Chapter 23 — The Tide Between Them
The garden dome held the quiet like a secret.
Soft currents moved through drifting strands of glowing kelp, and the water above shimmered with faint ribbons of moonlight filtering down from the distant surface. Outside the palace walls, the sea churned with restless uncertainty—but here, in this hidden sanctuary, time seemed to slow.
Aerin stood between them.
Caelum on one side.
Noctyrr on the other.
For a moment none of them moved.
The bond hummed low and steady, like the rhythm of the ocean itself.
Noctyrr broke the silence first.
"You planned this," he said, his voice carrying the rough warmth of amusement.
Aerin tilted her head slightly. "Planned what?"
"This," he gestured lazily around the glowing garden. "Dragging two kings away from politics and into something far more dangerous."
Caelum raised an eyebrow.
"Dangerous?" he echoed.
Noctyrr's silver-dark gaze drifted back to Aerin.
"Yes."
The word was quieter now.
