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His left ear twitched against the side of his head in delight at the news. The Delatrus smirked at the elven woman, taking her small, cobalt-colored hand. He leaned down to place a soft kiss on her skin. “That is always good to hear, thank you.” Gently, he let her hand go and turned to us. “You’ve been granted safe passage for the night. I hope you were kept entertained while you waited,” he mused, his thin lips lifting into a grin. “It’s been a long night. Come, follow me. We’ll get you settled.”

A smirk rose to my face at how differently he conducted himself around his people. This was not the same man on those palace steps. That man wasn’t this warm or open with us. With his subjects close, his edges softened. I studied him a moment, the way his voice instilled hope. Even the oceans of his eyes had a flicker of light that wasn’t present before. I could only hope to feel as sure-footed with my own people.

Nodding, my mask still in place from the throne room, I agreed. “Ah, yes. Let’s get some sleep before we continue on.” I tried to mimic that same softness he had with his own woman. I held out my hand to them and gestured for them to come over. Valentina dipped her head in quiet agreement, and so did my mother.

A tiny rose-colored elven woman placed her hand atop Martha’s palm, full lips stretching over sharp teeth. She whispered so low, I barely caught it: “Blessed be by the root. You stay safe, mau’de.”

I didn’t miss Martha’s warm smile as she covered the woman’s hand with her own. Mother, I guessed. Or something close.

I half expected Valentina to object; instead, there was a bright glint in her eyes, like pride. I didn’t want to read the expression, but it felt like a warm pat on the back. With a half grin, I offered my hand to help her stand, finally feeling secure again. With my other hand, I reached for my mother’s. Their fingers laced with mine, and we fell into step behind the Delatrus. He guided us quickly out of the library and back into the undercity.

The lights above cast a golden hue across the cave metropolis. Elves in the courtyard kept their distance as the Delatrus led us around the library. As we walked, I watched the patrons behind thin panes as they dined. Families and couples were delighted by foods I’d never seen. The meats were suspiciously indigo, and the soups were a deep plum. Even through the glass, I could almost catch the scent. The saltiness mixed with the almost familiar umami had my mouth watering. And the way they devoured their plates said enough.

Around the building, a narrow alley opened. I anticipated a wall of packed earth and roots, but a mahogany door had been carved straight into the ground, as if it had always belonged there. It had been covered in moss, but he kicked it away with his feet. When he opened it, a spiral of oak stairs fell away. The ceiling was ribbed with rich soil and lit by the same glowing insects as before. I had half a mind to scoop a few up for myself, but I resisted as we descended.

This wing tunneled even deeper than the first. With every step, I grew more mystified by how they’d built their home. The layout echoed the stairwell to their court, but this passage was gilded with finer décor: carved murals in dried clay told stories older than I could guess. There were life cycles of elves, of nature, of spirit. At the base, there was even more ornamentation. There were flecks of gold embedded in the earthen walls, vines framing entries, and flowers grew out of the ground like hedges. Along the hall, six thick oak doors lined the space; each opened into a guest chamber.

They were, honestly, brilliant.

When we reached the base of the quarters, the Delatrus pivoted, robes trailing in waves. Those large eyes scanned us for a moment, silently observing where each one of us stood. For someone so small, he had an enormous presence. There was no warmth like before when he addressed me now, “These are your quarters for the night, Sir Alexander.” Then, looking between us three, he added, “If none of you are married, you are not permitted to share the same room. All guests must follow the same etiquette we keep at court.” Without waiting for a reply, he opened a door, gently took my mother’s hand, and escorted her to her room. Then he did the same for Valentina.

Shock was the only thing that registered on my face. Yes, he had been gentle, but his audacity had been astounding. He had no right to touch either one of them, etiquette or not. It had happened so fast, though, that all I could do was watch as Val’s muted protest thrummed from behind the entrance. She wouldn’t say a word while the elf was present, but I knew she had them.

Once both were settled, the Delatrus turned to me. He didn’t dare take my arm; he only inclined his head toward the center door. He opened it, let me enter, then stepped in after me. The latch slid home with a quiet click.

He stood in front of the door, unmoving, with his arms crossed. I didn’t dare give him my back as we both measured each other for a moment. His ears twitched at the side of his head as he took a deep breath of my scent. “I’m the Delatrus Hamish,” he started as he took one step forward. There was no mistake in his voice, though he didn’t want to formally introduce himself. “My father extends his hand to you, so I extend mine.” He paused for a moment, looking up to the ceiling as if a memory caught him. “Still, he reminisces about a time before the war. When our kind could remain uninvolved in others’ conflicts. It was a rich time. You see that time culture thrived; children flourished.” His gaze went glassy, searching for the glint of it.

Taking a step back, I watched that pain configure on his face. It was pure heartbreak. One that I've seen on just one other face before. Eliza. There was so much agony attached to the memory that all I could do was listen. Because whatever he was about to say, I knew I couldn’t simply make it right. Not now, at least.

When Hamish’s gaze finally returned to mine, the sadness within his gaze hardened. “I was part of the last generation. No, I was the one born a year before it all fell apart. You don’t know how it feels to not have any youth to grow up with. The bonds you lose because families have stopped giving birth. I was small; I didn’t understand the politics then… I do now.”

They blamed us. He blamed us. I could see it. He wasn’t naming the break so cleanly as Valentina had, but the way the land lacked growth made sense. But he didn’t need to name his hurt because from what I’d learned, how the land froze after I was stolen, they had every reason. Guilt pressed cold fingers to my ribs. Everything was broken and hollow, and I didn’t want to say it. I’ve been thinking that I could possibly be the reason. It was irrational, but was it?

Hamish's face never left mine as he saw the thoughts passing through my eyes. He just watched me take it in until he said, “When vampire business lands on our doorstep, we cannot stay neutral. You might lead your people straight to us. If you do, Sir Alexander, know this: it won’t be the Orprus Fionn you betray. It will be me.” He gave me no room to answer. “Rest well. At dawn, we part ways.”

He left as quietly as he’d come, and his warning kept ringing in my skull.

Lost in thought, I took in my surroundings. The room wasn’t like Valentina’s spare, but it was better than the pallet Arianna once gave me… So I was grateful. The walls were rounded, almost pod-shaped, lit by dim oil candles that hummed gold and breathed lavender into the air. The bed was braced against the back wall, roots spilling from the ceiling over the stone. It wasn’t large, but it looked comfortable enough.

A deep sigh settled in my throat as I sifted through the day. Hamish’s words about the children snagged and held. I hadn’t even wondered about young people here; I’d just assumed there would be. I’d been one. The thought that families had stopped bringing life into the world because of fallout tied to me made my stomach turn.

Crossing to the bed, I lay down to sleep. I wished I could stop thinking about this place. The trauma that surrounded it was overwhelming. I tossed on my stomach, back, side, to get a comfortable position, but nothing worked. My mind kept circling the Delatrus’s warning and the quiet horror of a generation gone missing.

Panic constricted around me. If I’d died and my mother had been allowed to grieve properly, would it have been different? Would children be bustling in every corner of their courtyard? Where would this kingdom be if it ever got to exhale? Or…if I had died…would their world have gone darker still?

My body moved before my mind caught up, feet carrying me to the door. Pressing my ear to its oak, I listen for any movement. Other than a few heartbeats, I was met with stillness. Taking a chance, I open it. Peering into the hallway, two small guards stood near the stairwell in silver armor. Iron masked their faces; their fleshy ears were caged behind fine mesh, impossible to read. They were whispering, but fell silent when my door opened.

“Good evening,” I managed.

They ignored my greeting, and I hurried past them, eyes locked on the door I knew Valentina was behind. Knotting my hand in a fist, I knocked lightly against the smooth oak. “It’s me. Alexander,” I whispered.

Soft steps padded behind the thick wooden entrance. They were barely audible to most ears, but to me, they were a solitary drum in an echo chamber. Her gait was always elegant and light, an electric tug on my nerves. Maddening. It was probably for the best that I wasn’t allowed in her chambers.

“I’m coming,” Valentina answered, honeyed and muffled. The door creaked open, and our eyes found each other. She tilted her head against the frame, her body still half-hidden from me. A small smile tugged at my lips from the sight of her. I don’t know how I had missed it before, how dangerously beautiful she was. With a low breath, she pushed the edge of the door to give me further access. “Would you like to come in?”

Cheekily, I ran my hand through my hair. “I think, for tonight, we should honor our generous host’s rules. Something about no cohabiting unless we’re married…” The smile turned wicked at the thought. Us married. That idea made me anxious…and something else I refused to name.

As much as I wanted to step in, close the door, steal a private moment, I wouldn’t. I respected the Delatrus’s rules. They’d shown us grace. Who was I to test it? I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought that passed through my mind. I’d be Kleitos’ child, truly. He got caught by the cold, but I was surely better?