mind. The words scraped along the inside of my skull. I gritted my teeth against the feeling.
Liana stumbled, tripping over her words, “We must—we are seeking to know if…”
“It’s possible there is a fleet of ships, either docked on the eastern shores of Emeris, or bound for Meloran. Those ships would be carrying men and Fae and their aim is to end Morgana’s line and take the throne of night.”
