just one thing, and when they became too demanding, she dumped them for someone else. That was the only reason she had a “new boyfriend every week,” according to Wren and Daph. If they knew the truth, they would’ve known how hurt she was by their comment.
He grinned. “Nothing to say for once?”
Bastard. She shoved him away. Her anger rose fast. “I belong to no one. You get used to that.” She stomped down the tunnel to where Daphne stood, watching the two of them with eyes wide and a huge smile on her face. “What?” she griped when reaching her cousin.
Daph’s smile faded. “He just said he wants you. Hello?”
Lilah crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, I don’t want him. He’s an arrogant ass who is too good-looking.” She heard him chuckling from up the tunnel.
“Oh,” he said without turning back, “your friends are staying where they are. I will not allow the enemy to roam freely through our home.”
Lilah locked eyes with Daph. Lilah asked, “Did he just say, enemy?”
Daphne replied, “He said they’re going to war.”
“Oh my god,” Lilah breathed.
“They are going to kill everyone in Zee’s village.”
Lilah spun around and ran. “Come on, Daph. We have to stop them.”
“How?”
“We’re going to talk to the king again.”
Hopefully, it would go better this time.
Chapter Nine
Lilah and her cousin dashed past a walking Ferrus. They didn’t have time to debate with some warrior about not going to war over…
“Hey,” Lilah stopped in the middle of the tunnel, “why are you going to fight the gnoleon? What did they do to you?”
His surprised expression stupefied her. He answered, “You came from the village, did you not? Surely you know of their plans to take over the mountain.”
Again, she was almost speechless. Almost. “Are you crazy? Why in the world would they give up living in the forest to move into a big-ass hole in the ground where there’s no sunshine or fresh air.”
“Not to mention,” Daphne added, “their magic works on dirt and growing plants. Don’t see too much of that here.”
He stopped in front of her, feet set shoulder-width apart. “Then tell me why they suddenly show up not far from here?”
“Because their forest burned down.” Lilah and Daph said together, then grinned at each other.
He sighed. “That’s what the female gnoleon said.”
Was he talking about Wren? “Have you spoken to Wren and Zee?”
“Briefly. They said the same thing about their forest. But who would do such a thing? The qhasant have been wiped out for hundreds of years.”
Oh shit. They didn’t know about the kappy army trying to get their hands on her, Daphne, and Wren for their portal rocks. Her hand slid over her pocket and felt a bump. Still there.
She spun around, hurrying up the tunnel. “We have to speak with the king now. There is something he doesn’t know. Something new.”
“What?” He moved up to her side.
“Daph,” Lilah said, “is your gemstone in your pocket?” Her cousin slapped fingers over her hip and nodded.
“That is what their leader wants, isn’t it? We need to talk to Wren too. She knows more than we do.”
Lilah gasped. “Yes, she does.” She turned to the hunk beside her. “The two in prison have details about this guy who has an army or something.” He stumbled but kept up. “If you want to know it all, then they need to be there too.”
His eyes narrowed. “Army? What army?”
“You’ll know more when Wren arrives in the throne room. If she doesn’t, then you don’t get the intel.”
He growled. She felt the air vibrate from his chest. The man actually sounded like a wild animal. “Keep walking straight. Don’t make any turns, and this will lead to the main cavern. From there, we’ll go to the king’s room.”
With that, he was gone in a blink. Not vanishing into thin air, but moving so quickly, her eyes couldn’t track him in the torchlight.
“You got a plan?” Daphne asked, sounding hopeful.
“I’m not sure. First, we need to keep these guys from attacking. Then we need to figure out how to get out of here. If they find out who Zee is, they might kill him and Wren.”
Daph gasped. “Shit, he’s the alph—”
“Yes, don’t say it. Anyone could be listening.” They passed the tunnel from the kitchen and continued straight. She knew she should’ve turned left instead of right. Dammit.
When they reached the cavern, Lilah debated whether she wanted to cause a big scene right now. She was getting tired and hungry. God,