"Where have you been?" Thalia asked, her curiosity obvious as Aether slipped into Raven's room.
Aether chuckled awkwardly, glancing between Thalia and Raven before heading toward her, "Just... setting things in motion for our plan."
"Plan?" They both frowned in unison. He'd rejected their "brilliant" plan earlier, so now they wondered what he was up to.
"Yes," he replied, his face suddenly serious. Taking Raven's hand gently, he said, "Trust me, Raven. Everything will work out. I promise you'll be happy—soon enough."
Thalia tilted her head, confusion plain in her eyes, "But... what exactly have you been doing?"
Aether gave Thalia a playful wink. "That's a secret. Now, have you both spoken with the Princess?"
Thalia nodded, a grin forming on her lips, "Yeah, Aqualina is really something else.... I mean, our plan is practically perf—"
Cough.
"I mean, it's good—"
Cough, cough!
"...not... ba—"
