After training and dinner, I stumbled into the tent I shared with Tievel and collapsed fully clothed on the pallet he'd made. Unlike the first night we spent together, there were two separate sleeping spaces. If I hadn't been so exhausted, I might have felt more than a passing appreciation for Tievel's thoughtfulness.

It was very unlike him to not take advantage of a situation like this. It went against his very nature to not hold me closer to him after what happened last night, but he would not risk my battered mind associating his touch with those monsters.

Sleep claimed me quickly, and I woke only once in the night and only for a moment. I had a vague awareness of someone moving me, then draping a blanket over my body before drifting back into dreamless slumber. When dawn broke, cold and hazy, I woke up in a cozy nest of furs and found my boots set next to the door.

Dragging them over my feet, I laced them up and rubbed my rapidly chilling hands over my thighs. My very exposed thighs and calves and hips. Without the fresh flush of the fight heating my blood, I was once again shy about wearing the trousers. It took only the memory of how much easier it had been to move and defend myself against Yoko to spur me out of the tent.

"Why didn't anyone wake me?" I demanded, accepting a tin plate with a steaming biscuit, bacon, and a hunk of cheese from Astreia as Yoko and Tievel set about breaking down the tent.

Astreia smiled gently as I ate. "Because you needed the rest after yesterday. Physically and mentally."

Breadcrumbs sprayed from my lips as I spoke around a large bite. "We're about to be on a ship for several days. I will get plenty of rest then. We don't have time to waste."

The warm weight of Tievel's hand settled on my shoulder, and he pressed a kiss to my temple. "We are not in so much of a hurry that we will risk your well-being."

Yoko tightened the saddlebags on her horse as she closed them. Mounting her horse, she rolled her shoulders as if to calm herself before adding, "A journey at sea is rarely restful, and we don't know if you will do well on the ship. It is something many outside of the Sea Court struggle with."

"What do you mean?" I accepted Tievel's help to get on my mount. The lingering touch on my thigh as he made sure I was seated properly sent a rush of heat to my center.

"Sea sickness is unpleasant," Astreia chimed in with a grimace. "The first time I was on a ship, I spent three days throwing up everything I ate."

Yoko's black hair swished across her cheeks as she shook her head. "I will tend to you, princess. You do not have to worry."

Astreia laughed. "Thankfully, I found my sea legs on my third voyage, but I'll be happy to pretend to be very ill if you want to play healer."

Yoko lit up with interest, and the lovers moved their horses closer together so they could whisper. Snippets of what they said reached me, and I blushed, grateful they were too absorbed in one another to see the red in my face. The teasing would be endless.

"Do not be worried about the seasickness," Tievel said, reigning his horse in to match my slower pace. A shaky truce had been struck between me and the beast, but I did not yet fully trust him. "Healing others is not my strongest gift, but I should be able to keep the worst at bay."

I waited for a teasing jab. Some innuendo. Gods knew he always had one at the ready, especially where I was concerned, but none followed. His expression remained one of tender concern, and I recalled the tears he shed after rescuing me. Had the incident changed how he would treat me? Would he forever hesitate over every word and touch, afraid I would shatter if he was himself around me?

It strengthened my resolve to train harder. To prove I was no delicate flower. The experience left me shaken but not broken. I knew there would be many times in the future where the fear and anguish and impotence I felt during the attack would creep up on me. It was a price I could live with, but I could not bear this version of Tievel.

"Thank you," I replied. "I will let you know if it is needed."

He dipped his head in acknowledgment. The others caught up with us and we rode in a companionable silence, broken only occasionally by the call of a bird or a whisper in the trees. Thankfully, we came across no other travelers. It appeared as if this road was seldom used. Neglect was visible in the plants overgrowing it and the rocks scattered about that we had to pick our way around.

By midday, we no longer needed cloaks, and I unclipped mine and draped it over the pommel of my saddle, breathing deeply when I smelled a foreign scent on the breeze.

"Salt," Yoko explained at my look of confusion. "We're only about thirty minutes from the sea."

Tievel laughed at me. "You look like a child on Yul morning."

Raising my fingers, I touched my face and found my lips stretching wide across my face. No matter how I tried, I couldn't pull them back down and finally I laughed. It was a sharp, bright sound that sent birds scattering from the branches above us and drew funny looks from my friends.

"I knew we were going to the Crystal Sea, but I didn't really think about going to the sea," I tried to explain. Astreia looked as if she understood, but the other two continued to stare. "The Lorvien River is the greatest body of water I've ever seen. I used to dream of seeing the oceans. I would flip through books and look at pictures for hours, but it never felt like a real possibility."

"Well," Astreia said, "The Crystal Sea is the most beautiful. None will compare after you see it."

Yoko fiddled with her reins while her expression took on a dreamy quality. "I would argue that the Serene Sea is far more beautiful."

The princess patted her mare's neck. "Considering the Sea Court rarely invites outsiders to their lands, few have seen the Serene Sea."

Yoko sighed. "I've been in the capital for so long I'd almost forgotten what the sea air smells like. Sometimes, my dreams of it are so real that when I wake up and remember where I am, losing it is a physical ache."

Astreia grabbed her hand and squeezed, but Tievel stared at me. His face was unreadable.

Tearing my eyes away from his face, I said, "Is now a good time to discuss what happens once we get across the Crystal Sea? Estrellum's borders won't be far from there. Do we even know what to expect?"

All dreaminess disappeared from Yoko's face, and her plump lips smashed into a thin line. "We pray the stories of darkness and monsters overtaking the land are exaggerated."

Tievel shook himself. "Try to be more helpful."

"I am. I'm even being hopeful. Look at the Vesper. The king talked about the monsters there at every public event, but the worst thing we encountered was a flower."

This set off Yoko and Tievel bickering. Astreia pinched the bridge of her nose but said nothing as we continued around a bend, the paved road narrowing as the incline increased. Some of what they were saying washed over me, and I tried to pay attention.

The forest thinned, and the deciduous trees gave way to trees I'd only ever seen drawings of in books. Pale brown and slender, their trunks stretched high into the sky without a single branch. At the very top, their leaves grew thick with feather-like fingers. The morning clouds had disappeared long ago, and the trees provided little relief from the sun hanging in the middle of the brilliant azure sky.

Craggy walls of gray rose beside the road, and scraggly yellow grass grew in the cracks. Here and there a flower grew next to the slender blades in bursts of orange and blue that seemed brighter than normal against the dark rock. The bit of breeze that broke through the narrow path stirred the layer of fine black sand that settled on the ledges and across the road in glittering drifts.

It almost felt as if between one breath and the next, we'd stepped into a different realm, but I was certain of it when we crested the hill. I drew my horse to a stop and stared in awe at the scene below.

Yoko claimed the Serene Sea was more beautiful than the Crystal Sea, but my mind could not comprehend a beauty that exceeded this. Stretched out as far as I could see was a shore of black sand. The shimmer in the grains along the road was dull compared to the sparkle on this beach as it warmed beneath the sun. Pinpricks of light moved and pulsed like stars against the inky darkness, not at all like the drawings in books. Artists made it look as if the sand absorbed the light when, in truth, it reflected it.

And the water. Waves of cerulean glass turned to lacey white froth as they broke against the shore, sending foamy fingers across the ebony coast. Most fizzled into nothingness, but a few held their form as they dragged treasures back into the depths of the sea, spinning up twilight clouds before the next wave obscured the view. Farther out from shore, the water brightened to an arctic blue, and it was so clear that even from up here, I could see fish darting over the sandy floor.

"It's breathtaking, isn't it?"

Astreia stopped at my side and closed her eyes, chin lifting toward the sky as she inhaled deeply. She'd wrapped a silver scarf around her head to protect it from the sun's harsh rays, and her skin glistened like the beach below. She might be a creature of the night, but there was nothing in the daylight—not even the Crystal Sea—that could compete with her beauty.

"I have no words."

Tievel and Yoko did not slow to admire the view, and we hurried to catch up. She took the lead as the more confident rider, though my horse gave no sign of unease as he picked his way over the uneven road.

The others dismounted on the beach, and I followed suit, if somewhat less gracefully. Tievel had been on his way to assist me, but when he saw I'd managed without him, he gave me one of those strange, unreadable looks again before turning to address a group of gentlemen lounging on the beach. I'd somehow overlooked them before, but when I turned to look back at where we'd come from, I realized they would have been hidden from view.

A small man with weathered brown skin separated from the group when Tievel beckoned. He adjusted the cap on his head and scratched behind his ear while the prince talked, then pointed in the distance and shook his head. Tievel frowned, then held up four fingers, snapping two of them in the man's face when his attention drifted to where we stood waiting.

"What's going on?" I asked. "And how are we to cross the sea without a ship?"

Yoko sat on the ground, pulling her boots off and plunging her naked toes into the sand with a contented sigh. When Astreia shrugged in confusion, I repeated the question twice more, hoping Yoko would answer.

She did, but not without a sniff of irritation. "We didn't choose this route just because it's the old road and less traveled. You see how clear the water is here? How it doesn't get dark for nearly a mile out?"

It had been strange to me that I could see the bottom nearly all the way to the horizon.

"The locals call it the Acadien Shoal. It's a sandbar that runs for miles along this shore, and the water in this area is too shallow for ships to dock. To the west, the shore disappears and is replaced by cliffs. And after the cliffs... some say it's the end of our world." She trailed off and shivered before continuing. "That's why there are no proper towns here. All the trade happens to the east, near Miriposa's Bay."

She impressed me with her knowledge of the land. Few from Edresh traveled to this side of the world anymore, mostly because they were afraid of the Vesper. Never overly interested in geography, I had assumed Estrellum and Araphel were directly on the other side of the Vesper. Until we crossed, and I discovered mountains and oceans and villages. All outside of Edresh's rule. It made sense that a soldier would educate herself on the lands of those who could become enemies.

Astreia put her hands on her hips and kicked her foot, sending up a fine spray of sand. "Then why are we here? This has been a waste of time."

Yoko grunted and pulled her boots back on. Brushing sand from her breeches, she made sure she was clean before answering Astreia, not at all put out by the princess now rapidly tapping her toe. The soldier was braver than I was. As a captive of the court, Astreia trained in the art of smothering her unpleasant emotions, but from time to time, they bubbled over, and it was never pretty. I would not want to be on the receiving end of a princess sized tantrum for all the money in Edresh.

"We discussed this last night, but clearly, neither of you were paying attention. Smugglers use this route. Those men stay here all day and evening fishing or playing cards or offering pleasure rides to the few who stumble upon this beach in ignorance. They give the ones who have the right words passage to the Ilmoria Caves.

About two miles west, right where the cliffs begin and just before the Acadian Shoal disappears, there is a cave big enough for ships to enter. But if you don't come down to the perfect spot, you'll run your ship aground or dash it to pieces on the cliffs. So, you can imagine very few will risk coming close."

Suddenly, my horse seemed far less dangerous. The boats pulled onto shore looked as if they'd seen many summers on the water. Some hulls had patches and plugs, while others were mismatched in color, the newer pieces of wood far lighter than the original pieces. None of them looked sturdy enough to make it through the pounding surf.

Tievel returned to us, his steps heavy and bordering on stomping. His jaw clenched as he pulled the saddlebags from the horses. Yoko followed his lead and altered the straps so the bags could more easily be carried over human backs or shoulders.

"What's happening?" Astreia asked.

"These men are criminals," Tievel snapped in reply. "They're asking far too much for passage to the ship."

Yoko snorted. "They're smugglers. We knew they were criminals before we arrived, and I warned you it would be expensive to cross."

"And I told you it was none of your concern. It still isn't. All you need to know is that I've negotiated safe passage, though they were less than pleased about ferrying three women. Particularly Morana."

Three sets of eyes swung toward me, and my mouth fell open in confusion. Then fear curled through my abdomen, and I stepped back. "Why are they concerned about me? They- they can't possibly guess what I am."

Tievel tensed the way he always did when reminded of my true nature. Whatever he might claim, it still bothered him. Perhaps unconsciously.

"Your hair and skin. They said you have the look of the Shadowlanders."

"Shadowlanders?"

"They call Araphel the Shadow Lands now. No one who goes in comes out, but they say there are a few refugees living in Jorridor. It's considered unlucky to have dealings with them. I assured them you were born in Edresh to a Pixie and a low elf house maid."

I nodded, hoping the hurt didn't show on my face. It shouldn't matter that these men were afraid of me. Everyone else was, but I thought I wouldn't have to hide once we escaped Edresh.

A man shouted behind us. Tievel and Yoko's reached for the swords on their hips, and Astreia crouched slowly, pretending to tie her boot with one hand while sliding the dagger from inside it with the other. I stood there like a startled ninny. My single day of training was not enough to ingrain such smooth reflexes within me.

"Got room for one more?" the newcomer asked, skirting around our group and addressing one of the guides.

"I don't suppose you thought to pay extra to ensure we were the only passengers aboard this ship," Yoko hissed as she watched the negotiations.

Tievel grunted in response, took the bag I was holding, and walked to the dinghy that was being prepared for our journey to the ship. Astreia and Yoko shared a look filled with irritation and dismay, neither one willing to voice their concerns to me. At least not in public.

The stranger shook hands with the guide. He stayed put as the man walked off to talk to Tievel, and I looked him over, assessing the level of threat he might present.

His height was the first thing I noted. Perhaps even taller than Tievel—something few elves could boast—and it meant he was a High Elf or at least mixed. Unless, of course, there was a giant in his blood. I dismissed that thought as soon as he shifted his footing, providing me with an unhindered view of his face.

"Close your mouth, darling. You'll catch flies," Astreia growled in my ear as she headed to the boat. Stark female appreciation filled her face, and she didn't hide it when he caught her staring.

Living in the palace meant being surrounded by beautiful people. The homeliest of High Elves stole breath from your lungs on their worst day. While the classification of lower elf covered multiple races, High Elves were descended from the god's first creations—their best and most perfect species, and the lines of their bodies and perfection of their faces were evidence of their favored status.

And the prince was the most perfect of all the High Elves—with his sharp, angular features and lithe graceful limbs. Eyes of ice, hair that never settled on any color, and skin as flawless as looking glass. When I believed Tievel was off limits, I would imagine a future with another man. Faceless and nameless, I had no hope that he would be as lovely to look upon or elicit the same desire within me as the prince. It was not possible to exceed perfection.

Oh, how very wrong I was.

It turned out imperfections held their own allure. My body thrummed with lust as I raked my eyes over a head crowned in silky strands of twilight, a straight nose jutting out over a mouth shaped by wicked promises, a square, dimpled chin, and finally, across a broad chest that strained the threading of a well-made heather gray tunic. Before I could continue further south, he moved, his confident steps leading him directly toward me.

Mortified to be caught staring, I tried to look away, but the intensity of his gaze pinned me in place. I drank him in even as I flushed with embarrassment and yearning. I could see now that his mouth was a bit too wide, and a thick white scar peeked through the light stubble along his jaw. Everything about him was a sharp contrast to the prince. A jagged edge next to a straight line.

"Enjoying yourself?" he rasped, halting when the toe of his boots touched mine.

Jerking my eyes upward, I prepared a snide comment, only to snap my mouth shut as desire was replaced by a new emotion—loathing. And complete and utter shock.

"You," I replied, wishing I could sink into the sand or be washed out into the sea. Eyes the color of purest honey glittered with amusement as he watched and waited for me to speak. "Rea–"

He sidestepped, so he blocked me from my party's view and cupped a callused palm over my mouth. The amusement in his expression was gone, replaced by a warning. "Let's not speak that name out loud."

"Morana," Tievel called, his voice growing louder, "Are you all right?"

I pulled the Reaper's hand away and resisted the urge to scrub my mouth—even while my traitorous inner voice begged me to lick my lips and see if I could taste him. "I'm fine. This man was introducing himself to me."

"Seems only right," the Reaper said cheerfully—too cheerfully—as he stuck out a hand in greeting. "We'll be traveling together for a few days, it would seem."

"So it would seem," Tievel replied begrudgingly before hooking his arm around my waist and drawing me against his hip. "And your name?"

Tievel asked the question, but the Reaper looked at me as he answered. "Remiel, but friends call me Remy."