“That’s what we need to figure out. Why take her specifically? Why now?” I release her shoulders and pace across the deck. “He’s always ten moves ahead. So we need to be eleven.”
“You sound like you admire him,” she spits.
I turn back to her. “I respect his intelligence. That’s different. And it’s necessary if we want to beat him.”
She wraps her arms around herself, whether from the ocean breeze or her own turmoil, I’m not sure. “Fine. You want to be calculating? Then calculate. What’s his game?”
“He’s collecting magic. Power. But why? What’s the endgame?” I step closer to her again. “Help me figure it out, Kara. Work with me instead of charging in blindly.”
Her green eyes meet mine, fierce and bright with unshed tears. “And if we take too long? If we’re too late?”
“We won’t be. But we have to be smart about this.” I reach for her hand, half expecting her to pull away. She doesn’t. “Trust me. Please.”
I hear footsteps and turn to see Darick and Soren approaching with Rowan and Mia in tow. Neither woman looks impressed right now.
Great. Just what I need – an audience for this clusterfuck.
“What the hell?” Kara’s voice rises. “What are you all doing here?”
“Same as you, apparently.” Rowan leans against the railing, her hair blowing in the ocean breeze. “Getting shanghaied.”
“Your father asked us to keep you safe,” Soren says. “All of you.” From his expression, he’s just had a similar conversation to the one I’m having with Kara. Mia’s jaw is set. Her eyes flash dangerously, but other than that, she’s silent. Which is probably more of a warning sign than anything else.
“This is Darick’s ship,” I explain, watching Kara’s face darken. “Well, technically mine now since he’s…changed…human. It’s part of Clan Sanguis holdings. My clan.” It feels strange saying it. Strange acknowledging that I am now a clan elder.
“Dad put you up to this?” Kara’s voice is dangerously quiet. “He had no right—”
“He had every right,” I cut in. “He’s your father, and he’s terrified of losing another daughter.”
“We’re not children!”
“No, but you arehischildren.” I step closer, lowering my voice. “Think about what he’s been through. Mia kidnapped. You and Rowan constantly in danger. Your grandmother taken. He’s afraid the next time, luck won’t be on our side.”
“He’s right, Kara.” Mia’s soft voice carries across the deck. “Dad’s been through hell this past year.”
“We all have,” Rowan adds. “Maybe we need to step back, regroup. Figure out what Lucien’s really planning.”
I watch Kara’s face, seeing the conflict there. Her magic throbs around her, responding to her anger, but there’s something else too – understanding, maybe. Reluctant acceptance.
“Fine,” she finally huffs out. “But I’m not happy about this. Any of this.” Her glare encompasses all of us, lingering longest on me. “And when we do go after Lucien, no one gets to tell me to stay behind.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I assure her, though part of me wonders if this is a promise I can keep. The thought of standing by while she faces death again does something unpleasant to my insides.
“What about Mom?” Rowan changes the subject. “Surely she should be here too?”
“Your father is taking care of her,” Darick replies. “She’s safe.”
“For now,” she mutters.
“For now, yes,” he acknowledges. “But it’s a start.”
“I think it sucks.” Kara has her arms crossed and is glaring around at the rest of us. “Toxic masculinity, that’s what this is. All of you have hero complexes.”
“It’s for the best, Kara.” Mia touches her arm.
“I know,” Kara mutters grudgingly. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“There’s nothing that any of us can do now, anyway, Kara,” says Darick, and I’m grateful that, for once, I’m not the one trying to talk sense into her. “The best thing for us is to get some rest so we can think clearly about this.”
