Myko loosens his grip, and I slip out of his coils. The water no longer burns against my skin. The marks… are they protecting me?
King Volar curses again, his gills fluttering like torn sails.
“It’s not working,” he hisses. “She already locked us out.”
Locked us out?
The stone suddenly flares white, so bright we flinch back. The grinding groan of stone splits the silence, and I brace, ready for anything.
But then—finally, Bay emerges, cradling Onyx’s limp body, Alessio right behind her.
I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. Relief rushes through me like a crashing tide.
Myko snorts beside me, relief cutting through his earlier snap, too.“At this rate, you’ll grow white scales before we hit the next city.”
I mutter back a few curses and roll my eyes, surging forward to meet Bay.“Well, maybe then I’ll finally match you.”
I take Onyx’s limp body from her arms, but my eyes catch on four bright red talon marks slashed down her right arm. My gaze locks on my aunt’s now, burning with questions.
“What the hell happened in there?”
Roran
“That’s the craziest—not to mentionmost reckless—idea I’ve ever heard. And I grew up with Kayla, so the bar’s already sky-high,” Chris snaps, her hands flailing. “Do you want us dead? That’s your plan?”
Her glare pins me down, and honestly? I can’t blame her. I let out a breath, trying to muster the courage to stand behind this—because even I don’t know if I can pull it off with that client, let alone make it work.
“I told you, I don’t need you to come if you don’t want to,” I say, failing miserably to mask the uncertainty in my voice. “But I will need you to wait for me outside when I get out.”
Chris paces, back and forth like she’s about to dig a trench in the floor. At least she’s considering it. I inhale slowly, my eyes flicking to Kayla, still sitting silently beside me on the bench. She hasn’t said a word since I laid out the plan.
“No.”
The sharp voice from the training room entrance makes me shoot up from the bench.
We all turn our heads, and my stomach drops. Luca.
And just like that, my heartbeat is in overdrive.
Would he listen if I said this is the fastest way to find The Red Dock? Would he even care?
“Dad,” Kayla rises to her feet and hurries to him, grabbing his arm with a look in her eyes that would put Shrek’s Puss in Boots to shame.
“We’re trying to do the right thing.”
“By being reckless? Going into Russian territory? Have you lost your mind, Kayla?” he snaps, his voice rising as his fists clench, but he quickly shoves them into his pockets.
Kayla’s small hands cling to his suit sleeve, but underneath the anger, I hear it—he’s worried, not mad.
“And you—” He takes one hand out and points at me.
Shit. Now he’s mad.
“I don’t know what sick game you’re trying to play, but leave the girls out of it. Or your sister will be the least of your worries.” His voice drops, so low it seeps into my bones like venom.
I catch my breath.
“Uncle Luca—” Chris steps forward before I can say a word. Before I could even form any explanation.
