Page 97 of Across an Endless Sea

“I’m going to marry the sun,

Catch her beneath the archway,

Woo her with nightshade,

Then spirit her away.”

My magic reaches out, helping the crowd along, keeping the balance between the music and the lyrics just right.

Then, when it comes to an end, minutes later, I dare to look up from the strings and meet Rose’s gaze across the room.

Her eyes have reverted to violet, her hold on her glamour lost as she stares at me with wide eyes. Between us, the crowd is on their feet, applauding, and my ears twitch as I hear the first person say it.

“Lyarthorn.”

That quickly, my harp disappears. I take an awkward bow before hurriedly half-stumbling back to my seat.

“That was amazing!” Rose says, her tone awestruck.

“Thank you,” I mumble, cheeks heating as I meet her eyes and find they’re still purple. “Erm, your glamour?”

Rose curses, and a second later the brown eyes reappear. “I need to get better at this,” she mutters to herself.

“For someone who’s only been using magic for less than a month, you’re doing great,” I reassure her.

The gnome returns with our food, and two drinks I didn’t ask for.

“From the selkies on the far table,” she explains. “They want to know if you’ll be touring again?”

I don’t dare look at Rose as I shake my head. “It was a favour. I have no plans to return.”

The gnome nods. “A shame. The world could use a little more joy, Lyarthorn.”

She leaves us, and I push both glasses towards Rose. I’ve never drunk, and I don’t intend to start when her safety is my responsibility.

“Seelie mead,” I explain, when she sniffs at it experimentally. “It’s apparently really good.”

Perhaps she missed the gnome’s words, and I can change the subject before it comes up.

“Why did she call you Lyarthorn?”

Damn. No such luck. “I was known by that name once,” I hedge. “It means nothing now.”

Less than nothing. I wouldn’t go back to that life, even if I could. For all that the Toxic Orchid used me, at least they were overt about it.

A knife to the chest is kinder than one in the back.

Rose doesn’t press me, though she has every right to. She should know who she’s let into her Guard.

“I chose to take the oath for less than noble reasons,” I blurt.

Stop,my brain screeches,stop now.

“I used it to escape the Toxic Orchid,” I confess. “The moment I left Danu’s cave, I ran. Not that my freedom lasted long.”

I hadn’t thought things could get worse than fighting for my life in the ring every night. I was wrong. When I was recaptured, the madam threw me into service.

I dare a glance up from the dented table and meet her brown eyes before looking down again. “You should reject me from your Guard. I was selfish, and I’m not worthy. I’ve failed you twice now.”

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