Page 78 of The Powers of Nyx

Rowan pulled us to a stop out front of a nondescript building. There was one person standing outside, with slicked back gold hair and what looked like scales along their cheekbones. Their skin was like the colour of ash, but their eyes were a striking, almost terrifying shade of blue. They wore something that shimmered when it caught the light, but where they stood in the shadows, I couldn’t make out what it was.

They’re a mermaid, Adrian explained through the bond.From the Abyss Court.

I tucked that bit of information aside, but as soon as they opened their mouth, and I caught sight of the razor-sharp teeth, all of it went away. I knew I should feel a prickle of fear, but I couldn’t muster it up. I was entranced by the being in front of me, but they were entirely different to the types of mermaids I’d learned about as a child.

Adrian’s arm tightened around me. “Cut it out, Mavka. She doesn’t know how to handle your Song.”

The mermaid cut eye contact with me, and my skin puckered from the loss of contact. “Sorry, Prince Adrian,” they rasped, eyes dragging over my mate. “You don’t see outsiders here often—especially on the arms of Avalon’s most eligible bachelors.”

“Eligible no more, Mavka,” Rowan replied, grinning proudly. “She’s our mate.Ours. And deserves to be treated with respect.”

I squeezed Rowan’s hand thankfully. “What’s the difference between a Song and a Call?” I asked, glancing between Mavka and my mates, who gave me uncertain looks. “What? Eloise has a Call—she’s a siren. And you just called what Mavka did a Song—and they’re a mermaid.” I glanced back at the Fae in question, who cocked their head.

“You sound genuine...” they purred, leaving their station by the door. They entered the flood of light, and I took them in; the scales actually covered their entire body, covering their chest and running down the left side of their abdomen. At their calves, fins sprouted.

Beautiful yet terrifying.

Mavka shrugged. “A Song is more...inviting. It draws unsuspecting victims in with promises ofmore.For you, curiosity. For others, lust. But they usually all lead to the same place: power.” A shudder worked down my spine as their eyes turned to slits. “A Call, however...they only promise destruction. Death. A consumption of power, like a Song. But usually at the expense of others.”

My stomach churned, twisting with a different kind of anxiety. “Thanks,” I muttered, tucking myself into Adrian’s side.

The mermaid slid back into the shadows. Rowan nodded in their direction before tugging me towards the door, not saying anything until we crossed the threshold and entered a dimly lit hallway. There were no other doors, just a set of stairs leading up. On either wall were creeping vines sprouting white flowers with yellow leaves.

“Elias and Maeve must be waiting for us up there,” Adrian muttered, glancing down at me as he removed his arm from my shoulders. “After you, Sweetheart.”

Rowan tightened his hold on my hand as we climbed the stairs up towards whateverEndorawas. Halfway, the soft trill of music and low voices met my ears, but I couldn’t make out what I was walking into.

We hit the next floor and were met with another person, this time they looked rather...normal. My eyes narrowed as I took them in, but I got no sense of what kind of supe they were.

Adrian’s hand found mine again, amusement flooding the bond.Shifter. You know you can use your magic to find out.

I pressed my lips into a firm line.I’m not ready to test that yet.

I’ll teach you soon, then, he replied.

Although I appreciated the offer, part of me wasn’t ready for that yet. I knew there were good reasons for me to learn, but part of me liked not knowing.

“We’re with Grey and Beckham,” Rowan stated. “We have a room.”

The shifter eyed my mages before moving on to me. From what I was picking up, Rowan and Adrian were well known, which made sense. One was a prince, and the other a Seer’s son. Both connected to the crown. And the shifter before us definitely knew them. Those eyes bored into me, scrutinising me, and I had to wonder if it was because he wondered if I could really be their mate. My stomach twisted, and a flare of insecurity hit me.

And I hated it.

I straightened and lifted my chin. “Is there a problem?” I asked, pushing as much confidence into the question as possible.

The shifter smirked, but he shook his head, floppy, dark brown hair falling over his forehead. “Not at all. Follow me.”

I barely suppressed a shudder as we followed him down a dimly lit hall. Again, the same vines and flowers crawled along the walls on either side of us, only broken up by the occasional, flickering candle nestled in a bronze sconce. I tried to keep my questions to myself, but dammit, I was curious.

At the end of the hall, a curtain fluttered, and the shifter pushed through it into what looked like an amphitheatre. I dropped Adrian and Rowan’s hands and stalked to the railing, which overlooked a giant stage that was currently empty save for a few beams and poles, all alive with the same vines and flowers. The stage was almost at eye-level, which made sense, becausethere were small alcoves circling the entire thing, and more above us.

The voices and music were louder, but as I looked around, I could barely make out the details of the alcoves. They were all shadowed, but there were figures entering and leaving them.

A strong arm circled my waist, sending shots of electricity through me. “Welcome toEndora,” Rowan murmured.

“I guess this is your version of dinner and a show?” Smiling, I met his stare. “Am I right?”

He grinned, and started us in the direction of the shifter. “More or less. But this is a show that’ll both surprise you, and maybe make you question whether the four of us are capable of planning dates in the future.”

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