56. Zendaya

Chapter 56

Zendaya

B ehati gestures toward the Nebban commander who disembarked with her, along with seven Faeries in forest-green military regalia. All of them have pointy ears and long braids, and all of them are staring at me—mostly at my uncommon eyes and retracted tusk, but my crown also proves an object of great interest.

Nevertheless, no one stares at it more than Kanti. I don't think she's blinked away from it once since I dismounted Cathal. I feel sorry for my cousin, and genuinely hope that, in time, she'll manage to stop coveting it since I've no plans to hand it over. Not for the foreseeable future anyway, and never to her.

Better lock up that crown when you're not wearing it, Agrippina singsongs into my mind.

From how close Reid stands to her, I take it they've made peace. Mates… Though I don't need a magical bond to feel sure of Cathal's feelings, I hold out hope that he is my mate. He may claim it won't change anything, but I sense he needs the peace of mind that I'll not wander into someone else's bed.

Perhaps I should suggest marriage. That would appease him. If I do, though, I'd need to suggest it before we lay together so he doesn't view it as some consolation prize. Yes, as soon as we're done here, I'll ask him to marry me. I find my mood perking up, already imagining his reaction.

"It's no laughing matter, Zendaya," Behati says, squeezing the pommel of yet a new cane, one made from that same white material as the Nebban warship. "Why am I expecting you to care that your mother's on the loose? She just made you queen. For all we know, you played a part in freeing her."

My good humor withers. In a way, I did, but that's none of anyone's business. Besides, it was unintentional. I'm about to retort that I didn't cavort with my mother, but I owe my grandmother's advisor no explanation.

Cool smoke slithers around my neck and arms as Cathal steps closer to my backside, so close that I can sense his heart thudding as fast as mine through the armor pressed along my spine.

"The Mahananda made me queen, Behati. All my mother did was make me immortal."

Clearly, Behati hasn't learned of my immortality, for my words blow her pupils wide. Kanti's, as well. When the two exchange a look, I start to question the intent of their voyage. But another musing takes precedence over this one.

"Did you know that Priya had bound me?" I ask.

"With what? Rope?" Kanti asks.

Not the shiniest jewel on the crown, that one, huh? Agrippina's comment beams a sliver of light on my darkened mood.

"Behati?" I prompt when the pale-haired sorceress has still not replied. "Were you aware that Priya bound my Shabbin magic?"

She scoffs. "She's been gone one day, and already you've renounced your kinship."

What in the realm does she mean?

"How Daya processes her grief is none of your concern," Cathal growls. "Now bloody answer her question before I?—"

"Before you what, Cathal?" Behati's eyes are narrowed. "Before you try to drag it out of me with an iron talon? I'm Shabbin."

A boat pops out of the ramparts, right behind the Nebbans. They jump and scatter when the sand liquefies into a watery trench linking the Sahklare to the open sea. I suppose that, because of my mother's wards, none have ever witnessed how ships sail out of Shabbe.

Enzo hops out, eyes glossed with a mixture of anguish and anger. Though he begged me to wait when he caught us soaring over the ship, we didn't. Partly because I wanted to expedite this meeting, partly because being immortal has boosted my confidence to dangerous levels, and partly because the Mahananda said that, to replace Behati as its seer, she'd either need to name her successor and enter the Mahananda with her chosen, or breach the covenant she and it struck, at which point the Mahananda would bestow the gift upon another.

"Did you. Bloody. Know?" Cathal all but shouts.

I reach behind me until I locate his clenched fist. Instantly, his fingers fall open and seize mine. I draw little arcs across his skin with my thumb in the hopes of calming him.

"Yes," Behati blusters back. "Yes, I knew."

Kanti whirls toward her, her unbound locks swirling and smacking the nude silk gloving her hourglass figure.

"Why do you think it took so long to cure your people of their curse? The Mahananda wasn't only depleted, it was angry. Even after Priya explained her reasons for doing what she did."

"Which were?" I ask.

"Your grandmother wanted to ensure that the creature the Mahananda delivered into her queendom was worthy of immortality."

Cathal's fingers clamp around mine. I draw more arcs, hoping to allay his tension and communicate through touch how unaffected I am by Behati's opinion of me. I don't need her regard or her affection, not as long as I have the Mahananda's, Cathal's, Fallon's, and my Serpents'.

" The creature ?" Agrippina crosses her arms and cocks an eyebrow.

"Here we go," Reid murmurs, his tone tinged with amusement. I suppose he's used to Agrippina's strong opinions by now and is glad they're not directed at him for once.

"Sorry," Behati mutters, not sounding apologetic. "The new shifter breed."

"May I enquire after the reason for your rushed return, Behati?" I ask pleasantly, even though I don't feel pleasant.

The seer's mouth pops wide. "This is our home, Daya. How dare you ask for the reason of our return!"

"Many are displeased with the Mahananda's choice," I say. "Many left."

"I trust the Mahananda had Shabbe's best interest at heart when it crowned you," Behati says. It sounds like a blatant lie. Like she thinks the source of all magic made a mistake.

"What about you?" I tip my head to Kanti as I scrutinize her cruel but lovely face. "Do you trust the Mahananda?"

"I trust it picked you for a reason."

I snort.

"What?" she snaps.

Still sweeping my thumb over Cathal's hand, I ask, "Could the reason be that I was there and you weren't?"

She snags a long black strand and tucks it forcefully behind her ear that shimmers with emeralds. "I'd be lying if I said no. For years, I've been trained for this position. You've only just flopped into this world. So yes, I find it unfair." Smoothing one hand down the side of her dress, she adds, "But like Taytah, I trust the Mahananda."

"I appreciate your honesty, Kanti."

You're not actually considering letting them in? Enzo asks.

I'm not considering it, Enzo. I am letting them in.

Why?

For several reasons. One, we're immortal, so we've nothing to fear. Two, I've asked the Mahananda and Behati remains our seer. I proceed to tell him the rest of it. Of course my wish is that she'll bequeath the task to another soon. Ideally, you or Agrippina, but we cannot force her hand. We can hope for her to err though.

Can you imagine if she gives the power to Kanti?

I trust the Mahananda wouldn't allow such an egocentric person to carry its messages.

What if Behati doesn't share her visions with us?

By touching her forehead, I've access to all she sees.

What if she doesn't let you touch her forehead?

Then I'll force her to touch mine. Ultimately, she has no choice, Enzo, for keeping her visions from the queen is a breach which will cost her the sight.

He purses his lips, seemingly unconvinced.

"Commander Fordal is itching to return to Nebba. He needs to know whether he sets sail with us or not," Behati says.

I like that she doesn't assume I'll let her and Kanti stay. As for Commander Fordal, I believe he itches to leave because of all the tusks carving through the moonlit waters of Samurashabbe. He keeps staring at them. At the sky, too, for that matter. I only now notice an influx of large black birds. Cathal must've requested some extra sky guards on our way over. "Tell Commander Fordal that he and his crew can set out."

"With us or without us?" Behati repeats.

I gesture to our Shabbin vessel. "With Kanti, but without you."

"We either enter together, or we leave— together ."

"You are the Mahananda's seer," I say.

Behati's eyes seem incandescent behind her white bangs. "I'm aware, but I can see just fine from anywhere in the realm."

I hate her implicit threat. "Fine, but if Kanti tries to hurt me or mine, then she'll step into the Mahananda."

Behati purses her lips. "She'll be on her best behavior. Right, Kanti?" When Kanti doesn't confirm this, Behati repeats her question with a snap. "Right?"

"Of course, Taytah." She rolls her eyes. "I will always do what's best for the Mahananda."

I nod farewell to the Nebban commander, who sketches a reverential bow, and then I turn toward Enzo and ask him to escort the women. "Behati, your palace wing is in shambles. You're welcome to stay in Priya's bedchamber until yours is fixed."

"My grandmother's dwelling is destroyed?" Kanti shrills. "Who would do such a thing?"

I release Cathal's fingers so he can morph into a Crow like Aoife and Reid. "The prisoner she stowed beneath her bed. Or perhaps, Justus. I didn't have time to enquire."

Kanti grips her grandmother's bony arm. "Taytah, what if this is an ambush? What if Meriam and Justus are down there waiting for us? What if Daya's leading us straight to them?"

"They're not down there." Behati lifts a hand to her chest and rubs, as though her heart were aching.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because Meriam owed me a favor, and I claimed it. She cannot harm me or any descendant of mine."

I wonder when the seer claimed this bargain—when she heard Meriam had broken free, or when she imprisoned her in a cell beneath her bed?

As I climb up my mate's wing, I turn back toward Enzo. Have them and their trunks searched for any suspect powder or vial.

He glances at the six trunks two gray-eyed Faeries are floating off the shiny white Nebban ship and onto the wooden Shabbin one.

I'm sorry for saddling you with them, Enzo.

He stares at me, then at Cathal. You have a mate now. That is all he says, and he says it so flatly, it makes my heart twinge.

I send down a prayer to the Mahananda that he finds his other half soon. One worthy of him.