Page 143 of In Rising Tides

The king consort now appeared grim, his lips thinning. “Warick sent me.”

Wilder scoffed. His uncle was becoming more meddlesome by the day.

But news from the Wilds would be well received. He would like to know how his mother fared.

Ridge grumbled something about politics under his breath. Baelwyn nodded towards the summer cottage. “Let’s speak inside. Do you have tea?”

Wilder forced a smile onto his face. “Of course.”

As they ambled back towards the cottage, Wilder found himself constantly gazing over his shoulder to catch another glimpse of the unicorn.

“How did you do it, honestly?”

Baelwyn chuckled and pulled a honey biscuit from his pocket. “They crave sweets.”

A laugh bubbled out of Wilder’s chest, and it surprised him. He couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed. It had probably been because of something Lyra had said.

No, that wasn’t right. It wasn’t anything she had said.

His eyes burned with the memory. He could see her cotton gown, her hair braided from crown to root, and the rogue wave that had knocked her off her feet.

The look on her face as she spluttered in the sea foam. His ribs had hurt from laughing, and then she had tackled him right there in the surf.

“Wilder—” Ridge’s loud voice reeled him back into the presence. “Did you hear what Baelwyn just said?”

Wilder shook his head, feeling his hair tangle in the briars of his crown. He was in need of a haircut.

Actually, he was in need of many things. Warmth gathered low in his stomach from the lingering effects of her memory.

“Humans massacred a squad of mer scouts.”

The door of the cottage slammed open, Wilder’s rage seeping into every fiber of muscle he used to open it. Its sound echoed so loudly that he knew at once that he had woken everyone from slumber.

“What the fuck?” Maelys hissed, stumbling into the hallway, Otto flinging open the door opposite her.

Behind them was a very harassed-looking Jordania, and an alarmed Dust and Oak. Oron and Cedric were completely dressed, with swords at the ready, when they appeared in the stone hallway.

“Baelwyn is here,” Wilder announced. “He brings news. Get dressed.”

It didn’t take anyone long, but by the time they were all gathered, several pots of steaming water sat in the middle of the table, teacups in front of each chair and an assortment of tea pouches beside the pots.

Wilder rubbed a finger over the porcelain rim of his cup while he waited for the tea to steep. The amber color was slowly darkening, and the spicy scent of peppermint filled his nose.

Ridge, Baelwyn, and Maelys talked amongst themselves. Mainly about Baelwyn’s journey here and the type of flora and fauna the Valewood was known for.

Dust, Oron, Cedric, and Oak were all alert. Their eyes shifted from the door to the window.

Jordania was the last to arrive.

Otto wordlessly pulled out the chair beside him, and she slid into it. Her long chestnut hair was pulled up, elongating her neck and sharpening her features.

The charcoal gown she wore was almost identical to the one she wore while seeing Atlantis, but with white ruffles capping the sleeves. It softened her sharp lines.

“Well,” Baelwyn began, pouring himself another cup. “There have been several alarming attacks near and around the Wilds.But the one that has caused the most stir is that of what happened in the human town of Fresia.”

He knew that town, had been there himself to kidnap Lyra.

“Why do we care about humans?” Dust asked with a scoff.