to the king’s sat on the tiles, oblivious to the intruders as they played. The girl couldn’t be older than four, the boy probably six or seven. At least nine guards surrounded them, facing outward to deflect any surprise threats.
His children. The king was guarded because his children were near.
Understanding dawned just as a strikingly beautiful woman clad in loose emerald silk draped over long, muscular limbs approached to stand beside the king. Her skin was the rich, bronzed color of the region, her dark hair shorn close to her scalp, showing off a long neck devoid of jewels. “Yes, Eros. Where are your manners?” The woman turned her wide eyes to regard Haven, a surprising ferocity brimming in their deep brown depths as she angled herself to hide the children from view. “I am sure our guests are not here to harm anyone, isn’t that right, Goddess-Born?”
This was King Eros’s wife and mother to the kids on the balcony. Haven nodded, never breaking the mother’s stare. “I apologize for the abrupt entrance, but . . . I’m having trouble trusting lately.”
“As you should.” The woman smiled, making up for Eros’s cold grin with blinding warmth. “I am Neri, Queen of the Broken Three, and my husband was just about to offer you all the comforts of Luthaire, starting with some of our famed wine.”
Eros’s jaw was tight as he gritted out, “Of course. Where are my manners?”
A flick of his fingers summoned servants into the room to lay out a spread of food and drink onto a long serving table. The guards melted back against the walls, one on each side of the countless balconies overlooking the sea. Their impeccable organization and obvious training was another notch for Eros, who Haven was beginning to suspect was so much more than just a pirate who’d confiscated a throne.
The cry of seagulls filled the ensuing silence. Xandrian must have concluded the threat was past because he loosened his grip on the sea outside, the waves merging back into the still bay, and ambled over to sample the wine.
The coil of tension inside Haven’s chest eased as she glanced over the throne room. Centered above the deepest part of the bay, the fin-like structure floated at the heart of the castle, held aloft by countless covered walkways that led to different wings. The entire chamber was constructed of white slanted marble strips, like the bleached bones of a whale, the opening allowing the briny ocean breeze to stir through the room.
From afar, the structure made the sea-palace look like some long dead oceanic skeleton rising from the bay.
King Elhaem noticed Haven’s curious stare, and she was surprised to see a real smile touch his lips. “Marvelous, is it not? When I was younger, I used to pass outside the walls of the bay and marvel at the daringness of such a place. The beauty like a direct insult to the Gods.”
Before Haven could answer, Stolas began prowling over the chamber, his face schooled into a studious expression as he inspected the architecture. Of course, he was perfectly aware of how every single courtier froze as he passed.
The king arched a dark eyebrow at Haven. “Does the Lord of the Netherworld enjoy the arts?”
“He does, indeed,” Stolas answered, not bothering to look away from a sculpture that was made with sea-glass, shells, and coral.
Wonderful. Stolas was talking about himself in third person now.
“Then perhaps a tour of my city before we discuss more serious matters?” Eros suggested.
Haven frowned, cutting her eyes at Bell. Penryth was only a day’s hard ride through the mountains away. If Renk heard that Bell was here, or worse, if Renk was part of a trap to lure them here . . .
Understanding dawned on Eros’s face, and he tilted his head to address Bell. “While within these walls, everyone under my protection is safe.”
Xandrian, who had been perfectly happy watching the scene from the rim of his near-empty wine glass, barked out a bitter laugh. “Right. Every Solis in Effendier knows that the words of mortals are filled with lies. Your kind hold nothing sacred except the greed inside your hearts. How do we know there won’t be assassins waiting in the alleyways? The bounty on the Ruler of the Nine’s head alone could fund the renovations for this entire city.”
Neri went rigid beside King Eros, and Haven hated watching the hurt flash over her proud expression.
Stolas glanced over his shoulder at her, his look saying, It’s not