Page 34 of Of Songs and Silence

Give no hint of whatever strange connection is between us.

So, instead, I hold my head high, fixing my expression into something cold and impenetrable—a mirror of the one I have seen Zaina don so many times before. But when the doors finally open, my breathing falters.

I can’t look at my surroundings. My gaze immediately flies to the man who awaits us perched on the throne which sits in the center of the room. I hadn’t allowed myself to think about the king for too long, not wanting to get my hopes up only to have them dashed to pieces when reality set in. But the truth is impossible to avoid now.

King Cepheus is beautiful. Long, purple hair flows out from beneath a crown made of shells and gold, shining in stark contrast to his onyx skin. The soft curve of his nose, the sharp edges of his cheekbones and the slant of his brow are familiar, but it’s his eyes that catch my attention.

Striking amethyst, a color I’ve only seen twice before.

On Mother. And in the mirror.

His gaze is cold as he assesses me, the way a predator looks at a small woodland creature that may or may not be worth the trouble of catching.

“Granddaughter. At last, you’ve come home.”

CHAPTERTWENTY

MELODI

Granddaughter.

The king’s granddaughter. The wordKalaresounds in my head, and I know now for certain what it means.Princess.

Didn’t some part of me suspect that all along? I just hoped it would be under different circumstances, a connection to someone who is not a monster. I can already tell that will not be the case with the king.

The girl in the cage would have told me that much. Then there is the feeling in the air like everyone in this palace is walking the edge of a knife like a tightrope, dead if they fall and bleeding even if they don’t.

I never thought Ari was lying when he said the situation here would be dangerous, but when he overreacted to every sea creature that so much as looked at me along the journey, I lulled myself into a false sense of safety.

Dangerous. For both of us.

Standing before the king, Ari’s words feel like an understatement. What would this man do with a weakness? Already, I have seen how he addresses disobedience, perceived or otherwise, and relationships between those of different classes is forbidden here.

Ari told me, and Kane reiterated it more than once in his sardonic way when I was still struggling to guard my thoughts about his cousin from him. So, I force myself to smile politely while he addresses Ari, while I make sands-damned sure that my shields are stronger than they’ve ever been.

“Well done, Commander Ariihau,” the king praises the warrior with a nod of his head.

Ari bows with a fisted hand over his heart, and the gesture twists something inside of me. I don’t like seeing him bow to anyone, I realize, let alone this man.

“Thank you, King Cepheus.” Ari emphasizes the name just a bit, probably for my benefit.

Probably to remind me I need to respond. If Mother has no tolerance for insolence, I can safely assume the same is true for the king. A tentacle wraps around my ankle, and Napo gently prods me to address my grandfather, as if he, too, is concerned about the outcome of this meeting.

The king tracks the movement with a calculating gaze, but doesn’t appear to mind Napo’s presence.

“Thank you, King Cepheus,” I echo, opening my shields just the barest amount.

I can do this. I have watched my sisters play this game with Mother for years. If they can shut down their expressions, I can certainly shut off my inner thoughts. Besides, if I can endure Damian’s hands on my skin without belying my revulsion, I can handle a conversation.

The king gives me a smile edged with condescension, and alarm bells go off in my head.

Not good enough.My shields are falling short, just as Ari warned me they would.

“Thank you, Commander Ariihau, for bringing her back to me.” There is no warmth in his words, but I suspect there never is.

Ari bows again before turning on his heel to stride away. I wonder if I imagine the hesitation from him, the barest hint of panic, or if it is merely a projection of my own emotions.

For all I have envisioned getting to the palace, I hadn’t considered that he might leave me once we arrived.

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