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“Nectar as in the gods.” At Tsai’s crackly voice, I turned to the blind woman stepping into the room.
“I know you’re old and senile,” Vane said as he turned to speak to her. “But that shit is a myth and would definitely not exist now that the wall has fallen.”
“Boy, I may be old, but it only means I have seen much more than you, have experienced things no one would believe. Look at me. I am said to be a tall tale myself. Myths always stem from some truth.” She shuffled closer, continuing. “In the ancient folklores, ambrosia was the food or drink of the gods. This was often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it. From it, the fae race was born, separating humans from fae and driving a violent jealousy and fear between them. Humans pushed fae into hiding by slaughtering them by the thousands. The gods were furious, and because of their anger, vindictive. If a human accidentally came into the fae world and had any fae food or drink, they would become addicted. No human food would nourish them, no drink would quench their thirst. They’d wither away and die painfully if they stayed on Earth. To live, they became the very thing they used to fear and had to join the fae world, never to leave again.”
“Okay, but we don’t have a fae world anymore, nor fae food.” Vane lifted one shoulder, pulling my focus from Tsai.
“Yes, it was all destroyed when the barrier dropped, but there are whisperings that on the night of the Fae War, all that magic, death, and blood was like a sacrifice to the gods, creating a substance so potent, so concentrated, it became even more powerful than the gods themselves. Death couldn’t even intercede.”
“Okay, old woman, you have finally flown the coop, haven’t you?”
“You know I can still kill a man with just my thighs while I’m fucking him.”
“Ahhhh!” All of us cringed, making her snicker.
“Come on now, I’ll need to drink that image out of my head for the next month.” Scot rubbed at his forehead.
“How do you think I know all this? Men enjoy talking in bed while I’m riding them raw.”
“Stop!” Vane held up his hand. “Please. Stop.”
“You are all so fragile.” Tsai swished her hand at us. “Perfectly normal for older women to be sexually active.”
“Older?” Vane huffed out. “You’re several millennia old or something!”
“Can we get back on topic, please?” I could feel a headache coming on. “What are you saying, Tsai? That this rumored substance is the nectar they are seeking?”
“Yes.”
“It would be the only thing that could cure disease, give them an extended life and fae abilities. Humans have been hunting for its equal for a long, long time,” Scot added. “Could you imagine the money and power one would have if they found something to do all that?”
“But it’s a story, right?” Vane glanced between all of us. “We’re not seriously thinking about going after something that probably doesn’t even exist?”
Corb grunted in agreement.
“What if it’s not?” My eyes slid to him. “I’ve seen things I could never explain.” Like Ryker carrying the Stone of Fál, one of the treasures of Tuatha Dé Danann, which was supposed to be a myth too.
“True.” Zid nodded. “I was on the field five years ago, fighting in the Fae War. I saw a man get sliced in half, and a moment later rise from the dead, completely healed.”
Vane’s attention went over us all, noting no one else seemed to be pushing back.
“You got to be kidding me?” He folded his ankle over his knee. “Let me get this straight. You want us to sail into a place that, if caught, we will be tortured and brutalized, getting a rod stuck up our ass—”
“Don’t act like you wouldn’t enjoy it.” Scot scoffed.
“I like the ones that don’t also come out my throat as I slowly die for weeks.”
“Think of how many women you’ll have to fight off if we find the most coveted object in the world.” Zid knew exactly how to taunt Vane. “Riches beyond your dreams, the finest jewels and clothes, and dining at the most prestigious places.”
“I don’t know, my dreams are pretty extravagant.” Vane curved an eyebrow.
“I’d prefer it to be unanimous,” I stated, though I knew I was doing it anyway, with or without my crew. I was a pirate. We coveted treasure; we craved adventure. It wasn’t because of the petite cat-shifter. It was all for selfish reasons.
“All opposed?” Scot requested, no one speaking. “All in favor?”
“Aye!” All except Vane. We all turned to him, waiting.
“Fine.” He huffed. “Aye.”
