It’s only a matter of time before she figures that little riddle out. We have to act quickly, and while my fire magic is getting stronger by the day, it’s nowhere near strong enough. It’s not enough to take her down. I think I am as powerful as her, but she’s been planning this her whole life. She has practiced like that life depended on it and is ready to take down anyone that is going to stand in her way. We have to ambush her. That is, unless you are willing to give up the crown and the throne to someone who will eventually end our lives anyway.”
I knew that last part would appeal to him. He craved that throne, he had since we were children.
“We have to act now,” Caspian added, backing me up. “She might be daft most times, but in this case she’s right. Time is not on our side.” And never mind on that whole backing up thing. I swung my elbow back into his ribs, though not with any real force.
Llyr thought over it for a while. I noticed he never once asked Pearl for her advice. My father always asked my mother for her take on things. Pearl was simply a play thing to my brother.
Not a wife. Not a future queen. Interesting.
After a moment he looked up at me, “What’s your plan, little sister?” Llyr asked, his tone flat and dead.
“We dangle what she wants most in front of her. Like an angler fish in the darkness. Once she bites, we drag her ass down to the Under, where we are stronger. I know I can take her down under the waves, but I need your army to help.”
He scoffed and shifted on the sofa like he was uncomfortable. “It’s the King’s army, not mine.”
I balked at his choice of words. “Semantics, bitch. They will follow whoever you give them permission to follow. We have to trap this witch if we want to be in power.” Because power was my brother’s favorite word. “If we play it right, we can take down Aliz at the same time. One coral, two flounders.”
“How?” Caspian and Llyr asked at the same time. Then they both growled. So much for the few moments of peace we just shared.
“Because all Aliz ever wanted was the person responsible for whoever killed Baltic. Whoever wielded the trident that killed her son. And we can take that person right to her: Raven.”
8
“Are you sure you want to be here for this?” I asked one more time just in case either one of them wanted to back out.
I mean, ‘feeding’ for me wasn’t digging into a catfish.
It was a little more complicated. And messy. Kai might be in on the loop now, but I still worried I’d freak the guy out when he actually watched me do it.
“I’m very sure, Princess. I’ve watched you do this plenty of times,” Caspian quipped back but elbowed Kai in the ribs. “But this one might want to take a rain check.”
“We’re both going to be there. Period. I can handle it.” Kai already appeared to be turning sallow around the edges.
“Good,” Caspian reached out and mussed Kai’s hair,” just in case the bitch tries something.”
Apparently, we were just calling Raven ‘the bitch’ now. Fine with me.
Tossing them both a wink, I opened the door to The Purpose. Class was already in session. As the door closed behind me, several pirates and humans alike gasped. They shot me their best stink eye as though I were interrupting a sacred ritual or something.
I’d come in late on purpose. Raven needed to know I was here and needed to pay attention, or my whole plan was going to go to shit.
I scanned the room and immediately found Raven, right at the front of the class. In front of her was a man with his pants down and his shirt ripped off, but still hanging from his forearms. He had both hands tangled in Raven’s black hair. His head was tipped back in ecstasy while her red lips rounded his cock from where she was on her knees.
When her eyes landed on me, she pulled off him with a loud pop and began to laugh, going so far as to slap her thighs. “You’ve got some balls coming back here.” She stood and smoothed her skirt down. “I know who you are and what you’re doing, Zaniah, daughter of Lir. Or should I say the late Lir?”
Garrison sat