Page 67 of The Raven Queen

Morro City wasn’t a gleaming capital built on the peninsula like Corvo, with stone and moats and towering ramparts, but the seaside capital of Noctem housed towns and villages along the coastline, and the Menagerie—the palace complex surrounded by metal-framed walls of glass—glinted from the cliffs above.

The landscape itself was awe-inspiring, riddled with crevices and craggy caves, and the lush forest-covered mountains met jagged cliffs along the coastline. But Noctem wasn’t the most dangerous kingdom of the seven for nothing. Its natural beauty offered a plethora of hiding places to its criminal inhabitants—mercs, pirates, and thieves seeking refuge from all around the world, which was why I hadn’t balked at Stone’s offer to keep some of his crew back on the ship.

Still, it was impressive. Every building in Morro City was lined with solar panels, reimagined remnants from the world before, converting the sun’s rays into energy to power the city. Windmills that stood taller than any redwood I’d ever seen lined the cliffs, using the coastal winds as additional energy sources, making Noctem the only kingdom with a fully functional electrical infrastructure without the constant use of people’s Abilities to power.

As the nine of us wove our way up the dirt path, winding through the heavy foot traffic leading to and from the city center, the Menagerie glinted in the sunlight upon the cliff.

A woman’s shoulder knocked into mine, and I glared reflexively at her as she stumbled passed. When my eyes met hers, red-rimmed and glassy, she offered me a weak wave of apology and continued on. Though Pyra took good care of her people, I couldn’t help noticing that quite a few looked unwell, especially in the afternoon heat. Then again, it was hard to say where most people came from and what they’d been through. Noctem was a melting pot of scavengers, outliers, andcriminals. They came here when they were restless, lawless, or had no place else to go.

But as I watched the people as we passed, I could feel their gazes on us as well. I glanced at Del, walking a few paces behind me, and wondered if it was obvious to any of them who she was under her gray cloak.

Hearing the scratch of a match and the sound of a flaring flame, I looked at Stone beside me as he lit up another strix-laced cigarette. A single hit visibly calmed his nerves, and I wondered how much physical pain he was in from his time in the navy. He’d been in ships blown to smithereens and lost countless men during the Santa Cruz Siege, when Queen Corisande’s fleets fought to maintain control of her trading ports against the foreign kingdoms, years before I was born. Trading ports that made Corvo and Noctem the wealthiest kingdoms when it came to importing and commerce.

Or was Stone’s pain and restlessness only caused by the marks it left on his mind?

I’d paid him when we’d arrived at the docks, just as I said I would. And while I’d expected him to scoot us along, glad to be rid of the hassle and danger Del’s very presence presented, Stone had surprised me by keeping some of his crew members on the ship to ensure Liam’s safety with the others.

That wasn’t part of our deal, and I wasn’t sure if Stone had business inside the Menagerie, or if there was another reason he was accompanying us, but I didn’t ask questions about that either. Stone knew things I didn’t about everyone and everything. No matter how fleeting his loyalty could be at times, he was a useful person to have around. Usually.

“Is walking into the Menagerie with you going to bite me in the ass?” I asked, giving him a sideways glance. Stone might’ve had connections everywhere, but that didn’t mean they would all be welcoming.

A blue plume of smoke wafted around him as he exhaled. “Kalliope will see us if Pyra won’t,” he muttered, matching my stride. I stared at him, curious what he meant by that, exactly, because Kalliope would see me too, but I had a feeling it was for an entirely different reason.

“Fin,” Del said, hurrying up behind me. She could barely take her eyes off the glinting glass archway we were about to walk through. “What’s the plan?”

It was easy to forget Del hadn’t been to many places. To the Sierra Kingdom with her husband, perhaps, but I doubted there were many reasons for her to explore any place else in the past ten years.

“Best case,” I started, stepping through the giant entrance to the city. “We speak with Pyra and ask her to ally with us against King Eduart.”

Del’s gaze bore into the side of my face. I was well aware it was a tall order, but we needed it to work. “And the worst case?” she asked carefully.

I scratched my stubbled jaw. “They grant us safe passage and the horses and supplies we need to return to the desert without hassle.”

“And you two,” she said, looking between Stone and me. “You’re just going to walk in there and ask Pyra for all of this?”

I nodded. “I helped her three years ago and lost many good people in the process. That’s when I met Stone,” I explained. My gaze flicked to him, remembering the blade scar running up my side. “Pyra owes me the respect of an audience, if nothing else. Besides,” I added, knowing Pyra had eyes and ears everywhere. “I have a feeling they’re expecting us.”

Del didn’t have time to ask any more questions because a familiar face greeted us in the courtyard. Pyra’s sister, Kalliope, stood against a cypress tree, arms crossed over her chest. Her leather ensemble hugged every curve, and her boots, tied to her knees, made her look every part of the assassin-pirate she was.

A smirk curved Kalliope’s lips as we drew closer, and her brown eyes lined with kohl drank me in, up and down, before a full grin engulfed her bronze face. After spending a few nights together the last time I was in Noctem, I knew where her mind had likely wandered.

“My, my,” she purred. “Look what the cat dragged in.” She sauntered closer, acting all too delighted to see me, even if it was mostly to get a reaction.

I could feel Del’s attention too, but I straightened my shoulders as we met Kalliope on the cobblestone walkway.

Stone took another puff of his cigarette, and she looked at him, her long black ponytail falling over her shoulder as she tilted her head. “I can’t say I expected I’d ever see the two of you walking in together. Not after the bloody heap you left Fin in.” Kalliope’s eyes narrowed on him. “And you still owe me money from your last visit.” Her delicate brow arched expectantly.

Kalliope was Pyra’s right hand, the head of the guard and as lethal as she was beautiful. More than that, she was Pyra’s younger, very protective sister.

Stone tapped his pocket. Some of the coins I’d given him jangled inside. “All in good time,” he promised, taking a long drag of his cigarette with the other hand.

It started to make sense why Stone needed to ensure he got his money from me if he was bringing us to Noctem. For as rich as he was in the secrets he kept, Stone always seemed to be in debt. “There’s some business that needs tending to first,” he prompted, pointing at me.

I glanced at the glinting, domed ceiling of the Glass Palace. “Will she see me?” I asked, looking Kalliope in her smoky-painted eyes. My tone was as exhausted and impatient as I was beginning to feel.

The catlike smirk on her face fell a little. “Already back to business, then?” she said with a small pout, and tearing her gaze from me, she scanned the entourage surrounding me, studying Hills first, casting an appreciative gaze on Callon next, then her eyes lingered on Del. “Hmm.”

Finally, with another slight arch of her eyebrow, Kalliope nodded reluctantly. “Of course, Pyra will see you.” With one more look at me, Kalliope motioned for us to follow her.

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