Page 117 of I Summon the Sea

And for the boy I loved, taken from me way too soon.

The telchin lifts a golden cup and drinks, then pours the rest on the dais as we parade past him. His voice thunders. “Let’s drink!”

Yeah, let’s drink before the war.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

The telchin directs us to walk in a circle around the roof terrace, past the nightgold pillars and the whistling wind beyond, behind the rustling trees in their pots and the intoxicating night flowers.

We are the show now. Walking around in useless circles while the important people talk and chant.

By the time the speeches and the rites end, the sky has darkened to black. We, the humans, have gathered on the land side of the terrace, the fae taking up most of the roof on the Pillar side.

Various officials have talked at length, interspersed with music interludes played by a quartet with flutes and lyres. I can feel my eyes glazing over. The only sharp sensation and point of contact is Jai’s hand around mine, squeezing from time to time, and then the darakin shifting on my sore shoulder.

I should tell Jai to take Remi. Or… somehow tell Remi to fly, like Jai told me to do. No voice required, he’d said. Then, what? Thought?

Improbable.

Absurd.

I’m no dragon speaker. I don’t have that power.

Lights flare around the roof, strung around and between the black pillars. The music starts again, drums beating an inviting rhythm. Fae couples form in the middle of the terrace. They have removed their echoing hats and masks, and their colorful swirling gowns are a dizzying riot of rainbows.

Even I, despite my constant and all-consuming rage against the fae, have to admit it’s pleasing to the eye, mesmerizing, and kind of breathtaking.

The ball is about to begin.

A night where the differences disappear, where fae and humans, nobles and peasants dance together for the glory of the Pillar. For the change of the seasons leading from the longest night to the longest day, in the gardens of the Sacred Palace, above the sea.

How many humans have witnessed this spectacle?

Only those abducted and brought to the palace every year, those surviving the first trial. Not even human servants are allowed up here for the ball.

Humans abducted by the man standing by my side.

“He follows the king’s orders.”Neere had said that.

But it doesn’t absolve him, and my heart aches, torn.

As the dancing starts in earnest, I look around for Amaryll but can’t spot her anywhere.

I see Arkin dancing with a fae lady who most definitely isn’t Neere, and I wonder about their relationship, if any. They looked cozy enough where they sat together on the barge, playing games, but now? Not feeling the love.

“May I have this dance?” Jai says, the words taking a long moment to sink in. As I stare at him, he adds, “It could be our last one.”

He says it as if we ever had afirstone.

I frown at him. My legs hurt, though he doesn’t know that. And with Remi as an oversized brooch on my shoulder? Doubtful.

“Tell Remi to go,” he says, following my gaze to the darakin. “You can do it.”

Easy to say. I try shrugging the creature off, but those wicked claws dig deeper.

Just go, Remi! Dammit, just… go.

“Since you ask so nicely,” a light male voice whispers, sounding amused and mocking, but when I turn around to locate the speaker, I see nobody except for Jai. “Stop moving if you want me to launch off.”

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