“Honey,” she said, “where we are going, our journey... it’s dangerous. I can’t vouch for your safety.”
“Oh, but you will protect me,” Honey said as if she were an oracle and knew for sure. Except oracles couldn’t see their own futures, and no future was certain anyway. “The trees told me.”
Now it was Magda’s turn to step back. “The trees?”
“Yes. They say you told Ouda you would protect them, all of us. Ouda has chosen you. So I must help you. That is what she would want. If you wish to travel across the gulf, Anqa can fly us. We could reach the northern islands in two days.”
Damion caught Magda’s eye. She could tell just what he was thinking. If she wanted the Enneahedron, then the time they had to retrieve it was short.
“All right,” she said with a heavy sigh. “Call the roc.”
THE COCOON BEDhad been lowered from the tree so it hung only a few inches above the mossy earth. She lay with the hatch open and one leg draped over the side, sneaker skimming the ground. Soon, thanks to the gentle swaying, she was asleep.
She woke when the rocking stopped. Jolting upright, she groaned when she saw Kaelan frowning down at her.
“What?” she asked, falling back again.
“We have to talk,” he said.
She stared up at the woven branches of the cocoon, sleep still thick on her skin and heavy in her eyes. She’d been dreaming about Endreas again—hearing his voice, trying to find him, failing.
“Or you could just go on pretending that I don’t exist,” she said.
“You can’t allow Honey to go with you,” he said.
She propped up on her elbows. “It’s not my decision. She has free will. She can do as she likes.”
Kaelan ducked into the cocoon with her, pushing her legs aside, as only a Prince could do. And even then she wasn’t sure why she allowed it. She sat up, scooting deep into the cocoon, leaning against the bumpy interior.
“She is not herself. You know that,” he said.
“I know that she has less of her soul than she used to, but what remains is still her.”
“You said it yourself, this journey is dangerous. She’s just a nymph.”
Magda crossed her legs and leaned forward. “This isn’t about her. It’s about you. You’re afraid.”
He opened his mouth as if about to protest, but she cut him off.
“If Honey goes with us, then you’ll feel as though you must join us as well. And you don’t want to do that. And I understand. But I promised I wouldn’t try to claim you, didn’t I? And what happened before... It was just an accident. We can control our instincts. We just have to be conscious of them.”
He looked away, his hands knotting together.
“I have every intention of keeping my promise,” she said. “But we are what we are. It’s not just me, Kaelan. Any Rae you meet, you’ll find yourself desiring her. That’s just the way it is.”
“I didn’t desire Lavana.”
“It’s difficult to desire someone when they’re not with you all of the time.”
He looked up at her. “And that is why I can’t go with you.”
“If that’s your decision, I can’t force you. And I won’t try. But don’t think it’s going to end with me. There are plenty of Raes in this world. Another will find you.”
“This is not the way it is with the small folk,” he grumbled, shoulders slumping. “They are allowed to choose their mates.” The heavy swath of his hair fell over his brow. “I had no idea how difficult it would be to resist.”
She smirked. “Well, if it makes you feel better, it’s hard for me too. But it’s not impossible, Kaelan. And to be honest... I need you. If I have any real hope of challenging Lavana, if I have to meet her in battle... without a Prince to heal me... she will win.”
“What about the Prince she stole from you? Has he no loyalty?”
