“Sorry,” Saion called from the bay. Whatever else he’d said got lost in the kraken’s screeching.
“We had our hands full,” Rhahar continued, his gaze lifting to the city. “As did you.” He leaned to the side, trying to see Poppy. He failed. I blocked him.
The eather dimmed to a bright glow behind his pupils. “I mean no harm.”
“I don’t give a fuckwhatyou mean,” I stated. “We don’t know you.”
His stare locked onto mine. A long, tense moment passed. A muscle flexed in his jaw. “You look like him.”
“Attes?” Poppy said as Delano sniffed at the air.
“Kyn.”
I had no idea who the fuck that was, and I didn’t care. Maybe this Primal god was a friendly. Theywerehelping—
The kraken reared, snapping a tentacle free and smashing it into the side of a ship.
Maybe.
But Poppy was weakened, and I could sense her energy waning even more.
“Do you all need help with that?” Kieran asked, his voice tight.
“He has it under control.”
The limb slammed into a nearby pier, causing Poppy to jump. My hands fisted.
“You sure about that?” I said as I felt Poppy nudging Delano to get off her.
Rhahar nodded. “The leviathan existed before the Primals ruled these realms. They are as powerful as any god, even in this form,” he said, and I figured that meant it had been created by the Ancients.Why, was anyone’s guess. “And we have to refrain from really using the essence while in the mortal realm to avoid…other issues.”
Delano grumbled, stepping to the side as I focused on Poppy’s mark, linking with her.Please stay behind me.
A moment later, I heard her.I still can’t believe we can communicate like this.
It’s coming in handy right now,I told her as Rhahar glanced toward the bay.I know you don’t want to listen, but you’re exhausted. I can tell.
Water splashed as the kraken was dragged into the bay. Finally.
“The kraken wasn’t the only…thing to attack,” Poppy said.
I didn’t hear her moving around, so there was that, but I did hear footsteps slowly approaching us. I tensed.
Malik, Kieran said.
Hearing his name reminded me of how I wanted to punch him for coming right toward the wave.
Rhahar turned back to us. “What else?”
“Ceeren,” I answered, and Rhahar’s gaze sharpened. “Dead ceeren,” I added.
“And seahorses,” Poppy said.
Rhahar blinked. “Seahorses? That’s…” He shook his head and looked at the darkening clouds. “They were gone before I even reached maturity.” His chest rose with a deep breath. “Kolis called them.”
“Figured,” I said, letting myself relax a fraction. “Is there anything else we should be worried about that might have gotten out of the Abyss?”
“Yes.” His attention shifted back to the sky. “He is the true Primal of Death. All those who serve within the Abyss serve him.” His eyes narrowed, and his fingers twitched at his sides. He swore, then glanced back at us. “Sorry about the cursing.”
