“But earlier you said—” Maddie started, but Lola interrupted.
“I know what I said, but I’m not about to argue with the queen of the Kingdom of Claws, are you?” Lola gave Maddie a pointed look.
“Point taken.” Maddie huffed.
“What were you going to suggest?” There was a hint of warning in Roan’s voice.
Taras looked at the shaman, and his eyes went from human to lion in a flash before returning to normal. “You’re dancing around the issue, and there’s no reason for it. Both of her friends are mated to Damarians. She’s not going anywhere. Just go ahead and yank out the lodged arrow.”
“First, I’m a problem, and now I have an arrow stuck in me?” Maddie folded her arms in front of her and popped out her hip. “Forgive my tone, Taras, but what the hell are you talking about?”
“I’ll tolerate your tone because I understand dealing with Roan can be taxing.”
“Understatement,” Maddie muttered.
“But he needs to be the one to explain things to you,” Taras said.
“Do we have to do this now?” Raphael frowned. “I thought we were hunting down Azure and his witch.”
“I bite him.” Otto grumbled as he fisted his small hands and bared his little sharp teeth.
“Pipe down, Little Warrior.” Bane’s voice was calm and smooth.
Lola turned her attention back to Roan, who was currently staring at Taras with his swirling, silver eyes that looked as if a hurricane was building inside. It felt like an hour passed before Roan finally responded.
“I can see where you’re coming from.” Roan fixed his eyes on Taras. “And I can see how we could be better utilized.”
“Better than going and hunting Azure?” Maddie quickly interjected. “How? What if you need Roan’s wizard powers?”
“I’m not a wizard.” Roan pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Says the supernatural being who can make people believe they’re hearing something that they’re not,” she challenged, bringing up how he’d made Lola’s parents think a wreck had been causing all the noise which was, in fact, a freaking lion.
“Roan will explain everything to you.” Lyra gave a warm smile. “Just know that we trust him, and he will protect you with his life.”
Maddie glanced at Lola. “This just got serious really fast.”
Lola smiled at her friend. “I don’t think they do much around here that isn’t serious.”
Maddie shrugged. “True.” She then looked at Roan. “So hit me with it. What’s this arrow you need to yank out.”
Roan ran a hand over his face and then stood up straighter as he met Maddie’s gaze. “Nushawanimeans new shaman,” Roan said. “You have magic in you that calls to mine and the other shaman. It’s that call that lets us know who is supposed to join our ranks.”
“He’s not lying,” Nico piped up. “It calls to me, too, but not in quite the same way, I don’t think.” He winked at her, and Roan’s eyes shifted to the Kingdom of Chaos Shaman.
“Keep your winking to yourself.”
“See?” Nico said with a grin. “Told ya.”
Maddie stared silently at Roan and then looked at Lola, then Lyra, and then back to Roan. “I’m sorry. What did you just say?”
Chapter Ten
Where’s My Letter?
“If this were a book, I would totally be cussing the author at the moment. I mean, could you please just finish one storyline already before throwing another curveball at us? No? Fine. Be a dick. Don’t come crying to me if people start sending you ugly messages because you toy with their emotions like a yo-yo on a string. And yes, I’m well aware that tension is what makes a good book. At the moment, I’m as tense as I can stand. Cut the damn string already.” ~Maddie
“Nushawanimeans new shaman,” Roan repeated.
