The island was bigger than Cyrene had envisioned.

Eleysia’s capital city was built on an island due west of the Sea of Firth through which they had just sailed. It was isolated from the rest of the world by an outcropping of volcanic islands around it and enormously dangerous rocks on all other banks. Only Eleysian sea vessels could navigate the waters, and their sailors were the most adept in the entire world.

Now that Cyrene was getting a good look at the surroundings, she understood why.

“That’s part of the reason we leave at night,” Dean said, coming up beside her.

“Why?”

“If we can navigate these waters at night, then less foreign vessels will be able to learn the passageways through the rocks. Plus, the Creator blesses us with safe passages each year. That’s why the city is traditionally named the Bride of the Sea.”

Cyrene let her gaze drift back to the island. “I like that. The Bride of the Sea.”

Their vessel slid through the water and around the gaping rock formations in the dim light of the setting sun. They glided so smooth and precise that Cyrene was certain they would have been able to turn the ship on a pence.

“How do foreign merchants get into port?” Cyrene asked in confusion. “They could end up tossed on the rocks with one wrong turn.”

“Ah. Well, foreigners may only enter into First Harbor.” He sheepishly looked at her. “Your party will be one of the few delegations not to have to do that. We’re entering through the Fifth, the royal docks. But, usually, foreigners always enter and exit through the same pathway.”

Cyrene nodded, marveling at the complex structure to their economic system. She would think it would deter merchants from traveling these waters, but she knew Eleysia was the wealthiest country in Emporia. Their dyes were the richest in the world, and it was a huge import into Aurum for their weaving. Not to mention the fact that Eleysia excelled in glassblowing and weaponry. They specialized in pearls of all colors from the darkest black to the softest creamy white. Vineyards were nurtured on and off the islands, and Eleysian wine was a rare delicacy.

Just as the sun winked out from the sky, their ship docked in the harbor. No one in her party had anything, except the clothes on their backs and whatever they’d had with them on the night of the party in Aurum. Everything they had been traveling with had been packed up and placed on a trade ship bound for Eleysia in the days leading up to the ball. Cyrene wasn’t sure if the ship would come into port with all of their belongings or not. Ahlvie and Orden had agreed to stake out First Harbor where the merchant was most likely to show.

In the meantime, they had to find lodging on the scarce money they had between them. It would be enough for a few nights in an inn in the less reputable part of the city, but Ahlvie had sworn, he could significantly increase the sum if given a hand at dice.

Cyrene rolled her eyes at the remembered eagerness in his eyes.

“What?” Dean asked.

“Nothing. I was thinking about something else.”

“I see. Are you sure your other friends won’t come with you to the palace?”

“Oh no. They have business elsewhere. Just Affiliate Maelia is planning to come with me,” she said, using her title for emphasis.

“Two Affiliates in the palace,” Dean said with a sharp shake of his head. “Never expected that.”

“When was the last time Byern sent ambassadors to Eleysia?” she asked curiously.

Dean laughed. “The last time they were sent or the last time they were accepted? Because that King of yours sends them all the time, trying to convince us that it’s diplomacy.”

Dean’s face darkened, and Cyrene winced.

“But I haven’t seen one in the palace in…years. Not since I was a kid, I think. I was young enough that the woman gave me a truffle of some sort from your marketplace back home.”

“That was nice of her.”

“It turns out, I’m allergic to chocolate.”

Cyrene’s mouth dropped open. “She couldn’t have known that!”

Dean gave her a meaningful look. “She was kicked out of the palace soon afterward. So…let’s try not to have a repeat.”

“I promise, I won’t ply you with chocolate,” Cyrene said with a laugh.

“But can I ply you with chocolate?”

Her eyes lit up. Eleysian chocolate was a delicacy. “I’m not sure I’d ever say no to chocolate.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Cyrene flushed and turned her attention back to the water.

The ship docked into Fifth Harbor, and their party exited the giant Eleysian sea vessel.

Dean walked down the broad wooden dock with his three men ever present at his side. Cyrene and her friends followed behind them until they stopped in front of a collection of small banana-shaped boats swaying in the water.

“After you,” Dean said. “The gondolas will take you anywhere in the city you would like to go. I would love to extend the invitation to stay in the palace to the rest of you, if you all would care to join us.”

Orden smiled and shook Dean’s hand. “Much appreciated. But we’ll be on our way now.”

Ahlvie smirked. “Thanks for the ride.” They clasped hands, and Cyrene could just barely hear the threat in his voice when he leaned in and whispered, “Take care of them.”

Cyrene sighed and rolled her eyes. Men!

Orden and Ahlvie disappeared into the first gondola with promises to meet up again soon. She nodded and watched them leave with a forlorn smile. The last time they had split up…her world had turned to chaos.

Avoca clasped Cyrene’s arm the way they had during their Bound ceremony. “I don’t feel right about leaving you.”

“We will be nearby, Avoca. You’ll always know if something is wrong.”

“But I will not be in the castle to stop it.”

“I’ll be okay. Let’s just follow he plan,” Cyrene pleaded.

Avoca nodded once and then hurried into the gondola. Ceis’f followed her without a word. Cyrene watched them go with a sad sigh. Right now, she needed to be in the palace, and she needed everyone else on the outside, looking for Matilde and Vera. It was a big island. Who knew how long it would actually take?

“Ready?” Dean asked, offering her his arm.

“Of course,” she said.

Darmian offered his arm to Maelia.

“Thank you,” Maelia whispered, seemingly surprised by the attention.

“My pleasure,” Darmian responded with a smile.

Hmm…curious.

Cyrene stepped into the flat-bottom gondola. It rocked slightly under her weight, but her sea legs were still with her from the journey from Aurum, and she righted easily. She took a seat, and Dean occupied the space next to her. Maelia and Darmian took the seats behind them, followed by Faylon and Clym.

The gondolier pushed off from the dock and began moving them down the main waterway into the city. Lanterns hung from posts that highlighted the channel winding forward before them. Even in the darkness, it was magical.

After passing a few other gondolas on the water, they came to a major intersection, and before Cyrene stretched the expanse of the Eleysian palace grounds. Sand-colored stone walls kept the rest of Eleysia from entrance to the royalty and the enormous palace beyond the walls.

The gondola stopped in front of a metal gate on the river. Upon seeing who was on board, slowly, the gate began to grind upward, revealing its sharp metal spikes. When it was high enough for their boat to safely pass through, the gondolier proceeded through the gate, and they were officially on palace grounds.

“Welcome to my home,” Dean whispered into her ear.

They glided to a wooden dock on a vast lake. The castle loomed over them in all its magnificence.

“Is this the only entrance?” Cyrene asked in awe.

“No. There are two main entrances on the grounds, but the waterways are for royalty.”

Cyrene shivered. It was so easy to forget that Dean was in fact Prince Dean Ellison of Eleysia.

When she had met him in the forest back in Aurum, he had just seemed like a privileged merchant’s son. No more, no less. He was charming and attractive but also thoughtful and honest. She had hidden her true self from him, but it had seemed, even then, like he knew more about her in that moment than most people ever would.

Cyrene half-expected a delegation to be awaiting their arrival, but there was no more than a page boy no older than twelve, holding a lantern for their arrival. The group exited the boat and walked over to the boy.

“Your Highness,” the boy said with a low bow. “The lady Queen was expecting your arrival yesterday.”

Dean sighed. “Tell my mother, the lady Queen,” he said dryly, “that I’ll have an audience with her in the morning.” His eyes turned to Cyrene. “I have someone for her to meet.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the boy said.

He offered Cyrene his arm, and they walked the grounds and into the castle.

Despite the late hour, people milled around in the hallways of the palace. With the number of people Cyrene was seeing on the grounds, the palace had to be close to capacity. Byern’s Nit Decus castle was the biggest in all of Emporia, but as far as she knew, it hadn’t been near capacity in years. This place was bustling with people.

Dean smiled and nodded at people as he passed and was recognized, but he kept them walking. They went up two flights of stairs and then around a bend before they were finally alone with just their party of six.

“Here you are,” Dean said.

“You already had rooms prepared?” Cyrene asked in confusion.

“My mother always has visitor rooms prepped, especially for the holiday season. I think they’ll be to your liking. Affiliate Maelia’s room is just across the hall.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you for agreeing to come with me.”

Dean swept the loose waves of Cyrene’s dark brown hair from her face, and she remained perfectly still. His eyes were locked on hers, and for a moment, they dropped to her lips in question.

He bent down and pressed the softest kiss to her cheek. Her body moved toward him of its own accord. He smiled a devious smile, like he knew he had surprised her. But there was something else in his eyes that she couldn’t quite read in the dim lighting.

“Good night, Cyrene. Until tomorrow,” he said.

His Eleysian accent rolled her name around on his tongue, and she was certain that she would never appreciate it said any other way.

When he and his men disappeared back down the hallway, Maelia dashed to her side. “Did he kiss you?”

Cyrene touched her cheek in a daze. “Yes, he did.”

“I thought you just met.”

“We did.”

“Only you could bewitch a king and two princes,” Maelia teased.

Cyrene swatted at her. “Oh, shush. I haven’t bewitched him,” she said, entering her bedchamber. Maelia followed behind her. “I’m sure it was just…a nice gesture.”

Maelia’s mouth hung open. “So, how do you explain this?”

“I don’t know,” she breathed.

Before her was a suite…befitting a queen.