Chapter 30

Chapter

Thirty

SAGE

I woke up alone.

Instead of Nyko, I found two guards outside my door, insisting they couldn't leave my side at Nyko's instructions as he had to attend an urgent meeting. After the events last night, I must have fallen asleep on top of Nyko, yet I woke up curled up in bed, finding he'd cleaned me up, seeing there was no gooey mess between my thighs. Nothing stops him from doing as he sees fit, and I can't even hate him for it. He's my true mate.

Especially not after our vision that's still sitting on my mind heavily.

My stomach's growling again, starved for food, and that's my first port of call this morning.

After showering and dressing, the guards take me to a new location to try, as per instructions from Nyko. The moment I enter the hall, I know I'm going to like the place, mostly from the heavenly baked smells, even if the decor is a mix of the monstrous and the charming. Dark, gnarled wood forms the tables and chairs while luminescent vines cast an eerie glow over everything. I spot an empty table and meander through the busy room. The smells intensify with spices and something musky, making my mouth water and my stomach churn.

I spot Joa sitting alone at a table, the girl I met during my first ritual, and she's waving me over with a bright smile.

"Join me," she calls out.

"Morning," I greet her, sliding into the seat across from her, glad to be with someone else and not have just all these eyes on me from around the room. The guards hover nearby, but I ignore them.

"Morning yourself," she chirps, sipping from a metal goblet filled with a deep red juice. Her yellow eyes sparkle from her grin, and aside from her serpent-like gaze and pale-yellow scales that run up her arm and more along her neck, she doesn't have any other monstrous features. "I've ordered too much food for me and my two sisters, but they've both gone into work early. So, you can help me eat this."

"I'm starving, so yes, please." The table is filled with plates of food, and my attention is shifting past the strange, transparent, jelly-like bowls with tiny bones sticking out of them to the baked goods.

She glances at the guards at the wall farther behind us. "What's going on?"

"Wolfe's a bit protective." I don't expand as I don't know who's listening. "Anyway, how did you do after the Veil Ritual?" I ask, tearing off a piece of what looks like a pancake but has an odd, mushy filling. It's sweet, and I decide not to question what it is.

Joa shrugs. "It didn't exactly work out. One of the Shadowfen chased me, and we spent the most incredible two days and nights together." She sighs, stirring her spoon in a bowl of green porridge. "Then I discovered he already has a wife and three children."

"Oh, shit! What an asshole."

She's nodding, one side of her mouth pinching. "So, I did what I could. I tracked him down and stabbed him in the chest. Now he's in the infirmary recovering. I regret not stabbing him a few more times."

While slightly shocked at her story, I'm also laughing at how casually she talks about attacking him.

"So, it's normal to seek revenge like that?" I pop more of the pancake into my mouth.

"Absolutely. You are frowned upon if you take no action when someone has wronged you. But I met someone new at the infirmary recently, which made it worth it. Destiny always has a plan for us."

Destiny… I'm starting to believe I'm meant to be here. It's my fate.

Joa's gaze flits to a beastly monster across the room. He reminds me of the Minotaur creature from my mom's old books. He's bulky, with horns that curve off his face, and he's surrounded by other monsters, but he keeps glancing our way. Or I should say, in Joa's direction.

"That's Brakar," she whispers, pretending not to glance at him again. "The gentlest Shadowfen you'll ever meet. Every night, he massages me."

"So, it's official? You're living together and getting married?" I tease, smirking as I reach for a small transparent pastry pouch filled with what looks like peas in a sauce. Placing it on my plate, I tear it apart with the two-pronged fork. The contents spill out, and I scoop a bit into my mouth. Dirt. That's how it tastes. I scrunch up my face, trying my best to force it down my throat and not insult anyone.

Joa giggles at me, then looks over at Brakar, batting her eyelids.

"That was the ritual, silly. Once someone selects you, you're meant to be bound for life. If you're lucky enough to find your true mate, which is rare, then that's a whole different level of emotional connection. Because my connection wasn't a true-mate one, it was easy for him to leave me, and why I had a right to take my revenge on him. Customs believe this will discourage Shadowfen from leaving a relationship after the Veil Ritual." She takes another sip of her juice. "And you? You're the talk of the vessel."

"Me?" I raise an eyebrow. "Why?" After my attempted assassination, I'd prefer not to have such attention on me.

"Not only did you take Killian, but all three leaders of the Howler. The three most eligible bachelors. So many girls are jealous, but I'm proud of you." She grins, and I really like her.

Our conversation flows easily after that, talking about life on the vessel, the strange foods, and the gossip that never seems to stop. Joa's lightheartedness is contagious.

"Oh, and did you hear about the strange vessel spotted in the waters this morning?" she asks, her tone dropping to a whisper.

I freeze, my fork halfway to my mouth. "What sort of vessel?" Please don't let it be related to my father.

She shrugs. "No one really knows, but it didn't come from us. Some are saying it's from the kingdom, which is absurd. Why would they come to check on us when they haven't visited before? Some are saying it could be another colony of Shadowfen we didn't know existed on one of the small islands."

My mouth goes dry, and I feel a sick twist in my stomach, convinced the lingering vessel is from the kingdom. And if they're here, it can only mean one thing.

We're in huge trouble. My father's coming for me.

I try to focus on Joa's chatter, but my mind is racing. The food now tastes like ash in my mouth. I push the plate away, my appetite gone. The guards nearby remain still, watching over me.

"What's wrong?" Joa's smile fades when she sees my face.

"Nothing," I lie, forcing a smile. "I'm just full."

But it's not nothing. It's everything. I worry my father might be coming for me, which will result in him attacking Howler. I keep replaying the burning vessel from my vision over and over. "I need to go," I mumble, trying to keep my voice steady. My heart hammers in my chest, and the room spins slightly as I rise to my feet. "I'd like to do this again. I don't have many friends on the vessel."

"Count me in." Joa nods, smiling. "See you later."

With my guards, I cross the eating area, unable to move fast enough. Once we're in the hallway, I glance at the nearest guard, catching his eye.

"Take me to Wolfe right away, please."

The guard nods, and without another word, we hurry through the hallways, in and out of elevators. The dark corridors twist and turn.

We pass several locals, their monstrous forms towering and intimidating, yet they pay me no attention. I follow the guards, my insides tight.

Finally, we arrive at the beastly hall I recognize, the one dominated by a set of double doors flanked by terrifying creature heads carved in intricate detail. The guards knock, and a deep, familiar voice calls for us to enter.

The doors creak open, revealing a room bathed in shadow and flickering light from torch-like faux lights set in iron sconces. My three mates—Killian, Nyko, and Wolfe—sit at a round table with Clay and several others I don't recognize. Their discussion halts as their attention turns to me. Killian's on his feet immediately, crossing the room toward me.

"Everything all right?" he asks, his brow furrowing with concern.

"I'm sorry to interrupt. I-I can come back," I stammer, turning to leave, feeling their intense gazes on me.

"No, it's fine," Wolfe states firmly, also on his feet. "We're done here. Stay. Everyone else can leave."

When he says everyone , he means everyone other than me and my three true mates. The others, including Clay, trudge out, their gazes lingering on me suspiciously. Clay gives me a strange look, one that I can't quite decipher. Is it pity? Resentment? I shake off the feeling and step deeper into the room.

"Join us." Wolfe gestures for me to sit near him. "We need to talk."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "It's about the vessel spotted near us, isn't it? That's why I'm here."

"They're from the kingdom, but they are now long gone," Nyko explains.

Silence follows his words. Killian runs a hand through his hair, the other at my elbow, guiding me to the table.

Wolfe remains still, his gaze fixed on me. "Nyko told us everything about your ritual vision."