Page 162 of In Violent Waves

“What is this about?”

“You’re the key to unlocking her magic. Well—you and the sea. A controlled environment like the Mannereds will make her feel close to home in a way that will speed up the process. Your father is growing impatient.”

He glared at his mother, feeling the exhaustion and nausea build.

“You’re scheming. Why?”

Queen Aine shook her head and picked at his down comforter.

“I still don’t know the details of this bargain, and it’s making me uneasy. We need it finished, and now. So, I will use whatever means necessary in our arsenal to see to it.”

And there it was, his mother’s ruthless cunning that had secured her as King Oberon’s partner.

Wilder sat up and leaned back against his headboard.

“What has you frightened, Mother?”

“Otto can’t see.”

He nodded. “That’s not unusual. He hasn’t ever seen clearly around Lyra.”

Aine shook her head. “No. He can’t see anything about this bargain your father made.”

“Still? Who would have the power to hide from Otto’s sight?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “And he’s still refusing to tell me.”

“We leave now?”

She nodded. “I just instructed Daisy to pack her things. They’ll be ready soon.”

Wilder leaned his head back and groaned.

“And there’s something else,” she muttered.

His eyes flashed open. “What?”

“I watched the two of you?—”

“No.”

Queen Aine flinched. “No?”

Wilder shook his head, glaring at his mother. “No. I will not speak of it—or her.”

She smiled then, and her brow arched high. “As you wish.”

Wilder watched as Daisy clung to Lyra. He couldn’t quite grasp how the two of them had become so close in the few short weeks she had been here.

But then again, Daisy saw Lyra much more than he had. And there had been nights when he could hear the two of them staying up until late in the evening, talking and laughing.

“I’ll have more of the chamomile oil for you when you return,” Daisy murmured into Lyra’s hair. She had left it down, and the auburn waves floated up in the wind.

“Thank you, Daisy,” Lyra replied, squeezing the smaller female before letting her go. “Wish me luck!”

Daisy eyed him with a look that said she was well aware he was eavesdropping.

“Good luck. You’re going to need it.”