Strengthening that alliance had been the real purpose behind last night's dinner. For a thousand years, Celieria and the Fading Lands had been the staunchest of allies, but recently, anti-Fey sentiment had exploded throughout large portions of Celieria. Dahl'reisen-terrifying former Fey warriors who'd slipped down the Dark Path and been banished from the Fading Lands-had been accused of murdering Celierian villagers in the north. Many powerful Celierian nobles were promoting a new, more welcoming relationship with the Eld-the Fading Lands' oldest and most bitter enemy-as a way to counteract centuries of Fey influence over Celieria.

Last night had been Rain's chance to win the confidence and support of Celieria's lords before they voted whether or not to reopen their borders to the Eld ... and what had she done? She'd woven lust on them! They would never forgive such humiliation.

Ellie groaned in misery and spun away, covering her face with her hands.

"Las, shei’tani." Rain closed a hand over her shoulder and pulled her gently back to him. "If this is the turn the gods decided our path should take, we will follow it together.”

"But, Rain-”

"Ssh." He pressed a kiss to her lips to silence her objection, then smiled with tender reassurance. "Listen to me, Ellysetta. The purpose of the gods is not always obvious, but believe me when I say that even from the most unpleasant beginning can come a treasure beyond price." He returned the pearl to her palm and closed her fingers over it. "I thought my heart would always belong to Sariel. My will was to live only until my duty to the Fey was done and I could join her in death. And then you entered my soul. I did not want the connection, I admit. But in these few short days, you have wrought unexpected changes upon me. You've brought back to me the laughter I lost a thousand years ago, you've made me remember what hope is." He ran a finger down her cheek. "I would not change you, Ellysetta. To me, you are already a pearl beyond price.”

"But the alliance ... I know how important it is, and since the day we met, I only keep making things worse.”

Rain sighed. "If the Fey-Celierian alliance does not survive last night's excitement, then it was not long for this world in any event. Would I change that if I could? Of course. As you reminded me yesterday, the Fey need Celieria. For millennia, your country has guarded the gates to our lands. But the Fey need you, also. I need you ... more than any alliance. All I ask is that you try to find a way to live in comfort with those gifts you are afraid to face. I do not know all there is to know about shei’tanitsa bonding, but I do know both parties must accept what lies within themselves before they can open their souls to the other, as they must to complete the bond.”

Ellie bit her lip and glanced down at the pearls in her hand. "I'll try, Rain.”

"Beylah vo. I must return to the palace briefly, shei’tani, but I will return as quickly as I can so you do not have to face the tradesfolk alone”

Ellysetta knew what he left unsaid. He needed to return to the palace to begin repairing the damage she'd wrought with her weave. "I'll be fine on my own. I'm sure there are much more important matters requiring your attention this morning.”

"Are you certain?”

That he didn't deny it proved she was right. He was worried about how the nobles would react to what she'd done to them. And she would not compound the trouble she'd already caused him by acting like some clinging ninnywit. "Go. I'll be fine.”

"Beylah vo, shei’tani." He brushed a kiss across her lips. "Do not punish yourself for what happened at the dinner last night. Your weave may have embarrassed some, but ultimately it was harmless. Your countrymen will realize this. Besides," he added, "only those who wield magic themselves could know it was you who spun the weave.”

"Lucky me," she said glumly.

He smiled and kissed her again, longer this time, his lips coaxing hers to open, his arms holding her until she melted against him. When passion warmed between them, he gave a regretful sigh and pulled back.

"I will return at midday to take you flying." He slipped through the window and leapt into the sky. His body dissolved in a cloud of sparkling magic and mist, only to re-form as an enormous, sleek black tairen winging across the early morning sky.

When he was gone, she donned a blue muslin dress-one of her own gowns, not any of the fancy silk and taffeta confections Lady Marissya had ordered for her-and slipped quietly downstairs to start breakfast. She'd have to change before the tradesmasters arrived, but for another bell or two at least she could still be plain Ellie Baristani, woodcarver's daughter.

Four tall, deadly-looking warriors stood in the corners of the small home's main room. Their black leathers merged with the early morning shadows, and the faint glow of their luminescent skin gleamed off the myriad swords and daggers each of them wore strapped to his body. A fifth warrior crouched near the door to the kitchen, his back to her, his long black hair hanging free about his shoulders.

Ravel vel Arras, the leader of the secondary quintet who guarded her Belliard vel Jelani his men otherwise occupied, turned to face her. A look Ellie could only describe as embarrassment flitted across his face before he marshaled his features into the typical mask of Fey stoniness.

Ravel gestured with a graceful sweep of his hand back towards the icebox in the kitchen. "The little cat is not happy with the stronger weaves we put around the house," he murmured. "She's been hiding beneath that small chest all night and refuses to come out. Kieran will not be pleased. He and Bel warned us to take care with our magic around her.”