year?”
Rage nodded, a feral gleam in his eye. “I will.”
The king extended his hand. “Then I guess we’re going to lead with trust, and I’ll have to take you at your word. If you betray me, I won’t forget it.”
Rage nodded, and the two of them shook hands.
Then, the king clapped twice and three beautiful women in purple shifts and white aprons entered through a side door.
“Yes, My Liege?” They spoke and then bowed in unison.
Creepy.
“Is our food still warm?” Ozark asked.
Still moving in perfect harmony, they smiled. “Yes, sir, in the dining hall.”
“Let’s eat!” He patted his belly and strode away from the mess like he hadn’t almost been assassinated.
‘I kind of like him,’ I told Rage.
‘Me too,’ he agreed and slipped his hand into mine.
We followed King Ozark into a wide hall, and guilt twisted my insides, followed by a rumble of hunger. ‘If we stay and eat, it’ll delay us getting Justice and Noble from your uncle.’
Rage sighed. ‘I know. But to deny the meal could sour our fragile new alliance. Besides, if we don’t eat, we increase the likelihood of making mistakes with our hunger. My brothers’ll just have to hold on.’
Kill Surlama.
Save Justice and Noble.
Resurrect Honor.
And just over twenty-fourish hours to do it.
Chapter 7
Rage cleared his throat and turned to the selkie king. “The meal was lovely. Thank you.”
Lovely seemed inadequate. I was pregnant with a four-month-old food baby. Warm buttered rolls, fish stew, lobster tails, and honey yams … I could barely breathe.
The king frowned. “That sounds like farewell. Are you leaving so soon?”
Rage shifted in his seat. Pretty sure he didn’t want to offend the king, but we had a list of people to save, and the clock was ticking.
“Sir, like the hive mind you have with your people, my brothers and I have a similar gift. The alpha king is torturing them. I must try to save them … before he kills them.”
The selkie king dropped his fork, and it clattered off his plate onto the white linen cloth. “Why didn’t you say so sooner? Of course, you must go.” He waved his hands as if to shoo us away. “Leave now!”
The knot of tension in my chest released, and relief washed through me. “Thank you, sir.”
We rose from the table, and Rage grabbed my hand. We turned to leave, but after a few steps, Rage stopped and faced the selkie king. “One more question, if I may?”
The king nodded and waved off the servant topping off his wine.
“When will our magic abilities return? The powder you used—”
Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Jakko created it—quite by accident, and we’re still testing it. I’m afraid we don’t know the duration of its effects. It is the best defense my people have against those with magic.”
Anxiety rolled through me, churning my insides and making me nauseated. I probably could’ve done without those last six buttered rolls.
“Of course, there is an antidote. Jakko might struggle with perspective, but he’s quite brilliant. One moment.” He stood and stared at the wall for several seconds, and then a young woman scurried in holding a tray with two pale pink flowers.
Hive mind. That was 1000.6% freaky.
“Thank you, Marsa darling.” He took the flowers from the plate before walking around the table to us and then lowered his voice. “Eat these, and your powers will return within minutes. But a word of warning—Jakko said the hastama blossom gave him a significant headache. It may have the same effect on you, so I suggest you take it before you reach the island.” He glanced to the young woman. “Please pack them some water and dried fruits.” Then he turned back to us. “I wish you nothing but success on your journey.”
Sweet relief! I mean, I wasn’t keen on eating a random flower and getting a headache, but it’d be nice to have my magic back. Also, it didn’t go unnoticed that the king didn’t tell us what was in the powder, but at least we knew the antidote. Mental note: hastama blossom.
We bowed again, and then two male armed guards came to escort us away.
“And give them a speedboat,” the king ordered.
“Thank you!” I waved one final time as we made our way past the smiling and laughing children and back through town.
‘That was interesting,’ Rage told me as the moon shone over the village and people started to pack up and head into their houses, probably to finally sleep.
I nodded. ‘But now, we have an ally, and I have