Page 96 of In Rising Tides

Nerida eyed them curiously before tilting her head.

“Very well. I will see you tomorrow,” she said to Nerida as she readied to leave.

“No,” Fang said. “No visitors. King’s orders.”

Lyra frowned. They had left on decent terms, despite the blasphemy he claimed she had spewed. She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Did he saywhy?” she snarled.

Fang shook his head, but glanced over his shoulder. Lyra didn’t see anyone in the hall, not even Angler.

“A scout is on his way with urgent news,” he whispered. “The King fears for your safety.”

Nerida rolled her eyes. “I’ll see what I can find out,” she said under her breath as she passed Lyra and entered the hallway.

Lyra remained locked in her room the rest of the day.

The luminescent tentacles flared to life in the evening, and she rolled onto her side. This room was a prison.

Evening turned to night, and a plate of food was placed on the floor beside her bed.

She didn’t move to retrieve it. She just lay there, pondering the brief victory she had with Nerida.

Nerida knew about her magic andwantedto help her. There should be a lot more happiness surrounding those thoughts, but it was as if it could not permeate the melancholy she was sinking into.

It didn’t matter if Nerida could help if no one was allowed to speak to her.

How long would he keep her?

Sleep slowly dragged her deeper into the depths. But it was a fitful sleep, full of red-glowing eyes and piercing collars.

The following morning she was yanked from slumber as her bedroom door slammed into the wall.

Drystan loomed in the threshold. His face was twisted with such fury that he looked murderous.

“What did you do?” he seethed.

She sucked in a breath.

His shoulders rose and fell as he heaved deep breaths. “A bargain?With elves?”

Shock had her mouth dropping open.How did he know?

The gold in his eyes was molten as he clenched his hands into fists.

Lyra could see it all over his face that he wanted to wrap those hands around her throat and squeeze. He approached her slowly, like a predator stalking prey, and Lyra backed deeper into the open shell of her bed.

She raised her chin with what little fight she had left, and he snarled.

“Don’t even think of lying to me!” His voice was a whip slicing through the water.

He reached her then, squeezing her by the shoulders and ripping her up from the bed.

Lyra threw pleading eyes around her room, but no one was there to save her.

A fog loomed at the back of her mind, a gentle tug on her lips to remain quiet.

Drystan swam with speed to the council room. Lyra tugged against his hold, but he didn’t ease his grip. She glanced behind her to see Fang and Angler hurrying to keep up.