Rambaldi stalked silently to the clearing. Marella was there, the new Queen of the Sea. Truly, he wondered what had wrought their marriage . . . were they tied, King Aegir and Queen Marella?
He showed no emotion throughout the speech. The mist Elemental really did not want a war, but he’d fight one if necessary. Though he had nearly died in the last one. It was only his sister’s skillful work that had saved him. She had truly been a notable girl, Mari. He wondered where she was now.
Enigma and Pontchartrain . . . he didn’t know Enigma, but Pontchartrain had been a beta in Tarben, along with his mate, Skadi. He’d fought in the war that had cost Rambaldi’s family everything. Apparently he had been exiled from Tarben? Well. That didn’t happen every day. He must have done something very, very wrong.
Marella’s smile was a queer thing. But then again, Rambaldi had pretty much become a stranger to everyday, normal behavior, making himself a recluse. He hated company. That was probably why her smiling seemed so strange to him.

“So tell me when you’re gonna let me in.”