63. Zendaya

Chapter 63

Zendaya

" G ood morning, chacha!" Kanti's voice trills with false cheer.

It was a good morning until she showed up. "Hello, Kanti."

"I'm ravenous." Aodhan comes up behind Aoife, leans over, and nicks one of the flatbreads.

"To what do we owe the displeasure of your visit?" Agrippina asks, never one to conceal her feelings.

"Dear Mahananda, you were so much more agreeable when you were cognitively challenged." Kanti's comment causes Ceres's mouth to thin and Reid's eyes to slit.

But in Agrippina, all it triggers is a giant smirk.

Kanti asks for someone to fetch her a chair and some tapioca pudding. When they glance at me for approval—which I give them—annoyance flushes her cheeks.

Once seated, she says, "I heard you made new Serpents."

At least she doesn't—how did Taytah used to say? Ah, yes, beat around the Amkhuti . "News travels fast." I glance at Aodhan when I say this, but he's busy heaping grilled cheese onto his flatbread.

"Was it supposed to be a secret?" she asks.

"If it was supposed to be a secret, I wouldn't have transformed them on the beach for all to see, now would I?" I lean my forearms onto the polished stone that remains cool however much sun beats down on it. "Since you're here, perhaps you could weigh in on something that's been troubling me."

The line of her shoulders harshens. "Perhaps."

"It's come to my attention that serpents—the animals—have been acting out of character."

Her pupils contract, but aside from that, her expression remains perfectly neutral. "In what way?"

"They've been sinking boats and drowning humans."

"Have they?" Her lack of emotion is just as damning as her lack of surprise.

"You wouldn't know who'd command them to do such a thing, now, would you?"

"You may think yourself superior to the common serpent, but you're not. Serpents are extremely perceptive creatures who've always protected our island. If they're keeping boats at bay, then it's because they sense incoming danger."

"Keeping boats at bay would be one thing, murdering humans is quite another, Kanti," I say.

"Humans aren't taught how to swim in the Fae lands, so they died from their own shortcomings."

Cathal rolls his neck. "Crows saw them drag people into the deep."

"They were probably trying to ferry them back to Lucin shores but forgot they couldn't breathe underwater." Kanti shrugs. "Once you've constituted your Akwale, Daya, you should put a ward up around Shabbe to prevent any more deaths. Though you are Meriam's daughter, so perhaps you don't need an Akwale to create such a massive spell? And since we're on the topic, how is your Akwale formation going?"

The fevered smile curling her lips tells me that she knows exactly how it's going. The two sorceresses Asha had in mind ended up not showing. When she asked them why, they told her that Shabbe belonged to sorceresses not to shifters. I suddenly wonder if they'd change their minds if I offered Kanti her seat back.

I almost ask Cathal's opinion on the matter, but then picture having Kanti living in the Vahti again and shudder. "Well, I was hoping to elect an equal number of sorceresses to Serpents, but it seems as though it'll be mostly Serpents."

Kanti seizes a glass filled with water and raises it so fast, half of it sloshes over the rim. "Hear, hear. To peace and harmony between the Shabbins and Serpents."

Though I comprehend full well she means my kind and not the mammals inhabiting our waters, I say, "I didn't realize we were at war with the animals so intent on protecting our land."

A spasm disturbs her cheek.

"Oh, did you mean us ?" I gesture to my bright-haired denmates. "Just call us Shabbins. After all, that's what we consider ourselves. Isn't that right?"

"Absolutely," Agrippina says.

"Yes," Enzo says without stutter.

Another tic agitates Kanti's cheek.

"Wait. Keep your glass up. I'd like to propose a toast." Agrippina boosts her coffee mug. "To widening narrow minds and promoting inclusivity."

"Beautifully put, mate." Reid reaches over and clinks his mug with hers.

Enzo agrees with a nod and a gulp of his juice.

"Throughout all the lands," Ceres adds before drinking.

If only toasts could be magically binding like bargains. Hmm . Perhaps I could strike one with Kanti.

No. That is all my mate says as he tips his water glass to his lips. "I hear Antoni's much aggrieved that you abandoned him."

Kanti sets down her glass—without even wetting her lips—and sighs. "My lovers always are."

Is he truly heartbroken? I ask.

Keeping his expression blank, Cathal replies, No. Last I heard, he was relieved she was gone and has begged that she be kept away.

Did she seduce the wrong enemy?

Either that or Behati fabricated the vision to get Kanti out of Shabbe.

Or the Mahananda gave her that vision to get her out of Shabbe so she wouldn't fight me for the throne.

I like that theory best.

"I vote you head back to Tarespagia and put the Governor out of his misery," Agrippina offers pleasantly.

Kanti frames my Serpent with a smile that's so frigid, it drops the balmy temperature by several degrees. "As soon as Meriam's found, I'll be out of here."

"What if she's never found?" Agrippina asks.

"She will be. Taytah had a vision of her last night. She's in Luce with Justus, hiding out in Selvati. We've warned Lorcan."

My lids go wild with annoyance. "Matters of state are to be run by me. All of them. Especially those concerning my blood relatives."

"We thought you wouldn't want to be bothered with such things, busy as you are trying to grow your little pack."

"I very much want to be bothered with such things," I snap, any semblance of congeniality gone.

Agrippina runs her index finger over the rim of her mug. "Your consideration knows no bounds, Kanti."

"None. I care fervently for my queendom."

"Daya's que-queendom," Enzo corrects.

Kanti turns her frostbitten smile on him. "That's what I meant."

"Aodhan, could you please go fetch Behati?" I ask. "I'd very much like a glimpse of her vision."

"Aye, aye, Sumaca." The Crow sucks oil off his fingertips before wandering farther to shapeshift.

Kanti plants her forearms on the table, easing her torso forward. "I might not worship you, Daya, but I would never lie about a Mahananda-given vision."

"Then you've nothing to fear," I say.

She snorts. "Why would I have anything to fear?"

Cathal squares his shoulders. "Because you screw with my mate, you screw with me."

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. Not only am I immune to iron, but also to toxic masculinity."

Shadows puff from my scowling mate.

Though I've no doubt he could hurt her, I place my hand on his lap and squeeze his joggling knee to keep him from trying. She'll get her comeuppance.

Will she? The Cauldron didn't punish your grandmother for binding your magic.

I believe that, in time, it would have.

"The Mahananda sees all," Agrippina tells Kanti. Well, warns her. "I know you missed it, but it drained Malka when she challenged its choice of monarch."

I expect this to rid Kanti of a modicum of smugness, but steady as ever, she says, "Good thing I'm not lying, then."

Shockingly enough, she's not. The instant I place my hands on Behati's forehead I see my mother wandering around sandy streets. Not only that, I see her leaving behind a trail of bodies. Which just doesn't make sense. Why would she go on a killing rampage? In the human district of Luce, no less?

I understand why, when that night, a ship manages to penetrate the fortifications and drift down the Sahklare right into the Amkhuti.

One with a message inked in human blood: Build your army, batee.