Midnight Truth (Shifter Island #4) - Leia Stone Page 0,67

evacuate!”

My mind went to Kaja, my father, Mack, Lona, Rue, Fiona … so many people on this island that I cared about.

“My dad,” I whimpered, struggling in Rage’s arms as weakness and fatigue kept trying to pull me under.

All around us was the cacophony of mourning. People sobbing, screaming, wailing. There was so much death, I just wanted to fly away.

‘Shhh, my love. I’ve got this. We’re not giving up. I need everyone safe. Then we can plan. They’ve messed with the wrong king.’ Rage deposited me into Justice’s arms and brushed his lips against mine. Then he took off running.

I tried to keep my head up, to look around, take it all in, to do something to help.

Reyna sat with her head in her hands, bawling. Kian’s son Julian stood leaning against a bookshelf, staring at the cracking door. The three other asshats who’d tried to kill me were slumped next to one another, possibly in shock, and all looking at the floor. Others shoved their way out of the alcove and into the library. I blinked, and my head suddenly weighed two hundred pounds.

Oh.

The blank stares on the other high master heirs made sense as a heavy weight settled over me, pushing into my very being. They were reeling with their new power too. And like me, they’d just lost their fathers or grandfathers.

“My dad. Kaja,” I whimpered, jerking my chin up as I fought to stay awake. My limbs grew heavy.

“Shhh,” Justice cooed. “Rage won’t let anything happen to them. I promise.”

I had to trust him because sleep captured me into its sweet embrace, and the world and all my worries disappeared.

Chapter Twelve

As I came to, the first thing I recognized was the hushed voices of Rage and my father.

Thank the mage they were okay.

My eyes popped open, and I scanned my surroundings. I lay wrapped in a sleeping bag, on a cot in a cream-colored canvas tent. Sitting up, I trembled with the power coursing through my veins, and I bit my tongue to keep from sobbing.

Grandfather.

He’d … saved me. He’d saved us all.

The momentary pride I felt—that spirit had chosen me—was squelched by his death.

“She’s fine, sir. Sariah said Nai will need rest as the spirit power settles into her … or something like that.” Rage spoke in a hushed tone that was conciliatory but firm.

“Now, listen, Courage. I need to see that my daughter’s okay.” My dad’s voice trembled, but the words came out with sharp edges that brooked no argument. I knew that tone.

More importantly, I didn’t want the two most important men in my life to argue. Not now. Not ever. But especially not at a time like this when so much was at stake.

“Dad? Rage?” I called out as I scooted to the edge of the cot.

Whoa. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but my voice was still weak and crackly.

The flaps pulled to the side, and my father and Rage both stepped inside, looking down at me with twin expressions of concern.

I peered past them, and my mouth popped open at the sight of hundreds of tents shoved in the alleyways and open spaces of…

“We’re in the selkie village?” I asked, struggling to stand. My legs nearly gave out on me. I swayed before I stood firm.

My dad burst into the tent, knocking into me as he pulled me into a tight hug. “You scared the crap out of me, kiddo.”

I squeezed him back as tears fell down my cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

He pulled back, and my attention jumped to Rage as he drew near.

“Kaja and the Harvest sisters?” I asked him.

“All fine.” Rage nodded. “We got everyone off before…”

Rage and his dad shared a look, and the hairs on my arms stood up. “Before what?”

My dad sighed. “The blood mages broke through the portal. They’ve taken over the entire island.”

Anger flooded my system, and I stiffened. How dare they!

“How did they get through the first portal? And how are there so many of them?” I seethed. My head started to throb. “I … I think I need to sit.”

Rage helped me back onto the cot and then knelt before me. “Kian. We saw him as we fled on the boats.” Rage shook his head, his jaw tightening. “Kian’s working with them.”

That rat bastard!

I knew he was upset at the way things were going, but to turn against his own people … and for what? “Do they have demands? I mean, besides taking over the