"As much as I love this charming family reunion, can we focus on the issue here, please?" Kamari said curtly.
"Right. How do we help Nautilus?" I asked, frowning at his prone body. He looked surprisingly peaceful, like he was just sleeping.
Mistral tapped his claws on the stone floor in thought. He kept glancing between me and Kamari, and the passage behind us. Then he sighed, dragging his talons over his face with a groan. "I suppose I have to tell youeverythingso we can figure this outtogether.Working with mortals is so complicated. Like, why don't you just know things?"
Kamari's eye twitched. "We would appreciate it, oh great air spirit."
I snorted. He was definitely fed up with Mistral.
Mistral apparently didn't realize Kamari was being sarcastic because his feathers puffed up proudly. "Well, if you say it so nicely." He cleared his throat. "A very long time ago, myself and a few other spirits came into existence. Nautilus was one of them. Unfortunately, Animus was also one of them."
"Who's Animus?" I asked.
Mistral's gaze darkened. "He's a spirit, like us, but he's... How do I say this? Weak." He glanced over his shoulder as if Animus would show up at any moment. "He never possessed the same level of magic that the rest of us did."
"So he's jealous," Kamari said.
"Yes." Mistral sighed. "But he's not helpless. Despite being weak for a spirit, he's still more powerful than any mortal. His ability is one based on envy. He can leech the energy out of other spirits. Mortals, too."
My eyes widened in horror. "Is that what's happening to Granddad? Some asshole is sucking the life out of him?"
Mistral winced like he wanted me to keep my voice down, but I was too pissed off. Besides, I didn't care if this Animus guy heard me. Spirit or not, I'd kick his ass.
"My theory is that Animus is jealous not only of Nautilus's power, but the fact that he's spread it among his descendants," Mistral said.
"You mean me?" I asked.
"Not just you, I think." Mistral tapped his chin. "Didn't Nautilus have another child?"
The dread growing in the pit of my stomach grew deeper. "My uncle, Nishiki. And he has two sons, Cloud and River." I clenched my eyes shut and blew out a long breath. "If you include Pops, that makes five of us."
Mistral looked me up and down. "Yes. Five little mortal offspring who possess magical abilities."
The meaning of his words sunk in. "Wait, so you're saying Cloud and River have powers too? What are they?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Mistral asked, scoffing.
"You're a spirit! I thought you knew everything!"
"Flattering, but unfortunately, no."
The image of Cloud's feathers flashed in my mind. "Hang on. If Nautilus is a water spirit, then why is my cousin Cloud a harpy? That has nothing to do with water."
"He is?" Mistral gawked, genuinely shocked. "Huh. Fancy that."
Kamari pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'd love for this conversation to go on. Really. But can we focus on Nautilus please?"
Mistral preened his feathers. "Yes, right. Five mortals, all descending from Nautilus. That would upset Animus, all right. He's jealous and taking it out on poor Nautilus."
"What can we do about it?" Kamari growled. "And don't say you don't know. Think of something."
Mistral and I were both stunned at Kamari's gall to speak to a spirit that way. But Mistral seemed more amused than offended. He stopped preening and glanced at the two of us.
"Nautilus has always been fond of you mortals and your fated mates," Mistral said.
My heart skipped a beat.
Mistral went on. "He mentioned once that pairs of fated mates possess stronger magic, and that magic is linked with his own. For two of his sons to find their fated mates must've given him a burst of power." He stared off into the middle distance in thought. "You three. What are you called? The grandchilds?"
