I blinked at the hurt from her accusation.
“No. I … I don’t think.…” I paused. “I didn’t know,” I said finally, hoarse.
“No one ever does,” Kaida murmured, and for the first time, her smile softened, “until the blood calls.”
Nerissa rubbed her temples.
“Well,” she said flatly, “further proof the wards have gone to shit.”
Kieran looked between us, whistled low. “So what? You’re long-lost cousins? That’s awkward.”
I shot him a look that promised violence later.
But Kaida only laughed. “Cousins, ghosts, call it what you like. We’re all here now.”
Her mate, Nasi, moved protectively closer, eyes narrowed. “Enough, Kaida.”
“Enough?” she echoed, all humor gone. “You feel it too. Tell me you don’t. At least you have some memories of Lyoness. Canavar has nothing. Neither do I.”
He didn’t answer.
Kieran’s head whipped around and I stared at him too. I wasn’t sure how many more revelations or jolts from the past my heart could take.
“You remember?” I asked, croaking.
His head ducked with embarrassment at the attention. “Bits and pieces. I remember the volcano erupting. I will tell you another time. It is sad.”
That would be the understatement of the century.
Wren leaned forward from the cushions, her hand finding mine. “Come and sit.”
Her touch pulled me back from the edge of something raw and ancient. I exhaled, shaking off the fog.
Kaida’s expression flickered with envy, recognition,sorrow, then composure. “You chose well,” she said to Wren, and then, more quietly, to me, “And you carry what’s left of our kind’s future. Don’t waste it. I myself have not yet been blessed.”
The words sank deep. My father’s ghost stirred behind all of us, whispering words in my ear that I couldn’t hear.
I met her gaze evenly. “Then help us not repeat it.”
A pause. The hum of the island deepened, a heartbeat in the wood and water.
Kaida nodded once. “We’ll talk. Just you and me. It will all be all right. See to your mate.” Her eyes flicked to the draklings, a bit of sorrow in her gaze.
Nasi turned his face to the sea. Lightning crawled across the horizon, faint but deliberate—an unnatural light.
“You will truly help with the missing drakling?” I asked reluctantly.
Kieran’s head whipped to stare at me. He was always telling me to delegate more. I was trying. It was … nice, this having others around to help you. I was still scared from my uncle’s betrayal all those years ago.
Had I let it affect my leadership so much?
Nasi shifted. “Of course we will help. You are family.”
My throat tightened. “My mate will soon give birth, as you can see. Kieran and I do not wish to leave her side. Our third mate is already outside the wards, chasing a rogue draken who kidnapped a child. I could use your help assisting him in tracking down the rogue and bringing everyone back.”
Canavar was quick to agree. “I know about being a rogue draken. Nasi and I can help your other mate. We will do this.”
“What was the rogue’s name?” Nasi asked quietly, barely speaking.
