"Yes," I said immediately, not bothering to correct him. I needed to hear what he was going to say.
"None of you have found your fated mates, have you?" Mistral asked.
I opened my mouth to say yes, then hesitated--it was a bizarre feeling, like I'd run to the edge of a cliff and stopped myself just in time.
What the hell? Why would I say yes? I haven't...
I wanted to look at Kamari.
No. I couldn't. There was no way. Not only would I look like an idiot in front of Mistral, but Kamari would probably beat the crap out of me for even suggesting it.
"No," I mumbled.
I noticed Kamari's gaze on me from the corner of my eye, but I couldn't read his expression and I didn't dare look at him.
"Well, maybe that would be enough to break this spell," Mistral suggested. "Can you try that?"
His airy tone suddenly infuriated me. As if it wasthateasy to find your fated mate. I couldn't just walk into a store and grab one off the shelf.
And yet, a tiny voice in the back of my mind told me mine was already in reach.
It's impossible. So cut it the fuck out, brain.
"That's your big plan?" Kamari said flatly. "For Zak to find his fated mate and magically awaken his Grandfather?"
Mistral twirled a lock of his blue hair. Apparently, he didn't notice our desperation and anger. "Maybe that won't even be enough. I dunno. When Animus gets mad, he gets scary." He frowned down at Nautilus's unconscious body. "And right now, he's furious with Nautilus..."
Kamari clenched his fists, then turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
I blinked, startled. "Kamari, wait!"
He was already gone, but I knew there was nowhere he could really go, so I lagged behind for a moment.
"Mistral," I said, "Will you be here with Nautilus?"
"Of course."
I wanted to be annoyed at him for being useless, but I knew he was just a scapegoat for my frustration. Even if hewashonestly a little irritating. But Mistral was my Granddad's brother--sort of--and he would be here to protect him when I couldn't. I couldn't be angry about that.
"Just... hang on," I said quietly. "I need a minute to breathe and think. We'll figure something out."
Mistral held my gaze and nodded. I almost shivered. Staring at him for too long was like standing on the edge of a windy bluff and feeling every gust. His raw power chilled me.
I ran out to where Kamari had gone, feeling sick with worry.
Except he was already gone.
11
Kamari
As soon asI left the secret chamber, I dove into the icy waters and swam. My hot anger was enough to keep me warm for all of five seconds before the frigid temperature began sinking into my flesh and then my bones.
But I didn't care. I was so frustrated that it felt like nothing but needling, annoying pinpricks.
How could this happen? How could aspiritbe compromised this way? Didn't he know how many people relied on him? Not just us, but animals and the land itself. And now some blue-haired glorified chicken was telling me that the only way to bring Nautilus back was for Zak to find his fated mate and unlock mystical magic?
What a joke. I never wanted to hear the phrasefated matesever again.
