“Time is running out,mea amica. We don’t have time for questions.”He was right, and from Maverick’s worried expression, Rasmus wasn’t the only one concerned about the queen figuring out our plan.
“Nobody stops my queen, Malakai’s mate, but I can at least help you help my son.” Daresh straightened his back and stood a little taller. “Only myself, Krillian, my queen, and the sea witch can cross the wards into the cave where Malakai is being held. I will help you gethim out and escort you to the portal. Now let’s go before my queen notices I’m missing.” He threw a meaningful look at Farris. “And you too, my friend.”
Briney water dripped off the walls and pooled on the floor. Everywhere smelled of salt and seaweed, and something funky, like wet towels abandoned in a locker room. The damp chill sank into my bones, making me shiver uncontrollably.
Rasmus grasped my shoulder and tugged me to a stop, letting the others go ahead.
“You’re cold,mea amica.”
“I’ll be fine,” I forced out through chattering teeth. Some discomfort was nothing compared to what my poor merman mate had endured.
The pain in my chest spiked as I remembered the agony inflicted on us both by the sea witch. Part of me hoped she was still in Kai’s prison cell so I could toast her ass with magic fire.
Rasmus muttered an incantation, and when I looked down, thick pants and a padded coat had replaced my slinky dress. He’d even given me fur-lined boots and a wool hat.
“Thank you!” I reached up and planted a kiss on my vamp’s cool lips. He smiled.
“It is my pleasure, my queen. Whatever you need, I will endeavor to provide.”
I swooned before collecting myself and jogging after the others. Rasmus did his speed-walking trick and scooped me into his arms when he caught up with me. In a flash, we’d overtaken them.
We stopped at the entrance to a small tunnel, where my kitsune waited.
“The sea witch is in there,”Kenji told me.“You need to be careful. The old hag is powerful.”
I turned to the others as they approached and repeated Kenji’s warning. Zane smirked before summoning a sword and dagger.
“She’s not immortal, my pet.”
“No, but she is cunning, and doubtless has many nefarious tricks up her sleeve,” Rasmus warned in a low voice.
I shivered anew. “Have you crossed paths with her before?”
“Yes.” His expression darkened. “And this time she won’t escape.”
Farris tapped his feet and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Can we hurry this up, yes? I have a hot date.”
“Oh my goddess, are you planning to go back and fuck the bitch queen?” Kenji’s scandalized gasp reminded me that one of Queen Laryssa’s consorts was standing less than two feet away. “Um, thatotherqueen. The really ugly, meantrollqueen,” I hurriedly tacked on in case Daresh thought I meant Her Royal Highness, Queen Laryssa, the Esteemed and Most Beautiful Mer Queen.
I totally did mean her, but in hindsight, and also in the interests of not upsetting my in-laws in a major diplomatic incident, I belatedly decided it was better not to be so brutally honest.
Zane choked on a laugh while Farris appeared one heartbeat away from lynching me.
Poor Daresh just seemed confused. I put that down to his being away from his mate’s coercive control. The dude probably struggled to have an original thought outside of Queen Laryssa’s toxic orbit.
“No, Raven, I have a date with a business contact,” Farris finally gritted out while raking his fingers through his tousled, disgustingly shiny hair. “Strange as it may seem, I have an actual job, you know.”
“Gosh, really? I assumed you were some sort of feckless fae-about-town, living a life of hedonistic pleasure.”Color me shocked.
A loud scream obliterated thoughts about the stupid fae and the obnoxious mer queen. My merman needed me, and the fucking bitch of a sea witch was about to have her ass handed to her.
I charged down the tunnel, only to find my path blocked by a glowing door. Kenji blinked into view.
“I can pass through the door,” he said, “but you’ll need the queen’s consort to open it if you want to join me.”
“Tell me he’s okay,” I pleaded.
For once, Kenji didn’t argue, and in a flash, he’d disappeared. Kai screamed again, and this time, I felt the tether between us wrench so hard it knocked me to my knees just as my mates reached us.
