Page 59 of Under Restless Skies

I tilt my head to evade his touch. “Fine, then.”

My lips tingle with an odd sensation, missing the feel of his finger against them, as he leads me to the Ocean Cauldron. It’s a much smaller restaurant than I imagined, with only some ten tables, all lit by candles. A waiter leads us outside, where a terrace with four more tables overlooks the bay, and we sit near the railing.

The waiter returns inside, as I’m considering that I should have chosen a nicer dress—if I had one.

Alayel glances at the scenery outside, then at the restaurant. “Caraneya has even fancier places than here.”

“So you’re used to it.”

He chuckles. “Sure. Used to look at happy people eating dishes I couldn’t even recognize, wasting half of their plates, while I was starving. I wanted to be one of those people eating, wanted to sit with a gorgeous woman by my side, free to choose anything I wanted from the menu. Anything. That felt as distant as having a box of diamonds. And now I’m here. This is no longer Caraneya, but it’s still something I wanted. It has become real.”

My face heats, wondering if he truly thinks he’s sitting with a gorgeous woman. “Couldn’t you have come earlier? To Dracolius? To claim your title?”

He looks down and shakes his head. “Before dying, my mother told me who I was, but also told me to avoid Dracolius, and that the queen would try to kill me. But she’s dead now. And I’m here.”

I’m glad he came to Dracolius, but I don’t want to say that. “Thankfully, your father had different ideas.”

“I’m not sure. Did he want what I brought? Or did he want me dead? If his goal was getting rid of me, it didn’t work.”

“He sounded enthusiastic in the assembly.”

The waiter returns with a bottle, cups, and two menus. After serving wine for both of us, he disappears.

Alayel raises his glass. “A toast. To being alive.”

I clink my glass against his, then take a small sip.

He glances back at the door, then leans forward. “I don’t think my father’s enthusiastic about me, but rather about the possibility of not having a fisherman as a king consort.”

I frown and remember what I saw in the refectory. “Marcus?”

He smirks. “You know him?”

“He used to deliver to the Grease & Spice, and I recognized him at lunch today. Are he and Princess Ledeia…”

“You saw them. What does it look like?”

“I didn’t pay attention.” If Princess Ledeia can’t be involved with a fisherman, then Alayel shouldn’t be involved with a cook, but I don’t want to mention any of this and look down at the menu. “We should choose something, right?”

“I have chosen.” The intensity in his voice makes me look up at him and find his dark eyes focused on me.

Before I get too flustered, I glance at the menu and pick the first option. “I’ll have the creamy shrimp.”

“I’ll have the same.” He rings a little bell.

The waiter comes, asks for our choices, then leaves.

I remember then Alayel’s question about Kaio, and take the opportunity to clarify it. “Earlier, when you asked about my brother, I didn’t mean that we needed help, and I wasn’t asking⁠—”

“I didn’t think you were asking for anything. I’m the one who was too curious, wondering about your family’s wellbeing, and now I know, and it helps me understand you better. Yes, maybe I could eventually help your brother, but if you don’t want me to help him, don’t worry. And there’s no shame in needing things, needing help, needing money. I’ve spent almost all my life in need, and that doesn’t make me any less than anyone. The ups and downs of life don’t determine your value.”

I take a sip of my wine and rest the cup on the table. “They don’t, but they change how people perceive you.” I’m still thinking about Ledeia with a fisherman, and what it would mean for me and Alayel.

“That can be true, and can create obstacles, but obstacles can be overcome. You’ll find the solution for your brother.”

I nod, and then he steers the conversation to more pleasant topics. I tell him about my Dragon Knowledge class, and he tells me about the other classes I haven’t taken yet.

The waiter brings our plates, and at first I’m confused, wondering if they caught some small lobsters, but no, they’re shrimp—more gigantic than any I’ve ever seen, and cooked to perfection, not too tender, not hard. The texture is soft on my tongue, well seasoned with a light, zesty hint of lime and herbs, coated in the decadent, creamy sauce. I take my bites slowly, savoring each taste, until there’s nothing left on my plate.