Page 56 of Beneath the Haunting Sea

Annoyance flicked across his face. “Whatabouthim?”

She thought about Wen pulling her out of the temple, sitting with her in the parlor until she’d calmed down, giving her that one unfetteredsmile. “We’re betrothed.”

Caiden smiled, reaching out to touch her face, brushing one finger against her cheek. “Then we’ll have to remedy that.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

UP IN HER ROOM, TALIA SCRUBBED THEdirt off her hands and changed into a fresh gown. It was silver, with elaborate beading at the high waistline and airy capped sleeves shaped to look like flower petals. She plaited her hair into a single braid that she wound around her head and pinned clumsily. Then she sat staring at herself in the mirror.

Everything tangled together inher brain: Wen pulling her out of the temple, Blaive claiming to be Caiden’s fiancée, Caiden saying he was falling in love with her. Her mother, trapped and tormented beneath the sea, never at rest, never at peace. She couldn’t quite shake that thought away, no matter what Wen said.

There came a sharp rap on the door, and Lyna poked her head in. “Forgive the intrusion, Miss Dahl-Saida, but theothers are holding dinner for you.”

“Thank you.”

She rose slowly from the stool and went down to the dining room. Wen and Caiden scraped back their chairs and stood, bowing politely. Wen’s eyes sought hers and she met them for a moment before glancing at Caiden. Had his taut frame relaxed a little at her arrival, or was she imagining it?

The boys resumed their seats, and Caiden looked at herwith a hesitant smile.

Ro and Lyna came bustling in, pouring tea and wine and serving dinner: hot soup with a gamy meat, and sweet-nut bread.

Talia wasn’t hungry. She was hyperaware of all three of them: Caiden’s smoldering eyes, Wen’s quiet grimace, Blaive’s nervous energy. Talia sipped absently at her soup.

“You’ve grown, Wendarien,” said Blaive suddenly, breaking the palpable silence. “Ithink you’re taller than me, now.”

“It is two years since we saw each other last, Lady Nahm-Aina,” Wen returned, politely.

“Has it really been that long?” Blaive shook her head and forced a laugh. “I can’t believe it. Caiden looks the same, anyway. Have I changed at all, Lord Estahr-Sol?”

Caiden glanced at Blaive, and Talia felt herself tense. He couldn’t possibly be immune to her careful beauty.“I hadn’t noticed, my lady.”

Blaive wrapped one elegant hand around the stem of her wine glass. “I didn’t quite catch your history, Miss—what was it?”

“Dahl-Saida,” said Talia coolly. “And I did not catch yours.”

Something in Blaive’s glance wavered a little, but she simply lifted her chin higher and turned her attention back to Caiden. “My family has been friends with Caiden’s ever since Iwas small. I spent nearly every summer here, and Caiden spent a few at Shold House on my father’s estate. Do you remember that year my mother gave a party in our garden?” She smiled at Caiden, her eyes softening. “We spent days making paper lanterns, and then the dogs got into the house and spoiled them all. My mother was so upset but you just laughed, like it was the greatest joke in the world.Do you remember that?”

Caiden flicked his glance from Blaive to Talia, and back again. “I remember.” He attempted a smile, but it came out more like a grimace.

Talia stamped down her discomfort. For a moment, her eyes met Wen’s.

“We were happy then,” said Blaive quietly.

Caiden set his jaw. “That was a long time ago. I hope I have long since learned the rules of propriety.”

“You’ve alwaysknown the rules, Caiden. You just choose not to follow them.”

They stared at each other, the thread of tension between them practically visible. Talia gripped her teacup unnecessarily tight.

Once more she found Blaive’s green eyes fixed on her face. “But enough of my history, Miss Dahl-Saida. Tell me yours. I understand we are far from equals in regard to rank, but you need not be timid on thataccount.”

Wen rose half out of his chair at that, and she could see Caiden scowling out of the corner of her eye.

But Talia just stared impassively back at Blaive, not showing that the jibe rankled her. “I’m from Enduena,” she said, measuring each word. “I was banished to Ryn for the crime of being the Emperor’s daughter, which puts me in precisely the same social sphere as the current Empress.But don’t worry, Lady Nahm-Aina. I won’t think less of you for having such a low rank.”

Blaive opened and closed her mouth a few times, while Wen smiled down at his plate and Caiden blatantly grinned.

“I’m a little surprised that you’re harboring a traitor in your house, Lord Estahr-Sol,” said Blaive, trying another tack.

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