19. Saoirse

Saoirse

" Y our highnesses," Xan exclaimed, quickly rising to her feet. Nervousness pinched at her face, an emotion I wasn't used to seeing on my confident sister, and I frowned. "Saoirse and Vane, please meet Prince Kian and Prince Len Eldamar, heirs to the Ocea kingdom."

The princes were a sight to behold. Kian, the seemingly elder brother, stood tall, with an air about him that bordered on arrogance if the calculating look in his eye told me anything. His dark hair was adorned with intricate jewelry, including a headpiece that resembled coral, with feather tipped edges that reached toward the sky like a prayer. What stood out the most was his lack of a shirt, his bare chest muscular and adorned with golden necklaces and chains, only accentuating the privilege they must come from. Gilded green scales decorated their skin like they were made of glass. They were known as Miren, the result of the magic from the god of the sea, Hirion.

Len, the smaller of the two, was much more reserved, a softer expression adorning his face but no less captivating. His hair, much like Kian's, was dark and lengthy, with ornate accessories around his neck. His physique was equally impressive, defined muscles and a smooth, athletic build, not quite as large as his brother. High cheekbones complemented their monolid eyes perfectly, as if they had both stepped out into the world from a revered artist's painting.

Kian's eyes were sharp as he took in our ragtag group—Xan in her usual finery, and Vane and I covered in flour and likely smelling of freshly baked pastries. "What kind of information could you possibly be looking to find in here?"

Xan's eyes narrowed imperceptibly, straightening to her full height as she shook the initial surprise off her. She was a queen to be, and she should be acting the part. "Just brushing up on our Lightlace history, nothing to concern yourselves with."

Len stepped forward, a small smile playing on his lips. He spoke to Xan, but his eyes were on me, and I felt the color drain out of my face under his scrutiny. "We love a good history lesson. I, myself, find it incredibly fascinating. History truly does have a way of repeating itself, doesn't it?"

I met Len's gaze, my heart skipping a beat at his continued attention. My mouth dried, and I knew I would have to contribute to this conversation at some point, but I couldn't find the words. A hard body sidled next to me, and I looked up at Vane, startled. "Don't stare into their eyes for too long if you don't want to lose your wits," he said softly.

Right. The Miren were a sensual people, masters in the art of seduction. They split their time between sea and land, able to breathe underwater and swim with fins that magically transformed when bare skin hit the ocean. Just looking at them could make an unsuspecting sailor jump overboard, and their song has been known to completely entrance one's mind if not properly guarded. Shirts, for them, seemed to be entirely optional.

The second I looked away, the heat building in my gut dissipated, as if it were never there. Xan, who had been training all her life for situations like these, appeared not at all affected, and I made a mental note to have her teach me later.

"What brings you down here? I figured you guys would be asleep already. Last night's festivities certainly must have tired you both out."

"The whole point of our father sending us here was to get to know our Lightlace neighbors better," Kian smirked, his eyes drifting up and down Xan's body with a gleam of interest. "Can't do that if we only stay in our rooms."

"No, I suppose not," Xan said politely, her hands folded together in front of her protectively. "Should I call an attendant for you? I'm sure they would be happy to show you around."

Kian's eyes narrowed at her indirect dismissal and borderline rudeness. Xan was toeing the line, and Kian was well aware of it. "Do you not want us here, princess? It seems we may have found something much more interesting than politics." His eyes landed on Vane when he said it, who I felt stiffen at my side. I didn't dare spare him a glance, not wanting to do anything to make him seem suspicious.

Len, seemingly the more diplomatic sibling, inclined his head respectfully. "You'll have to forgive my brother's bluntness. We're simply curious. Perhaps we can assist you in your—" he paused, taking in the mountain of books Xanthi had stacked on the table, "—research?"

"We will manage on our own, but thank you for the offer." We couldn't risk Vane being found out by anyone we didn't already trust. And the princes of a neighboring kingdom, in which we had tension with, were not high on that list of people. Kian shrugged, still not making a move to leave, as he exchanged a glance with his brother.

The room changed with an almost palpable tension as the Miren princes stepped closer. Kian's eyes, sharp and assessing, swept over the group before settling on me. I felt the weight of his scrutiny, curiosity mixed with something more calculating, more dangerous. He moved toward me deliberately, with an almost predatory grace. I held my ground as Vane tensed beside me subtly. The last thing we needed was a fight, which would blow Vane's cover entirely. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever was about to come.

There were a lot of things in life that scared me, but an overconfident alpha male was low on that list.

"And who might you be?" Kian's voice was smooth, but with an undercurrent of authority that demanded an answer.

"Xan already told you my name."

He leaned in, his face getting much too close for my liking. I looked toward Vane, taking his advice, whose eyes were locked on my face, tensed and ready for action. I did my best to urge him to remain calm and not make any sudden movements. "Yes, girl, but who are you?"

"Saoirse Volari," I amended, looking at a spot just above his nose. Now that I was aware of the magic, I could almost feel the sickly sweet feeling trying to caress my skin, slip inside and corrupt me from the inside out, but now I knew what to look for.

Kian's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. "I've heard whispers of another sister. One who ... does not possess the Lightlace gift."

I bristled at his bluntness, but kept my composure tight around me. This wasn't the first time I'd been questioned, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. "That's me."

His gaze flicked to Vane, silent and composed at my side. "And this gentleman? Doubtful he is another Volari sibling," he added, giving Vane a calculated once over.

"He's my apprentice," I said quickly, before Vane could open his mouth to speak. "From Enlar, to the north. I run the bakery here in Lanthus, and he's come to learn the craft."

Kian's eyes narrowed slightly, skeptical. Len moved forward then, joining his brother's side and creating a wall between me and the exit. "And what interest does an apprentice baker have in ancient texts and Lightlace history? "

I opened my mouth to respond, but Vane beat me to it, his tone calm and measured, no hint of the hidden Darkwing beneath it. "A love for knowledge, Your Highnesses. Every craft can be enriched by understanding the history and tradition that shape our world, can it not?"

Kian studied him for a long moment, searching his face intently, then nodded, taking a step back from us both. "A scholarly baker. How cute."

"Knowledge is power, Prince Kian," Vane said smoothly, and I imagined his shadows writhing like wild beasts beneath his tunic as he held on to his composure. "And in these times, we could all use a little more power."

Kian's eyes sharpened at the subtle challenge in Vane's words, but before he could respond, Len interrupted from where he stood. "We should all strive to learn from each other," he said diplomatically, his gaze lingering on me a moment too long. I looked away quickly. "That is why we are here, after all. To see if our kingdoms can come to some sort of agreement that would better both of our people."

"Indeed," Xan said, her princess voice firmly in place as she regarded the two men, her eyes lingering longer on Kian. As the older brother, in a few decades' time, they would both be the leaders of their kingdoms. This moment we were having now could be just as important as any conversations our parents had with them. "Have a good night."

The dismissal was clear, and Kian turned toward the library doors, ready to leave us to our research. Len, however, lingered a moment longer, his eyes flicking toward me. "It was nice to meet you, Saoirse," he said with a slight bow, before he moved to follow his brother.

Kian paused, looking back with an unreadable expression. "One more thing," he said, his voice carrying the air of unmistakable authority. "We are here to hopefully mend relations with the Sol kingdom. Given that information, I would expect the entire Volari family to be present for all events. "

His words were not a request, but a command. Kian's eyes bored into mine, and a faint, almost sinister smile played at the corners of his lips. "I trust you will join us for dinner tomorrow night, Saoirse. And every night thereafter."

My heart pounded in my chest, the darkness inside me clawing its way up my throat, strangling my words. "But—" I started, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was told… I mean, my father—"

Kian's gaze hardened, cutting off my protest. "For the sake of continued peace talks and fruitful negotiations, your presence is required. Without the participation of the full family, I see little reason to proceed."

I glanced at Vane, who remained silent, but a muscle in his jaw twitched, betraying his irritation. He seemed as uneasy as I felt. I looked to Xan, who stared at me pleadingly. The last thing we wanted to do right now was offend the Ocea kingdom. Sol had the largest army by far, but the Miren could do things we could only dream of, and it felt like we were one wrong word from ruining everything and potentially bringing our two kingdoms to the brink of a war.

Once again, I had no choice in the direction my life was taking.

Len stepped closer, his tone softer than his brother's, but no less insistent. "I look forward to seeing you there, Saoirse," he said, his gaze lingering on me a few seconds longer than necessary. "It will be an interesting evening."

There was something in his eyes that made my skin prickle. From curiosity or something else, I didn't quite know. Vane shifted beside me, his posture tense, his growing discomfort becoming more obvious. With a curt nod, Kian left, Len right behind him, leaving us in a stunned silence.

As the library doors closed behind the princes, my anxiety began to creep back in, relentless and suffocating. My ankle twinged in response, the itchiness of my healing wounds not enough to distract me from the mess in front of me. My father's words echoed in my mind.

Embarrassment. Disgrace. You do not belong here.

How could I face him again, after everything he had said to me? He'd made his position about my presence abundantly clear. The mere thought of sharing a table with him, seated under his cold, contemptuous gaze, made my stomach churn.

"The entire family," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. "I'm not… I shouldn't be there. Xan, Father—"

"We need you there, Saoirse," Xan interrupted gently, her hand coming to rest lightly on my arm, careful not to overstep my boundaries. "This is bigger than Father. I'll explain to him that they demanded you be there. He can't argue with their wishes, not if he wants… whatever it is that he wants from these people. He may be an ass, but he's not stupid."

Her words were logical, but they did little to quell the storm brewing inside me. Memories of my father's rage, his unforgiving eyes, the harsh grip of the pain he inflicted flooded back, overwhelming my senses. The thought of facing him, of defying his direct order to stay away, felt like a death sentence.

"What if… what if he…" I couldn't finish the thought. The fear was too real, too present. I cut off my words. Xan didn't understand what I was truly and deeply afraid of, and it was better to keep it that way. One day she would be queen, and our father would be dead. That would be the day that I looked forward to the most.

Clearing my throat, I tried a different approach. "I don't have time to attend fancy dinners every night. I have to be here, baking for each day as mother ordered."

"Vane and Maeve can take care of that," Xan argued, and Vane nodded hesitantly, then more confidently. "You can come help them after dinner. "

"And what about the shard? We cannot forget about why we came here in the first place."

"We have no idea where it is," she argued back, her arms crossing over her chest, her nose scrunching like it always did when she was annoyed with me.

"It's likely to be in this castle," Vane mused out loud, the cogs in his mind churning in overdrive. "We just need to figure out where to look."

"I think we should start exploring," Xan said, running a tired hand down her face. "Every night. If the shard is in this castle, then it's got to be secured somewhere. You two can explore the castle after you're done baking. It'll be easier for you to move undetected without me. If I'm with you, it might draw too many eyes, but you two just look like you work here. I'll talk to the people that have worked here the longest, see if I can find anything that might be helpful."

Vane gave her a warning look, but she waved him away with a roll of her eyes. "I'm not going to blow your cover, Darkwing."

"I know," he sighed, his posture easing as he let his body relax. The man seemed to be constantly coiled and ready for action, tensed to go at any moment. "I appreciate your help."

She nodded, something passing between them, like two leaders allying on a battlefield. Likely something I would never understand, doomed to only witness it for eternity. A spark of envy lit in my chest as I observed them, and I frowned, confused as to where it came from.

"I should get going. I've got a packed schedule of training classes every day, plus additional healer trainings to attend. The more sleep I get, the better." She looked me over, giving me a small smile as amusement danced in her eyes. "I'll send over some clothes for you to wear, and I don't want to hear any objections. If you look like a mess, it will only be worse for you. Please, for the love of all of Sol, do something with your hair. "

My hand dipped up to my hair self-consciously, but she was right. I never did anything with my hair, and it was always a tangled mess. I could do my best, but that was all she would be getting from me.