Page 67 of I Summon the Sea

That makes sense, both that these are castoffs from the fae court and that spidersilk should stretch so well. I test the elasticity by folding my arms over my head, turning this way and that.

It’s perfect.

Almost like fishscale-skin.

“You’ll need a cloak,” Daria mutters, grabbing again the dreaded brush and attacking my drying hair. “And stockings, and shoes. At least, those shouldn’t be that hard to secure… I’ll go dig in the storeroom. You’ll also require a fan and jewelry.”

Jewelry, fans, gowns… Old thoughts resurface in my mind, fluttering dark wings. Old memories.

I chase them away.

“I will be back.” She flashes me a bright smile. “I’ll send for refreshments. Rest until I return. You need to regain your strength.”

She departs, carrying the mountain of unwanted clothes, looking like a heap of fabric with legs, as I stand by the bed, watching her leave.

The moment she’s gone, I open the door and step outside, my dagger hidden in my cleavage, my bare feet barely whispering on the stone floor. I close the heavy door behind me.

The tall shadow stepping toward me has my breath catching for an awful moment?—

Shit.

It’s Arkin. He’s still here.

“Lady Rae.” His gaze rakes over me, which annoys me, but he only gives an approving nod. “I like the transformation. Are the bare feet a new statement of fashion, or haven’t they found shoes for you yet?”

I hiss at him like an angry darakin.

He lifts his hands as well as his brows. “If you wanted to see Athdara?—”

I make a cutting-off gesture. I don’t want to see Athdara. That momentary weakness is past and over, and besides, I’m in a rush.

“—you’ll find him on the southern terrace,” he finishes, ignoring my gesture and smirking, dropping his hands to his sides.

I glower at him.Not interested.

“He survived his meeting with the king,” he says after a long moment. “If you wanted to know.”

I don’t. I don’t care. I…

Survived?

It doesn’t matter. The king wouldn’t hurt his trusted right hand. If he’s angry because Jai decided to join the Death Games on an impulse, that’s only to be expected. It sounds like maybe Jai doesn’t know how to deal with consequences.

As for me, I need to familiarize myself with the palace, find out how close I am to the king’s rooms, if there’s a way to meet him outside of the fanfare and crowded ballrooms.

“If you don’t know how to reach the southern terrace where Athdara is,” Arkin says from right behind me, jerking me out of my thoughts, “it’s by way of the Ocean Hall, and then by?—”

No.I turn and make shooing gestures at him.Go away, Arkin. Go away!What else must I do for him to leave me alone?

But it looks like he’s been ordered—by Athdara, who else?—to follow me around, becoming my shadow.

Follow me aroundgrinning, as if he knows something I don’t.

Screw him.Gritting my teeth, I open my stride.

He keeps up easily, his expression not changing, his boots thumping lightly on the stone floor. He stays one step behind me, as if to give me the illusion I’m free, free to wander and go wherever I want, free to be alone.

Music sounds from one of the rooms we pass, violin and flutes, followed by clapping and exclamations. From another room come the sounds of a heated argument.

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