Sera found herself relieved and not unsettled by this connection. She did not mind the thought of having Leo in her head. He could understand her without her needing to explain and there was comfort in that. “Don’t tell your grandmother,” she said suddenly.

“Of course not,” Leo said, like it had never even occurred to him.

She took his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you.”

His cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink as the door opened and Ambrosine entered the room. She wore a heather-gray gown with ropes of diamonds strung about the waist, and long sheer sleeves. At her throat, a massive diamond pendant gleamed. Her hair was swept up in a net of lacquered jingle shells. A woman in a simple dress of pink satin with a pretty junonia headband followed meekly behind her.

“Well,” Ambrosine said, her face alight as she took them in. “Don’t you two make a handsome couple.” She turned to the woman. “Don’t they make a handsome couple, Bellamy?”

Bellamy had features like a mouse, small and furtive. She bobbed her head, a mass of frizzy brown curls. “Very handsome.”

Sera thought Ambrosine might introduce them all properly but she only clapped her hands and servants spilled into the room, carrying trays and decanters. Ambrosine took her place at the head of the table, Bellamy far away at the opposite end. Leo and Sera took their seats on either side of Ambrosine. Sera could not help wondering why Bellamy was here, and who she was, and why she was sitting so far away from them.

“Leo told me you are vegetarian,” Ambrosine said.

Sera flashed Leo a smile and he looked almost bashful.

“I didn’t want you to be deprived of a meal,” he said.

“Of course, it is no problem at all,” Ambrosine said with a wave of her hand. “My chef is one of the most skilled in Pelago. If you said you only eat rocks, I’m sure she would have whipped up a delicacy of pebbles.”

The servants laid a plate in front of Sera—it was filled with a colorful salad of radish and heirloom tomato with a drizzle of lemon oil and a smattering of fresh herbs. It smelled delicious. Sera took a bite and had to suppress a moan of pleasure. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” Ambrosine said.

“Very,” Sera said as another servant poured her a flute of pale gold sparkling wine.

“Now this is called scintillant,” Ambrosine said as her own glass was filled. “It is made from a very special grape that only grows on Culinnon. It is the most coveted wine in all of Pelago.” She raised her glass. “To family and new friends. May you both find everlasting happiness and peace here.”

The wine was delicious, Sera had to admit—like peaches dipped in nectar, and it fizzed on her tongue.